What Happened to Forever?

Chapters 51-52

~*~Chapter 51~*~

[I don't know much about jets, so this probably won't be accurate!]

On the way to the airport, the three teens tell Emily all about Lucky's ordeal. She's shocked to hear that he was in Wyndemere the whole time, but like everyone else, is just happy that he's back. They also tell her about Luke's discovery that Nikolas is a Spencer. She's even more shocked at that! They joke around about how he's just a regular guy now, how he'll have to get used to not having servants around, or private jets, or fancy cars, and will have to get a real job. He looks at them strangely before reminding them that he's already doing all that. He's living alone in Brenda's cottage and working at Deception, and once he goes public about his paternity, there will be no more private jets. As for the fancy cars, he says he's definitely going to keep the Jag. They all laugh at that.

When they get to the airport, Emily begs them to tell her where they're going, but they continue to refuse. They board the jet and settle in for a quick ride, since New York City isn't too far away. What they don't realize is that this trip is going to anything but usual.

The pilot announces when they hit cruising altitude, and the four passengers unbuckle themselves. Liz goes over and sits on Lucky's lap.

"Something wrong with your seat?" he asks jokingly.

"You're much more comfy," she says, tightening her arms around his neck.

He smiles up at her. "Well, it's a good thing you don't weigh anything." He leans in and whispers so Emily won't overhear, "What do you want to do when we get there?"

She shrugs and whispers back, "I don't know. As long as I'm with you, I'll be happy." They share a tender kiss, oblivious to the other two passengers.

Emily smiles at Nikolas. "It's so good to see her happy again."

He nods. "Yeah, the transformation is amazing. You know, I think that even if he was gone for 10 years, or even more, she would still have never been truly happy again. They're obviously meant for each other."

"Kind of like us," she says, as he kisses her. After a few minutes, she breaks the kiss. "Why don't we just stay here all day?"

Nikolas laughs and looks over at his brother, who is still kissing Liz. "I don't think they'd even notice if we did."

Emily smiles and lays her head on Nikolas's shoulder, feeling completely at peace. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For knowing exactly what I needed. This trip is a wonderful idea. I'm finally away from that crazy house, and I can breathe. And I have my best friend back. This is the best birthday ever," she says emotionally.

"Well, you're welcome, but it was nothing. I'd do anything to make you happy."

A few minutes later, they feel a slight bump. Emily looks worriedly at Nikolas, but he just smiles at her calmly. "Don't worry, I'm sure it's just some turbulence." When nothing else follows, they all relax again and go back to their previous 'activities.'

"Uh, Mr. Cassidine?" the pilot says over the intercom. "We've got a slight problem here. We may have to make an emergency landing."

Everyone looks at each other in fear. "What's he talking about? We're not going to crash are we?" Emily asks.

"Elizabeth, you better get back to your seat. You're not safe like this." Lucky says. Liz nods and gets up, but before she cane make it back to her seat, the plane lurches forward, throwing her.

"Elizabeth!" Lucky screams, trying to unbuckle his seat belt to go after her. The plane is falling faster now.

"No, Lucky! Leave your seat belt on! There's nothing you can do right now. You'll get yourself killed!" Nikolas shouts. He just got his brother back, and he wasn't about to lose him again so soon. Emily is clutching his hand tightly, staring at Elizabeth's unmoving form at the front of the cabin. She says quietly to him, so Lucky won't hear, "she's not moving, Nikolas!"

"She'll be fine, don't worry. She probably just got knocked out from the fall. Just hang on. This'll be over soon." He looks back at Lucky, who is just staring at Elizabeth in horror. He seems to be in shock. Suddenly, their rapid descent ends and everything goes black.

~*~Chapter 52~*~

Luke looks up as the door opens and his wife enters, holding their daughter's hand.

"Daddy!" Lulu squeals, breaking her mother's grasp and throwing herself into her father's arms.

"Hey there, princess. How was Aunt Amy's?" he asks, giving the little girl a hug.

"Okay," she says simply before hugging him again.

"Guess what Lulu?" Laura asks, coming into the room and sitting down next to Luke. "Your daddy is going to be living with us again, just like old times!"

Lulu's face light up when she hears this. "Yay!"

Laura looks at Luke. "Should we tell her?" He nods, knowing what she's referring to. She turns back to their daughter. "Sweetie, do you remember how Lucky went to Heaven last year, and we told you that he wouldn't be coming back?"

She nods, but looks doubtful. "Lucky come home," she says determinedly.

Luke chuckles. "Maybe she is psychic," he mutters to his wife.

Laura continues. "Well, honey, sometimes mommys and daddys make mistakes, and this is one of those times. It turns out that Lucky didn't go to Heaven after all. A bad man had taken him away, but daddy got him back yesterday, so you'll be able to see him again real soon."

Lulu's face lights up. "Lucky here?"

Luke shakes his head. "No, princess, he's on a trip right now, but he'll be here tomorrow, okay?" She nods excitedly, then jumps up and runs to her room.

Laura smiles. "She always did adore her older brother." She sighs and leans back against Luke, happy to have her life back.

A few minutes later the phone rings. Luke looks down to see that his wife has fallen asleep, so he gently gets up and goes into the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Is this Luke Spencer?" the voice on the other end asks.

"Yes it is," he answers, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"Sir, this is the tower at the Port Charles Airport. We have you listed as the emergency contact for Nikolas Cassidine and his friends. You are aware that they were flying to New York today?"

"Yes, I was. Is there a problem?" For a second, he feels pride that Nikolas listed him, but then realizes that with Stefan in jail, there really wasn't anyone else. That feeling disappears as soon as it hits him why this man must be calling.

"I'm sorry to inform you sir, but their plane went down about 40 miles from here. We haven't had any word yet about the passengers. Paramedics are already on their way, but since the passengers were all teenagers, I thought you would want to inform their parents."

Luke leans against the wall. Not again. He just got his son back, he can't lose him again! "Okay, thank you for calling. Where is the plane?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't disclose that information. All I can tell you is that any survivors will be brought to Pinehurst Community Hospital."

Luke gets the hospital's address and calls Audrey. She is shocked to hear the news and agrees to meet them at the hospital. Next he calls the Quartermaines, praying that Edward wouldn't answer.

"Quartermaines."

"Reginald, good. It's Luke Spencer. Look, I have some bad news, and I don't have time to deal with Edward's bellowing right now, so I'm going to tell you and let you break it to them. I hope that's okay."

Reginald agrees, sensing Luke's distress.

"Emily went to New York today with my son, Nikolas, and Elizabeth. I just got a call that their plane went down before they got there. I need you to give the address of the hospital to Alan and Monica. He said that's where they will be brought."

"Are they okay?" Reginald asks, concerned. He has grown to love Emily like his own over the past few years, and is truly frightened for her.

"I don't know, the guy said they hadn't heard anything yet. I gotta get over there. Thanks Reginald!" Luke hangs up and then goes out into the living room to do the one things he dreads most.

"Laura, honey, wake up," he says, gently shaking her. She wakes up and looks at him groggily. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yeah. Look, I just got a phone call from the airport. I don't know how to tell you this, but the kids' plane went down somewhere between here and the city. We have to get to the hospital."

She looks at him in shock. "No! Not again! Oh, Luke, please tell me they're okay. I can't lose them both!" She grabs him and buries her face in his shoulder, sobbing.

He smoothes her hair, wishing he could ease her mind. "The guy didn't know anything about them. He just told me where they'd be brought, so we have to get going so we can be there for them, okay?" She nods, and they get up. He calls Bobbie to come look after Lulu, and they leave.

~*~

Lucky stumbles out of what's left of the plane, searching frantically. Soon he is joined by Nikolas and Emily. They're all relatively fine. Nikolas is holding his shoulder in pain, and Emily has a pretty big gash on her leg, but they're alive and conscious. Lucky has some cuts and bruises, but is in the best shape out of the three of them.

Finally, poking out from under a chunk of fuselage, he sees what looks like brown hair. He runs to it, throwing the debris to the side and falls to his knees.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Oh God, not now! Come on, Elizabeth, wake up!"