With all apologies to Desi Arnaz: Lucy, you're home!

Lynn Herring (Lucy Coe) is finally returning to General Hospital. The actress makes her return next month, just in time for the return of another fan favorite: the Nurses Ball.

Soap Opera Digest reports that Herring's alter ego will be "sought out for her expertise in planning the big event."

Herring originated the role of mousy librarian Lucy in 1986. Though she exited the show briefly in 1992 to play Days of our Lives' Lisanne Gardner, Herring remained a Port Charles fixture through 1997. Herring and her on-screen persona were so popular that Herring was chosen to help launch the 30-minute General Hospital spinoff, Port Charles, in 1997. Herring was a Port Charles cast member for the show's entire six-year run. When Port Charles wrapped production in 2003, the actress was not invited back into the General Hospital fold.

"[General Hospital] had gone in a whole new direction with Sonny and the Mafia [by the time Port Charles was cancelled]," Herring reflected in a 2009 interview, "and they've done very well by that. I knew Lucy wouldn't fit into that. [Lucy's] comedic vixeny thing didn't seem to match with that serious tone, so it didn't bother me not to be asked back. I understood. But then when they brought back Finola Hughes [Anna] and Emma Samms [Holly Sutton], I did start to feel bad. I thought, there's gotta be a little space for me! But with Kin Shriner [Scott Baldwin] gone, there weren't many characters Lucy had related to a lot. I guess I was disappointed quite a bit, really. I understood why I wouldn't be offered a full-blown, long-term thing. I just wanted something."

Herring also had a short-run in 2009 as Audrey Coleman on As the World Turns.

When Herring returns to General Hospital, she'll be reunited with not only her former GH family, but also several of her fellow Port Charles vets. Michael Easton (John McBain) appeared on Port Charles as vampire Caleb Morley, Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) appeared as Livvie Locke and Tess, and Ian Buchanan portrayed Joshua Temple.

Herring's first airdate is scheduled for December 14. It will mark the first time the actress has appeared on General Hospital since the show's memorial for Lila Quartermaine in 2004.