Chapter 5
The pain was becoming almost unbearable as Stefan reached his study, but he knew he couldn’t stop, he had so very little time. Alexis’ phone rang and rang until he finally heard her machine pick up. Irritated, he left a short, demanding message to her. The second call he made was to General Hospital.
“Is Dr. Tony Jones working today?” he inquired then waited for the reply. “Page him for me.”
Stefan eased carefully into his chair trying not to jar the wound any more than necessary. The bleeding from the injury had been minimal, but he still felt weak from the loss of blood. A wave of nausea swept over him and he struggled to control it. He concentrated on his Tai Chi breathing exercises while he waited for Dr. Jones to answer his page.
“Dr. Jones, Stefan Cassadine. I have a medical emergency at Wyndemere. Will you come?” he paused for a moment and frowned. “Yes. I realize what the emergency room is for, but that’s impossible right now,” he listened wearily for a moment. “Good. I’ll expect you soon.”
He put the phone down and raised the lid on his laptop computer. His fingers flew over the keys. After a few minutes he found what he was looking for and wrote the information down on a piece of paper. It was a relief to lie back in the chair and relax until the doctor came. His thoughts went immediately to Laura. When she calmed down and was thinking rationally, he knew she would realize that he would never hurt her or harm one of her children. Spencer had filled her head with his lies, and she had been vulnerable and had fallen for his propaganda. He closed his eyes and thought about New Year’s Eve, how wonderful it had been to have her back in his life again after almost losing her.
Laura smiled and held out the photo. “Look what I found.”
Stefan took the snapshot from her. “I love this photo,” he said with a smile, his voice deep with emotion. “I had it made shortly after you left the island. I kept it in my desk. Even after we hadn’t spoken for years, I would find myself looking at it, longing to tell you both things that I couldn’t.”
Laura smiled at him, tears in her eyes, as he put the photograph back on his desk and crossed his arms.
“Nikolas has just told me all the things he has done for Elizabeth.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “And I couldn’t help but be reminded of all the things you have done for me.”
She walked around the desk to stand in front of him. “I may not have always agreed with them, but I want you to understand that I know you did them to protect me.” Laura reached up and tenderly caressed the side of his face. “Thank you,” she whispered.
She reached up again and touched his face as she kissed him gently on the lips. “I love you,” she said softly. Stefan smiled and touched her face. “Please, can we start over again?” Laura cupped his face as she kissed him again, the kiss deeper this time. He gave her his answer as he reached around her to pull her closer into his embrace.
“Whoooo! How delightful!” Helena laughed. “My second son ringing in the new year kissing his brother’s widow,” she said mockingly.
Stefan slowly raised his head and gave her a withering look, never taking his arms from Laura. Laura was so involved in the kiss, her immediate reaction was disappointment at the loss of Stefan’s lips on hers. She turned and started at the sudden appearance of her ex-mother-in-law. Stefan smirked as he stroked Laura’s face and buried his face into her hair for a deep breath of her. His hand ran down her back possessively for his mother to see. Laura turned her face into his chest as she ran her hand down his arm, not wanting to see the woman who had caused her so much pain.
“What brings you here in the middle of the night, mother? You getting nervous?” Stefan quizzed, amused. Laura stepped closer into his protective embrace as she turned and looked at her nemesis.
Helena smiled. “Oh, actually I’m welcoming in the year 2000 with more confidence than ever,” she enthused.
Laura put up her hand. “Okay, that’s enough for me,” she turned to Stefan and cupped his face in her hands. “Happy New Year.” Laura held his face while she kissed him. “I meant what I was about to say,” she smiled.
“Wait, don’t go,” Stefan protested.
“No. It’s been a perfect evening and I want to keep it that way,” Laura replied with pointedly raised brows.
Stefan sighed as she walked past Helena to the door.
Helena studied Laura with a contemplative expression on her face. “Lovely, lovely neck,” she mused.
Stefan remained unfazed by her words. “What is your business here? I am so tired of your empty threats.”
Helena turned to face him. “I assure you, they are far from empty. I want an alibi for the night Katherine was murdered.”
Stefan was amused. “You want me to recant my statements to the police? To nullify legitimate evidence? Why would I do that?”
“You are a good liar. Retract your flimsy evidence. Say you saw me in the therapy room after all and the photographs placing me on the parapet when Katherine went over were doctored.”
Stefan smiled. “Apparently the evidence against you isn’t flimsy at all.”
“Do as I say or you will be very sorry,” Helena threatened.
Helena held up an envelope. “Go ahead, have a look,” she urged.
Stefan looked at it. “I am not interested.” He walked around to the other side of the desk and started looking at some papers. “Whatever is in there is either a lie or a bluff, and I’m not playing your game.”
“And you’re not the least bit curious?” Helena inquired tapping the enveloped on her chin.
Stefan looked up. “No. Not in the slightest.”
Helena shrugged. “Have it your way, for now.”
Stefan stared at the closed door for a moment then walked over to the bar and poured himself a brandy. He slowly crossed back to his desk and sat down, taking a swallow from the glass. He swirled the liquor in the glass and gazed down into the dark liquid, contemplating his mother’s words. She had seemed rather confident tonight. But the evidence the police had couldn’t be as flimsy as she had said or she wouldn’t have been here asking for his help. His eyes narrowed. Had she really believed he would retract his statement to the police? It was almost too much to believe, but for some reason she thought he might. What was she up to? What had been in the envelope she had wanted him to take so badly? He leaned back in the chair and enumerated all of what he knew and all of the possible answers. It wasn’t until the clock chimed that he realized he had been sitting there for over an hour.
His thoughts turned to Laura. He had been pleasantly surprised when she had accepted his invitation to spend New Year’s Eve with him and Nikolas. The wedge between them seemed to be slowly melting away, but he knew he had to be careful not to push too hard. It had been hard to see her with Luke on Christmas Eve when he had returned to see her that night because he had been worried about her. But Luke was Lesley Lu’s father and it was only right that he spend Christmas with his child. She and Lesley Lu had come for Christmas dinner, but things were still a little strained between them and Laura had been tense and depressed. He knew she was still having a difficult time dealing with the loss of her son and it had been even harder for her over the holidays. Tonight he had hoped to get her to stay with him and the situation had looked promising until his mother had shown up. Helena’s appearance had made Laura flee. Still, the outlook for their reunion had excellent possibilities, and she had said she wanted to start over again. He just needed to quell his impatience. He sighed. It was getting harder for him to be patient. After making love to her after all these years he wanted never to stop. But the day would come when she would be in his bed and he would wake up every morning with her in his arms. He longed for that day. It couldn’t come soon enough for him. After being alone for half his life he wanted the joy of her love, companionship, and the feel of a family around him.
Not long afterward he made his way to his bedroom. He turned on the lamp by his reading table and took off his jacket laying it on the chair. His cufflinks he carelessly tossed on the table, and unbuttoning his shirt, he thought about what excuse he could make to Laura if he arrived at her house tomorrow unexpectedly. The shirt was off and he was pulling his belt out of his pants when he had the strange feeling he was being watched. When he turned to look around the room he was shocked. Laura was stretched out on the bed watching him disrobe with a huge Cheshire grin on her face.
“Go ahead,” she urged. “I am enjoying the show,” she grinned wickedly.
Stefan was speechless. He stood there gaping at her.
“Cat got your tongue?” she asked, her eyebrows arching suggestively.
He finally reacted. “Laura, I thought you left hours ago.”
She got up from the bed gracefully and sashayed her way to him. All she had on was a teddy that fit her like a glove. He caught his breath as he watched her coming to him. Already he could feel the desire for her well up in him like an untapped gusher.
Laura ran her hands lightly over the planes of his chest. “I got out the door and then decided I wouldn’t let the old bat run me off. I had planned on staying, but,” Laura sighed, “when Helena made her appearance I had to get out of there. I just couldn’t stay and listen to her insinuations.”
“You came back,” Stefan smiled.
Laura grinned as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I had planned on ringing in the new millennium in the best possible way, and I decided not to let her spoil my plans?” Laura peeped up at him through her eyelashes and asked innocently, “Did you have any other plans?”
Stefan growled. “I’ll show you what I planned,” as his lips descended on hers. After he had ravaged her mouth until she was breathless, he picked her up and carried her to the bed, quickly stripping off the rest of his clothing. Stefan had held himself back the first time they had made love, wanting to reexplore Laura’s body and their connection with each other. He hadn’t wanted to frighten her with the depths of his passion. This time he was holding nothing back. He wanted her to know just how much he desired her.
Laura felt a shiver of cold heat wash over her at the lupine expression on Stefan’s face as he pressed his body down on hers. He bent his head down and traced the outline of her lips lightly with his tongue, as she parted her lips his onrushing tongue sank into her mouth. Their tongues coiled and lashed around the other as the kissed deepened until they had to finally come up for air. Stefan smiled as Laura panted out his name softly. He trailed butterfly kisses down her chin and onto her neck working his way down to the exposed swell of her breasts. There he nuzzled and licked every part of her naked skin. Her hardened nipples strained against the material wanting attention, but he ignored them much to Laura’s moan of dismay, slowly working his way down to her stomach with his lips. His hand went in between her legs and she parted them eagerly knowing what was to come. Stefan deftly unsnapped the crotch and other than a brief caress over her mound of curls, continued on his course of action. Laura moaned in disappointment, and Stefan looked into her eyes and whispered huskily, “Patience, my love.” He pulled her legs farther apart and sat up on his knees between them, pulling her right leg up and placing it on his shoulder. With fingers and lips that never stopped he found every sensitive spot on first one leg then the other, working his way down to her inner thighs. Try as she could Laura could never grasp his head and pull him down to bury his face in between her legs. He always stayed just out of her reach. Laura felt like she was coming out of her skin, she wanted him so badly. Stefan finally crawled over her and lay on top of her again. The feel of him pressing into her stomach made her thrust up against him. “Stefan, you’re torturing me,” she moaned. Laura reached up and guided his head down to hers, ensnaring his lips in a kiss that demanded satisfaction. He plundered her mouth, their tongues cavorted and parried in a scorching duet. “Don’t you like my brand of torture?” he asked hoarsely, as he kissed her again. “Yes,” Laura cried helplessly, as their mouths melted together. Stefan made his way down the side of her face and to the spot on her neck that made her draw ragged breaths. Finally he meandered his way down to her breasts. The feel of the material rubbing across her breast peaks as he peeled it from them heightened her need for him. With his tongue he circled each nipple, sucking and nibbling on one as his fingers toyed with the other. Laura grabbed and held his head against her, running her fingers through his thick golden hair, as he suckled her. “Yes,” she purred. “I love what you do to me.” Stefan smiled against her breast, and moved down to her belly, lifting himself up just long enough slide the teddy off her. His tongue outlined the contours of her belly button, as he moved further down. Laura held her breath as she waited for him to taste her. He parted her legs and teased her more by kissing the insides of her thighs. His beard was rough against the tender skin and she shivered in anticipation. He didn’t disappoint. His tongue trailed along her lips, and she moaned his name. He buried his face in her, his tongue stroking her up and down, as she grabbed him by the hair and pushed up against him. While he delicately teethed her clit, he inserted his middle finger inside of her and started sliding his finger in and out. Laura could feel the sweet ache building until she screamed out his name as she convulsed to a climax. Stefan laid his head on her fluttering stomach for a moment while she caught her breath.
“Stefan,” Laura sighed, as she stroked his hair. He raised up and came to her, mashing his mouth to her eager lips until at last their mouths came unglued. “Turn over,” Stefan’s voice cracked with need. Laura willingly complied. As he gazed at her rounded bottom, desire rippled through him. A guttural groan rushed out of him as he kneaded her cheeks for a moment before he nestled his hard body against her soft curves. He swept her hair from the nap of her neck to give him access to her soft skin. Laura made little noises in her throat has he gently bit the lobe of her ear and trailed kisses across her hair and down to the back of her neck. His hot breath on her skin made her weak, warm and hungry all over. Laura moaned as he thrust against her crack. Stefan parted her legs and steadily pushed himself in until he had filled her up. He pulled Laura’s arms up and intertwined his fingers with hers as he firmly and steadily moved in her. She moaned as his tongue and lips stroked her neck and shoulders. His hands softly glided up her arms in a sensual caress and she couldn’t control the convulsive shiver than tingled down her body. Stefan raised himself off of her and drove himself even deeper into her. Laura was panting as she raised her bottom up to take him even deeper, thrusting her buttocks back to meet every plunge. With a feral growl, he grabbed her hips and steadily shoved his length into her in an ever increasing pace. Laura could feel the spasms of her orgasm and she tightened up and thrust up against him. Stefan felt the first writhings of her orgasm and he relentlessly took them both over the edge as they exploded simultaneously.
They lay there for a few minutes until the trembling of their bodies stilled. Stefan shifted off her and onto his back. Laura resettled to lay her head on his chest, her legs entwined with his.
“I love you, Stefan,” she whispered against his chest.
Stefan smiled happily. “I love you too,” he replied softly against her hair.
Their hands caressed each other lovingly in the contented silence. Neither one could help themselves from running their hands over the body of their lover. Laura was still amazed at how she could have let the memory of Stefan as a lover dim over the years. He was still as extraordinary now as he had been years ago. Perhaps even better, Laura thought as her hands moved over his hard chest. He was more experienced than he had been back then, and she felt a stab of jealousy for all those unknown lovers and mistresses he had to have known. He was hers now she reminded herself, and none of those others mattered because she would never let him go again. Stefan still couldn’t believe that woman he had loved for so many years had finally come back to him. She had been so angry with him when she had found out he had lied to her he had wondered if she would ever forgive him. This was his second chance and he would never keep anything else from her again. Laura was too precious and his life so empty without her, he would never disappoint her again, he promised himself.
Laura was feeling wanton that night, tired of being the staid, proper woman she had become in the past few years. This was the start of a new century and the start of a whole new life for her with the man she loved. Could he again, she wondered? She rolled over on top of him, surprising him. Funneling her fingers through his thick hair, she licked the lobe of his ear and moved sensuously across his face, loving the prickle of his beard against the soft skin of her cheek. Her tongue darted across his lips. Stefan grabbed a handful of her hair as their tongues locked together, racing back and forth from one mouth to another. Their kiss deepened until they were breathless. Laura could feel his hardness pressing into her stomach and she slid her way down to his chest. The feel of her hardened nipples brushing against his body made his arousal grow. His nipples were hard nubs that Laura teethed, licked, and caressed, before her tongue and lips explored every inch of his hard stomach. She settled between his legs and cupped his balls while her hot breath blew across his hardness. She smiled as it jerked convulsively. The tip of her tongue raked across the end of his penis. It felt like the raspy tongue of a cat and Stefan’s hands clutched at the sheets to control his tremors.
“Do you like MY torture?” Laura purred provocatively as she looked up at him. “You know I do,” Stefan gasped, his face twisted with passion.
Laura smiled and started licking up the sides of his hardness until she made her way back up to the tip. He trembled as he felt her tongue begin to lightly caress and then swirl around the tip. She sucked the end of him all the way into her mouth and he couldn’t help but groan at the feel of her hot, wet mouth on him. He grabbed her head and gently stroked back and forth in her mouth as she cradled her tongue around the bottom of his penis. When she felt him almost to the brink, she withdrew her mouth and straddled him, drawing him deeply inside her. He reached up to toy with her nipples and she arched her breasts into his cupped hands. Laura felt filled to the brim and she bounced up and down on him, slowly at first and then with increasing frenzy. She was breathless with excitement as her crotch rammed hard against him. Stefan grabbed her hips and with each stroke pushed her down a little more firmly each time. Stefan couldn’t wait. Seeing her getting so much enjoyment out of pleasuring herself on him, sent him over the threshold. “Laura!” he gasped as he spilled his seed into her. Laura’s body slammed hard against his as she strained and abandoned herself to the waves of joy that flooded through her body. She flattened herself against his chest in exhaustion, listening to his ragged breath as she tried to catch her own. “I love you,” she whispered against his neck. “I love you, my precious Laura,” he rasped, as he kissed her forehead. She fell asleep lying across his body and it was a long time before he could go to sleep. He wanted to savor the feel of her sleeping in his arms.
Stefan opened his eyes and drew a ragged breath, shifting uncomfortably as his erection strain against his pants. He always became aroused when he thought of them making love. They had come back together again that night and he had finally felt optimistic for a future with Laura after the fiasco with his mother. Had it all been a dream he had wished for so long that he had fooled himself into believing it? He remembered the next morning. He had wakened as the door closed, and reached across the bed for her. He groaned in disappointment when he found the bed empty. Laura’s side of the bed was still warm. Would he ever wake up in the morning with her still in his arms? He had lain there quietly and pondered that eternal question, the one that had been plaguing him for almost twenty years. Would Laura ever be completely his, or would a part of her always remain beyond his reach? Now he wondered if she would ever be his at all. Would Luke continue to poison her mind against him? Would Laura believe Luke, or would she believe him? He had to believe that she would trust in him. She had told him she knew him better than he knew himself. He could only hope she remembered.
Absolution
Chapter 6
Stefan thoughts turned to his mother. Her threats had some bite after all. He should have not been so careless in thinking they were empty. Thank God he had told Alexis the whole story. She could corroborate that he was not involved in Lucky’s kidnaping. The investigation into linking Helena and Faison was proceeding. It shouldn’t be hard for him to prove his innocence. Lucky was the stumbling block. The authorities would take his word over any documentation he could produce. Somehow he had to convince Laura that Lucky needed help. Only then would he be completely free of the accusations he knew were soon to be leveled at him. Stefan felt a stab of pity for Lucky. There had been something in the boy’s eyes when he had looked at him that cried out to him. Those accusations had been Helena’s, not Lucky’s, and Stefan had felt an immediate rapport with the young man. He knew how his mother could manipulate and coerce. What other plans did she have for Lucky? he wondered. They could all be in danger, and somehow he had to try and prevent his mother from implementing her grand scheme.
“Dr. Jones,” Mrs. Landsbury announced from the door.
Stefan glanced up as Dr. Tony Jones strolled into his study with his black medical bag. “Mrs. Landsbury, would you bring me another shirt?” he called out to the housekeeper.
“Yes, sir,” she replied as she closed the door.
“Okay, I’m here. What’s the problem?” Tony questioned in a slightly put off manner. He was still irritated Stefan Cassadine thought he was at his beck and call.
Stefan rose stiffly and moved in front of his desk. “I have an injury I wish you to attend.”
“Well, what is it?” Tony demanded, getting more annoyed. The man probably had a hang nail, he thought derisively to himself.
Stefan leaned back against his desk. “A gunshot wound.”
“What?” Tony uttered, shocked. “Where?”
“My right side.”
Dr. Jones became all business. “The coat and shirt will have to come off. Do you need help?”
“No,” Stefan replied through gritted teeth. Movement had caused the injury to begin throbbing again.
“Wait.”
Stefan halted. His breathing was shallow from his exertions. Dr. Jones took one look at the paleness of his face and moved to assist him. The shirt had adhered to the wound and Dr. Jones carefully peeled it from the injury.
Tony worked in silence for a moment. “I must probe the wound to make sure there are no internal organs involved.”
Stefan’s white knuckled fingers gripped the edge of the desk to keep from falling to the floor. His face grew ashen as Dr. Jones explored the injury. Although the doctor had been gentle, the pain had been excruciating. It had taken every bit of his self control to remain erect.
“Good. There doesn’t seem to be damage to any vital organs. It looks like the bullet passed through you. You’re a lucky man.”
Stefan remained silent and Tony continued. “You really should have come to the emergency room for an injury of this severity,” he chastised.
“There was no time,” Stefan rebutted, feeling drained.
Dr. Jones looked at him strangely and shook his head. Never in a million years would he understand this man and his cryptic words. He finished cleaning and bandaging the wound. “You’re going to have to come to the hospital and have this seen. All I’ve done is clean it up some. You need an antibiotic and pain medication. I can give you a shot for now, but you really need to get to GH soon.”
A knock at the door brought Mrs. Landsbury and the clean shirt. Stefan pulled the shirt on and slowly started buttoning it. “There is no need for sedatives. I need to keep a clear head.”
Tony shook his head. He had done his best and if the man wouldn’t listen what could he do? He didn’t know how Stefan was standing. He had to have a will of iron. “I suggest you go to the hospital today. If you don’t, infection will invade the wound and it will become more serious than it already is.”
Stefan smiled. “I appreciate your coming.”
Tony sighed. “I have to report this to the police.”
“There’s no need for that,” Stefan replied, with a hint of secret amusement.
Tony stared at him as if he had lost his mind. “I can lose my medical license if I don’t report this, and with all the trouble I’ve had, I’m sorry, but I will make a report to the authorities.”
Before Stefan could reply, Mrs. Landsbury was at the door. “Commissioner Scorpio and Detective Taggart,” she announced, shooting Stefan a worried look.
Mac Scorpio looked grimly at Stefan. “Stefan Cassadine, you’re under arrest for the kidnaping of Lucky Spencer. You have the right to remain silent....”
Stefan looked at the two men coolly then turned to Dr. Jones, who was gaping at him in shocked disbelief. “See, I told you there would be no need to report the incident,” he quipped wryly.
After they had lead Stefan away in handcuffs, Tony shook his head. He had known the man was dangerous, but he would never have thought he would have stooped so low as to kidnap a child. He gave a short unamused laugh. But then he had never thought he would either.
Absolution
Chapter 7
Nikolas met Stefan at the police station just as they were getting ready to book him.
“Is it true?” he questioned his uncle. “Lucky’s alive?”
“Yes,” Stefan nodded. “How did you find out so quickly?”
“I came to see you at Wyndemere and Mrs. Landsbury told me. Where is he?”
Stefan took a deep breath. “I took him home to your mother.”
Nikolas was stunned. “So it’s true,” he whispered, as he looked at Stefan. “How could you? I knew you didn’t like my brother, but this?”
“Nikolas, I didn’t do this. Your grandmother did this and framed me,” Stefan asserted desperately.
He gave a short laugh. “It’s always Helena’s fault. When will all the lies end?” Nikolas stepped up to Stefan. “You told me you were afraid of the influence Lucky had over me, so you got rid of him, didn’t you?” he proclaimed scornfully. “You never thought he was good enough. He was a Spencer, so he was the enemy.”
“No, Nikolas, never,” Stefan whispered hoarsely, shaken by what he saw in his nephew’s eyes. Those words spoken long ago, were coming back to haunt him.
“Why? Was this done for my own good just like all the other things you claim to do in my name?” A look of horror swept his face. “With Lucky gone, I’d be the only son she had left. I’d have her undivided attention. Was that it?” he demanded. “Then what? Was Laura so grief stricken she was unresponsive to your declarations of love that you felt you had to return him to her? And then by doing that, you would not only get rid of Helena but Laura would feel an obligation to you. She would never leave you because you returned her son to her. The big hero,” he sneered.
“Nikolas, that is utter nonsense and you know it. Your mother and I were going to Paris the week Lucky died. Now why would I sabotage my own plans? Who put this in your head, Spencer?” Stefan demanded, incensed.
“How can I believe anything you say when you have lied to me my whole life?” Nikolas’ eyes grew cold. They reminded Stefan of Stavros’s. Nikolas reached up and grasped the Cassadine medallion from under his uncle’s open shirt and jerked it off. Stefan flinched. Nikolas drew himself up, and became the Cassadine. “I don’t know you,” he whispered disdainfully.
“Nikolas,” Stefan called brokenly, but he didn’t look back. Stefan’s world completely shattered.
*********
Helena put the telephone down with a gloating smile. Her contact at the Port Charles Police Department told her Stefan had been brought in to be booked for kidnaping Lucky Spencer. Even though her indoctrination hadn’t been completed, Lucky had still followed her instructions. It was all as she had planned: her weak-kneed son would go to prison for the rest of his life, and Laura would lose her lover. And, when a little time had gone by, she would take Luke Spencer away from her, too. Then she would know what it meant to be all alone. Her plan of revenge had started, Timoria for Mikkos and her beloved Stavros. Without Stefan or Luke to back her up, Laura would be powerless when Helena took control of Nikolas. She would command the Cassadine empire and Nikolas would be hers. It was all falling into place, just as she had intended. She had gotten rid of Caesar Faison, she thought with a satisfied smile. And all the others would fall just as easily. Stefan should have listened to her, she never got caught in her mischief. But then he had never listened to his mother. She laughed, relishing the thought of his suffering.
*******
Stefan had been booked, but was not in any condition to be questioned. He was taken to the jail infirmary and examined by the doctor. After a brief consultation with Commissioner Scorpio, the doctor returned and told Stefan he would be staying there at least overnight. He was given an antibiotic and an injection for the pain. In a morphine induced haze he began to dream.
They were walking down a snow-covered slope. Laura slipped and he grabbed her arm to steady her. “Watch your step here. There’s a patch of ice. All right. Here we are. What do you think?”
Laura looked around in awe. “It’s magnificent, so beautiful. Why are you showing it to me?” she asked curiously.
“I acquired this property a few weeks ago. And as soon as the plans can be drawn, I’m going to build a house.”
“What about Wyndemere?” Laura asked.
Stefan smiled. “I want a home that belongs to just us, the place where we can finally begin a life together.” He looked around and walked in front of her. “I’d like the house to be large, but manageable, with a lot of windows, a lot of light, and a veranda out in front where we can sit and watch the sun set.”
Laura sighed. “That sounds wonderful.”
“When the house is finished, I’m going to ask you to marry me.”
“I don’t think that I’m ready....” Laura replied uncomfortably.
“You know, I don’t expect an answer today. The house will take months to build. You’ll have plenty of time to decide,” he reassured her.
“What if I’m not sure then?”
“Then that will be your answer. I’ll accept it. We’ll both move on,” he voiced firmly.
“And that will be the end of our relationship?” Laura asked shaken.
“I have loved you from the moment I saw you, and I’ve always wondered what might have been if there had been no Stavros, no Luke, if you hadn’t been separated from Nikolas. Once this house is completed, I will have shown you everything, my heart, my devotion, my intentions for the future. If that’s still not enough, I’ll walk away with no regrets,” he replied, his voice deep with emotion.
“I love you, and I know you love me. But what if that love is not strong enough to last a lifetime?”
Stefan smiled at her gently. “After all we’ve survived, how can you doubt it?”
Laura searched his eyes and saw the certainty of his convictions and began to think he was right. They had overcome both time and space to be reunited again. Maybe it was fate that they were to finally be together. “You’re amazing,” she marveled.
He cradled her cheek with his hand. “No,” he said softly. “I love an amazing woman and it’s only a natural progression that I would want to marry her and live with her.” He grinned. “I’ve waited long enough.”
Laura knew then it was right and moved in to kiss him. “We’re going to be so happy here,” she whispered against his lips. The kiss deepened and Laura started to sink to the ground.
“Laura,” Stefan protested. “There is snow on the ground, we’ll freeze.”
“I don’t care. I want to christen the site for our house. What’s a little cold?” she teased. Stefan smiled and let himself be pulled to the ground.
Stefan smiled in his sleep and murmured her name. In his dreams all his hopes and desires were realized.
********
Lucky lay sleepless in his room. He had never felt so alone. Elizabeth and Nikolas had come and he had felt so detached from both of them. She had felt so good in his arms, but it had been long ago that they had made plans so innocently, only to have them shattered. It felt like a lifetime. He was a totally different person now and he felt so old. His illusions had been crushed by the manipulations of a cold, heartless woman. Neither Nikolas nor Elizabeth had any idea of the undercurrents swirling below the surface of his smiling face. Somehow he had managed to behave as if everything was fine. When Nikolas had apologized for his uncle kidnaping him, he had wanted to scream at him to wake up, instead he had mumbled that he wasn’t responsible for what his family did. It made him sick to his stomach that no one thought that Stefan could be telling the truth. It seemed only three people knew, or even cared to know: Stefan, Helena, and himself. Were people so gullible that they took what was said at face value, never questioning the possibility it was a lie? Yes, her voice whispered. They will listen to anything if that’s what they want to hear. Lucky covered his ears, hoping to keep out the laughter that seemed to go on and on.
Absolution
Chapter 8
Stefan spent two nights in the jail infirmary and was then moved to an isolated cell. There had been no contact with Alexis, and Stefan had refused to answer any questions without an attorney present. He had balked at calling someone else to represent him, so he and Commissioner Scorpio were at a stalemate. Stefan had listened to his threats calmly and with a certain amusement. When none of his intimidation worked, the Commissioner had promised Stefan he would put him away forever, and Stefan had no doubt that he would try. Scorpio had made it clear he was exasperated with the Cassadine family and it didn’t matter whether he was innocent or guilty, Stefan was the one who would bear the brunt of the Commissioner’s frustrations on losing Caesar Fasion.
Stefan had to wonder at Alexis’ silence. Had she turned against him too? This would be an ample opportunity for her to strike at him, to take revenge for all the slights she contended from him over the years. She knew everything, and without her he knew all was lost. Where was she? Had Helena coerced her? If his mother made promises to Alexis would she turn traitor yet again? No, he reminded himself. Alexis hated Helena as much as he did. She would never believe or trust Helena. What if something had happened to Alexis? He drew in a sharp breath at where his thoughts took him. Even though they had been more of enemies over the past year or more, he loved his sister and wanted nothing to happen to her. She was probably out of town on business and that jackass of a husband of hers wouldn’t call and inform her he had called. He just had to be patient. Alexis would come through for him.
He donned his reading glasses again and picked up the book he had been reading to pass the time. The sound of a key in the outer door caught his attention and he looked up to see his mother enter the room.
“Well, if it isn’t my second son, the poisoner,” Helena commented, looking pleased with herself.
Stefan closed the book and took off his reading glasses. “What took you so long, mother? I’ve been expecting to see you,” he replied pleasantly, as he sauntered up to the bars of his cell, ignoring the steady ache in his side.
Helena ignored his question. “It’s not nice when ungrateful sons paralyze their mother. It makes them cross.” She tapped her finger against her chin in contemplation. “You know I never thought a child of mine could poison me. Sometimes children should be punished and in the worst possible way,” she remarked, darkly.
Stefan smiled, refusing to be goaded. “Whatever you say.”
“What? You’re not going to deny it?” she questioned mockingly.
“We both know you paid Caesar Faison to kidnap Lucky Spencer. Was it just to destroy my life or do you have a more insidious plot in mind?”
“And it was so easy too,” Helena contended smugly. “Everyone knows how obsessive you are when it comes to Laura. They will all think that you tried to get rid of her son to destroy the bond between her and Luke. Really, darling, you should work on that.”
“The truth will come out in the end. Laura will realize she has misjudged me.” Stefan replied with conviction.
“Such confidence,” Helena scoffed. She reached her hand through the bars to run her fingers caressingly down the front of his shirt in a suggestive manner.
Stefan recoiled and stepped back out of her reach, his eyes unreadable.
“I must admit prison blue looks good on you,” she cooed.
“The game is up, mother,” Stefan voiced softly. “It will all come out in the end. How long before Lucky Spencer self destructs?”
Helena laughed. “My darling, I am a patient woman. All my plans won’t happen overnight. They will happen gradually and no one will have any idea what is going on.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” Stefan warned.
“Oh, my dear, I’ve won. Why don’t you just give up?” Helena laughed.
“The game is not over yet, and your overconfidence will be your downfall,” Stefan promised ominously.
“Oh, I don’t think so. You’re just grasping at straws. It’s just a case of sour grapes. You’ve never had a sense of humor,” Helena contended, clicking her tongue. “When this is all over and done with, Nikolas will come to me and there won’t be a thing you can do about it,” she gloated.
Stefan smiled. “Nikolas hates you. The leverage you want over him will never happen. He can see straight through all your machinations.”
“I love Nikolas. I would do anything for him. He will be great like his father when I’ve finished with him, you’ll see. Not like you, weak, ineffectual man that you are.”
“You are in for a big surprise,” he vowed softly.
“No, Stefan. I think you are. Now, I must be going. Have a nice life. Ta Ta.” She smirked as she went out the door, and Stefan could hear her mocking laughter echo back down the corridor.
Stefan walked back over to his bed and sat down. Just as his overconfidence had made him play right into her hands, so it would be with her. She might not have gotten caught in her mischief yet, but there was always a first time. So far it had all been a game to them, now it was his turn, and he was finished playing games. This time he would annihilate her.
*********
Laura put the telephone down and stared at it silently. Stefan had been arrested, but refused to make a statement without Alexis present. Laura guessed she should have been relieved he couldn’t harm her son again, but she was troubled. As angry as she had been when Lucky was found, when she had confronted Stefan she had seen no deception in his eyes, and that bothered her now. As usual her impetuous nature had taken over and she had spoken before she had time to think clearly. It was hard to believe that the Stefan Cassadine she knew would do anything so horrible. When she thought back on how kind and loving he had been to Lulu, it made it impossible to think he could actually do something to another of her children. Lucky’s story of his imprisonment and his torture by Stefan and his cohorts didn’t quite ring true. There was something about it that bothered her. She had heard him repeat the story on several occasions and each time it was almost identical. It was almost as if he told his story by rote. She wondered if he had been brainwashed into believing Stefan was the one who did this to him. Someone had hurt him. Lucky had the scars to prove it. Gail Baldwin was going to start seeing Lucky today and hopefully she could make something of this mess. Only two nights ago she had thought of Stefan with hatred, but when she thought clearly without her emotions involved, she realized the ludicrousness of the charge. The more she thought about it, the more she thought Stefan was innocent. Laura made a decision, she would go and see him. This time thinking clearly, she would look into his eyes and know if he was telling her the truth. Laura walked over to the closet and got her coat, then grabbed her purse. She was almost to the door when Luke came in with Lucky.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Luke questioned.
“I have some errands to run,” Laura lied, fidgeting with her purse.
Luke’s eyes narrowed. He knew she was lying, he could tell by the way she didn’t quite meet his eyes. Suspicion clouded his thoughts. She was going to see Count Vlad. That was one thing he couldn’t have happen. Now that Cowboy was back, he wanted his family back. If the count was sent up the river, he knew his path would be clear back into her heart. He had slept on the couch the last two nights and he wanted back in their bed. Keeping her away from Stefan was what he had to do at all costs. Not for one minute did he believe Stefan was responsible for Lucky’s kidnaping. It all pointed to Helena. And when Stiff was put away, he would make sure the black widow paid for what she had done to his son.
“We wanted to have Elizabeth and Nikki over for dinner,” he told Laura, shooting a warning glance to Lucky to go along with his fib.
Laura looked at Lucky, thankful that the pinched, lost look around his eyes had finally started to fade. He was slowly starting to be his old self again. She was torn, what to do, see Stefan or plan a dinner? But in the end Lucky came first.
“All right,” she announced brightly, taking off her coat. “What would you like to eat? Anything special?” she asked Lucky.
“Ribs,” Lucky announced with a grin. “Can’t get enough of them.”
“Ok, I’ll call that place you like and have them delivered. I’ll go and make some more of your favorites,” Laura said with a smile, as she kissed Lucky’s cheek. “It’s good to have you home,” she whispered softly.
“If I had a nickel for every time you said that, I’d be a rich man now,” Lucky quipped, smiling broadly at his mom.
Laura grinned as she went into the kitchen, Stefan forgotten for the moment.
Lucky looked at Luke. “What’s up dad? I didn’t know we were having a party tonight.”
“Your mom had the look of a woman with a mission. I didn’t like the mission,” Luke stated flatly.
Lucky sighed, he didn’t want to get involved with his parent’s marriage or lack of. They had divorced while he was gone. It was all he could do to readjust to his new found freedom. He would let them deal with their own problems.
Index