| Chapter Forty One Luke was in bed when Laura joined him. She had a strange look on her face and Luke was wondering what was the matter. "Angel, are all right?" he asked. "No. Luke, I'm worried about what Stefan is going to say when he finds out about I lied to him about Nik. He loves him like a son and even thought of him as one. You and Nik have become closer and now Stefan's back. I don't want things to go back the way they were" she told him as she climbed into bed. "They won't. I will not let them. I made Nik and Lucky a few promises, one of them being the war ends. I'm not going to let Cassadine take my son away, but I'm not going to say Nik can't see him either. He is old enough to make his own decisions and I just have to learn to live with the Count. I might never like him but I'm not going to use my family in our problems, either," Luke said, kissing her lightly on the lips. "I hope you can do it, because you might end up losing Nik if you don't," Laura told him ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stefan knocked on the door to Alexis and Ned's new house early the next day. The two houses were smaller then the one on the island and the Quartermaine's house, but it wasn't small by normal means. Stefan waited for someone to open to door. Lucky opened the door and found himself staring into the face of Stefan Cassadine or what could have been the man. Stefan looked rough and haggard. His clothes didn't fit and he looked as if he hadn't eaten a good meal in weeks. Stefan tried to smile but felt unsure of what to say. Lucky looked at him in pity and stepped aside so he could enter the house. "Come on in before the press gets here," Lucky told him. "We weren't expecting you until later today." "The WSB sent the message with the wrong time, in order to get me into town without all the fan fair. There will be enough time for that later," Stefan said as he walked into the house. Stefan looked around the house in shock. The Cassadine legacy was there, but it blended well with new elements so that it looked quite livable. "Alexis is in her office down the hall. She stayed home today, in order to greet you. I can take you to her if you'd like," Lucky said trying to figure out what to say. "Thank you." Stefan said. They walked a little bit down the hall. Stefan was trying to think of what to say to this former enemy. "Lucky, I have heard that you are Alexis' son. I would have protected you if she had informed me of your existence." "Stefan, don't go there. I'm glad I was raised by Luke and Laura. I wouldn't change that for world but thanks anyway. How much do you know about what is going on here?" Lucky asked him in front of Alexis' office. "Not much. I have several questions for Alexis. Why?" Stefan wondered. "Nik is my father's son and Luke made us a promise. I'm going to tell you straight. We aren't going back to the way it was. Helena, Stavros, and Victor are the enemy. You can decide where you stand. You don't have to like my father but we aren't going to let you pull apart what took all this time to build. It is your choice but remember, Nik is with me on this," Lucky said and left him to see Alexis. Stefan looked at Lucky in surprise and knocked on Alexis' door. "Lucky, you don't have to knock," Alexis yelled at him as he entered. "I was trying to be polite," Stefan said. "Stefan?" Alexis yelled and she ran into his arms. "I'm so glad to see that you are alive." "I am glad to be home but I must confess that I am very confused about recent events. The WSB has not informed me about much more than just the basics, so please, will you fill me in?" Stefan said to her as they parted. "Sit down and let me get you some breakfast and then we will talk," Alexis said pointing to the chair. She called Mrs. Landsbury and ordered something to eat for him then went back to the desk to sit down. "You know Lucky is my son and that he is the heir?" Alexis asked. "I know that but not much else." He replied. "Lucky said that Nikolas is Luke's son. I did not want to say anything to him but how did that happen?" He demanded. "You didn't know. Stefan let me start by saying I'm sorry for all your trouble because I know what you think of Nikolas. Helena and your brother, Stavros lied to you about a lot of things. They made it look like that you were Nikolas' father but in reality Luke is," she told him. "How could that be?" Stefan demanded. "They played with Nikolas for a long time. Laura knew about his paternity, but they threatened her. She was told you, Luke and all the family would die if they ever found out the truth. She kept it a secret to save you all," Alexis said getting up to comfort her brother. Stefan looked at her in shock. They did tell him something like that but Stefan didn't believe it. He felt as if he lost everything now and didn't know what to do. "Stefan, they did do a blood test and Luke is Nikolas' father," Alexis said. "Lexie, why did they do this?" Stefan asked her. "To get even, I don't know but they did this and more," Alexis said leaning against the desk. "Let me start from the beginning and you will understand more." "Please," Stefan said. "Luke and I came up with a plan to get rid of Helena. We both got worried about Lucky's safety. I was sick of jumping through hoops for her. You didn't give me the time of day and I was afraid. I went to Luke for help. He loosened the railing and Katherine or whom ever, fell through it and died. You were put on trail for her murder," Alexis said. "I know this much but past that they did not tell me a thing," Stefan told her. "Lucky went to see his sister and ran into the fake Laura. She yelled and cursed him out, but on top of that she tried to kill him. She shoved Lucky over the railing in his house and he broke his shoulder, cracked some of his ribs and cut his face open. You can still see the scar he has from it," she said. "Fake Laura?" Stefan asked her. "They kidnapped her too and replaced her with a look a like, as well. Victor must have had this planned for months, waiting for us to try something. Lucky ran from his father and ended up running into Nikolas. Nikolas took him back to Wyndemere and we got him medical help. I warned him about what you might say and what Luke would do but Nikolas wouldn't have any of it. Lucky was hurt and that was all that mattered. I ran into Luke in the secret passages a week later and we had it out. I threatened to tell Lucky the truth and Luke didn't like the idea but couldn't change my mind. I was sick of being in the back ground and watching him live on the streets," Alexis said. "I am certain that Luke did not take being threatened well?" Stefan said. "He didn't but he didn't have much choice in the matter. I didn't tell Lucky right away. I waited a while until I got him back to my suite in the hotel. Lucky was in shock and didn't know what to do about it but before he got much of a chance to get a grip on this, they blew the rest of his life apart," Alexis said. She stopped when Mrs. Landsbury entered, with a tray of food for Stefan. "Go on." He said after she left, slowly picking at his food. "We were strong armed by Mac Scorpio to tell the truth. We tried to get him not to put Lucky through all of it and leave him in the hospital but he wouldn't listen to us. Everything came out that day, most of it lies. Luke told the truth about raping Laura, but what got everyone was the lie that you and Laura planned to kill Luke and Lucky," Alexis said. "We what?" Stefan asked, taking a sip of juice. "Helena faked some letters from Laura to you. They all stated that you knew who Lucky was and wanted Nik to be the heir not him. You planned Stavros' death and were planning to kill Luke and Lucky but Helena stopped you cold with the treat if anything happened to either of them Nik would die." Alexis told him. "That old� Alexis, I swear to you I did not do any of that and I would have never hurt your child. I might have wanted Luke dead but I have never acted on that impulse," Stefan swore to her. "I know that but Stefan everything looked so real and at the time, I even believed all of it. I could have killed Laura but I didn't get the chance. Not long after that lie, Stavros walked back into our lives. The two fakes disappeared. I think they weren't told about each other, and they were just used to keep Luke busy. He was out of town and we tried to protect Lucky but failed. Victor kidnapped him and got Nikolas, as well. They were taken to an island not too far off the coast of Canada. Victor started poising him and forced Luke and me to get married," Alexis said. "How did he do that?" Stefan asked her. "He said that if we didn't Luke, Laura, and I would be dead and they would raise the kids themselves. We couldn't let that happen and Victor had an ace. He had Robert Scorpio. Luke planned to delay the wedding long enough to get Robert free and then save Lucky. We were almost too late. The poison took its toll on his body. Lucky almost died and will most probably be on some kind of medication for the rest of his life," Alexis said. She told Stefan the rest of what had been going on since he was gone. Stefan realized how much had changed after all this time and wondered what he was going to do now. "Alexis, I'm tired. Could you show me to my room?" he asked her. "Sure, Stefan. I'm sorry. Afterwards, you and I can talk about the job I have planned for you. I need help running this family. I don't know half of what is going on here. Ned is trying but you have done it for so long, you would be much better at it, but we will talk more on that later," she said and got up to show him his new room. Stefan waited for her to leave and then went it the bathroom. He opened a bottle of pills and took two. "I hate those monsters," Stefan muttered. He looked in the mirror and saw a totally different face than he did a few months before. He knew he had lost weight and he still felt tired all the time. Stefan realized the drugs they were trying on him eventually were forced on Lucky. He knew exactly how Lucky felt, because that is what he went through. Maybe except the near death part, the WSB was right. Victor did leave something out of the pills he gave him or the pills he forced on him. Stefan made himself a promise. Those three cretins were going to pay for ever doing this to him or Lucky. Lucky should have been treated better because he was the last in the Cassadine line and the only hope the Cassadines had. He might have a different last name but blood was blood. Stefan realized he had to deal with Luke and maybe even live with him, but if that was what is took then so be it. Stefan left the bathroom and lay down. He knew that he should call Nikolas and talk to him but at that very moment Stefan just wanted to rest and he would deal with Nikolas later. Chapter 42 Back to What's the Truth? |