Once the admin counselor realized he had a paying customer in front of him he'd changed his tune just a bit and things had gone smoothly.  Sure, there were some classes he was blocked out of because of his class standing.  There were other classes he'd challenged out of because of the Advanced Placement classes he took in school.  Some classes where in conflict.  Eventually he'd gotten a schedule one that took the Judge's advice to heart and spread him around the campus a bit.  Ricky glances down at this watch. The munchkin would be at basketball practice about now over at Queen of Angels.  Ricky strides over to the short term parking and taking the ticket off his windshield-- crumples it dropping it to the ground next to the car and then climbs in and heads over to the school.

Luke allows himself to be led by the hand through Wyndemere Lite by Lulu.  "And Daddy, this is Grandma's room.  My room is upstairs."  Lulu tugs on him to get him to follow her.  She opens to the door to her room.  Luke takes in at a glance-- a room perfect for his princess. Everything that had been in her room down in Carolina was spread out here.  It was like Lu had been living here forever instead of states away.  Lulu picks up the phone by her bed.  "If I dial one then Lucky or Elizabeth pick up at their apartment.  If I dial two then the phone rings downstairs.  And if you want to call me then you just dial three."  Lulu says seriously.  "I could do my homework here but normally I do it at the kitchen table.  That's where Elizabeth and Maddy do their homework too.  Nikky has a computer in his study but it's not as good as Lucky's.  Lucky has games on his.  Nikky or Elizabeth normally take me to school cause Maddy is already at work and Lucky is sleeping.  You're going to stay for dinner right?  You're not going to leave?"

Luke looks down at his little angel.  How can he say no?  "Sure.  I'll stay for dinner."

"Nikky is cooking but it's okay cause he normally calls Granny Sophia and she helps him."

"You're a little sneak.  You waited to tell me that the Little Prince was cooking until after you got me to say yes."

Lulu wrinkles her noise at him and grins.  "Yeah.  But I have to go downstairs and make sure that Nikky doesn't cheat."

"Yeah, you got to watch those Cassadines every minute."  Luke agrees as he follows Lulu back down to the kitchen.  It's starting to get crowded down there with six normal members as well as Emily and himself.

Em leans over the counter.  "Nik, are you sure you don't want me to call Porter's?  Johnny isn't working tonight but I'm sure Frank could make up something."

Nik sees his sister out of the corner of his eye and doesn't give into the temptation.  "Nah Thanks I've got it in hand.  Lulu is here to help me."

"Emmie, are you staying for dinner?"

"I can't, Lulu.  My grandparents are expecting me."  And Johnny too.

"Chicken."  Luke mutters.

"Actually it's beef stew.  And I'm getting pretty good at it."  Nik quips.

"Yep, Dad, if there is a crockpot involved we're got it down."  Lucky agrees.

"Em, why don't I give you a lift home?  I need to go round the kiosks anyway."  Maddy invites.

"It's good to have you back, Mr Spen-- Luke."  Em tells Luke as she collects her things.

"It's good to be back."  Luke agrees.  Em and Maddy leave.  Lucky goes over to the vacumn pot of coffee and pours a mug for his father.  Luke pulls up a barstool at the breakfast bar.  He basically ignores Nik to talk to Lucky.  "So what happened at the club while I was out of town... did Claude book a polka band or something?"

"No, and if he starts telling you about Dara Jensen and Alexis Davis getting ripped at the club and closing the place... he isn't pulling your leg."

Tony Jones walks up to the nurses station.  He collects his messages and starts reviewing charts.  There is a new chart.  "When did this patient come in?  And why wasn't I notified?"  Tony demands of Denise.

Denise checks to see which file.  "Mrs Spencer?  She arrived early this afternoon.  Her own Doctor checked her out after the transfer."

"Her own Doctor?"

"Dr Ryan."  Denise nods.

"And where is Dr Ryan now?"  Tony says grimly.

"I can page her if you like?"

Maddy looks down at the piece of paper in her hand.  Em hadn't stayed long at the mansion.  Just long enough to pick up her car and head over to Porter's to pick up Johnny.  Mr Q is probably polishing his verbal skills to get ready to take Johnny on in one of their over dessert business brawls.  Cause you really couldn't call it a debate.  She glances at her watch.  She still has time to get this done before heading back to the house.  Maddy pulls into the loading zone of the coffee warehouse.  She walks up to the open bay brushing aside the plastic insulating strips.  "Is Mr Morgan around?"

"Yeah, he's up in his office."  One of the guys points the direction.

"Thanks."  Maddy makes her way up to the office and knocks on the door.  Through the glass she can see Jason toss aside some maps and then wave her in.

"You already picked up your coffee order last week when you were asking questions about Tony Jones.  What is your excuse now?"

"No excuse.  A little birdie told me you were going to make a trip to China.  Here."

"What's this?"  Jason opens it up.  The paper is folded in half.  On one half names and addresses are written in English on the other half there are Chinese characters.

"Names and address of people who are friends and family of Harry Chow in Shanghai.  The priest can probably get you  more names... names from the congregation.  But these are people who date back to childhood."

"How did you get this?"

"Harry Chow's sister.  She doesn't think you have a chance in hell. But she is grateful for you trying.  If she hears from Yuen or their daughter she will get in touch with me.  I'll call you."

"If I find them, I'll call you so you can tell the family."  Jason tucks the paper away.  "And tell Carly not to worry or do anything rash."

"Looks like we both have our own impossible tasks.  Carly and I aren't really speaking right now.  I found out from Em.  Good Luck."  Maddy turns around and walks out the door.

Ricky watches the practice from the bleachers.  Rita is playing guard for the second team in the scrimmage.  The guard who'd been knocked out in the last game plays for the first team.  The first team with more experience playing together is smoother and more practiced.  But the addition of Rita to the second team is making them work for it.  The coach blows her whistle and calls Rita out.  They have a quick conference and then Rita goes back in.  Ricky walks down the bleachers and takes a seat behind the coach.  "What's up?"

"The next team has an outside shooter.  The girls know it and they are still crowding the zone under the basket."  The coach mutters.  "They need to know they'll pay if they do it in a game situation.  Sure enough-- Rita starts lighting them up for three pointers.  Her teammates, seeing the way it's going, start funneling her the ball.  The first team starts spreading out a little bit more finally breaking from the zone to guard her.  The coach blows the whistle and waves the girls over for a last minute peptalk before hitting the showers.   Rita grabs a towel and starts wiping off her face.  "Hey Ricky, Did ya see?"

"Yeah, Nice touch, munchkin."

"Did you go over to the University today?"  Rita demands.

"Here you go."  Ricky hands her the schedule from out of his pocket.

"Oh you got the Shakespeare class!  That one is going to be so cool.  They are going to go to a play at Miz Lila's theater and even get to go back stage. I thought you'd get stuck with that stupid Writing 121."

"Challenged out of it."  Ricky admits.

"How did you do that?"  Rita asks.

"Hey aren't you suppose to be hitting the showers or something?" Ricky goes for the diversion.

"Yeah, you'll wait for me?"

"Sure.  I'll give you lift back to your place."

Rita grimaces.  "Johnny's out with Em having dinner at the Quartermaines and Dad and Cookie went out too.  I suppose I could go to the restaurant and help Frank."

"Or we could stop somewhere for a bucket of chicken and a two liter and pig out over at my place."

"You don't mind?  You don't think I'm being a baby?  I mean I can stay alone." Rita toys with her security medallion.

"Just don't press that thing by accident."  Ricky demands.  "Go on.  You can come over to my place and see what damage Carly did."

"You're the greatest."  Rita runs down the bleachers and into the locker room.  Ricky shakes his head.  It was weird to see the munchkin go all nervous on him.  He hadn't thought there was anything she was afraid of.

Lucky loads the dishes from dinner into the dish washer.  Maddy had taken off for the study to do some net research for her econ project. Lesley has gone off to watch the news. Lulu has a huge page of butcher paper on the kitchen table and is carefully drawing a bouquet of daisies on a table.  Liz comes in from the back door.  "Here you go, Lu." She offers Lu a case of pastels.  "What do you want me to do?"

"Can you do the sky and maybe some birds too?"  Lulu asks.

"Sure."  Liz works from the top of the paper while Lulu sits at the base of the sheet.

"Princess, you should get your stuff so we can head home."  Luke tells her.  Lucky pauses in mid dish.  Liz looks over to Lucky.

"But Daddy... Dr Ryan said..."

"And you can work on it at home."  Lu sighs heavily and gets up from the table.  She leaves the kitchen to go get her stuff.

"Dad,  Let her stay here.  She's all settled in. Grandma is here.  You've got your hands full with Mom."

"My kid stays with me."  Luke declares.  "I'm home now."

"Where is she going to stay?  Over the bar?!"

"And if she does so what? What is wrong with the club? Lucky, I'm her father.  My girl belongs with me.  It's not open to discussion."

"Dad, she has a routine here.  Lu is doing fine."

"Screw routine.  You turned out fine. Lulu will be just fine too."

"Yeah, I think I turned out fine.  But I had you and Mom.  And whatever you say, Dad.  You might not have been into routine but Mom was. That's why she carried that damn carpetbag with her everywhere.  Dad, Lulu hasn't lived with you in years.  She's been living with Mom and Grandma.... You can't just..."

"Lucky, your father is right."  Lesley says quietly from the door.  "It's time you spent some time with your daughter, it's long over due, Luke."

"Thank you, Les."  The hurt on Luke's face is plain to see.

"And the first order of business will be you writing her a note for school tomorrow since I pulled her out early to see Laura today.  The braids should be fine until the weekend, Lu knows how to take care of them.  If you need any help just give us a call."

"Grandma, you aren't coming too?"  Lulu's eyes go wide as she comes back in the kitchen.  She has her pink Hello Kitty backpack over her shoulder.

"Baby, I'm going to visit with Nikky and Lucky for a bit longer.  You got to see them at Halloween but I didn't.  So I still need to catch up.  When I know everything they are up to... I'll come visit with you and your daddy."

"You promise?"

"Promise."  Lesley uses her free hand to trace a criss cross on her chest.  "Be a good girl for your Daddy."

Luke comes over and gives Lesley a kiss on the temple.  "Anytime, Les."

"Let me get out of the cast first.  You don't need to be looking after me, Lu and Laura too.  It's a big job, Luke, and you're going to need help.  Yes, Lulu needs to be with you but Lucky has a point too.  You haven't done this by yourself before.  Call me when you need a break."

"I will.  But we'll be fine."

"Mr Spencer?  I have an eight o'clock class tomorrow.  Do you want me to drive Lulu to school?  It's on my way."  Elizabeth offers.

"That's okay right, Daddy?"  Lulu looks up at her father.

"Sure baby.  Thanks Elizabeth."

Lucky comes over and gives Lulu a hug.  "Don't let him forget about writing you the note for tomorrow."

"I won't."  Lulu takes the rolled up butcher paper from Elizabeth as well as the pastels.

Lucky comes over and gives his dad a hug.  "It is good to have you back, Dad. Now you can take her ice fishing."  He jokes but it falls flat.

"Thanks Cowboy."  Luke puts a hand on Lulu's shoulder and together they walk out to the big pink land yacht.  Lucky watches them leave through the storm door.  Only shutting the back door when he sees the retreating tail lights of the caddy.

"I don't like it." Lucky mutters. 

Elizabeth comes up behind him and starts rubbing his back.  "You don't know how many times I've wished my Dad would do that.  I know I was fine with Gram... but for him to just show up and demand that I be with him.  That I was important to him."  Lucky strings a hand around her neck and pulls her in close to him, hugging her hard.

"And Lu needs that too, Lucky."  Lesley says quietly.  "She needs Luke just as badly as he needs her.  Especially now."

Rita grabs the chicken and soda from between her and Ricky.  And climbs out of the car.  Ricky sets the alarm on the car as he climbs out.  It was a recent additon on the old muscle car but his stereo was worth it.  Rita runs ahead.  "Hurry up before everything gets cold."

"I've got a microwave."  Ricky reminds.  He glances across the street and sees a guy walking a pit bull.  "Cassidy."

"Who?"  Rita looks to where Ricky is looking.

"That Nik Cassadine guy."

"So you already know one of your neighbors?"

"Yeah, you might say that."  Ricky indicates with a tilt of his head. "...Maddy, Lucky and Elizabeth Webber all live over there."

"Wow.  I bet Cookie didn't know.   She doesn't like Nikolas particularly.  But she's cooler about it now that Emily and Johnny are a couple.  She really hated Nik and Emily together.  But that was while she was working for Miz Lila."

"I really can't picture Mr Q and your step mom in the same room.  I know Thanksgiving but her working for him."  Ricky opens up the door for Rita.

"He gave her away, you know.  Walked her down the aisle at the Q's.  Trying to talk her out of marrying Dad the whole time."  Rita sets everything down on the Breakfast bar and leans across it to whisper significantly.  "He's got a sugar addiction.  He starts getting grumpy just give him a candybar or something.  That's what Cookie used to do... and what Johnny does now."

"You'll never believe what I just saw."  Nik comes in from the cold.  He bends over to wipe off Cinnamon's paws.  "Did you guys know that Ricky Robideau is living up the street?"  Nik looks up.  Liz's eyes are red and Lucky is looking stressed.  "What happened?  Is it Laura?"

"No."  Lesley says calmly.  "Luke and Lulu went home after dinner."

"Went home?"  Nik looks to Lucky.

"Probably the club until he has time to reopen the house."

"This is because of me... because I'm Cassadine."  Nik says bitterly.

"No, Nikolas!"  Lesley asserts.  "It's because he is her father.  Lulu needs all of us but especially Luke.  This is the right thing."

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