Disclaimer: Okay, so I own nothing. Nothing at all. Which is quite sad because I love Max and would love to own him, however I don't. So anything you recognize I do not own at all. Please don't sue. I'm not a big fan of courts, or judges, or lawyers or anything of that sort. Thank-you.
Pairing: Max/Lulu and other pairings and allusions to other pairings.
Summary: "Why are you really helping me?" She asked quietly… Max sighed. "Because you don't want to be alone and right now neither do I."
Note: Max is 26 in this story. I don't know his age in the show and I'm sorry if that makes other people mad. It really isn't my intention.
A Bodyguard's Heart
Chapter 10: The Tale of Two Mended Hearts
March was nearly ending and Lulu could see winter melting away allowing spring to take over in its place. She leaned her head against the windowsill and watched the sun peak through the clouds. She was at Wyndemere spending time with Spencer while Nikolas and Emily went into town to run errands. She looked over at Spencer and saw that he was playing with toys in his playpen. She stretched her legs and walked over to him. She reached down and lifted him up. "Hey baby boy." Lulu whispered.
Spencer gurgled at his aunt. Lulu smiled softly. Spencer laid his head on Lulu's shoulder and she tensed. She swallowed roughly. It was definitely hard she decided. It was hard to hold a child and not wonder about what ifs. She hated what ifs. She knew another person who hated what ifs too. She felt tears well up and she rapidly blinked them back. She wasn't going to cry over him…anymore. She hadn't even cried over Dillon this much.
She wondered idly why she cried over Max (who she had known for a much shorter time) more then she cried over Dillon (who she almost had a child with).
Dillon was her first love or rather infatuation. He paid attention to her. He played into her hands. He was someone that she saw everyday. They grew close and in turn she started to fall for someone who was attached to someone else. She wondered if she loved Dillon or the idea of Dillon, that maybe he could learn to love her for her.
In the end because he found out what she was about, he left her. He said cruel (yet ultimately deserving) things to her and left.
Max was someone who never criticized her. He listened to what she said and then said his opinion. He made her laugh and shed the defensive slightly destructive exterior. He made her feel…worth something. It didn't matter what she had done in the past what he saw was the present. Like Dillon, in the end he left too.
She felt Spencer pull on her hair and she looked down to see her nephew smiling at her. "Sorry buddy. I spaced out there for a few minutes." She walked towards the couch and sat down taking Spencer with her. She turned him around so that he was facing her. "I'm going to tell you something and what I say you have to listen to. Now, I may know that I'm not the wisest person ever to walk the earth and I'm not exactly the best person to look up to but what I have to say is important. Do you understand?" Spencer blinked back at her still smiling. "One of the most amazing feelings you're going to feel one day is love. It overcomes you in the biggest waves that sometimes you wonder if it drowned you. Don't be scared because that's just what love feels like. Spencer, I know you're young and you're looking at me like I grew another head but the whole point of my lecture is that when you love something or someone don't be afraid to love them. Because despite of everything in-between it all boils down to you two. That's what matters." She let out a small laugh and sighed as a few tears escaped from her eyes.
Spencer frowned at his aunt and swatted away the tears.
She kissed his forehead. "Now you know your aunt is a nut. I guess it runs in the family."
"What runs in the family?" Nikolas asked walking in with bags hanging from each arm.
"Being crazy." Lulu responded bouncing Spencer on her knees.
Nikolas frowned and put down the bags. Emily followed him. "Lulu, are you corrupting my son?"
"Just telling the truth."
"Is everything alright Lulu?" Emily asked walking over and taking Spencer away from the blonde.
She nodded. "Yeah, everything is great." She plastered on a fake smile. "Two months and I'm doing just peachy." She got up and grabbed her coat. "Well since you're here I might as well be going."
"You don't have to go." Emily said.
Nikolas nodded eagerly. "You could stay here for the night."
Lulu shook her head. "I had better get going. I'm closing up tonight." She pointed to Spencer. "You. Heir to the Cassadine fortune, don't forget what I told you. It's a life lesson you know." She turned around and walked away.
Nikolas turned his gaze to his son. "You know, it's a pity you can't talk yet. Maybe then you'd be able to tell me exactly what she told you." Spencer laughed and shook his head. "Or you can rebel and not tell me anything."
Emily shook her head sadly. "She's still hurting from Max."
Nikolas sighed and wrapped his arm around Emily's shoulder. "She's a teenager who had her heart broken."
"She's a young woman who grew up too fast."
"That too."
Max stumbled into his penthouse with Milo following behind him. They both sighed when they entered the penthouse. "Man." Milo said shaking his head. "Alcazar just doesn't get it, does he?"
Max shrugged. "He's a mob boss." He loosened his tie and chucked his jacked on the sofa that he collapsed on moments later. "I don't think they ever learn."
"I guess so." Milo let out a yawn. "I'm going to head upstairs and sleep for a little bit." He walked up the stairs and into his room.
Max flipped on the T.V. and flicked through the channels. Seeing that nothing interesting was on, he got up and walked into the kitchen. He was looking through the freezer when he caught sight of a small tub of ice cream. He reached in slowly and took it out. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
"Are you meaning to tell me that you prefer Rum and Raisin over CCCD?" Lulu asked shaking her head. Max had virtually nothing in his fridge and Lulu blew a casket when she found out the Giambetti boys hadn't been grocery shopping in three weeks.
"What's CCCD?" Max wondered throwing in a few frozen dinners. Lulu took them and put them back in their rightful places. "Hey! I love those frozen dinners."
Lulu made a face. "Ew. Number one they are completely unhealthy, number two don't rely on frozen foods because one day they will run out and number three…just ew. And for your question, how could you not know what CCCD stands for? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough."
"They have an ice cream made out of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough?"
Lulu shook her head. "Blasphemy. I'm telling you its pure blasphemy."
That was before things had gotten complicated. Or had Max made them complicated? He didn't know what to think.
It had been nearly two months and Max was still having a hard time dealing with it. He grabbed a spoon, shut the freezer and took off the lid of the ice cream tub. He dug his spoon in it and put it into his mouth. He looked down at the ice cream and smiled softly. He understood why Lulu liked it so much. With the ice cream in hand he walked back towards the living room and leaned against the fireplace while he looked out the window.
Winter was disappearing and spring was coming into view. The transition always awed Max for some reason. He figured it was seeing the snow melt away and the frostiness slowly but surely evaporate until next winter.
Spring. It was a time to leave all of memories of the harsh winter behind and start new. He used to believe in that. He let out a small sigh. He didn't know if he knew how to start a new beginning. Or he didn't want to start a new beginning…at least not without Lulu.
How was it that he had become so attached to her? What was it about her that was…infectious? That was easy. It was the smile. And the laugh. And the sarcastic comments. It was her loyalty. Most of all it was how she was passionate when it came to someone or something she loved.
He wondered if she still thought of him.
They had bumped into each other a few times. She would look up at him hopefully and he would turn his face. She'd let her hand linger on his arm as she walked away from him.
Sitting on the couch he was assaulted with memories of her. Of him. Of them.
Max took a sip of his coffee. "So, was there any special reason why you were out in the snow?"
Lulu sighed and traced the mouth of the mug with her index finger. She shrugged. "Everything." She turned her head to see Max looking at her intently. "My mom slipped back into her catatonic state, my dad fled to some unknown country to most likely wallow up in his self pity, Lucky knocked Maxie Jones up and every time I call her on it everyone jumps down my neck and tells me that I did the same thing. Only I'm worse. You see Maxie is actually keeping the baby, I had an abortion." She set the cup down on the table and ran a hand over her face. "And I just spilled my guts to a total and complete stranger. That's great. Go ahead."
Max raised his eyebrows. "Go ahead and do what?"
"Judge me. Tell me that I killed my baby. Tell me that I'm trash and I have no room to judge Maxie because then that would make me a hypocrite."
"I'm not going to judge you. You're trying to protect your brother. There's no shame in that. As for your abortion, I can't say anything because a lot of women get it. It was your choice and if they keep on rubbing it in your face, then you need new friends."
"Do you ever wish you could move?" Lulu asked while they walked out of Central Park.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, don't you wish that sometimes you lived somewhere other then Port Charles? There's so much out there. There's so much right in front of our faces and we don't see them until they drift away. I don't want to be like that. I love my family and Port Charles will always be my home but sometimes I wish it wasn't." Lulu sighed. "That's completely stupid right?"
"Did it hurt when you served that family?" Max asked quietly.
Lulu looked at him with sadness in her eyes. "A little bit." At his look she sighed. "It hurt a lot. I looked at the kid and she had these blues eyes. It just startled me a little bit and sent me into a fit of 'what ifs.' I'm not a 'what if' person."
"They're never good. Making a person second guess themselves makes them crazy."
She walked up the stairs and once at the top she looked back down. "You're a good guy Max." She said to him. "One of the only good guys left."
"It just means two dances instead of just one." She raised her eyebrows at Max. "What do you say Giambetti? You up for the challenge?"
Max looked down at her and at that moment he was oblivious to the looks and stares from not only the people at the table but scattered people all over the room. All he concentrated was on the blue eyes staring at him playfully. "Bring. It. On."
"You could have left me in the alleyway…but you didn't. You helped me get through what happened and because of that you've become one of the most important people in the world to me. You actually listen to me instead of berating me. You're my hero."
Max smiled down at the girl softly. "For what it's worth you've become really important to me too."
She could feel him hesitate, her heart-breaking she stepped back only to get pulled back in. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his around her waist they stood on the balcony kissing while the people below cheered for the New Year.
Milo walked with her in his arms. "Max!" He called out to his older brother. Max turned around and frowned at Milo. His eyes widened when he saw the girl in Milo's arms. "Lulu's been shot."
"Then let's save ourselves from the misery we're going to be in. We're good together Max. When I'm with you I'm happy, does that mean nothing?"
She was trailing behind him. "Don't do this Max. Don't do this. Don't listen to Lucky, he doesn't know what he's talking about." She saw Elizabeth look up from the main desk when she heard Lulu talking. Lulu started to cry openly and at once Elizabeth was at her side. She watched as Max kept walking away from her. "I won't be Sam McCall!" Lulu yelled. "I won't scheme ways to get you back. You taught me better. You made me a better person!" She saw Max get on the elevator. "Max! I came back for you, does that mean nothing?!" She fell into Elizabeth's arms sobbing when she saw the elevator doors shut and Max disappear behind them.
Did it mean nothing to him? No it meant the world to him. She meant the world to him.
He looked at his wrist-watch. It was late, he knew that. He got up quickly and put the ice cream down on the table. He knew where she'd be.
As he scribbled a little note for Milo and walked out of the penthouse, he sent up a silent prayer that he wasn't too late.
After all, he didn't want to be bitter and miserable for the rest of his life.
Lulu was closing up Kelly's again. She had been closing up for the last month. She didn't mind. That way it meant that she could delay going home. She reached over and turned on the radio.
If I told you a secret
You won't tell a soul
Will you hold it and
Keep it alive
She paused for a minute and then shook her head. She took the cloth and wiped down the counter. She rearranged the salt and pepper shakers and made sure that everything was turned off in the kitchen.
Cause it's burning a hole
And I can't get to sleep
And I can't live alone
In this life
So look up, take it away
Don't look da-da-da-down
The mountain
She flipped on the dishwasher and moved towards the tables. She started at the front wiped each table before she put up the chairs.
If the world isn't turning
Your heart won't return
Anyone, anything, anyhow
So take me, don't leave me
Take me, don't leave me
Baby, love will come through
It's just waiting for you
She swallowed roughly but continued cleaning up.
She almost let out a laugh. They always said that love will triumph over everything but somehow, now, in her predicament, she didn't really believe that.
And you stand at the crossroads
Of highroads and lowroads
And I've got a feeling
It's right
If it's real what I'm feeling
There's no make believing
The sound of the wings
Of the flight
She wanted so badly for Max to just open his eyes and realize that she was right in front of his face. She wanted Max to realize that he made a mistake in letting her go because she wasn't ready to be let go. She wanted to hold on. She wanted to fight for him. She had never wanted to fight for someone like she wanted to fight for Max. He made her feel better about herself and actually listened to her.
She was putting up the chairs and was absorbed with the lyrics of the song that she didn't hear the door creak open as someone let themselves in.
Of a dove, take it away
Don't look da-da-da-down
The mountain
If the world isn't turning
Your heart won't return
Anyone, anything, anyhow
She was shocked when she saw someone step beside her and help put up the chairs. She looked up at his dark chocolate eyes and he sent her a small smile.
So take me, don't leave me
Take me, don't leave me
Baby, love will come through
It's just waiting for you
Oh, look up, take it away
Don't look da-da-da-down
If the world isn't turning
Your heart won't return
Anyone, anything, anyhow
They stood across from each other staring.
Lulu felt her heart catch in her chest. He was there. He was really there. She gently grabbed his hand, hesitantly, afraid that he was going to take it back. He didn't. He grabbed her hand and held it. She continued to stare at him.
Max looked around and noticed the chairs that hadn't been put up yet. He let go of Lulu's hand and started to put up the chairs.
Lulu twirled and saw Max start to put up the chairs that she had left behind. She stared at him confused. "Why are you helping me?" She asked.
Max turned his head and smiled at her boldly. "Because you don't want to be alone and right now neither do I."
Lulu's eyes grew wide and she let out a laugh. She jumped into Max's arm and kissed him on the lips.
He didn't hesitate this time. Instead he pulled her closer and held her tightly. Afraid to let go. This time he knew that wouldn't.
So take me, don't leave me
Take me, don't leave me
Baby, love will come through
It's just waiting for you
Love will come through
Love will come through
Love will come through
The song at the end is called Love Will Come Through by Travis. I love the song. It's an amazing song and I thought it would fit.
Anyways, can you guys actually believe it? It's done! I'm actually kind of sad. I became attached to this story. Has anyone been keeping up with General Hospital? I'm sort of going crazy. I hate that girl kidnapper. She's a witch. I hope Robin will be okay. Spinelli is the best. I love him! Does anyone else see that Maxie and the guy she's stuck with totally have some chemistry? Because I do. I'm actually starting to tolerate Maxie now. I don't mind her as much.
Anyways I just want to say a big thank you to everyone.
Now onto my reviewers!
IlovetowriteSMP- Isn't it crazy?! I mean it's finally done. I appreciate that you reviewed every chapter and that you gave me support, thank you so much! Wasn't their conversation very emotional? I thought I would add that and then go into a happy ending. I'm a sucker for those! I was waiting for GH to let Lulu flip out on Lucky but she never did and that got me angry so I made her flip out on him. I love the relationship between Liz and Lulu it's so sisterly that it makes me happy whenever I see them together on the screen. I'm really glad that you liked the story and I hope that you liked the last chapter. Thanks for the reviews and support!
SammiJ- I know, I hate seeing them miserable too! Well, I hope that you liked the chapter because I enjoyed writing it and reading your reviews! Thank you so much for your reviews! I really hope that you liked the final chapter! Thanks again for your reviews!
Amyvedamarie- I know! I don't anyone really expected the conversation. I didn't even expect it, until I started writing and was like 'Yeah, that would great to put in it.' That's the girl I made Lulu to be, she hated what Lucky did and loves Max so of course she's going to stand up for him. I really hope that you liked the final chapter! I know can you believe it? Thank you so much for your reviews! Hope you liked it! Thanks again!
Murgy31- Thank you so much for liking the story! Hope you liked the last chapter and thank you for your review!
IrishArmyBrat06- Oh no! I didn't mean to make you cry! But I'm really happy that you liked it! Thank you for the compliment! I hope that you liked the overall story and thank you for your reviews!
Coffeegurl5- You know what? I'm happy that you came across my story and I'm very happy that you liked it! Don't cry please! Everything worked out in the end lol! I'm glad that reading my story was the highlight of your day! Thank you so much for your reviews and hope you enjoyed the last chapter!
Notashamedtobeasoilyfan- Thank you! Oh I know! Milo kicks butt! He's wicked awesome! I think that what Max and Lulu said would have to effect them both and of course they were sad they had a connection with one another! That's the thing though Lulu even said that she wasn't going to scheme up ways to get Max back because he made her a better person. Of course he did, he's Max. Looking at him and Milo make me a better person (yeah right). Thank you so much for your review and support. I hope you liked the last chapter as much as you liked the previous ones! Thanks again!
I want to send out a big thank-you to all of my reviewers and even those who read but didn't review the fact that you read it makes me happy! Thank you all so much and I hope that you will read my next General Hospital story that I have in mind
It will be different from this one however it will center around Diego and Lulu and will be AU. I know it doesn't grab out but I promise it just might be good! Think about it please!
Thank you all so much! You have no idea what your support means to me!
Signing off
Books.
P.S. I'm sorry if I left anyone out. Thank-you all so much! Keep an eye out for my next GH story!