Thank you for the reviews last chapter, and I know this one is kind of boring, but i wanted to let you guys see some of the other people who still lived

Diego is alive because without Sonny there was no JASAM, which means he never died. If Diego never died/became the TMK then Georgie still lived.

Chapter 2-Tread Marks

Lulu smiled at her father as she walked into the haunted star with her friends. Maxie and Spinelli had made up, and even she had forgiven her roommate for the betrayal. It was after all Maxie, she had never claimed to be a loyal friend. "So why are we here again?" Lulu ask as she watched her father approach.

"Because, you have to stop moping around the apartment." Maxie replied making it known that Lulu wasn't leaving this social gathering. "Plus, you know the guy and its an open bar."

"I know his son." Lulu defended.

"Well if it isn't my lovely daughter." Luke said as he reached Lulu. Lulu's smile became genuine. "I didn't think you would come, with the Zacharras being in attendance and all."

'I forced her to come out of hiding." Maxie said, waiting for Luke's approval. Lulu couldn't help but roll her eyes. Maxie caught it and sighed, pulling Spinelli off to the bar.

"I'm still not sure I should be here." Lulu admitted quietly.

"Nonsense, this is my bar, pumpkin, I dare that no good Zacharra to say something to you."

"Dad!" Lulu said, Luke may not have been the worlds greatest dad but he had stood up to Anthony Zacharra many times out of concern for her, and she doubted he wouldn't do it again if she needed. She was able of taking care of herself though, and the faster he realized that the better.

"I didn't walk over here to talk about Johnny though, I wanted to make sure you were okay, and see what you thought about this young man who keeps staring at you." Lulu quickly surveyed the bar, looking to see who he was talking about. She quickly found the source of her fathers curiosity and felt her cheeks heat up when he offered her a smile. "So you do know the guest of honor?"

Lulu tried to steady her voice as she spoke, Luke was a master con-artist, and would know the minute she was lying if she didn't. "He's just some guy I met at Jakes, what do you mean guest of honor?"

"His father is throwing it so that he gets to know the families." Luke replied. "Your stepmother seems to think it's more."

"What the party, or his obnoxious staring." Lulu asked.

"The Staring, and probably the party."

"She always thinks its more, tell Tracy that I am an adult and can take care of myself." Lulu said, causing a smirk from her father. "Now, I promised Maxie I would mingle tonight, and I don't think talking to family counts."

Lulu walked towards the bar, it was going to be a long night, and she needed a drink to get through it. She saw Georgie and Diego sitting with Maxie and Spinelli. Diego was talking to Spinelli, about something work related she was sure, and Maxie and Georgie seemed to be arguing. She couldn't help but smile, against all odds she had gained some great friends, sometimes she didn't deserve them, but she still had them.

She had to admit that it had been Georgie's forgiveness of her that had allowed her to forgive Maxie for the many things she had done. She smiled as she approached her friends.

"So you're friend from Jakes has been eyeing you all night." Georgie said, causing both boys to halt their conversation and look up.

"I don't think he is a good Idea Lu." Diego said. He quickly blocked a swat that came from Georgie.

"Well I think it's great, the best way to get over Johnny is to get under the new guy." They all laughed as Spinelli spit orange soda across the bar at Maxie's words. "Don't worry Spinelli, I'm only planning on being under you."

Lulu grabbed the drink Ethan had set on the counter from he, and left her friends to find her cousin. Maybe family would be her choice in companions for the night. Before she could find Carly though, he was in front of her. "Are you avoiding me?"

"Is that possible?" Lulu asked trying to pass Dante. She was avoiding him, but that was none of his business.

"I don't know, usually the girls are fighting there way to me by now."

"Wow Benson Hearst must have some pretty easy girls then." Lulu replied, once again trying to pass Dante. "What do I have to do to get you to move? I'm trying to go say hi to somebody and you're kind of blocking me."

Lulu was actually enjoying herself, though she definitely wasn't going to let him in on that secret.

"I can think of a few things off the top of my head." Lulu smiled, as the person to the left of Dante moved giving her an opening.

"Thanks maybe some other time, you can give me that list." Lulu said and once again she was off to find Carly.

Dante smiled as he watched Lulu leave, there was something about the girl that drew him in. He had to get to know her. When Dante turned around to head back to his table he bumped into Diego Alcazar.

"You should leave her alone." Diego's voice was calm yet demanding.

"What's it to you?" Dante challenged. "You have you're girl over there, to me it looks like Lulu is available."

Dante watched as Diego's eyes went dark for a moment. "Look Lulu has been through a lot in the last couple months, and the last thing she needs is another mob prince, pulling her into his own mess of a life."

"I'm just talking to the girl, chill." Dante replied, flashing a smile at Diego. "Plus from the tread marks she just left on my ego, I doubt she needs you taking care of her suitors for her. Plus, last time I checked things in both Benson hearts and good old Port Chuck were pretty calm so there's no mess in my life."

"We both know that once your father moves into town things are not going to be calm." Diego said in a quiet voice. Dante could tell that Diego hadn't been bread for this, not like him and Johnny, not from birth. "These promises of peace will be broken, and if you are stupid enough to believe they won't than you deserve the danger that comes your way, all I ask is that you leave Lulu out of it."

Dante had to give the guy credit, he was protective, and it wasn't out of some jealousy fit, he really did care for Lulu's well being. "Look I want this peace to last, my father taught me to treat women and kids with respect, so if what you want to help insure the peace, is me not to pursue anything with Lulu I won't, but I won't be bullied into backing down. I wanted a friend. I saw her the night she broke up with Zacharra, hell I wanted to save her from all misery that night, but I'm not trying to sleep with her, I just enjoy the banter."

Diego nodded his head and walked away. Dante returned to the seat he had once occupied, and reclaimed it. That was not exactly the conversation he had expected, though it had intrigued him as to what it was about Lulu Spencer that made every guy feel the need to protect her.