"Yes." said Stefan.
"Kind of what you did with Nikolas." she said.
"Yes, and I regret that, but I am glad that he knows." he said.
"I always knew you were not like Helena, but more like Alexis, who at the time was your cousin. You had a sensitive side to you like Nikolas has, but never showed it often. Most of the Cassadine men from what I've heard had hearts of stone or were just stoic." she said.
"That is true. My father was like that around us because Stravos wasn't his and if he showed love to my sister or I, Helena would've found out. She would've killed us, but my father was really a sensitive man that lived in a pit of hell." he said.
"I'm so sorry." she said softly.
"Don't blame yourself because it was all Helena's doing." he said.
"I know, but she stole your happiness." she said.
"No, she didn't because I always had Alexis." he said.
"True." she said.
"I have something else to tell you." he said.
"What?" she asked.
"I STILL love you, Barbara." he said looking into her eyes.
She was surprised by what he said that she laughed.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"That's the first time you were VERY sincere." she said smiling.
"And that's funny?" he asked confused.
"It's a rare quality with you and you must know that I STILL love you too." she said.
He smiled and got up to sit next to her.
"You are the world to me and when I lost you I felt empty inside like when Katherine died, but every time I was with her I thought of you. I know I hurt you and I am sorry for that. I don't know why I fell in love with her when I could have you." he said.
"It's okay. I understand." she said smiling.
"Thank you." he said softly.
She kissed him and he kissed her back with urgency. He took her in his arms and carried her upstairs.
~*~*~*~
"Your family tree is just as twisted as mine." said Emily.
"No, I believe you family is more twisted." said Nikolas smiling.
They all laughed.
"So when are we going to surprise Stefan?" asked Emily.
"We have to tell Ned and Alexis." said Kristen.
"When is his birthday?" asked Emily.
"Soon. I'm finally going to celebrate one of his birthdays." said Kristen smiling.
~*~*~*~
"That was cool." said Brooke smiling.
"You felt the baby kick?" asked Lois.
"Yeah, and it felt weird." said Brooke smiling.
"How weird?" asked Ned smiling.
"It was SO weird that mommy is 'It'." said Brooke smiling.
She got off Alexis's lap and tagged her mother.
"Honey, why don't you play with daddy." said Lois.
"Okay." said Brooke.
Ned and Brooke played tag as Lois sat down in a chair next to Alexis.
"Must be an exciting feeling." said Lois smiling.
"It is, but you've been through it before. What was the delivery like?" asked Alexis smiling.
"Whoa, that's a loaded question." said Lois.
They laughed as they watched Ned and Brooke.
"Not all pregnancies are alike and neither are the deliveries. My delivery was a normal one. I tried to do natural, but later I was begging for drugs." said Lois smiling.
Alexis laughed.
"How long were you in labor?" asked Alexis.
"Seven and a half hours." said Lois.
"Oh my God!!" said Alexis in disbelief.
"It was worth it, though. She was so tiny and beautiful. She was born at two-forty in the afternoon and she weighed seven pounds and three ounces. I was in awe with this child that had grown inside of me for nine months. It was a wonderful feeling." said Lois smiling.
Alexis's eyes were dreamy as she thought of the baby inside of her.
"I can't wait." said Alexis dreamily.
"It will be a joyous experience." said Lois smiling.
Ned and Brooke were playing and he looked at his watch. He picked Brooke up and went back to Lois and Alexis.
"We gotta go." said Ned.
"Do you have to leave, daddy?" asked Brooke pouting.
"Yes, but Lexie and I will come visit you tomorrow." said Ned.
"Okay, daddy." said Brooke.
She hugged him and he kissed her cheek.
"I love you." Ned whispered into Brooke's ear.
"I love you, daddy." said Brooke.
He put her down and she got onto Alexis's lap. She hugged her.
"Love you, Lexie." said Brooke.
"Love you too." said Alexis.
"I love you, Anastasia Athena Emma." said Brooke to Alexis's stomach.
They all smiled at the little girl.
"You be good for Lexie." said Brooke to Alexis's stomach.
"Okay, ragmuffin, they gotta go." said Lois smiling.
Brooke got off of Alexis's lap and ran inside to the front door. The trio went inside and to the front door.
"Goodbye." said Lois.
"Bye. Have fun unpacking." said Alexis smiling.
"Thanks." said Lois smiling.
The two women hugged.
"I'll see you tomorrow." said Lois.
"We'll be here." said Alexis.
"Bye." said Ned.
"Bye." said Lois.
"Bye, Brooke." said Ned.
"Bye, daddy." said Brooke.
Ned and Alexis left the cottage as Brooke and Lois watched them go.
~*~*~*~
"Would you like to stay for lunch?" asked Nikolas.
"Sure." said Emily.
They left the room leaving Kristen alone. She opened the locket and smiled.
"Thank you, Mikkos. Thank you for everything. I will always love you." said Kristen.
She noticed a music box on the mantle and she gasped. It was the music box Mikkos gave her. It was a small wooden box made of mahogany. In the center of the lid it was plush like a pin cushion and it had a picture of a beautiful castle with the sun setting behind it. She picked it up and held it for a minute before she opened it. The music that poured out was Tchaikovsky's 'Sleeping Beauty'. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she remembered the moment. It was his first gift to her and that song was the first song they danced to. She wasn't a very good dancer, but he taught her well and it was to this song that he taught her how to dance. She didn't notice the music had stopped or that Nikolas had been observing. She was too wrapped up in her memories.
"That was my grandfather's." said Nikolas.
She was startled by his voice and was pulled back into reality.
"It was mine. It was the first present he gave to me. I didn't know he had kept it." said Kristen.
She put the music box back on the mantle.
"My father salvaged it after he died. Helena would've destroyed it if she would've found it. He told me he kept it hidden in a loose floorboard under his bed and every so often he would listen to it either with Alexis or if he couldn't sleep at night. He said it was the most enchanting thing his father ever owned." he said.
"I'm glad he kept it. Would you like me to tell you and Emily about the music box?" she asked.
"Sure." he said.
They left the room going into the dining room.
