Laura knew when she walked out of Stefan's den at Wyndimier that she had destroyed the only real lasting relationship in her life. Her relationship with Stefan. It had taken her months to realize that Luke was not what she was looking for in a relationship. Last night while she was sleeping, she was comparing Stefan to Luke & Luke to Stefan and every time she came to the same conclusion. Stefan was the man she wanted to be with. The way, Stefan always looked out for her, protected her, loved her & most importantly how he made her feel alive. A simple look or a simple touch would send shivers down her spine & made her want to collapse in his arms. That time they made love in November, was the first time in 18 years she had felt fully complete & alive. But not know. Stefan had turned his back on her & for good reason. Laura had doubted Stefan's love & for that she knew she had hurt in deeply.

When Lucky had returned, Laura was absolutely overjoyed. Her son had come back from the dead. Not only had Lucky returned but Stefan was to thank. But in a split second everything had changed. Lucky stated that Stefan had been the one to kidnap him & had been holding him prisoner. Laura had said know that was not possible but Lucky was absolutely positive he was the one. For a split second Laura believed him & during that second Stefan had seen that hesitation in her eyes & walked away & never looked back. Laura & Lucky had talked in depth about him being held captive & why. The more he talked the more Laura knew that Stefan couldn't have done it.

For two months Laura called trying to contact Stefan but to know avail. He had cut all ties to her & her family. Luke had left town mysteriously so Laura was all alone. Even if Luke had been in town, she would not have gone to him, because she realized that she know longer loved him. Plain & simple but that realization had come a little too late.

One evening she was having a nice dinner at the Grill with Lesly Lu & saw Stefan walk in with Barbara Spencer. Laura went red with jealously. She couldn't believe her eyes, Stefan with Bobbie. They looked quit relaxed around each other & they were laughing. Stefan was smiling & saying something in her ear. Laura couldn't believe it. He had moved on with her of all people. Laura had thought how could I ever compete with her in certain areas. Maybe that is why he went to her. Laura went home that night & compared the two men & decided to ask Stefan for her forgiveness & beg if she had to, to give her a second chance.

The meeting between Stefan & Laura didn't go well. Stefan was cold & unresponsive. He stated he didn't want anything to do with her ever again & that as far as he was concerned she was dead to him. Laura couldn't get one word out before Stefan had dismissed her from his sight & from his life.

What Laura didn't see when she closed the door, was the look of pain, longing & yes love he still had for Laura. Stefan still loved her with all his heart & soul & that love wouldn't die know matter how hard he had tried. He found comfort with Bobbie, but it had not been sexual. Just two friends talking & sharing tales of heartache. When he had asked Bobbie out the previous night, it was just to have dinner but when he had seen Laura he thought maybe he should see just how she would react. Laura had reacted exactly how he had expected jealously. But he was still unsure about her love for him. Stefan know longer wanted to play second fiddle to Luke. He wanted Laura's heart & soul & nothing less would do for him. Nothing.

Laura went home heart broken but determined to win his love back & to show him that she loved him & him alone. She figured the best way of doing that was to find out who exactly kidnapped Lucky. She had a feeling it was Helena but she didn't why. Laura called Alexis & they meet the next day for lunch. Laura informed her of her feelings & Alexis agreed that Helena was probably behind the whole thing. They both figured the only proof they could find would be on Helena's yacht, so that night, Laura & Alexis boarded the yacht determined to find evidence against Helena & prove that Stefan was innocent. The looked everywhere but found nothing. Laura saw a picture of Starvos hanging on the wall that caused her to shiver. The memories of the island still haunted her dreams. She went over & flicked the picture on the nose & felt something behind the picture. Laura called for Alexis to come over & they pulled the picture away from the wall. Behind the picture was a safe. They both looked at each other & said, "Bingo." No for the combination, they tried several & nothing worked. Laura had an idea, Starvo's birthday & it worked. When they had gotten the safe open, they found all the proof they needed to prove Helena's guilt & Stefan's innocent. But they had to get off of the yacht first. On the way out, Alexis tripped over a wire. That started a timer ticking, they heard the timer & ran to the reeling. They both jumped at the same time, the yacht exploded. Unfortunately a piece of wood hit Laura on the head & knocked her out.

Stefan had heard the explosion from his study & ran to the pair on Spoon Island. He saw the fire & saw someone in the water. He knew it was Helena's yacht so he had Winders drive them out to the fire. Stefan saw Alexis first & pulled her onto the boat. Stefan asked her what had happened & the only thing she could say, "Laura, Where is Laura." Then she went unconscious. In that instant, Stefan's face went white & his heart went dead, completely dead. Laura was in the water but where. They circled the yacht but couldn't see her anywhere. Then they saw her, she was floating face down in the water. Stefan jumped into the water to retrieve her. He rolled her over & saw a bump on her head. He went in search of a pulse & found a very faint pulse. Stefan handed Laura up to Wenders & then he followed after her. He found a blanket & wrapped in her in & pulled her close to his body. She didn't open her eyes & didn't utter a sound. When they had reached at the docks. There was an ambulance waiting to take Alexis, who had regained consciousness, & Laura who was still unconsciousness to General Hospital. While in the ambulance, they worked frantically to have save Laura. Her pulse was fading fast & her breathing was shallow. Stefan was their by her side the entire time. He looked as white as a ghost. When they got to General Hospital, they wouldn't let Stefan into the emergency room, no matter how hard he tried or bullied.

While they were working on Laura, Stefan called Nicholas & Lucky & told them what was happening. They decided to pick up Lesly Lu from a sleep over & bring her to the hospital. When they had arrived, Stefan was half crazed with worry. Of course, Lucky blamed Stefan and the only thing Stefan would say is, "You are probably right, I am to blame for this." At that minute, Tony walked out of the emergency room & approached the group. Stefan asked how Laura was & Tony said not good. Laura had gone into a coma & he didn't know why. The bump she had received was not that bad but for some reason she had given up.

Stefan knew why she had given up. He knew he had carried this game a little too far & she was lying their because of him. Stefan asked if he could go in & see her & talk to her. Stefan had heard that people in a coma sometimes come out if they hear the people they love talking to them. Tony reluctantly said yes. He saw that determined look in his eyes & knew there was no way in Hell that anyone could keep Stefan from Laura's side. So Stefan, Nicholas, Lucky & LuLu walked into Laura's room. (Authors Note: There is a reason LuLu is in the room with them, please indulge me in this little fantasy)

She looked so pale & lost. Stefan went by Laura's side & picked up her hand & said, "I Love You Lasha, please come back to me, please." Stefan had tears streaming down his face & was as pale & lost as Laura. Nicholas & Luckey couldn't take anymore & left the room. Lesly Lu walked over to Stefan & crawled up on his, he looked down with tears streaming from his eyes & smiled. Here was the hope for the future in his lap. Innocent & scared.

Stefan looked down & smiled & said, "Do you want to hear a story." LuLu looked up at him & nodded her head.

"Once upon a long time ago, lived a very lonely Count. He grew up around evil & didn't know there was good in the world. But somewhere deep down inside of him, their was a bit of good just waiting to be exposed. One day, a beautiful lady wondered into his life & turned his life around. Her name was Lasha. She was smart, head strong & loving. Lasha taught him to dream, taught him to love & helped him expose the good qualities in him. The Count taught her to trust & gave him all the protection he could from his family. They both gave all they had to each other. The moment they saw each other, they feel instantly in love. Then one day, the Count's family found out about their love & set out to destroy it & they did. Lasha started mistrusting the Count's heart & the Count started mistrusting Lasha's heart. Then one day, a terrible accident occurred. Lash feel into a deep sleep. Nothing would wake her, not the Count's family & not the Count. The Count had know idea what to do. He would set by her bed & read to her, tell her he loved her, combed her hair but nothing worked."

Lesly Lu who was listening so intently to Stefan's story, that when he stopped, she looked up at him & said, "Go on, did Lasha ever wake up." Stefan with tears streaming down his face was about to tell her "NO", when a small voice from Laura's bed said, "Yes Sweaty, Lasha woke up & that the Count & her lived happily ever after." Stefan leaned over & kissed Laura lightly on the lips & he said, "Yes, they did."

Now that doesn't mean that Stefan & Laura lived happily & peacefully ever after, but it does mean that they began again & lived together & fought the world side by side. The bound that was forged that night never dimmed or faded. But actually grew stronger over the years.

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