Chapter 14
When Kevin received a phone call from the WSB requesting his presence at the airport, he would never have guessed he would have the shock of his life. Kevin just finished a session with Franco and was going to buy some lunch at the hospital cafeteria when his phone rang. The voice on the phone was serious and requested that he come to the airport immediately. Kevin grabbed his keys and drove to the airport. After arriving at the airport, a WSB agent guided him to one of the interrogation rooms. He opened the door to the room and watched his presumed dead wife turn around and face him with her ever-stunning blue eyes. Kevin's jaw dropped. "Laura? You're alive?", stuttered an astonished Kevin.
"Yes", whispered a teary-eyed Laura.
Kevin shook his head. "How is this possible? I buried you! You were dead! I had a funeral for you!"
"Please, I'll explain everything. Please. Just let me hug you. I need to feel you. I need to really know that it's you in front of me and I think you need to feel me too", pleaded Laura.
Kevin ran up to his wife and wrapped his arms tightly around her. He couldn't believe he was holding her. She was alive. He felt her begin to sob into the crook of his neck. Kevin rubbed his wife's back trying to soothe her, meanwhile tears were silently streaming down his face. The woman who Kevin fell so deeply, madly in love with, the woman who changed his life in so many ways is alive and in his arms. "I missed you. So damn much", Kevin whispered into Laura's ear.
"I missed you too", said a weeping Laura.
Kevin and Laura stopped hugging and held each other's hands. Kevin didn't want to let go in fear that she might disappear. "Tell me what happened. If you didn't die, what happened?", asked Kevin.
Laura took a deep breath and said, "Let's sit down. I promise I'll tell you everything."
Kevin moved a chair next to Laura's and held her hands once again. "Okay. Tell me", he said.
"This story stays between us and only us. Okay, so I was supposed to come home in three days. After Spencer's doctor appointment, I took him back to school and went to go have brunch. As I was walking into this café when I was knocked out. I don't know how much time passed, but I woke up in a small room to the sound of Luke and Robert Scorpio arguing", relayed Laura.
"You were with Luke and Robert?"
"Yes. We talked about what we all remember about getting trapped together and deduced that a Cassadine was behind our kidnappings and faked deaths."
"Of course. It was Valentine. Nina said he was out of town doing business."
"Yes. Anyway, we were on Ice Princess Island. The first island the Cassadines owned. We were ordered to go to the control room and meet with Valentine. He called me in first and when I walked in, I was knocked out again. I woke up in a tunnel with wires and bombs around me."
"How did you escape the tunnel?", asked Kevin.
Laura responded, "Valentine made Luke and Robert decide which one of them searched for me and which one stayed and helped him program the weather machine. Valentine wanted to freeze the world. His father left him instructions in his will on how to program it, but he left some blanks so he needed help from one of us."
"Blackmail. One of Valentine's favorite past times. So, let me guess. Luke searched for you and became your hero once again", said Kevin.
"Yes, he found me, but I was the one who discovered which wire to cut. Thanks to you making me watch these mystery shows on television at night, I was able to figure out how Valentine's goons knocked us out and which wire to cut. So, you are my hero, mister."
Kevin smiled. "So, what happened next?"
"I guess Lucky called Tiffany Hill for help and they were on the island looking for all of us. Lucky found Luke and I in the tunnel and we escaped and ran back to the main house to save Tiffany and Robert. During our search for Robert and Tiffany, we actually ran into Tiffany. Luke wanted a plan for dealing with Valentine. This is where you can't tell anyone this part of the story. I am only telling you because you deserve the truth. Everyone else I tell, the story changes after this."
"Okay. I swear I won't tell anyone. So, what was the plan Luke came up with?", questioned Kevin.
Laura replied, "We decided to freeze Valentine like we did his father. We just thought if he wanted to live up to his father's legacy so desperately, then why not take him out the same way we took Mikkos out. I was hesitant at first because he is Charlotte's father, but I knew it would be the only way to secure our freedom from him. Tiffany took us back to the room where she left Robert and Valentine. In the room, Robert had Valentine on the ground. I gave passionate speech to him about why he deserves death. Luke, Robert, and Lucky took him to the freeze chamber and froze him. Robert called the WSB and here we are."
"What is the WSB's story?"
"That it was an accident. That he went to tamper with the freeze chamber and got locked inside. Are you disappointed in me? Ashamed of me?"
Kevin was confused. "Why would I be disappointed in you? You did what you had to do to survive and come back to me. I don't care what you agreed to do to Valentine, you are with me now and that is all that matters."
Laura leaned in and kissed her husband. Her hands went up and held his face in her hands. She felt him smile into the kiss. They broke apart and Kevin asked, "So, can we go home now?".
"I'm not sure. I know the WSB wants to keep us in hiding until tomorrow morning for a press conference. But I would really like to go home and sleep in my pajamas and in our bed", replied Laura.
"I want that too. In case I haven't told you in the last five minutes, I really missed you."
Laura smiled. "I really missed you as well. I just wanted to get off that island and back to you as quick as possible."
A WSB interrupted and asked, "Are you finished in here?".
"Yes. When can I go home?", asked Laura.
"The plan is to sneak you, Luke, and Robert out through a back entrance. We will take you all to your respective homes or safe places. You can sleep there tonight and we will collect you tomorrow morning for the press conference. After the press conference, you are free to live normally again", replied the WSB agent.
"Thank you", said Laura.
"No problem. Now, come with me. It's time to sneak you out. Doctor Collins, you can go to the normal entrance of the airport and head home."
Kevin and Laura kissed goodbye and Kevin departed the room to head home. Laura followed the WSB agent to the back entrance. Luke and Robert were already in the car and waiting for Laura by the time she hopped in the car. "So, Angel how did Doc take your miraculous return?", asked Luke.
"He was surprised, but happy that I really wasn't dead. How did Tracy and Anna take your returns from the great beyond?", questioned Laura.
"Ahh. Spanky was surprised. She slapped me for scaring her and leaving her alone. She thought I did it on purpose. But once I explained that Valentine took me, she gave me a big wet one. Spanky buns won't be taking me for granted anymore. She missed me", said Luke with a smirk.
"Anna was shocked, but once I told her Valentine was the mastermind she began kicking herself for not figuring it out. She said she couldn't wait to tell Robin that I'm really alive. I can't either. I might take a month's vacation and spend it with Robin and the kids. You know, when your death is faked you really start to miss you family?", joked Robert.
Laura laughed. "Are you staying at the Quartermaines', Luke?", she asked.
"Yeah. Only Monica is there. Tracy said Ned and Olivia took her kid to Disneyland or World. I forget which one. And Monica will keep her mouth closed until morning, so all is good. You staying at Anna's, Scorpio?", responded Luke.
Robert replied, "Yes, because she knows the details. Otherwise, I would have stayed at Mac's. But sometimes Mac doesn't know how to keep his trap closed, so I think I'll be safer at Anna's for the night."
The trio remained silent because of utter exhaustion for the rest of ride to their respective houses.
When Laura walked into her and Kevin's house, she heard Kevin on the phone in the kitchen, with who she presumed to be Spencer, when he said, "Thanks for staying at Elizabeth's tonight, kiddo. I have an early day tomorrow and I think it would be nice for you to spend time with your cousins. I'll pick you up as soon as all my appointments are finished. Good night." Kevin ended the phone call and set his phone on the kitchen counter. He walked over to Laura, brought her face to his and kissed her. Passionately. Laura didn't know how much time was passing or how much oxygen she was losing, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that she was back where she belongs: in Kevin's arms. Laura broke the kiss and seductively said, "Take me to bed."
Kevin smiled and grabbed Laura's hand leading her to their bedroom. Kevin couldn't believe that he was about to make love to his wife. His wife that he thought died and was never coming back. He was in such a low, down place after being told that Laura had died. He thought his life was over. He needed to show her and tell her what she means to him. He can't lose her again or to Luke Spencer. Once arriving in their room, Laura began to unbutton Kevin's shirt and kissed his chest after every button was opened. She could tell Kevin wasn't responding the way he normally does when they start making love. She looked up at him and said, "What's wrong? Don't you want me?".
"Of course I want you. I will always want you", replied Kevin.
Laura sat on the edge of their bed and Kevin followed. "So, why aren't you, I don't know, undressing me? Kissing me?", asked Laura softly.
Kevin took her hand in his and said, "I, uh, I don't know how to explain this. While I was driving home after seeing you, I began to think about your adventure. I began to wonder whether you somehow enjoyed it. Ugh! Laura, I'm overwhelmed right now. I buried you. I had to tell Spencer that one of the last people he has left on this earth died. I had to comfort a little boy while I was grieving myself. I know that you didn't purposely leave. Believe me. I know you wouldn't run off and not tell me or LuLu. But now I have myself questioning whether you want to be back. You were on an adventure with your old love and old adventure buddies. What if you want that life again? I know that this is stupid, but God dammit Laura I missed you so damn much. If I lost you again, I would just die."
Laura was shocked. "You think I want to leave, for real? You think I want to leave you and our life for Luke?"
"Laura, I know I am not the most exciting, adventurous man. I also know that Luke holds a very special place in your heart. You know me. I prefer the mellow, calmness of life. I don't like to chase down bad guys and jump out of airplanes. I like staying home and doing mundane things. But, I would do anything to make you happy. If letting you leave for real to get back with Luke would make you happy, I won't stop you."
"Kevin, when I was young and naive, I loved that adventurous life. That kind of life was stability for me. But then I had children, and I had to grow up. I like mundane things too. You are what I want now and forever. I will always love Luke, but not in the way I love you. I love him as a former husband, father of my children, old friend kind of way. I love you like a woman loves a man. A woman who is completely, totally, unquestionably in love with the most handsome, kind psychiatrist the world could offer her. While I was practically kidnapped and almost killed, I thought about you constantly. You were always on my heart and mind. I want to be with you until the moment I take my last breath."
Kevin wiped a tear that was falling from Laura's cheek. "I just love you so much. I can't bear the thought of losing you."
Laura pulled Kevin into a hug. She said, "Don't think about it because it won't happen. I am yours, Kevin Collins. All yours. Now and forever."
Laura returned to unbuttoning Kevin's shirt and threw it on the ground without a care in the world. She wanted to show her husband that she loved him more than anything the world could offer her. The two took their time loving one another and demonstrating the love the two have for one another. When the two became one, Laura looked Kevin directly in the eye and repeated a line of her wedding vows, "I will love you every day for the rest of my life."
In the still of the night, Laura and Kevin were lying in bed with Laura snuggled into Kevin's side. She was playing with the wedding band on his finger while he was filling her in on what she missed while she was kidnapped. "So, basically Nina told Spencer that I didn't want him and that he should live with her, Valentine, and Charlotte at Wyndemere. How nuts was that?", said Kevin.
Laura rolled her eyes. "Well, what else could we expect from the woman that married Valentine knowing half of the horrible things he did and letting it go because he sang her a song? How did Spencer take it?"
"He ran away, of course. But, Tracy told me to think where you would run to and that's where Spencer would be. SO, I found him at the lot where you and Luke's house used to be. We talked and he knows that I love him with or without you in our lives. Even though I definitely prefer life with you."
Laura smiled and kissed Kevin's shoulder in appreciation. "He is so lucky to have you in his life. I am lucky to have you. Speaking of Nina, how do you think she'll take the news about Valentine?", asked Laura.
Kevin replied, "Honestly, I don't care at all. She deserves it. But from a psychiatry stand point, she will be devasted. As much as we hate her and Valentine, they did love each other."
"I do feel bad. I don't want anyone to lose the person they love, no matter how much I can't stand them", said Laura.
"You're a good person, Laura, with a huge heart. I would expect nothing less from you. Are you nervous for the press conference tomorrow?"
"A little. Not for the actual press conference, but for people's responses, like LuLu. She'll be glad that Luke and I are alive, but then she'll move to anger because no one told her beforehand. Then, she'll move back to glad. It's the anger stage I dread."
"Yeah, I understand why. The apple doesn't fall to far from the tree."
"You better be talking about Luke's tree not mine, mister!", said Laura jokingly.
"I love your tree. You and Luke can be pretty fierce when you are both angry. I think she gets it from both of you", replied Kevin.
"That's true. Well, I think we better get some sleep. We have an early and busy day tomorrow. I can't wait to see LuLu and the kids and smother Spencer with kisses. I love all my grandkids, you know, but Spencer lost both his parents. He needs me the most."
"He missed you. He was lost without you. I'm sure he'll be ecstatic when he sees you tomorrow, just like I was when I saw you."
Laura kissed Kevin and said, "I love you."
Kevin replied, "I love you too."
Kevin went to sleep thanking his lucky stars that the woman he loves is alive and home safely tucked in his arms.