vaughan assumed the role in 2003. he was a visually older actor than young and jackson, and lucky's storylines grew to become more adult as well. in 2009, vaughan reflected that fans “embraced me more as lucky being the man, instead of the child.” the year vaughan started, lucky starts a career in law enforcement when he joins the police academy in order to become involved in the murder investigation of his girlfriend summer halloway (powell). this was a confusing character change for viewers, as lucky had grown up emulating his parents and their cons, sharing in his father's distaste for law enforcement. becoming a cop puts lucky and his father luke on opposite sides of the law, a contributing factor to the tension seen between them in forthcoming years. other adult issues lucky faces include financial struggles and marriage. in 2005, lucky is repaired with elizabeth and becomes the stepfather to her son cameron. vaughan told "soap opera digest" in 2005: