| Chapter 1 Notes: Three months after Stefan faked his death, he came back to town and took Helena to Greece. Luke was cleared of the 'murder.' Stefan has been in Greece for the past five years. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Esmeralda Cassadine sighed heavily as she sat down in the chair. She picked up the phone beside her and started to dial a number, halfway through, she stopped and hung up the phone. It had been nine years since she had talked to her brother. How would she tell him? "Esmeralda?" Came a voice from behind her. She smiled as her husband came around in front of her. "Stefan," she said. "When will we be leaving?" "In a few hours if that's okay with you. I want to get there before my mother has a chance to get to Nikolas." "Should we bring Angelina, Tiana, and Jared? It might not be safe here." "They will be coming with us. Have you called your brother?" "No, not yet. I think that I will surprise him when we get to the states." Stefan nodded. "I have already arranged for Wyndemere to be ready when we get to Port Charles. I also have arranged for gaurds for you and our children." He lifted her out of the chair and they left the room together. /\/\/\ Nikolas Cassadine sat in the park watching his little sister play with her friends. He smiled at her innocence. He had to wonder if that innocence would last. After talking to Lucky, Nikolas knew that the Spencer-Cassadine war was about to heat up again. Ever since Helena had come back to town everyone had been on edge. Nikolas wasn't really worried about himself, but more for his brother and sister and his uncle's new family. It had been nearly six years since Stefan had faked his own death and framed Luke Spencer for it. He came back a few months later, clearing Luke, and left after forcing Helena to go back to Greece. He hadn't tried to force Nikolas to go, which Nikolas respected. He had kept in close contact with Stefan ever since. Nikolas knew about his wife and his three children. Jared was the oldest at five, and Angelina and Tiana were twin one-year-olds. He had met his new aunt Esme' when he had gone to Greece right after she had the twins. They seemed to hit it off well. She knew everything about family loyalty and liked most of the Cassadines, except, of course, Helena. Not for lack of trying though. Despite Stefan's objections, Esme' had met Helena. Helena had simply laughed in her face and told her that she would never be able to have a safe and happy family with Stefan. Esme' never spoke to her again. Stefan later said that, that had been the first time he had ever seen Esme' loose her temper. He didn't want it to happen again. Now, Helena was back in town and up to something. Stefan and Esme' were on their way from Greece with their safe and happy family. Nikolas knew that all hell was about to break loose and he was right in the middle of it. /\/\/\ Sonny Corinthos slammed the phone down for the fifth time. His newest enemy, Lorenzo Lopez, was getting too close for comfort. He was smart, but he had made bad moves against Sonny. And now he was threstening Carly and Micheal. That would not be tolerated. /\/\/\The next afternoon Esme', Stefan, and their three children walked into the foyer of Wyndemere. Home again. Esme carried the sleeping twins to their room and laid them down in their cribs. She went to Stefan's study. She was not surprised to see him on the phone. He hung up as she entered and smiled at her. "I'm going to the mainland," she stated. "To see your brother?" "Yes, I might as well get it over with." Stefan nodded and walked around to her and wrapped her in his arms. "I love you," he said kissing her. "I love you too." She finished the kiss and turned and left the room. /\/\/\ Esme' walked into Harborview Towers and went up to the penthouse level. She was nervous, but this had to be done. She didn't see a bodyguard at the door and that worried her. She knew all about his trouble with Lopez. She finally gave up and knocked on the door. /\ Sonny sat inside his pentouse and looked at Jason. "We need to strike now," Sonny said. "I know. I've got men on it." "Good." There was a knock at the door. Both Sonny and Jason stood up. Jason left the penthouse while Sonny turned to his guest. He was taken aback. "Esme'." "Hello, Micheal." /\/\/\ Helena sat on her yatch sipping port when her guest boarded. "Mr. Lopez," she said. "Mrs. Cassadine." /\/\/\ Nikolas walked into Stefan's study and wasn't surprised to see him working. "Hello, Uncle." Stefan looked up and smiled. "Nikolas. How are you?" "I'm fine Uncle. Where is Esme'?" "She went to go see her brother." "I didn't know that she had a brother." "Yes, she does." /\/\/\ "What are you doing here Esmeralda?" Sonny demanded. "Do I have to have a reason to come visit my big brother?" "Yes. You haven't been around in nine years." "Who turned his back on me?" "Who slept with my worst enemy?" "Who screamed at me for living my own life?" She was raising her voice and was almost screaming at him. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to hurt him anymore than she already had. She fought the lump that was rising in her throat. "Listen, Sonny, let's face it. We've both hurt each other." "Yes, we have. What's your point?" "I want you to be a part of my life again, and a part of my childrens' lives." He moved aside and let her into the penthouse. She walked in then turned to face him. "So when did you get married?" Sonny asked. "Six years ago." Sonny nodded and poured himself a drink. "How many kids?" "Three. Twin girls and a boy." Sonny just stood there. Esme' stood there uneasily. She needed Sonny's acceptance. She needed him to be there for her again. She fought the coming tears. Sure she had become cold in the three years before she had met Stefan. She had been cold while dealing with Helena and the other opposing Cassadines. But every time she was in Sonny's presence, she felt weak. She had always looked to him for protection and safety. He had always provided. He had protected her from Deke and had gotten her out of that house when he left. "Sonny, say something, please." "Who is he? Who did you marry Esmeralda?" /\/\/\ "Is that all you have planned Mr. Lopez? I need my son neutralized." "He will be. Mrs. Cassadine, you gave me everything I need to take care of your enemies and mine." "Just don't hurt my grandson." "Nikolas won't be touched. However, I can't say the same thing for your son or daughter-in-law." "What is your plan for Stefan?" "Simple. His prescious wife, Esmeralda will be kidnapped. That alone will drive your son and my worst enemy Sonny Corinthos insane." Helena smiled. "Very good Mr. Lopez." /\/\/\ "Who is he?" Nikolas asked. "Sonny Corinthos." Nikolas was shocked. Stefan's phone rang. He answered it. "Cassadine. Are you sure? Good. My wife and I will be having dinner at the Port Charles Grille tonight. Make the arrangements." Stefan hung up the phone. "Dinner at the Grille?" "Yes. We want to let everyone know that we are back." Nikolas shook his head and loked at his watch. "I have to go, but I will see you later." Stefan nodded and Nikolas left. /\/\/\ Esme' hesitated. She bit her lip as she thought about her answer. "Uhm..." she was interrupted by her ringing cell phone. "Hello." "Hello Esmeralda," Stefan said. Esme' smiled. "Are we still on for tonight?" "Yes." "Good. I have to wrap up a few things then I'll come home." "Okay, see you then. I love you, Esmeralda." "I love you too." She hung up to the expectant look on Sonny's face. She sighed. "I'll make a deal with you Micheal. I'll come back tomorrow and tell you everything." "Why should I believe that you'll be back?" "You don't have any reason to, I know." She reached to her neck and took off a necklace and handed it to him. "My husband gave that to me on my twins' first birthday. I will come back for that and when I do, I'll explain everything." She didn't wait for him to ask any questions before she walked out of the penthouse. /\/\/\ Later that night "The launch is waiting for us," Stefan said walking into the room. Esme' was putting her earings on. Stefan smiled at her beauty. Her long black was down and she wore a simple, yet elegant black dress. She turned to face him. She wore diamond studs in her ears and her Cassadine medallion around her neck. He walked over to her and took her hands, kissing each of them, and helped her stand. They kissed and walked out of the room. /\/\/\ "Let's go to the Grille tonight Sonny," Carly suggested. Sonny smiled and gave her a kiss. "Sure." She ran upstairs to get dressed. /\/\/\ Esme' and Stefan walked into the PC Grille and were escorted to their table. Once they were seated they began speaking. "Stefan are you sure this is going to work?" "I'm positive, Luna." Moon. Esme' smiled at the nickname. He had started calling her Luna because, according to him, she looked more beautiful in the moonlight. /\ Sonny and Carly walked into the Grille and were also escorted to their table, which was just a few feet away from Stefan and Esmeralda's table. /\ Helena also decided to eat at the Grille this evening. She walked up to their table, ready to start something. As she got closer, she saw Sonny and Carly at a table a few feet away. "Esmeralda, Stefan, this is such a pleasant surprise," Helena said sarcastically. "Mother." "Helena." Esme' didn't try to hide the hate in her voice. /\ Carly was going on and on about Deception when Sonny heard his sister's voice. He looked up and saw Helena standing near Esme'. The scene made his blood boil. He stood up and walked over to the table. Carly couldn'e believe that Sonny had just left her. SHe stood up and followed him to the table a few feet away. /\ "What's going on here?" Sonny asked once he was at the table. He saw Esme', Stefan Cassadine, and Helena Cassadine. He also saw a Cassadine medallion hanging from Esme's neck. It all suddenly fell into place. His little sister had married Stefan Cassadine. "Look, Esmeralda, it's your brother," Helena said. "Helena, why don't you just die so we can all have some peace?" Esme' asked. She noticed that Carly had walked up to the group. She also noticed that they were being watched from almost everyone in the room, including Mac Scorpio. "Then who would you have to threaten?" "Mother, you are not wanted here. Leave now." "Helena it might be wise for you to listen to your son," Sonny said, so low that only those in the small group could hear. Esme' glared at Sonny. This was her battle, not his. Esme' stood up and got right in front of Helena. She spoke slowly in Greek, making sure that Helena understood every word. She looked at Stefan when she finished and sat down. He was trying very hard not to burst out laughing. Helena glared at all of them, turned on her heel then left. Once she was out of earshot Stefan laughed, so did Esme'. Sonny stood there glaring at them. Stefan noticed the glares first. "Luna," Stefan said. "I'm going to call Nikolas." Esme' nodded and he stood and left. "Esmeralda Guadalupe Corinthos," Sonny said once Stefan had left. "I want to know what is going on, and I want to know now." "I said that I would explain everything tomorrow." "No Esmeralda, you will explain now." "No, Micheal, now I will leave and go home to my husband and children." She stood up and faced him. "I will explain tomorrow." Stefan approached. "Are we ready, Luna?" "Yes, we are Stefan." They left. Sonny watched them as Stefan guided Esme' out by putting a hand on the small of her back. Carly walked up to Sonny and touched his arm. He turned to her. "I have to go see someone. I'm sorry about dinner." Carly nodded sensing that this was very important. He left and she too the limo back to the penthouse. /\/\/\ Sonny walked into Luke's and headed straight for Luke's office. Luke looked up when Sonny busted into the office. "Hey ex-parnter." "Luke I need your help." "With what?" "Stefan Cassadine. He came to town today. I need to know if I can get into Wyndemere without being seen." "There are a few other ways to get onto Spook Island. Why do you need to?" "Long story." "Won't ask, but you will owe me one." "I know." Sonny listened closely as Luke told him how to get insode Wyndemere through the Catacombs. /\/\/\ *******Esmeralda Corinthos slept fitfully. She hadn't wanted to go to bed before her brother arrived, but she needed to get away from Deke. He was drunk again, like always, and had thrown her against the wall. Every muscle in her body ached. She prayed that Micheal would hurry. She woke up suddenly to the scent of alcohol. She saw Deke standing over her. She tried to move away from him but he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her out of the bed. She tried to pull away but he held her close to him. He threw her to the ground and got on top of her. She knew what was coming, she just prayed that it would be over soon. Suddenly he was lifted off of her. She felt herself being lifted. She looked up to see Micheal holding her. He took his coat off and wrapped it around her. She looked over to Deke. He was trying to fight off the two men that were giving him a taste of his own medicine. She fought the tears that were coming. Micheal carried her out of the room with his two men in tow, leaving an unconscious Deke in the room.******* /\ Esme' woke up from the dream. It always scared her. She could feel herself going back to that time. She slipped out of bed and left the room. She checked on the children first and then headed towards the library. She sat in a chair by the bank of windows and looked out onto the island. The noise was very soft, not even noticeable to most people, but Esme' heard it. She knew who it was. "I was wondering when you would show up," she said quietly. /\/\/\ Lorenzo Lopez had big plans for Mrs. Esmeralda Corinthos-Cassadine. He was first going to take care of her brother and husband and her kids, then he was going take care of her. He jnew next to nothing about her, but what he did know, could be used to his advantage, and he would use it. /\/\/\ "How did you know I was here?" Sonny asked coming around so she could see him. "I've spent the last six years with the Cassadines, if you can't hear the faintest noise, you''ll probably die." He handed her the necklace. She smiled and took it, putting it around her neck. She smiled at him. "You know, I was just thinking about that night that you saved me from Deke," she said. "Why?" "I don't know. I still have ngihtmares about that time. Stefan knows what it was like for us, but his was on a worse scale." "How did you end up getting married to Stefan?" She explained it all to him. How she ended in Paris two years after she left Brooklyn. She later met Stefan, fell in love, and married him, got pregnant, helped Stefan fake his death, and made him bring Helena back to Greece, where she had their son Jared. She left out her first conversation with Helena and why she was really in Port Charles. She finished her story after the brth of the twins. "I should have been there for you," he said after a period of silence. "I'm here now, Esme'." "I know Micheal. Shouldn't you be getting home to your wife?" He looked at his watch. "Yeah, she's probably waiting for me." "Why don't the two of you came to dinner here tomorrow." "What sort of dinner?" "Just a small family affair. Nikolas, Gia, Alexis and Ned will be here. I just think that my family should be here too." "I'll run it by Carly. I'll call you later." He left the room through the secret passage. Esme' sighed. She silently prayed that Helena would not show up at the dinner. |
| A Family Divided |