by Sherry
A slight breeze ruffled Stefan Cassadine's honey colored hair as he stared out over the blue-green waters of the Aegean from high above on the buff where he had waited for Chloe Morgan to discover him. He squinted up at the blazing orb of the Mediterranean sun as he examined his decision. Had he done the right thing in telling Chloe everything and then letting her go? Would she betray him as had all the others? There really had been no choice, it was either confess the real truth, or have her discover the whole sordid mess in one of her dreams. He had no idea when he had kidnaped her how she would be able to learn to control what she dreamed. When it became only a matter of time before she discovered his deception, he had told her the truth. Chloe had been angry at first, but had finally listened, as he explained why he had kidnaped her and brought her to the island. Stefan smiled to himself, Chloe had a loving, forgiving nature. It was really unfortunate, but he hadn't felt anything for her other than paternal in nature. When her health started deteriorating, he found he couldn't allow her to die, even if it meant he would finally be able to destroy his mother. He had arranged for her to go out on the supply boat the following day after it became apparent her illness was taking its toll on her health. That night she had dreamed her most disturbing dream. Helena was confronting Nikolas and for once his nephew looked cowed. Stefan knew then time had run out and he had to go home and protect Nikolas. Helena had found something to use against Nikolas and Stefan had to swiftly end her reign of terror. In a few days his arrangements would be final and he would find himself in the land of the living again. What would he find when he reached Port Charles? Would Chloe keep her promise, or would Mac Scorpio be waiting with an arrest warrant for him? Nikolas, Laura, and Alexis, would they be happy to know he was alive, or would they once again turn their backs on him?
Stefan frowned as he noticed a boat on the horizon. Taking the binoculars he had with him, he watched warily as the boat slowly made its way closer to the island. The supply boat was docked and there was no reason for another boat to be coming to the island. When it became apparent the boat's destination was his hideaway, he quickly left to inform his staff to keep quiet about his presence on the island.
Laura Spencer stepped off the boat and onto the dock and looked around trying to get her bearings. It had been a while since she had been on the island and she could help the shiver that shook her body as she recalled her past there. At the end of the jetty stood a tall, thin cadaverous looking man who made no move to greet her. Laura took a deep breath and walked to him.
The man bowed slightly. "May I help you?" he asked in an accented voice. "This is a privately owned island and we are not expecting guests," he added.
Laura studied him for a moment before answering. "I was told to come here by someone and I mean to stay until I find out why," she replied in a determined voice.
"I see," he answered, in a voice that bordered on condescending.
"Yes," Laura countered in an equally imperious tone.
The man turned his back on her and seemed to think for a moment. Stefan was watching from a hidden vantage point and nodded. He turned back to Laura. "Very well, follow me."
Laura sighed and picked up the small bag she had with her and followed. He must be the butler she thought, then stifled a giggle. He seemed more like a mortician instead. When they arrived at the compound Laura took over.
"I know the room I want to use," she asserted.
Irritation flashed in the man's eyes briefly before they became blank again. "If Madame will show me the one she would like to occupy, then I will make sure it is readied."
After Laura had given him her instructions, she wandered around the day room. It was different from how she remembered. It was lighter and not as formal. She smiled as she picked up a piece to the chess set. Her fingers gently caressed the raised planes of the playing piece. How Stefan had loved to play chess, she reminisced. Her smile faded into a painful sigh. How she missed him. It still didn't seem possible he could be dead. She had always felt she would have known had he died. Surely a piece of her heart would have died too, but it still told her somehow he was with her. She replaced the piece carefully as she studied the board. It was even set up as if he had a game in progress, she marveled with sadness. She turned away from her unhappy memories and wondered why Chloe Morgan had sent her the cryptic message to come here. She had never met Ms. Morgan, so why did she say it was urgent and pledge her to secrecy? Why would she say her very happiness depended on her coming here?
The butler met with Stefan in another room of the house. "Did Mrs. Spencer say why she was here?" Stefan demanded immediately.
"She said someone told her to come and she wasn't leaving until she found out why," the butler replied.
"Did she?" Stefan inquired absently, a thoughtful look on his face. This was Chloe's doing, he surmised. Trying with her ever present optimism to play matchmaker. He had made a mistake allowing her to know how he still felt about Laura. Laura would only turn away from him again when she discovered the truth.
He turned to the butler who was waiting patiently for direction. "Follow her instructions, inform me of her movements, and treat her with the respect a Cassadine deserves."
At the look of astonishment on the man's face, Stefan smiled bitterly, "Yes, she was a Cassadine once. Laura was my brother's wife."
The room she had used as her bedroom on the island hadn't changed much. The curtains and bedding were different, but the furnishings still were there reminding her of her past life. She stood by the bed and remember the nights of passion she and Stefan had enjoyed in the room. She had even thought Nikolas had been conceived in that bed. She had prayed the whole time she was pregnant, the child she carried was her lover's and not the despised man she called husband. Stavros had been a cruel and impatient lover. He had tried to be gentle with her, but when she couldn't feign love or passion for him, his innate brutality took full rein. If it hadn't been for Stefan and his gentleness, she knew she would never have survived this place. He had loved her with a tenderness and passion that always made her feel whole again after they had made love. Laura sighed and walked over to look out the window she had spent many hours gazing into the distance waiting, hoping for some escape from her island hell. If Helena hadn't told her Luke was alive, she wondered suddenly, if she and Stefan could have vanished and lived another life, with another name, as he had told her he had planned. With a shake of her head she dismissed her thoughts.
"Fantasy," she muttered to herself. In the past few months she lived with enough illusion. She didn't need to create more for herself. Laura wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill that suddenly swept over her. It had been a long time since she had felt whole and she worried she would never feel complete as she had when Stefan had been in her life. Laura gazed at the bed with tormented longing. Would he come to her here? Would he torture her with his emerald eyes full of quiet anguish, or would they blaze in condemnation? She both longed for and dreaded the nights. For months now Stefan had been haunting her. Sometimes when she woke suddenly in the night, he was bending over her and as she reached for him he would turn and walk away, never looking back no matter how much she pleaded. Other times she would turn around and he would be staring at her with such a look of suffering it broke her heart. As she would walk toward him, he would simply fade away. It was her guilt for not believing in him, letting Helena murder him, thinking she didn't love him, she told herself. He wasn't really ever there, or was he? Would he torment her thoughts for the rest of her life? Had his spirit been restless enough to seek her out to be close to her?
"I don't take love for granted. I haven't experienced enough of it to dare." Laura remembered his words in anguish. Was he still looking for her love, even though he was dead?
"You will always have my love and my heart, Stefan, wherever you are," she whispered.
In another part of the house Stefan made a hurried telephone call. When the person answered he asked, "Are you alone? Can we speak?"
"Stefan!" Chloe Morgan voiced excitedly. "You'll never guess? Tony says he thinks I'll make a full recovery with the medication and the procedure."
"I'm glad to hear that, Chloe," Stefan replied gratefully. "However, there's a matter I wish to discuss with you. Why did you tell Laura to come here?" he demanded without waiting for her to reply.
"So, Laura did come?" Chloe answered gleefully. "I did wonder if she would."
"This will serve no purpose," Stefan sighed. "Just what did you tell her?"
Chloe smiled at the phone and shook her head. Stefan Cassadine was such a stubborn man. "I told her she would find her happiness there," she said simply.
"I know you think love will conqueror all, but...."
"No buts," Chloe interrupted. "The truth will set you free, Stefan," she said softly. "Trust me. I saw you both in a dream and the love was there. It still is," she added. Alexis came in the door and Chloe said hurriedly, "It was so nice of you to call and check up on me, but I'm doing well. Nothing to worry about. YOU take care of your business and then I'll be happy. Bye."
Stefan heard the click on the other end. Someone must have come and Chloe couldn't talk. He shook his head in exasperation. How was he going to get himself out of the mess Chloe had gotten him in? If he knew Laura, she wouldn't leave until she discovered just what Chloe's message meant.
Stefan glanced up to see the butler standing inside the door. "Yes."
"As you instructed, Sir. The guards report Mrs. Spencer has taken a walk and is now at the cove."
"That will be all." Stefan dismissed. "Wait!" he commanded softly. "Call Athens and have a boat meet the supply boat half way. I want you to order something special."
The man listened as his instructions were given. "Yes, Sir. It will be done."
"Good," Stefan smiled. "I am going to go and keep an eye on our guest. Inform me of any pressing problems."
Stefan watched Laura from a distance as she paced around the stone bench, sat down for moment, then stood up and walked forward. Occasionally she stopped and looked at her watch in agitation. He frowned trying to make sense of her odd movements. Laura couldn't seem to be still and it made him uneasy. The actions reminded him of the dark days of her breakdown. It was then he noticed for the first time how much thinner she was from the last time he had seen her on the docks. Her eyes had traces of dark smudges underneath them too, he recalled seeing, when she stepped off the boat. Stefan scowled. There was only one thing that would upset Laura this much and give her sleepless nights, Spencer. Was he still flaunting that Scorpio woman in Laura's face? Why did she demean herself over a man who hardly gave her one thought? She still loved Luke, Stefan brooded. And when you love someone you didn't see their flaws, or you forgave them. He should know, he had forgiven Laura enough times and overlooked her glaring mistakes.
Stefan followed her as she made her way across the island to spots they had once frequented. She still behaved in a strange manner and Stefan had a nagging suspicion he should know what she was doing. It was as if he knew the dance, but had forgotten the steps. It was dark by the time she made her way into the wild garden. Stefan walked around and climbed over a broken part of the wall and hid behind a pile of rocks, as she sat on the bench looking around in expectation.
Laura could barely contain her excitement and dread. If he was going to come to her tonight, surely it would be here in the wild garden where they first met. This time she was determined ghost, or not, he wouldn't turn away from her. As she waited impatiently, Stefan went over all the little details of her behavior that day and finally realized what had seemed so familiar. She had been acting out different moments of their past. But why, he wondered? What was going on in her head? And what was she waiting for? Laura's bizarre behavior was beginning to make less and less sense to him.
It was late before she finally decided he wasn't coming. She rose dejectedly from the bench and slowly made her way to the gate. To Stefan's astonishment, she suddenly whirled around as if she expected to catch someone behind her. In the moonlight, he could see the look of disappointment on her face as she looked around the garden one last time.
Laura had brought few clothes with her, but she had remembered the Cassadine tradition of dressing for dinner. She studied her reflection in the mirror. The dress was simple yet classy. With a pang, she remembered Stefan telling her the blue of the dress matched the blue of her eyes. With a sigh, she wondered why she even bothered. No one would be there but her.
Stefan was speaking with the butler. "All the arrangements were made?" he inquired.
"Yes, Sir. They were followed to the letter."
"Excellent." Stefan walked over to the decorated table for one and gazed at the centerpiece and on impulse took one of the flowers and laid it across the plate. He turned back toward the man. "I will be watching out of sight of Mrs. Spencer. Make sure all of her needs are met."
The butler watched with raised brows, as Stefan walked away to conceal himself.
A short time later Laura arrived and the first thing she noticed was the centerpiece. She walked slowly to the table and gazed at it in astonishment. Daisies! Her favorite flowers. Her eyes were drawn to her plate. Stretched across it was one perfect stem. Laura picked it up and buried her nose in it, drawing in its fragrance.
"Are you ready to be served, Madame?" a voice asked from the door.
Laura turned in the direction of the sound. "Yes."
As he turned to leave, she cried out, "Wait!"
The butler looked at her in askance.
"Did you put this daisy on my plate?" Laura asked.
"No Madame."
Laura gave him a brilliant smile and he was confused by her happiness. "Thank you," she said softy. "I'm ready for my dinner now."
The man walked away shaking his head. "Crazy Americans," he muttered to himself.
Laura sat down and looked around the dining room in expectation. "Stefan," she breathed quietly and smiled dreamily.
Stefan was startled at how the whisper of his name on her lips could still make his heart pound as if it was the first time he had heard it. He was gratified the daisies seemed to bring her joy and wondered if she would be pleased with his dinner arrangements.
Laura barely touched her meal. She pushed the food around on her plate taking a few bites, but mainly she stared at the daisies with a far away expression in her eyes. It wasn't until dessert arrived she remembered. The cream brulee had been the finishing touch to an exquisite meal at Wyndemere and Laura had savored every bite of her favorite dessert. It was then Stefan had brought up the idea of going to Paris. Laura stared down at the dessert as if she had seen a ghost as she recalled that night. The whole meal she had just consumed had been the exact menu of that night and all her favorite things. She had been so happy that night, until the fire. A shiver shook her body as she remembered how the night had ended. Damn Faison, damn Helena for destroying her life, she thought angrily. Then with a shuttered gasp she realized they hadn't destroyed her life. She had done it all on her own. When she had accused and turned her back on Stefan that had been her own doing and had completely shattered her whole life. She had run after a man who had not wanted her, who had not been worth the effort, under the misguided assumption that they could be a family again, if she only wanted it badly enough and could prove herself to him. She had believed the absolute worse about a man who had done nothing but love and protect her as best he could do. The look of hurt and pain on Stefan's face when she slapped him, flashed before her eyes. When he had tried to explain, she had turned away, unwilling to listen, preferring to believe the man who had not shown her anything but derision in years. Then when she told Stefan on the docks she would never be able to trust him again, she had let him go to his death thinking no one loved him. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought about his lonely death at the hands of his mother. Had he cried out for her in the end? Laura's guilt was eating her up inside and with a cry of self-hatred she threw the bowl of cream brulee as hard as she could against the wall and ran sobbing from the room.
Stefan and the butler both entered the room at the same time in total shock. Stefan stared at the shattered crystal and wondered what had upset Laura. Suddenly he groaned. How could he have been so thoughtless? This was Laura's favorite meal, but it had also been the one they had the night she found out Lucky had died in the fire. Stefan turned and gazed anxiously in the direction Laura had gone.
"Clean up this mess," he told the butler quietly, as he strolled purposefully from the room.
Stefan paused at the door of Laura's bedroom hearing her sobs. His hand was on the doorknob before he realized he couldn't go in and comfort her. The sound of her pain made his heart ache with regret. This was all his fault. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the door and waited for her grief to subside. A short time later he became aware of someone and straightened up wearily, turning to see the butler waiting quietly for orders. Stefan motioned for him to follow him a short distance from Laura's room.
"Is Mrs. Spencer ill?" the man asked.
"No," Stefan shook his head. "The meal unfortunately reminded her of a sad time in her life."
The butler nodded.
"I will use the bedroom next to hers tonight so I can keep watch over her. Have it prepared," Stefan ordered.
"Anything else you require, Sir?"
"No," Stefan replied softly, thinking about the only thing that would make him happy.
After the man left, Stefan walked back over to the bedroom door and listened for a moment. Laura had stopped crying and he hoped she had fallen asleep. With a sigh, he decided to take a long walk and see if he could get his equilibrium back. With Laura so close and yet so far away, he was quickly losing focus.
Sometime in the night Stefan woke and felt the need to check on Laura. He paused at her door and listened before going in quietly. Laura was restless and crying in her sleep. He sat down carefully on the side of the bed and stroked her hair gently until she calmed and fell into a deeper sleep. For a long time he sat and watched her sleep, longing for something he knew he could not have. When Laura found out about his deception, she would never forgive him. They could never have a future together with all the lies and hurt between them. With a deep sigh he stood and on impulse bent down and kissed her lips softly. His hand was on the doorknob when she spoke.
"You always walk away," Laura whispered, her voice full of sadness.
Stefan froze at the sound of her voice. The haunting loneliness in her voice that echoed what was in his own heart, made him turn around to look at her.
Laura was sitting up in the bed staring at him, her face shadowed with grief. She held out her hand to him. "Please don't go. Not this time," she pleaded in quiet anguish.
It was the one tear that inched its way down her cheek that made his defenses crumble. He could never bear to see her cry. Stefan slowly made his way to the bed and gently took the hand she held out to him. For a moment Laura stared down at their entwined fingers as if she didn't believe what was happening. When she looked up at him, her face had been transformed into a look of utter joy.
Laura's hands slowly slid up his arms and with the strength of a woman with a purpose, she grasped his forearms and pulled herself up on her knees. With a feather light touch, her hands moved up his arms and drifted slowly down his chest to brush the already budging hardness of his erection. Her eyes lifted to catch the darkening passion in his eyes. Laura smiled in satisfaction as her hands unhurriedly eased down her sides to lift up the gown she was wearing and pull it over her head in one fluid motion. Stefan's pulse quickened as he took in her luscious body she had put on display for him. Laura smiled mysteriously at the look of hunger that blazed in his eyes. Her hands stretched out to caress him once again and she heard the groan that rumbled from deep within his chest. With a quick tug, she untied the knot in his pajama bottoms and pushed them down past his hips. A small gasp of appreciation eased from her throat as she took in his pulsating manhood. Unable to resist, she lowered her head and took him in her mouth. Stefan's knees almost buckled at the sensation of Laura's hot mouth working his passion into a boiling inferno. Automatically his hands grasped her head as he held her to him for a few moments, enjoying the touch of her lips and tongue as they pushed him to the breaking point. He gently pushed her down on her back as he stepped out of his pajamas. Lowering his body over hers, he captured her lips in a fever-pitched kiss that she answered instantly. Their tongues pursued and secured the other in a thirsty match of starvation that had to be quenched. When their initial craving for the other had subsided their kisses slowed, becoming deeper and more intimate. Stefan broke away to trace the curve of her jaw to her ear with soft butterfly kisses, burying his nose in the thickness of her long golden hair. Taking a deep breath, he reveled in rediscovering the scent that was uniquely Laura. He dragged his lips down her long neck and paused to nuzzle the hollow between her collar bone and her neck. Laura held her breath as his tongue followed a path down to her pink tipped nipples, where he lightly ringed the outer edge of one with his tongue as he toyed with the other. He swooped in and captured the whole nipple, sucking it deeply into his mouth. Laura let out her pent up breath with a gasp and ran her fingers through his hair, pressing him tighter to her breast in ecstasy. Her hands roamed his body, loving the feel of his rippling muscles beneath her finger tips. His hand reached down to touch her curls and Laura instinctively parted her legs to give him better access. She shivered as his fingers rubbed her swollen clit, then pressed up against him as he slid his long finger into her wetness. "Stefan," Laura moaned his name in soft desperation, as she surged against him. Stefan entered her in one smooth movement and reached up to cup her face in his hands. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of being as one. Stefan gently caressed her lips reverently before the need to move completely overwhelmed him. His strokes were slow and sure and Laura molded herself to the contours of his body, as she lifted her hips up to meet him. Laura dug her nails into his back and urged him on and he picked up the pace, driving himself into her harder, as she tightened her muscles around him and pulled him in deeper with each thrust. They were both drenched with sweat by the time his strokes faltered and Laura arched herself up one last time to take him deeply inside. As their world exploded and fell away they were only aware of the love and connection they both felt at that moment of release. "Laura," Stefan whispered, in wonder as he tenderly kissed her again and again. "I love you," Laura softly murmured in between his kisses. Stefan rolled over taking Laura with him. She sighed in contentment as she laid her head on his chest. "Everything is just perfect now," she whispered sleepily. As his fingers stroked her arms and hair, he wondered how he would ever explain what he had done and if she would walk away for the last time. Sleep evaded him the rest of the night as he sought the answer.
Laura woke late the next morning and the first thing she did was to reach out across the bed to find it empty. Her disappointment was tempered by the daisy she saw lying on the bedside table. She smiled as she stretched lazily, remembering the feel of Stefan's body on hers as he carried her to the very pinnacle of happiness. Reaching across the pillow she picked up the flower and brushed it gently across her swollen lips. Chloe Morgan had been right. She had found happiness there, if only for one night. Stefan loved her and had forgiven her betrayal. Somehow he had crossed time and space to be with her one last time. He would always be with her now, if only in her dreams. She knew she could go on now, because he had given her the gift of his love and forgiveness. That assured her he would always be near and close to her heart. His quiet strength would carry her though her battle with Helena. And a battle it would be, Laura thought with steely resolve. Helena had taken Stefan from her, but she would make sure she never got her hands on her son. Nikolas had to be protected and without Stefan there to do it, the job fell to her. She vowed not to disappoint the man she loved. He would not have died in vain, she promised herself. Laura rose and started making plans to return to Port Charles and back into the fight of her life.
Stefan still hadn't decided how he would tell Laura what he had done. Last night had been a mistake on his part and he should have been stronger and resisted Laura's pleas. Laura had always been able to make him throw caution to the wind and now he would pay the price for his weakness. It was clear to him she thought he was some sort of ghost or figment of her imagination and when he confronted her with the truth, he dreaded seeing her turn away for the final time. But it had to be done and done there on the island. He couldn't let her go back to Port Charles, only to be shocked at his sudden return from the dead. The truth had to be told, even if it meant he would lose her forever. Stefan sighed and stared unseeing out over the water, as he tried to calmly sort out the tangle of conflicting emotion he was feeling.
Laura decided before she left the island she would take one last walk around to the spots she and Stefan had loved. The wild garden was her first stop. It was here she had run into his arms and her life had been changed forever. Her heart had been divided into two warring factions. She had loved two men and in the end she had chosen the wrong one. Stefan had known her so well when he told her she had to choose Luke because she couldn't admit to her mistakes. A lesson learned too late for them to find happiness. Even with her feelings of sadness over the choices she had made, she still felt a sense of peace there. Everything was all right because Stefan still lived in her heart.
Laura made her way along the path to the diving cliffs and smiled as she remembered the day she dared Stefan to jump in with her. There had barely been enough depth in the water for the dive and he had been astounded at her recklessness. She still had the smile on her face when she came around the rocks and stopped in astonishment. Creeping slowly forward she stared at the familiar figure framed on the edge of the bluff.
Stefan was lost in thought, until he suddenly felt her presence and turned to see her shocked face gaping at him.
"Stefan?" Laura whispered, as she came forward and tentatively stretched out a trembling hand to touch his chest. When she touched him, she jerked her hand back, as her face whitened in confusion. "Is it really you?" she breathed.
"Yes," Stefan admitted.
Laura circled him. "I don't understand," she stammered in bewilderment.
Stefan held out a hand to her. "Please Laura, let me explain," he pleaded.
Laura looked down at the hand he held out and then back up into his face. "The letter was a lie," she said in a soft accusing voice.
Stefan's hand dropped. "Give me a chance to explain," he begged. When she said nothing, he continued. "When I went to the yacht that night my mother had planned to kill me. Fortunately I had found out what she was going to do and went along with her plan. She thought she poisoned me and had my body thrown overboard. I knew she had a plan to use Lucky to hurt you and Luke, but I wasn't sure exactly how she planed to proceed. I waited, bidding my time with Andreas sending me recordings of conversations from the yacht."
"The letter," Laura repeated, "what about the letter?"
Stefan sighed, "I sent you the letter to make you think Luke had murdered me and to get you to take care of Nikolas. With Luke in jail, Helena would think she had gotten away with my murder and I would have time to find out what her whole plan entailed."
Realization dawned in Laura's eyes. "You weren't coming back," she whispered.
Stefan stared into her eyes. "Why should I have planned on coming home? You told me you wouldn't ever trust me again. I lost you, because you wouldn't believe in me. Nikolas maintained I helped kidnap Lucky and turned against me. I had nothing to come home to."
"You meant for Luke to go to prison for your murder," she charged.
Stefan smiled bitterly, "And why not? Didn't he try to frame me once? With Luke around I always knew he would be a threat to Nikolas. He would never allow you to have a real relationship with your Cassadine son, so I took him out of the equation."
Laura took a step backwards, as if she couldn't bear to be near him. "You told me you loved me in the letter. It was a complete lie," she moaned, as she looked wildly around looking for an escape.
Stefan shook his head, as he took a step toward her, "No. I would never lie about my feelings for you, Laura. Don't you know that by now?"
Laura inched her way backward, not knowing what to believe. "You wanted to destroy me, hurt me for what I did to you. How you must hate me," she cried in anguish.
"Never," Stefan vowed.
Laura continued backing away from him and he suddenly noticed how close she was to the edge of the bluff.
Stefan held his hand out to her, as he cautiously took a step toward her. "Laura, you're getting to close to the edge," he warned. "Take my hand," he urged.
Laura shook her head in alarm. "You hate me now, you hate me now," she kept repeating over and over, as her eyes glazed over in her revelation. She took one last step backward, the rocks sliding out from beneath her feet. Laura screamed as she fell and started slipping down the side of the bluff. Stefan lunged forward and caught her hand as she clawed at the rocks for a hold.
"Give me your other hand," Stefan demanded, as he strained to keep her from falling.
Laura fought him, completely oblivious to his voice, as fear took her over.
"Laura," Stefan whispered gently. "Give me your other hand."
Laura gazed at him blankly for a moment, then as if in a daze, reached out to him. Stefan pulled her up and into his arms where she lay quietly shivering. Stefan covered her face with tender kisses, as his arms tightened around her in a protective circle. When she didn't respond, he tilted her face up to see the blank look in her eyes. Realizing she was in shock, he picked her and carried her back to the compound.
All that day he sat with her as she lay in her bed in a complete stupor, never speaking, only staring straight ahead. That night as she slept, he made the decision to take her off the island and seek medical help if she wasn't better in the morning. The lack of sleep the night before was catching up with him as he yawned tiredly. He didn't dare leave her alone, so he lay down beside her fully clothed and fell asleep.
The next morning Laura opened her eyes and stared at the face lying inches from her own. She studied it, wondering if he really did love her as he said. All the things he said came flooding back and she thought them over. She had hurt him deeply not believing in him and he in turn had hurt her. But they had another chance, was she willing to take it? While she pondered her decision, Stefan opened his eyes and stared into her clear blue eyes.
"Laura, are you all right?" he questioned softly.
"Yes," she whispered. Then she startled him with her question. "Do you really love me, Stefan?"
He searched her eyes and answered, "More than you will ever know," he replied tenderly.
Laura relaxed and smiled at him, as she touched his face gently. "That's all I need to know. We have both made mistakes and we've hurt each other, but I love you too and I don't ever want to lose you again," she admitted.
Stefan felt a surge of joy at her words and bent his head down to kiss her gently. "I was lost without you in my life," he murmured against her mouth.
He leaned his head back on the pillow and stroked her hair while he talked. "I must return to Port Charles immediately. Helena is a danger to Nikolas and I must protect him."
"We will return together," Laura soothed. "We will defeat Helena as a team." She smiled at him gaily. "We beat her once before, years ago and we will do it again," she promised. "But there's one thing we need to take care of first."
"What would that be?" Stefan asked in bemusement.
"I want us to return as husband and wife," Laura explained quietly.
Stefan sat up on the bed. "I can have a judge here this afternoon."
"No," Laura replied, as she sat up and took his hand. "I want a priest."
Stefan turned and looked at her sharply. "Do you realize what that means? If we are married in the church, it is forever. There's no turning back."
Laura smiled at his hesitation. "I know. And it will be forever, Stefan because I love you and I won't ever let you get away from me again," she teased.
He relaxed and grinned at her teasing. "Well then, I need to get busy." He started to get up and her hand stopped him.
"Oh, we have plenty of time. There's something else we need to take care of first," she replied with an arched brow, as she pulled him down to her and started kissing him passionately.