Chapter 20

A few days later

Clark sat in the lobby of the Metro Court. He was trying to work up the nerve to walk over to the elevator and push the button that would take him up to Lulu's room.

It was strange to bond with Dillon Quatermaine, the famous movie director, yet it came easier than speaking to Lulu. She was the one who made the choice to give him away. Would she love him now?

Had she loved him then?

He couldn't help wondering.

A man's voice said, "Can a get a quote about how found out you are the long lost son of Dillon Quatermaine? How does it feel to be heir to billions?"

Clark stood up and turned to find a reporter with a microphone and a camera man.

The reporter continued, "I'm Hank Garret from Entertainment Tonight. We are here in Port Charles with Clark Olsen the man whose life was saved by a transplant from a family he never knew he had. His father, Dillon Quatermaine, retired to this town and insiders reveal that he was heartbroken to learn his son was doomed to die if he didn't get a kidney transplant. Clark, was Dillon a match for you?"

Clark's eyes were wide. "I have no comment. And I find this line of questioning extremely invasive and rude."

Clark pushed his way past the man. But the reporter followed behind him, "Did your adoptive parents tell you who you really were? Was their plane crash an accident or suicide because you were about to find out the truth?"

Clark turned around. "You are out of line."

Lulu stepped off the elevator and heard the reporter say, "How does it feel to be the bastard son of a Hollywood legend?"

Lulu rushed over and put herself between the reporter and Clark.

"Stay away from my son!"

"You're Lesley Lou Spencer? Why didn't you keep your love child with Dillon Quatermaine? Were you in love with another man? Are you sure Dillon is the father?"

She placed her hand in front of the camera. "My relative owns this hotel. And if you do not leave these premises immediately you will find yourself a guest of the Port Charles police. Should I call the Commissioner now? Did I mention he is my brother?"

The reporter opened his mouth to argue and Lulu, lifting one finger to silence him , "Don't try me."

She turned and said, "Come on, Clark."

He followed her to the elevator. When the doors closed and they were ridding up to her room he said, "Wow. You're tough."

"I hope you don't think I was babying you. I know you could have handled that guy on your own but when I saw him messing with you my instincts kicked in."

"That's cool. Thanks."

"Anytime, Clark. I mean it. "

Clark smiled. Maybe this will work out, he thought, maybe my mom does loves me.

He immediately was shocked he thought of her as his mom.

Yet, he already did, in a way. She could never be who Miranda was to him. But she had her own unique spot in his life. His birth mom. And, obviously, she still cared enough to fight for him.

Clark said, "I just came to tell you I'm in town. I'll be here a few more days if you wanted to have dinner or something."

"I'd like that. I want you to meet my side of the family."

They walked into her hotel room.

"I kinda already did. Some of them, at least." Clark told her

Lulu gave him confused look.

"You're dad is letting me use his car, if you can believe it." Clark said " And he came to Kelly's last night and was trying to teach me card tricks and how to pick locks. He said it's a family tradition."

"Don't let him talk you into getting in any legal trouble. He already had my nephew Cameron in a Mexican jail for a weekend last summer."

"Was he pulling the phony doctor scam again?" Cameron said, laughing.

"No, it was something to do with searching for Stefan Cassadine, who has been dead for 25 years. But my dad swears he has been spotted all over the globe. It's a complicated story. But your grandfather Luke has a long standing feud with the Cassadines." Lulu gave him a warning look.

She told him, "But I don't. And you shouldn't let yourself get drug into it. Your uncle Nikolas is the head of the Cassadine family now. He lives in Greece with his wife, your Aunt Emily, and their kids. Do not go to Greece with my dad, if he asks! In fact , do not leave this town with him! He is always going on adventures but you ... I want to know you're safe, okay?"

"You got it, mom."

They both froze.

The word had just slipped out of Clark's mouth because she was being so protective and treating him like her kid.

Lulu tried not to get teary. She cleared her throat and said, "So, are you feeling well? No complications? What do the doctors say?"

"I'm doing fine. Don't worry."

"It's a mother's job to worry."

They smiled at each other. Clark said, "Do you want to go to Kelly's ? Katie makes great coffee and I only had one cup this morning. I could use a couple more."

"You drink coffee?"

"I'm almost twenty years old. I've been drinking coffee for years."

This would take some getting used to for Lulu. She had pictured him as growing up. Every birthday she tried to imagine what he might look like at 8 playing little league, at 16 on a date, in a cap and gown at 18. But here he was, nearly 20 years old, not a child anymore but a man who looked enough like her and Dillon to take her breath away.

"Coffee sounds good." she said

It was small but it was a start and Lulu would take it and make the most out of every minute, she vowed to herself. She had twenty years she couldn't get back but she would never stay away from her son again as long as he wanted her in his life.

Clark held the door to her suite open and she walked out. All his nerves were gone now.

Coming to Port Charles was the right move, he thought, I need to be with these people...my family.