by Sandra
Stefan Cassadine glanced up from the magazine he was flipping through at the sound of Chloe Morgan moaning in her sleep. Immediately, the magazine was tossed aside and his full attention was focused on her as he waited for her to awaken. Perhaps this dream would provide useful information about his mother’s activities in Port Charles.
After a few moments, Chloe sat up abruptly and grabbed her head.
“Are you all right?” Stefan asked, genuinely concerned. While he wanted Chloe’s help, he didn’t wish her any harm. During their time on the island – a result of a carefully orchestrated kidnapping – he had actually learned to enjoy her company at times. At least when she wasn’t trying to plot one of her harebrained escape attempts.
“I had a really disturbing dream,” she said, her voice sounding much like that of a child awakening in the middle of a nightmare.
“Can I get you anything? You appeared to pain.”
“No, I’m fine. But thanks for caring.”
Stefan nodded. “Was Helena in your dream?”
“Isn’t she always?” Chloe immediately regretted the sarcasm in her voice. “I’m sorry. That sounded petty.”
“No apology necessary. What did you dream?” Stefan asked, hoping his impatience wasn’t evident.
“Helena must have been arguing with Laura Spencer. And judging from Laura’s face, she was giving it back as well.”
“Laura should know by now to stay away from my mother. Was Nikolas there?”
“I didn’t see him if he was.” Chloe looked at Stefan for a moment, then lowered her eyes. “Stefan, I know you want to believe you’re over Laura, but are you really?”
“What else did you dream, Chloe?”
“Did you know Laura was pregnant?”
Stefan stared at Chloe for several seconds before he spoke. “Why do think she’s pregnant?”
“Because the Laura in my dream was very much so and…”
“Go on.”
“She grabbed her abdomen and collapsed, Stefan. I don’t know if it was because of the fight or if Helena did something to her.”
Stefan stood and offered Chloe his hand. “It’s late. Perhaps because of the hour, and a long day of hiking, you’re more tired than usual.” He smiled to reassure her. “Laura’s had three children. If she’s pregnant again, she’ll know how to care for herself.”
“But she fell to her knees, and she was very obviously hurting.”
Stefan shrugged. “Laura is no longer my problem and, even so, there is nothing I can do for her now. It’s time for Luke Spencer to stop being a worthless husband and start taking care of her.”
Chloe studied his face for a moment, but his expression hid anything he might be feeling. “Whatever you say. I am tired. I think I’ll go on to bed. Are you coming?”
“In a while. I want to finish an article I was reading.”
“All right. Good night, then.”
“Good night. I hope any other dreams you have tonight are more pleasant.”
“Thanks.”
Stefan waited until he heard Chloe’s bedroom door close, then summoned his servant. “I need to leave the island immediately.”
“What about Miss Morgan?”
“When she comes for breakfast, tell her I was taken away in the night, and you aren’t at liberty to tell her anymore. Miss Morgan is to remain here until I decide whether I am going to return. If not, I’ll have you see that she is taken from here during her sleep and that she awakens in her hotel room in Paris with ample funds and documentation to do as she pleases.”
“Where are you going?”
“That isn’t your concern. Your job is to make certain a helicopter meets me on the opposite side of the island in two hours.”
“Very well, Mr. Cassadine. Two hours.”
“One other thing.”
“I want you to make sure that Miss Morgan is treated with respect in my absence. Are we clear on that?”
“Absolutely. Anything else?”
“No.”
“Your helicopter will be waiting for you, then.” With that, the servant left.
Stefan went to his bedroom and prepared for his departure. He had no way of knowing if Laura was pregnant, but he would slip in and out of Port Charles quietly to find out. Regardless, he would do what he could to make certain Helena was kept away from her. He had hoped his death would give Helena one less reason to bother Laura, but he should have known her hatred for his brother’s widow was too deep to ever be less than a burning issue for her.
It occurred to him that he could have made a few phone calls or had his men find out, but a pregnant Laura was way too vulnerable to Helena’s continued wrath. Besides, if Laura was very pregnant, as Chloe had said, there was a chance… Stefan shook his head, accepting the fact that Luke was probably the father. Still, he couldn’t trust Luke to protect Laura. So, this would be his last gesture to help the woman he had loved. He would free her from Helena, then he could move on with his life — and Chloe would be free to have the treatment she needed.
* * * * *
It was just after dusk the next evening when Stefan was standing in the shadows on Charles Street. His attempts to locate Laura had failed. She no longer worked at General Hospital he was told and, if she was a patient there, that information wasn’t available to him, either. Even when he had called back a while later and asked for Laura Spencer’s room, he was told she was not on the roster of patients. He received the same answer when he called Mercy Hospital and others in nearby towns. Which meant she was either a confidential patient in hopes of staying hidden from Helen, was using an assumed name, was hiding somewhere other than a hospital, or she was home and it was business as usual.
So, setting aside any hopes or remaining among the dead, he sauntered up to the door of Laura’s home and rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, Lesley opened – and barred – the door.
“You! So much for my hopes that you were really dead,” Lesley said in a much quieter voice than he would have expected.
“I need to see Laura,” he said, choosing to ignore her contempt.
“Well, Laura doesn’t need to see you.” Lesley started to close the door, but couldn’t get it past Stefan’s outreached arm. After pushing against it twice, she opened it again. “She thinks you’re dead, Stefan. It wasn’t easy for her, but she has accepted that and she’s gotten on with her life. Please, leave her alone.”
“Is she pregnant?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I’d say that’s for Laura to decide.”
“Stefan!”
Lesley turned to stop her, but Lulu would have no part of it. She pushed past her grandmother and reached for Stefan. Smiling for the first time since his arrival in Port Charles, Stefan bent over and caught Lulu as she leaped into his arms. He quickly stood up straight and kissed her cheek. “Hello, Lesley Lu,” he said sweetly. “I’ve missed you.”
“Where have you been? Mommy said you went where Lucky was for a while, but you couldn’t come back.”
“I didn’t think I could. I had to go away to keep the people I love safe,” he answered. “Especially your brother Nikolas.”
“Are you home to stay?”
“I don’t know yet. I’d like to be, but I may have to go away again.”
“He needs to leave now, sweetie, so let’s let him go,” Lesley said, reaching for Lulu.
Lulu looked at her, then back at Stefan. “You didn’t call me this time.”
“I know. I wanted to, but I couldn’t call anyone here. If I go away again, I’ll make certain you get at least one doll from a new country. Will that make us friends again?”
Lulu nodded. “Are you here to see Mommy?”
“I was hoping to.”
Lesley put her hand on Lulu’s arm. “I’ve already told him that Mommy doesn’t want to see him.”
Lulu looked puzzled. “Mommy said she misses Stefan.”
Lesley nodded. “I know, baby, but —”
Lulu frowned at them both. “Mommy isn’t here anyway. She’s at the hospital.”
Lesley threw up her hands in defeat. “Lulu, sweetie, the cookies you’re making for Mommy are going to dry out if we don’t get the sprinkles on them and put them in the oven. And we need to let Stefan go.”
“Is she at General Hospital?” Stefan asked, ignoring Lesley.
“Uh huh. Room…723. Is that right?” she asked Lesley, obviously proud of herself for remembering the number.
Lesley started to protest, but seeing Lulu’s face, only shrugged. “That’s it, Lulu. Now, I’m sure Stefan wants to visit Mommy and we need to finish the cookies so we can go soon, too.”
Lulu kissed Stefan’s cheek. “Bye. Will you come to say good-bye before you leave?”
Setting her gently to the floor, Stefan promised he would if he could. If not, he would send her an extra doll to make up for it.
Lesley waited until Lulu was back in the kitchen, before turning back to Stefan. “How dare you use that child!” she hissed.
“That child is very dear to me, Dr. Webber,” he whispered. “Don’t ever think otherwise. I hope you won’t call Laura to warn her that I’m on my way. I don’t want her to find out that I’m alive in such an abrupt and inconsiderate way.”
“I wasn’t going to call her.”
“Or anyone else, I would hope. Dr. Webber, I know Laura was hospitalized because my mother upset her yet again. My only intention is to help her this one last time. Then, I assure you, I will remove myself from her life the moment she tells me to go.”
“She doesn’t need your help.”
“She wouldn’t, if her husband was ever there for her. However, she long ago stopped being his priority.”
“Laura can take care of herself. I think it’s time all of the men she’s had the misfortune of knowing figure that out and step aside.”
Stefan wanted to ask Lesley to explain that comment, but knew time was of the essence. If Helena learned he was back, she would move quickly and he needed to be finished before that happened. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Dr. Webber. Perhaps I’ll see you at the hospital.”
Lesley watched him leave, then slammed the door and headed straight for the phone.
* * * * *
Stefan was ignored as he entered the dietary entrance of General Hospital. That door was, as he had expected, propped open with a trashcan placed there by an employee who had stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. His master keys and security ID card had been left behind when he slipped out of Port Charles, and he feared using a public entrance would bring him face to face with someone who would recognize him.
He easily made his way to the stairwell and climbed the seven floors more easily than he would have expected. Granted, he had always kept in excellent physical condition, but it was evident now that all the island hiking he allowed Chloe to subject him to had served his leg muscles well.
At the door to the seventh floor, he listened for a few moments. Hearing nothing, he eased it open and looked around. The hall was empty, but there was a med cart outside of a room with an open door. He would have to wait in the stairwell until the nurse finished making rounds.
* * * * *
Laura was doing her best to get comfortable in the hospital bed but was finding it impossible. Her back ached, as it always did late in her pregnancies, and her prescribed bed rest was only making it worse. She needed to walk to ease the discomfort, but would do nothing that might jeopardize the child she was carrying or her own health during delivery. That she almost died while having Lulu wasn’t to be forgotten as she waited for her fourth child to make his way into the world.
“My son,” she whispered, feeling another crying spell coming on. He already had too many strikes against him. He was being born to a single mother on the edge of her middle years who wasn’t sure she was emotionally equipped to even be a parent anymore. Lord knows, she had not been the mother Lulu had needed during the months Lucky was lost to her. Even since then, losing both Stefan and Luke had created an empty place in her heart that even the joy of having a baby couldn’t fill. As much as it had hurt to see Lesley being the mother to Lulu she should have been, Laura had not been able to climb out of her funk during her stay in North Carolina.
“What am I doing?” she asked aloud. She hadn’t even sought prenatal care during her first trimester because she had not recognized the obvious symptoms of her pregnancy. She had dismissed her skipped periods during her search for Lucky as stress or perimenopause. And the emotional roller coaster she always felt during a pregnancy were lost in the heartache she had felt over Lucky’s rejection, Luke’s callousness, and Stefan’s death. It wasn’t until she was in North Carolina and had time to take inventory of her emotions and body that she had realized she was starting to look and feel pregnant. By then, she was well into the pregnancy.
Her door opened and a nurse entered. “How are you feeling tonight?” she asked, carrying graham crackers, peanut butter, and a cup of iced tea.
“I’m enjoying a good cry,” Laura said, trying to smile. “I don’t care for those. My daughter is baking cookies for me and will be here soon.”
The nurse nodded. “I’ll leave them, just in case.”
“No, really. They would only be wasted.”
“All right, dear. Can I get you anything else?”
“No. Thanks, anyway.”
The nurse nodded. “Have a good cry then. I had plenty of them before I brought mine into the world.”
“How many do you have?”
“Six. How many of them would you like?”
Laura laughed. “This makes my fourth, and that’s more than I can handle.”
“Four? I should have been so lucky.” The nurse smiled at Laura and waved a farewell. “Call if you need anything.”
Laura watched the door close, relieved to be alone again. Moaning at the effort, she tried to roll over to turn her back to the door. Instead, she just shifted her weight and turned her face away to continue her cry.
She would have to put up a front for Lesley and Lulu, but trying to be a good little patient was starting to get to her. She didn’t need a snack. She needed what the doctor couldn’t give her until she held a healthy son in her arms — reassurance that her drinking at Jake’s — even if it was limited to a few drinks on two occasions — had not caused him irreparable harm. Perhaps it was just as well that the baby’s father was out of her life. He would be spared the pain of knowing his son wasn’t given the protection he had needed during those first months.
“No,” she whispered. “He’s going to be fine. He has to be.” If for no other reason than to be a strong reflection of all that his father had been, Laura wanted this baby to be perfect. Helena couldn’t win another battle against Stefan by laughing that even his son was weak and damaged. She was so lost in her tears that Laura didn’t hear the door ease open.
“Stefan, I miss you,” Laura said against the fingers she was trying to use to keep her lips from quivering.
The sound of something brushing the door caught Laura’s attention. She glanced at the clock and new it was too soon for her family, so she looked around intending to ask the nurse to please leave her alone. The sight of Stefan leaning against the closed door sent a jolt through her entire body. “Stefan?” Laura realized she was shaking, but she couldn’t help herself. She brought her hand to her mouth and simply stared at him, as though she feared blinking for even a second would make the illusion disappear.
Stefan crossed the room quickly and held out his hands. “I’m here, Laura,” he said gently, very much aware that the tears in his eyes were starting to match hers.
Laura raised her left arm to press her fingers against his. The touch of him brought with it the reality that he was, indeed, standing there by her bed. “Stefan!” Laura raised herself as much as he could and caught his arm to pull him closer. He sat on the edge of her bed and took her into his arms.
This time, as Laura wept against his chest, it was with tears of relief and joy. “How?” she asked, finally. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a long story. But I’m here now, and I’ll keep you safe.”
“Does Nikolas know?”
“No, and we can’t tell him.”
Laura leaned back. “He needs to know you’re alive.”
Stefan helped Laura get as comfortable as she could. “Laura, listen to me. As long as Mother thinks I’m dead, Nikolas and Lucky will be safe. She’s going to be furious when she learns her attempt to murder me failed. Trust me in this. Please?”
“I knew it! I knew Luke didn’t kill you. Helena set him up, didn’t she?”
Stefan debated whether to be honest with her now and risk her rejection at a time she needed him most. But did he dare lie to her and lose her respect yet again. “Laura, I’m not sure what Mother may have done to implicate Luke after I left, but it’s probably better that he was the principle suspect. To ensure Lucky’s safety, it was better to keep Helena thinking she was in the clear than to have her to believe she had to put whatever plans she may have had for him in action before going to prison.”
“Wait. You’re telling me you framed Luke? You sent me the letter wanting me to believe he was guilty.” Laura pulled her hand free and shoved him away. “How you can ask for my trust is beyond me.”
“I wanted you would think Luke was guilty so you wouldn’t confront Helena and place yourself in jeopardy. When I found out Mother intended to kill me, I knew it was because she feared I was close to finding out what she had done to Lucky. For his sake, and everyone else’s, I had to let her think she succeeded. But I wasn’t going to do so and risk the safety of the people I care about. Quite frankly, as far as I’m concerned, Luke deserved any inconvenience I may have caused.”
Laura studied his face. Seeing only honesty in his eyes, she took his hand again. “Sadly, Stefan, the victim in all of this was Mac Scorpio. Do you what Luke’s alibi was?”
“Yes. Harming the Scorpio family was never my intent.”
“Somehow the people we never intend to hurt are always the ones who end up being hurt the most. Why did you decide to risk coming home?”
“I found out yesterday that you’re pregnant and that Helena had upset you — evidently a great deal if the incident placed you here.”
“I’m all right. The doctor wants me to remain in bed until the baby’s born. Since I have to climb stairs at home to go to bed, and I’m considered a high risk for complications because of my history, I’m waiting it out here.”
Stefan nodded and stood. “I’ll see that Helena and her minions are kept away from you. I went by your home; however, other than Lesley and Lulu, no one should know I’m here. Can you convince Lulu not to tell her brother?”
“I don’t know. Stefan —”
“I don’t plan to interfere, Laura. I just want to make certain that you are free to concentrate on your health and your child’s safe arrival. Afterward, I’ll be leaving again. This will, more than likely, be the last time you and I see each other. At least, this time, I can say good-bye.”
“What in the world are you talking about?”
“I see no reason to upset you by having an unpleasant confrontation with Luke. He will have all the more reason to despise me now. And, believe it or not, I don’t want impede the happiness of any father waiting for his child’s birth. I resisted doing so for Stavros, and I will for Luke.” Stefan raised her hand to his lips. “Good-bye, Laura.”
Laura snatched her hand away. “Will you shut up for a minute?” She pressed the button on the bed rail to raise the bed so she was in a sitting position. “Sit down here.”
Stefan started to protest, but to avoid upsetting her he sat again on the edge of her bed. “For a moment. I should be gone, however, before Lesley and Lulu arrive.”
“You aren’t going anywhere until you listen to what I have to say. When do you think I got pregnant?”
“I assumed, judging from the obvious,” he said gesturing at her abdomen, “that it happened while you were searching for Lucky. You must be at least seven months.”
“No, it didn’t. Don’t get me wrong — I all but begged Luke to reconsider our marriage. Right up until the day the trial ended, I had hopes that he would put all of the good years we had ahead of the last few miserable ones.” She rubbed her abdomen. “I should have known this would be the last straw. Anyway, Scotty helped me finalize the divorce. So not only is Luke no longer my husband, he isn’t the baby’s father, and he wants no part of either of us.”
“Then —?” Stefan stopped and stared at her hand as she rubbed small circles on her abdomen. He was afraid to look at her or to put his question into words.
Laura took his hand in both of hers and pressed it against her abdomen so he could feel the movement of the baby. “Say hello to your son. You got here just in time, Stefan. If he doesn’t come by tomorrow, they’re going to induce labor.”
Stefan blinked back the tears as he looked from their hands to Laura’s face. “Laura, if I had known.”
“I know. I should have listened to a heart that tried to tell me you weren’t dead. The silent connection you’ve always said we have was still there. That should have told me something.” Laura held out her arms for Stefan and he obliged by pulling her into as tight an embrace as possible. “That’s what I get for having my mind in all of the wrong places.”
Stefan kissed the top of her head. “I knew you were in North Carolina, but I obviously didn’t ask the right questions of I would have found out you were pregnant much sooner. I’m sorry, Laura. For so many things.”
Laura leaned back and raised her glance to his lips. Smiling, Stefan kissed her gently, then with a passion he knew would leave him wanting something Laura wasn’t in a position to provide. Still, she met his lips with a longing as deep as his, as though in one kiss they could make up for the months that had been lost to them. “Let’s declare a moratorium on apologies until our son is here,” she said and kissed him again. “We’ve both made a lot of mistakes. We’ve hurt each other way too many times, Stefan, and we need to work our way through all of that. But not now. Okay?”
Stefan nodded and kissed her forehead. “Whatever you need.”
This time, when she leaned back, Laura was smiling broadly. “If you remember my pregnancy with Nikolas, you know exactly what I need. Something no one has ever been able to do as well you.”
Chuckling, Stefan stood and took both her hands. Between the two of them, they managed to slide her farther down on the bed. Stefan carefully eased himself behind her, sliding into place so that his legs were along hers and she was seated between them. Holding onto them so she could sit as straight as possible, Laura sighed in anticipation of the wonderful relief she knew was on its way.
Stefan gently took her hair and draped it over her shoulder. Then, starting at her lower back, he worked his fingers out toward her hips and back in again, slowly moving his ministrations up her spine and out across her shoulder blades. As he finished each cycle, he returned to her lower back and began again. He wasn’t sure how much time passed before Laura leaned back against him and pulled his arms around her so that they rested just below her breasts. “I’m really furious with you, you know,” she purred.
“You don’t sound like it.”
“I am. One of these days, I’ll give you a list. Mainly, though, I’m angry with you for lying to Nikolas and me again. You should have told us what you were doing. Who knows? We might have been able to help.”
“I’ve tried to explain my reasons. I wanted you and Nikolas as far away from Helena as possible.”
“I know, and your reasons are sound, but I’m still furious. Maybe I’m just upset because you weren’t with me and I was deprived of your incredible back rubs. I should never have had to endure this pregnancy without them.”
“My deepest apologies.”
“Well, you can make it up to me for the rest of the night. And next time, of course.”
“Next time?”
“You don’t think I want my last pregnancy to be one I didn’t get to enjoy.”
Stefan pulled her more snuggly against him. “We’ll talk about that after our son is ready to take on the world. You’re sure it’s a boy?”
“Completely. There is one thing, though.”
“Yes?”
“I was on a downward spiral after you…left. Over you, Lucky, and Luke. I didn’t realize I was pregnant, even though the signs were there. Stefan, I got drunk twice during what would have been my fourth month.” Laura leaned sideways so she could look at him. “The doctor is confident I didn’t drink enough to cause the baby any harm, but I wanted to be honest with you, just in case.”
Stefan nodded. The concern was evident in his eyes, but they also conveyed gentleness and understanding. “I’m sure the doctor’s right. Don’t let that, or anything, worry you right now.”
Laura relaxed back against Stefan again. “Have I told you how much I’ve missed you?”
“That’s what I heard when I came into the room. It gave me the courage to stay,” he said, resting his face against the top of her head. “I knew how much I missed you, Laura, but I wasn’t sure if you had thought of me at all.”
“I tried not to, you know. I think I wanted to hold onto my anger against you so I could convince myself that I didn’t miss you so much.”
“Because you wanted Luke.”
“Well, there’s no fool like a middle-aged, pregnant woman with issues, Stefan.” Laura laughed at the release she felt in saying that and felt warmed when Stefan joined her.
They were still laughing when the door opened and Lesley came in with Lulu in tow. Lulu was carrying a container filled with cookies. “We almost missed visiting hours,” Lesley said as she closed the door. Her smile faded upon seeing her daughter so comfortable in Stefan’s arms.
Lulu, on the other hand, was delighted as she opened the container and held it for both Laura and Stefan to take a cookie. “Are you Mommy’s boyfriend again?”
“He’s my best friend, Sweetheart,” Laura said, gently caressing the back of Lulu’s head. “I forgot that for a while, and it was wrong of me. Right now, that’s all that matters. Okay?” She nibbled at the edge of the cookie. “This is delicious. Thank you.”
Lulu nodded. “He’s my friend, too.”
”I certainly hope so, Lesley Lu,” Stefan said, also thanking her for the cookie.
“Even if he is going to leave us again,” Lulu added, looking at the floor.
Stefan felt Laura tense and said quickly, “I’ve put those plans aside, Lulu. As long as your mother wants me to stay, I’ll be here for her. And for you.”
Lulu grinned. “Do you want him to stay, Mommy?”
Laura glanced at Lesley with a look of determination. When Lesley shrugged in an obvious, if only temporary, surrender, Laura smiled at her daughter. “Yes, I do.”
“Do you hear that? You can’t leave, Stefan.” Lulu folded her arms and looked sternly at him. “We want you to stay.”
“Far be it for me to go against the will of the women in my life,” he said in mock resignation.
“Come on, Lulu,” Lesley said from her place by the door. “I need to get you home and into bed. Tomorrow is a school day.”
“Already?” Seeing the determination in Lesley’s eyes, Lulu set the container of cookies on the bedside table and pushed a chair near the bed. She climbed up on it while holding onto the outstretched arm Stefan offered her. Carefully, so as not to fall, she leaned over and gave her mother a hug and kiss good night. She kissed her fingers and held them up for Stefan because she couldn’t quite reach him and he couldn’t move forward without disturbing Laura. He took her hand and leaned just far enough to bring it to his lips. After exchanging good night wishes, Lulu climbed back down and pushed the chair into place. “Will my new brother be here when we come to visit tomorrow?”
“I think he will be,” Laura said.
“Well, it’s about time.”
“Speaking of brothers, will you do Mommy and Stefan a big favor?”
“What?”
“Don’t tell Nikki or Lucky that Stefan is back?”
“Why not?”
“We want to surprise them when the time is right.”
“I’ll bet you do,” Lesley offered.
“Promise me? Both of you?” Laura’s tone of voice made it clear she wasn’t asking this time.
“Fine,” Lesley said. “We won’t tell them, will we, Lulu?”
“No.” Lulu joined Lesley at the door and stood by her, her hand on her hips in the same manner as her grandmother.
Laura laughed in spite of the look of concern Lesley was giving her. “Go. We’ll be fine,” she said. “ I’m scheduled for 10 AM. Will you be here?”
Lesley nodded. “You know I wouldn’t miss a chance to finally be here for the birth of a grandchild.”
Laura half-expected her to add, “Even if he is a Cassadine,” but Lesley took Lulu’s hand instead and shepherded her out the door, offering a goodnight wish over her shoulder.
“I probably should have slipped out before they arrived,” Stefan said.
“Not on your life. You aren’t leaving me until this baby takes his first wail. Is that understood?” Laura handed him her cookie and he placed both of them on top of the container.
“As you wish.”
Laura shifted against him. “I wish we could go back to last winter and do this year over again. Only this time, we would do it right.”
“Shh. No worries tonight, remember? I do have a question, though.”
“What?”
“I assume you’ve picked a name?”
Laura laughed. “I wondered when we’d get around to that. As much as I wanted to name him Darius Laurence Stefanovich Cassadine, I feared he’d be a lot safer if I just called him Stephen Laurence Webber, even if it is awfully close to another family member’s name. However, I know the Cassadine tradition is for the father to choose the name, so if you’ll promise another back rub later, I may let you have input.”
“Webber? You’ve taken your maiden name again?”
Laura laughed again. “You don’t think Luke would want me to be a Spencer when I gave birth to a Cassadine, do you?”
“Not likely.” Stefan began to knead Laura’s shoulders. “Darius Laurence Stefanovich Cassadine. That’s quite a mouthful, isn’t it?”
“I wanted to pick a name he could wear proudly.”
“I’m the one who would be proud. I assume that’s Laurence with a ‘u,’ correct?”
“Yes. A touch of ego, I guess. All of my children bear their father’s names. I wanted one, at least, to have something of mine. Of course, I expected him to be my last. We can change that now in hopes the next one will be a little girl.”
“I wouldn’t consider changing it, though some people will think you named him after my horse.”
“Well, that isn’t my fault. Most men don’t give their pets their own middle names.”
“Darius Laurence Stefanovich Cassadine, it is. But I will sell the horse, just to avoid confusion. Assuming Nikolas hasn’t already.”
“He mentioned something about both horses the other day, so I don’t think he has.”
Stefan played the name a few more times in his thoughts. “What were you planning to call him? Somehow, I can’t see you following formalities.”
“Are you saying my children tend to have nicknames?” Laura laughed and reached for Stefan’s hands so she could hold them for a while.
“I’m saying this one would have been lucky not to have had a lulu of nickname.”
“Oh, stop!” Laura said, laughing and loving the playfulness in his voice. She had so missed the peaceful feeling that always accompanied relaxing with him. “I was thinking Dari or Laury. That’s all. Whichever seemed to fit him the best — and entirely for Lesley Lu’s sake. .”
“Mmh hmh.”
Laura sat up and squeezed Stefan’s legs just above the knee. “All right, you owe me another back rub before the nurse chases you out of the bed.”
“I’m hardly back in your life for an hour and you’re already making demands.”
“Get used to it.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Stefan resumed rubbing Laura’s back. “But don’t think for a moment that anyone will chase me out of sharing this bed with you. Or any, for that matter.”
“Then I’ll look forward to that.” Laura began to feel sleepy as Stefan combined gentle pressing with caresses. After a while, she leaned back against him again and pulled the blanket up over them. “Since you insist on staying… Good night.”
Stefan put his arms around her, draping them just below her chin. “Wake me if you feel a twinge.”
Laura only laughed in response as she drifted off to sleep. Stefan made certain the blanket was as it should be, then pressed the button to dim the lights. He knew there were still issues to be addressed — especially his kidnapping of Chloe Morgan — before he could feel confident of his place in Laura’s life. Tonight, however, the only things that mattered as he shook off the stress of the day were the way Laura felt in his arms and the son who would soon change their lives forever.
Stefan was just on the edge of sleep when he heard the door open. At first it was difficult in the semi-darkness to see who it was, but it only took for a moment for Luke to be bedside. Unable to move, Stefan glared at him and held a finger to his lips as a signal that Laura wasn’t to be disturbed.
Luke grabbed Stefan’s hair and pulled downward to hold him against the pillow. “I just wanted to see for myself,” he whispered.
“I assume Dr. Webber called you.”
“She cares about her family.”
“A lesson you obviously never learned.”
“I’d say you’re the one who needs to learn a lesson,” Luke said, getting a firmer grip on Stefan’s hair. He reached into his pocket and produced a stiletto. After waving it in front of Stefan’s face and not getting the fearful reaction he expected, Luke pressed the blade into Stefan’s throat. “I’ll respect Laura’s health for now. But when this is over, you’re mine, Cassadine.”
“Be warned, Spencer. I will protect my own.”
“Who’s gonna protect them from you?” Luke slid the blade just enough to draw a drop of blood. “Watch your back, Count. One of these days you’ll be pulling this out of it.” He withdrew the knife, released Stefan and stepped back quickly to be out of Stefan’s reach. He hesitated just long enough to look at Laura’s face, then left.
Stefan made certain Laura was still asleep, then concentrated on slowing down the pace of his heartbeat. His battle with Luke would have to wait. Laura would need him to be focused tomorrow and, for that, he needed rest. He had always known there would one day be a final showdown with his nemesis, though he had to admit his hatred for Luke had lessened since he’d learned the Spencer marriage was over. Perhaps he could find a way to appease Luke’s adolescent ego without losing anything in the process. No matter — there would be plenty of time to worry about that. Tonight, he would savor these last quiet moments with the woman he loved sleeping contentedly in his arms. And, frankly, the rest of the world would just have to wait.
The End (for now)