Chapter 4
Stefan's office
The letter slipped from his trembling hands. He had read the letter with a businesslike air, the words not really penetrating until the end. His face revealed the devestation he felt. Alexis walked around the desk and put her arms around his shoulders, cradling his head to her chest. "Stefan," she whispered. "It's just another one of Helena's lies." He closed his eyes and pulled away. He stood up and grasped her shoulders. "Is it, Alexis? I cannot say that I agree. It rings too true. I had never understood how she could love one son so obsessively, and hate the other. How could she hate me? What had I ever done to her? Now I know, its because I was an embarrassing reminder of her infidelity. The same reason that she hated you because of Mikkos's infidelity. It all makes sense!" He let go of her and sat down again, unable to stand any longer on shaky legs.
Alexis sat down on the edge of his desk. "There you go again, trying to understand what goes on in that twisted mind of hers. She knows you have spent your whole life trying to please her, trying to understand why she didn't love you. She knows that you would grab at any reason she would give to justify her hate. Don't trust her! She is once again lying. Once again trying to make sure you can never be truly a part of this family. By coming up with this scheme, she is trying to outcast you like she couldn't outcast me. What other reason could she have for sending you this drivel? If it were true, why reveal it all now? What would be the point?"
Stefan jabbed a finger at the letter. "Her point is stated in her letter. She does not want me to have complete control of the Cassadine empire." Alexis shrugged. "But Nikolas is still alive, he is still the heir. So I say once again, why now?" Stefan stood up again and looked into her eyes. "Nikolas came to me the other day and told me that he visited Helena the night of Thanksgiving." Alexis's eyes widened. "He told me that she had tried to convince him that he was just like his father, and that he should take control of the empire. He emphatically refused. Since she is in jail, and without leverage, she is afraid that he will completely relinquish control of the empire to me, and she does not want that to happen. If it is proven that I am not a Cassadine, Nikolas will have no choice but to take over the reigns. I'm willing to bet that Helena hopes such power will corrupt him, and make him susceptible to her manipulation."
Alexis covered her face with her hands, unable to grasp all that has taken place. "If its true that there is a lock of hair in that box, how do we know it belonged to Mikkos? If we test your DNA against that in the hair, it proves nothing. It just proves that whoever that hair came from is not related to you." Stefan paced the office once again. "That is true, Alexis. But if we all test our DNA against that sample, it should prove whether or not it is Mikkos. You and Kristina and Nikolas are definitely descended from Mikkos. If all three of your DNA matches the hair, then that would be proof. If mine does not...it means Helena was telling the truth, and I have no right to be a part of this family at all."
Alexis stood up and confronted Stefan. "Even if it turns out that you are not the son of Mikkos, you are still a Cassadine. Mikkos made you a part of his family. And I will always love you, no matter what. The same goes for Nikolas." Stefan smiled and caressed her cheek. "I understand what you are saying. I meant of course that I have no legal right." Alexis narrowed her eyes at him. "Just because I am a lawyer doesn't mean that I give a flying fig about legalities when it comes to the people I love." Stefan sighed and pulled her into a long hug.
Wyndemere
As Nikolas took the ferry to Spoon Island, he contemplated the rest of his life. Now that he was getting married, he felt like he should have a job. More than once Stefan had offered to have him share in the responsibilities of running the family business, but Nikolas recoiled at the idea of it. He wanted to keep all of it at arms length. Didn't want to even come close to accepting his position as the Cassadine heir. He did have some ideas though, about what he could do. He didn't want to be a rock star, as Gia had urged him to do after the Nurses Ball. But he did enjoy music a great deal. He was talking to Kristina yesterday about her involvement with L&B records. She had initially desired to be a part of the business end, until Ned Ashton had persuaded her, more like dared her, to become a performer. Nikolas was as confident as Ned that she would become a huge hit. As they had talked more and more about L&B, Nikolas had begun to wonder if perhaps he should ask Ned for a job behind the scenes. Nikolas suspected that he would enjoy being part of the music business. And it would give him the opportunity to get to know his new relative. He also suspected that Stefan was not going to be thrilled with the idea of a Cassadine becoming a singing sensation. If Nikolas were in, say, promotions, he could assure Stefan that Kristina's rising star would not be an embarrassment to the family. Nikolas had shared these tentative thoughts with Kristina, and she had agreed to gently feel Ned out about it.
As Nikolas stepped from the ferry onto dry land, he felt a surge of hope that it would all work out. He felt so keenly the pull of his father's ghost, that he wanted nothing more than to be as different from his father as possible. Holding down a normal job, in a normal house, with a normal, sorta, wife would help a great deal. He looked at Wyndemere as he approached the front door. Dark and foreboding, this was not the life he wanted. He would make his own way. He would.
When Nikolas walked into the study, Stefan hugged him a long long time. Nikolas knew that something must be up. "Uncle, what is wrong?" Stefan's attempt at a smile was a miserable failure. "Its not something I can talk to you about right now. I would like you and the rest of the family to meet me tomorrow morning at my office at General Hospital. We can talk about it then. But please, you came to speak to me about something?"
Nikolas looked like he wanted to pursue the issue, but shrugged it off instead. "I hope you will be okay with this, Uncle, but Gia and I have a change of plans regarding our engagement party." Stefan frowned. "What is it you want?" Nikolas cleared his throat. "Today Carly Corinthos told us that she and Jasper Jacks are opening a new nightclub that should be ready by New Years. She invited us to the opening. Gia was very enthusiastic about it, she knows Carly and knows that it will probably be a huge success. She also believes that it would be a great place for special occasions. She wants the party to be held there. I would have to say that I agree with her. I think it is the type of place that would be more condusive to a.uh.festive atmosphere." Stefan stood up and paced the room. "If it werent for the fact that you are probably the hundreth person to comment on the gloomy décor of this house, I would probably be insulted." Nikolas stood up. "I really hope you aren't upset. This is a wonderful house. It really fits your personality.I mean." Stefan held up his hand. "Please don't go on. I am not angry with you, Nikolas. No more than I was angry with Chloe when she gave her definite opinions on this place. If she were still alive, she would quite agree with you that this is no place for an engagement party. Very well, I shall approach Mrs. Corinthos about booking her club for your party." Nikolas smiled brightly. "Thank you Uncle. Gia and I greatly appreciate this." "Not a problem. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss before we go in to dinner?" Nikolas paused. It wasn't his place to mention Kristina's new pursuits. And he didn't want to go into his own ideas until they were a little more firm. "Nothing at all. Lets eat, I'm starving."
Alexis's penthouse, guest room
Kristina woke up the next morning to birds chirping on the balcony. She smiled. A sign that this was going to be a good day. At least she hoped it would be. When she got home from Ned's last night, Alexis had been in a strangely somber mood. She had refused to discuss what was on her mind, but mentioned that all the Cassadines needed to meet at Stefan's office at the hospital bright and early the next day. Kristina tried to shake off her sense of foreboding. They were all together now, a team. They could face anything together.
Kristina laughed as she recalled the look on Alexis's face when she told her about her latest escapade with Ned. Ned had asked her to come over so they could discuss the possibility of Kristina singing at the opening of a new club. Alexis was quite surprised at the news that Carly Corinthos was going to open a new club, and with the financial backing of Jax of all people. Jax was the only reason Kristina agreed to do the performance, since her one encounter with Carly had not impressed her. Carly had lied to her and pumped her for information that would be used against Angel and Jax. On the other hand, this same woman had helped Jax help Angel to escape prosecution for murdering her father. Kristina sighed. This Carly seemed like a complicated woman. Which wasn't all that surprising since her husband was Sonny Corinthos, who had many depths.
Kristina sat in front of her mirror and brushed her hair, thinking about her older sister's relationship with Sonny Corinthos. Despite protests on both sides that they were just friends and business associates, there was definitely something more. She still didn't know Alexis all that well, but her impression of her so far seemed to clash with the reality that Alexis had a thing for this man. It just didn't seem to fit with her personality. Kristina went to the closet to peruse what she would wear today. Of course, most people at one time or another in their life got crushes on people who were totally inappropriate.
Kristina remembered one crush she had a few years ago when she was flitting around Europe with a pack of people looking for one adventure after another. Leo du Pres was the most madcap of the bunch. They had a lot of fun together, but he was completely untrustworthy. He admitted to being somewhat of a gold digger. Kristina smiled as she realized it was a good thing he didn't know that she was now part of an extremely wealthy family. No, that was unfair. She'd heard in the rumor mill that he had been settled in one town for the last couple of years and was now married. Kristina had always known there was a spark of virtue in him somewhere. And she had known that she would not be the one to inspire that spark to grow. Which was just fine. It had been a crush, and she had gotten over it rather quickly. But she remembered those times fondly.
She just hoped that Alexis's thing for Sonny was just a crush and something to be gotten over just as quickly as hers had been. Pain and heartache lay that way, and Kristina wasn't sure why Alexis would even go there. But then again, why had Alexis run away from Ned Ashton, who was surely good for her? Kristina shrugged. Hopefully some day Alexis would run to someone who would make her extremely happy. Someone who could love her unconditionally, understand her, share a silent bond with her. A bond similar, perhaps, to the one she shared with Stefan. Kristina smiled. If it werent for the fact that they were brother and sister, she would almost think that Stefan was the perfect man for Alexis. But that was probably because they grew up together and knew each other so intimately. They had gone through a lot of pain together, which no one else could even begin to comprehend. Kristina looked at herself one last time in the mirror, and left her room.
Stefan's office
The letter slipped from his trembling hands. He had read the letter with a businesslike air, the words not really penetrating until the end. His face revealed the devestation he felt. Alexis walked around the desk and put her arms around his shoulders, cradling his head to her chest. "Stefan," she whispered. "It's just another one of Helena's lies." He closed his eyes and pulled away. He stood up and grasped her shoulders. "Is it, Alexis? I cannot say that I agree. It rings too true. I had never understood how she could love one son so obsessively, and hate the other. How could she hate me? What had I ever done to her? Now I know, its because I was an embarrassing reminder of her infidelity. The same reason that she hated you because of Mikkos's infidelity. It all makes sense!" He let go of her and sat down again, unable to stand any longer on shaky legs.
Alexis sat down on the edge of his desk. "There you go again, trying to understand what goes on in that twisted mind of hers. She knows you have spent your whole life trying to please her, trying to understand why she didn't love you. She knows that you would grab at any reason she would give to justify her hate. Don't trust her! She is once again lying. Once again trying to make sure you can never be truly a part of this family. By coming up with this scheme, she is trying to outcast you like she couldn't outcast me. What other reason could she have for sending you this drivel? If it were true, why reveal it all now? What would be the point?"
Stefan jabbed a finger at the letter. "Her point is stated in her letter. She does not want me to have complete control of the Cassadine empire." Alexis shrugged. "But Nikolas is still alive, he is still the heir. So I say once again, why now?" Stefan stood up again and looked into her eyes. "Nikolas came to me the other day and told me that he visited Helena the night of Thanksgiving." Alexis's eyes widened. "He told me that she had tried to convince him that he was just like his father, and that he should take control of the empire. He emphatically refused. Since she is in jail, and without leverage, she is afraid that he will completely relinquish control of the empire to me, and she does not want that to happen. If it is proven that I am not a Cassadine, Nikolas will have no choice but to take over the reigns. I'm willing to bet that Helena hopes such power will corrupt him, and make him susceptible to her manipulation."
Alexis covered her face with her hands, unable to grasp all that has taken place. "If its true that there is a lock of hair in that box, how do we know it belonged to Mikkos? If we test your DNA against that in the hair, it proves nothing. It just proves that whoever that hair came from is not related to you." Stefan paced the office once again. "That is true, Alexis. But if we all test our DNA against that sample, it should prove whether or not it is Mikkos. You and Kristina and Nikolas are definitely descended from Mikkos. If all three of your DNA matches the hair, then that would be proof. If mine does not...it means Helena was telling the truth, and I have no right to be a part of this family at all."
Alexis stood up and confronted Stefan. "Even if it turns out that you are not the son of Mikkos, you are still a Cassadine. Mikkos made you a part of his family. And I will always love you, no matter what. The same goes for Nikolas." Stefan smiled and caressed her cheek. "I understand what you are saying. I meant of course that I have no legal right." Alexis narrowed her eyes at him. "Just because I am a lawyer doesn't mean that I give a flying fig about legalities when it comes to the people I love." Stefan sighed and pulled her into a long hug.
Wyndemere
As Nikolas took the ferry to Spoon Island, he contemplated the rest of his life. Now that he was getting married, he felt like he should have a job. More than once Stefan had offered to have him share in the responsibilities of running the family business, but Nikolas recoiled at the idea of it. He wanted to keep all of it at arms length. Didn't want to even come close to accepting his position as the Cassadine heir. He did have some ideas though, about what he could do. He didn't want to be a rock star, as Gia had urged him to do after the Nurses Ball. But he did enjoy music a great deal. He was talking to Kristina yesterday about her involvement with L&B records. She had initially desired to be a part of the business end, until Ned Ashton had persuaded her, more like dared her, to become a performer. Nikolas was as confident as Ned that she would become a huge hit. As they had talked more and more about L&B, Nikolas had begun to wonder if perhaps he should ask Ned for a job behind the scenes. Nikolas suspected that he would enjoy being part of the music business. And it would give him the opportunity to get to know his new relative. He also suspected that Stefan was not going to be thrilled with the idea of a Cassadine becoming a singing sensation. If Nikolas were in, say, promotions, he could assure Stefan that Kristina's rising star would not be an embarrassment to the family. Nikolas had shared these tentative thoughts with Kristina, and she had agreed to gently feel Ned out about it.
As Nikolas stepped from the ferry onto dry land, he felt a surge of hope that it would all work out. He felt so keenly the pull of his father's ghost, that he wanted nothing more than to be as different from his father as possible. Holding down a normal job, in a normal house, with a normal, sorta, wife would help a great deal. He looked at Wyndemere as he approached the front door. Dark and foreboding, this was not the life he wanted. He would make his own way. He would.
When Nikolas walked into the study, Stefan hugged him a long long time. Nikolas knew that something must be up. "Uncle, what is wrong?" Stefan's attempt at a smile was a miserable failure. "Its not something I can talk to you about right now. I would like you and the rest of the family to meet me tomorrow morning at my office at General Hospital. We can talk about it then. But please, you came to speak to me about something?"
Nikolas looked like he wanted to pursue the issue, but shrugged it off instead. "I hope you will be okay with this, Uncle, but Gia and I have a change of plans regarding our engagement party." Stefan frowned. "What is it you want?" Nikolas cleared his throat. "Today Carly Corinthos told us that she and Jasper Jacks are opening a new nightclub that should be ready by New Years. She invited us to the opening. Gia was very enthusiastic about it, she knows Carly and knows that it will probably be a huge success. She also believes that it would be a great place for special occasions. She wants the party to be held there. I would have to say that I agree with her. I think it is the type of place that would be more condusive to a.uh.festive atmosphere." Stefan stood up and paced the room. "If it werent for the fact that you are probably the hundreth person to comment on the gloomy décor of this house, I would probably be insulted." Nikolas stood up. "I really hope you aren't upset. This is a wonderful house. It really fits your personality.I mean." Stefan held up his hand. "Please don't go on. I am not angry with you, Nikolas. No more than I was angry with Chloe when she gave her definite opinions on this place. If she were still alive, she would quite agree with you that this is no place for an engagement party. Very well, I shall approach Mrs. Corinthos about booking her club for your party." Nikolas smiled brightly. "Thank you Uncle. Gia and I greatly appreciate this." "Not a problem. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss before we go in to dinner?" Nikolas paused. It wasn't his place to mention Kristina's new pursuits. And he didn't want to go into his own ideas until they were a little more firm. "Nothing at all. Lets eat, I'm starving."
Alexis's penthouse, guest room
Kristina woke up the next morning to birds chirping on the balcony. She smiled. A sign that this was going to be a good day. At least she hoped it would be. When she got home from Ned's last night, Alexis had been in a strangely somber mood. She had refused to discuss what was on her mind, but mentioned that all the Cassadines needed to meet at Stefan's office at the hospital bright and early the next day. Kristina tried to shake off her sense of foreboding. They were all together now, a team. They could face anything together.
Kristina laughed as she recalled the look on Alexis's face when she told her about her latest escapade with Ned. Ned had asked her to come over so they could discuss the possibility of Kristina singing at the opening of a new club. Alexis was quite surprised at the news that Carly Corinthos was going to open a new club, and with the financial backing of Jax of all people. Jax was the only reason Kristina agreed to do the performance, since her one encounter with Carly had not impressed her. Carly had lied to her and pumped her for information that would be used against Angel and Jax. On the other hand, this same woman had helped Jax help Angel to escape prosecution for murdering her father. Kristina sighed. This Carly seemed like a complicated woman. Which wasn't all that surprising since her husband was Sonny Corinthos, who had many depths.
Kristina sat in front of her mirror and brushed her hair, thinking about her older sister's relationship with Sonny Corinthos. Despite protests on both sides that they were just friends and business associates, there was definitely something more. She still didn't know Alexis all that well, but her impression of her so far seemed to clash with the reality that Alexis had a thing for this man. It just didn't seem to fit with her personality. Kristina went to the closet to peruse what she would wear today. Of course, most people at one time or another in their life got crushes on people who were totally inappropriate.
Kristina remembered one crush she had a few years ago when she was flitting around Europe with a pack of people looking for one adventure after another. Leo du Pres was the most madcap of the bunch. They had a lot of fun together, but he was completely untrustworthy. He admitted to being somewhat of a gold digger. Kristina smiled as she realized it was a good thing he didn't know that she was now part of an extremely wealthy family. No, that was unfair. She'd heard in the rumor mill that he had been settled in one town for the last couple of years and was now married. Kristina had always known there was a spark of virtue in him somewhere. And she had known that she would not be the one to inspire that spark to grow. Which was just fine. It had been a crush, and she had gotten over it rather quickly. But she remembered those times fondly.
She just hoped that Alexis's thing for Sonny was just a crush and something to be gotten over just as quickly as hers had been. Pain and heartache lay that way, and Kristina wasn't sure why Alexis would even go there. But then again, why had Alexis run away from Ned Ashton, who was surely good for her? Kristina shrugged. Hopefully some day Alexis would run to someone who would make her extremely happy. Someone who could love her unconditionally, understand her, share a silent bond with her. A bond similar, perhaps, to the one she shared with Stefan. Kristina smiled. If it werent for the fact that they were brother and sister, she would almost think that Stefan was the perfect man for Alexis. But that was probably because they grew up together and knew each other so intimately. They had gone through a lot of pain together, which no one else could even begin to comprehend. Kristina looked at herself one last time in the mirror, and left her room.