Chapter 21

A few days later

Clark and Katie sat in Kelly's around two am. Cameron, Kristina, and Katie's boyfriend Justin had just left. They had been hanging out from 10 pm till just a few minutes before when everyone else went home.

Katie had gotten into an argument with Justin earlier so she was a little emotionally wrung out.

Clark said, "One more brownie before bed?"

Katie smiled "Another man hooked on my mom's brownies. I'll get the milk."

After they ate another brownie each Clark said, "Do you want me to beat his ass?"

Katie choked on her milk. "Who?"

"That boyfriend of yours that made you cry."

She wiped milk off her face. "That was no big deal. We fight sometimes. But Justin loves me."

"But does he treat you right, Katie?"

"Yes and stop playing big brother." She rolled her eyes "I have one who keeps me from having any fun already. No drinking or partying for me. Cam would be all over me and rat me out to my folks."

"Good. You are... we're connected now..." Clark looked down."after what you did..." his voice trailed off.

Katie smiled. Clark is so sweet, she thought

She wished she could have introduced her best friend Lacey to Clark. She felt they would really hit it off but Lacey was out of town all this week.

Clark looked up and said "So I need to know your happy and having a good life. Cause you gave me a second chance at mine." He stood up, looking embarrassed. "I'm exhausted and I have to leave early tomorrow morning so I better go up to bed."

"Night, Clark Q." she said, calling him the nickname she had bestowed on him.

"Night, brat."

She groaned."I will kill Cam for teaching you to call me that."

Clark laughed and jogged upstairs.

Katie felt good, like her life really meant something since she could give him what he needed to survive and now help to make him part of her family.

The next morning Katie was giving Clark a hug outside Kelly's when Luke, Laura, Lucky, Liz, Carly and Cameron walked up.

Clark gave Katie and look and whispered, "What did you do?"

"Organized a proper send off is all." she whispered back and then said loudly to her family, "You're late. He almost left before you got here!"

"We made it in plenty of time, Katie girl." Luke told her

Everyone started saying good bye to Clark and giving him hugs.

Carly said, "You look like Jason did in his twenties. Wow."

Clark asked, "Who is Jason?"

Liz said, "Dillon's cousin and Carly brings him up every chance she gets. Though I see some resemblance, now that she mentioned it."

"Don't believe them, Clark. You look like Lulu. Exact same hair color as her and my Angel."Luke said, smiling at Laura

Laura handed Clark a wooden box with bow on it. It had a picture on each side of it. Laura said, "This one is your grandfather and I on our wedding day. This one is Lulu, Lucky, me and Luke when Lulu was a baby. This is Nikolas, his uncle Stefan, your great aunt Bobbie, Emily and Liz. They are all dressed up because they were at a fund raiser called the Nurses Ball. And this last one is Lulu and Dillon as teenagers."

"Thanks a lot for this."

Luke said, "Now don't go forgetting about us, kid. It would break your grandmothers heart and I don't let anyone get away with doing that."

Katie chimed in, "He's coming back next month for his birthday and we're having a huge party at the Haunted Star."

"We are?" asked Lucky

"Please, dad?"

Lucky couldn't resist her big brown eyes that reminded him so much of Liz and said, "Sure. If your grandfather says it is okay."

"I'm always up for a good party." Luke said.

"Guess, I'll see you then. " Clark said "I need to go now. Here are the keys to the convertible, Luke. I'm going to take a cab to the train."

Cam said, "I'll drive you."

"Not so fast," a voice called out.

Everyone turned to see Lulu and Dillon walking up. Clark was glad to see they made the effort to come and tell him good bye.

He was getting closer to them with each conversation but the whole relationship still felt very fragile.

Clark felt himself getting teary as his mom gave him a hug. "I'll see you soon." Lulu said softly

Dillon shook his hand and patted his arm, then hugged him too. "Don't stay away too long, son."

"I won't." Clark promised.

It felt amazing to be part of all these people's lives. They went out of their way for him and Clark had a feeling he would soon be thinking of Port Charles as home.