~*~Chapter Three~*~

Laura arrived at the hospital carrying her baby boy, Nikolas. He was fussing softly as Laura spoke to the receptionist at the front desk. She then took a seat in the waiting room until it was time for her son's appointment. "What's wrong with you, Nikolas?" Laura asked as she stared into the dark-brown eyes of her son.

He only whimpered and turned away from her. He never kept eye contact long. There were many times Nikolas didn't seem to hear his mother. Laura worried, because it didn't seem like he had bonded to her like the other children had.

*Maybe that's my fault,* Laura fretted. After all, she had despised Nik's father. He had been abusive and sadistic. Laura considered herself very lucky to have escaped from him with her life.

When she had discovered she was pregnant with Nikolas, she had been less than thrilled. She already had two beautiful babies, a boy and a girl, and she wanted no reminders of the horrid Cassadines. She had briefly considered ending her pregnancy, but in the end, she couldn't do it. She vowed to love her baby as much as she loved Staci and Lucky. And now here he was, the sweet baby boy in her arms. He was adorable, even though his features reminded her of his dark-haired father.

"Ohhh Nikolas, I hope you will be okay," Laura said as she kissed her son's little cheek.

Just then Luke walked in and sat down next to her in the waiting room. "I just dropped the twins off at Anna's. They're thrilled to be spending the day with Robin. What's going on with Nikolas?" he asked.

"I'm not sure, Luke," Laura said as she stroked Nik's ebony hair. "I just know something is wrong... and I want to ask the doctor about it. Maybe it's me. Maybe I have done something wrong."

"No, no... it isn't you," Luke said soothingly as he lay his hand upon hers. "You're a wonderful mother, Laura."

Laura shook her head as sadness came to her eyes. "I haven't been the best," she said as she held back her tears.

"When have you ever done anything wrong?" Luke questioned.

Laura didn't answer because the nurse was calling Nik's name. It would seem that it was time for his appointment. Laura stood up, holding her son. "It's time, Luke," she said.

"Who's his doctor?" asked Luke.

"Dr. Tom Hardy," Laura replied.

Together, they were taken by the nurse into an exam room. Nikolas whimpered as Laura set him down on the exam table. "What's going on with the little guy?" the nurse asked cheerfully.

"I just have some concerns," Laura answered. "And for my own peace of mind, I'd like to ask the doctor about them."

"Alright," the nurse replied as she took Nik's temperature and his other vital statistics.

A moment later, the doctor walked in. He smiled cheerfully as he approached his little patient. "Hi, Nikolas," he said. "What a big boy you've gotten to be."

Nikolas fussed loudly as he attempted to climb off the exam table. He didn't want the doctor to examine him. He became very agitated as Dr. Hardy pressed a stethoscope to his chest.

"What are the concerns you've been having about your son?" he asked Laura.

Laura just suddenly blurted it out. She'd been holding it in for far too long. She told Dr. Hardy all the worries she had regarding Nikolas. "He's not like the other children," she added softly. "What could be wrong?"

"Nikolas might be a bit developmentally delayed," said Dr. Hardy. "Or it might be a more than that."

"More than that?" Luke spoke up. "What do you think could be the problem?"

"I'm sorry, but Nikolas appears to be displaying symptoms that he may have Autism," answered Dr. Hardy.

"What- what's Autism?" Laura asked. "I have heard of it... but I am not entirely sure..."

"Autism is a neural development disorder. Children who have it often display difficulties with communication and social skills," the doctor explained. "I have a pamphlet explaining all about it. If you want, I could set Nikolas up with an appointment with a specialist. We could have him tested."

Tears shone in Laura's eyes as she looked down at her baby boy. She didn't want Nikolas to have this disorder. She wanted him to be carefree and healthy, just like his siblings. As her lower lip trembled, she agreed to set up an appointment for Nikolas with the specialist.

"Thank you, Doctor," Laura said as he left the room. As soon as he departed, Laura burst into tears. Luke took her in his arms, trying to comfort her.

"Nik will be alright," he tried to reassure her.

"No, he won't, Luke. It will never be alright."

Luke didn't know what to do or say as Laura was very distraught. "I think you should talk to your mother. She's a doctor. She might have some encouraging words about Nikolas."

"Okay, Luke," Laura sighed in defeat. "Let's go see my mom."

~*~o~*~

"Laura, Luke, it's so good to see you!" Lesley exclaimed as they walked in the door. "And there's my cute little grandson!"

Lesley beamed at Nikolas. "Where are the other kids?" she asked Laura and Luke.

"They are with Anna," Luke responded. "How are you, Lesley?"

"I'm great, Luke. But what's wrong with my daughter?" Lesley asked when she saw Laura's downcast expression. "Laura?"

"Mom, Dr. Tom Hardy says that Nik might have Autism. He wants him to see a specialist... for testing."

"Autism?" Lesley spoke as she looked at the baby.

"Yes, because he doesn't speak... and he has other symptoms."

"Ohhh Laura," Lesley said as she wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I know this is scary, but everything is gonna be alright."

"That's what Luke said," Laura spoke as she gave her mother a hug.

"Luke's right," Lesley stated as she smiled at her son-in-law. "Nikolas will get tested... and if he has Autism, then we will deal with it."

"I don't want anything to be wrong with my baby. We've already been through too much," Laura said to her mother.

"I know, Sweetie. You've been through way too much... but you're home now; where you belong... and everything's gonna be alright."

"I hope so, Mom."

Luke watched as Laura's mom cuddled her and tried to quell her tears. After awhile, Laura had calmed down. She said she was ready to go pick up Lucky and Staci from Anna's.

"Give those mischievous twins hugs and kisses from me," Lesley said as her daughter and son-in-law walked out the door.

"We will, Mom," Laura promised.

~*~o~*~

Staci and Lucky had a lot of questions in the car on the way back from Anna's. "What's wrong with Nik?" Lucky asked. "Is he sick?"

"Does Nikolas have a fever?" asked Staci.

"He's fine," Laura responded.

"Then why did he go to the doctor?" Lucky asked.

"It was just a check-up," Luke spoke up. "Now quit asking so many questions."

"Can we have cookies for supper tonight?" Staci piped up from the backseat. "I want cookies with vanilla icing and strawberry sprinkles."

"You've turned our children into Cookie Monsters," Laura accused Luke.