Author's Note: I received a lot of reviews and messages to continue this story. While my main concept of the story is complete, I've decided to continue writing in the time line that this story takes place. For example, someone messaged me asking to write a Laura/LuLu chapter during the time of Kevin and Laura fighting and ignoring one another. And I did. Which leads me to this, I'll gladly continue writing little one-shot chapters within this universe if any of you have requests. Just send me ideas and I'll attempt to make it work with in this story. Thanks for reading!
Laura was sitting at her desk in the mayor's office in City Hall staring aimlessly at the documents in front of her when she heard a knock at her door.
"Come in!"
LuLu opened the door and asked, "Are you busy?"
"No! Come in, Honey. I always have time for my favorite daughter," replied Laura standing up to greet her daughter with a hug.
LuLu reciprocated the hug and took a seat in the chair on the opposite side of Laura's desk. Laura returned to her office chair and asked, "So, what do I owe the privilege of your visit today?"
"I came to see how you are doing... You know, ever since Kevin was found and came home," replied LuLu with innocence in her voice.
Laura slightly shook her head and said, "Fine."
"Mom..."
"Lulu, I don't want to talk about it, okay?"
"Mom, you have to talk about it," replied LuLu.
Laura looked down at her hands in her lap and remained silent.
LuLu knew her mother had been having a difficult time dealing with Kevin's reappearance and the aftermath of Ryan's reign of terror. Laura had been putting on a brave face for the public and for the grandkids, especially Spencer, but LuLu knows her mother. She's struggling on the inside and someone needs to help her release her anguish.
"Mom, do you remember when I killed Logan Hayes and was put in Shadybrook with you?" questioned LuLu gently.
Laura nodded.
"I was stuck inside my head. I was in pain. My mind took over and I didn't know how to release my feelings and thoughts without sounding like a lunatic. But, you were there. Right across the hall actually. You woke up and helped me face my inner demons and helped me sort through every emotion I was feeling. It was you who would hold me in your arms and stroke my hair. Let me help you this time because, Mom, its not good to keep everything inside. I'm here for you whenever you need me to listen," said LuLu pouring emotion into every word she said.
"I can't," whispered Laura.
"Yes you can, Mom."
"No! If I let my thoughts run their course, I'll start crying and I won't stop. I'll want to choke Kevin for what his lie caused. You collapsed in my arms! I could have lost you because Kevin decided not to open up his big ass mouth! Three innocent people died! And I'm such a selfish person that I'm angry that his lie caused me to get my heart broken! Every time I see Ava, half of me wants to hug her because I feel horrible for what she went through and is still going through. But the other half, the selfish half, wants to slap her and throw one of her precious martinis in her face. She slept with what we both thought was my husband and she never felt bad about it. After everything she has done to my family, she acted like what she did was okay. I hate feeling like this!," Laura exclaimed as she released all of her emotions.
LuLu jumped up and pulled Laura into a hug. "Mom, its okay to cry. And its okay to feel what you are feeling. You are human. Please, if I was in your shoes I wouldn't have as much sympathy for Ava as you do," whispered LuLu as she tenderly rubbed Laura's back as Laura cried in LuLu's embrace.
"How do I move on after this? How do I look at Kevin the same? How do I let him into my heart, into our family again?" replied Laura.
LuLu knelt in front of Laura and took hold of her hands. She looked up into her mother's eyes and said, "Step by step. Day by day... It won't be easy. But, Mom, no one is rushing you. Take your time. Be mad. Be furious. Hate Kevin. Hate Ava. Hate Ryan. Be emotional. You have every right too."
"When did you get so wise?"
LuLu smiled. "I learned it from my mother."
Laura returned the smile, but then turned the tables on LuLu when she asked, "I appreciate you coming here and checking up on me and the situation with Kevin. But how are you doing? I'm sure it isn't easy facing Kevin."
LuLu turned her gaze from her mother's eyes to the floor. "It is hard. I will admit, but I'm a Spencer. I'll get through this, right?"
"Honey..."
"Mom, I don't-"
Laura interrupted, "No. You made me open up. Now, it's your turn."
"I'm scared of him, Mom... I know I shouldn't be, but he has his face. Every time I was sitting in the courthouse during Kevin's and Ryan's trials, I kept getting flashes of that night. When Peter asked me to interview Kevin for the invader, I almost couldn't do it. Sitting across from him was like sitting across from Ryan. I look at him and I see the man who gutted me, not the man who is supposed to be my kind, gentle step father," wept LuLu as she placed her head in Laura's lap.
"Honey..." Laura whispered as she caressed LuLu's hair.
"And Dante isn't home. I have nightmares all the time! I don't want to scare Charlotte and Rocco, so I deal with these nightmares by myself... I can't sleep, Mommy. I'm so tired. So tired," replied LuLu.
"I'm sleeping over tonight. Spencer and I will come over. It's Friday. So, we both won't have to work tomorrow."
"You don't have to, Mom," replied LuLu finally lifting her head off Laura's lap to look into her mother's eyes.
Laura shook her head. "Nope. I not only have to, but I want to. You are not only my daughter, but my best friend. You have helped me through so much, and I wasn't there for you during some hard times. Well, I am here now. I'll head home pack a bag and tell Spencer to put together a bag, and we'll be on our way."
LuLu smiled and hugged Laura. "Thank you, Mom. I have one question, though, before I go."
Laura replied, "Yeah. Ask it."
"Are you coming over because you want to help me, or do you want to avoid Kevin?"
"I'm your mother, LuLu. I want to help you, you know that... But. A night away from Kevin might do me and Spencer some good. It doesn't feel like a home any more. It's just three people living in a place with four walls."
LuLu nodded in understanding. "Well, I'll see you in a bit. Thanks, Mommy," said LuLu as she grabbed her purse and left Laura's office with a sweet wave.
Laura dropped her duffel bag by the front door as she waited for Spencer to finish packing when Kevin entered their apartment coming home after spending the day down at the clinic as part of his community service plea for hiding a criminal. He looked down at the bag and quietly questioned, "Are you moving out?"
Laura looked up at him from her seat on the couch and responded, "If I was moving out, I would have more bags than that."
Kevin nodded and asked, "Where are you going?"
Laura replied, "LuLu's. She's been having trouble sleeping."
"Because of me."
"I didn't say that, Kevin," said Laura curtly.
"Yeah, but it was implied."
Laura scoffed. "Please, Kevin."
"What? You know that's what you wanted to say. I just finished the thought," replied Kevin.
Laura got up off the couch and said, "Do not think you know what I think and want to say." She walked past him towards the staircase and yelled, "Let's go, Spencer!"
"Wow! You won't even let Spencer stay home with me. What, Laura? Are you afraid I'll turn into Ryan and kill him?" replied Kevin sharply.
Laura's eyes grew wide and slapped Kevin across the cheek. Kevin reached up to cup his cheek. "How dare you! How dare you put that thought even into the universe! While you were trapped in Ferncliffe, Ryan was a terror across this town, especially to my family," seethed Laura. "And anyway, Spencer doesn't feel comfortable with you. He's read the paper. He's watched the trials on the news. Ryan Chamberlain put fear into this town. Spencer doesn't trust you. End of story."
"Have a nice time at LuLu's," whispered Kevin as he left to go to the kitchen to put ice on his cheek.
When Kevin left the room, Laura put her face in her hands at an attempt to calm down before Spencer saw her. Both her and Kevin have been on edge ever since all the details surrounding Ryan's resurrection surfaced. They mostly remain civil in front of Spencer, but they never share in depth conversations, although they are due for a blow out fight. The only time the three of them spend together is at dinner and even then the conversation is geared toward Spencer and his day at school. This was not the marriage she left when she went to France last January. So much had changed.
"Ready, Grandmother?" asked Spencer as he descended the stairs with his duffel bag and back back.
Laura took a deep breath and replied, "Yup. Let's go, Sweetie."
The two left the apartment as Kevin watched solemnly from the hallway.
"We haven't slept in the same bed since you were a little girl, Honey," said Laura lifting the bed covers and getting under them.
LuLu laughed. "I know, but I think it's nice. I sorta feel like a little girl again."
"You'll always be my little girl."
"I know," replied LuLu. "And I'm happy to always be it."
Laura turned to face LuLu. "Honey, I'm so sorry," she said with tears brimming her eyes.
LuLu was surprised by Laura's sudden shift in emotion. "Mom! What for?" asked LuLu turning to face Laura.
"For everything. For not being there for you as you were growing up. For this whole Kevin-Ryan mess. Just for not being the mother you deserve," said Laura with tears flowing down her face.
LuLu's jaw dropped. "Mom! No! You are the best mother. None of that was ever your fault. Stop blaming yourself for any of that."
"But I brought Kevin into our family and now, because of him, you can't sleep. You are tormented by the memory of his brother. I just hate what I brought into your life."
"What you brought into my life? Mom... You gave me life. You gave me everything. Ryan was not your fault. Ever. Day by day I will be able to look at Kevin more and more without being terrified. But, Mom, that wasn't your fault. You fell in love with Kevin. Yes, you brought him into our lives. But, you know what? I'm grateful you did. He was there for both of us during our highest of highs and our lowest of lows. I'll learn to forgive him and cope with the memory of Ryan. And so will you. Because not only are you the strongest person I know, but also because I have a feeling you still love him. So... Please, don't blame yourself for any of this mess," said LuLu with conviction in every word she spoke.
"If I find a way to forgive Kevin, would you be disappointed in me? Would I be a horrible person?" whispered Laura.
LuLu grabbed her mom's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "No. You would be Laura Webber. The most loving and forgiving person in the world," replied LuLu. "And anyway, I think you both belong together. It might take a while, but Mom, don't give up on something as precious as love if you aren't one hundred percent sure you don't want it anymore."
"Who told you that fabulous advice?"
"Well, I put what you, Grandma, Tracy, and Olivia all taught me about love into one simple idea: don't give up," said LuLu with a shrug.
Laura squeezed her daughter's hand and replied, "I don't know where I would be without you, Lesley Lu."
That night, with her hand wrapped inside her mother's, LuLu slept peacefully for the first time in months. Sometimes all a mother and daughter need is one another.