just from the actors, but also from the writers. Labine commented "If we weren't terrified, we'd be insane." Labine described the pairing as "two old and dear friends whom we deeply loved but lost." However, the scribe said of their return "Now they're coming home again—and in that context it's much less terrifying for us all." In addition to killing off the failed character of Bill, several popular characters including, Bill's sister Jenny (Cheryl Richardson), her husband Paul Hornsby (Paul Satterfield), Kin Shriner's Scotty, and Julia Barrett (Crystal Carson) were allegedly written out of the series to make way for the supercouple. The return also saw the introduction of Luke and Laura's 10-year-old son Lucky (Jonathan Jackson). ABC spared no expense in setting up the couple's usual grand entrance as the family appeared on October 29 in the midst of "explosions, car chases, helicopters, parachutes, mobsters, catacombds, and a very deadly waterfall" with several upstate New York location shoots. In February 1994, Francis announced that she was pregnant with her first child. The pregnancy was written into the series and Laura is revealed to be pregnant with her second child. Soap Opera Digest said "It's not often that an actress's pregnancy works as beautifully into her storyline" as Francis's did. Much like when Laura's early stories guided Francis through adolescence, Francis would learn about motherhood through her portrayal of Laura. She formed a close bond with her onscreen son Jonathan Jackson. "It showed me that there is a part of me very ready to be a mother" Francis said. In story, the pregnancy encourages Laura to appeal to Luke's mob friend Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) about keeping Luke and their family safe from Frank Smith (Mitchell Ryan) whom is about to break out of prison—with Sonny and Luke's help of course. If the couple's desire to get out from under Smith's constant threats weren't evident before, they are obvious and crucial when Laura learns she is pregnant. As Laura gives birth to daughter Lesley Lu on August 8, 1994, Francis took a six-week maternity leave to give birth to her own son on August 20. In story, Laura and Lesley Lu leave town to keep them safe from Luke's mob connections. Murder of Damian Smith (1996) After about two years in "storyline abyss" Francis was thrust back into the limelight when Laura becomes the prime suspect in a "Whodunit" murder