''Look, I did what I had to do to save my son's life, and I would do it again in a heartbeat'' Laura defended herself for the last time before she walked out of the room. She knew this day would come, she just hoped she wouldn't have to defend herself, she hoped her husband would see the truth and understand why she did it, but it didn't happen that way. Once again, she was alone with what she had done.
Stefan was looking in his enemy's eyes, probably evaluating the chances he had to screw Nikolas up for good. ''I'll go make sure Laura is all right. Luke'' Stefan started quietly, remembering Nikolas' plea not to start the war again ''If you ever hurt him in any way, or break his heart, I will personally see to your demise.'' He said before he walked out.
''Ok, that was interesting'' Luke said with a grin when the door closed after Stefan. ''Guys, come on, this isn't the end of the world''. Both his sons were looking at each other with a new found hostility. ''Guys?'' Luke asked again when he saw they weren't responding. ''Ok enough! You aren't 5 years old anymore, trying to see which one of you I will love more for God's sakes'' He saw a light in his sons eyes and a ghost of a smile on their lips. ''He's right'' Lucky admitted quietly. ''We aren't in competition for his love, are we?'' Nikolas passed a nervous hand on his head, another Spencer trait he just realized and smiled at his brother. ''Love? No, who cares about his love, I'm in for his money''. Lucky laughed and shook his head. ''Well, you aren't getting his club when he croaks, that's mine.'' Luke looked at his sons talking like he was already dead. ''Well, it depends if you are of age, you know, so far I'm the only one old enough to take over the management, and by the time you are, who knows, maybe I'll come to like the smelly joint''. Luke threw his hands in the air. ''Wait, ho- hold on! NO ONE is getting my club! That's Lu's!''
''It's good to have you back Lucky'' Nikolas said truthfully. ''I missed fighting with you''. Lucky's grin grew wider and he looked at his dad. ''What he means is that he missed having his butt kicked''. ''My butt kicked?'' Nikolas asked in disbelief. ''I'll have you know, little brother, that I always got you on your knees when we were fighting''. Luke reached over to his night table to get his cup of soda and laughed. Now he saw what Lucky meant when he said Nikolas was just like them, a human being, instead of the monster Luke always thought he was. Luke could be stupid and think Nikolas was different from the Cassadines because he was a Spencer, but it wouldn't do any good. Nikolas was different because he was the best of Luke and Laura. Like Lucky, and Lesley Lu. His name or the person who raised him had nothing to do with it.
''Hey now that I think about something, you will have to change your name boy'' Luke said to Nikolas. ''Because we have Luke, Laura, Lucky, Lesley Lu and Nikolas. You will have to make it Likolas if you want to fit in.'' Luke had to dodge not to receive the pillow Nikolas threw at him with a laugh. ''Ok, we need to work about that aim of yours---''
The door opened, letting Alexis slowly walk in and Luke had the biggest smile spread across his face. ''Natasha, what a pleasant surprise! Came to make sure I didn't die?'' Alexis looked around the room, trying to make sense of what she was seeing and for a couple of seconds she was unable to answer but she quickly recovered. ''No, actually, I came to torture myself on how close I came to paradise, with you gone. How many lives do you have anyway?''
Alexis had heard about Luke's accident and felt guilty to be so concerned. She had to make sure for herself he was ok, and that it wasn't just a rumor. Even though Luke had tried again and again to destroy her family, had try to frame her brother for something he and her did, told her about Nikolas' paternity so she could make the move and by doing so, be witch for making it public, she always had a soft spot for him. She had never been able to forget the look of pure tenderness he gave her when he brought her a tape of her mother's voice, on Christmas a few years ago. He gave her what she wanted the most out of life, being able to hear her mother's voice, without asking anything in return, and no one had ever done that for her. Now, today, she wanted to know if she could do something like that for him.
''Alexis'' Nikolas said quietly. ''Lucky and I were just going to get something to drink, can we get you anything?'' Alexis couldn't take her eyes off of Lucky Spencer. How thin and sinister he looked, giving her the chills. ''No, I'm ok thanks'' She answered, refraining from asking how it was even possible and she saw her nephew push Lucky out the door.
''You look like hell'' Alexis said as she sat on the side of Luke's bed. ''Why thank you, you don't look so bad either'' Luke replied with a grin and slowly passed his hands in his face, his smile slowly fading. Alexis saw the years slowly come back to his face, now that the boys weren't there to play silly and he didn't have to put on a happy front anymore. He slowly shook his head and looked at Alexis with pleading eyes. ''Can I talk to you? I mean, talk, without you giving me your usual smart ass, counselor, Cassadine crap?'' He asked and Alexis knew he needed to get something off of his chest. ''You know you can Luke, you always could. We're partners, remember?''
''Reluctant ones at best right?'' Luke asked with a fake smile and Alexis reached for his hand. ''What is it?'' She asked softly. ''Well, you saw Lucky.'' He started ''Why didn't I know he was alive Natasha? Why couldn't I feel it? Lucky and I always had this bond, you know? I always knew where he was, and if he was in danger. I always had this feeling in my gut every single time he needed me'' Luke said in an agonizing voice. ''Why was this time different? Why wasn't I sick when he was getting abused, and battered and God knows what else? I let him down, and I will never have my son back. He is here, but he's not, you know? He has that distant look in his eyes, that constant awareness of danger, he is always on guard. And it's all because I failed him. As his father, as his friends, as his....'' Luke stopped and took a deep breath. He needed someone to talk to, and Alexis would do, but he had to finish saying everything before the boys came back. Now wasn't the time to break down and cry. ''There's more'' He said and lifted his hand to stop her from talking. ''I need a transplant, if I want to stay alive. Nikolas is the one who tried to kill me, so he wanted to be tested in case he could help me, and we found out something shocking. He's not Stefan's son. He's not even Stavros'. He's mine''
If he wasn't so depressed, he would've laughed at Alexis' face and tortured her with it for years to come, but he could only squeeze her hand back. ''I know, I was just as shocked. And it's true, because Laura admitted she knew all along.'' There. He said it. He admitted out loud that the love of his life, the woman he thought just purposely stabbed him 4 times, when she didn't tell him about the pregnancy, when she left the baby with the Cassadine, when she didn't tell him so he could go and take his son back with him and finally when his son made his way into his life, letting him hate the boy with a passion without ever telling him the truth. She always knew what his children meant to him, how could she do that? ''Laura knew all along'' he repeated when the tears finally fell and Alexis wrapped her arms around his shoulders, getting his head to rest on her chest as he cried.
''Why did you want to leave dad and Alexis alone?'' Lucky asked as he opened the can of coke and sat on the bench outside the hospital. ''Because that was what he wanted. Didn't you see the way he looked at her? He was begging us to leave them alone. I think he wants to talk about mom, and about what she did''
''I think it would be a good thing if we talked about it, too'' Lucky said quietly. ''I mean, you lose and gain a father, and I gain a brother. How do you feel about being a Spencer?''
Nikolas was looking at his feet, playing with his cup of coffee. ''To tell you the truth, I don't know what to feel'' he said honestly. ''I mean, to know that my father hated me for 3 years of my life, kinda puts a stop on things, you know?'' The young man said softly. ''I mean, I want to get to know him, I want to get to know you, as a full brother, and do things as a family, but I wonder if he wants that. When he first find out, I think he decided to give me a chance, for you, for your memory, but now that you are back, he doesn't have to do it, you know?'' Nikolas' thoughts were coming out of his mouth before he could stop them. ''You must think I'm a bastard for thinking that because you are back, I won't have a chance with my father huh?'' Nikolas asked shyly.
''Not really. I mean, for all I know you could be telling the truth, and I would probably think the same thing if I was in your shoes. All that doesn't mean you aren't happy I'm back, it means you want me AND our father'' Lucky reached over and took Nikolas' hand. ''You are a good man Nikolas, you don't have an ounce of bad in you, and you couldn't be a bastard even if you tried, so don't sweat it. You are my brother, and wether or not dad accepts you now, I don't care.'' Nikolas started at Lucky for the longest time and finally smiled. ''Thanks..... brother. Where were you anyway?'' Lucky took a deep breath and had a sad smile. ''If you don't ask questions, I won't have to lie to you. Deal?''
Nikolas was about to answer when they heard footsteps coming their way. Both brothers looked up only to see Emily and Elizabeth run towards them. ''Nikolas we heard about your accident are you .....'' Elizabeth's words got lost as she met the eyes of a man she thought as dead. ''Lucky?'' She asked quietly.
''Hi, Elizabeth''
Previous chapter | Next chapter | Back to fanfic page | Email