Luck Ch. 11

"Don't tell me," she smiled and kissed her husbands lips lightly, "Show me."

***

Once the press was gone from the scene, Luci, Lyndsy, Marz, and Rip, all looked up into the clear blue sky watching their friends fly away for their wedding night.

"I say we stay here for the weekend," Luci said to Marz.

"I agree!" Lyndsy looked at Rip, "It's so beautiful here."

Lyndsy and Rip stood along the edge of the water—kissing.

"Looks like love," Luci said with a smile as she watched Lyndsy and her new official boyfriend. Marz picked her up and swung her around before bending to kiss her.

"It is," she laughed, "Everything turned out perfectly."

"We're lucky."

"Yes we are." he kissed her.

***

The woman stumbled through the emergency room entrance, holding her large belly, and crying. The woman was a sight to behold, and a far cry from the beauty queen that had once inhabited her body. Her feet were bare, her clothes were as filthy as her body, her hair was greasy and her face contorted with pain.

"I need a doctor!" she hissed; the receptionist did not understand English, and Lana was in too much pain to be able to speak any language other than her native tongue.

A nurse rushed out hearing the commotion, she spoke some English but it was not that good, and she was no where near fluent enough to understand what the screaming woman was saying. Instead, she used her basic common sense to assess the situation. She ran over to the pregnant woman after telling the receptionist to call the doctor down.

"Come with me," she said while trying to take her hand and the woman with the short black hair and bright blonde roots snatched her hand back in disgust. The nurse didn't need to speak fluent English to understand that rude gesture. The nurse held her tongue as she said, "I will take you to a room for the doctor to check you," in broken English. Once in the room, Lana had become even more angry and spewing more verbal abuse at everyone trying to help her.

"I am not lying on this filthy fucking bed!" Lana yelled, holding her belly as another pain wracked through her. "You—" she pointed to the doctor as she entered the room, "You need to change these sheets. NOW!" she yelled and then bent over as another contraction ripped through her.

The doctor, a much respected doctor in there area did speak fluent English, and she was none to impressed with the rude woman belittling her staff. "What kind of a hospital is this? Are you even a licensed doctor?" she spat out looking at the young Mexican woman, "you don't look old enough to be out of college," she hissed.

The doctor had been through a lot in her young life, she had dealt with stereo types, sexist demeanors, and fought poverty to become what she was today. Even though she had graduated first of her class with top honors, and she could basically have had her pick of top jobs, she chose to say close to home and her family. Her tiny little desolate town, where medical help was as elusive as wealth, meant the world to her; she had been raised within this community, and she loved each of them. She wanted to help, and had always been more concerned with people and their feelings and health, than becoming rich. She was needed here, so, it was here that she set up practice. When another nurse entered, the first nurse turned to her.

"I know her," she said in her native tongue.

"Who?" The other questioned.

"Her." She nodded to the woman who was finally laying down on what she had deemed a repulsive bed, still screaming in pain. The second nurse took a closer look and gasped.

The woman on the bed was a mess, her eyes were red and puffy; having left her black contacts in too long, Lana had gotten a nasty eye infection. She was hoping it would clear up enough to put the contacts back in before she went into labor, but just her luck, the infection had gotten worse. So her natural pale eyes, that unusual shade of aqua, were a dead give away, than added with the bright blonde roots that had grown in, her American accent, and Caucasian features, told them immediately who she was.

Once the doctor had given her the epidural, and Lana had managed to calm down a bit, Dr. Ramirez took the nurses outside of the room.

"This woman was on the morning news."

"She is Lana Lutz, she played in my favorite TV series," the head nurse interjected. It was true, the series had a small cult following in Mexico, since the syndicated show ran re-runs five days a week on basic television, anyone with a TV set was familiar with her face.

"And now she is on the run," the doctor said to them, "she is being accused of murder."

"What will we do?" the first nurse put her hands to her face.

"We have no choice; we have to call the authorities, they say she is armed and dangerous and if she realizes we are on to her, there is no telling what she will do."

***

Rip had been offered an excellent position at 'Celebrity Skinz' as their lead journalist. How could he resist? He had someone else in his life now besides himself to look after. Although, he highly doubted his well organized new fiancée needed anyone to take care of her, he relished the thought of doing so. It hadn't taken long before they both realized they had definitely found their soul mate. Rip never knew that life could be so bright and sunny and clear of all negativity.

Rip felt like a new man, and had decided on a little island getaway with the love of his life. They had just laid down by the beach, and Rip was eager to massage the suntan oil into her flawless skin. He had just begun re-confessing his love for her when his cell phone went off.

"I thought you said no cell phones," she looked at him.

"This is the emergency cell," he said, his eyes going wide as he grabbed the tiny little phone out of the small satchel he had brought along.

"Hello?" he said.

"How are you enjoying your vacation?" Detective Angus asked his friend.

"I am having the time of my life," he smiled, kissing Lyndsy's shoulder. "How are you enjoying retirement?"

"I appreciate it much more after going out with such a bang," he said whilst thinking of the last case of his long career. He missed his job something awful, investigation was in his blood, and then he turned to his backyard and his large family, and remembered why he had retired. It was time to spend the rest of his days just enjoying the family he had helped create and loved so dearly. "I have some incredible news."

"What's that?"

"They found her." The side of his mouth curled up in a satisfied grin as he reported the news. "They found Lana Lutz."

"You're kidding me." Rip jumped up, getting Lyndsy's attention, "Where?"

"Still in Mexico. She was in the middle of giving birth; she even tried to escape the hospital while in labor." Angus shook his head still not able to picture that.

"Finally!" he jumped up and down triumphantly and Lyndsy, seeing his joy, stood up beside him, looking at him questioningly. "Have you told Aries?"

"Not yet, I thought maybe you'd be the best man for that job," he smiled, "but I have a thick, juicy sirloin waiting for me on the grill so I have to go, but I will be in touch."

"I'm counting on it," Rip said, looking over to his own juicy delight.

"What's going on?" Lyndsy asked.

"They found Lana," he said, and Lyndsy's eyes grew as wide as saucers as she grabbed the phone. "Wait, I have to tell Aries," he chuckled, knowing exactly what she was about.

"Not until after I tell Mimi."

***

Deep in the middle of the garden was a small maze, not too complex so one could not escape, but definitely complex enough so one could not be found.

In the middle of the maze was a clearing where a thick stone dining table with several tiny stone benches around it was built. They of course sat on top of the table, enjoying a bottle of champagne, and a spread of food around them that would make even kings envious. Mimi wore a small thin white cotton summer dress, and Aries found certain areas hardening more each time the wind blew, exposing a little more of her skin.

"Where is Lana now?" Mimi asked him, the thin strap of her dress slipping over her shoulder

"In Mexico," Aries said, as he helped the strap of her gown down her shoulder more. "Once she's been tried for Julio's murder, they will expedite her back to the states for the murder of Brad Lowell."

"Is it wrong to celebrate?" she wasn't sure how she felt. She had never met the woman who had brought so much pain and destruction to everyone in her path; she was a stone cold murderess, but Mimi could not bring herself to hate the mother of the baby she had been caring for. She knew at one point or another, Taurus would ask her about his mother, and Mimi would be honest; but she'd be careful not to speak horribly about her. Taurus would have enough to deal with at that point, and Mimi would protect him until it was over, or at least sorted. Taurus was an innocent victim of his mother's greed, and Mimi had already seen what the murderesses' violent tendencies had done to her son's reputation.

Once the paparazzi realized that Mimi and Aries had Lana's baby they went ballistic, trying desperately to get pictures of the boy. The press was certain that it meant the baby must be Aries' so that was the headline of every magazine for months, regardless of the truth. Mimi figured it was best to let them think that, it was none of their business anyway whose Taurus real father was. Mimi took all precautions when it came to the baby; she was super smart, careful and quick thinking enough, to never let them get close to Taurus. That's why there was such an obscene amount of money offered for any available pictures.

Aries on the other hand sat back and let her take control of the situation, since he was only able to react with violence when it came to the press. Mimi on the other hand dealt with the oncoming paparazzi like an old pro. He was also beyond impressed with Mimi's parenting skills, and couldn't wait for her to have his child. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his children would be well taken care of, deeply loved and well-protected. His wife was a survivor who knew how to take care of her family.

"We're not celebrating her incarceration, we're celebrating our freedom," he smiled, pulling her closer to him so he could kiss her luscious lips. "To us."

"To us," she raised her glass, "and Taurus."

"And Taurus." They sipped their champagne, "and I want to kiss my wife." he pulled her closer to him and she puckered up, "no, not there." he grinned lifting up her dress to her waist, sliding his finger down to her white cotton panties, "here." She looked at his eyes, loving the fact that he couldn't keep his hands off her even long enough to finish their toast.

Aries laid her down on the table, and then slowly stripped the cotton dress from her body, kissing every inch he exposed before making love to her for the rest of the afternoon. Right there. In the middle of the massive stone table. In the center of their secluded little garden.

***

It was strange how karma worked, Lana had gotten what she had asked for, she was more famous than any other celebrity on the face of the planet, and her double murder trial was the trial of the century.

Lana stood there, tears pouring down her face, but this time she didn't need a vial of fake tears, as she wasn't acting. She had just been convicted of first degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

***

Mimi sat across from Lana at a decaying wooden table at the women's maximum security prison.

"I want to legally adopt Taurus." Mimi refused to beat around the bush.

"Who?" she asked, a billow of cigarette smoke coming out of her semi pursed lips.

"Taurus, your son."

"Oh," she said, and then shrugged, "pay me and you can have him."

"Selling children is illegal," she said in disgust.

"What do I care, I'm in here for the rest of my life," she glared at Mimi.

"Exactly, so sign these papers," she slid them over to her, "and I guarantee that your son will be taken care of for the rest of his life," she said.

"I want my commissary filled each month until I die," she said smashing the cigarette in the ash tray, then immediately lighting another one.

"Is that all he is to you? Money?"

"Yes," she said coldly. "What else could he be?" she said flatly, as if she were discussing her laundry.

"You cold-hearted, selfish bitch, he's your son!"

"Well, I don't have time to think about that, do I. right now all I have time to think about is survival, I can't think about a son I will never see, never be able to hold." Mimi swore she saw a flash of sorrow cross Lana's face, but she masked it so quickly it was hard to tell. "Why do you care anyway? He's not even Aries' son, he's the son of the man I murdered," she spat.

"Because I was there the day that tiny baby cried alone in a nursery, shivering and under-nourished with low body temperature; and I stayed there everyday until he finally got out, and then I took him home. And as you know he's been with us ever since." A smile graced her lips as she thought of Taurus.

"Well, that's your dumb-ass for taking in a baby that you weren't even sure was your husbands," she shrugged.

"You honestly wanted me to just leave him there in the custody of child protection until we found out if he was Aries?" she asked; unable to even stand the thought of Taurus in that cold unloving, uncaring environment. He was an innocent victim in the middle of all this mess and Mimi swore that she would protect him from the cruel world his mother had created for him.

The paternity tests came back quickly and it was determined that there was no way Aries was the father, but Mimi didn't care who his parents were at that point; she was in love with the baby and she refused to give him up, regardless whose blood he shared. Under the circumstances, Aries agreed that it was probably best to legally adopt him.

She had been convinced that he was Aries son, he even looked exactly like him, and so most people automatically assumed he was. In all reality Taurus looked just like Brad, who just happened to have been born with a face that resembled Aries so much that people mistook them even in death. It was that face that had made Aries a megastar, and had made Brad famous for looking like Aries. It was also that face that had made Lana Lutz choose him in the first place; a submissive Aries was a dream come true for her. It might have even lasted, if Brad hadn't grown attached, foolishly fallen in love, and then decided to grow a backbone.

"And even if he was, who in their right mind would take her husband's and his ex-fiancée's child in as their own?"

"Lana please, let me give him the life he deserves, the life I am sure you would have given him if you could." She tried to reason with her regardless of the fact that she wanted to shake the shit out of her until she signed over full-custody.

"Fine." Lana held her hand out for the pen, the guard came behind her and dropped it in he hand, standing close while she signed the paper work. "Here." She handed the pen back to the guard. Mimi took the signed paper looking at her signature a smile spreading wide across her mouth. "Happy now?"

"Thank you," she smiled with a nod, "I'll fill your commissary before I leave."

"Thanks."

"I can also bring Taurus by when ever you like so you can see him."

"No, I don't want to see him and I don't want him to ever see me like this." She looked into Mimi's eyes, this time the pain was evident and she wasn't trying to hide it, yet.

"If you change your mind—"

"I wont," she said seriously.

"You have a lot to be proud of; he's so smart, and loving. He is the cutest little baby I have ever seen," her smile was wide with pride. She had an unexplainable desperation to make Lana realize what a wonderful little boy Taurus was.

"What does It look like?" she asked.

"Wait," Mimi grabbed her purse and took pictures out of her wallet. She laid them down in front of Lana and she hesitantly picked one up.

"He looks like Brad," she said as she thought of the man for the first time in a long time, "And Aries."

"I know. That's the strange part, he looks exactly like Aries." She smiled before taking the picture Lana handed back.

"Time up," the guard said.

"Well, he's your son now," she said. "I know he'll have a good life." Lana stood as the guard came towards her. "Thanks." She did a little side smile that barley reached her eyes.

"Take care, Lana." Mimi said, and Lana nodded as the guard led her out of the room.

***

The adorable, little girl with the long jet black waves, and honey colored eyes, stood outside. Her tiny five year old frame looked miniscule in front of the massive mansion. Below the surface of the angelic face were a spirit that could not be broken, and a sense of self that was unusual for a child her age. She was wearing her prettiest pink dress and her new silky pink bows in her pigtails. She held an Easter basket as she skipped and sung. She knew what was happening today. Today they were going to a special Easter picnic at her godmother Lyndsy's house, and her godfather Rip had gone out of his way to make sure that Star had the pink mini bike she had wanted—despite the strong disapproval of her mother.

Only one thing stood in her way, and that was the cars that were now pulling up in front of her house. Even though her father had retired from acting, he had found his real passion in architecture and directing. Unfortunately his star had been so big and bright, even years after his retirement he was still being stalked. Only now they limited it to holidays and any chance sightings of the children.

For years their main focus had been Taurus, Mimi had actually taken him out of school because of the recent scandal of his mother stabbing her cell mate and facing yet another trial. Taurus had been through hell and back, as the only child of convicted murderess and former child star Lana Lutz and Brad Lowell who had been murdered by his mother, and then add the fact that he was now being raised by the equally famous Aries Stark; the child didn't really have a chance of not being a major headliner. The poor boy was a smorgasbord for the starving press, and his whole life was flipped upside down and inside out each time Lana did something else newsworthy in prison.

Mimi was the protective mother lioness, and she did not play around when it came to her children. Taurus, even at his young age knew what it was all about; he had been through so much with the paparazzi no matter how much they tried to protect him. There were still a few times when they had leaked through. Aries was a victim of the press and had hoped he would be able to help Taurus understand what was going on. Luckily the boy took it well and did not let him bother him too much, although occasionally he would get frustrated, angry, and lash out.

Now they had switched their focus onto the other Stark child; the beautiful little girl who looked so much like her mother, but with her father's exact shade of eyes. She was in private school, but even a posh, elusive boarding school for kinder gardeners could not keep away the press. At her Christmas concert, Star had sung jingle bells and dazzled the crowd with the voice of an angel, shocking everyone that watched that such a big voice was coming from such a little thing. Star had become a star in her own rite that day.

Aries had not wanted either of his children to be in the spotlight, and he wasn't happy about the recent craze over the soon to be six year old's talent. He was proud, there was no mistaking it; he couldn't help but crack a smile at just the thought of his little girl. He was amazed by her and he wanted to keep her safe and secure. But alas, her talent was too amazing to keep hidden or grounded. There was nothing he could do about it, his daughter was born to be a star; it was written in the heavens, and if she chose to pursue her singing, which he knew she would, he would have no choice but to let her soar.