Lulu followed Dillon down the staircase dutifully, happy to see both her brother posed awkwardly in the main entryway. Jogging past her boyfriend, she leapt down the final steps and rushed into Lucky's arms. Hugging him tightly, she felt as though it had been years since she had last seen him; in reality, it had been just a couple weeks. "Lucky, you're here!" she murmured excitedly, clinging to her brother like she did when she was a little girl.
"Of course I'm here, Lu, I promised you that I would come," he replied into her hair, happy to see his younger sister acting more like herself. "Besides, I don't think that Emily here would have forgiven me if I hadn't shown up."
"Well, then I have you to thank for forcing my brother to put on a tie and come to dinner," she smiled at her former sister-in-law. Moving away from Lucky, she embraced her loosely, careful not to rumple either one's dress. "You look absolutely lovely, Emily."
"You look amazing yourself, Lulu," Emily replied warmly. She looked over the blonde's shoulder to her ex-husband. Nikolas was beaming at them proudly, glad to see that they had managed to keep their close relationship in tact, even after all the drama that had passed between them.
"And there's my other brother," Lulu announced, turning around to go to Nikolas. He looked as dashing as he ever did, and his handsomeness was not lost on anyone. "Thank you for coming, Nikolas, you have no idea how much this means to me to have you all here."
"Yes, I do," he whispered into her ear as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. His arm was still linked around Elizabeth's waist. The nurse had remained quiet so far, not sure where exactly she stood with most of the people in the room. "We both do."
"Hello, Elizabeth," Lulu greeted her stoically. Part of her wanted to be angry, but the part of her that loved her oldest brother knew better. Reaching out, she took Elizabeth's hand softly and squeezed it. "I am so glad that you and Nikolas could make it this evening."
"Thank you," she retorted quietly. A look of understanding passed between them, and at once, they had reached a point of mutual comfort. "Cameron was so mad at me for not letting him come. He kept telling me how much he missed his Aunt Lulu."
"We'll have to come by soon for a visit," Lulu decided, looking over to Dillon for support. Taking her signal, he moved next to her and rested his open palm on the small of her back. "I haven't been out to Wyndamere in quite some time. We promise to come spend time with both the boys very soon."
"They would like that," Nikolas said.
"And Robin and Patrick, thank you so much for joining us this evening," Emily said for the group. "This whole thing wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for my conversation with Robin. I'm glad that the eight of us are all going to be together in a situation that does not involve a hostage situation or a hospital."
"I'll second that," Patrick laughed.
"Now, I believe Cook has prepared drinks for everyone if you would like to adjourn to the sitting room," Emily announced. "There is plenty of wine and sparkling water for everyone."
"I wish I could have a glass of wine," Elizabeth complained good-naturedly as Nikolas led her into the formal living room. "I could really go for a glass of merlot right about now. I miss that taste."
"Only two more months," he reminded her before handing her a highball filled with water. Pouring dark red liquid into his own goblet, he sat down next to her on the loveseat.
"Do you think I could sneak a glass of the white?" Lulu asked Emily. The young doctor shrugged, it was a special occasion after all.
"Make that two," Dillon said, taking one for him and handing the other off to his girlfriend. They chose the chair to the left of the sofa, Dillon in the seat and Lulu perched on the edge.
"I'll have water," Lucky and Robin ordered at the same time.
"No vino?" Nikolas asked gingerly.
"We're trying to get pregnant," Patrick admitted, slightly embarrassed.
"Congratulations!" Emily squealed excitedly, rushing around the serving table to hug her friend. "I am so happy for you. I can't wait until I have kids."
"Let's not rush anything," Lucky joked.
"It'll come soon enough," she acknowledged, grinning at him widely. "Well, let's have a toast now that everyone has their drinks. Who wants to say something?"
Lulu looked around the room. "I think we should all say a little something and then have one big toast," she told them. "And I think that Nikolas would be the perfect person to start."
"Well, since you're catching me slightly off guard, I'll have to do this extemporaneously," he chuckled. The group moved to the middle of the living room, holding their glasses high in the air. "To the bonds of friends, may no one have the strength to break the bonds we've worked to build."
Elizabeth was next. "To the children who have already come into our lives and the ones in the years to come."
"To finding your passion and living for it," Robin toasted.
"To finding the person you are passionate about and sharing your life with her," Patrick added.
Emily looked over at Lucky as they heard those words. "To discovering the things we loved in ourselves and in others."
"To health and happiness, two things that are often overlooked and terribly difficult to attain and maintain," Lucky put in.
"I'll drink to that," Lulu remarked, lifting her cup a little higher in the air. "To family, for staying by your side whether you want them to or not."
"And to Lulu, maybe the one thing that connects us all the most," Dillon concluded. Everyone made sounds of agreement except Lulu as they clinked their glasses together.
"I'm going to go into the kitchen to check on dinner," Emily told everyone.
"I think I'll come in with you," Nikolas decided, following her out of the room.
Lulu and Dillon moved to talk to Robin and Patrick near the fireplace, giving Elizabeth and Lucky a minute alone. "She seems to be doing well," Elizabeth said. "When are you going to bring up the session?"
"Maybe after dessert. I know Lulu, and she isn't going to like this idea. She's going to feel like everyone is ganging up against her. I hate that we have to do this to her, but I also know that it's for the best. I mean, my dad wouldn't agree to it if it wasn't."
"I knew it was serious when Nikolas mentioned that Luke and Tracey were going. I can't even imagine what that conversation was like," Elizabeth mused. "Dillon seems to be taking care of her."
"My little sister is in love," Lucky agreed. "I'm glad that she has him. No one else has ever made her feel this safe. She trusts that he's going to be there, and that's something she really needs. What's more is that I trust that he's going to be there."
"They remind me of us when we were that age," she admitted, looking down at her feet. "You and I were always compared to Luke and Laura, but looking at those two, I think they are the reincarnate of your parents. We never quite fit the bill."
"Maybe not, but we had something pretty damn incredible," he avowed. "I'm really glad that you are going to stay in my life, Elizabeth, and I don't just mean through Cam. I don't think my life would be as great without you as my friend."
Elizabeth reached up and cupped his cheek affectionately. "You're a good man, Lucky Spencer."
Emily came back into the living room at about that time with Nikolas behind her. Both of them were not too pleased to see their counterparts in such an intimate moment. Clearing her throat harshly, she told the crowd that dinner was ready. Elizabeth turned around slowly and looked at her significant other and best friend. Both of them stared at her stonily. "I don't want it to get cold," Emily murmured before turning back toward the dining room.
"Great," Lucky muttered, lunging past his ex-wife to retreat after his girlfriend.
Lulu, Dillon, Robin and Patrick all followed behind, leaving Nikolas alone with Elizabeth. "I'm sorry we interrupted your moment."
"Come on, don't be like that. That was the first conversation I've had with Lucky that didn't have an ounce of anger in it. We're finally in a good place."
He ran his hands over his face, trying to soothe his jealous nerves. "You have to understand how hard it is to see you like that," he explained. "A part of me is always going to be afraid that you're going to go back to him, Liz. I just don't want to lose you."
"And don't you think I worry about the same thing? Your love for Emily was so heartfelt and deep, it scares me to think that ours will never reach such great heights. What if you wake up one day and want to go back to her? Your fears are my fears, Nikolas."
"This is silly," he told her, shaking his head. "Tonight isn't supposed to be about this. It's about Lu. We can talk about this later."
Meanwhile, in the dining room, Emily had taken her place at the head of the table. Lucky, Dillon and Lulu lined the left side of the table. Robin's chair had been moved to the other head of the table, giving her plenty of space to move around. Patrick took her immediate left, leaving two empty spaces between himself and Emily. Wordlessly, Nikolas slipped into the chair beside Emily while Elizabeth sat next to Patrick.
"So nice of you to join us," Emily barked at Elizabeth.
"Emily," Lucky warned beneath his breath.
"Lucky," she shot back.
"I'm sorry about earlier. It was nothing," Elizabeth tried.
Lulu looked confused. "What happened?"
"Nothing," Nikolas and Lucky insisted at the same time.
"It wasn't nothing," Emily countered.
"We'll talk about it later," Lucky replied.
"Can we not do this?" Elizabeth pleaded.
"Dillon, what's going on?" Lulu asked.
"You guys stop," Dillon said evenly.
"We can't keep hiding everything from her. It's not going to help if we just sweep it under the table," Nikolas said.
"That's not up to you," Lucky retorted.
"And who is it up to, Lucky?" Emily asked hotly.
"She doesn't need to be involved in our mess," Elizabeth spoke up.
"My question was for Lucky," Emily told her.
"We all know who the question was for, Emily," Nikolas muttered.
"Don't talk to her like that," Lucky said.
"Please, you guys, this isn't necessary," Dillon tried again. Lulu was next to him, her eyes darting from person to person with every comment. She was hunched over, her head resting in her hands. He could see her slowly starting to recede.
Patrick looked at Robin. "So much for buffering…"
"Yeah, I don't think we belong here," Robin said.
"I don't think that Elizabeth belongs in my house," Emily decided.
"Oh, grow up!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "We're all tired of your self righteous diatribe."
"Self righteous?" Lucky laughed. "This is coming from you?"
"Oh, what, you're on my side now?" Emily asked.
"Yeah, weren't you just sharing a little moment with Elizabeth? You sure jump from woman to woman, Spencer," Nikolas taunted.
"Not anymore than you do, Cassadine," Lucky barked.
"Stop please." Dillon glanced over at Lulu again. Her hands now covered her ears, her head fully bent over. Long blonde hair covered her clenched eyes as she started to rock back and forth. Standing up, he slammed his fist on the table. "I said stop!" he screamed. "Stop fighting and stop yelling." The four bickering adults looked up at him. He didn't say anything else as he knelt next to Lulu. Taking her hand into his, he helped her stand up and wrapped his arms around her. "It's okay, it's over," he said repeatedly until she finally stopped shaking.
"Lulu, we're sorry," Lucky apologized immediately, standing up out of concern for his sister.
"We shouldn't have done this in front of her," Nikolas stated.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," she said through her tears. "I'm not broken. I'm right here. You can't pretend that these problems aren't real. It's not going to help me get any better."
"We know that, Sweetheart," Emily said. "We just didn't want to make things harder on you. We realize now that keeping you out of the loop was wrong. Our actions affect your family."
"You all are my family," she nearly shouted. "I have two brothers who have given me two sisters. I can't stand to see you all hate each other. The anger, the petty bickering, all of it – it has to stop."
"We're going to work on it," Elizabeth promised. "No more keeping you in the dark."
Lucky looked over at Nikolas, reading his brother for mutual agreement that now was the time to break the news. He nodded slightly, silently giving permission. "Actually, Lu, that's part of the reason we're here. I had a call from Dr. Winters last week."
"Why don't you sit down?" Dillon suggested, helping her back into her chair. She looked at him suspiciously, knowing that something was going on that he hadn't told her about.
"She called Lucky and I to request a family session, Lu," Nikolas explained. "She wants to have everyone come in to help figure out what is going on with you and which way to take your treatment."
"Why didn't Lainey tell me this herself?" she demanded angrily, looking straight at Dillon.
"She thought it would be better coming from us," he answered.
"So, the three of you knew about this and didn't tell me?" she sobbed. "How could you not tell me about this, Dillon? You purposely kept this from me. This is my life, my mind. How could you do this? I'm not a child."
"No one thinks that," Emily said softly. "We all just want to find out the best possible treatment for you, Lulu. I don't think we fully understood where you were until tonight."
"And now you all know that I'm crazy."
"You are not crazy," Lucky insisted strongly. "You might be going through a hard time right now, but you are not crazy."
"How do you know?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"We know because we love you," Dillon stated confidently. "I love you so much, Lu, you know that. If I truly thought you were crazy, I would want you to get the best possible treatment, and I know that would take a lot more than outpatient therapy. You would need to be in an inpatient facility."
"Lulu, we know that you can beat this," Elizabeth said. "We all just want to help you in any way that we can. If this session could help even a little bit, I think we all owe it to you to try."
"I don't want to hear you all tell me what's wrong with me," she explained. "I want to be apart of this, not the cause of it. I don't like to have things just happen to me without my consent. That's what this feels like."
"It won't be like that at all," Lucky assured her. "I won't let it be, I promise."
"We're your big brothers, we're going to protect you however we can," Nikolas promised.
"And Dad is going to be there, and you know that he would never let anything happen to you that you're not comfortable with," Lucky avowed.
"And I will be next to you every step of the way," Dillon added. "It will be just like all the other sessions where it's been just you and me. Lainey is going to set it up just like our talks so that you'll feel safe. I'll even bring in snickerdoodles and hot tea so that you can feel like it's just conversation over an afternoon snack."
"Do you promise?" she asked Dillon before addressing the entire room. "Do you all promise."
"I promise," Dillon said, laying a kiss on her palm.
"We promise," Nikolas and Lucky said in unison.
"What about my sisters?" Lulu asked Liz and Emily. "Will you two come, too? I could use all the support I can get. I mean, Em, you can help keep Tracey in check, and I could always use a little maternal love from you, Liz."
"I would be honored to be there," Elizabeth replied.
"Of course we'll be there for you," Emily remarked.
Looking over at Robin and Patrick, who had remained silent up until then, "Well, I guess you two are off the hook on this one, unless you want to come. It'll probably be a lot like this, which I guess could be kind of entertaining."
Patrick smiled wryly. "I think we'll pass."
"Alright, I'll do it," Lulu decided. "Bring it on."