| Chapter Forty Two Luke was reading the morning paper and steaming over the day's headlines. He wished the press would just disappear from the face of the earth. Laura placed breakfast on the table when Nik joined them. "Lu and I are going to spend the day with Lucky. Alexis was going to keep him home today and I think you were right about me talking to Stefan. I just better get it over with," Nik said, starting to serve himself. "I can handle the club today and I will stop by the house later in the afternoon. I might even bring Lizzie with me. She might help cheer Lucky up. I don't think this latest event is going over with him too well," Luke said, "Besides, I have to talk to Alexis about our custody agreement." "Luke about that agreement. I think we might want to improve the house before Lucky does come home. We might want to see about an alarm system or something," Laura said, as she helped Lulu with her breakfast. "I'm ahead of you Angel. I called Sonny and he gave me a list of contractors to help get this place up to date. I'm even going to have them paint the place while they were at it," Luke told her and handed the paper to Nik. "That means Lucky will have to stay with Alexis while it is done. I don't think he and Stefan are going to hit it off," Nik said. "I don't think so either but I'm not having him here if it places his life in danger. Not after that car incident and you don't go anywhere with out your bodyguard either," Luke warned them. They all agreed and Nik headed to Alexis' house to see Lucky and face Stefan. He just hoped he could tell him how he felt when Stefan did arrive later that day. Nik pulled his car up to the gate and found it swarming with the press. "Here we go again," Nik muttered to himself and drove his car up the drive, avoiding all the cameras and the questions. Lulu ran into the house looking for Lucky. She found him sitting at his desk with earphones on his head. She grabbed Lucky by the waist and he literally jumped out of his chair. Lulu started to laugh from the look on his face. Lucky grabbed his sister and started to tickle her. "You are going to regret doing that, you little sneak," Lucky threatened with a laugh. Lulu squirmed and giggled on his bed. Nik walked in and laughed at the two of them. "I see she found you," Nik said walking into the room. "Hey, little brother. I have a question. What are you going to do when you go back to your dinky little room in a few weeks?" "She started it. What are you two doing here? Crossing the battle lines to save me from the press?" Lucky asked, picking Lulu up off the bed and holding her in his arms. He looked at Nik and said, "It's only a room and besides I'm used to moving around from place to place. The only thing that really matters to me is that I have my family with me." "We did come to keep you company for a while and Lulu here misses her other big brother. I also have to talk to Stefan sometime. Where is he?" Nik asked. "He is sleeping right now but you might get the chance after lunch. Let's go down to the stables. I have a surprise for my sister and we can stop and tell Mrs. Landsbury that there will be two more for lunch," Lucky said and started down toward the kitchen. They went the back way, away from the front gate, down to the stables. Lucky was avoiding the cameras and the press. Nik knew all the publicity was getting to him and was waiting for the explosion. Lulu screamed a joyful scream when she saw Lucky's surprise. He had bought her a pony and it was waiting for her when they arrived. Lulu was petting it, while Lucky and Nik talked. "You got her a pony?" Nik asked him. "I couldn't help it. She loves your horse so much that I figured it would be okay. Besides I didn't know what to do with all the money Alexis keeps giving me," Lucky said. "I am not used to having more then fifty bucks to my name at one time." "You better be careful. Don't let the money take over. You could end up in trouble," Nik warned him. "Alexis already thought of that. I can't take more then a hundred out of the bank unless she approves it," Lucky told him. "Good. You could find a lot of trouble with all of that money," Nik said. "Different subject. What are you going to do when you talk to Stefan?" Lucky asked him. "I'm going to demand the truth and hope he gives it to me," Nik said. "Nik, take it easy on him. I don't think he looks too good," Lucky said. "You have seen him?" Nik asked. "Yes and the man I saw wasn't the same Stefan. I think old Victor did a number on him," Lucky said. They talked for awhile longer until about lunchtime. Lucky noticed a cameraman by the stable door. Johnny appeared and chased him away and the group headed back to the house. Lucky was steaming and wanted this all to end one way or another but that was it. He wasn't going to deal with the press any longer. Alexis was at the table waiting for everyone to arrive. Lucky walked up to her and demanded, "I have had it with the press. Do something about them or I will." She looked at him and realized he meant it. "I'll work on the problem after lunch. I promise by the end of the week if it isn't handled, you can do anything you want," Alexis said and hoped to get Luke to calm Lucky down before he did just that. Nik looked up and stared in surprise at Stefan, when he walked into the room. Lucky was right, this wasn't the same person he used to know. Stefan looked at Nik and tried to smile. "Hello, Nikolas. After lunch can we talk?" He asked. "I was hopping we could," Nik told him. The group ate in near silence. Lulu chattered the entire time about the pony and even wanted to go ridding after lunch. Lucky said he would take her, if Nik would let him ride Sheba. Nik agreed and Lucky took her back down the stables and left Nik and Stefan alone to talk. "I have heard about all of the trouble you have been through over the past few months," Stefan said. "Good. So, I don't have to play games with you. Why didn't you tell me that there was a chance you were my father?" Nik demanded. "It was safer for you and I hoped Helena would never find about me sleeping with Laura," Stefan said. "Safer. I'll buy that but you should have trusted me to keep it quite. But you didn't," Nik said coldly. "Nikolas, Let me explain," Stefan begged him. "I want to be called Nik. I changed my name a week ago to Nik Spencer. I don't want anything to do with the Cassadines or at least most of them. Lucky and Alexis are different. You, I don't know about yet. Lucky told me about what he said but I'm telling you myself. You start this war up again and you will find yourself alone. I'm not losing this family because of you. We worked too hard to get past this mess and you are not going destroy it now," Nik told him coldly. "Nikolas. I mean Nik," Stefan started and got a strange look from Nik. "I'm not going to start a war with Spencer and as for the rest of my family, at this moment in time, I don't want to have anything to do with them either. I even want to help take them down if I can. I know you are mad at me but I lied to protect you and I would do it again. We all make mistakes. You forgave Luke for his, can you do the same for me?" Stefan asked him. "I don't know. Can you live with me and Luke being friends?" Nik asked him. "Yes. I do not want to loose you and if that is what it takes, then so be it. You might not understand this, but I have changed and I guess I will just have to prove it to people," Stefan said. "You will have to prove it to a lot of people. The Cassadine family isn't very well liked at this moment. I changed my name for that reason. I just couldn't live with a name like that anymore. I used to think it meant something but Victor destroy that," Nik said. "I know but unlike you, I do not have the choice of changing mine. I just have to prove to people that not all of us are monsters," Stefan said. "Stefan. Are you all right?" Nik asked him. Stefan had turned pale and looked like he was going to pass out. "Yes. I'm just tired. I think it is time for me to get some rest," Stefan said and got up from where he was sitting and headed to his rooms. Nik watched him walk up the stairs and was really worried about him. Something was different in Stefan but Nik just couldn't put his finger on it. While Nik and Stefan talked, Alexis made some calls. She was calling her old friend from college to see if she could help relieve some of the pressure they all were getting from the press. Liza Colby sat at her desk working on the next list of the Cutting Edge's guest list. She picked up the phone and said, "Liza Colby?" "Liza, it is Alexis Davis or Alexis Davis Ashton. I need your help," Alexis said. Liza Colby sat up and almost saw the show's ratings double. "Alexis, good to hear from you. I've heard about your problem. Can I do anything to help?" Liza asked, almost leaping out of her chair. Tad Martin walked in and Liza wrote on a peace of paper. It read: Alexis Davis Ashton on the phone. Cassadine Family new leader. Tad looked at her and smiled a roguish grin. "I would like you to do a show. You can have all involved there, but I get to read the list of questions first," Alexis said. "You want us to do a show about the Cassadine/Spencer War and you will have all party's involved there, at least the ones who can be found?" Liza repeated for Tad's behalf. Tad almost couldn't believe his ears. The story of the century just dropped right into their lap. "You got it. I'll even bring the show to you. We will be in Port Charles at the end of the week," Liza said and quickly hung up the phone. "Tad. I don't believe it. Alexis and I were in the same sorority together but I never thought about calling her to do a show for me. She hasn't said one word to the press since this all began and the Spencer kid hasn't been seen much and when he is seen, those bodyguard goons keep people at a distance. We have the biggest story in America and you and Erica Kane are going to host the show. I don't want this blown. You don't go off on your own and ask questions that Alexis doesn't approve. Understand." Liza told Tad. Tad agreed and went to start preparations in moving the show to Port Charles by the end of the week. Alexis hoped she did the right thing and that she could talk Luke and the others into this plan of hers. She was out of ways to avoid the press. So, she decided to face the press head on. Chapter 43 Back to What's the Truth? |