Laura shows up at Wyndemere with venom in her eyes: “Stefan! How dare you!”

“Have I affronted you Lasha?”

“You know damn well, you have! Promising Nikolas that Lulu and I would be living at Wyndemere soon!! What nerve!”

Stefan looks at her deeply and reaches out to lift her chin.

She roughly pushes his hand away. “I thought you pledged to stop your manipulations. G-d, I was a fool to believe you, to believe a Cassadine.”

Stefan shows a wounded expression but then retorts, “If anyone is the fool, it is me. For believing that you would turn to me, come to me.”

Laura begins “I never gave you reason...”

“No?! What of the passionate kisses that we shared, that YOU initiated. What of the tender look in your eyes, when I catch you watching me out of the corner of one eye? What about the fact that my home has become your second home and that you often create excuses to visit me here?”

“I have a right to visit my son.” Laura replies lamely.

“Do you think me ignorant Lasha? And the other actions I listed, what of them? I am not one prone to imagining. So, are you claiming that you were only toying with me, using me? I don’t believe it.”

“Stefan, I...”

“Love You? Let me complete the words for you Lasha, for you seem forever unable to utter them.”

Laura stares at Stefan, opens then closes her mouth. “I cannot discuss this. I have to leave now.”

Stefan rounds the divan more quickly than she and stands before the hallway passage. “Laura, don’t you think we’ve put off the truth for long enough.”

Laura’s mouth forms an “O” as she looks up into Stefan’s face. Shaking her head, she whispers “ I can’t.”

“Then go if you must.” Stefan steps aside to let her pass in sorrowful acknowledgement.

Laura feels her legs propel her forward, but she doesn’t feel her heart leaving with the rest of her body.

She flees so quickly without a thought to her coat, hat or gloves.

Stefan sees them resting by the front door and runs after Laura with her forgotten outerwear over one arm.

“Lasha, Lasha” he calls.

Laura begins to run through the high snow.

Stefan runs faster and catches her elbow. “Lasha, you...”

Laura pauses in the snow, thinking she knows why he has chased her. Still with her back towards him, she hugs her chest and sobs “Stefan, you win. I cannot fight you or my emotions any longer. You are right, you’ve always been right. I love you. Are you satisfied?” She bends her head forward as tears roll down her cheeks.

Stefan chokes back a gasp of joy and manages to say “I was only trying to give you your coat and other things. You forgot them.”

Laura turns eyes brimming with tears at him “Didn’t you hear me? I love you Stefan.” she throws out.

“Yes, I heard you.”

“And?”

“And this...” Stefan whispers as he pulls Laura to him and kisses away her tears. “And this...” he whispers into her hair, “and this” he whispers against her neck. “And this” he finishes as he sweeps Laura up out of the snow and into his stong arms. She looks into his eyes and sees the love shining beneath his teared glaze.

“Yes, take me home Stefan.”


THE END

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