Carly seized the opportunity to answer the door and was delighted to see
her Aunt Laura standing there with Lulu. "Laura!" She said with a bright
fake smile. "And Lulu!"
"Hello Carly." Laura said cheerfully.
"Michael's in his room, why don't you go and tell him to get a move on?"
Carly suggested to Lulu, who immediately jumped at the chance to boss
around her cousin.
Laura walked into the living room and was surprised to see Sonny there.
"Sonny! How are you?"
Sonny, who had sat down on the couch when Carly went to get the door,
quickly stood. "I'm fine, Mrs. Spencer. And you?"
"I'm good." Laura didn't comment on how odd it was to see Sonny lounging in
Carly's living room. "Carly, do you happen to know why Luke came over here
last night? He got a call from Jerry and he went rushing out and then this
morning, he left early. Is there something wrong?"
Carly shrugged. "I have no idea what's going on. All I know is that Jerry
and Bobbie didn't leave for their trip this morning and instead they and
Uncle Luke went out to Spoon Island."
"Spoon Island?" Laura frowned. "I wonder why Luke didn't say anything to me
about it?"
Once again Carly shrugged. "Beats me."
"I guess he'll tell me why later."
Michael and Lulu came trooping in. Michael was carrying a bag.
"Where are you off to with that big bag?" Sonny asked.
Laura answered. "I promised Michael that I would take him and Lulu over to
see Brooke Lynn."
"Yeah and I made her a get well bag filled with toys and coloring books and
everything!" Michael said with a big smile. He held up the bag so Sonny
could see.
"Wow." Sonny smiled back at him.
Laura looked at her watch. "We better get going. I'll bring him back later,
Carly."
"Okay. Just bring him back in time for dinner. Alex is coming over." Carly
tried not to notice the glare that Sonny was sending in her direction.
Laura nodded. "Sure thing. Let's go, Lulu and Michael." They headed for the
door. Carly stopped Michael and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which he
immediately wiped off.
"Be good for Aunt Laura, okay?"
"I will." He said stubbornly.
Carly gave him a knowing look. "Behave."
"I said I will!" He stormed out the door. Carly and Laura shared amused
glances.
"He won't be that much trouble." Laura assured her and went out the door.
Carly started to close the door behind them when she stopped and held it
open.
She glanced at Sonny, who had followed them to the door. "Weren't you just
leaving?"
"Nope." He shut the door and backed her up against it. "Alone at last." He
whispered. His head began to descend and just then the doorbell rang.
Groaning, he backed away into the living room.
Carly, grateful for another interruption, quickly opened the door. Bobbie
came rushing in, followed by Jerry.
"Carly!" Bobbie cried and went to hug her but stopped herself. "Where's
Michael?"
"Mom?" Carly said with a questioning frown. "Michael's fine. He's with Aunt
Laura. What happened? Is there something wrong?"
Bobbie looked at Jerry before answering. Jerry shook his head. Bobbie
sighed and said. "There's nothing wrong. I just…"
"Why aren't you two on your trip? And why did you all and Uncle Luke go
rushing out to Spoon Island this morning? There *is* something wrong. I
knew it." Carly said accusingly.
Jerry stepped in to answer her questions because he knew Bobbie would say
something about Victor. "There were some… personal business we had to take
care of. That's why we went out to Wyndemere. There's nothing wrong at
all."
"So why didn't you go on your trip?"
"We decided to spend the weekend at home instead." Jerry lied smoothly.
"What's the use of spending all that money and all we were ever going to
see were the four walls of our room?" Jerry grinned.
Carly got his meaning. She grinned back. "I get you. Do you want Lucas to
stay with me and Mikey this weekend so you two could be alone?"
"No, that's quite all right. But thanks for offering though." Jerry nodded
then turned to Bobbie. "We should go home now, luv. We have to unpack." He
started walking to the door.
Bobbie took once last look before following Jerry out the door. Carly shook
her head. Weird, she thought. Sonny came strolling into the hall.
"I better get going myself."
"Finally?" She asked relieved. She had come to admit that Sonny did have a
power over her like no other.
"Finally." He stopped in front of her. "You can't be glad to see me go,
cupcake? We didn't even get a chance to have any fun. We kept getting
interrupted."
"Thank god for interruptions then. I have all the fun that I need with
Alex."
"Yes, 'Alex'. He's a *fun* type of guy isn't he? All law and order. Sounds
like big fun." Sonny smirked.
"He certainly is to me." Carly folded her arms.
"Right, right. Well, if you are ever in the mood for something more than
good old law and order fun, you know where to find me." Sonny opened the
door and walked out.
Carly let out and a sigh of relief that he was finally gone. She wandered
into the living room. What was she going to do about Sonny? Her life was
finally in order. She had even stopped thinking about Jason all the time.
She had a great guy, wonderful friends, good relationship with her mother
and even if he was a brat at times, a terrific son. But now Sonny decides
it's time to come in and destroy everything and rip her life apart just
because he felt like it. Could things get any worse?
~*~*~
A Few Days Later
Victor Cassadine waited in his room at the Port Charles Hotel. He was
expecting Mikkos' daughter and she was late. Typical of someone raised by
Mikkos and Helena. He was checking his watch again when there was a knock
on the door.
"Who is it?" He bellowed.
Higgins began to say "Mrs. Ashton" but was cut off by Alexis opening the
door herself and walking in.
"You wanted to see me Victor?" She asked.
"No surprise that I'm alive?"
She shrugged. "If there's one thing that I've learned is that the dead
don't always stay dead."
"Quite right, Natasha. Would you like a drink?" He crossed over to the bar.
"The name is Alexis and no, I don't want or need a drink. What do you want
with me?"
Victor poured himself a drink. "Direct and to the point. No beating around
the bush with you, Natasha."
"This is the last time I'm going to say this. The name is Alexis Ashton."
"You married a Quartermaine." Victor shook his head. "Shame on you. Those
people aren't fit to be…"
Alexis cut him off. "If all you invited me here to do was listen to you
badmouth my husband's family, then I'll just be going." She turned to the
door then paused. "Does Stefan know you're here?"
"Of course he does. We had a nice little chat the other day."
"Did you?" Alexis didn't wait for his answer and opened the door.
"Concerning what?"
"The reason I'm back. The reason I have contacted you."
Alexis realized he was going to draw this out. "What did you two talk
about, exactly?"
"Oh, this and that. The deaths in the family, old family secrets, new
family secrets, that sort of thing. We also talked about getting my family
back."
Alexis turned. "Your family? What family?"
"My family here in Port Charles. My daughter and grandson."
"You have a daughter and grandson?" She said in disbelief. Victor nodded.
"Who?"
"I believe the name she goes by is Carly and my grandson's name is Michael
Morgan."
Alexis gaped. "Carly Spenc…"
"Do not call her that!" He snapped. "She is a Cassadine, same as you."
"Well, if she is a Cassadine, that might explain a few things." Alexis
smirked. "Isn't that funny? Your daughter is part-Spencer, the people you
hate the most and your grandson is part-Quartermaine, the people you have
the least use for."
Victor waved a hand to discredit all that. "The important part is that
she's a Cassadine."
Alexis shrugged. "So what does she have to do with me?"
"I just wanted to let you know I was around in case I needed your help."
"Sorry… Uncle. I don't do that anymore. Helena was the last Cassadine to
use me. Even Stefan knows better to ask me that. I'm not going down that
road again." Alexis walked out.
Victor took a long drink and looked at the door. "Really?" He said quietly.
"Higgins!" Victor called. Higgins hurried in.
"Sir?"
Victor took another drink before saying. "Get the car ready. It's time I
see my daughter and grandchild in the flesh. And Higgins?"
Higgins paused at the door. "Sir?"
"The Corinthos report? Where is it?" Victor glared at the little man.
"It will be in your hands but nightfall, sir."
"It better be."
~*~*~
Lucky and his girlfriend, Samantha was sitting outside the Spencer home
where Lucky still lived on occasion. He also had a room over Kelly's
whenever he felt the need to be away from his family. They were laughing
and whispering the little things that couples always whispered to each
other when Elizabeth walked up.
"Lucky, Samantha, hi." She said.
"Hey Elizabeth." Samantha smiled.
"What's up, Lizzie?" Lucky was the only one who still called her that.
Elizabeth fidgeted. "Lucky, I kind of need to talk to you. Alone." She
emphasized the last word.
Samantha understood immediately. "I'm going to go inside and get myself
something to drink. Elizabeth? Would you like something?"
"No thanks. I won't be here that long." Samantha went into the house.
Lucky stood and walked over to Elizabeth. "So what's so important that you
couldn't talk about it in front of Sam?"
"Lucky Spencer! I thought you were my friend? Why didn't you tell me what
Nikolas was going to do!" Elizabeth let out all the frustration that she
had been holding inside of her.
Lucky took a step back. "What did I do now?"
Elizabeth advanced on him, poking him in the chest. "You knew that Nikolas
was going to propose didn't you?"
Lucky tried to step away from her. "Yeah." He said slowly.
"And you didn't tell me?" She followed him.
"It was a surprise. Surprise." He smiled weakly.
"Some surprise."
"I take it, you didn't like the surprise?"
"No duh!" She shouted.
"Why are you so mad? You should have been flattered. I still don't get why
you turned him down."
"Lucky, let me ask you a question. Are you ready to marry Samantha?"
"What! No way! We… we can't get married now, we're too young, who knows if
we are mature enough to handle married life…" Lucky started reeling off the
excuses.
"Exactly!" Elizabeth threw up her hands. "What made you think I was ready
for all that, Lucky? I'm only 21; I still get money from my parents! I
still get crushes on movie stars and rock stars, I enjoy being young and
getting married to Nikolas, who is The Cassadine, would end all that very
quickly!"
Lucky held up his hands in surrender. "I give, Lizzie, I give. I'm not the
one you should be yelling at or trying to convince though."
Elizabeth sighed and dropped down in Samantha's abandoned chair. "I know
that. I all ready told Nikolas all that just in a nicer way. I'm telling
you because you should have known better. I know how close you and Nikolas
are, despite me and him dating, and I know how you two give each other
advice but how could you tell him to marry me?"
Lucky sat down next to her. "Elizabeth, I didn't. When he told me, he had
all ready made up his mind about asking you. All I could do was listen as
he went on and on about how much he wanted to marry you."
"He did?"
Lucky nodded. "Nothing I could say would get him to change his mind. You
know how he is."
"I do know how he gets and I just wish he had thought it out clearly before
asking me or at least discussed the possibility of our getting married
*some* day with me. But, no, Nikolas Cassadine wants to get married and he
wants to get married now. Argh!" Elizabeth buried her face in her hands.
"Have you calmed down yet?"
Her face still in her palms, Elizabeth nodded. Then she said in a muffled
voice, "It's just so frustrating!"
"What?"
Elizabeth sat up. "I said it was frustrating. Nikolas and I were going
along smoothly and then he does something like this and…"
"How are things between you two, right now?" Lucky couldn't help but asked.
"Strained. We barely see each other and when we do, we don't talk or touch
or anything, we're just two people who just happen to be in the same place,
at the same time. I wish things would just get better but I know how
disappointed Nikolas is because of me turning him down. I feel as if I let
him down."
~*~*~
Emily was passing by Kelly's when she noticed Nikolas sitting all alone.
Slinging her camera bag over her shoulder, she went up next to him and
tapped him on his shoulder. He looked up and Emily couldn't help but notice
how miserable he looked.
"Hi." She said with a small smile. "May I sit down?"
He waved his hand in front of him. "Be my guest."
"Nikolas, is there something wrong? You look horrible?" Emily asked as she
sat down.
"Everything's wrong but I don't feel like talking about it. Where are you
on your way to?"
"I just finished up a photo shoot and I figured it was such a nice day, I'd
take some pictures in the park." After coming to the realization that she
had enough of modeling, Emily had become interested in the other side of
the camera. She was taking photography courses over at PCU and Tom; her old
photographer had hired her as his assistant and was teaching her everything
he knew about photography. "I got some great shots."
"Hmm, that's nice." Nikolas nodded.
Emily knew he wasn't paying her any attention. "Nikolas, it might be better
if you would just talk about what's bothering you. What is it?"
"What else could it be? Elizabeth." He stared at the table.
"She told me she turned down your proposal, is that what's upsetting you?"
Emily asked softly.
Nikolas nodded. "I was expecting her to shout for joy and to kiss me and to
say yes and instead I get some speech about her wanting to enjoy life and…"
he trailed off.
"I'm sorry things didn't go the way you planned but Nikolas, you have to
understand, it's different here. Girls Elizabeth's age usually don't get
married and especially not to some one who is the head of a powerful family
like the Cassadines."
Nikolas smacked the table angrily. "Why do everyone bring up the fact that
I'm a Cassadine? That I am The Cassadine? It's not like I asked to be it."
"You can't deny it though. You just have to give it more time. You should
have waited until later in the relationship."
"That's what Lucky told me. I should have listen to him but I didn't."
"Sometimes the guy makes a little sense." Emily smiled.
"If I had waited, maybe I wouldn't have blown it. After Elizabeth turned me
down, I practically accused her of wanting to be with Lucky."
"You didn't? Lucky and Elizabeth were over a long time ago. He has moved on
and so has she."
"I know that. I just needed to blame someone. There was no way I could
believe that Elizabeth would not want to marry me."
"Right now she doesn't but give it a while. She might come around."
"You think?"
"Definitely. And Nikolas, anytime you need a friend, I'll always be around
to help."
"Thanks, Em."
~*~*~
Bobbie paced back and forth in her living room and all Jerry could do was
watch helplessly.
"I don't like this, this not knowing what Victor is up." She said as she
wrung her hands.
"And I don't like watching you work yourself up like this. Calm down,
Bobbie, you're making me dizzy watching you go back and forth and back and
forth."
"If you don't like it, don't watch me." She snapped then immediately
regretted her remark. She sat on the couch next to him. "I'm just all
worked up over this. Carly doesn't know what's going on and that alone can
put her in danger."
Jerry took her hands in his. "Bobbie, I understand. But for now it's out of
your hands. You get worrying like this, you'll drive yourself crazy and
that is exactly what Victor wants."
"I just wish he would call all ready or *do* something. I hate waiting."
"We need to get your mind off of this. Jasper and V invited us over for
dinner. Let's take them up on their offer, hmm? It'll be fun, I guarantee."
"Well…"
"Come on, luv." Jerry grinned at her and if there was one thing she
couldn't resist was Jerry's smile.
"Okay." She gave in.
~*~*~
"Michael! If you don't get out here right now, we will *not* be getting any
ice cream at all!" Carly called out. She grinned at Alex who was waiting to
take her and Michael out for some ice cream. "That'll get him moving."
"You're bad." He smiled.
"And you like it." He drew her into his arms.
"Being bad does have its merits." He leaned in to give her a kiss. Michael
came walking in.
"Ew! Kissies!" He shouted. The couple regretfully parted. Alex reached down
and ruffled Michael's hair. "When you get older, you won't be able to wait
until you can get a girl alone for a few 'kissies'."
"Yuck! I don't think so." Michael opened the door and turned to the adults.
"Come on, I want some ice cream!"
Cary shrugged. "My son, the impatient brat." She, Alex and Michael walked
out the door.
They got into Alex's car and none of them noticed the men watching them
from across the street.
"My daughter." Victor breathed. "She looks a little like her mother but I
think she looks more like me. What do you think Higgins?"
"Exactly like you sir."
"And the boy. The pictures barely hint at the potential I see in the boy.
His hair reminds me of Barbara's."
"Lot of potential, sir, lot of potential."
"Quit, sucking up to me. I think I need to go shopping for a new suit. I
want to look my best when my daughter finally meets her daddy."
~*~*~
Alexis opened the door to the gatehouse and the first thing she noticed was
the smell of cigar smoke. Luke Spencer is here. She dropped her purse on
the side table and commented casually, "My husband doesn't like cigar smoke
in his house and neither do I."
"Darlin', I've been waiting for you to get here for the longest time." Luke
said from a dark corner.
"Yeah, well, sorry to get you waiting so long. If I'd know you were going
to be here, I would have stayed up at the House tonight." Alexis walked
past him.
"Natasha, you wound me." Luke stood and followed her.
"If only that were true." Alexis threw him a look over her shoulder. "And
please don't call me Natasha. If I have to hear that name one more time
today…"
"Been to see dear old Uncle Victor? Have a nice reunion?" Luke grinned
around his cigar.
"It doesn't surprise me that you all ready know that he's alive."
Luke shrugged and took a puff of his cigar. "You wacky Cassadines. We try
to kill you but you just won't stay dead."
Alexis faked a shudder. "Don't tell me that more Cassadines will be coming
back to life also? Tony? Mikkos? Stavros? Helena?"
"Sweetheart, you were there. The Wicked Witch of Greece is dead. We both
are damn sure she's not coming back at all."
Alexis allowed a small smile to come over her face as she thought of the
dearly departed Helena. "Yes, she is gone for good. However, I know you
didn't come here to relive favorite memories. What way are you going to try
to use me now?"
Luke backed away with a grin. "Who said I came here to use you? Maybe I
just dropped in to see if you were all caught up on the big news?"
Alexis folded her arms. "Good because like I told Victor I'm done being the
usable Cassadine."
"Now you're the smart Quartermaine. Looks like you downgraded to a worse
family."
"Must every one crack jokes on my husband's family?"
"That's why they're here darlin'. But seriously, Victor Cassadine has
somehow decided that sweet Caroline is his daughter and he wants her and
Michael."
"I know that. He couldn't wait to tell me. Old news, Luke, though I
seriously doubt it's true."
"Oh, it's true that she's a Cassadine but we've got ourselves a good
old-fashioned game of Guess the Father going on." Luke took another puff.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Whoa, ho, ho, does that mean you are out of the loop? Your big brother
Stefan is now claiming to be the daddy also."
"Stefan did what?"
"Seems there were a whole lot of naughtiness going on and there is a
possibility that either Stiff or Vic is the proud papa."
Alexis gaped. "I don't believe it."
"Believe it. You've got a new cousin. I hope you welcome her with open
arms."
"This can't be for real."
"Do I have to keep repeating myself? Because it does get boring. Just tell
your Uncle, the next time he talks to you, to give up on Carly and Michael.
Believe me, Carly's not the type of girl you want in the family. She's a
Spencer after all."
her Aunt Laura standing there with Lulu. "Laura!" She said with a bright
fake smile. "And Lulu!"
"Hello Carly." Laura said cheerfully.
"Michael's in his room, why don't you go and tell him to get a move on?"
Carly suggested to Lulu, who immediately jumped at the chance to boss
around her cousin.
Laura walked into the living room and was surprised to see Sonny there.
"Sonny! How are you?"
Sonny, who had sat down on the couch when Carly went to get the door,
quickly stood. "I'm fine, Mrs. Spencer. And you?"
"I'm good." Laura didn't comment on how odd it was to see Sonny lounging in
Carly's living room. "Carly, do you happen to know why Luke came over here
last night? He got a call from Jerry and he went rushing out and then this
morning, he left early. Is there something wrong?"
Carly shrugged. "I have no idea what's going on. All I know is that Jerry
and Bobbie didn't leave for their trip this morning and instead they and
Uncle Luke went out to Spoon Island."
"Spoon Island?" Laura frowned. "I wonder why Luke didn't say anything to me
about it?"
Once again Carly shrugged. "Beats me."
"I guess he'll tell me why later."
Michael and Lulu came trooping in. Michael was carrying a bag.
"Where are you off to with that big bag?" Sonny asked.
Laura answered. "I promised Michael that I would take him and Lulu over to
see Brooke Lynn."
"Yeah and I made her a get well bag filled with toys and coloring books and
everything!" Michael said with a big smile. He held up the bag so Sonny
could see.
"Wow." Sonny smiled back at him.
Laura looked at her watch. "We better get going. I'll bring him back later,
Carly."
"Okay. Just bring him back in time for dinner. Alex is coming over." Carly
tried not to notice the glare that Sonny was sending in her direction.
Laura nodded. "Sure thing. Let's go, Lulu and Michael." They headed for the
door. Carly stopped Michael and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which he
immediately wiped off.
"Be good for Aunt Laura, okay?"
"I will." He said stubbornly.
Carly gave him a knowing look. "Behave."
"I said I will!" He stormed out the door. Carly and Laura shared amused
glances.
"He won't be that much trouble." Laura assured her and went out the door.
Carly started to close the door behind them when she stopped and held it
open.
She glanced at Sonny, who had followed them to the door. "Weren't you just
leaving?"
"Nope." He shut the door and backed her up against it. "Alone at last." He
whispered. His head began to descend and just then the doorbell rang.
Groaning, he backed away into the living room.
Carly, grateful for another interruption, quickly opened the door. Bobbie
came rushing in, followed by Jerry.
"Carly!" Bobbie cried and went to hug her but stopped herself. "Where's
Michael?"
"Mom?" Carly said with a questioning frown. "Michael's fine. He's with Aunt
Laura. What happened? Is there something wrong?"
Bobbie looked at Jerry before answering. Jerry shook his head. Bobbie
sighed and said. "There's nothing wrong. I just…"
"Why aren't you two on your trip? And why did you all and Uncle Luke go
rushing out to Spoon Island this morning? There *is* something wrong. I
knew it." Carly said accusingly.
Jerry stepped in to answer her questions because he knew Bobbie would say
something about Victor. "There were some… personal business we had to take
care of. That's why we went out to Wyndemere. There's nothing wrong at
all."
"So why didn't you go on your trip?"
"We decided to spend the weekend at home instead." Jerry lied smoothly.
"What's the use of spending all that money and all we were ever going to
see were the four walls of our room?" Jerry grinned.
Carly got his meaning. She grinned back. "I get you. Do you want Lucas to
stay with me and Mikey this weekend so you two could be alone?"
"No, that's quite all right. But thanks for offering though." Jerry nodded
then turned to Bobbie. "We should go home now, luv. We have to unpack." He
started walking to the door.
Bobbie took once last look before following Jerry out the door. Carly shook
her head. Weird, she thought. Sonny came strolling into the hall.
"I better get going myself."
"Finally?" She asked relieved. She had come to admit that Sonny did have a
power over her like no other.
"Finally." He stopped in front of her. "You can't be glad to see me go,
cupcake? We didn't even get a chance to have any fun. We kept getting
interrupted."
"Thank god for interruptions then. I have all the fun that I need with
Alex."
"Yes, 'Alex'. He's a *fun* type of guy isn't he? All law and order. Sounds
like big fun." Sonny smirked.
"He certainly is to me." Carly folded her arms.
"Right, right. Well, if you are ever in the mood for something more than
good old law and order fun, you know where to find me." Sonny opened the
door and walked out.
Carly let out and a sigh of relief that he was finally gone. She wandered
into the living room. What was she going to do about Sonny? Her life was
finally in order. She had even stopped thinking about Jason all the time.
She had a great guy, wonderful friends, good relationship with her mother
and even if he was a brat at times, a terrific son. But now Sonny decides
it's time to come in and destroy everything and rip her life apart just
because he felt like it. Could things get any worse?
~*~*~
A Few Days Later
Victor Cassadine waited in his room at the Port Charles Hotel. He was
expecting Mikkos' daughter and she was late. Typical of someone raised by
Mikkos and Helena. He was checking his watch again when there was a knock
on the door.
"Who is it?" He bellowed.
Higgins began to say "Mrs. Ashton" but was cut off by Alexis opening the
door herself and walking in.
"You wanted to see me Victor?" She asked.
"No surprise that I'm alive?"
She shrugged. "If there's one thing that I've learned is that the dead
don't always stay dead."
"Quite right, Natasha. Would you like a drink?" He crossed over to the bar.
"The name is Alexis and no, I don't want or need a drink. What do you want
with me?"
Victor poured himself a drink. "Direct and to the point. No beating around
the bush with you, Natasha."
"This is the last time I'm going to say this. The name is Alexis Ashton."
"You married a Quartermaine." Victor shook his head. "Shame on you. Those
people aren't fit to be…"
Alexis cut him off. "If all you invited me here to do was listen to you
badmouth my husband's family, then I'll just be going." She turned to the
door then paused. "Does Stefan know you're here?"
"Of course he does. We had a nice little chat the other day."
"Did you?" Alexis didn't wait for his answer and opened the door.
"Concerning what?"
"The reason I'm back. The reason I have contacted you."
Alexis realized he was going to draw this out. "What did you two talk
about, exactly?"
"Oh, this and that. The deaths in the family, old family secrets, new
family secrets, that sort of thing. We also talked about getting my family
back."
Alexis turned. "Your family? What family?"
"My family here in Port Charles. My daughter and grandson."
"You have a daughter and grandson?" She said in disbelief. Victor nodded.
"Who?"
"I believe the name she goes by is Carly and my grandson's name is Michael
Morgan."
Alexis gaped. "Carly Spenc…"
"Do not call her that!" He snapped. "She is a Cassadine, same as you."
"Well, if she is a Cassadine, that might explain a few things." Alexis
smirked. "Isn't that funny? Your daughter is part-Spencer, the people you
hate the most and your grandson is part-Quartermaine, the people you have
the least use for."
Victor waved a hand to discredit all that. "The important part is that
she's a Cassadine."
Alexis shrugged. "So what does she have to do with me?"
"I just wanted to let you know I was around in case I needed your help."
"Sorry… Uncle. I don't do that anymore. Helena was the last Cassadine to
use me. Even Stefan knows better to ask me that. I'm not going down that
road again." Alexis walked out.
Victor took a long drink and looked at the door. "Really?" He said quietly.
"Higgins!" Victor called. Higgins hurried in.
"Sir?"
Victor took another drink before saying. "Get the car ready. It's time I
see my daughter and grandchild in the flesh. And Higgins?"
Higgins paused at the door. "Sir?"
"The Corinthos report? Where is it?" Victor glared at the little man.
"It will be in your hands but nightfall, sir."
"It better be."
~*~*~
Lucky and his girlfriend, Samantha was sitting outside the Spencer home
where Lucky still lived on occasion. He also had a room over Kelly's
whenever he felt the need to be away from his family. They were laughing
and whispering the little things that couples always whispered to each
other when Elizabeth walked up.
"Lucky, Samantha, hi." She said.
"Hey Elizabeth." Samantha smiled.
"What's up, Lizzie?" Lucky was the only one who still called her that.
Elizabeth fidgeted. "Lucky, I kind of need to talk to you. Alone." She
emphasized the last word.
Samantha understood immediately. "I'm going to go inside and get myself
something to drink. Elizabeth? Would you like something?"
"No thanks. I won't be here that long." Samantha went into the house.
Lucky stood and walked over to Elizabeth. "So what's so important that you
couldn't talk about it in front of Sam?"
"Lucky Spencer! I thought you were my friend? Why didn't you tell me what
Nikolas was going to do!" Elizabeth let out all the frustration that she
had been holding inside of her.
Lucky took a step back. "What did I do now?"
Elizabeth advanced on him, poking him in the chest. "You knew that Nikolas
was going to propose didn't you?"
Lucky tried to step away from her. "Yeah." He said slowly.
"And you didn't tell me?" She followed him.
"It was a surprise. Surprise." He smiled weakly.
"Some surprise."
"I take it, you didn't like the surprise?"
"No duh!" She shouted.
"Why are you so mad? You should have been flattered. I still don't get why
you turned him down."
"Lucky, let me ask you a question. Are you ready to marry Samantha?"
"What! No way! We… we can't get married now, we're too young, who knows if
we are mature enough to handle married life…" Lucky started reeling off the
excuses.
"Exactly!" Elizabeth threw up her hands. "What made you think I was ready
for all that, Lucky? I'm only 21; I still get money from my parents! I
still get crushes on movie stars and rock stars, I enjoy being young and
getting married to Nikolas, who is The Cassadine, would end all that very
quickly!"
Lucky held up his hands in surrender. "I give, Lizzie, I give. I'm not the
one you should be yelling at or trying to convince though."
Elizabeth sighed and dropped down in Samantha's abandoned chair. "I know
that. I all ready told Nikolas all that just in a nicer way. I'm telling
you because you should have known better. I know how close you and Nikolas
are, despite me and him dating, and I know how you two give each other
advice but how could you tell him to marry me?"
Lucky sat down next to her. "Elizabeth, I didn't. When he told me, he had
all ready made up his mind about asking you. All I could do was listen as
he went on and on about how much he wanted to marry you."
"He did?"
Lucky nodded. "Nothing I could say would get him to change his mind. You
know how he is."
"I do know how he gets and I just wish he had thought it out clearly before
asking me or at least discussed the possibility of our getting married
*some* day with me. But, no, Nikolas Cassadine wants to get married and he
wants to get married now. Argh!" Elizabeth buried her face in her hands.
"Have you calmed down yet?"
Her face still in her palms, Elizabeth nodded. Then she said in a muffled
voice, "It's just so frustrating!"
"What?"
Elizabeth sat up. "I said it was frustrating. Nikolas and I were going
along smoothly and then he does something like this and…"
"How are things between you two, right now?" Lucky couldn't help but asked.
"Strained. We barely see each other and when we do, we don't talk or touch
or anything, we're just two people who just happen to be in the same place,
at the same time. I wish things would just get better but I know how
disappointed Nikolas is because of me turning him down. I feel as if I let
him down."
~*~*~
Emily was passing by Kelly's when she noticed Nikolas sitting all alone.
Slinging her camera bag over her shoulder, she went up next to him and
tapped him on his shoulder. He looked up and Emily couldn't help but notice
how miserable he looked.
"Hi." She said with a small smile. "May I sit down?"
He waved his hand in front of him. "Be my guest."
"Nikolas, is there something wrong? You look horrible?" Emily asked as she
sat down.
"Everything's wrong but I don't feel like talking about it. Where are you
on your way to?"
"I just finished up a photo shoot and I figured it was such a nice day, I'd
take some pictures in the park." After coming to the realization that she
had enough of modeling, Emily had become interested in the other side of
the camera. She was taking photography courses over at PCU and Tom; her old
photographer had hired her as his assistant and was teaching her everything
he knew about photography. "I got some great shots."
"Hmm, that's nice." Nikolas nodded.
Emily knew he wasn't paying her any attention. "Nikolas, it might be better
if you would just talk about what's bothering you. What is it?"
"What else could it be? Elizabeth." He stared at the table.
"She told me she turned down your proposal, is that what's upsetting you?"
Emily asked softly.
Nikolas nodded. "I was expecting her to shout for joy and to kiss me and to
say yes and instead I get some speech about her wanting to enjoy life and…"
he trailed off.
"I'm sorry things didn't go the way you planned but Nikolas, you have to
understand, it's different here. Girls Elizabeth's age usually don't get
married and especially not to some one who is the head of a powerful family
like the Cassadines."
Nikolas smacked the table angrily. "Why do everyone bring up the fact that
I'm a Cassadine? That I am The Cassadine? It's not like I asked to be it."
"You can't deny it though. You just have to give it more time. You should
have waited until later in the relationship."
"That's what Lucky told me. I should have listen to him but I didn't."
"Sometimes the guy makes a little sense." Emily smiled.
"If I had waited, maybe I wouldn't have blown it. After Elizabeth turned me
down, I practically accused her of wanting to be with Lucky."
"You didn't? Lucky and Elizabeth were over a long time ago. He has moved on
and so has she."
"I know that. I just needed to blame someone. There was no way I could
believe that Elizabeth would not want to marry me."
"Right now she doesn't but give it a while. She might come around."
"You think?"
"Definitely. And Nikolas, anytime you need a friend, I'll always be around
to help."
"Thanks, Em."
~*~*~
Bobbie paced back and forth in her living room and all Jerry could do was
watch helplessly.
"I don't like this, this not knowing what Victor is up." She said as she
wrung her hands.
"And I don't like watching you work yourself up like this. Calm down,
Bobbie, you're making me dizzy watching you go back and forth and back and
forth."
"If you don't like it, don't watch me." She snapped then immediately
regretted her remark. She sat on the couch next to him. "I'm just all
worked up over this. Carly doesn't know what's going on and that alone can
put her in danger."
Jerry took her hands in his. "Bobbie, I understand. But for now it's out of
your hands. You get worrying like this, you'll drive yourself crazy and
that is exactly what Victor wants."
"I just wish he would call all ready or *do* something. I hate waiting."
"We need to get your mind off of this. Jasper and V invited us over for
dinner. Let's take them up on their offer, hmm? It'll be fun, I guarantee."
"Well…"
"Come on, luv." Jerry grinned at her and if there was one thing she
couldn't resist was Jerry's smile.
"Okay." She gave in.
~*~*~
"Michael! If you don't get out here right now, we will *not* be getting any
ice cream at all!" Carly called out. She grinned at Alex who was waiting to
take her and Michael out for some ice cream. "That'll get him moving."
"You're bad." He smiled.
"And you like it." He drew her into his arms.
"Being bad does have its merits." He leaned in to give her a kiss. Michael
came walking in.
"Ew! Kissies!" He shouted. The couple regretfully parted. Alex reached down
and ruffled Michael's hair. "When you get older, you won't be able to wait
until you can get a girl alone for a few 'kissies'."
"Yuck! I don't think so." Michael opened the door and turned to the adults.
"Come on, I want some ice cream!"
Cary shrugged. "My son, the impatient brat." She, Alex and Michael walked
out the door.
They got into Alex's car and none of them noticed the men watching them
from across the street.
"My daughter." Victor breathed. "She looks a little like her mother but I
think she looks more like me. What do you think Higgins?"
"Exactly like you sir."
"And the boy. The pictures barely hint at the potential I see in the boy.
His hair reminds me of Barbara's."
"Lot of potential, sir, lot of potential."
"Quit, sucking up to me. I think I need to go shopping for a new suit. I
want to look my best when my daughter finally meets her daddy."
~*~*~
Alexis opened the door to the gatehouse and the first thing she noticed was
the smell of cigar smoke. Luke Spencer is here. She dropped her purse on
the side table and commented casually, "My husband doesn't like cigar smoke
in his house and neither do I."
"Darlin', I've been waiting for you to get here for the longest time." Luke
said from a dark corner.
"Yeah, well, sorry to get you waiting so long. If I'd know you were going
to be here, I would have stayed up at the House tonight." Alexis walked
past him.
"Natasha, you wound me." Luke stood and followed her.
"If only that were true." Alexis threw him a look over her shoulder. "And
please don't call me Natasha. If I have to hear that name one more time
today…"
"Been to see dear old Uncle Victor? Have a nice reunion?" Luke grinned
around his cigar.
"It doesn't surprise me that you all ready know that he's alive."
Luke shrugged and took a puff of his cigar. "You wacky Cassadines. We try
to kill you but you just won't stay dead."
Alexis faked a shudder. "Don't tell me that more Cassadines will be coming
back to life also? Tony? Mikkos? Stavros? Helena?"
"Sweetheart, you were there. The Wicked Witch of Greece is dead. We both
are damn sure she's not coming back at all."
Alexis allowed a small smile to come over her face as she thought of the
dearly departed Helena. "Yes, she is gone for good. However, I know you
didn't come here to relive favorite memories. What way are you going to try
to use me now?"
Luke backed away with a grin. "Who said I came here to use you? Maybe I
just dropped in to see if you were all caught up on the big news?"
Alexis folded her arms. "Good because like I told Victor I'm done being the
usable Cassadine."
"Now you're the smart Quartermaine. Looks like you downgraded to a worse
family."
"Must every one crack jokes on my husband's family?"
"That's why they're here darlin'. But seriously, Victor Cassadine has
somehow decided that sweet Caroline is his daughter and he wants her and
Michael."
"I know that. He couldn't wait to tell me. Old news, Luke, though I
seriously doubt it's true."
"Oh, it's true that she's a Cassadine but we've got ourselves a good
old-fashioned game of Guess the Father going on." Luke took another puff.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Whoa, ho, ho, does that mean you are out of the loop? Your big brother
Stefan is now claiming to be the daddy also."
"Stefan did what?"
"Seems there were a whole lot of naughtiness going on and there is a
possibility that either Stiff or Vic is the proud papa."
Alexis gaped. "I don't believe it."
"Believe it. You've got a new cousin. I hope you welcome her with open
arms."
"This can't be for real."
"Do I have to keep repeating myself? Because it does get boring. Just tell
your Uncle, the next time he talks to you, to give up on Carly and Michael.
Believe me, Carly's not the type of girl you want in the family. She's a
Spencer after all."