A/N – Dedication time: this goes out to the awesome Beth aka fly because...well she's awesome! And it's her birthday! Happy Birthday! Hope everyone likes and leaves me a review!
Chapter 4 – Finally Over
Anthony paced his cell with a smile on his face. Today, his son had finally made him proud. Johnny had been entitled, determined and power hungry. Everything Anthony had always wanted him to be. So when it was time to sign the papers over to Johnny, Anthony hadn't hesitated at all. Johnny was finally ready to head the Zacchara organization and there was no reason for Anthony to stand in his way. And Anthony actually didn't want to stand in his way. He wanted to give everything over to the son he loved so much. Anthony started to take a seat on his bed when the guard approached the cell.
"Zacchara, you have a visitor," the guard barked.
"Who is it?" Anthony questioned, stepping out of the cell.
"The attorney," the guard replied.
"Interesting," Anthony muttered, following the guard to the visitation room.
The guard opened the door and Anthony walked in, finding Trevor already waiting for him. Anthony frowned seeing Trevor's expression. Something was wrong and it definitely involved Johnny.
"If Corinthos did something to harm my son, I swear I'll-" Anthony began.
"No one hurt John," Trevor cut in. "But he hurt us."
"Excuse me?" Anthony asked.
"John played you," Trevor answered. "And me."
"What are you talking about?" Anthony wondered.
"Today, after you signed the business over to John, he signed it over to Jason Morgan," Trevor explained.
"He what?" Anthony yelled.
"He double crossed you," Trevor said angrily. "Betrayed you and the Zacchara organization."
"How is that possible?" Anthony questioned.
"He must have had a plan all along," Trevor sighed.
"Well, how can we stop this?" Anthony asked.
"There's nothing I can do," Trevor muttered. "You insisted on having me make sure everything was completely done and fool proof. That way no one could argue that John was head of the organization legally."
"But what about the papers he signed with Morgan?" Anthony questioned.
"Diane Miller made sure of the same thing," Trevor shrugged. "It's over Anthony. Johnny won this round."
Lulu heard tires in the driveway and she jumped up off the couch. She hurried to the door and flung it open, running immediately into Johnny's arms. He caught her and kissed her soundly, walking them back inside. He closed the door behind them and Lulu broke the kiss.
"Tell me everything," Lulu begged.
"There's not much to tell," Johnny laughed.
"What do you mean?" Lulu asked.
"Well, it went exactly the way we wanted it to," Johnny replied. "Basically the way I dreamed it up."
"Wow," Lulu smiled. "So, you're a free man?"
"I am," Johnny nodded. "No more mob business to drag us down."
"I'm so happy," Lulu said, hugging Johnny tightly.
"Well, I happen to be pretty happy, too," Johnny muttered, squeezing her against him.
"I can't believe it," Lulu whispered, pulling back. "We've waited for this and for some reason..."
"You never thought it would actually happen," Johnny filled in.
"It's not because I didn't believe in you or anything like that," Lulu said, leading him over to the couch. "I've just seen so many people try to get out and fail. I guess I didn't want to get my hopes up and then be disappointed."
"I'm not angry," Johnny replied, taking a seat.
"I know," Lulu sighed, falling into the couch next to him. "I just want you to know why."
"If I needed an explanation, I would ask," Johnny said, pulling her against him. "I love you enough to know that any kind of doubting or worry comes from a place of wanting the best for us."
"It's weird that you have so much faith in me," Lulu smiled.
"Why?" Johnny asked.
"Because it's more than I have in myself," Lulu shrugged.
"Well, you have more faith in me than I have in myself," Johnny said, burying his face in her hair. "It only seems right."
Lulu snuggled against him and held him tightly. He wrapped his arms firmly around her and kept his face pressed against her golden hair. They sat there in silence, holding each other for almost an hour, just content to be normal and together for the first time since they met.
"Maybe I should bring in my suitcases," Johnny whispered finally.
"I don't ever want to move from this spot," Lulu replied.
"Not even to kiss me?" Johnny asked.
"Hmm," Lulu pondered. "Maybe for that."
"What about making love?" Johnny wondered.
"Definitely for that," Lulu laughed.
"But to let me get my stuff?" Johnny questioned.
"That's not very important," Lulu giggled, climbing into his lap. "You just made me way more interested in something else."
"What ever do you mean, wife?" Johnny asked.
"There you go, calling me wife again," Lulu muttered, kissing along his jaw.
"You better get used to it," Johnny advised.
"You used to always call me beautiful," Lulu noted, pulling back to look at him. "Is that over now?"
"I can call you my beautiful wife," Johnny offered.
"The problem being-" Lulu started.
"Don't say we're not married," Johnny cut in. "It's only a matter of time."
"I know," Lulu smiled. "I was going to say the problem being that's sort of a mouthful."
"Oh," Johnny chuckled. "I guess I could alternate them."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out and I'll be happy either way," Lulu whispered, kissing the tip of his nose. "As long as you never call me Lesley Lu."
"What's wrong with your full name?" Johnny questioned.
"Nothing," Lulu answered. "Just don't ever call me by it."
"Whatever you say," Johnny relented. "Lesley Lu."
"Johnny!" Lulu said, swatting his chest.
"What?" Johnny asked, laughing at her. "Tell me why I can't call you that."
"Because I said so," Lulu replied.
"Not good enough, Lesley Lu," Johnny teased, tickling her sides.
"Stop," Lulu demanded, laughing and jumping up. "I'll tell you why, alright?"
"That's all I ask," Johnny smiled.
"When I was younger, I wasn't exactly normal looking," Lulu explained. "My nose was kind of shaped weird and other things. My whole life people had called me Lulu, but on the first day of school the new teachers would always call Lesley Spencer. When I was in third grade, I went to correct the teacher and explain that my name was Lesley Lu and everyone called me Lulu, but one of my classmates cut me off. A mean little girl who I hate to this day. She started calling me Lesley Lu Who, like those characters from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Everyone copied her and the entire year, that was all anyone called me."
"How could anyone ever treat you like that?" Johnny asked, standing up and pulling her close.
"I told you, I looked weird," Lulu replied.
"You're beautiful," Johnny said seriously. "Always. And I love you very much."
"You don't have to reassure me, I'm over it," Lulu smiled.
"You still hate being called that," Johnny pointed out. "Although, your dad calls you that a lot. Why doesn't that bother you?"
"I don't know," Lulu shrugged. "I guess I'm always just happy when he's around to talk to me at all."
"Well, I'm here forever," Johnny promised. "I just hope you don't get bored of me now that there's no drama in our lives."
"I'll never be bored of you," Lulu said, leaning up on her toes to look him in the eye. "I'm right where I want to be forever."
"Is this right where you want to be?" Johnny asked, leaning over and kissing her neck sensually. "Or is this where you want to be?"
"I think you're getting closer to right where I want to be," Lulu murmured, running her hands up his chest.
"Why don't we go to our bedroom and then I'll take you to right where you want to be?" Johnny suggested.
"Sounds perfect," Lulu replied, pressing a short kiss to his lips.
Johnny placed his hand beneath her knees and lifted her easily into his arms. He carried her to the bedroom and they celebrated their new found freedom together all night.