A/N: Hey, here's another chapter. I luv all the Lante on the show now, so I've been inspired for this chapter. It is five years after Lulu, Lauren and Marina left Port Charles. They move to Port Angeles, Washington. (Shout-out to all you Twilighters, out there, I'm one too.) Marina has graduated high school and went to medical school for 2 years to be a registered nurse. She now works as a nurse at Port Angekes Mercy Hospital. Lauren also graduated high school. She went into business and marketing. She has recently taken a job for a magazine called Scarlet. She is junior editor for Crystal Brandon, founder of Scarlet. Lulu, Dante, Dominic opened up a diner called Lu's where she is a waitress and Dominic the cook. Dante works at PAPD. And this continues on from there. read and review!!
Chapter Eight
Five years later,
Andre Karpov walked into his office. Claudia Zacchara sat at his desk. She was wearing a tight red mini dress with black pumps.
"Mr. Karpov," she said, approaching him, "I have a business proposition for you."
"You have my attention." he said, with a heavy Russian accent.
"I would like you to kill Lulu Spencer."
"And what's in it for me?" She smiled as she picked a picture of Marcus. It fell to the floor and smashed to a thousand pieces.
"If you don't, you can kiss your grandson, your precious heir, good bye." she smiled, evilly, and walked out. Andre stared at the floor in shock. He mumbled in Russian.
"That woman will pay." he clutched for the desk, he fell to the ground, seizing as he went down. Doctors and nurses rushed in. Suddenly, his body, remained still. A nurse felt for his pulse.
"He's dead." she whispered. Marcus rushed in. He saw his grandfather's body laying cold and still on the floor. He ran out.
A couple days later,
Casey walked along a path in the woods. Is it raining. Or drizzling? I don't think it's stopped since I got here. he thought. He arrived in Port Angeles, Washington three days ago, but he was so jet lagged that he slept the whole first day, then he spent 2 days finding a decent hotel. He was on a mission, a search if you will. A search to find Marina. He smiled as he thought of his favorite girl. I haven't stopped thinking about her since she left five years ago. It's true what they say, you never forget your first love. But do I really love Marina? he thought. Yes, I love Marina. He finally admitted to himself. Here he was, 23 years old and he was admitting his love for his high school girlfriend. Well I wouldn't exactly call her a girlfriend. We were together for what a week before she left. But still, what we went through, that has bonded us together forever. At least that's how I feel. I hope she feels the same way that is, if I can find her. His sources, also, his computer genius of a partner, Sam, told him that Mrs. Falconeri, Lauren and Marina moved to Port Angeles. God, I hope he's right, because Dark Twin Beauty, as Sam called her, was too beautiful, smart and funny for me to let go of. His thoughts were interrupted by feminine laughter.
"Josh, Josh!! Stop!! I will give you the cookie, just stop tickling!!" a feminine voice exclaimed, laughing. He recognized the voice.
"Marina." he whispered, as he looked through some trees. Stalker much, Case? he scolded himself. Sitting on the bench was Dark Twin Beauty, herself, being tickled by a little boy. He looks just like her... I wonder. Suddenly, his face fell. She's married and she has a son. He almost walked away when he heard her say, "Who's there?" in a threatening voice. He held up his hands and walked out from behind the trees.
"Casey." she breathed. She smiled as she ran into his arms. He enveloped her in a hug. When they parted, she had tears in her eyes and a giant smile on her face.
"Mars, why you crying?" the little boy asked. She lets her son call her Mars?
"Joshie, this is my good friend, Casey." she introduced.
"How you doing, buddy?" he asked, kneeling down to the kid's eye level.
"Good." he answered, shyly, hiding behind Marina's legs. She laughed. Casey felt uncomfortable.
"So how's life, being married and all?" he asked, politely. Marina let out a chuckle.
"Married? I'm not married. Oh you..." she laughed. "You thought Josh was mine? No, he's my brother. Sure I take care of him, but he's my brother." she explained.
"Well, don't I feel stupid." he laughed.
"Why were you jealous of my 'husband'?" she said, grinning.
"No!"
"Ah, jealous, jealous, jealous." she said, still grinning.
"So what if I was?" he said, coming closer to her.
"Well, I'd tell you to help me to Lu's to drop off Josh and Carla and then take me to the hospital for my next shift, then meet me later, because I don't wanna do anything in front of the kids." she whispered, her face inches from hers. A baby's cry sounded. Casey walked over and picked up the little pink bundle. Marina smiled as Casey gently held her.
"You're a natural." she stated.
"Well, let's just say, I've had lot's of practice." he said.
"Oh, now it's my turn to be jealous. Are you married?" she asked. He placed the baby back in the basket, walked over and took her hands into his.
"Marina, I've thought of you everyday after you left. Your smile invaded my dreams. How could I possibly be with anyone else after you?" he asked.
"Casey, I dreamt that you'd came here and take me back, but after years of waiting, I gave up, I still think about you, but I gave up on the fantasy I had in my head." she said. His hands fell to his sides.
"So I guess coming here was a mistake." he whispered.
"No, Casey, I want to be with you!" she said, taking his face in between her hands.
"Good, but that's not why I came. After you and Lauren, me and Marcus kinda became friends, after he saved my butt, and me to him. And he's been really out of it lately. After his grandad died, I don't know, he's not the same. So I have come to bring Lauren to him, he needs her, especially since the funeral." he said.
"OK, but first I have to take these two to Lu's." Marina said, getting up. Casey carried baby Carla, as Marina held Josh's hand and the baby basket. They walked to the diner. A yellow sign hung that said, "Lu's" They walked in. Lulu was serving coffee to a young woman.
"Thank you soooo much, Marina!!! I have to pay you." the woman said, taking her baby.
"No, Alice, I'm happy to help." Marina said.
"M, you didn't tell me you had a hot boyfriend." Alice exclaimed.
"Well, he just came back into my life, so sorry." Marina blushed.
"Well, it's a good thing you got him, because if he was single.." Alice trailed off, smirking coyly.
"Down, Alice." Marina laughed. The dark-haired woman stood in front of Casey.
"Listen, that is my best friend, and if you do anything to hurt her, I will personally hunt you down.. and believe me it will hurt you, emotionally, physically and mentally, got it?" her voice threatening.
"Bye, Alice." Marina called
"Bye, babe." she said, smiling as she walked out. Josh ran to Lulu.
"Mommy!! Guess who I meet today? Mars' friend Casey!!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah? Well, he seems really nice." she said, winking at Casey.
"Mom, I have to get to the hospital." Marina excused herself as she walked out. Casey followed. She got into her purple Volkswagen Beetle. Casey got into the passenger seat, hesitantly.
"What never been in a chic car?" she asked, laughing.
"I guess I'm just used to my bike." he stated. Marina laughed more.
"Stop laughing at me." he said, smiling. They rode to the hospital, and got out. They walked into the lobby. They got into the elevator. They rode up to the 23rd floor. She walked to the nurses station.
"Nurse Zacchara, you're late." the plump, petite woman behind the counter said.
"Sorry, Nurse Mill."
"Go and change and you have rounds with Dr. Cullen."
"Thank you." Marina walked to the locker room. Casey followed, wordlessly.
"If you want you can go to the cafeteria, an-" Casey spun her around and silenced her with a demanding kiss. They pulled apart.
"I missed you so much." Casey said, out of breath. She responded with another proof of passion. He slammed her against the lockers causing a loud BANG!! She deepened the embrace. He ripped of her outer garments exposing a black tank top.
"Nurse Zacchara!!" a male voice sounded from the doorway. Marina froze, the voice all too familiar. A tall black haired man stood at the door with an impatient look.
"Dr. Watson." she whispered, in shear terror, her body trembling. Casey stepped away from her but stayed at a protective distance.
"Nurse, I expect you to follow hospital rules and not have sex with your boyfriend in the locker room!! That is not what a hospital is for, now get dressed before I report you!!" he yelled as he walked out. She quickly donned her light purple scrubs and tied her long hair in a ponytail.
"I'm sorry, Marina." Casey apologized.
"No, I'm sorry Case, I have to work when you come and visit me, but I'll be done in a few hours. If you want to wait or go.." she said.
"I'll be on the roof." Casey said, kissing her head and walking out. Marina checked herself in the mirror and headed out. She walked down the hall until arms captured her from behind and dragged her into an empty room. Her captor was obviously bigger and stronger, but she kicked and screamed anyway. He/She let her go and Marina whipped around.
"Dr. Watson?!?" she said, in terror.
"Nurse Zacchara, what did I tell you about being on time?" he yelled, in a whisper.
"I'm sorry, I just bumped into an old friend-"
"He didn't look like an old friend." the man sniped. He walked out of the room. Marina continued her rounds without further incident. After, she walked out to the roof/balcony. Casey sat with his back against the wall, his eyes closed. She smiled and sat next to him. He roused.
"Morning, sunshine." she whispered. Casey grinned, pushing his dirty blond hair from his face.
"Hello, beautiful." he responded. She blushed. He touched her reddening cheek.
"So, what have you been doing for the last five years?" Casey asked.
"Oh, nothing. You?"
"Well, Mike's wedding is in 3 weeks and I'm one of the best men. Nikki's been running around planning this and that. And of course, Mike's right beside her telling her that eggshell is better than ivory, honestly, their both white!! And of course I have to sit there with him, bored out of my freakin' mind. So yeah that's basically it. But there's something else, um, Marina would you like to be me date to their wedding?" he asked, hesitantly.
"Of, course!!! I was thinking you'd never ask!" she exclaimed. He pulled her chin to his and they kissed.
Lauren sat her desk looking over dress choices for the fall layout. Wine-colored chiffon gown or ice blue taffeta? Well, ice-blue isn't really a fall color, wine is. So the wine chiffon should do. she thought. She imagined wearing it. Her eyes dropped as her head lay on the desk.
The dark crimson dress hugged her curves perfectly as she watched from the balcony, as a ball took place. Beautiful people swung round and round the dance floor.
"May I have this dance?" a man with a black mask asked her. She smiled and soon they too were spinning.
"May I cut in?" a familiar voice asked, politely. She turned around and there Marcus stood in a suit and tie. He looks so handsome, she thought. He put one of his arms around her waist and the other took her hand that wasn't on his shoulder. She smiled as he tightened the embrace. His face was so close to hers. She reached up on
her toes to get closer.
"Lauren, Lauren....." a faraway voice beckoned her. She tried to ignore it.
"Lauren..." it called again.
Lauren's eyes opened. She was at work, not a ball.
"Lauren." Marina's voice called. Lauren picked up her heavy head and looked at her sister. Casey was by her side.
"Hey, Space Case, when did you get into town?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Actually, just now. I have been sent to escort the lovely Zacchara twins to Micheal and Nicole's wedding, in 3 weeks!" he pronounced.
"Oh, that's great!! Let me just tell Crystal-"
"Tell me what?" a woman with blonde hair spoke from the doorway.
"Oh, Crystal, my cousin is having a wedding and I was wondering if I could take a few weeks off, please?"
"Yes, of course, Lauren, you are such a hard working editor, plus I'm going on a cruise with my husband, anyway, so have fun and send a congratulations to the happy couple!!"
"Will do, thanks soooo much, Crystal." Lauren said. The older woman left the room. Lauren turned to Marina and Casey.
"Well, I have to go home and pack." Lauren said.
"Um, yeah, we're driving to Port Charles," Marina said.
"Like a road trip?"
"Huh?" Casey gave Marina on incredulous look. Marina elbowed him the ribs.
"Yeah," Casey said, fingering his injured spot. Lauren hugged her twin and ran outside.
"What's this whole road trip thing about?" Casey asked, once Lauren was out of earshot.
"I have a plan, a plan to get Lauren and Marcus together." Marina said, as she grinned, mischievously.
A/N: what's Marina's plan?? If any of you are wondering, Josh is Dante and Lulu's second son. Reviews would be greatly appreciated!!!
~PP~
