by GEE8CH
The courtroom was packed. Reporters and news people were everywhere. Bobbie had come to offer her support to her brother. Felicia sat next to her and Roy behind Luke. After the opening arguments Scotty was able to call his first witness. He called Felicia. She had just taken the stand when Laura and Mac entered the courtroom. Laura took the seat Felicia had just vacated behind Luke. She patted his shoulder reassuringly. Luke didn't want her here. Of course he didn't want to be here either he laughed to himself. Mac stood in the back of the courtroom with his eyes glued to Felicia. Luke caught Felicia's eye and mouthed the words "don't do it." Felicia took a great big breath and waited for Scotty's questions. She was going to see this through. Scotty asked her whereabouts on the night Stefan disappeared. She answered that she was with Luke. "Did anyone see you together?" he questioned. "No." she replied. "Where were you?" he continued. "At a motel." she declared. Murmurs went through the crowd. Laura didn't even flinch. Mac felt his heart drop. Felicia was about to continue when the door in the back of the courtroom opened. Chloe walked in followed closely by Stefan. "Stefan!" Felicia shouted. All eyes were on the sunburned, rumpled pair. "Stop this trial." Chloe said melodramatically. "We were kidnapped by Helena and held on an island. As you can see Stefan is very much alive." Stefan sighted Laura at the front of the room. He walked toward her. It was like slow motion. The rest of the crowd melted away. All he could see was Laura and her eyes were on him. Her mouth was parted in shock. He went directly to her, took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. Flashbulbs were going off everywhere. Laura didn't notice them. She was astounded by his audacity at first but then all she could think of was his lips on hers. He pulled back reluctantly and asked, "Miss me?" It took a moment for Laura to gather her wits. "You're alive." was all she could say. "Did you ever doubt it?" He questioned. "No. I didn't" she replied. Chloe was telling everyone everything about her kidnapping and the island she was taken to and her and Stefan being prisoners together. Laura's eyes never left Stefan's face. Something wasn't right here. She knew it. She grabbed Stefan's arm and said "I'd like a word with you." "Not so fast Laura." Mac interjected. "Stefan needs to give his statement to the police first." With that Mac lead Stefan and Chloe through the chamber doors out of the courtroom.
Laura's nerves were on edge. The din of the crowd was closing in on her. She had to get out of there. Luke grabbed her arm and questioned "You KNEW he was alive?" "I wasn't sure. It was just a feeling." she replied. "You had an alibi any way. Why did it take you so long to use it? I certainly hope it wasn't to spare me! Or could it be you didn't want to break up another family? Either way I'm glad this mess is over." she sighed. "And you're even more glad to have Count Vlad back." he retorted. She smiled her 1000-watt smile and said, "Yes, I am." With that she left. Luke just shook his head and went back to the congratulatory slaps on the back and hand shakes.
Laura went directly to Wyndemere. She would wait for Stefan there. My God what about Nikolas? He was out of town following leads on Emily Quartermaine. Where was his cell phone number? Wait. Stefan would want to talk to Nikolas himself. She was pacing his study. What the hell was Helena up to? Why would she want Stefan out of the way?
Mrs. Landsbury let Stefan know of Laura's presence in his study. Was he walking into another slap across the face? He knew he pushed the limits by kissing her in the courtroom like that but he couldn't resist. She was so beautiful standing there. He had missed her so much and here he had told himself he was over his obsession. He took a deep breath and opened the door. Laura came at him immediately. He took a step back. She stopped. "What do you want Laura?" he asked. "That can wait till after this." She said as she ran her hands up his chest to his neck and pulled his face down to hers. She kissed him. Stefan was as shocked as Laura must've been in the courtroom. But the shock quickly wore off as the kiss deepened. His head was spinning as she pulled away from him. "There. Welcome home. Now tell me what happened,” she said matter-of-factly. "I was kidnapped by Helena,” he said walking past her to his desk. She grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face her. "What REALLY happened Stefan?" she prodded. He hung his head. Should he confide in her? She's always wanted the truth. What did he have to lose? "I was getting too close to finding out what Helena did to Lucky." he started. "Lucky?" she asked. "You couldn't possibly think Lucky would be friendly with Helena of his own free will could you? No." he answered himself. "She's brainwashed him in some way. Chess has something to do with it," he added. Laura was reeling. She knew Lucky was angry with her and Luke for not searching for him. Now she understood. Helena! She should've suspected as much from the beginning. "You were getting too close? What did she do?" she asked. "I had an inside source that let me know Helena planned to poison me," he said. "Like you did her." it wasn't a question just a statement. "No. She planned to kill me. I must've been very close to messing up her plans to destroy you and Luke," he said. "How could she destroy Luke and I? We're already divorced" Laura was trying to understand. "But when Lucky came back you thought you could all be one big happy family again." he explained. "That was wishful thinking on my part." she sighed. "Is that what you really want Laura?" he asked. "It was at one time. Not now. Finish your story," she demanded. "I got an antidote to the poison Helena was planning on using. I took it before seeing her. I wanted to let her think I was dead so she would let her guard down. My inside source was helpful to a point but we had a close call where it wasn't safe to use him any more. Through that source I found out Chloe Morgan was having psychic dreams through Helena's eyes," he said. "So YOU kidnapped her." Now it made sense. "I was hoping I could get an edge on Helena by knowing what she was going to do before she did it. In order for Miss Morgan's dreams to continue though she would have to be without her medication to combat the tumor in her brain. She could've lost her eyesight. When none of her dreams were helpful in the first couple weeks I decided to forget that plan and "escape" back to Port Charles," he finished. "Did you know Luke was on trial for your murder?" she queried. He looked away. "Stefan?" she pushed. "Yes I did, and it was I who planted the evidence against him. Didn't you get my letter?" he asked. "I figured you had something to do with it. How far would you have let it go? Or maybe I don't want to know that." she finished. "He's free now. But it looks like Mrs. Scorpio is in the way of your happiness." Stefan said sadly. Laura knew what he was doing. He was fishing for her feelings. And why wouldn't he? My God it took her 20 years to tell him she loved him. She had to smile at his patience. It was her turn to be evasive. She went and sat on the couch. He joined her. "I thought a lot about Luke this summer," she started. Stefan didn't think he could be any more disappointed then he already was. "I was remembering what we had. And what we had was good for a lot of years. But we both want different things now." she said. "Yes, Luke wants Felicia." he said sarcastically. Laura raised her eyebrow at him. "Well Laura you sure did a good imitation of pining over Luke before you left for the summer." He defended himself. "My world turned upside down again when Lucky came home. I didn't know what to think or what to believe. All I know is what Luke told me about you having Lucky and the 'business trips' you were taking at that time. It all seemed to fit. Having 'lost' you I felt so alone and wanted familiarity. I tried to get back what I once had. Luke wanted no part of it and neither did I in my heart. I was just coping as I knew how to. When I searched my heart though I knew you would never take my son from me. Hell, you'd never do something like that to Nikolas. Forgive me." Stefan didn't have to answer her. It was all in his eyes. He forgave her everything. He always did. That was love to him. "I also thought about us. How we were on the island, the lies, the pain, the happy times. It always came back to the fact that I love you Stefan. Even with everything we've been through I've always loved you." She leaned forward and kissed him. He couldn't believe this was happening. Laura proclaiming her love for him again. But Helena was still out there. Since he had returned from the dead if she found out how close he and Laura were now Laura would be in even more danger. He pulled out of the kiss. "I know you're worried about Helena. Let me help. I hate to be the victim all the time. It's time to take the offensive. What are your plans?" she asked. "I do have an idea but you're not going to like it." He shared. "I'll do almost anything at this point," she proclaimed. "You would have to keep pursuing Luke," he said. "WHAT? How in the heck is that going to help bring down Helena?" she wanted to know. "She's out to destroy you and Luke. If she thinks there's a remote chance that you'll find happiness with him again she might slip in her attempt to keep that from happening." he explained. "Luke will never go for it," she said. "Luke doesn't need to know what's going on," he stated. "So you want me to throw myself at my ex-husband and make a bigger fool of myself? You're out of your mind! You would want me to do something like that? You could live with that?" she asked. "I've lived like that for 20 years now. I do believe you love me. You know how much I love you. I believe in us. I always have. This is just a means to an end. It doesn't mean we can't see each other on the sly." he explained. "Oh, I see. A little tryst on the side is what you're looking for." she teased him. "I think any tryst we have would benefit us both don't you?" he said seductively as he leaned in for another kiss. It was she that got up from the couch and taking his hand led him to the secret panel that lead to the bedrooms upstairs. "Enough with the planning and scheming let’s get to the trysting part. I've missed you." They stopped frequently on their way upstairs to kiss and hold each other. Their clothing was loosened and lost as they went.
Stefan was having the most marvelous dream. He didn't want to awaken. Or was he awake? Laying on his side he felt warmth on his back. There was an arm curled around his side and a leg thrown over his hip. He moaned and rolled slightly onto his back. Laura snuggled to his chest with a sigh. She never woke up. Stefan held her close and kissed the top of her head. He moaned again in complete contentment. There was a knock at the door. What the hell now! He never wanted to move or lose this moment. Laura woke up and drowsily said "Good morning lover." The knock came again. Laura came fully awake now. She was worried about being "caught" in Stefan's bed even by his servants. Stefan was a bit concerned too with Mrs. Landsbury's recent betrayal. He was sure he had the situation under control but there was no sense pushing one's luck especially where Laura's safety was concerned. "Maybe you should adjourn to the bathroom for a few minutes," he suggested. "Good idea," she said as she scooted out of bed and grabbed Stefan's shirt, putting it on as she disappeared behind the bathroom door.
"Come in," he said as he was tying his robe closed. Mrs. Landsbury came in with the morning paper and tea service for two. She also had a few items of clothing she had picked up in the passageway. "Will you be needing blueberries for the scones this morning sir?" "No this will be fine." He replied. "I think you would be interested in the front page of the PC Gazette sir. One should be expecting a visitor shortly," she suggested. "Thank you, that will be all Mrs. Landsbury." he said dismissively. Stefan picked up the paper. The headline read Cassadine Returns From the Dead. There was a quarter page picture of him kissing Laura with Luke glowering in the background. The caption under the picture was Spencer Freed...or is she? Laura came out of the bathroom and saw the concern on his face. "Helena will be paying me a visit shortly," he said as he handed her the paper. Laura had to smile. "I love the picture but the caption is wrong. It should read Cassadine Captured" "You do have my heart." Stefan said seriously. "And your bod wasn't bad last night either." she purred. "You should be leaving before you pass Helena on the launch." he said. "OK. When's the big fight scheduled?" she asked. "Tonight on the docks. Say 8 o'clock?" he suggested. "I'll be there with bells on," she laughed "Anyway, could I interest you in something other than tea and scones?" she asked as she slowly walked toward him unbuttoning his shirt she had on. Stefan moaned and backed away. "Laura please." "Please? You don't have to beg!" she chuckled as she opened the front of the shirt to give him a better view. Stefan stepped forward and closed the shirt, turned her around and pointed her in the direction of the bathroom. He swatted her bare butt and told her "go get dressed and quite torturing me." "As long as we 'make up' at my house tonight," she said seductively. "That's a little too dangerous," he replied. "My house dangerous? Not since Luke left!" she had to laugh. "I'll leave the key on your bathroom counter. Come in the back door."