~*~Chapter 51~*~
“This next song is...obviously....a duet. It was written for someone very special to me, who isn’t able to be here tonight,” Lucky explains, turning to smile at Emily when she places a comforting hand on his arm. “Anyway, I’d like to introduce one of my oldest and closest friends, who also happens to be my sister-in-law, Emily Spencer.”
Everyone applauds as Emily curtsies slighly, then the band begins to play. Lucky looks over at her to make sure she’s ready, and she smiles nervously.
(Lines labeled “L” are Lucky, “E” are Emily, and “B” are both together)
L: Love wandered inside
Stronger than you
Stronger than I
E: And now that it has begun
We cannot turn back
L: We can only turn into one
B: I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
The part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call
L: And I'm truly inspired
Finding my soul
There in your eyes
And you
Have opened my heart
And lifted me inside
By showing me yourself
Undisguised
B: And I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call
L: And I will breathe for you each day
Comfort you through all the pain
Gently kiss your fears away
E: You can turn to me and cry
Always understand that I
Give you all I am inside
E: And I won't ever be too far away to feel you
L: And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
B: And I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call
As the song ends, Emily reaches over and hugs Lucky, knowing how much it tears him up inside to sing it. He smiles shakily at her, thankful for her presence, then nods to let her know he’ll be okay. She squeezes his arm, then makes her way off the stage and back to their table.
Off to the side, Kimber is watching all of this, trying to figure out what it all means. It must have something to do with his wife, who is probably who the song was written for. But why couldn’t she be there tonight, and how come Lucky always seems so sad? He still wears his wedding ring, so they’re not divorced, and by the emotional way he had just sung, he is obviously still very much in love with her. So where is she?
Kimber steps away from the wall, moving over to the bar to get a better look at the stage, a small smile playing on her lips as she determines which is the best plan of action to take. She is determined to find out what makes Lucky Spencer tick by the end of the evening, if it’s the last thing she does.
“All right, back off missy,” V mutters under her breath, watching Kimber from the table near the door where she is setting up to sell Lucky’s CD once the show is over. He was right, she is up to something, and by the smile on her face, it can’t be good.
Lucky steps up to the microphone again and clears his throat. He runs a nervous hand through his hair, then smiles at his family, then at V. “Okay, this is the last song, I’m sorry the show was so short. Um, V is going to kill me for doing this, since this song isn’t on the album, but I wanted to end on a more humorous note.” He chuckles, then shakes his head. “Actually, it’s really only funny to those who know my family. It’s a song I wrote a long time ago, after my brother first came to Port Charles.”
Lucky stops for a moment and looks down at Nikolas, smiling. “Nikolas, just remember that I wrote this a lifetime ago, okay?”
Nikolas looks at him strangely, then shrugs. Lucky grins, then nods to the band to begin.
You’re not my brother
Not at all
You saved my sister
So what?
A stream of luck is all it was
You better be careful
I’m gonna f*** you up
Luke starts to crack up, and although he knows he should probably be offended, Nikolas can’t help laughing right along with him.
You’re not my brother
Look at your eyes
They’re a different color
And a different size
So what’s behind those puppy-dog eyes
Don’t cross the line, it’s a very thin line
It’s a grey shade called a masquerade
If you don’t show me, I’ll rip it off
Right down to the bone
You peer down with eagle eyes
At the one thing that ties
Me to life and love
You suck it out with vampire blood
My mother’s crazy, she has this side (“Hey!” Laura shouts. Lucky smiles and shakes his head, but continues to sing)
She has sympathy for the devil’s eyes
And though disguised as pure love
A forgotten son should fit like a glove
But behind the mask there is a task
I’ve acquired a rash that seems to itch
I just might scratch it, yeah
I just might scratch it until it bleeds
You peer down with eagle eyes
At the one thing that ties
Me to life and love
You suck it out with vampire blood
When the song is over, the Spencer table is in hysterics, although most people in the room have no clue why that song was so funny. Lucky thanks the audience, puts down his guitar, and joins them off stage.
“Sorry, man,” he says, clapping Nikolas on the back. “I’ve been dying to play that one for years.”
Nikolas chuckles and shakes his head. “I know you hated me back then, but that was pretty harsh.”
“Was that whole ‘crazy’ thing really necessary?” Laura asks.
Lucky laughs and walks over to hug her. “Back then, yes, it was. Remember, I was an angry kid then. It was a requirement to hate my parents.” He stands back and looks at his family. “You all know I don’t feel that way now, right?”
They all nod and take turns hugging and congratulating him, then slowly make their way over to V to congratulate her as well. Lucky sits down at the now-empty table and finishes the last of Nikolas’s drink.
“Hey, good show.”
Lucky looks up and frowns. “Thanks, Kimber. Shouldn’t you be helping the other customers or something?”
She shakes her head and sits down next to him. “Nope, my shift just ended. I’m all yours now.”
[Song credits: “Whenever You Call,” © 1998 Sony Music Inc., Lyrics: M. Carey / Music: M. Carey - W. Afanasieff; “Unlucky,” © 1997 Jonathan Jackson Music, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Jackson]
~*~Chapter 52~*~
Another pain grips Elizabeth as she makes her way to the door. “Oh, no, why now? Why couldn’t this happen in the garden, or down in the dining room? Why in the attic???”
Finally reaching the door, she turns the knob and swings it open. She takes a deep breath, then stumbles outside. “Help! The baby’s coming!”
Downstairs, Sergei is reading through the paper. He hears what sounds like Liz shouting and turns to face the direction of her voice, straining to hear.
“Help! Someone, anyone!”
“Elisha!?” he shouts, jumping out of the chair and racing up the stairs. “What’s wrong?’
“The baby!” she shouts back, leaning against the wall as she waits for him to reach her. Finally, he appears at the top of the stairs, out of breath.
“Isn’t it too early?” he asks frantically.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I thought there was another month before it was due.”
“Well, here, grab my arm. I’ll help you downstairs, and we’ll go find Helena.” He extends his arm to her, and she has no choice but to take it and lean on him as they slowly descend the stairs.
“Celeste!” Sergei shouts on the way, getting the attention of one of the maids. “Please find my granmother and tell her Elisha is in labor. Tell her we’ll be in the sitting room, and to get the doctor.”
“Of course, sir, right away,” she says, rushing off to find Helena.
A few minutes later, he leads Liz into the sitting room. “Here, sit down,” he says, moving her to the couch. “Are you in pain?’
She shakes her head. “Not right now. I think I’m in between contractions. It’s still early, from what I’ve read, labor isn’t exactly quick.” She smiles at the concern on his face and pats the back of his hand. “Don’t worry, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Sergei chuckles and pulls up a chair. “Shouldn’t I be the one reassuring you?”
Liz shrugs. “I’m fine, really. I’ll just be happy when this is all over, and I’ll be rid of this huge stomach!”
He nods. “I guess you finished the nursery just in time, then. Are the paint fumes all gone yet?’
“Yeah, it’s been airing out for about a week, I think it’ll be okay for the baby by now,” she says, rubbing her stomach. “I can’t believe this is actually happening now.”
Helena rushes into the room and looks accusingly at Liz and Sergei. “Is it true? Are you really having the baby now?’
Liz nods. “It seems that way. Where’s the doctor?”
“I just called him. He’ll be here soon.” Helena paces the room, not sure what to do. Sergei watches Liz worriedly as she breathes through another contraction. A short while later, the door opens, and the doctor walks inside.
“It’s about time!” Helena says in annoyance.
“Calm down, Mrs. Cassidine, there’s plenty of time. This baby still has a while before it’s coming out.”
Helena grutns and folds her arms across her chest. “Isn’t it too early? Is this going to be dangerous?”
He shakes his head as he kneels down to examine Liz. “Not at all. It’s only a month early, that’s perfectly safe. I’m sure everything will work out just fine.”
Sergei sighs with relief. “That’s good. Is it okay for her to do this here? I mean, shouldn’t she be in a hospital or soemthing?’
The doctor shakes his head again. “Not necessarily. Women were having babies long before hospital even existed. Since you’re isolated out here on this island, it’s best to just stay here. A boat or helicopter trip would be too stressful at this stage. I’m prefectly qualified to deliver this baby right here. If there should be a problem, I already have the nearest hospital standing by, but I don’t see much chance of that happening.”
Liz smiles up at him. “Thank you, doctor. I’m glad to hear that.”
Once he is done examining her, they move her into a spare bedroom and prepare to wait for her labor to progress. He checks on her periodically to see how dilated she is, stopping every now and then to reassure Sergei that everything is fine.
After hours of labor, Liz is finally ready to deliver. Helena sits off to the side, not wanting to watch, while Sergei stands next to her bed, offering his hand. Liz takes it reluctantly, not sure what else to hold onto. As she begins to push, she squeezes his hand harder and harder, until he’s afraid she’s about to break it.
“Elisha! My hand!” he shouts, wrenching it away and shaking it.
“Sorry,” she says in between breaths. “This sort of hurts, you know!”
Sergei smiles sheepishly and offers her his other hand. She shakes her head, and he gratefully pulls it back. After what feels like hours of breathing and pushing, the baby is out.
“Congratulations,” the doctor says as he quickly cuts the umbilical cord. “It’s a perfectly healthy, baby boy!”
Helena stands up and claps her hands. “A boy, how wonderufl!”
Liz falls back onto the pillow, exhausted. “A boy,” she whispers, looking up at Sergei, who is beaming with pride.
“Have you thought of a name yet?” the doctor asks. He moves over tot he tub of water that one of the servants had brought up and begins to clean the baby.
Helena smiles warmly and nods. “Mikkos Stavros Sergeilovich Cassidine!”
The doctor looks over at Liz, who merely rolls her eyes. He has hearad enough about Helena to know that fighting such a ludicrous name is worthless, so he sighs and wraps up the little boy in a blue towel. “Mikkos, then, is it? Well, he’s definitely beautiful.” He walks over and places the baby in Liz’s arms, then leaves the room so the parents can have some time alone with their son. Helena stands up and follows him.
“Hey there, little guy,” Liz says softly, gently running her finger down the bridge of his nose. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.”
Sergei leans down to look at him and smiles. “Wow, look at how small he is.” He studies Mikkos’s little face for a moment, then straightens up. “I’ll let you be alone with him for a little while, okay?”
Liz smiles up and him and nods. “Thanks.” He quickly leaves the room, and she looks back down at her new baby, admiring his blue eyes. Sure, all babies are born with blue eyes, but something tells her that this one’s are going to stay that way.
“Welcome to the world, Mickey,” she says tenderly, a tear running down her cheek. “I’m your mommy.” She looks up at the ceiling and sniffs. “I’m sure your daddy is out there somewhere, watching over us, and I know he would be so proud of you. You’ve got his eyes, I can already tell.”
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