Where Will All Come Home?

Chapter 1
Lesley Lu slept late that morning. At breakfast, she picked at her
food, but ate very little.

"How did things go at Daddy's this weekend, baby?" Laura
asked anxiously as she spooned cereal into Sergei's open mouth.
The pleased baby grinned toothlessly at his mother, and banged
his bottle on the tray of his high chair.

"It was fine," Lesley Lu said, with a small smile. "I am getting more used
to well-adjusted all the time."

Stefan glanced at Laura. He tried not to interfere too much, but found the school's interference in their private life intolerable. Laura had been surprised when the guidance counselor, Mrs. Tatum, had called from the elementary school, to announce that Lulu had been chosen to participate in a group for children of divorced parents. She had been shocked when Mrs. Tatum, incensed by Lulu's inability to recall her last visit with her father, had called Luke, and demanded that he keep the visitation schedule agreed to in the divorce settlement. Laura couldn't decide whether Luke had simply been bowled over by Mrs. Tatum's overpowering personality as she had, agreed quickly because he had a hangover that morning, or found the forceful offer of group therapy for all of them more than he could handle. Bobbie and Sonny, however, had been so much in favor of regular visits that Luke and Alexis had more or less, been forced into agreement.

"Every time I go, it gets better." Lesley Lu thoughtfully chewed a piece of toast. I have found some projects to do at Daddy's now."

Stefan sat up straighter, and laid down the morning paper. Experience had taught him the wisdom of monitoring Lesley Lu's "projects".

"Do you have, or need, adult supervision for these projects, Lesley Lu?" he inquired, with an intent look.

"Yes, Uncle Sonny and Uncle Mike supervise projects. They are lots of fun, and they understand that being adjusted is very hard. I explained to them that I was happy spending all my time at Wyndemere; everyone here needs me. What would you and Mommy, Grandma Lesley, Sergei, and Mrs. Lansbary do without me? BE LONELY, that's what!" she ended emphatically. "But Uncle Sonny says that just because my life used to be a real sweet deal doesn't mean I can't end up with a sweeter one. He says me and my daddy are gonna be big buddies some day."

Stefan tried not to snort. Listening to the philosophy of Sonny Corinthos was not his preferred way to start his morning. He cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"Are you prepared for your oral report at tonight's PTA meeting? he asked.

"Yes, papa."

"Did you practice with your father or Aunt Alexis this weekend?"

"I practiced with Uncle Sonny. I think he and Uncle Mike are coming to see me tonight." She squirmed with pleasure at the thought.

"And is your father coming, as well?"

"No, I think he only has to give me an adjustment on weekends. I don't think he signed up for school days."

Stefan sighed. It was difficult to remain silent on mornings like these. That anyone could deny love to this child was beyond his imagination. That Spencer, who had lavished such affection on this first child, could treat the second with such disdain, brought up painful echoes from his own childhood: a rage banked, but glowing, alive beneath his impassive facade.

"I have meetings all afternoon. Do you want to have a final practice when I meet you and your mother at school this evening? Or would you and your mother have time to practice this afternoon? What is your preference? It is a great honor to represent your class by publicly presenting your report during Career Week."

Darting as quickly as the hummingbird she reminded him of, Lesley Lu jumped out of her chair to give her parents and baby brother a quick hug. "I am tired of practicing, Papa. I will do my best tonight. I have to go feed Little Dimitri now, and check on the baby chicks before school."

Stefan and Laura watched fondly as she zoomed down the hall, calling to Mrs. Lansbary as she ran toward the kitchen.


At seven o'clock that evening, Luke Spencer shifted uncomfortably on a folding chair in a gymnasium decorated with banners, and "career figures", large paper cutouts of human forms decorated by children to represent differing occupations.

" When you told me that you needed me tonight, I had no idea that this was the urgent problem. Are you looking for life-altering career insight from second and third graders here?"

"You never know when a great idea might just come to you", Sonny offered. "But the real deal is that your daughter is one of the chosen speakers. You need to be here, and you are," he grinned slyly.

"Aw, Sonny. The problem is that this kid, I don't see any evidence that she is my kid. Did I ever tell you about the first time she spent the night? She came downstairs with some little black-rimmed glasses on, with her shirt buttoned tight around her neck, and a blazer on. She was holding a newspaper under her arm, and she looked at me and said 'Good morning, Spencer'. I drank two straight whiskeys before breakfast."

"I wish I'd seen her. She was really disappointed in your reaction."

"She told you?"

"Yeah, buddy. Lulu says even her best material doesn't work on you. She said that at Wyndemere, she had 'em rollin'with that stunt. Apparently Cassadine laughed so hard he spit out his coffeee, and had to change clothes before going to work. Even, you know, what's her name, the housekeeper, had to leave the room. Lulu's take on the deal is that you've got no sense of humor."

"It didn't look like a joke," Luke muttered. "It was more like a nightmare. The kid acts and talks like Count Vlad."

Mike leaned over, and said "Oh, look. Laura, Cassadine, and the kids are here."

Luke casually glanced across the gym at his ex-wife and her new family. The baby, he decided, did not look as intelligent as Lucky had at that age. Lulu, he observed with dismay, was dressed in a white cotton shirt, school tie, blazer, and plaid skirt. He just hoped she left her glasses at home. He shifted on the hard seat again, and glanced at his watch.

Across the gym, Laura handed Sergei to his father, while she smoothed Lulu's hair one last time. While Stefan settled his placid son into his infant seat, Laura said "I'm gonna walk you back stage now where Mrs. Clark said you needed to wait with the other kids, okay?"

Lulu nodded.

"Daddy's here with Uncle Sonny and Uncle Mike. Do you want to say hi real quick before you go backstage?"

"No, Mommy. I'll talk to them after, if they stay. I'm having some butterflies."

"Understandable, I'd say." Her mother smiled reassuringly. "Chin up!" she said tilting the small face up for a kiss. "You're gonna knock 'em dead." At least I hope so, Laura thought, as she dropped Lulu off to wait with the other kids. There was a lot riding on tonight's show.


It turned out that the career reports were done in alphabetical order. At the point where a hesitant child was discussing his potential career in "Garbage", Luke turned to his sister. "So glad you and Lucas could make it to tonight's snooze fest. You didn't get here until the letter 'B'. Now you'll never hear the straight skinny on the profession of arrow-making."

Bobbie grinned. "Do you know what Lulu's career choice is? Research. Capital R. Research. We're here in plenty of time."

Luke groaned, closed his eyes, and lay back as far as possible in his chair.Only a moment later, it seemed, a vicious elbow in his ribs woke him as his sister hissed in his ear, "At least wake up long enough to hear Lulu talk." Straightening up, a bleary-eyed Luke saw a small hesitant figure come out on stage.

Looking at her mother and stepfather for reassurance, Lulu took a deep breath and began. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is my honor to appear here tonight to discuss my career interests. She held up an unrecognizable paper cutout, then put it down. First, it is necessary for me to give credit where it is due."

Luke moaned. Sonny stifled a smile. Mike gave in and grinned from ear to ear.

Leslie Lu continued, First, I will thank my mother, Mrs. Laura Cassadine. She likes babies and she had me. If she didn't I wouldn't have any career interests at all.

"Short but sweet," observed Sonny.

Stefan looked up from gazing at his cherubic sleeping son's face. "I think", he said "that she has deviated from her program. And it was going well, I thought."

Laura grinned. "Sonny and I helped her re-write her speech. You ain't seen nothing yet!" Stefan raised his eyebrows and settled back in his chair.

On stage, Lesley Lu was continuing. Next, I wish to thank my stepfather, Mr. Stefan Cassadine. He teaches me interesting Math, because he does not want ignorant churls to limit my education."

Her teacher bridled on a back row.

"He tells me knock-knock jokes in six languages, because he loves me. He helps me with my many projects also. He is the funniest man in the world."

Lesley Lu beamed. "My papa says that even if my mama, and Sergei and I weren't his heart's delight, that a consideration for public safety would still compel him to take an interest in my activities."

"You hate me, don't you, Sonny?" hissed Luke. "Why are we here? She looks like the Count. She thinks he is funny. What does that say about the kid? Warped, warped, warped!"

"It says a lot more about you. Shut up. The kid's got maybe three, four, minutes to talk. Be quiet for once."

"I also should thank Mrs. Tatum, the counselor. Mrs Tatum beamed, but her facial expression changed as Lulu went on. Before I met Mrs. Tatum I did not know about well adjusted . I did not know anyone had it or needed it. I didn't want it, but she made me get it. Being well adjusted makes you sad, when you used to be happy. Well adjusted means you stay at your father's penthouse on the weekend and cry yourself to sleep very quietly, because you miss your Mommy and Papa."

Laura's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded encouragingly at her little daughter.

Stefan shifted position in his chair, and folded his arms across his chest. He blinked hard.

Luke sat up straight in his chair, his face white. Lulu continued.

"But if Mrs. Tatum didn't make my daddy let me come to his house, I would not be making this career speech, because when I went to stay at my daddy and Aunt Alexis's penthouse, I got to spend more time with my Uncle Sonny, who has taught me a lot about careers."

Stefan put his head in his hands. He had the beginnings of a raging headache.

"This means that I also must thank my daddy. My papa says that my daddy has disinterest and underestimates me. She broke off suddenly, and looked at Stefan. "It was not eavesdropping, but an accident. There is a rule about eavesdropping," she explained to the startled audience, "we do not do it. And there is a rule about words. If you don't know the meaning, look it up. I looked up under-estimate. It was very helpful. Before, I just thought my daddy was the most boring man I ever met. He worked in a dark place all the time, pouring drinks and listening to people tell him sad stories. He had to look at a nekkid picture of the mean lady with too many teeth all night long. Then he had to come home to my Aunt Alexis, and mommy says she is just a snake in human form. I figured he had enough problems, so I was polite. That's a rule too. 'Be polite'." Lesley Lu paused for a breath.

Luke looked at Sonny, and said "Ouch!"

"My daddy is a man who sees me on the floor with his tools and phone bugs and thinks that Ken is working on Barbie's car. My daddy has not been able to breach the security system at Wyndemere in over a year, but still has not figured out that my mommy fired the security consultants and rebuilt the whole system from the ground up, herself. My Aunt Alexis says that what does he expect from me, my mommy's not exactly a rocket scientist. That is also under-estimating."

Laura shot an evil glance in Luke's direction.

"Alexis said that on the phone", Luke whispered to Sonny. "Did the kid tap my phone?"

"Yeah, but it was only a project. She thinks you're too boring to warrant much attention." Luke looked at his little girl with more respect. "Also," Sonny whispered, "she had to use your phone. There's another rule. 'Fair is fair'."

"Which means?"

Cassadine found her with the bugs and tools she lifted from you at Wyndemere.

He told her that since it was her daddy's equipment and her daddy's tools, she could only use them ...

"At her daddy's house," Luke finished.

"Exactly."

"So now, I wish to thank my daddy for disinterest and under-estimating, because this has given me a lot of spare time to learn important career stuff from my Uncle Sonny and Uncle Mike. First off, Uncle Sonny says I would die of boredom standing in one room all day in a white coat, doing tests even if my big brother Nikki was with me. He explained that I already am headed towards a career like his, but it doesn't start with an r.

"Way to go, Sonny!" Bobbie spat out indignantly. "Now she thinks she belongs back in the m's."

"I already have started my career. I am an entrepreneur. This is when you are a person with many interests, and you start different businesses. I have several. I grow carrots for my pony, and sell the extras to Mrs. Lansbary. I help my mommy with security sweeps, and she pays me extra for finding anything suspicious. I do math homework, but only up to 5th grade".

Seeing several startled adult faces in the audiences, Lulu explained, "It is a good value. I show my work so my customers can explain it to the teacher the next day."

"Today I started a new business, thanks to my Uncle Mike. Ever since he taught me to handicap the ponies, I have been interested in the job of book-making. This is about taking bets, not about the recipe books we made in Brownies. Everyone knew that Tyler Bradshaw was going to beat up my cousin Lucas after school. They thought Lucas would be smushed like a bug, but I know Lucas. He is small, but meaner than you would expect. I gave good odds on Tyler."

"The chumps lined up and I made a clear nine dollar and eighteen cents in profit. I gave a cut to Lucas since he was the one who got punched, minus, of course, the dollar he owed me for doing his homework. This is what it is like when you are an entrepreneur."

Lesley Lu looked out over her stunned audience. Stefan's face was still buried in his hands, but his body shook slightly. Laura beamed at her and gave her a thumbs up sign.

Lesley Lu took a deep breath. " Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for the opportunity to give my presentation," and walked off the stage.

"She is a terror," Luke breathed.

"She is your kid," Sonny rejoined. "By the way, here's the list of rules."

"Do you think I need them?"

"Yeah, if you're gonna be spendin' more time with Lulu. I called Laura last Saturday and asked her to fax them to me." He handed a folded sheet of paper to Luke, and turned to Mike.

"Way to go, Mike. How long she been doin' the ponies for you?"

Immediately after the last presentation, 'Z' is for zookeeper , Mr. Welsh, the principal, buttonholded Luke and Laura separately, suggesting an 8:30 conference the next morning.

"I'll be there," said Luke. "This is my kid, and she's okay. Don't think I'm gonna let you give her a bad time."

Bobbie kissed Luke good night, and headed for the door, telling Lucas "You and I are going to have a long talk about homework when we get in the car."

Sonny picked up his coat. "See ya later, buddy. Oh, by the way, have you made toast this week? If you haven't, see rule #8." He winked, and walked towards Laura.

Laura hugged Sonny. "I don't know how to thank you."

"It's okay. Lulu did it herself."

Lulu ran up to hug her mother.

"You were great, honey!" said Laura.

"An impressive performance," offered Stefan.

"Are you mad, papa? Mommy and Uncle Sonny said sometimes you have to change the rule from 'be polite' to 'speak from your heart'.

"Your mother has been teaching me about that rule for some years. I am glad she and your, umm, Uncle Sonny aided you in the changes you made tonight. They were most appropriate."

Stefan hugged her tightly. " I have never been prouder of you," he whispered.

Luke stuck his hand out to Lulu palm down. "How about going out for ice cream with your old dad?"

Lulu looked at her mother, who nodded.

" If it is agreeable to everyone, Laura, I will see you and Sergei to the launch, so that you can take him home to bed. Spencer, I will meet you and Lesley Lu at the docks in an hour's time for our return trip home."

Luke ambled toward the door with Lulu, his tall, lanky form stooped a bit so he could talk to her more readily. "Have you ever tried to crack Daddy's safe?"

"No," answered Lulu, "but I know the combination. It's 28, 32, 15."

"How'd you get the combination, then?

"I just watched you open it one night, daddy."

"How about your papa's safe?"

"Oh, daddy, there's a rule for that. If I told you his combination..."

"I understand," he said amiably. "Fair is fair." Hand in hand, they walked off into the night.

**************

About an hour later, a young nurse, returning home after dinner at Kelly's, was treated to a spectacle that she knew no one at work would ever believe. The dour CEO of General Hospital, Stefan Cassadine himself, was standing on the docks speaking animatedly into a cell phone with someone called Nikolas. He was laughing so hard that tears were running down his cheeks.