Chapter 14

"You did what?! You slept with him?! Just to break them up?? " Nikolas screamed at Lulu, who was sobbing in the seat beside him, "And your mentor was CARLY?? Good Lord, child, I will have a very serious discussion with your father AND YOUR COUSIN!"

"Stop screaming!" Yelled Lulu. Her head hurt.

"I'm sorry …" Nikolas responded.

Lulu sank back into the seat, "Dillon was the only person who got me," she whispered.

Nikolas looked over at his little sister, "I love you, Lulu."

She smiled sadly over at him, "I love you, too."

--

Alexis woke up on her bed wrapped around Sam. She leaned back and just watched her firstborn daughter sleep, "You're so beautiful …" she whispered. She kissed Sam's forehead and started crying. She looked up at the ceiling. "God, Robert," she whispered even lighter. Sam stirred and looked up at her mother.

"Hey, there. We fell asleep … during the day!" Alexis smiled, "I don't remember the last time I took a nap."

Sam smiled, "I … um … I was wondering if we could talk … well, if you could talk and I could listen …"

Alexis knew this was coming. Of course it was. She had blurted out that she was raped two nights ago and no one said anything since about it. She also knew that there was a lot of explaining to do about how Sam was conceived.

"I know." Alexis looked over at Sam, "Where do you want to talk? Here?"

Sam watched Alexis closely, "I don't care. Can you …"

"Yeah. I'm okay. Okay … where to begin?"

"He raped you? My fath--"

"No!! Not your father!!"

Sam was stunned that Alexis yelled so loud.

"I'm sorry Sam …" she reached over and held Sam's hand, "Sorry…you were conceived from love. Lots and lots of love." Alexis smiled and the tears came.
"No, Stavros raped me. My brother … well, he thought I was his cousin, but it's sick either way. Hell, even if we weren't related … which, I honestly never thought we were because we were so completely different …"

"Mom! You're rambling." Sam looked at her mother.

Alexis stopped and smiled, "Sorry."

Sam smiled back.

"Okay …" Alexis took her time explaining. She broke down in the middle of some sentences and she and Sam held each other. It was hard for her to breathe at times, but she had to get this out, "I was….thirteen, fourteen, maybe both…he was older, not by too much, but older. Stefan had no idea. Otherwise, he would've killed Stavros. Anyway, for about a year, Stavros would….he would find me…at night, no matter where I hid. I learned quickly that if I just…did it…if I let him do it, he wouldn't…hurt me."

Sam cried. They both did. Mikkos, who was in the hall outside listening, did as well.

"So this went on for about a year. No one knew…Stefan, Mikkos…Helena. I think even Helena would have put an end to it. She knew that he was my brother…anyway, one night…one night…he couldn't…you know, I don't know…I think he was too drunk, he did that a lot, especially before…he found me. He was probably disgusted with himself. We were all sheltered. I mean, we didn't get out of the house, or mansion, or castle, whatever you want to call it…we'll call it hell. We didn't get out of hell much. It wasn't like he could just go get a girlfriend or something, so I had to do. Anyway, one night, he couldn't…you know…finish…and so he blamed me. He blamed me until I thought I would die. He beat me for about two hours. Those two hours were the…longest…it hurt. A lot. Not just because he did it, but because…I screamed. I screamed and no one came. I eventually stopped screaming and just took it. I didn't fight back. I just lay there, praying to die. So…when he was done, he left and…so did I."

"Where'd you go?" Sam barely spoke…she was crying so hard and holding Alexis close.

"I ran out…in the rain, of course, and I went to the only place I knew. I went to where I felt the happiest, and the best about myself. When Stefan and I were little, I was around ten, we would go to this old library in town and hide out when Helena was on one of her rampages. So…I went there. We had a hiding place in the back corner of the third floor that no one ever looked in. I went there…for two days, thinking that Stefan might come find me…but…he never came. After another day…I…was feeling a little better. My face was less swollen, so I snuck out to find a book or something to do. I stole food from the bakery down the street and just…lived…survived."

"I found a book to read and when I was heading back to my corner, I ran into him." Alexis smiled, "He…was gorgeous." Sam smiled. "Robert. He was a little older than me. Anyway, he was concerned about what had happened to me and we…talked. We instantly became great friends and he took care of me. Nursed me back to health. No one had ever been that nice to me…not even Stefan…so, I fell madly in love with him." She smiled, remember the boy. "He took me away. He…we went to Paris. My God, Paris…I haven't been there since. I think it would be wrong of me to go back. Anyway, sorry, we…lived in a small apartment in Paris for about a year. I had never been so happy, which…doesn't say much, because I was completely miserable before then, but…even now, I think that was the happiest I'd ever been. I love Ric, more than I've ever loved anyone, but there is something about a first love. You know?"

Sam nodded. She was so amazed by what her mother was telling her. Her mother and father loved each other. She wasn't a mistake.

"On my fifteenth birthday, and he was seventeen then by the way, anyway, we went to this small little chapel, he told me to wait in the hall while he talked to the priest, but of course I didn't. I snuck by the door and I heard him tell the priest that he didn't care if it was legal or not, he wanted to call me his wife." Alexis breathed… "I just remember smiling. He came back out and got me…and, we were married. It wasn't legal, but we knew it was. I was fifteen that day and I felt so much older. I felt as if I'd lived a whole lifetime and he was my prize at the end. So, we were happy for a few more months…so extremely happy, Sam, it was disgusting really! Anyway, one day, Robert left for work and I had to go shopping for groceries. I remember…" Alexis let the tears fall…fast. "I remember him…kissing my forehead, my cheeks, my eyelids, the tip of my nose, and my chin, then I grabbed him and kissed him on the lips…goodbye. We always did that when he left for work and when he got back. God, Sam, this is hard…" Alexis broke into a sob.

Sam held her closer. She wanted to hear the rest, but she didn't want Alexis to hurt, "You don't have to…"

"No, I'm almost done. Okay, so…that was…that was the last time I saw him. Outside of the grocery store, Helena grabbed me. She took me back to Greece and put me on the first flight to the boarding school in the states. I…I just assumed that she either didn't know about Robert…or…she had him killed. She wouldn't dare let someone live if she knew that I loved them, or they loved me."

Sam looked up at her mother, "So you never saw him again? He didn't look for you?"

"No, I assumed he was dead. He would've looked for me...he would have found me … nothing would have stopped him … he was always itching to travel somewhere, go on an adventure. He would never have let me go without a fight…so, I just assumed he was dead."

"… and at boarding school, that's when you found out about me?"

"Yes. About two weeks after I arrived. My counselor went behind my back and told Mikkos. Thank God Helena wasn't home that day. So, nine wonderful months of having you inside me went by," they both smiled, "and, Mikkos arranged for the adoption. Sam, I didn't want to let you go. You were my reminder of him. You were the product of the only happiness I'd ever had, and you were so very beautiful. Dark hair, dark eyes, you were an angel…my angel. I knew though, that Helena would kill you. I knew that…that you would be happier living in a home than on the streets hiding with me."

"No, that's where you're wrong. I would have been happier with you," Sam assured her.

Alexis broke down after hearing that and held Sam close.

"I think we're done talking for now," Sam said and soon fell asleep once again in her mother's arms. Alexis held Sam and looked up as the door creaked open to their room. There stood Mikkos, the tears still stained on his face. He mouthed the words to his first daughter, "I'm sorry".

Alexis nodded, "Me too," she mouthed. He would let them go. Forget everything. He would finally let his daughter be happy.

--

Ric had just got Kristina tucked in and Jason had put Molly to sleep. The two men came to an agreement; they actually liked each other now. Jason was a big help with the girls and Michael and Morgan when they came over. He was also a friend when Ric needed to talk. Jason didn't talk much, but Ric could tell that he was very upset. They walked into the living room just in time to see Jax, Nikolas, Lulu, Michael, and Morgan approach the door. Ric opened and smiled, "Hey gang." The all filed in and took their respective seats on the couches and chairs.

"First of all, Michael…"

Michael looked up at Ric. He stood up and walked over to him, "Ric…I didn't like you for a long time, but I like you now. So does Morgan. We love it here. Everyone is always sad here…you, Jason, Kristina, Viola, even Molly most of the time, but…Morgan and I are only happy when we're here. Mom just stays in bed and sometimes in the bathtub. I haven't seen her in a week. So, if it's okay with you, can…can we stay with you?" Jason looked at Ric and then Jax.

"Jax, is Carly okay? Is she depressed or something?"

"No, Jason, no…I had Lainey come see her…she's fine, she's just…Carly."

Ric looked at Michael and they both listened to Jason and Jax, "Michael, I would love it if you and Morgan came to stay here." He smiled. Michael ran to him and gave him the first hug of his life.

Jax, Ric, Jason, and Nikolas were in the living room talking about the possibility of Stefan being alive while Lulu, Viola, and Leticia put the kids to sleep and found empty rooms to sleep in themselves.

"Why would you think that Jax?" Nikolas asked.

"Well, why would Alexis stay away? I mean, who would she leave her family for, if only for a few months? Stefan. That's it. I still personally don't think these dreams are real."

Jason spoke up to defend Ric, "Jax, sorry man, but why would I have them, too. Sam told me that they'd be back, and that they were okay. I believe them."

Ric just nodded, "I know Jax. I've been doubting them myself, but then I just think back to them and it just has to be real. I didn't tell you about the second dream in detail did I? She held Molly for about an hour and went to see Kristina for a while. She was so happy to see them, and I could tell that there was a difference in Molly the next morning…she knew that she'd been close to her Mama."

Jax just nodded slightly and shrugged his shoulders. "So, what's next?"

The men just looked at each other.

Nikolas sighed heavily … "Luke." He said unhappily.

--

Jax rushed in his door quickly to pack…he and Nikolas were going to fly with Luke to Greece.

"Where are my boys?" Carly asked, sitting on the couch in her pajamas.

"They are at Ric's."

"I don't want them with HIM!! What were you thinking?!" She screamed.

"Carly, look, the boys like it there; we'll have this conversation later. I have to pack."

"Where are you going?" She pouted.

"Listen, we have to talk…now. Carly, I just, you're different now." He sat down by her, "I think that we're moving too fast."

"Where are you going, JAX!?"

"I'm going to Greece with Luke and Nikolas."

"What!? Why?!"

"Stop yelling…we're going to look for Alexis and Sam. Ric and Jason are going to stay here with the kids."

"Including MY kids. I want them to come back here, Jax."

"Carly, this isn't your house. I want you to move back in to your house. Manny's dead, no one is going to be shooting at you."

"Fine! FINE! I'll go get the boys."

"No, Carly, listen, the boys are happy at Ric's. Leticia is there and so is Kristina…Carly, she's their sister."

"Who's mother is a …"

"Don't you DARE Carly! THAT is what I'm sick to DEATH of! Right there! You know that Alexis is my best friend and Robin is a great friend of mine and yet you still feel the need to belittle them and call them these horrible names in front of me, when all they've EVER done to you is call you on your CRAP! I've taken so much already, Carly, but not anymore! Move out, Michael and Morgan are with Ric and Jason…you can talk to Jason about that. The boys WANT to be there. Molly and John are there too. Carly, you haven't seen your kids in three weeks for God's sake!!"

Carly's mouth dropped open, "I was KIDNAPPED!!"

Jax's face fell, "Carly, you've been home for almost two weeks now. You haven't seen them once. Look, we're done, Carly…this is it. Now, if you don't mind…I have to pack." He stared at her until she finished pouting, got angry, and left. What was he thinking with her?!

--

"Emily?"

Emily looked up at Nikolas, "Hey."

"How are you?"

"Better than yesterday, probably worse than tomorrow."

Nikolas smiled, "Jax, Luke, and I are flying to Greece for a few days to snoop around for Alexis and Sam. I just wanted to check in with you before we left."

Emily smiled up at Nikolas, "Thank you…I'm fine."

"Any word on Sonny?"

"No. No one has any clue…he couldn't be a part of them missing could he?"

"I don't think so, but…you never know. Honestly, I haven't thought about it…he hates my aunt and she doesn't care for him too much, but…I don't know. Ric seems confident that they'll be back safe, but…I have a bad feeling."

"Nikolas, come here…"

Nikolas walked over to Emily and he let her pull him down to her face. Emily kissed him sweetly on the lips and smiled up at him after a moment.

"I love you, Nikolas. I've never stopped."

Nikolas felt the tears welling up, "What about Sonny?"

"I don't know. I honestly don't know. I just know that I love you. Only you."

Nikolas beamed down on her, "Now I don't want to leave!"

"You have to go find Alexis and Sam." She kissed him again, "Be careful. I love you."

"I love you," Nikolas replied and walked away.