| Chapter 4 Laura found Nikolas walking in the park with Robin. "Mother," Nikolas called out surprised to see her home. "Hello, Nikolas," Laura said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Robin, can I talk to Nikolas a lone for a moment," Laura asked the young woman. Robin smiled at Laura and headed away. Nikolas and Laura walked on side by side. He looked at her and asked, "How is Leslie Lu and Grandmother?" "Fine. Lu is happy to be home and so am I. I missed my children and mother is doing well enough that she doesn't need to see her doctors all the time any more," Laura told him. "Can I come over and see them?" Nikolas asked. He knew Luke didn't like him and wondered is he would be welcome in her home. "Any time you want but call. I want to have dinner waiting for you," Laura said with a big smile. "I will. So, what did you want to talk with me about?" Nikolas asked her. He knew to well she just didn't drop by to say that she was home and invite him over for supper. "I heard about you being shot and I wanted to see if you were ok," Laura said running a warm hand over his neck. "I'm okay. I know they didn't tell you and part me was glad. I had enough people hanging over me," Nikolas said and the two of them stopped at one of the benches to talk more. "I understand. I know how Lucky gets when he get sick and I hover," Laura said with a smile. "You know don't you," Nikolas said. "Yes, and I want to explain things to you," Laura said hoping that he wouldn't think she had come over to scold him or anything. She really was worried about Nikolas and she wanted to see if he was all right. "Explain what. You married a man hurt you," Nikolas said. He had trouble saying rape and hated Luke more then he ever did in his whole life. "What happened between me and Luke belongs with us. I know Lucky hurt you when he said those things about your father and it wasn't right. You shouldn't have done same thing. My lives with your fathers is between them," Laura said. "But my father never raped you. How could live with Luke and not him?" Nikolas asked. Laura knew he was talking about Stavors and she had to deal with that issue very carefully. "Nikolas, how do you think I got to the island?" Laura asked him. Nikolas looked down on the ground and didn't answer her. "I was taken from my family and husband. I was told he was dead and that my life depended on what I did. Stavors made me a deal. I became his wife and I got certain freedoms. I said yes and lived with that decision. The only good thing that came out of that time is you. I will do it all over again just because of it. I never loved Stavors but I put with him. So, to Lucky and Luke they call it rape because that is how they see it. I see differently because I choice that life." "I know that you wouldn't have gone there if it wasn't for him. You choice Luke over me, and that makes me feel worthless," Nikolas admitted. "Nikolas, you are everything to me. I knew your life was better off without me. Stavors died because he came after me. Helena never forgave me for that and I was afraid that she hurt you to get to me. So, I stayed away and let you grow up with Stefan. He was my only friend on the island and he helped me a lot when I needed him most," Laura admitted to him. "He would have protected you. You could have stayed with us," Nikolas said sadly. "I would have if Luke didn't take me back. I love him. I know you don't like him and I understand why because he had never been that nice to you, but as I can't hate you. I can't hate him," Laura said sadly. "I don't understand that and I might never will but I do understand what you are trying to say. I hope that Lucky is not working for Grandmother. He could get hurt," Nikolas admitted. "He isn't and it will not happen again. I talked to him about going at you with Stavors and I hope you keep Luke out of it as well. I wish my son's could be friends but I do know that is asking a lot at least at the moment," Laura told him. "I'll try but Lucky and me just sometimes hit it off it wrong," Nikolas said with a smile. "I know you do. I am grateful that you are more controlled then he is. You have a lot of your father in you on that one," Laura said, "Now, I better run. You were with someone." Laura smiled at him warmly on that one. "Yeah, I was. I'll stop by later to see Lu," Nikolas said giving his mother a kiss good-bye and heading off to see Robin. Laura sat there a lone with her thoughts for the moment. She wasn't ready to run home and watch Luke try to fix things. She knew he was trying to make up for not telling her about Lucky and Nikolas and she loved him for it. She just hated to watch him trash her house doing it. It wasn't long before Stefan walked up and joined her. "Hello, Lasha," Stefan said as she sat down beside her. "Hi, Stefan," Laura said bracing herself for what was going to come next. "I thought we had an agreement?" asked his words were direct and to the point. Laura noticed that Stefan wasn't very happy to see her here and that pleased her. She was glad that her presence made his life a little harder. It was about time the Spencer stopped doing things that made the Cassadines happy and started to give back some of what they dished out. "Yes, that is what you thought but I didn't leave because of you. I left because my mother need medical help and Switzerland and the Carolinas were the best place that she would get it," Laura said her voice was cold and lifeless. Stefan was surprised at this change in her. He was seeing a side of Laura that he never saw before, a side that refused to be cowed by him. "So, you don't mind that I tell Luke about us?" Stefan asked her. "He knows. I told him right before I left town. He spotted us talking and he confronted me. I told everything and you know what. He understand why I did it," Laura said a small smile slowly appeared on her face. "And why was that?" Stefan asked her. "Because, I was lonely and you were around. Stavors made my life a living hell and you helped make those months livable. I do hope that Nikolas is your son because you are better father to Nikolas then Stavors would be. I would have come get him if Stavors was alive. I wouldn't let that man raise a child but I didn't have to. I left him with a very good father figure," Laura told him. She noticed that her words hurt Stefan and she knew it was because of how she talked about them. Laura then realized that Luke was right all along. Stefan was still very much in love with her. It wasn't until this moment did she really believe it. "So, you don't mind I tell the world that Nikolas is my son," Stefan said. He didn't totally believe that Laura told Luke about his threat. He still thought she was too afraid to tell him anything because the Luke he knew would have confronted him about it long ago. "I think you should tell at least someone and that is Nikolas. He believes that Stavors is his father and that he is a Saint. He isn't and you know it and I know it," her voice became hard and full of anger. "What are getting at?" Stefan said sensing that she was hinting at something but at the moment he couldn't figure out what. "Stefan, I told you something that I thought was between us. We shared each secrets and you used mine against me. You knew that Lucky and Luke were having problems and telling Nikolas about my past with Luke was your way of making things worse. I have been very good at not telling Nikolas what I really think of Stavors. I could but that would only hurt him. I think Nikolas has been hurt enough, but if I ever hear you use my life against me. I am going to do the same to you. I know your secrets Stefan and I will use them. Luke and me are not a subject for you and my son. You will refrain from trying to darken his mind towards him. Understand?" Laura said. She was looking right at Stefan and something in her eyes told him that she wasn't joking. "You��" Stefan said and raised his hand to slap her across the face but a voice behind him stopped him dead in his tracks. "You hit her and it will be the last thing you do," Luke said as she walked out from behind the bushes and joined the couple. He had a gun in his hand and it was leveled directly at Stefan. He didn't lower it until Stefan moved away from Laura and he was at her side. "So, you do know," Stefan said shocked to see Luke standing there beside Laura. He noticed that they were holding each other and that bothered him. He liked the idea of them fighting and at each other. This change of things didn't sit will with him at all. "Yes, I know. Laura and me have no secrets from each other. We are tired of playing your games and we took control back," Luke said and he noticed that this news bothered Stefan. And Luke liked that idea and was glad that the count didn't. This news got to Stefan so much that he left without saying another word. Luke was smiling from ear to ear at the sight of the count retreating with his tail between his legs. "Thank you," Laura said hugging her husband. "Why kill him. I like play with him," Luke said with a smile. "Bad Luke. Very bad," Laura scolded but Luke couldn't help to see a smile on her face as well. "You want to go for a walk and be alone?" He asked her. "I love it," Laura said and the couple walked a lone in the park and talked. It felt good being together without the lies and the secrets between them. It also was felt good standing the Cassadines and getting way with the last word. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stefan went back to Wyndomere in a very soar mood. He couldn't believe that Laura told Luke about then and Luke didn't do anything. He knew something was up between them and he was going to find out. No one told everyone everything about their past. They had to have some secrets and Stefan knew Laura's were all out in the open and that left Luke. He had to have something in his past that he kept hidden from Laura and he was going to find it. Stefan went to his desk and started to type on the computer. Stefan was going to find something in Luke's past that would break up Luke and Laura for good. He was still working on it when Alexis walked in with a stack of contracts for him to look over. She took one look at him and knew right away that something was wrong. "Stefan?" Alexis her voice full of worry as she walked up to the desk. "Not now Alexis, I'll get to them later," Stefan said not even looking up from the computer. Alexis looked at him with a puzzled look on his face. Stefan hardly ever pushed off his duties as regent. Unless! "What did Luke do now?" Alexis asked as she sat down in the chair across from Stefan. "It is what he didn't do," Stefan said coldly as he looked up from the computer and glared at his cousin. "Be more pacific," Alexis requested as she got more comfortable. "Back when Laura first left town, I informed her that I would tell Luke about the two of us, if she ever came back. I was hopping that this would frighten Laura out of town for good and separate the two of them forever. It didn't work out the way I hoped. Laura had more guts then I gave her for and told him the truth. Luke didn't go off the wall and show Laura the type of barbarian that he was. He excepted it and now she is back home for good. They say that there are no secrets between them. I am betting that Luke has a few things hidden in his past that he didn't tell Laura and I'm going to find them," Stefan said and from the look on his face. Alexis knew he meant every word of it. So, she had to choice her next words carefully. "Stefan? Why do you care that Luke and Laura are married?" She asked him and waited to see his reaction. The reaction wasn't exactly what she expected and the look on his face told her more then his words could. "Luke destroyed my family and taking Laura way is the best revenge I can think off." "I understand," Alexis said and she got up for the chair. "I'll look into as well. We might find something that you can use to finally bring him down." Alexis left without a word but her mind was busy. Stefan acted strange when it came to Laura and she was starting to think that maybe he was still in love with her. This could really complicate things because Laura was only destruction away from business and that is where his mind should be. At least that is what Alexis's thinks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Helena was fuming. Laura didn't come home and leave after confronting Luke. She stayed with him and now according to the man that she has watching them. The two are walking arm and arm in the park. "No. I will not have it. Laura is not going to take Luke from me. I spent to many years without him because of Mikkos. I am not going without him any longer. There has to be some way for me to make Luke mine. Helena thought as she paced the room. She walked for a little while longer then it hit her. She knew how to not only regain control of Luke but to regain the control over the Cassadine family fortune as well. Helena went to the phone and made a call. "Mr. Hess, this is Helena Cassadine," Helena said as soon as the man on the other end picked up. "Good, I'm glad that you remember me and yes it has been a long time sense me last talked. You have a file that you are holding for me. Some day soon, someone is going to ask for that file and I want you to give it to him or her. . . . . . . . No, don't worry. I want that information to come to light now. You were very kind of holding it for me and you will soon get your reward." And with that Helena hung up the phone. "Yes, your final reward." The look on Helena's face was pure evil. Helena called out then, "Ari, come in here please." "Yes, madam?" Ari asked as he walked into the room. "I want you to get the villa in Greece open for me. I am going home soon and I will be having two guests with me; Nikolas and Lucky Spencer. I don't want anyone to know that we are going there. So, I want you to have it look like I'm going to my compound," Helena commanded of him. "Yes, madam. I will do as you say," Ari said and he started to walk out of the room. He soon stopped and asked, "When are leaving?" "Soon. Very soon!" Helena said and she turned her attention from him to her thoughts of her plans. She knew for a fact that this plan was going to work and that she will soon have Luke exactly where she wanted him in her bed! Chapter 5 Back to Luke's Secret Past |