Second Chances
by Jessica
Rated PG-13

Author's Note: No, I was not drunk or on anything when I wrote this. In fact it's extremely odd and if you like it then maybe you are odd, too, like me :P. The moral is, if you regret something and go back and change a past mistake your mom will wear blue eyeshadow and insult you, and your children will turn into pets. For the real moral read on.....

Thanks to Becky for the lyrics.

~*~

"You're pathetic Laura Spencer," the voice of Helena Cassadine hung in her head. "Look at all the mistakes you've made in the past. All of the people you hurt. See you are no better than me."

"I am better than you and I'm sorry for those mistakes! If I could go back in time and change them I would!"

The conversation replayed itself in Laura's head as she drifted off into sleep.

Laura woke up to the sound of clattering pots and pans. She put her hand to her head trying to soothe the headache that was already forming. What was her mother doing down there letting Lulu play drums with the cookware? She slowly got up and stumbled to the bathroom with a groan. She was half asleep as she did her morning routine and afterwards stumbled down the stairs. At the foot of it, not able to stand the sound any longer she called out for Leslie. Laura sighed as the noise drowned out her plea.

"I need coffee and aspirin. Lots of aspirin." Laura mumbled under her breath as she stumbled into the kitchen.

"Oh my God Laura! Oh no! No No No No NO. Those pajamas have got to go! If you weren't naked under there I would rip that dreadful thing off of you and burn it. Just send it right back to fashion mistake hell."

Laura looked up shocked at Elton standing there with his hands on his hips in an apron with his face in pure horror as if she had just came down in a neon pink burlap sack. "Elton? What are you doing here?"

Elton just shook his head still looking at her pajamas. "Well, what do you think I'm doing here silly? I live here."

"WHAT?" Laura couldn't believe her ears.

"Sweetie are you feeling okay? Remember you share this house with Amy and me?"

"No, I don't remember that."

Just then Amy walked in behind Laura. Engrossed in her Inquire magazine she went to sit down not looking up. "Good morning."

"So what's in the news today?" Elton said forgetting about Laura's pajamas.

"Get this! It says here that according to credible sources Brittany Spears has gained 200 pounds!" Amy said, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Laura stood there trying to make sense of all of this, still in shock.

"GASP! That could not be true!" Elton replied as if Amy was talking about one of his closest friends.

"There are pictures!" Amy said holding the paper up so Elton could see the proof.

"Both of you be quiet. Let me get this straight we all live together? You, him, my Mom, and Lulu?"

"Are you okay, Laura? Since when did Leslie live with us?" Amy said looking at her sister like she had lost her mind.

"It's just us, sweetie, and Lulu" Elton said. "It's like Three's Company!" Elton began to sing cheerfully "Come and knock on our door"

Amy joined in: "Come and knock on our door!"

"We've been waiting for you!" Elton continued.

"We've been waiting for you" Amy started getting into the song, standing up next to Elton.

They both outstretched their arms and in unison continued singing the song so cheerfully it would have put Barney to shame. "Where the kisses are hers and hers and his. Three's company too."

"Was I drunk when I agreed to this?" Laura said scanning her brain as to why she would do something this stupid as to let both of them live with her.

"Well, someone is grouchy this morning!" Amy said rolling her eyes.

"Okay. Sure. Umm...where's Lulu? She's going to be late for school."

Amy and Elton began to laugh.

"What does school not exist anymore?" Laura asked half seriously, half sarcastically. With the morning she was having who knows what else would have changed.

"Where are you going to send her? Bird school?" Amy said chuckling.

Laura stood there confused. She didn't get the joke.

"Okay Lulu it's time for school." Elton disappeared into the living room and came back holding a bird cage. "Here you go I got Lulu all ready for school"

"Better pack her some crackers for lunch!" Amy said in-between laughs.

Laura stared at the little yellow bird. "That is not Lulu. Where is my daughter?"

"Daughter?" Amy and Elton said in unison.

"Are you also going to send Lucky to "school" Laura?" Amy said teasingly. "Here Lucky!" Amy whistled as a dog trotted in happily. "It's time to go to school Lucky!"

"What about Nikolas?" Laura stuttered.

"Laura, Nikolas is what we call that little mouse that somehow got into the house. You goin' to send him to school, too?" Amy said in a smartalick voice.

"This cannot be happening. This is a dream! It's not real!" Laura ran out of the kitchen as Amy and Elton shared a puzzled look. She quickly dressed herself and left the house. She drove distractedly not knowing where she was going until she parked in front of the grill. What the hell was going on? Laura walked into the grill looking for anyone she knew. ANYONE THAT WAS NORMAL!

"Laura!" an intoxicated voice called out.

Laura looked around until she saw what appeared to be her mother with tons of makeup on. She walked over to the table. "Mother?"

"Well, who else would it be?" Leslie said sarcastically. Leslie took a sip of her bourbon before opening her purse and taking out some more blue eye shadow to pile on.

"What happened to you?" Laura said cautiously as she sat down.

Leslie lowered her mirror slightly annoyed. "When you get my age we'll see how people react to you! Waiter! Waiter! HEY WAITER!"

"Yes, ma'am" The waiter said with a tired voice.

"Two martinis a.s.a.p." Leslie commanded as the waiter went on to go and get the drinks.

"Mom, I don't drink in the morning." Laura said.

"Who said they were for you?" Leslie said with a chuckle.

"Ugh, I am so sick of the damn traffic outside!" Monica threw down her purse. Laura had to double look at Monica, who also looked different. In fact she looked a lot like Leslie, with tons of makeup on. "I need a drink or shall I say drinks?" Both Leslie and Monica laughed.

"Since when are you friends?" Laura asked shocked.

"Since....since....damn it I need my drink!" Monica said through gritted teeth.

"Ugh guess who just walked in the door. Don't look now but it's Ms. my son is a lawyer and so is my husband and I'm the perfect Dr. who bakes the best cookies and my hair is never out of place."

Monica swiped a drink from a passing waiter and tossed her head back drinking it quickly. "That stupid bitch!" Monica said slamming down the glass and squinting her eyes.

Laura looked back to see Gail and Lee being seated.

"You know, Laura, if you didn't look like shit all the time maybe you would be married by now....or at least divorced." Leslie said before drinking one of the martini's that the waiter had just placed down on the table.

"A little eye shadow never hurt anyone." Monica leered before lighting up a cigarette and blowing the smoke into Laura's face.

"She's probably what keeps the vibrator factory in business!" Leslie said as she and Monica broke into laughter.

Laura got up and walked away dazed. She could still hear their laughter behind her as she walked lightheadedly out of the dining area and right into Scott.

"Scotty, I'm sorry." Laura said putting a hand to her head.

"Hey, Laura, are you feeling okay?" Scott said concerned.

"Not really. I'm just having a really odd day. So what's wrong with you?" Laura said suspiciously waiting for Scott to turn into a complete stranger.

"Hey now! You used to think I was the cat's meow!" Scott said jokingly.

"You seem pretty normal." Laura said cautiously.

"Well, so do you" Scott replied. "Why don't we sit down."

Laura and Scott sat down at the bar while Laura studied Scott waiting for something to go wrong....and then it did.

"HEY! BALDWIN!"

Laura turned around instantly recognizing Luke's voice. She sighed not in the mood to hear Scott and Luke bicker.

Instead Scott jumped up out of his chair and met Luke in the middle of the bar. They gave each other high five's and walked back towards Laura.

"Hey Laura what's shaking baby?" Luke said.

"Noth-ing" Laura said slowly. "I didn't know you guys were friendly with each other."

"Laura we've been best friends forever even if Luke loses in basketball every damn day!" Scott said humorously.

"Hey, hey, hey it's because you cheat!" Luke said playfully.

"Whatever makes you feel competent." Scott said rolling his eyes playfully.

"At least I put up a challenge unlike when I challenge you at pool and WIN."

Scott punched Luke in the arm playfully. "Shut up man!"

"I've got to go." Laura said seeing enough and not sure she could stand much more. Laura got up and glanced at them one more before leaving to the women's restroom.

"A rose my dear?"

Laura turned around and dropped her purse. She stood there frozen like a dear caught in the headlights. "St-st-stavros?"

There stood Stavros with bouquets of roses. "Yes, have we met before?" he said pleasantly.

"You kidnaped me you sick jerk! You and your family kept me on your island against my will!" Laura said sternly.

"You must be mistaken. My family lost all of its lands over twenty years ago."

Laura looked down at the blood red rose as a shudder escaped her lips.

"Red roses have always been my favorite. If my family has done something to hurt you I'm terribly sorry. I know it's not much but you can have this rose. It's all I can afford and I know it doesn't make up for anything that was done to you." Stavros smiled and handed Laura the rose before turning around and walking to another table.

That's when Laura ran out of the restaurant. This was because of her. She had wished that she had never made certain mistakes in her life and this is how it would have turned out. Tears streamed down her face as she leaned up against the wall outside of the restaurant. She wanted to leave here. This was not her life.

"My child why are you crying?" a peaceful voice asked.

Laura looked up into a nun's eyes. A nun that of course was Helena Cassadine herself. "I want my life back! Even if I've made mistakes that I have regretted!"

"Well, of course my dear. Afterall mistakes are made to teach us a lesson. You should never regret your mistakes just learn and grow from them." Sister Helena placed a calming a hand on Laura as a peaceful smile swept across her face. "I will leave you alone now with your thoughts."

Laura watched as Helena met with a man that Laura recognized as being Stefan. They said their hello's in a loving way and walked into the restaurant together happily. There were not the people she knew. She loved her friends and family because of who they were because of their experiences even if some of those experiences were bad because of her mistakes. And she hated her enemies for a reason. These imposters didn't even come close to them. Laura closed her eyes as loud sobs took over her body. She would never regret anything again because she loved her life and she loved the people who had stayed around her and loved her because she was her even if she had made those mistakes. Laura opened her eyes to a dark room. She got up quickly and ran out into he hallway. She stopped at Lulu's room and opened the door holding her breath and then letting it out loudly when she saw Lulu's small sleeping form. She ran into her mom's room needing more evidence.

"Laura what's wrong?" Leslie said sleepily as she squinted when Laura turned on the lights.

Laura smiled "No blue eye shadow!"

"Laura are you okay?" Leslie said stifling a yawn.

"Who lives in this house?" Laura asked

"You, me and Lulu, sweetie. Are you sure you are okay?"

"I've never been better." Laura smiled to herself. "Goodnight mother. It's glad to be back to being me again."

~The End~