Thanks for the review for chapter 4. Here's chapter 5. I hope that you enjoy it! People have been wishing for Luke to be okay. I will tell you that he will be back to his cantankerous self by the end of the story. Please enjoy and review!

Lulu stepped inside the Metrocourt Hotel later that afternoon. Lucky was with her and Amelia, carrying their suitcases. Even though they could stay at Nickolas' or even the Quartermain's, she had opted to stay at the hotel for the duration of her trip.

She glanced at her brother, took her daughter's hand and walked to the front desk. "I have a reservation for Lulu Spencer."

The receptionist looked at her log on the computer and smiled. "Yes, you have suite 240. It's one of the best." She handed Lulu the key and motioned to the elevator. "It's on the second floor."

"Thanks." Just as she turned, she saw a blond bombshell come out of the elevator. Lulu smiled and waved. "Carly!"

Carly Jax looked up from the papers she'd been studying when she heard her name called. She grinned when she saw Lulu and Amelia.

"Hey!" She set the papers on the desk and pulled Lulu into a hug. "I didn't know you were coming." She leaned back, frowned. "Why are you here?"

"Our dad had a heart attack yesterday. They're not sure if he's going to be okay," Lucky commented.

Carly's face fell. "Oh my God, I can't believe that Luke's back in the hospital." She turned to Lulu. "So you're here for him?"

Lulu nodded. "Yes, and I'm hoping to avoid contact with you-know-who."

Carly nodded knowingly. She knelt down to hug Amelia. "And how's my favorite niece?"

Amelia grinned. "I'm good! I get to come visit my cousins in their house this time!"

Carly smiled. "Yes, that's so fun. We'll have to get you and Josslyn together tomorrow or something. How about that? Ever since we got back from visiting this summer, she's been asking when we can go back."

"I want to see Josslyn!" Amelia turned to her mother, "Mommy, can we see her today?"

Lulu laughed, laid a hand on Amelia's shoulder. "We'll see, I think that you need a little nap first. We're still on Greek time."

"Well then, let's get you up to your room. Then we'll see about you coming and visiting Josslyn tonight," Carly said, reaching for one of the suitcases that Lucky was holding. "I can take them up, get them settled."

Lucky smiled. "Okay." He kissed Lulu's cheek and bent down to hug Amelia. "I'll call you later Lu."

Lulu nodded and waved as he walked back outside into the December cold. She yawned and picked up the other suitcase. "Come on, I need a nap." She glanced down at Amelia. "And so do you."

"Well then, let's get you to your room," Carly said brightly as she led them into the elevator.

And for the first time since she'd stepped foot back in Port Charles, Lulu was beginning to feel at home again.

GH*GH*GH*GH*GH

They didn't make it to see Josslyn that afternoon, so the following morning when Lulu was handing off her daughter to Carly's nanny, she only felt a little bit of guilt.

Lulu had always prided herself in her ability to raise her daughter with little help from others. She had been a single parent for so long that it was difficult to accept assistance. So when she was offered the chance to let someone else take over, even if it was only for a short time, she felt tinges of guilt.

Even the look of delight on her daughter's face wasn't enough to cover the underlying guilt and constant worry that perhaps she was a bad mother for wanting those precious child-free hours.

"You aren't a bad mother for letting someone else take your daughter for a couple of hours," Carly's words cut into Lulu's mental dispute.

Lulu turned, eyed her cousin sheepishly. "Was I that obvious?"

Carly laughed and hooked an arm through Lulu's. "Yes, but it just proves how good of a mother you are."

Lulu sighed, laid her head on Carly's shoulder. "I learned from the best."

This time Carly rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, three sons by three different men. My eldest son and I are just now getting back on our feet, relationship wise. I've had my own problems. Fortunately, my middle son and my daughter are stable and well-raised. But I'm not perfect."

Lulu shook her head. "No, I never said that you were perfect. Because I'm far from perfect. But you are a good mother. You were the first person I came to when I found out I was pregnant, remember."

Carly angled her head, remembering the day Lulu had shown up on her doorstep and announced that she was pregnant. "But it worked out. And you are a wonderful mother. Remember, it's not a crime to enjoy a little bit of time without kids. And like you, every parent struggles with that guilt when they do it. So come on, loosen up. Let's go have breakfast at the restaurant. My treat."

Lulu smiled. "I accept. As long as it comes with mimosas. I can't remember the last time when I had a real conversation in a restaurant that it's necessarily kid-friendly."

Carly laughed again as she led her cousin to the stairs that led to the restaurant. "No adult-friendly breakfast is complete without a mimosa…or two."

GH*GH*GH*GH*GH

Johnny's heart wasn't strong. It had been broken one too many times and now it was hard to heal. The first time had been when his mother had died. He'd been too little to remember much more than that she just disappeared. He didn't know why it made him so sad, why it made his heart hurt so much, but it had.

The second time had been when he'd broken up with Lulu. She was so adamant that they couldn't work, that they were just too volatile, so hot-headed to make a relationship last. No matter how much he'd tried to convince her otherwise, she had walked away.

His heart had healed a bit after that one night when they'd slept together. It had been spontaneous, something of a mistake, but Johnny had held out hope that maybe they could figure out how to reconcile. At that time, they were both broken; him from his sister's recent death and her from life in general. No matter how much he'd tried to show her that that night meant something, she had refused.

And then his heart had shattered when she'd simply disappeared without a trace.

For years, he'd searched. He'd hired private investigators, searched the world himself, and had turned up nothing. No one in her family or those who were close to her would give up any details.

So eventually he'd forced himself to give up hope that she would come waltzing back into his life. He'd forced himself to move on. It had been difficult, nearly impossible, but somehow after six years, he'd managed it.

He still had an off/on relationship with Olivia. They were both comfortable with it, with the knowledge that it wasn't something permanent. They were physically attached and somewhat emotionally connected. But neither one of them wanted to get married. It worked out well for both of them.

Especially because they were both well aware that Johnny was still very much in love with Lesley Lu Spencer.

He figured that he would always love her, always want her, always wish that something was different. Perhaps the most difficult part of it was that he didn't know where she was. He didn't know how she was or why she'd left.

He just wanted to know that he was all right, that she had a reason to leave. Johnny could honestly say that if there was one chance to see her again, he would want to tell her goodbye.

Because even if she couldn't be with him, he wanted her to be happy.

This was why it was so jolting to walk into the restaurant at the Metrocourt Hotel and see her sitting at a table in the corner.

At first he didn't realize who it was. She'd changed. Her hair was cut shorter, more styled, less tousled. Her clothes were crisper; not so much a fashion plate, but something of a professional.

She was sitting with her cousin Carly, sipping what looked like orange juice. He saw her laugh at something Carly had said. And when she laughed, he saw something familiar peek through. He saw his Lulu in spite of how she appeared now.

He had the urge to go to her, to ask her all the unanswered questions she'd left behind. But something held him back. Even after all these years, he'd thought of her, thought of the day when he saw her again. But now that it was here, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Deciding that breakfast didn't sound so good any longer, Johnny turned and walked away, much in the same way she'd done six years earlier.

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