Long Way To Happy...

This is the next installment of the 'No Day But Today' series and follows Fate and Tragedy... This is AU in both the GH and RENT Verses(which I own neither) As of this chapter the timeline is set in June 2006 this story will end in November/December 2006(Jan 07 at the latest) with a planed fourth and final fic in the series (that may be a future fic) as well as a possible prequel fic I am also bringing Spinelli in but not with ties to the mob so I don't know how it will work out...Maureen will be shipped with Milo and I am going to attempt to introduce Logan to the canon as well(but Lulu WILL ultimately choose Spinelli I just want some extra tension plus the fact that he is a relation to Patrick(I believe brother cause I don't think Patrick is his dad)

Some more time had passed in Port Charles as signs of summer were popping up everywhere.

"Mark," said Sam one afternoon at Kelly's, "I can see why you and Amanda have still not set a date."

"Wedding plans getting to you," Mark asked.

"Yes," Sam said, "I mean July Fourth why did Jason and I decided that date."

"Beats me," said Mark.

"I'm going to tell Jason that I need more time," Sam said, "It's not that I have cold feet I just want everything to be perfect."

"At this rate care for a double wedding," Mark asked.

"Seriously," Sam asked.

"I'm game," Mark said.

Sam smiled and left to see Jason as Spinelli headed downstairs.

"Hey Cohen," Spinelli said, "so talking to the OW again."

"The OW," Mark asked.

"Other Woman," Spinelli said, "It just seems like you spend a lot of time with Sam."

"She's my friend," Mark said, "I lived with her for a while when I first came to town."

"So you're not doing a little something on the side," Spinelli asked, "because Mandy doesn't deserve to be treated like that."

"I love Amanda," Mark said, "Always have and always will."

Just then Lulu entered Kelly's and was heading to where Georgie was working.

"Catfight in 3-2...," Mark said.

"So Georgie have you and Dillon set a date on when you are leaving," Lulu asked.

"Why," Georgie said, "so you can try and break us up before we do."

"Why would I do a thing like that," asked Lulu, "no I just want to know when I can get your hours."

"What's going on now," Georgie said, "I may be married to Dillon but he never tells me any Quartermaine gossip."

"Who said it was Quartermaine gossip," said Lulu as her gaze drifter to where Spinelli and Mark were talking.

"Guy drama," Georgie asked.

"It's just do you think I made a mistake turning down Diego," Lulu asked.

"What do you mean turned down," Georgie said.

"He asked me out and I said I liked him but I refused to be a substitute for you Georgie," Lulu said, "now he's touring Europe for the summer and everyone I know has paired off."

"Is that why you keep looking at Spinelli," Georgie asked, "do you think something might come of a relationship with him."

"I don't know," said Lulu.

"What a surprise," Mark said, "those two are actually being civil today."

"So what's her story," Spinelli asked.

"Her who," Mark asked.

"The Blonde One," Spinelli said, "she keeps eyeing me...I mean we spoke a few times seeing as she's Mandy's step sis but she just seems like she is holding something back."

"She'll let you in if she wants to," Mark said as Spinelli looked at his watch.

"I'm so late," Spinelli said running out the door.

At Windermere...

"Aren't you getting big," said Emily as she picked up Spencer and kissed him.

"I know," said Nickolas, "he keeps growing out of everything so fast is that normal."

"It is," said Emily smiling, "you know he has Courtney's smile."

"I know," said Nickolas.

"Do you still miss her," Emily said.

"Sometimes," Nickolas said, "but I don't think it was ever meant to be between us, I mean not like me and you."

Nickolas kissed Emily on her cheek as Maureen walked in.

"Am I interrupting," said Maureen.

"No," said Nickolas, "in fact would you mind putting Spencer down for a nap while I talk with Emily."

"Sure thing," said Maureen taking the baby from Emily.

At The Hospital Amanda was at the nurses' station as Sam came in.

"Is something wrong," Amanda asked.

"Jason and I have decided to postpone the wedding indefinitely," Sam said, "I don't know maybe it would be better if we lived in sin like you and Mark do."

"Mark and I hardly live in sin," Amanda said, "what with Spinelli crashing in our all too small room above Kelly's."

"Spinelli can move in with me and Jason," Sam suggested.

"And Benny would be pissed," Amanda said, "no thanks."

Lulu came up to the desk and smiled at Amanda.

"You're on time for once," Amanda said.

"I still don't see why I have to volunteer here," Lulu said, "is this some sort of punishment."

"My family pretty much owns this hospital," Amanda said, "and well I guess the Quartermaines are your family now too."

"Fine," Lulu said, "but no scrubbing out bed pans."

"Fine," said Lulu as Elizabeth came over.

"Hey Sam, Lulu, Amanda," said Elizabeth.

"Hi and Bye," said Sam.

"Bye," said Elizabeth, "so Amanda I don't know what you did but Cam pretty much wants to live at Daycare now."

"I know Liz," Amanda said, "The kids just love him."

"Love who," said Lulu.

Maureen had just put Spencer down for a nap and headed back downstairs when she was stopped at the sight of Nickolas and Emily kissing.

"Sorry," said Maureen.

"It's ok;" said Nickolas, "in fact Emily and I can take it from here."

Maureen nodded and headed on the shuttle out. She had lately been spending most of her down time sitting at the coffee house reading, a luxury she never had when she was a performance artist in the city.

"Is this seat taken," said a male voice.

"Go ahead," said Maureen.

"So reading anything good," he asked.

"Not really," said Maureen putting down the book, "more of a time waster."

"I've seen you here before," he said.

"That's funny because I would have defiantly remembered you," Maureen said.

"Well maybe because I saw you from when I was out back meeting with Mr. Corinthos," he said, "seeing as I work for him and all."

"Oh," Maureen said thinking that this guy was not only good looking but also worked for a career criminal, "so what do you do for him."

"I'm one of his Bodyguards first and foremost," he said, "but I also run some of the behind the scenes stuff here at the coffee house."

"Fascinating," Maureen said, "I'm a has been performance artist who is now employed as a nanny to a single father who is reconnecting with his ex."

"And I thought I had a fascinating life," he said, "I'm Milo by the way."

"Maureen," Maureen said shaking Milo's hand and knowing that she may have finally found a real friend in town besides Mark and Amanda.

Later in the evening Lulu was back at the nurses station drumming her nails on the counter when she heard a voice from behind her.

"I didn't know you worked here," Spinelli said.

Lulu turned around and smirked.

"I was forced to volunteer against my will," Lulu said, "I don't like hospitals they creep me out."

"Want to sit and talk about it," Spinelli asked.

"And why would I want to talk with you," Lulu said.

"Because Blonde One I'll Listen," Spinelli said as Liz came around with Cam.

"Spinelli," Elizabeth said, "would you mind babysitting for me sometime I know Cam would love that won't you."

The little boy smiled.

"No problem," Spinelli said, "C and I are good friends right C."

Cam nodded and gave the teen a hug.

Lulu looked surprised...this was the person Liz and Amanda were talking about earlier she realized. As Liz left Lulu smiled.

"So," said Spinelli "is it a date."

"Wow that was subtle," Lulu said, "I mean I guess maybe we could hang out sometime just the two of us."

Lulu nodded as Amanda came up to them.

"I'm glad you two are hitting it off," Amanda said putting one arm around her step sister and the other around her roommate.

"So am I done," Lulu asked.

"Are you heading out," Amanda asked Spinelli.

"That would be a yes," Spinelli said.

"Then you can go Lulu," Amanda said, "Spinelli tell Mark I'll see him later."

"I will," Spinelli said as he left followed by Lulu.

TBC...