Epilogue Part B

18 years after the road trip, Winter

Lulu sat at the counter of the diner. She stared down at her coffee, feeling foolish.

"He's not coming, is he?" She asked Lucas, who stood behind the counter.

Her cousin gave her a sad look.

When Lulu stepped into the diner at noon that afternoon Lucas had been thrilled to see her.

She now lived in Pennsylvania and hadn't been back to town in a few years. She left engaged to Dr. James Martin who, for a short while, worked at General Hospital. But the wedding never happened.

Just like every relationship she ever had something didn't work out in the end. With Jamie, he ran off with his ex on the night before the ceremony.

After five hours of waiting for Milo her spirit was sinking and Lucas could see the hope draining out of her face.

Lucas reached down behind the counter and pulled out a phone book.

"Call him."

Lulu sighed, "That would look pathetic. Milo probably doesn't even remember our little deal. Are you sure he isn't married?"

"All I know is what's in the papers. It's not like we run in the same circles." Lucas said. "The last time I read anything was when his fiancee died."

"God, I should have done more than send flowers." Lulu said "I should have come home for the funeral. Every e-mail and letter since has gone unanswered. Why did I wait so long?"

Lucas had called her the day after it happened, ten months ago, telling her to read the story on the Port Charles Herald Online. Bridgett had been standing in the middle of the living room of the home she shared with Milo when she opened the package and the mail bomb exploded.

Lucas poured Lulu more coffee. "You're here now. Don't leave town without talking to him."

"You're right. Even if our Soul Mate Pact doesn't mean anything to him, he's still one of my oldest friends. I have to take a shot." Lulu said.

She fingered the medallion hanging around her neck. "I really thought he would have come."

Three years before

Lulu opened the door of her home, the same one she grew up in as a child.

"Hey," she said with surprise.

In the few months she had been dating Jamie, who she met at Milo's engagement party on a night when she was feeling a little sad and sorry for herself, her and Milo had drifted apart.

"Heard a rumor you're ditching this Podunk town." Milo said

"I was going to come and say goodbye. But you know I'm no good at those." Lulu stepped onto the porch. "Lets sit."

When they were seated next to each other she said, "I don't know if I'll make it back here for your wedding."

"All right." It would be easier to say I do to another woman if Lulu wasn't sitting a few feet away, Milo believed.

"You won't be mad?"

"Have I ever been able to stay mad at you, Lulu?"

She smiled.

He took his necklace off and pressed it into her hand.

"No, Milo, I can't. It belongs in your family."

He said softly, "That's why I'm giving it to you."

She looked at him, seeing the man who had been her friend through every high and low point of the last fifteen years. In that moment, her heart broke a little because no matter how much was between them it would never be everything she had hoped for, not now that they were bound to marry other people.

"I shouldn't ..." she started

Milo interrupted, " When you come home again, if you want, I'll take it back. But while you're out there in the world, on your own, you should wear it."

She spoke the words engraved on it, "Where you go, I shall be too."

He leaned over and kissed her cheek, then whispered "Always, Lulu."

Lucas opened the phone book, asking Lulu "You need his address?"

"No. I have it." she said

Reaching into her purse, she pulled out some money.

"It's on the house for Spencers." Lucas said

"Thanks." She stood up. "Lets have a family dinner before I leave. I want to see your kids and hubby."

"You know where to find me," he said, motioning to the diner.

She turned and walked out of the diner. Right outside the doors she saw Milo standing there, wearing a long cashmere coat, his hands stuck in his pockets.

Snowflakes fell down over them.

She lost her breath, taking in the fact he was here and wondering if he had remembered. They hadn't seen each other in three years and hadn't spoken of their deal in more than ten.

He said her name slowly, savoring the sound of it on his lips.

"Lulu."

Tears pricked at her eyes, she felt silly for crying over seeing him but couldn't help herself. For years after that road trip they were great friends, sometimes more, but had never said they were in love with each other.

Instead she called him her back- up boy. And when other guys made her cry or feel not good enough to love, Milo was there to cheer her up.

And a few nights he had been there to make love to her.

But Lulu had never let him know how much she cared for him. Maybe because she was sure that would ruin the one of a kind bond between them.

That was her biggest regret in life now, not loving him when she had the chance.

A slow smile spread across her face, until she was grinning like crazy at him. "Funny seeing you here..."

He looked at his watch, his voice was light as he asked. "I thought we had a date? You trying to weasel out on me?"

"Never."

Then she moved across the courtyard, he opened his arms and she went into his embrace, sighing with happiness to feel his warmth.

Home.

She was finally back home. And Lulu Spencer, in that moment, vowed to never be foolish enough to leave this man behind again.

Milo stroked her hair, "I missed you something awful."

She looked up at him, "Well, you are stuck with me for life now. There are no out clauses in our Pathetic Loser Deal."

He leaned down and gave her a soul achingly sweet kiss. "I don't need any."

In Lulu's mind she heard him say, eighteen years ago to the day, "Where you go, I shall be too."

THE END

Thanks for reading my silly and sweet little tale of what might have been on that road trip.

I don't currently have any plans to write another humorous fic.

The next story I plan to post is called I'm With You.

The premise is:

Milo does something big to show his love for Lulu after Dillon has hurt her.

I really loved writing it! Milo and Lulu are a couple that could go anywhere at this point. I feel like they have a ton of potential.

Bye for now,

Sara