Dear Leslie,
I hope this letter finds you feeling safe and missed. I thought you might like to know what's been going on in your crazy hometown. AJ Quartermaine was arrested for aiding and abetting and three counts of kidnapping. Your cousin Michael has been adopted by Ned and Lois Ashton. Cameron remains the cutest kid on the planet. He says hello by the way. Lucky and Elizabeth are going over the final details of the wedding. They send their love. Your uncle (?) Cruz got his magazine back and has moved into a much larger space. The commissioner told me that Georgie and Steven are house hunting since he's due to go back to Australia soon.
I underestimated what your absence would do to me. I figured time would still pass and eventually things would get back to normal, but they aren't. The last thing I want is to bother you with this. You do have so many more important things to focus on, your treatment among them. Do me a favor and skip this part of it's causing you any kind of stress, okay? The truth is I feel like I'm living a life I've grown out of. Does that make any sense? The things that used to matter don't and the things I used to take for granted are suddenly very important to me.
In just a couple months you changed my entire outlook on life. I've always lived by the rules, you know that. There was solidarity in that, safety even. If I could just hold onto that, I wouldn't have to care about anything or anyone else ever again. I hadn't saved my brother and that used to eat away at me. Do you think that's why I helped you? I'll admit that was part of it. In the beginning, I was trying to make up for what I'd failed to do for Ethan. I don't know exactly when that all changed. I don't know when I started to care about what happened to you. Maybe the day you called me, maybe before then. I don't know.
Do you see? I told you I would sound like some damn soap opera character! By the way, I don't know WHY you thought I should watch this stupid show to begin with. If the writers had half a clue as to what the viewers wanted to see…aw hell. This isn't easy for me. For as long as I can remember, I've only had to look out for myself and that was the way I liked it. Being a cop provided no surprises because bad guys are bad guys and there's always been a rule book to follow. Before you, I thought I had everything figured out. Come to Port Charles, avenge my brother, and then go back to Manhattan. It seemed so simple at the time. You came into my life rather abruptly and messed it all up. I'm not blaming you. Sorry. I miss you and I'll be right there when you're free to come home.
Evan
Lulu refolded the letter for what was probably the tenth time. It had only arrived a few hours ago and already she had it memorized. Not that she was planning to tell him that anytime soon. Or ever.
When she had asked him to not forget her, she had expected maybe one visit. After all it wasn't as if they had a serious relationship. What they had probably barely qualified as a relationship. In the back of her mind, Lulu had convinced herself his promise to come and see her was just a pity promise, words said to a sad, pathetic little girl who couldn't handle the fact that all there was between them was a drunken night neither could remember and what amounted to a few hours she knew she'd never forget some weeks later.
It had been easy to dismiss any interest Evan had showed in her. For as long as she could remember, boys came and went quickly. They were fun for awhile and once she started to maybe trust them, possibly open her heart to them, they would bolt. Or she would find a reason to bolt. Growing up, she had seen too many of her family members destroyed by their so-called great loves. Aunt Bobbie. Carly. Her own parents when they thought Lucky was dead. Love was the greatest, she realized early on, the greatest destroyer. Elizabeth hadn't been far off when she had teased her about picking guys she knew her father, brother, and cousin would run off. It was easier to blame her family for her being alone instead of the fact she was terrified.
Evan terrified her. Here, miles away from him and her family and her own history of self-destruction, she could at least admit that much. Somehow he had put up with her attitude when she gave him no reason to. He had befriended most of her family, not an easy feat considering his profession. And all he ever claimed to want was the best for her. He rejected her because he thought she wasn't ready. He wanted her to be sure. And now he had written her this letter.
Tapping her pen cap on her teeth, she gazed down at the blank sheet of paper. Smiling, she began to write.
Evan-
To misquote Reality Bites here, "Emergency Room is a really good show." I told you if you just gave it half a chance you'd like it. But don't worry; I won't tell anyone you watch a soap opera. Well except maybe Harper. Or my dad. I'll at least stop with Lucky.
It's pretty quiet here, probably by design so we can really think and learn who we are or something. Sure they have lots of activities and therapies scheduled, a busy schedule is apparently vital to kicking drug habits, but at night it gets really quiet. There are no TVs in the rooms. The only DVD player is in the common room and the DVD collection is worst than yours. They don't even have Scooby, which I know you find horrific.
I think I miss you the most when it's quiet. Somewhere in the middle of all this and I don't know where or when, I got used to your rather constant comments about my day and life. Ridiculous things have reminded me of conversations we've had. For example, the lunch lady thinks I have lost my mind because I cracked up when she told me to "Eat." See what I mean? Who does that besides crazy people?
You said I changed you. I'm not sure I can tell you what all you've done for me. Not without the aid of a scriptwriter. Preferably one of the romantic comedy variety and not the soap. (I agree with you. That writer has got to go, but at least the cast is pretty!) There's also the risk I'd scare you away entirely and before you complete your promise to visit me. Maybe instead I should just tell you one thing a letter? Makes you curious doesn't it? Makes you want to hang on my every word?
First confession - I miss you. Never thought I would. Never thought I'd tell you that. Never thought I would ever miss anyone to tell you the truth. No one that I wasn't related to at least. I was raised with an overwhelming family. Overwhelming in the good sense. We took care of our own and Elizabeth and Robin can attest how much we intimidate those who try to join. If there is one thing my father made sure to teach me in regards to relationships (besides no dating until I was 30. Aren't you glad I didn't listen to that one?) was that other people came and went but family was forever. And I was ok with that really.
Then you showed up and not only made me like you, you made my family like you. How did the cop manage to charm a rebel like my father? He's still upset Lucky works a nine-to-five job. It used to be I'd bring a guy home, he'd be run off, and I'd never hear from him again. But now when I hear from Mom and Dad, they tell me they've seen you. My brother of all people mentions he ran into you. I can't just pretend we never met and it makes me miss you more.
I can hear you now. "What exactly do you miss about me?" I don't think I'm going to tell you. Not right now. Maybe next letter. Maybe if you tell me one thing you miss about me. (Come on you know a good deal when you hear one!)
So for now just know that I miss you. And take your typical, obnoxious pride in that fact. Write me back and I'll tell you more ok?
Leslie
*****
"I feel like such a tool." Luke complained to his reflection.
"You look like one." Lucky offered cheerfully.
"This is all your fault." Luke shot back, adjusting his tie.
"Actually it's yours because you always taught us to do whatever it takes to make our ladies happy. And dressing like a penguin will make Elizabeth happy." Lucky shrugged as adjusted the jacket of the black tuxedo. "I'm just following your advice."
"It doesn't sound like something I would have said." Luke countered, walking over to his grandson. "Tell you dad you want to go to the wedding in jeans." He whispered with a smirk.
"Roby said I look handsome." Cameron shook his head stubbornly.
"What do you care about what girls think of you?" Luke glanced over Cameron's head. "You've been letting him around girls again, haven't you?"
"Only Robin, Elizabeth, and Gracie." Lucky promised. "Now I can't promise that Patrick has been following the same plan."
"Patrick has boys." Luke pointed out.
"But boys who haven't been completely warped by you yet." Lucky responded.
"I heard a groan man whining. I figured I should check up here." Patrick laughed wryly, sitting Morgan on the bed next to Cameron.
"Hi Morgan! Did you bring your fancy suit?" Cameron asked.
"I brought three!" Morgan exclaimed, nodding toward Patrick who was sorting through them.
"Three? Wow!" Cameron echoed impressed.
"Elizabeth and Robin couldn't decide on one. Thank God she took Nathan today. I wouldn't have been able to carry him."
"That explains it." Lucky nodded. "They probably took a million and one pictures in the store and only left because it was closing time."
"I was thinking the same thing."
"For the record this is the last time I wear one of these monkey suits for either of you." Cruz announced as he walked into the room. "And in a related note, please tell your fiancé and your wife to stop calling me and my wife to see if I picked this up yet."
"Pick what up?" Morgan wanted to know.
"My tuxedo for the wedding." Cruz explained to the boys. "My fancy suit."
"Alright dude." Patrick waved Morgan over. "Try these and see which one you like the best."
"I don't have to try anymore on do I Daddy?" Cameron wondered.
"No. Lizzie already made sure ours were done." Lucky assured his son. "If everyone else had listened to her they wouldn't still be getting calls about it."
Patrick and Cruz each glared at him. "What's the matter?" Patrick asked Morgan.
"It's itchy." Morgan explained, scratching the front of his neck.
"Well that's as good as gone. That leaves two more."
"I have mine. Why do I have to be here?" Luke complained.
"Misery loves company?" Cruz offered.
"Because no one trusts you to show up in the same suit that was ordered for you." Lucky explained simply.
"You are sucking all the fun out of this wedding." Luke warned, shaking his finger.
"No. I'm just making sure it actually happens without Elizabeth getting mad at me."
"I can't see." Morgan held up his arms and his fists were lost in the sleeves. "Why can't I see?"
Cruz tugged the collar over his head. "Better?"
"Thanks Super Cruz!" Morgan giggled. "Can't we tell Mommy I tried them all on?"
"Roby would know if you didn't." Cameron said, nodding seriously. "She'd know."
"Cameron's right. Is it itchy?"
"No. I like it."
"Are you lying so you don't have to try anymore on?"
"Maybe."
"Alright, next." Patrick ordered, tossing the last suit at him.
"Third time's the charm." Lucky promised Morgan.
"Hey Morgan?" Cameron bounced up on the bed. "Do you know what the best part about this party is?" Cameron hurried on before his cousin had a chance to answer. "There's going to be a whole cake just for us kids. I helped picked it. It's chocolate and yellow and strawberry. And lots and lots of icing."
"Doesn't that go against your sugar rules?" Cruz teased Lucky.
"Cam's staying with dad that night." Lucky smirked.
"Clever. Very clever Son. But you have not won yet." Luke promised.
"Mom already tossed your powder blue ruffle number from the seventies if that's what you're thinking."
"It wasn't." Luke said slowly before turning around and muttering to himself.
"Do I look okay?" Morgan inquired.
"Almost." Patrick leaned down and poked a white flower through the left pocket of the jacket. "There. Perfect."
"You look like me Morgan!" Cameron cried out pointing to himself.
Morgan rolled his eyes. "Duh! We're family!"
"This means that's the tuxedo Robin and Elizabeth want us to pick." Lucky laughed as picked up Cameron.
"This calls for hot fudge sundaes." Cruz declared.