Chapter 15

LuLu was sitting on her couch typing up her next article with the television on as background noise. Nina just left from dropping Charlotte off for her week at LuLu's and informed LuLu that Valentine is still out of the country for business. LuLu was confused by Valentine's absence and wonder's what trouble he got himself into this time. LuLu's thoughts were interrupted by breaking news on the television. She looked up from her laptop and listened to what the reporter had to say. "We are interrupting your regular programming for some breaking news at a press conference being held at the Metro Court Hotel in Port Charles, New York. We head over to Chuck now live while he listens to the conference."

The camera pans to a podium and three seats to the right of it. A WSB agent walks up to the podium and begins speaking. "Hello. Thank you all for coming. The World Security Bureau has called this press conference to reveal some vital information about Luke Spencer, Laura Spencer Collins, Robert Scorpio, and Valentine Cassadine."

LuLu slammed her laptop shut when she heard the names of her parents and her nemesis. She wondered what the WSB has to say about her dead parents and Valentine. LuLu was devasted by the loss of her parents, but unlike Lucky, she knew she had to pull herself together for her family. LuLu grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. She knew she had to listen carefully. The WSB agent said, "This will come as a shock to all of you in this room and listening from home, but Luke, Laura, and Robert are alive and well. They did not die. Valentine Cassadine had them kidnapped and faked their deaths. He took them to his family's Ice Princess Island. He was following instructions in his father's will to recreate the weather machine. If you all recall, almost forty years ago, Luke, Laura, and Robert stopped Mikkos Cassadine from activating the original weather machine for world denomination. Valentine assumed by kidnapping the three of them and putting them through torturous events that they would give him the information he needs to fulfill his father's plan. Valentine was tinkering with the freeze chamber and accidentally locked himself in while it activated. Valentine was killed in the freeze chamber. Luke Spencer and Robert Scorpio discovered his deceased body in the chamber and immediately contacted the WSB. We went to the island to deal with the situation and bring Luke, Laura, and Robert home. They were accompanied by Luke and Laura's son, Lucky, and a mutual friend, Tiffany Hill Donnelly, who went to search for the trio. All five were looked at by physicians and received clean bills of health. And here are Luke Spencer, Laura Spencer Collins, and Robert Scorpio for all of you to see." He motioned for the door to open and for the trio to walk out.

LuLu couldn't believe what she was watching. She saw her mother walk into the room, followed by her father and Robert. She stared at her parents with tears welling in her eyes. LuLu noticed that her mother looks as beautiful as ever, even after experiencing another terrifying situation and that her father looks annoyed by all the press. She now understands why Lucky didn't stay in town: he was suspicious of their parents' deaths and needed to discover if they were really dead or actually alive. LuLu focused on the television and listened in as the press conference was coming to a close. "We ask that you do not bother Luke, Laura, and Robert with questions. They have just experienced a traumatic experience and would like to reunite with their families and delve back into normal life. If you have any other questions, please contact the WSB. Thank you", said the WSB agent. Luke, Laura, and Robert were escorted out of the room and off the screen.

LuLu picked up her phone and called Lucky. "Hey sis, what's new?", asked Lucky nonchalantly.

"What the hell do you mean 'what's new'?! You are a son of a bitch, Lucky Spencer! Mom and Dad are alive and you didn't tell me!? Or you had a gut feeling that they were alive and didn't tell me your suspicions or even invite me to help you!? They are my parents too! I know you are more experienced in adventures than I am, but still. We are Spencers. We all know how to be adventurers!", yelled LuLu.

"Are you finished?"

LuLu rolled her eyes. "Yes, Lucky. Now, answer my questions."

"It wasn't until Tracy walked into the church and told me Dad was dead before I began to think something was up. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to get your hopes up. I called Tiffany and told her what happened. We met up and she suggested Ice Princess Island. I found Dad and Mom. The three of us searched for Robert and Tiffany. We found them and Dad and Robert found Valentine. I couldn't contact you because one, the reception sucks on that island, and two, the WSB advised us not to say anything until after the press conference."

"Did anyone else know that they are alive besides you and Tiffany before the press conference?"

"Yes. Dad told Tracy, Mom told Kevin, and Robert told Anna."

"So, Tracy and Kevin knew and didn't think to tell me? Their step child. Favorite step child I might add."

"Lu, they couldn't say anything. Mom and Dad were only allowed to call one person to come and see them at the airport yesterday. They chose the people they are spending their life with. I know for a fact if you were in their place you would have called Dante instead of Mom and Dad."

"Fine. Whatever. Are they okay? I mean really okay, especially Mom?", asked LuLu.

Lucky responded, "They are fine. I know you worry about Mom relapsing. I was worried too, especially on the flight home. She seemed so scared, but we talked and she's okay. You know Mom, she's stronger than any of us. She just needs someone to remind her of that and she's fine."

"Okay, good. That's a relief. Well, I better get off the phone before Maxie calls me asking millions of questions."

"Haha. Yeah. Good ole Maxie, aka Yenta Central. Hey Lu?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't be upset with mom for not calling you first. Behind Kevin, you're her number one. She needs you more than you think. You are her favorite after all."

Lucky and LuLu simultaneously said, "Nah. It was Nikolas." Lucky and LuLu Laughed.

LuLu asked, "Hey Lucky?".

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for finding them. I know we have had our ups and downs, but no one else could have figured this puzzle out. You brought our parents home. Thank you. You are the best brother a girl could ask for."

Again, Lucky and LuLu simultaneously said, "Nah. It was Nikolas." They both laughed and ended the phone call.

A couple hours after the press conference, LuLu heard a knock at her door. She just finished a conversation with Bobbie about the reappearance of Luke and Laura. It was her fifteenth phone call today discussing the breaking news. LuLu opened her door to see Elizabeth along with Cameron, Jake, Aiden, and Spencer. "Sorry to show up unexpectedly, but Kevin texted me and said to bring the kids to your house. I am to assume he's going to come here with Laura. Can you believe it? Luke and Laura are alive! Isn't it great?", said Elizabeth.

LuLu ushered the group in and replied, "Yeah, its amazing. I'm still in shock but elated. I can't wait to wrap my arms around both of them. If Valentine wasn't already dead, I would kill him."

"Did you tell Charlotte about Valentine?", asked Elizabeth.

LuLu frowned. "No. Not yet. I just told her about Mom and Dad, but I think I'll wait for Dante to come home or my mom to be here with me. I don't know what to say."

"You're her mother. Anything you say will be perfect."

LuLu smiled and thanked Elizabeth for her kind words. LuLu asked, "So, how's Spencer? He seems quiet. I would have thought he would be bouncing off the walls in joy over Mom not really being dead."

Elizabeth responded, "I think he's in shock, but he needs to actually see your mom to believe it. He's already lost both parents and he doesn't want to get his hopes up for nothing."

"That's what Lucky said about not telling me about his gut instinct that they were really alive. Wow, us Spencers have similar thought processes", said LuLu.

"I haven't been a Spencer in years", said Elizabeth.

LuLu grinned and said, "Like my dad says: Once a Spencer, always a Spencer."

LuLu noticed that unlike Cam, Jake, and Aiden, who went to the play room to hang out with Charlotte and Rocco, Spencer sat in silence on the couch. His face was somber looking, but his eyes gave way that he was in shock. LuLu approached him and sat next to him on the couch. "Hey, Spence. Are you okay?", asked LuLu.

Spencer looked up at LuLu and she noticed he was fighting back tears. "Spencer, what's wrong? She's alive and she'll be here soon. Kevin texted Elizabeth to bring you guys here for a reason. You should be happy that Grandmother is coming home."

"Why didn't Kevin tell me last night? I was picked up by Aunt Elizabeth after school and Kevin called later and said he had early meetings. He lied to me. Why couldn't he tell me that Grandmother was alive? We are supposed to be a family!", explained Spencer.

"Honey, he couldn't tell you, just like Uncle Lucky couldn't tell me. I was mad too. I thought that she should have called us, Lucky told me that the WSB only allowed her one person to call and couldn't say anything until the press conference. Honey, Grandmother loves you. Kevin loves you. They wouldn't do anything to keep you out of the loop. The three of you are a little family and I'm sure that she can't wait to wrap you in her arms and never let you ago. You know, in one of her famous bear hugs", said LuLu.

"I really missed her when I thought she was dead. I know I come off as a spoiled rich kid with no heart who tends to over react, but I was a heartbroken orphan kid without her. Kevin was great, but it was like something was missing at dinner or at walks around the park. There wasn't anyone yelling at us to quit playing video games. Life became empty when Father died, but it became utterly incomplete without Grandmother", cried Spencer.

LuLu pulled Spencer in for a hug. LuLu realizes that underneath Spencer's tough façade, he is just a lost little boy. Valentine took away Spencer's world when he killed Nikolas, but he almost took away Spencer's sanity when he almost killed Laura. If Valentine was still alive, nothing would stop LuLu from rushing over to Wyndemere and strangling his little neck for what he has done, not only to Spencer but to her whole family.

LuLu and Spencer's moment was interrupted by a knock at the front door.

LuLu opened the door and saw her beloved mother standing outside. LuLu stifled a sob and ran into her mother's open arms. Kevin walked past the emotional mother-daughter reunion and sat next to Spencer on the couch. He whispered to Spencer, "Sorry I didn't tell you, kiddo. I had to follow instructions. You know that you would have been my first call if I was allowed to say anything."

Spencer patted Kevin's arm in understanding. He said, "I know."

Laura and LuLu held each other as the sobbed in one another's arms. "I missed you so much", sobbed LuLu.

"I missed you too, my sweet girl. Oh, I thought about you every second when I was on that horrid island", replied Laura.

"Promise you won't leave me for a very long time. I still need you, mama. More than you know."

"I promise. And I need you, baby, more than you'll ever, ever know."

LuLu guided Laura in the house continuing to hold her hand the whole way to the couch. Kevin hopped from the couch to the adjacent chair so Laura and LuLu could sit together. "Before I take over the conversation, let me go get Elizabeth and the grandkids from the play room. I think a little someone wants one on one reunion time with Grandmother", said LuLu leaving the room.

Laura turned to Spencer and held her arms open. Spencer catapulted himself into Laura's open arms. Spencer began to cry in his grandmother's arms out of relief that she is really alive and back in his life. "Are you really back? You aren't dead?", asked a tearful Spencer.

Laura wiped away Spencer's tears and said, "Honey, I am back and here to stay. Nothing. I mean nothing could keep me away from you."

"I missed you so much", said Spencer.

"I missed you. Thank you, though", whispered Laura.

Spencer was confused. He asked, "For what?".

"For keeping Kevin sane. You took care of him while he took care of you. Two of my favorite boys. You are growing up to be an excellent young man, but just quit with the running away shtick. It worries Kevin and I."

"He told you? You have been back for around twenty-four hours and he spills every detail of our lives. Kevin have you no decency to keep these things to yourself", joked Spencer.

Kevin and Laura laughed.

The little makeshift family's moment was interrupted by the voices of Laura's other grandchildren running towards her. Laura opened her arms and received an arm full of her beloved grandchildren. "Grandma! I missed you so much!", exclaimed Rocco.

"Never leave again", said Aiden.

Jake said, "I really missed your hugs."

Charlotte hugged Laura tight and said, "I really, really missed you. Mommy was said without you."

Cameron was standing off to the side in silence. Laura knew that out of all her grandchildren, Cameron was the most complex. He doesn't always talk about his feelings, but when he does it means the world. She reached out, grabbed his hand, and winked at Cam. "Life was lonely without you in it, Grandma. Really lonely", said Cameron squeezing his grandmother's hand.

Laura's eyes welled up with tears. She swears to herself that no one will ever take her away from these people ever again. The grandchildren let Laura go and Laura was able to reunite with her favorite daughter-in-law. Elizabeth whispered to Laura, "Don't leave me again. You are the only mother I have ever had. I am not ready to live a life without you being a phone call away."

Laura hugged Elizabeth tighter. "I love you, sweetie. You will always be my favorite in-law."

Everyone gathered around in the living room while the grand kids updated Laura on school and everything else happening in their lives. Kevin observed how happy and relieved Laura looked being back where she belongs: home with her family. Aiden was in the middle of telling his soccer game story when the someone knocked on the door. Kevin got up to answer it, allowing LuLu to spend quality time with her mother without distractions. When he opened it, he was face to face with Luke Spencer, along with Tracy.

"Well, Doc, are you going to let us in? There's a draft out here", joked Luke.

Kevin stepped aside and let Luke and Tracy in the house. Luke approached his family, while Tracy stayed back with Kevin. Kevin watched as LuLu eyed her father, she jumped up into his arms and began telling him how much she missed him. He also noticed Laura watching the moment with her soulful eyes. Tracy interrupted his thoughts when she said, "Don't be scared."

"What?", asked a confused Kevin.

"Don't be scared that she's going to leave you. She's just watching her daughter reunite with her father. Laura likes sentimentality. You know that, I know that, the whole town of Port Charles knows that. Luke told me that him and Laura talked about their relationship on the island. He said that Laura talked about you like you discovered the sun and the stars. She loves you. Don't be scared. I've been there."

"How did you get over the fear that Luke and Laura will one day reunite?"

Tracy replied, "I just got over it when Luke told me about their conversation, but Laura and Luke are different. Luke will always need Laura. She is his heart and soul. Laura doesn't need Luke like that. She has a heart and soul. She needs someone to share it with and that person is you. She doesn't need someone to save her, she needs someone to go on the adventure with her."

Kevin nodded and said, "If I have anymore questions on how to understand the Luke and Laura dynamic…"

"You call me. I'll explain it to you. It's nice to have someone to share this weird dynamic with anyway. Scott was a waste of space, but you, I actually like you Kevin Collins", responded Tracy.

Kevin laughed. "You know, it might shock the world, but I like you too, Tracy."

Laura interrupted their conversation when she yelled, "Hey you two! Come over and join the party! And come here Tracy! I missed my best friend."

"You and Tracy are best friends?! A guy is gone from Port Chuckles for a few years and his two ex-wives who hated each other are now best friends. What did I miss?!", exclaimed shocked Luke.

The room erupted in laughter. Although this was a happy moment, LuLu knew that she would have to tell Charlotte about Valentine before Volcano Nina erupted.