Chapter 23

Author's note- The next two chapters show the main characters in this story and many other Port Charles residents. I wanted to allude to what the future might hold for each of them.

April 23, 2027

Clark's birthday party

Dillon's eyes floated over the crowd at the Haunted Star and ended at the doorway, as they had every five minutes of the last hour. He hadn't seen Lulu in thirteen days and he missed her something awful.

But he knew she would never skip this party. He ordered another drink, leaned against the bar, and waited.

On the dance floor, Frankie was standing on Clark's shoes as he danced with her. She looked up, her brown eyes full of hero worship, and smiled at her older brother.

Mac Quatermaine was sitting at a table with his Nan when Luke walked over.

"Spanky Buns, care to take a spin?" His head nodded toward the dance floor.

"Won't the current Mrs. Spencer object?" Tracy said, her eyes challenging him.

Luke winked at her. "She knows you're my favorite ex-wife."

Tracy stood and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor where Laura was already dancing with Mac Scorpio.

Lacey, wearing a green knee length party dress that accented her eyes, approached her best friend Katie.

"Hey girl." she said, her eyes taking in Clark and his movie star good looks. Lacey's heart melted at the sweet way he was treating his little sister.

The song ended and Clark took Frankie's hand and lead her toward the table where her brother was sitting.

"Lace!" Katie said, hugging her "You finally got here! You're late."

"Sorry. I had hair issues."

"You look great. "

"So that is the infamous Clark Q?" Lacey asked

"Come on, you have to meet him." Katie took her hand and drug her over to the table.

Frankie greeted them by saying "Guess what, Kate? I get to go to college! Clark says Mac and I can spend a weekend with him in New York if Daddy says okay. Which he better because that would be so cool, don't you think?"

"Sounds like fun." Katie told her. Then looking at Clark she said, "I wanted to introduce you to my absolute oldest and best friend, Lacey McGovern."

Clark smiled at Lacey and said hello. Their eyes connected and he felt a jolt.

He found himself murmuring the word, "Dance?" without even meaning to.

"Alright." Lacey said softly

They moved to the middle of the floor and effortlessly went into each other arms.

Frankie ran over to Mac Scorpio, "Your turn to dance with me, Grandpa!"

Laura said, "Go ahead. I'm about ready for a drink anyway." She moved gracefully to the bar, got a white wine, and started talking to Alexis Davis. She didn't worry about Luke and Tracy, who were still on the dance floor, she knew her husband would be back by her side soon enough.

Katie was about to ask Malcolm Quatermaine to dance, so the child wouldn't feel left out, when eight year old Natasha, Samantha Cassadine's daughter, came up to the table.

"Hey, Mac." she said shyly

"Hi, Nat."

Katie smiled at the youngsters and walked away.

"My mom says we should dance." she said, looking at her shoes.

"I don't like dancing." Mac said, giving her the typical nine year old boy response.

She looked up and smiled, "Me either. Want to go exploring instead?"

"Sure. I know how to get below deck. My daddy used to live on this boat."

They snuck off together.

Dillon didn't notice because at that moment hands covered his eyes.

"Miss me?" Lulu said

"Not a bit." he lied

She moved her hands from his eyes. He turned around. She playfully smacked his chest.

"Ass." Lulu said, laughing. "You did to miss me."

He kissed her. "Of course I did."

Lucky and Liz watched Katie from across the room. She was now involved in another argument with her boyfriend Justin.

Lucky said to his wife, "I'm going over there and kicking that kid out of here. I am sick of him making our little girl cry."

"Our little girl is almost a grown woman and look, Lucky, she is handling it okay."

They watched as Katie took off a promise ring and threw it at him. She yelled, "I'm through with you for good!"

People turned to stare.

Justin grabbed Katie's arm.

From different parts of the room Lucky, Nikolas, Luke, Cameron, Clark and Spencer Cassadine all started hurrying over but Marc Jacks, Jax's eldest son, who was a year younger than Katie and had a huge crush on her, beat them all to Justin.

Marc pulled Justin away from Katie and said, "Touch her again and you'll find yourself tossed over the railing."

"By who?" challenged Justin "You? Please."

Lucky, Nikolas, Luke, Cameron, Clark and Spencer Cassadine surrounded them.

"Kate said she is through with you." Marc Jacks said "Take the hint and leave her alone. Now."

Justin shook his head at Marc, as if to say, You are pathetic but backed away.

Cameron grabbed Justin's arm and said, "Party's over." Cam forced him out of the casino.

Lucky said to Katie, "You alright, sweetie?"

"Fine, dad." She turned to Marc. "Thanks, you didn't have to do that."

Ned had invited Jax and his kids to the party. Katie knew Marc but always thought of him as a kid, though he wasn't that much younger.

"No big deal, Kate. Enjoy the rest of the party, okay?" Marc gave her a smile and then walked away.

Katie watched him go, seeing him for the first time in a new light.

Dillon whispered in Lulu's ear, "Come with me." Then he slipped his hand in hers and led her down to his old room.

Outside the door, with her leaning against it, he kissed her.

She said, "I needed that. I hate living away from you."

"I tried telling you that was a bad idea."

"Fine. You are a genius. I'm transferring to The Metro Court's Port Charles office next week."

"Isn't that a demotion?"

She kissed him. "Yeah, but the perks more than make up for it."

A clanking sound came from inside the room. Dillon and Lulu jumped.