NOTE: Lulu, Michael, and Brooke Lynn have all been aged in this fic. Sly Eckert has also returned. And Jesse Smith, Zander's younger brother was was featured in my fanfic 'Truth, Lies, and Betrayal', is also featured in the fic. But this story takes place after that one, and Lulu and Jesse are dating now. Laura has been sent to the mental institution and Luke is having to deal with life without Laura.

Chapter 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lulu knocks twice on her dad's office door

" Dad?" she calls through the door

She turns the door knob peeking inside as she looks around the room

" Dad? You here?" says Lulu as she walks inside

She walks by his desk as she smiles down at the picture of her mom and dad. She picks it up and runs her finger around the outline of her mom's face. She felt like crying right then and there but couldn't bring herself to do it

" No more crying Lulu. It dosen't get you anywhere." she says as she puts the picture back on the desk

Suddenly the door opens and Luke walks in

" Hey Princess. How's my beautiful girl?" says Luke as she wraps his arms around her in a hug

Lulu smiles as she hugs him back

" I'm fine, dad. I just came by to see how you were doing. Lucky said you were kind of down so..." says Lulu

" He did, did he?" says Luke sarcastically as he walks over and pours himself a drink

" Yeah, he just said you seemed sad." says Lulu as she watches him chug down a shot of Vodka straight up

" Well I'm fine. I've just...just been busy with the club." says Luke

" Do you actually expect me to buy that?" says Lulu

" Sweetheart, I don't know what you want me to say." says Luke

" It's ok, dad. It's ok to miss her." says Lulu

Luke looks at Lulu as tears fill his eyes

" I know that." says Luke

" I miss her too. I think about her everyday. I just wish you would talk about it instead of hiding in here." says Lulu

" What is this?! Aren't I the one who's supposed to be taking care of you? It's not supposed to be this way." says Luke

" I can take care of myself. You know that." says Lulu

Luke chuckles

" Lulu, your 16. You don't know what taking care of yourself is." says Luke

" I learned from the best didn't I? Come on dad, you remember. From the time I was seven years old it's always been, always look out for yourself and the family. Never let your guard down." says Lulu

Luke dosen't respond

" I know that you miss mom more than anything. And I can't even imagine what it's like to lose someone who's been in your life as long as mom has. But at least she's alive, daddy. Can't that be enough?" says Lulu

" No! No it can't, damn it!" says Luke loudly as he pushes all of the crystal wine holders off of the table

Lulu jumps as he does this and let's out a small yell. Suddenly Nikolas comes charging through the door. He looks at Lulu and then at Luke

" What the hell is going on in here?" says Nikolas