Stefan is about to enter Katherine's room as Nikolas approaches him...
Nikolas: Uncle
Stefan: Nikolas, thank God... when you didn't answer my page I ... I
N: I just got here, I came to see you too
S: Well, Luke Spencer is back in town, he made some kind of insinuation
Nikolas rolls his eyes
S: What... you saw him?
N: No, just Laura. He didn't come here to badger Katherine did he?
Stefan looks at Nikolas very puzzled and shocked and talks quitely to him.
S: Nikolas, you just said Laura
N: Yeah, she came to Wyndemere, Luke didn't tell you?
Stefan's shocked and puzzled looks turns to an angry look
S: Laura?
N: Yeah, my mother, I saw her, Uncle I spoke to her, it was all a hoax. She's alive.
Stefan is very angry now... he puts his hands on Nik's cheeks
S: WHAT?.... WHAT???????
N: She's alive
S: Your mother... is alive?
N: I saw her on the peer this morning. She was the same as always, smiling through her tears saying how sorry she was. Sorry.. (Nikolas starts to cry) She really thought I'd be stupid enough to fall for it again. Why wouldn't she? I was her doop from the beginning. I really thought that she loved me and all the time all she wanted to do was hurt you. She never... (both of them start breaking up...) she never... (Stefan pulls Nikolas to a comforting hug -- VERY INTENSE)
S: (still hugging a crying Nikolas) to hell with her Nikolas, to bloody hell with her.
Enter Katherine... Katherine: He knows? Nikolas: I appologize
K: What happened?
N: My moth... Laura Spencer is alive
Katherine looks shocked
N: I just found out this morning so, I'm still a litte off balance
K: Laura's alive?
N: Yeah, her death was all a trick, just to hurt my uncle, and to hurt me I suppose
K: I'm so sorry
N: Don't be sorry. I mean all I was doing was regretting all the things I never got a chance to say to her, now I've said them
K: How did this happen?
S: I don't know, this is the first I've heard of it
K: Well, I was on my way to physical therapy, so if you'd like to use my room to discuss this.. I know how abserd that sounds... Nikolas
S: I thank you
Stefan and Nikolas in Katherine's room
S: Tell me everything
N: I saw her and I was pitiful, I ran to her, I called her my mother, I told her how much I loved her. I poured my heart out to her without even bothering to ask her how she could be standing right in front of me when I know that she died right in front of your eyes. Then she grabbed me and she held me and she cried. Then we pledged out everlasting devotion to eachother and then she told me that it was all a setup. That it was some plan that Luke had that she went along with.
S: Did she have an explanation why...
N: Of course she had an explanation why. She said it was to save Lesley Webber. That they were afraid you might kill her. Which why you would do that now after protecting her for ten years, I don't know. But she believes it.
S: Do you? (Stefan starts to get a little teary-eyed)
N: Alright I deserve that. i deserve that after the way I've acted. But Uncle, I swear to you on the life of my sister, I will never believe one more word that comes out of that woman's mouth. It's not that she just lies, it's that she makes you believe. You say to yourself that she cares and that you mean something to her -- but no Cassadine ever meant anything to her. She hates us all.
S: (flashback to the kiss Lasha gave him before going in the exploding building) yes, she hates us all.
N: She used my sister to get me and then to turn me against you. I practically accused you of killing her and that was wrong and I'm sorry.
S: She deceived us both Nikolas. I thought it was inconceivable that she couldn't love you. When she said that she did over and over again, I sarted to believe, to trust her. I encouraged you to love her, so your pain is partly my fault.
N: No, no, it's not your fault, it's her fault and Spencer's fault. I asked you once before why there must be Timoria and now I understand. They must make atonement.
S: Oh they will.