Picking up once again where we left off, Lucien has snapped his fingers sending them to another place and time. Now back in a familiar motel room Luke sees his older self talking to a blonde woman. Lucien gestures for them to watch as they listen to them talk.
"Coffee is fine", the blond woman replies. "Why don't you ever call me babe like that?", she quickly blurts out before he has a chance to step out the door.
"What?!", Older Luke says, clearly confused by her sudden random question.
"Your ex. You spoke to her like you're still in love with her.", the blond woman explains.
"You're fucking crazy, I'm not in love with my ex." Older Luke snaps back. He then turns, grabs the door handle, and swings it open not expecting to see what he finds on the other side. "What the fuck?!" he shouts out as he jumps back, sending his voice out into the near empty parking lot of the motel.
"Do you see now?" Lucien questions as he looks back at Luke.
"My son is turning out a failure just like me and now he is dragging his brother into it.", Luke observes.
"Yes, and this is just another reason why you cannot give up on your marriage.", his grandmother adds. "They need you and you and Laura need each other."
The three get back to watching the scene in front of them as Phoenix and Phineas enter the motel room. Luke closely watches Phoenix and Phineas both simultaneously turn their heads in the direction of the naked woman in the motel bed. They did not even realize there was anyone else in the room until now.
"Hi boys...Your dad tells me a lot about y'all", Tanya waves to them.
Phoenix immediately blurts out in response, shocked to see this trashy woman with his father. "What the fuck Dad?..." In fact the whole room is trashy. Reality starts to sink in for both of the boys."
Phineas looks around and realizes coming here was probably not a good idea, as he sees drugs and lots of it laid out on the dresser. Phineas knows the real reason their father is in town. It was for business. Their current inebriated state caused some lack in judgement on their part.
Lucien adds to that sentiment and looks down at the dresser, pointing towards all the paraphernalia, "Dis is the life you choose? Just because it was in your past sha, doesn't mean it needs to be in your future."
"But no matter what I do trouble finds me.", Luke replies. "And if I don't protect them now then they'll be doomed too." Luke adds still convinced that he is making the better choice to save his family from more heartache and troubles.
"Luke Allen Cooper! You are one stubborn man!", his grandmother scolds him disappointed with his response to the situation they just watched unfold.
Lucien nods, "Mais. It seems though we need to take this further into the future. Do you agree Barbara?" Luke's grandmother nods and then with the snap of his fingers the scene changes again.
Now they're standing in the master bedroom watching Laura argue with Chad. "Don't. Just Don't. You know how things get between you and Luke. I'm gonna go make some coffee.", Laura says. "Would you like some?...", Then she turns on her heels and walks away.
"Laura wait, I'm sorry...You know I trust you...I do. Laura stop!", Chad demands. "Now you're being as stubborn as Phoenix!"
"My mind is made up! Luke deserves a chance to help out with Phoenix. Your jealousy just can't let you see that...", Laura snaps at him as she walks down the stairs.
Chad scoffs back in response as he follows her down the stairs, "That's all it takes huh? He convinces you and just like that...Voila! You've been sucked into his bullshit." The scene continues as the trio stands in the living room to watch.
"It's not like that. Phoenix is out of control and you know he does not listen to either of us anymore..." Laura says continuing on to her destination as she makes her way down the stairs, Chad quickly following behind her.
"Laura you're being ridiculous. You know having him back in the boys lives is dangerous...Phoenix is already doing things he shouldn't be doing. Letting your ex husband around is just gonna compound the situation!"
"He's still their father...", she says as she continues to walk into the kitchen. "And we're out of options."
The panicked sadness in Laura's voice sends a chill through Luke, but ultimately he still feels that this outcome is still the best option to keep his family safe. Even thought standing here watching this chad fella with Laura makes his blood boil with jealousy. His mind drifts momentarily to the moment he saw them on the porch in an embrace. Luke had never felt more possessive and jealous over a woman in his entire life till that very moment.
"Well?", Lucien prods seeing Luke think long and hard about what he is watching.
"As much as I hate this asshole...", Luke pauses. "I...I just feel like..."
"Oh! Luke!", His grandmother laments again disappointment written all over her face. Then Lucien quickly snaps his fingers again without warning. Now the three find themselves standing on the side of the road in the early morning light. Luke watches his older self as he scurries down the road while he shouts out in the most panicked voice he has ever heard. Barbara gasps as her hand flies up to her face. "Oh, No!"
Luke feels a wave of nausea rip through his body from his stomach up the throat. Realizing the horror of what is now happening. "Is...Is that...", he stutters.
Lucien nods, "Dis is the path you choose sha. Dis is what happens. We mustn't linger here." Lucien continues in a subtle panicked tone. Quickly he snaps his fingers yet again. The three now find themselves standing out on the patio of Luke and Laura's home.
"I know I'm an asshole, but I'm never gonna fucking apologize or hide the way I feel about you!" Older Luke says as he follows her. "You really think Chad is the better man to help you through this? I can still stay Laura. I can help out with Phoenix like we talked about."
"No you will not! You cannot stay here!...", Laura shouts back at him quickly turning to look at him."And for the record Chad is the better man right now..."
Luke steps closer, "Why the fuck not?...Phoenix is gonna need both of us. I need to make things right between him. He's all we have left Laura!"
"Because every time I look at you, I see him!...And it hurts too much Luke! I don't want you to blame yourself for what happened, but you and I will never be able to get back what was lost. It's gone!"
"You're over reacting as usual...You just said you didn't blame me."
"You hear that?", says his grandmother. "All she sees from you now is loss and pain. Is that really best for you and your family sweetheart? She still loves you, but the pain and heartache is too much for her."
"I think you need to figure out what kind of man you want to be for Phoenix, because the one you are now is not who he needs.", she says as she begins to turn the door handle.
"I'm the same man, I've always been! You're the one who wants to fucking change me.", Luke nearly shouts as he becomes slightly more intimidating with each response.
"That's the man that scares me. Prison changed you, and it breaks me to see you this way...Don't bring this up anymore." She abruptly says and then ducks her head down, turns the doorknob, and walks back inside without another word.
Luke wants nothing more but to follow Laura and pull her into his arms. His eyes blurring with tears as he whimpers softly. "Laura! Wait! I'm sorry baby."
Lucien stops him. "No sha! What's done is done. You canna follow her."
"Luke you cannot let this tear apart your family." his grandmother says to him.
Luke stands there and stares at his older self finally hitting his breaking point after he just watched the way Laura has been treated. Laura is right something in him is different Luke can see it now. This path leads down to nothing, but more pain for all of them. Costing them more than Luke could ever fathom.
The trio watches older Luke stand there for a moment and just stare at the door as if he expects Laura to walk back out. "What the fuck are you waiting for?!" Younger Luke shouts in distress as he watches himself turn and sit in one of the old club chairs. "Go after her motherfucker!!" Luke shouts again as he steps around the other chair, but of course older Luke cannot hear him or see him as he reaches into his pocket to pull out a cigarette lighter.
"Are you fucking kidding me?! You're just gonna sit there on your fat ass and smoke another joint?!" Luke shouts to his older self. "She's right! You're not me anymore! You've turned into our fucking father, the very man we swore we would never become! You let that snake in, and now you've managed to fuck it all up!" Luke screams in angered frustration.
Barbara comes up behind him hoping to calm him down. "Luke you know he cannot hear you sweetheart."
"I know." Luke huffs in defeat, but the moment was very cathartic for him. "But I don't fucking care anymore! Look at me! No matter what I do I'm doomed to break Laura's heart and I don't even fucking care anymore that I have! We've lost a child..." Luke's voice strains and cracks as he begins to feel the weight of it all. Realizing the loss of his baby boy is a reality he might have to face.
"You do care, it's just time has severed the connection you two once shared and now there is no going back. Don't you see it?", his grandmother says to him. "But right now you still have time. It's not too late to make the right decisions."
"But how do I know that it won't be worse if I don't protect them now?" Luke asks the questions. "What if Margot seeks revenge on my family?"
"I canna answer that question, sha." Lucien replies. "I can only show you tings that happen in this timeline."
"But don't you think it's worth taking that risk? I can see your pain and heartbreak the way you looked at her right now says it all sweetheart." Says his grandmother. "Don't give up! Fight! Fight for all of it!" His grandmother says sternly as she pounds her fist into her palm.
"I have one more ting to show you, sha. Then we must go.", Lucien says as he snaps his fingers teleporting the trio to the old motel room again.
"What's going on?!", Luke asks immediately noticing a very familiar pistol on the bed next to older Luke.
"Dis is where you realize that my sista was talking about your wife. And now you regret every moment of your life since that day you chose to break her heart.", Lucien explains to Luke. "Dis is your undoing sha."
Barbara gasps and looks away too scared to look. Luke feels his chest go tight like he can't breathe again. "You mean...I..." Luke stutters and his words trail off into silence.
"Luke.", says his grandmother in a very stern tone like she is about to lecture him like he's a little boy again. "I know you want to protect them. I understand that. I really do. However, is all this pain and heartache really worth it? You need to let go of the past. Laura and those boys are your future."
"But if I come forward about Margot then all our lives are in danger. If I take the fall then at least I know they are all safe right now." Luke replies, knowing that the imminent threat is too real right now.
"And what about Phineas? You can't possibly let that happen! Trust me, You do not want to experience the heartache of losing a child!"
"I still have time...I can...", Luke begins to speak.
"Nay...You canna change what I show you. You can only change it right now sha. Where the timeline shifts."Lucien reminds him.
"And when is that?", Luke asks.
"When you break her heart. Last night at the motel. When she come to tell ya she is pregnant." Lucien reminds him. "That's where it splits into two paths."
Luke don't be a fool, let go of the past sweetheart." Barbara says looking up at him as her small hand rests on chest right over his heart. "Don't be afraid to let this anger go, and to trust those around you who love you. Including your mother. She needs you Luke."
"I have let go of the past.", Luke replies just as stubborn as usual in his go-to defensive manner.
His grandmother sighs as she plays with the pearls strung around her neck. "I know you think you have, but what we just saw proves otherwise."
Lucien steps forward. "We are outta time, sha. Tis time to say goodbye." He says to them urgently.
Barbara quickly reaches up, and wraps her arms around Luke's neck. "Remember Luke you need to forgive, and let that anger go. It's the only way to move on. Trust me, you do not want to become the man you just saw yourself as. I don't want you to become that man. I raised you better than that."
Barbara leans back as she takes Lukes large hand in her tiny small frail ones and continues to speak words of wisdom to him. Her eyes full of joy and love for him. "Become the man I know you can be sweetheart. Don't let past failures get you down!"
"Time to go Barbara...I canna delay no more.", Lucien chimes in.
Barbara nods acknowledging his warning, "Our time is up my darling but you still have a full life ahead of you. Never forget how much I love you."
I won't Gram." Luke replies feeling very emotional about seeing his beloved Grandmother again. She was a kindred soul and the only other person besides Laura who truly understood him sometimes. "I love you too."
Barbara smiles brightly up at him with tears of joy and sadness combined, "I know you do." she says with pride. "You can overcome all of this. You just have to truly fight for it." She urges him one last time. Luke nods and smiles at her feeling more confident about his future. "Goodbye sweetheart."
"Goodbye Gram.", Luke says feeling an overwhelming sense of joy in this moment so grateful to see her again, but also sad to see her go.
Lucien then snaps his fingers one last time and suddenly Luke finds himself back in his motel room with a beer in hand and someone pounding on his door. Luke immediately realizes he has been here in this moment before as he stumbles to get his bearings feeling like he is physically affected by that weird dream he just had or was it a dream? Luke looks around the room as he notices he is alone. Where is Rufus? Did he dream that too?
Luke blinks in disbelief as his head whips around to look at the door. "Who is it?", he asks as he continues to sober up. The voice on the other side of the door softly replies. It's me, and Luke instantly knows who it is. No?! It can't be. He sent her away hours ago...He stands there frozen as he stares at the door. this isn't Deja Vu this is real! And that dream wasn't a dream at all! This is the point in time that Lucien was talking about.
Luke still a bit hesitant, replies back, "Who?!"
"Me.", Laura replies. "Your wife. We need to talk!"
To be continued!
The finale episode will be posted on Saturday November 30th!
Thank you to all for being so patient and supportive as I got through this rough patch. I'm excited to wrap this up and move on from this current storyline.
Thank so much to all my Patreons for your continued support!
Robin, Danny, Cathryn, Jackie, Heather, Lily, Susie, Tray, Jess, Can, Ellie, Sunshine1609, Bri, Lyddieskitties21, and Kathryn!
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