Chapter 35 Alexis sat in Sonny�s kitchen watching him make their supper. �Are you sure you don�t want to go home?� Sonny asked. �Are you trying get rid of me?� Alexis asked him with a big smile on her face. �You are the maid of honor,� Sonny reminded her. �You�re the best man but your not there either. We will not be needed until tomorrow and besides, I don�t want to be with the family. The less I see of them the better things are going to be all the way around,� Alexis said with a big smile on her face. �That bad, huh?� Sonny asked as he placed two plates on the table. �You can say that. This family doesn�t get together much for a reason because we would end up killing each other in the end,� Alexis said as she took a fork and put a bit of pasta in her mouth. �MMM,� she said with a heavenly look on her face. �You like?� Sonny asked her with smile. �I love,� Alexis said. �Good because I made just for you,� Sonny said and he leaned over and kissed her on the lips. Alexis laughed and said, �You know, you have helped me greatly these past few weeks and I want thank you for it.� �What are friends for,� Sonny said as he sat back down to eat. �I thought we were more then friends?� Alexis asked him. �We are. You are very special to me and I would never want to see you hurting,� Sonny said gripping her hand and holding it. ****************************************** Lucky walked into his father�s room threw the secret passageway. �You ready for tonight?� Lucky asked all dressed up in a tux. �No, but I�ll survive,� Luke said as he tried to get this tie right. �Here, let me help,� Lucky said and Luke turned around to face him. �Thanks,� Luke said. �No, problem. Ah, dad, this dinner. How do we act?� Lucky asked. �You mean, how do we deal with all of them together?� Luke asked back. �Yeah,� Lucky said. �We stick together and don�t let them know they get to us,� Luke said. �Easier said then done,� Lucky said finishing up tying the tie. Luke was looking over his tux one more time to make sure everything was in the right place when there was a knock on his wall. �Who�s that?� Lucky asked wondering who would be knocking on the wall. �Lu,� Luke said with a smile and opened the passage way door. Lu came in with her brush in her mouth and the rest of her belongs gripped in her small little hands. Luke bend down took the brush out of Lu�s mouth and asked, �You need help?� �Will you dress me?� Lu asked her father with big doe eyes. �Sure,� Luke said and he took the dress and other frills from Lu and placed them on his bed. Then he picked up the little girl and placed her on the bed as well. �You pick this out yourself?� Luke asked as he pulled Lu�s old dress off her. �No, Ms. Lansberry did but she couldn�t help me get dressed. She told me to go to you or mommy,� Lu said as she dropped down on the bed and stuck out her foot so Luke could slide on her tights. �You ready for tonight?� Lucky asked his sister as he helped his father get her dressed. �Yeah, it is going to be fun,� Lu said with a big smile on her face. Lucky looked up at the ceiling and was glad at least one of them was looking forward tonight, he wasn�t that was for sure. �That�s great,� Lucky said kissing his sister on the head. Luke managed to get Lu dressed without much trouble but her hair was another story. Luke finally at the end of his patience picked Lu up and placed her on the floor. �Why don�t you have your mother do your hair,� Luke suggested. �Come on, Lu. I�ll take you to see mom,� Lucky giggled as he took his sister by the hand and they left the room. ********************************** Laura was sitting at her dressing table putting her make up on when there was a knock at the door. Stefan opened it and Lu and Lucky walked on inside. �Mommy, can you do my hair?� Lu asked holding out her brush to her mother. �Sure,� Laura said as she gave Lu the once over. �Who got you dressed?� Laura asked with a small on her face. �Daddy,� Lu said. �I figured that,� Laura said and she fixed the mistakes Luke made. Lucky walked to the chair nearest to the bed and sat down. He looked around the room taking in all the new sights. He never was in this room before mainly because he was avoiding it. It hurt when he walked in on his mother with Stefan. Lucky didn�t know if it was because his mother was with a Cassadine or what. It just bothered him and until now Lucky hadn�t been able to face it. Stefan was putting on his cuff links watching the boy intently. �Is Luke ready?� Stefan asked Lucky finally. �What?� Lucky said being pulled away from his thoughts. �Is your father ready for tonight?� Stefan asked again. �As he ever could be,� Lucky said. �I understand that. I�m not looking forward tonight myself,� Stefan said as he picked up his dinner jacket off the bed. Lucky looked at Stefan puzzled. �Isn�t this your family? I mean. Shouldn�t you enjoy being them?� Lucky asked. Stefan laughed and said, �They might be my family by blood that doesn�t mean I enjoy being around them. In fact, I would love to be anywhere but here.� Lucky was stunned to here this and asked, �Why?� �Because most of them want one thing in way or the other,� Stefan said as he sat down across from Lucky. �The money?� Lucky said as he leaned forward just a bit. �Yeah, the money and the power that goes with it. Lucky, I don�t want to scare you or make matters worse but I think you should know. Some of the men here would easily kidnap you for this power. Some of the woman would either go after your father or send their daughters after you to get in control as well. They might act nice but always remember they are Cassadines,� Stefan said. �You mean, remember dad�s main rule,� Lucky said with a grin. �What�s that?� Lu asked. �Don�t trust Cassadines,� Lucky, Laura and Stefan said at the same time. This confused Lu and she looked at them with this puzzled look on her face. Laura leaned forward and said, �I�ll explain it to you later,� and she kissed her daughter on the forehead. ********************************** Lucky left his mother�s room thinking about Stefan and all the stuff that has been happening over the past two years. Lucky remembered all the times Emily told him to lighten up on his mother but he refused to listen. Sly even told him he was getting sick of hearing Lucky bitch but he never listened but now Lucky was starting to see things a little differently. After spending some time with Nikolas, Lucky realized that the guy wasn�t half-bad and in fact, he was fun to be around once you got to know him a little better. Mikkos wasn�t that bad either, if you ignored whatever he was hiding down below them. Then there was Stefan! Lucky hated the fact that his parents weren�t married. He would hate it but he realizes that there is nothing he could do about it. Their marriage was over with and they moved on. Oh, they were friendly for him and Lu but that was it. Laura was with Stefan now and he wasn�t that bad. He didn�t yell at him. He didn�t shove him around and he even tried to be nice. Lucky started to think it was time to change. It was time to forget all the pain and live with the changes. Lucky wasn�t paying attention where he was going and he walked past his father without even noticing him. Luke reached out grabbed the kid by the shoulder and asked as he pulled backwards, �Where are you? �What?� Lucky said stopping in his tracks and looking at his father wondering where he came from. �Where are you? You had this lost look on your face,� Luke said as the pair went down the hall together. �I was thinking about things. Mainly, my actions lately,� Lucky said as they walked. �And?� Luke asked. �Does a jerk mean anything to you?� Lucky said with grin on his face. �You mean, you�re the jerk?� Luke asked with a knowing smile. �Yeah, I�m the jerk. I realize finally what people been trying to tell me. I guess it took being locked up with Nikolas for me to realize it,� Lucky said looking down at his feet. �You know, Cowboy, I�m not the greatest person to look up when it comes to letting things drop. I get a little bull headed when it comes to things. I think you got this from me,� Luke said with a grin. �Oh, so I can blame you for acting like an ass?� Lucky teased. �You little rat,� Luke said and he playfully tried to hit Lucky but he docked the swing. Luke and Lucky were almost to the stairs when Stefan called after them. �Ah, father just sent word. He wants to see us before we head down stairs.� Luke stopped looked down at Lucky and then over at Stefan, �What does he want?� Luke asked. �I have no idea,� Stefan said looking at Luke with this bewildered look on his face. Luke sighed and then headed down back down the hall towards Mikkos room. ************************************* Mikkos was sitting near the fireplace when the others arrived. Laura was carrying Lu and she looked as puzzled as Luke and Stefan were about what was going on. As Laura placed Lu on the ground she quickly went to Mikkos and climbed on his lap. Mikkos smiled kissed Lu on the cheek and looked at the group in the room. He cleared his throat and said, �I have been putting this off for awhile now but with this weekend events just about to start. I realize I can�t any longer.� Mikkos leaned over picked up three boxes and handed the top one to Lu. �Here open it,� Mikkos told the child. Lu did and inside was a Cassadine medallion. �It�s pretty,� Lu said taking it out of the box and holding it up for everyone to see. Luke�s jaw tightened up and he clinched his fist to keep from blowing up then and there. Laura turned pail and gripped Stefan�s hand for support. Stefan just looked on with amazement on his father�s lack of timing. He could have done this weeks ago but he picks now to give these to Luke and the kids. �Father, don�t you think now isn�t a good time,� Stefan said finally. Mikkos looked up and said, �Now is the only time. Everyone here wares them and you know that. It is about time, Luke and children do as well.� Nikolas walked towards his grandfather and sister. He took Lu by the hand and guided her off Mikkos lap. �How about we go down and show cook your new necklace,� Nikolas said. He knew Lu didn�t know what it was and what it meant. He also figured it was a good idea to get her out of this room as soon as possible. �Yes, and Lucky go with your sister,� Laura suggested. �Sure,� Lucky said and he turned towards the door as well. �Hold it,� Mikkos said and the kids stopped. Mikkos got up and handed Lucky the box that was met for him. �This is yours.� Lucky looked at his father then Mikkos. He slowly reached up his hand and took the box. �Thanks,� Lucky said and he quickly left the room. Luke waited until the door was closed before speaking and as he talked you could tell he was ready to blow. �I put up with a lot for you. I let you tell me where my son goes. I let you decided his education. I even let you lock him up for few days but this is gone to far. I am not putting that thing on. Lucky isn�t ware it and once I figure out how to get it from Lu without fighting her. I�ll do it as well. Now, lets get this evening over with before it gets worse,� Luke said and he started to turn and leave. �Luke, I�m sorry but this isn�t up to you. You have ware this at least for this weekend,� Mikkos said and he held the box out for Luke to take. Luke almost hit him but Stefan gripped Luke�s arm and shook his head. �He�s right. I know you don�t like this but for our sakes. I would think about it. If some of them down stairs even get a glimmer that trouble is around then we might have had it. They would find away to us this to their advantage and that could cause the children great harm. We have enough trouble worrying about my mother. We don�t need to worry about the others as well.� �I don�t get it. They don�t gain anything from what I have figured out the time I have been here. Everything goes tot he first born, right?� Luke asked. �Yes that is right but there is a problem. For years, I have watched Nikolas closely mainly because of the danger of a rogue family member coming after him. I know who they but knowing and proving it is two different things. I just watch him closer they are around. You became a target the moment father told us who you are and that makes Lu and Lucky targets. If the people down stairs think they could be easy marks then they would wait for the right time and strike. It might work in our favor if they believe you except this willingly,� Stefan said. Luke sighed and walked towards the fireplace. �Because I�m the so call heir those freaks down stairs would be willing to go after my kids for chunk of this money,� Luke said his eyes blazing with rage. �Sad to say but yes. I hate myself because I lived with the fear that Nikolas could get hurt. I tried to balance giving him freedom to move about and still protect him. I got very adapted in tracking them and knowing what they do at all times. Now they are here and that makes things a little harder. So, for now just ware the damn thing and when they are gone. You can do what you want with it,� Stefan said. Luke hated this but he knew Stefan was right. They had enough to worry about with Helena. They didn�t need someone sneaking about behind their backs. So, Luke took the box and looked at Mikkos. �I�m not doing for you or this family. I�m doing this to keep Lucky and Lu safe,� Luke said and he walked out of the room. Laura after him and Stefan said, �Go head.� She nodded her head and then left. Stefan then turned to his father and said, �You could have done this a better time.� �I know how he would react,� Mikkos said. �So you pick now. When the entire family is here. You know father, you want Alexis, Luke and me to get to know you but you don�t bother to know us. I think you might want to try it once and then maybe we will see you different light as well,� Stefan said and then he left. Mikkos hit his fits on the table and looked up the ceiling. �I�m trying. I really am. Why don�t give me a break!� Mikkos muttered and he grabbed dinner jacket off the back of the chair and put it on. He then headed down to stairs to face the family. At least they pretended to respect him more then his own children do at this very moment. Chapter 36 Back to A Father's Love |