by Jera
RECAP: Lucky and Liz shared a passionate kiss on the beach before they went home. Later after dinner, Liz answered the door and found her dad at the door.
Lucky jumped up form the couch and practically ran to the door. Liz was still in shock, and staring at the man right outside of the door. Lucky stood behind Liz and quickly did a once-over on the man at his door. He looked to be in his late 40's, with sandy blond hair, tall and slim build. His face told stories and showed that the hands of time had been at work, yet it couldn't cover the fact that he was a very handsome man in his own right. Lucky mentally noted that Sarah looked like their dad, which meant Liz must look like her mom. This was Liz's dad, Jeff Webber. He'd heard of his mom's adoptive uncle. He also knew that he was once married to Monica Quartermaine. He'd even thought about one day meeting Liz's dad. But he was hoping he'd have a little more time to prepare himself. No time for that now. The man was standing right in front of his door.
Jeff: I was kind of hoping that you might be just a little happier to see me.
Liz: Dad! I am.... it's just that....I didn't know you were coming! Why didn't you tell me?
Jeff: I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get away. Your mom wanted to come too, but one of us has to stay in London. So here I am.
Jeff was now looking over Lucky. The boy was Laura's son. He'd known Laura for a long time. However he didn't like the idea of Laura marrying Luke at the time, it seemed they had made it through all these years, and raised a fine looking son along the way. He noticed Lucky's hand on Liz's back as if to reassure her that she wasn't alone. The boy had been observing him like a hawk since the moment he came to the door. He wondered if that was a habit he picked up on all those years on the run with his parents, or if it had more to do with Liz's presence. Jeff smiled at Lucky.
Lucky: Would you like to come in, Mr. Webber?
Jeff nodded, Lucky gently maneuvered a still-looking-at-her-dad-like-a-ghost Liz aside.Jeff had only one single piece of luggage with him. Lucky closed the door after he came in. Liz was finally coming to her senses when the door shut. She walked closer to her dad.
Liz: How is mom? And Sarah?
Jeff: They are both fine. Your mom is keeping herself busy at the research lab, and Sarah is settling into her school very well.
Liz: That's good. Dad............Why are you here?
Jeff smiled at Liz at her question. His youngest daughter looked very different from the last time he'd seen her. It had very little to do with the one inch she had grown, or the longer hair. Liz had always been the odd ball of the family. While she took after her mother on the looks department, her temperament was nothing like her mother. Liz was one of those passionate people that always unintentionally got herself into trouble. She was the one in the family that would try anything once just to figure out if she liked it or not. He knew Liz had rebelled against everything just so she would be nothing like her sister. Sarah did everything by the book, and Liz did everything by her heart. He'd used to worry that would come to be a huge problem one day. He knew about listening to your heart. He was like that in his younger days. Yet he was surprised at what he saw in Liz at this moment. She seemed to be generating some sort of light from within her. She looked confused right now, yet it couldn't hide the radiance in her. Something had happened to his little girl and made her into a woman all of a sudden. Jeff was sure that Laura's son had something to do with it.
Jeff: Did you think I would just accept your grandmother's explanation of why you couldn't go to London with her, and not want to come here and make sure you were alright?
Liz: ( chewing on her lips) No...... I guess not. I just didn't think you would be able to get away so soon.
Jeff: It wasn't easy, but I needed to come. I needed to see my youngest daughter.
Liz: Dad, if you came here to take me to London, I think I should just save you some trouble and tell you right now that I'm not leaving Port Charles.
Jeff couldn't help himself but chuckle at his daughter's statement. Some things never change. She never was one afraid to speak her mind. It was good to see that she still had that spunk. Jeff looked past Liz at Lucky. He was Laura's son all right. No one could miss those eyes. So much like his mother. Those eyes could speak volumes over any words. Jeff recognized the determination in Lucky's eyes. He wasn't about to let Liz go without a fight. It was a good thing that he didn't come here to take Liz away. He wasn't sure he could win that fight with Lucky if he did. Jeff brought his gaze back to Liz.
Jeff: I think I can see it would be hard to drag you back to London with me. Not that I don't think I can't, but that's not why I'm here.
Liz: Then....why are you here? Just to see me?
Jeff: Pretty much. I want to know if you are all right here.
His eyes drifted back to Lucky once again.
Jeff: I would also like to see for myself who this guy is that seemed to have such power over my daughter.
Liz: Dad, I stayed here because I wanted to. Lucky would never make me do anything I don't want to.
Lucky stepped forward, and extended his hand to Jeff.
Lucky: Mr. Webber, I'm Lucky Spencer. It's nice to finally meet you.
Jeff smiled and took Lucky's hand. The boy had quite a strong grip that's for sure.
Jeff: I figured it's about time I met you. Lucky Spencer. Your parents knew exactly what you needed when they named you that, didn't they? I've heard a few things about you over the years.
Lucky: Should I ask what they were?
Jeff: We'll have time for that later.
The men shook hands. Liz looked from one to the other, wasn't sure exactly what she should be doing. She still didn't know why her father came all the way to Port Charles. He was a good father to her growing up in his own way, but he never seemed to worry as much as the other fathers she'd known. He had joked that she might have been switched at birth since she'd always had a totally different temperament from the rest of the family, yet he was the one in the family she would consider going to when she used to get into sticky situations. Her father was usually so laid back on most of the stuff, it was puzzling to her that he would all of a sudden be worried enough to come to Port Charles to see her. After all, he was the one that suggested Liz could stay with their friends in Colorado if she didn't want to go to Africa with them. Something was definitely up here. She was about to ask her father when the front door opened, Laura, Luke and Lulu walked in the door. Luke saw Jeff first, and he poked Laura, who was trying to get Lulu's coat off. She looked up at Luke, her eyes then followed Luke's. After one-second of confusion, the glint of recognition light up her eyes.
Laura: Oh, my god! Jeff? Is that really you? Uncle Jeff?
Laura half jogged over to Jeff, and welcomed him with a big hug. Jeff returned the hug, and smiled.
Jeff: Yes, it's me. Laura, it's been a long time hasn't it?
Laura: It's been years! Jeff! Why didn't you tell us that you were coming? Did you come to see Elizabeth?
Jeff: That was the main reason. But I have to say, the fact that she is staying with you made it even more appealing.
They both pulled back a little to look at each other.
Jeff: You look wonderful, Laura.
Laura: ( laughing) Oh, I remember that about you. You always knew what I like to hear! ( looking over Jeff) You certainly haven't changed a bit! Still look like my favorite uncle!
Jeff: I was your ONLY uncle, and I think you might want to stop calling me that. You are making me feel old....and if I remember correctly, I'm not that much older than you!
Laura: I never called you uncle much anyway, you were always more like a brother.
Jeff: ( smiling) That sounds better. So, how's life?
Laura: It's great. It really is. ( Looked over to Liz) You have a wonderful daughter. And in case you haven't noticed, my son is crazy about her.
Jeff laughed. Lucky and Liz were now holding hands, their faces tinted with the palest shade of pink. Luke had just managed to take off Lulu's coat, and brought her over, he nodded to Jeff. He knew Jeff didn't feel that he deserved Laura when they got married, yet he'd always kept that to himself. Luke appreciated a man who loved Laura enough to let her make her own decision.
Laura: How long are you going to be here? Are you just here to see Elizabeth? Anything else you are here for?
Jeff: Actually, yes.
Liz: Dad, what else are you here for?
Jeff glanced over to his daughter, who was at the moment looking very comfortable in Lucky's arms. She was in love all right. But he couldn't help but worrying about her. She was his youngest daughter. However unconventional of a parent he was, however Liz thought that he and her mother had always preferred Sarah, he did worry about her.
Jeff: Lizzie, we'll talk about those things later. Right now, I just want to take a good look at you and hear about what you've been doing.
Liz looked somewhat skeptical. Jeff sighed inwardly. Maybe he should have acted more like a normal parent who worried about everything when she was growing up. He hadn't realized how little he'd shown her that part of him until now, when he saw the look in Liz's eyes. Was it that hard for her to believe that he came here just to see her? Laura stepped in and broke the uncomfortable silence.
Laura: Jeff, where are you staying? Do you have any plans?
Jeff: Not really. I sort of jumped on the plane after I made sure the clinic could do without me for a few days.
Laura: Well, then, you are staying right here! Lucky can sleep on the couch for a few days. You take his room.
Jeff: I don't think that will be necessary. I can take the couch.
Lucky: It's OK with me if that's what you are worrying about. I've slept in places a lot worse than our old couch. Please, take my room.
The look Lucky and Liz exchanged when he said that he'd slept in worse places didn't go unnoticed by Jeff. He wondered what that was about.
Jeff: All right, then. Thank you very much.
Lucky and Liz walked Jeff up stairs and showed him to Lucky's room. Lucky grabbed his sleeping bag out of the closet, and made an excuse to leave the room. He sensed that Jeff had wanted to talk to Liz alone. Lucky hesitated for a second, his eyes went to Jeff quickly and back to Liz. He was not sure that Jeff wasn't here to talk Liz into going to London, but he was sure he would find out later. Liz would tell him. He smiled at Liz, noting the nervousness in her eyes. He squeezed her hands once more before he closed the door behind him. Liz chewed on her lips while watching her dad take some of his shirts out of his overnight bag and hang them up in the closet. Jeff sat down on the bed, and made no move to unpack anything else from his bag. He patted the seat beside him.
Jeff: Lizzie, why don't you come here and sit down? It's been a while since we got to sit down and chat.
Liz trod over and sat down. She could sense that something was going on. Her dad definitely had something he wanted to say, and it's not just to ask her why she didn't want to go to London. She waited for him to start.
Jeff: So, how have you been doing?
Liz: Good. I've been doing good. Believe it or not, I might just break my tradition and get all A's in school this semester. I'm pretty sure that's a record for me.
Jeff: ( smiling) You didn't get A's before only because you didn't really want to. I guess things have changed since your mom and I left for Africa.
Liz looked a little surprised. She never realized that her dad had that kind of confidence in her. She smiled a little.
Liz: Well, it's kind of hard not to when I have Lucky tutoring me. He has got to be the smartest person I know. It always seemed so easy for him. And he made it seem easy for me too.
Jeff: I'll take your word for it. He did seem like a very bright young man.
Liz: Dad, would you please tell me why you are really here? I can tell it's not to ask me how my school is going.
Jeff: You always were smart.
He sighed, looked at his daughter, and said it.
Jeff: Lizzie, I know about the rape.
TO BE CONTINUED....................................
Note: I don't really know a lot about Jeff Webber's history on GH, so if there is anything that was not correct in the story, please consider it creative writing.!:o)
