Final Decision 2
by Uno
Part One
Laura Cassadine picked up the phone.
She and her husband Stefan had been separated for months now. She and her daughter had left their apartment and moved to a large house by a lake.
"...Hi mom," she replied after hearing Lesley's voice.
"Well...again with the 'warm' greeting." said Lesley.
"Sorry I'm just...I'm just sleepy," she yawned.
"...No you're not," said Lesley. "As much as I may not want to admit it...we both know that's not it."
"What do you mean?" asked Laura.
"Laura...you've been this way every time I've called you for...for I don't know how long."
"....."
Lesley blinked her eyes slowly, "...You miss him don't you?"
"....."
"Sweetie, after what that man pulled...after ALL the things he's pulled...I can't exactly say I want you two together. Maybe I never really will. But I do want you to be happy--and I know you were when you lived with him."
"What are you saying...mom?" asked Laura as she sniffed a bit.
"...I'm saying go to your husband Laura," replied Lesley.
Laura's current husband sat in a castle not too far from town. He sat in still, quiet concentration. Looking boldly at nothing and everything in the room as fire danced about.
A thought of the past came to him...again.
*Flashback:
["And when were you going to tell me about all of this?!" yelled Laura.]
The fire in the room grew a bit stronger.
*Flashback:
["Everything I did...everything I do that concerns you...is out of love. You have to believe that," he said. "I did it so I could keep you, and that beautiful little girl, and whatever our future may hold...here. With me."]
Stefan thought of how he woke up this morning, and the fire in the room intensified.
*Flashback:
["You have to believe me he said," he said.
"...I just wanted to believe in you Stefan," she replied.]
The fire raged...and suddenly reached its' peak.
Stefan sprung up silently, lifted his chair, and threw it to the floor.
"Why?!" he yelled.
"...Why do I have to keep reliving this moment?"
The next night, Laura's eyes were wide open after she crawled in her bed. She felt restless, she felt guilty, and she felt sad.
"...Why?" she sobbed to herself. "Why do I have to keep...?"
She turned to the phone on her side, then looked at the ceiling again. Then she turned back to the phone.
Eventually, Laura switched the light by her bed on...and picked up the receiver. As the ringing started, she closed her eyes and quickly turned off the light again.
Stefan Cassadine rolled across the bed and answered his phone.
"...Hello?" he said quietly.
"....."
"Hello."
"....."
"...Laura?"
"....."
"...Lasha."
"Hi," said Laura softly afterwards.
"...Hi." replied Stefan.
"...I..." Suddenly, Laura heard a noise downstairs. She gasped in response. "Stefan!"
"What, what's wrong, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I think I just heard someone in here...downstairs." said Laura.
"Could it be Lulu?" asked Stefan sitting up.
"No she's asleep! I just checked a minute ago...and I would have heard her if she went down the steps!"
"Laura..." said Stefan before suddenly being cut off.
"Stefan? Stefan?!"
Laura got up and put on her slippers. She walked to the door in her nightgown and slowly opened it. She stepped out, peeked downstairs, and saw no one. Then she began walking to Lulu's room. About halfway before she reached the door however...her eye was caught by something. She saw a shadow stepping about below.
Laura walked back to her room quickly, stepped in for a few seconds, then stepped back out and rushed into her daughter's room.
She closed the door, and about a minute later, heard someone coming up the steps.
A few minutes later, the door to Laura's room was slowly pulled closed, as the intruder had found it empty.
Another minute passed, and the door to Lulu's room slowly opened. The intruder found it empty.
Just as the man was feeling confused and about to turn on the light, a baseball bat slammed into his sight from the side. He yelled a bit, and went down.
Laura grabbed her daughter by the hand and ran outside of the room. They reached the bottom of the stairs much faster than their unwelcome guest had reached the top, and quickly headed outside.
"It's Helena," Laura thought as she ran with Lesley Lu. "She said she'd leave me alone, but I knew she wouldn't. She's sent people after me."
Just as they were running through the woods, Laura felt something sharp and quick stick into her side.
She slowed down in reaction, but kept running. She reached to her side and pulled out a small dart, which soon hit the ground.
With all the determination she could muster as she clutched her little girl's hand, Laura Cassadine kept running...until she finally began to feel drowsy and had to stop.
"Mommy what's wrong?" asked Lulu.
"...Honey...it's okay...I'm"
Laura collapsed, falling victim to the effects of the dart. As her vision became blurry on the ground, she heard many footsteps.
"Mommy..." said Lulu.
Laura clung to her daughter's hand. As she was on the brink of unconsciousness, she heard the footsteps stop...and a somewhat familiar voice afterwards:
"Not the family member you were expecting I'll bet," said a playful, arrogant man.
Laura looked up...and couldn't quite make out his face. Just as she recognized his voice, she passed out on the ground.
"Take them both," said the man to his employees.
Just then, a shot rang out in the air.
The men surrounding Laura and Lulu jumped back and took cover. Only their leader stood his ground.
"Mrs. Cassadine, stay down!" yelled a distant voice.
"What are you doing GET OUT YOUR..." said the leader.
"You instructed us not to arm ourselves sir," replied one from behind a tree.
Another shot rang out.
The leader looked down at Laura, and Lulu, who was holding her mother...then retreated into the woods. His men quickly followed.
Seconds later, the men who had saved Laura appeared.
About an hour afterward, Laura awoke in a bed that felt familiar before she even knew where she was or what was going on.
"...Stefan," she said as she looked upward. "Wait...where's Lulu?!"
"I'm right here mommy," said the young girl dressed in her old evening wear from when she had lived in the very building they were in.
"It's okay..." said Stefan gently as he held Laura's hand from the side of the bed.
"What happened?" she asked sitting up.
"Well from what Lulu tells me you were...pursued," said Stefan. "You fainted. I have groups of men stationed near your house around the clock. I thought it'd be necessary for a little while...I don't care what Helena said. When we were cut off on the phone I became nervous, I called them...and here you are...home."
Laura looked into Stefan's eyes.
Stefan stared back at her.
Laura moved forward and embraced Stefan in a long kiss.
Lulu made a face and covered her eyes.
The next morning after breakfast, Lulu was playing in her room, while Laura sat on the living room sofa in a new nightgown. She had been doing a lot of thinking.
"Do you know yet?" asked Stefan as he entered.
"What...?" said Laura.
"Who it was that pursed you last night," replied her husband. "My men found a dart..." he said sitting by her, "but couldn't catch up to them."
"Oh...no," said Laura. "I thought I...recognized one of them...but I had to be hallucinating."
"Who, Laura?" asked Stefan.
"I...don't want to talk about that now. I don't want to think about that right now," she said.
"...You may want it to go away, but it won't that easily. You and Lulu are in danger...which is exactly why you're staying here," said Stefan.
Laura turned to him.
Stefan paused, "...We are still married...and I will not allow my wife to be hunted. I will make Helena back off, but until then...we'll have to live together."
"...Stefan," said Laura, "...about last night..."
"The kiss?" he said.
"...The kiss..." said Laura, "it was...probably a mistake. I think we were both just acting on the moment."
Stefan held his head with one hand and closed his eyes.
"I don't want to hurt you, I don't want to hurt you..." said Laura as she touched his wrist, "...that's why I'm telling you this. To..."
"To what?" he replied. "...To be honest? Are you? Are you being honest...with me...with yourself?"
Laura let go and looked away.
"...Is it really that hard...for you to admit you want me back as well?" said Stefan.
"Stefan...don't do this," said his wife.
He was silent.
"I mean you haven't," she said, "first of all you haven't said you wanted me back. Maybe because you can't anymore. Maybe...because you don't."
Stefan touched some of her blond hair, then gently stroked her foot on the sofa.
"Words are never necessary for me to express my feelings for you Lasha."
Laura turned to him. "...We're acting in the moment Stefan. That's all."
Suddenly, both of them noticed Lesley Lu, who had just walked in the room.
"...Come here," said Stefan with a smile.
Lulu ran and sat by them on the sofa. Stefan took her in his arms.
"What happened last night...will never happen again. Okay? You and your mother are safe here with me. You're home now."
Lulu nodded and said nothing.
Laura grinned at her slowly.
"Are you and mommy still married?" asked Lulu suddenly.
Stefan paused and looked at Laura.
"You know what sweetie," said Laura, "why don't you stay here with Stefan while mommy goes and takes a shower?" Laura got up and walked upstairs.
Stefan looked at her...and sighed moments later. Soon however, he was hugged by a sympathetic Lulu, as though she understood. Stefan returned the hug and threw a serious look upwards.
A bit later upstairs, Laura stepped out of the shower and walked into the bedroom naked.
"You were perhaps looking for this?" asked Stefan wearing a towel around his waist, a Cassadine medallion--and nothing else.
"...Stefan," said Laura as she made a face. "I need that towel."
"...Well come and get it," he said as he raised his eyebrows.
Laura stood where she was, dripping.
"Fine then," he said with a smile as he took the towel off and tossed it at his wife's face.
"Don't...don't throw things at me," she said snobbishly.
"Ah...perhaps you should make me pay." replied Stefan.
Just before Laura could say anything else, she had pulled away the towel and noticed Stefan's unclothed body. She stared in silence, then made eye contact with him.
"Where's Lulu?" she asked.
"She got some juice from the kitchen, then went back to play in her room...as I've come to do the same in mine," replied Stefan.
Laura rolled her eyes and couldn't help but giggle. She tried to distract herself by drying off.
Stefan walked over to his wife and removed his Cassadine medallion.
Laura was drying her hair when she noticed.
"You stood before me...and placed this around my neck some time ago," he said.
Laura frowned and looked at the floor.
Stefan placed the medallion around Laura's neck and adjusted her hair.
"Stefan..." she said.
"Lasha...I am now replacing it. No matter what, whether you have been a Cassadine or not, you...are the woman, who was always meant to wear the crest of this family. It is a symbol. It is incomplete without you. You, and Nikolas wearing that medallion, have always represented the future of this family. The better side of the Cassadines. The light," he said as he took her hands. "...This, is where it has always belonged," he said touching the medallion on her breasts.
Laura looked at him with a sudden softness in her eyes, as though waiting to be rescued.
"...And where I...have always belonged," said Stefan as he suddenly dropped and burried his face in her breasts.
Laura moaned just as suddenly, "...Stefan...!" She dropped the towel. Soon, the medallion joined it on the floor and Stefan and Laura were on the bed.
Elsewhere, the leader of the attempt to kidnap Laura is talking on the phone.
"I have an idea of where she was taken and who was behind it," he said.
"Are we...?" asked the man on the other end.
"No, haven't you heard? That place is pretty heavily guarded. We're just going to, shall we say, 'wait them out.' And you're going to await my instructions."
"Yes sir Mr. Cassadine."
Stavros Cassadine hung up the phone. "...I liked the sound of that."
Part Two
Suddenly there's a crash at the door, and the sound of a loud thud follows.
Nearly a minute later, the soft sound of steps on carpet can be heard. They stop upon reaching the head of a man, who rests unconscious below. The woman standing looks down at him with little sympathy, then stares at the other men who've entered the room--who stand just as motionless. As usual, it doesn't take the woman very long to say what's on her mind.
"Is your master afraid to face me...or did he send his little dogs here alone?"
The four men wearing black coats and gloves remain silent, and turn towards the entrance.
Seconds later, Stefan Cassadine walks in.
"Well," says Helena, "what kept you?"
"...Oh I was actually playing lookout mother," he replies, "it's something I do very...very well."
"Ah, I suppose you're referring to the little incident at your estranged wife's house the other night," said Helena. "What makes you think that I, of all people, deserve the amusement of this warning?"
"You've just admitted that you were involved," said Stefan crossing his arms.
"Not at all," replied Helena, "...I just make it my business to know what happens to the members of my family."
Stefan stared at his mother.
"However," said Helena as she stepped over her fallen guard and began pouring herself a drink, "...if it'll make you bring these handsome gentlemen to the yacht more often," Helena walked up to Stefan and sipped a little, "...then I just might be inclined, to see that Lasha lives a very, exciting life from now on."
Stefan suddenly slapped the glass from Helena's hand with the back of his. It shattered against the wall.
"...Last chance mother," whispered Stefan as his men grew a bit uncomfortable, "stay, away...from my family."
"...Our family, Stefan," said a seemingly unaffected Helena in his face, "...our family."
Stefan stared at his mother...and then turned and exited, his men following right behind him.
Helena looked down at the fallen guard, let out a slight sigh, then looked back at the entrance.
The streets of Port Charles are popular among it's youth--and Nikolas Cassadine joined the ranks of Port Charles youth some time ago.
Sitting down on a bench near the docks, he awaits the arrival of an anonymous caller. He doesn't have to wait long, as a mysterious figure in a black coat and a wide black hat approaches...and then stops.
"...Is it you," asks Nikolas standing up, "are you the one who wanted to see me?"
The man says nothing.
"...Look I'm, meeting my girlfriend here too in a few minutes," says Nikolas, "so whatever it is you wanted to say..."
"...Just...sit right there," says the man, "and I'll tell you anything you want to know Nikolas--about your father."
"What? You knew my father?"
"As I told you on the phone...I'm a long-time friend of the family."
"Who are you...?"
"Stay there! Please just...stay there," says the man extending his arm.
"I can't even see your face under that hat," says Nikolas as he stops, "...Mr. King did you say your name was? I recognize that name, my, my uncle told me about my family's friendship with yours."
"Yes...yes," he says walking onto the docks and sitting. "...I won't take up much of your time...but you need to keep your distance from me because I don't want you to catch my cold."
Nikolas sat back down on the bench.
"...See Nikolas...I'm sure there were many times growing up when your uncle...changed the subject...avoided the question...couldn't answer you when you wanted to know something about--Stavros."
"...Okay...this is making me feel weird," said Nikolas. "What exactly did you want from me?"
"Yes or no?"
"...Yes"
"...Well I know all of your family very well...and like I said, it's not what I want from you, but what I want to give TO you."
Nikolas looked at the man, trying harder to see his face.
"I've known about you since your birth...although you surely don't remember me. And I can tell you, whatever stories you may have heard about Stavros...he loved you very much, and would have been a devoted father."
"...I don't doubt it," said Nikolas.
"Then please, ask me anything you may still want to know about him."
Nikolas paused, "...Did he really love my mother?"
"...Absolutely."
Just then, a cell phone rang, and the man stood up.
"I'm sorry Nikolas," he said, "I have to take this call...but I'll see you again..." he paused as the ringing continued, "...very soon."
He quickly walked away.
"Hey. Who was that?" asked the young woman Nikolas had been waiting for as she walked down the steps.
Nikolas was silent as he turned back and stared in the man's direction.
"...Nikolas...what's wrong?"
"Nothing," said Nikolas as he took her by the hand, "...lets get out of here."
Stavros Cassadine answered his cell phone.
"Yes? ...Okay then, wait for me."
He hung up.
Helena Cassadine answered her cell phone.
"Yes? ...Well then. I'm on my way now."
She hung up.
Stefan Cassadine answered his cell phone.
"Yes? ...What!? Laura I'm coming!"
He hung up and started running. His men had been relieved for the time being.
Nikolas was walking with his date when he noticed something. "...Oh what NOW?" he sighed.
"Isn't that your grandmother's boat?" asked the girl.
Helena's yacht was moving...leaving Port Charles harbor.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "I thought you and your grandmother..."
"No...it's never this easy with Helena," said Nikolas. He thought about the man he had just spoken to, and slowly figured one mysterious incident regarding his family--plus his grandmother suddenly moving in the same day--was probably more than coincidence.
"I...I'm sorry," he said. "I need to check on my parents."
"Nikolas..."
"Please don't be mad at me, I'll, I'll make it up to you." Nikolas Cassadine ran back towards the docks.
Stefan was speeding towards his home in a motorboat, and noticed once again that another small boat appeared to be heading in the same direction. He ignored it and kept going, thinking of his wife's distress call and wondering what the situation was with the guards he had stationed on the island.
The boat in the distance was ahead of Stefan.
Nikolas was now trailing behind them both.
A few minutes later Stefan was convinced that the boat ahead of him was heading for the island. It arrived soon afterwards...and a figure dressed in black stood up in it.
Stefan watched in confused frustration from the distance...and then his mood took a turn for the worse, as Laura was carried towards the first boat by three men--gagged and with her hands bound behind her back.
"Laura, Laura!" he yelled as his wife was placed in the boat.
Far behind, Nikolas steadily approached.
Stefan finally caught up, ramming the first boat from behind with his own. The three men fell, landing beside Laura who was laying still in her usual gown.
Only the one who had driven remained standing, his hat tipped so that Laura couldn't see his face. And then he turned slowly, stopping Stefan in his tracks as he removed his hat.
Stefan's eyes widened as he stood. "...Stavros?"
"...Hello brother," said Stavros with a smile.
Then Stavros revealed a small gun, and pointed it at Stefan.
Laura murmured a loud "No" as best she could through her gag.
Stavros fired. The dart connected, and a stunned Stefan dropped in his boat.
As he heard the other boat start speeding away, Stefan's vision became blurry.
"L...Laura," he said.
The dart, which was stronger than the one that had been used on Laura, soon put Stefan to sleep.
Several minutes later, he awoke in bed after several shakes and calls from Nikolas.
"Uncle...what happened? Are you okay?"
Stefan looked around in a confused daze.
"...Nikolas..."
Hours later, Laura found herself bound to a bed aboard Helena's yacht. The door finally opened.
Helena stood in the doorway with a smirk on her face, then walked over to Laura and removed her gag.
"YOU TOLD ME YOU'D LEAVE ME ALONE!" yelled Laura. "Why," she sobbed, "...why are you doing this?"
"Oh I kept my word. I'm not doing this to you Laura," said Helena, "...he is," she pointed.
Both Cassadine women looked to the door...and then Stavros walked in and removed his hat.
"...S...Stavros?" said a shocked Laura.
*****
"...You're telling me...
...you're telling me, that my father, is alive?"
"...Yes," replied Stefan.
"That's impossible," said Nikolas.
Alexis spoke, "...Stefan. Maybe Helena hired someone. Paid someone off and used plastic surgery..."
"No, no...no," said Stefan. "I could feel it...
in his eyes...in his voice...in my soul. I could feel it was Stavros, the moment he turned around. I could feel it was my brother..." he looked at her, "...our brother."
"How is that possible?" asked Alexis.
Nikolas was rubbing his face and looking to the side.
"...It's very simple actually," replied Stefan. "Helena had him 'frozen', all this time. It's an idea this family had long before it ever became publicized. An idea my...our father was counting on, to preserve his own life."
Suddenly, she became excited, "...Then that means maybe..."
"No..." said Stefan, "Our father is dead. I have long time confirmation of that Alexis. And even if I didn't...I know my mother. There's no way she would've tried to keep him alive."
"Why...?" Alexis stopped, realizing that she was the answer to her question.
Stefan looked to the side feeling a bit guilty.
Nikolas broke his silence, "If all this is true...then where have he and Helena taken my mother?"
Stefan looked at Nikolas, then Alexis for a moment in silence.
"I know exactly where. ...A place where all six of us became Cassadines...and a place where one of us, shall no longer hold the burden of that name very soon."
Finale
"Welcome home Lasha," said Helena as Laura's blindfold was removed. "I apologize for the uncomfortable situation, but I didn't want you peeking out of the windows on the plane."
Laura looked around as a long dead fear returned.
"Do you remember what I said to you...all those years ago, the first time I brought you to this island? We were standing in this very spot I believe," said Helena as she circled Laura and the men holding her.
"...Don't do this Helena," said Laura.
"I said, 'You have committed a horrible crime against my family...' "
"Stop it."
" '...and I intend to see that all who are guilty of such a thing, are properly punished.' "
"Helena! Helena let me go!"
" 'Your husband will soon die my dear...but you, shall not share the same fate.' "
Laura looked at Helena with hatred.
" 'Oh no. You shall live, oh how you shall live. ...You shall live the rest of your days as royalty. You shall live the rest of your days in style. There's only one catch: You shall live the rest of your days over there...on that side of this island...among us. You shall never desire anything again--but the one thing you can't have. And that, dear Laura, is because you shall live the rest of your days here--as a Cassadine.' "
Laura spat in Helena's face. "...You're partially right. Only this time, I'll live the rest of my life as a Cassadine because my husband will come and save me."
Helena paused...then bitterly slapped Laura.
After a few seconds, Laura slowly turned back towards her mother-in-law.
There was a presence between the two women that the men among them could somehow feel.
"...Actually, you're the one who's partially right." said an approaching male voice from the side.
Laura turned, and froze as she saw Stavros Cassadine.
"Stefan surely is coming here," he continued, "but neither of you, are leaving."
Laura was speechless as he arrived before her.
Helena smiled.
Stavros looked at Laura's face, and grinned.
"You can't go alone," said Nikolas as he walked with Stefan.
"I'm not," his uncle replied, referring to the few guards he was taking with him.
"You know what I mean," said Nikolas.
"Yes I do," replied Stefan as he took the young man's head in his hands, "but I won't place you in any danger."
"He's...he's not going to hurt me," said Nikolas. "But I'm afraid he'll hurt you."
"Nikolas...I know you want to see your father. It's been a life long dream of yours. But this isn't the happy reunion you're hoping for."
"I, I know that." said Nikolas. "Like I told you, if it really was him who approached me...then I understand what he's about, and I don't like it. But I need to speak to him again. I can be the one who convinces him to let Laura go. I can bring about a peace between us all."
"Yes..." said Stefan, "...maybe you could." He smiled, "You're the one true light in this family Nikolas. You always have been...and you must always be.
...That's why I can't intentionally jeopardize your safety in any way. Stay here. Once I've retrieved your mother...then the two of us shall one day make contact with your father. So long as..."
"...So long as what?" said Nikolas. "I mean, judging from your comment earlier, you seem very serious about this fight. What am I going to do if something happens to you? Or him? How do I lose my father twice?"
"...I would hope it doesn't come to that," said Stefan. "But Helena's always had a strong influence over him. He listened to her twisted ethics, her code of 'honor'--whereas I, pushed that part of her away.
That is the true reason, she and I have never been close. The reason she called me weakling. The reason Helena Cassadine, is the mother I never had...and will never have.
I have in no way, lived a completely honorable life. I didn't need Helena, in order to make mistakes. And now, I'm heading to do something else, I will probably regret. I'm about to hurt a member of my family once again. It seems that that's my 'curse', so to speak. The constant in my life I can't escape."
Nikolas looked at Stefan. Then looked away and paused before speaking.
"...Do you remember that time on the trip, when I was about 7 or something, and I was always eating the apples...?"
"The ones you loved so much," Stefan smiled.
"Right, right...and you were usually eating bananas, and I asked you, 'Why is it that bananas have the kind of skin that you have to peel?' "
Stefan grinned a bit.
Nikolas continued, "And you said, it was because bananas are kind of like people. Instead of accepting what's on the surface, you have to open them up to learn and appreciate what's on the inside."
Stefan was silent.
"...That's you, Stefan Cassadine," said Nikolas, "the biggest banana of them all."
Nikolas took Stefan in his arms and the two men hugged.
Alexis appeared in the room and watched.
Afterwards, a teary eyed Stefan spoke again.
"Stay here," he said quietly. "Look after Lulu...and let Alexis look after you," he said turning to her briefly. "I'll be back with your mother."
Some time later, Stefan and his men arrived in Greece. After getting off the jet, they were driven to a harbor Stefan hadn't seen in a long time.
"Well," said Helena, "the long wait is almost over. It has been as long for you as it has for me, I trust?"
"What are you planning?" said Laura, who was again bound to a bed.
"As I said, I'm not planning anything. My son is."
"All right then, what is your revived son planning?" said Laura.
"...A duel," said Helena. "For the future of a woman...who is hardly deserving of such attention in my opinion."
"...Then why all those guards?" asked Laura.
"Because Stefan will surely have brought his own, and we want to give them a warm welcome. Don't worry they're not armed. Stavros wants to ensure that he and Stefan meet face to face, one on one. He's in his final stages of training as we speak--he's been preparing for months."
"Why?" asked Laura. "How did you convince him this time? He's listened to you his whole life. What did you say, to turn him against his own brother."
"I only told him the truth Laura," replied Helena. "I told him that Stefan had taken his brother's wife...and I told him exactly when it happened. Stavros is acting on his own. He's a grown man. And he'll be plenty enough man for you after he defeats your husband."
Laura looked up at her mother-in-law, "...Why are you enjoying this Helena? And don't say something out of spite. Don't speak just to taunt me, or to hurt me. You look me in the eye, woman to woman...from one Cassadine to another...if you have any shred of honor and decency left...and tell me why you'd want to see your sons kill each other."
Helena looked off in silence.
"YOUR sons, Helena," said Laura. "The two human beings you carried in your body, in your soul, and felt come into this world. The two people--the TWO people--who are supposed to mean more to you than anything, now that your husband is gone. Why?" asked Laura. "Why do you treat Stefan the way you do? Why don't you let him know you love him?"
"I don't..." said Helena before pausing.
"You don't what?" asked Laura. "You don't love Stefan?
Oh...don't say that. I'm a mother too...and I know that that isn't true. What did Stefan ever do to you? I mean really? What has he ever done to deserve this?"
"...He hates me. He always has. Is that good enough for you?" asked Helena, who was now up and facing the door.
"No..." said Laura from behind. "Stefan doesn't hate you, Helena. He never has. This is going to end up being one of the worst emotional tragedies of all time...if you never make peace with your son...and it all started as a misunderstanding."
"...It's too late for that Laura," said Helena as she turned.
"No it isn't. I can tell...I've noticed for a long time now...I can tell you still have feelings for BOTH your sons," said Laura. "The ones for Stefan may not be that strong, perhaps they never were...but they're there."
"...A nice try my dear," said Helena, "but this ends today."
Helena exited the room.
Stefan and his guards arrived on the island, and found several other men waiting.
"...You two, ignore this and search ahead for my wife. I'll catch up," said Stefan, as he and the others focused on their hosts.
Soon afterwards, several swings and kicks were being thrown between the two teams. Feeling a sense of honor due to a rivalry that extended from childhood, Stefan had instructed his men to leave their weaponry behind in the boats, as he knew Stavros's guards were probably unarmed. He knew Stavros wanted him in the proper condition for a one on one fight.
A kick from Stefan stunned one of his brother's men. While the guard was clutching his stomach, Stefan threw a well placed punch across the man's face, sending him to the ground.
As Stefan's guards battled the others, another man approached. Stefan blocked the punch and delivered one of his own. Then he grabbed the man by the waist and flipped him to the ground.
Stefan Cassadine made his way through all the fighting, and hurried up the beach.
As the two men Stefan had sent were running, they suddenly noticed someone approaching them. He stopped and waited for them to arrive.
As Stefan's guards began their attack, one was met with a hard kick to his stomach, then a knee to his lowered head. The man fell. The other swung at his opponent, but the man ducked, and landed an uppercut in return. The stunned guard was soon hit with a swift chop to his throat, then a roundhouse kick to the head as he was stunned. As this guard fell and his partner stood back up, the man doing all the damage stood waiting.
Stefan's guard threw a kick, which was caught. The man swung the guard around by the leg and slammed him into a nearby tree. Then he thrust the palm of his hand into the stunned man's face, sending him back down.
Afterwards, the man standing looked down at his nearly unconscious victims and caught his breath. "Always love a little appetizer before the main course," said Stavros.
He walked back in the direction he had come from.
Minutes later, Stefan finally arrived at the location of the island where he suspected Laura was being held. His instincts were correct.
Just in front of a cliff, he found Laura--tied to the bottom of a tree and wearing nothing but an evening gown she hadn't worn since her first days on the island.
He found Helena, standing above Laura and dressed similarly.
And he found a man facing the distant sky.
Slowly, the man turned around, and looked up at Stefan.
"...Stavros," said Stefan.
Stavros nodded and grinned.
"Why brother?" said Stefan. "Why?"
"Do you really have to ask?" replied Stavros.
"For Laura?" said Stefan as he removed his coat.
"For vengeance," countered Stefan. "Vengeance first brother...my wife second."
"She's my wife now," said Stefan, "and you have NO RIGHT...to involve her, in something between you and me!" he shouted.
"My, my..." said Stavros, "...Stefan Cassadine has become a man at last," he said looking to Helena. "You sound as though you've truly earned the family name."
"This has to end." said Stefan. "Mother...Stavros. Coming here--clinging to the past--will surely destroy us all."
"Stavros, listen to him," said Laura.
"Be quiet," said Helena as she grasped some of Laura's hair.
"No," said Stavros unbuttoning his shirt, "...I'm afraid it will only destroy you brother."
"I'd really prefer it didn't come to this," said Stefan as he began removing his own shirt, "...but as you've harmed my men, both here and back in Port Charles, attacked me personally, and above all, mistreated my wife this way...I can not let you escape unpunished. Not even you...not even my own brother."
"So you truly do love her," said Stavros. "I wonder...if you had to choose between saving her and Nikolas...which would it be."
"Neither," said Stefan, "...I'd eliminate the threat, and save them both. You'll soon see that I don't take kindly to attacks such as this," he said removing his shirt. "Do I mother?"
Helena rolled her eyes.
"Please," said Laura, "...Stavros. Don't do this. He's your brother."
"Yes," said Stavros, "he's the brother who betrayed me and stole my wife. Then tried to claim my son as his own." Stavros dropped his shirt on the ground and walked forward.
"That wasn't the way it happened Stavros," said Stefan as he felt a breeze on his chest.
"...But it did happen," Stavros smiled, "and what have I warned you since we were children brother?"
Stefan nervously readied himself.
"...Never, try to take, what's mine!"
Stavros landed a quick punch to Stefan's stomach. Stefan clutched himself. Stavros took the time to cup his hands and slam his fists into Stefan's back. Stefan fell to the ground.
Helena watched on as Laura screamed for both brothers to stop and struggled with the ropes.
Stavros paused in a few arrogant seconds, then swung a kick at his brother. Stefan caught Stavros's leg, and pulled, bringing him to the ground.
When both were up, Stefan held himself in a proper fighting stance, and waited for Stavros to make the next move.
Stavros matched his brother's stance, and moved in closer.
Eventually Stavros kicked into his brother, stunning Stefan again.
"Just like old times...huh, brother?!" said Stavros as he tried kicking once more.
Stefan blocked the kick with both hands, and quickly landed one of his own to his brother's knee. Stavros clutched his knee with one hand and tried to quickly ease away the pain. He didn't have much time however, as Stefan repeated the attack.
Stavros yelled in pain as Helena looked on, not noticing Laura's attempts to free her arms.
Stavros grabbed Stefan's waist and slammed him to the ground behind.
Just as Stavros was kneeling down and preparing a punch, Stefan swung his leg upwards, hitting the top of his brother's head.
Stavros clutched his head and stumbled about.
Stefan popped back up and held his hands outward again, bouncing lightly where he stood.
Stavros ran forward and swung at Stefan several times. Stefan dodged, ducked, and blocked. After another swing, Stefan stopped his brother's fist, then countered with a backhand. He followed up with a forward cross, and drew blood.
Stefan's left was blocked by Stavros, who counter jabbed directly in his opponents face. Stavros swung another kick, which Stefan caught. Holding the leg with his left arm, Stefan returned the forward jab, then shoved Stavros down.
As Stefan was approaching, his brother kicked from the ground, knocking him back a few steps. Stavros jumped up.
Just as the men were about to swing at each other again, Helena suddenly passed by. Walking right between them casually and moving to the other side. Both brothers had stopped in mid swing.
Then, Stavros swung at Stefan again, who ducked under, and chopped the back of his brother's neck. Stefan then launched a side kick to his brother's spine, and Stavros fell to one knee.
As Stavros stood up, Stefan grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms to his side.
"...Stop this, now..." said Stefan between breaths.
"...Never!" said Stavros as he used the back of his head to hit Stefan's face.
Stefan stumbled backwards towards the edge of the cliff. Helena looked a bit nervous as this happened. Stavros screamed as he ran and tackled his brother.
"Stefan!" yelled Laura.
Both men landed very close to the edge. Stavros began choking Stefan and slamming his head into the ground. Eventually, a small part of Stefan's head was opened and his blood flowed outward.
"Stefan no!" yelled Laura.
Stefan's vision grew blurry.
"Now you see?" said Stavros. "...Now do you see how serious I am about vengeance?!"
"...Yes," said Stefan slowly, "yes I do."
With that, Stefan positioned his leg, and after a bit of effort, flipped Stavros over his body.
Stavros was unintentionally sent over the edge...but still managed to hold on to it.
"Stavros!" yelled Helena as she began running.
Just then, Laura finally freed herself, got up, and intercepted Helena.
"Stay back!" she yelled, seeking to protect Stefan.
"Stavros, give me your hand," said Stefan as he leaned down.
"...Gladly brother," said Stavros, before reaching up and landing one last punch. "...I win," he said, and let go of the cliff.
Stavros Cassadine fell...and was swept away by the waters on the coast.
"Stavros!" yelled Helena as she pushed Laura aside and ran to the edge.
Stefan was too stunned to notice at first.
"...Mother no!" he yelled standing up.
Helena turned to him slowly, looking at him...and then at the ground beneath her feet for a few seconds.
She closed her eyes...and let herself fall.
Stefan watched as his only mother dropped before finally landing in the water.
After a few more seconds, Stefan Cassadine dropped to his knees in silence. He stared at the water below...ashamed that he couldn't feel exactly how he felt he should.
"Stefan..." said a voice from behind.
Laura slowly walked up to him, dropped to her knees, and held him in her arms.
Man and wife looked into the evening sky, as they had done so many times in the past on the very same island. Both knew it was finally over, but neither had the heart to say it.
Soon afterwards, Stefan, Laura, and their guards left the defeated members of Stavros and Helena's team on the beach, and sped away in their boats.
In a private section of the jet, Laura told Stefan what she had said to Helena.
"I told her...I told her you didn't hate her."
Stefan kept rubbing his wife as he held her.
Upon arriving, Stefan and Laura filled Alexis in via telephone, and their son Nikolas in person.
"...Stavros made his choices. He tried to hurt the people I love," said Nikolas, "...I, I should be feeling sympathy, I should feel sad...but I...I..."
"I know," said Stefan as he rubbed the young man's head, "...I know."
Laura was holding Lesley Lu on the sofa.
"So..." Nikolas whispered, "you say you don't know for sure whether they died and were swept away...or just hit the water?"
"No," said Stefan, "...but either way they won't be threatening us again."
Hours later in their bedroom, Stefan and Laura had a talk.
"The danger is over...for now," he said. "I thought I could protect you Laura--I still think I can...but you've seen what happens. You've seen it for years."
"Stefan...what are you saying?" she asked.
"I'm saying that THIS, is the life of a Cassadine. The savagery, the struggle for peace, the challenge of simply living a normal existence. It's what you've become a part of. You...and your little girl. I can only hope that today was the end of it, but I can't guarantee that."
Laura looked into Stefan's eyes, then at the carpet...then at him again.
"I can't force you to stay...I'm not him," said Stefan. "But I do love you, Lesley Lu, and Nikolas. ...I love you."
"I love you Stefan," said Laura.
He continued, "...And if this must be our goodbye...as husband and wife at least...I'll accept that. ...To live as a Cassadine or not...once again, the final decision must be yours."
One month later, two women were sitting at a table in a large, loud party in Greece when they noticed someone in a beautiful, simple black dress.
They stood up and walked over to her together.
"Excuse us," one said in English, "...but you look familiar. You may not remember, but I believe I met you here...quite a long time ago," she giggled.
"...Oh!" said the woman as she stood up. "Yes, you're...?"
"Anna Cassadine, and this is my cousin Irina."
"Now I remember..." said Irina, "Lasha, isn't it?"
"Yes..." smiled Laura as her husband Stefan approached, "...yes it is."
After they finished talking, Stefan and Laura went to find the children, enjoyed the rest of the family party, and returned with Nikolas, his date, and Lulu to their vacation home.
-End
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