Disclaimer: Nope don't own it. Never have, never will. The only thing we own is the characters of our own little imaginations.

Title: Blood, Love, and Honor: The Ties That Bind

Authors: Tamara and Christy

Distribution: Want. Ask Take. Have. It's that simple.

Feedback: Hit that pretty little reply/review button on the bottom J

Chapter 2

"You fool! She'll be the end of you!"

The harsh, yet true words echoed through his mind.'

'Such sweet irony,' he thought to himself, as he the taste of the Russian-borne vodka burned his throat.

" No Tatiana- she'll be the end of US," was his answer to his sister's remark. He loved setting her over the edge. It was almost a thrill for him. He could see the fire of rage in her eyes burning intensely. He could remember that same look upon his father when he was angered, threatened or challenged. It was a Sokolov trait, one he had not inherited. He loved seeing it in his sister. He almost envied her. Almost.

But she was right. The irony lied in the fact that the one woman who could give him everything - power, more money, respect- was the one woman who could take it all away and make the castles his family had built crumble and fall to dust and ashes. Yet it didn't seem to bother him. In his eyes it was worth the risk. Yes, it was purely selfish, but he had always been that way and he didn't give a damn what anyone else thought.

Of course he loved his sister and mother, but how could one not. Yet there opinion never mattered to him. He always saw women as incompetent, and weak. There lied another irony. She was the only woman that had so far proved him slightly wrong of his "theory." She was beautiful, yet she possessed a power that no other woman besides her mother had, and he could see it in her; it's what attracted him to her. She was smart, cunning, loyal, powerful, and respected. But like his mother and sister, he knew she had a weakness. And he would prey on it to his advantage and how he saw fit. He didn't care if it would break her as long as he won in the end. What he wanted he got- for the most part.

He smoothed out an invisible wrinkle in the black Gucci dress pants he was wearing, and ran a hand through his thick black hair. He felt the movement stop, and a moment later a tall, broad-shouldered man opened the black door with ease, and Dmitry stepped out of the black limousine, a few rather large men stepping out behind him, then circling him as if to guard him form a swarm of piranhas.

The sun reflected off of his rather flawless skin, as he proceeded to the rather impressive yacht. It was nice, but he's had bigger. After he stepped on board he was greeted by a rather younger looking man.

"Welcome Mr. Sokolov. Madam has been expecting your presence. Now if you will follow me," he instructed.

Dmitry followed the young man, who he guessed was of Greek descent, into the foyer of the large yacht. Dmitry's eyes glanced around observing the rather gothic style décor. It was dark, and mysterious, and contained many valuable statues, paintings, and knickknacks. It held sort of an intimidating aura almost. He liked it.

He took a seat on the fine black leather couch, and crossed his legs as if he was waiting impatiently like he always did. Then a few seconds later another presence entered the room.

"Madam, I present to you Mr. Dmitry Sokolov," he said as he stood by her side.

"Thank you Andreas. You may leave now," she ordered and with a nod of the head he did just that.

"As always it's a pleasure Mr. Sokolov," she said rather cordially.

"Let's skip the small talk. You know why I'm here," Dmitry stated as he stood up and walked towards the mini bar. He liked to get straight to the point.

"Is this Russian or American?" he asked gesturing towards the crystal filled vases containing the clear liquids.

"American," she replied quite hastily.

Dmitry let out a sigh. It would have to do.

"Now Mrs. Cassadine-"

"Helena. Please call me Helena."

"Fine then. Now HELENA, I'm afraid we have a little business matter to discuss," he said pouring himself a glass of the clear, alcoholic liquid.

"It seems you owe my family quiet a bit of money- 17.2 million to be exact, and I have yet to see a payment," he said in his business tone with his Russian accent gliding over the words.

"Mr. Sokolov, if you remember the terms of our agreement-" Helena started rather frustrated and agitated.

"I DO remember the terms of our agreement," he interrupted her insulted by her audacity that she could assume he would forget the agreement. "The agreement was payments of 1 million every 3 weeks, and the largest payment I have received from you was 475,000 and that was 2 months ago. That has been more then enough time to acquire a substantial amount of the full debt. I have warned you Mrs. Cassadine, and this is it. I want my money now!" he demanded.

"You will get your money once you have done your part," she retorted with her infamous attitude in tow.

"Oh, I have done my part of the deal. The other part was to be fulfilled AFTER the full amount has been paid," he pointed out rather furious with Helena.

"I will not forward any more money to you until Laura is dead, and Stefan is in prison!"

Dmitry's eyes suddenly hardened, and he moved towards Helena staring her straight in the eyes.

"Do you defy me Mrs. Cassadine?" he asked and received no answer only a smirk from the face of Helena Cassadine - the "Ice Bitch".

He pushed forward and when he was close he put his hand upon her throat.

"Nobody ever challenges me! Do you understand?" he asked applying pressure to her old, slender neck. He received a slight nod of the head and let her go. He began to walk away.

"That was a big mistake my dear!" Helena reprimanded him while placing her hands over the area where he head choked her. But he didn't stop. He kept walking with confidence and arrogance in the air, leaving two of his men behind

"2 days Mrs. Cassadine!" he called over his shoulder and left the yacht.

After a few moments, he had almost reached his limousine when he noticed another car, and a woman with long straight black hair, dressed in a black female style tuxedo. She was standing rather inpatiently while staring at him.

"Where's Valentine and Sergei?' she called to him referring to the two missing bodyguards. Before he could reply, she saw two figures from a distance and heard the loud sound of an explosion. Then behind her brother was the image of a fiery orange ball, with thick black smoke at the top.

"Was that necessary, Dmitry?' she asked in an almost perturbed tone. Dmitry just simply smirked.

"Dmitry you know I wanted that boat."

Dmitry only let out a little chuckle.

"Tatiana, we can buy you one just like it," he said stepping into his limo, but then he paused. "Oh and Tatiana, call Andreas and tell him he can pick up his money tomorrow. His help was greatly appreciated it," he let out a cruel laugh, and stepped into the limo.

"Yes sir," Tatiana replied rather sarcastically. "I let you have all the fun and you expect me to make phone calls," she whispered rather angrily to herself before leaving the harbor.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Luke are you here?" Bobbie said as she walked into the hip blues club, and removed her purse setting it on one of slick bar top.

"Back here Darling!" he called from his office. Bobbie walked toward his office.

"Hey Luke. What's going on?" Bobbie asked standing in his doorway.

"Oh come on now Barbara Jean, why would you think anything was going on? Can't I just see my baby sister?" he asked with a smile, and his twinkling blue eyes, which automatically confirmed to Bobbie that she was right. She knew that look, and knowing her brother she probably wouldn't like it.

"Of course you can. I know you better though. You only call and ask to see me when something is going on. Usually you just drop by unexpectedly. And You have the look in you eyes…"

Luke gave up. She knew him to well. He went over and gave her a hug and kissed her cheek.

"Well darling, I have something important I need to tell you, and you're probably not going to be thrilled about…"

"God, Luke. What did you do know? Should I count on you being arrested anytime soon? Better yet, this probably has something to do with Stefan and the Cassadines."

"Sorry Count Vlad isn't involved and neither are the rest of the bloodsuckers."

"Ok then just tell me."

"Well…" Luke begun. Bobbie wouldn't be pleased. Not pleased at all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Jase!" Carly's voice echoed through the Corinthos/ Morgan Warehouse as she yelled her best friend's name.

"Think you could keep it down a little Carly," Sonny said as he emerged form his office.

"Not likely," was the reply from the feisty blonde. Carly didn't care much for Sonny and the feeling was mutual. The only reason they tolerated each other was because of Jason.

"What did you do know Carly? What mess do Jason have to clean up for you this time?"

"None of your damn business," Carly snapped.

"Ah I see. That bad, huh?" Sonny remarked only trying to irritate her only more. He may not have liked her, but she sure was fun to piss off.

"Where's Jason?" she asked trying not to let Sonny agitate her or make it any more obvious.

"Not here," was all he replied as he picked up a file and walked back into his office and slammed the door shut.

Carly sighed. "Thanks for all your help Sonny!" Carly yelled over her shoulder as she walked towards the exit only top run into a solid, muscular body. Carly looked up and naturally a smile replaced the look of irritation and anger on her face.

"Jase, Hi," she said as she encircled her arms around him and gave him a hug.

"Take it you ran into Sonny," he stated the obvious. He could tell by the look upon he face. Only two people could irk her that much: AJ and Sonny.

"Obviously," she said rolling her eyes. "Anyways, enough about Sonny. I came by to see what your plans for this evening were."

"Well nothing-" he started but was cut off by Carly.

"Great! So then you can join me for a game of pool or two and a few drinks at Jake's," Carly told him in more of a telling rather than asking manner.

"Uh, I don't know Carly."

"Why the hell not? You have been avoiding me for a while now. What gives? Do you just not want to spend time with me anymore?" Carly asked hurt.

Jason sighed. It wasn't that. In fact it was the complete opposite. He loved spending time with Carly, and the more he did the more he found himself falling for her. Jason was about to reply when her cell phone rang.

"Hello."

"Hi Carly."

"Hi momma. What's up?"

"Look are you free tonight?"

"I'm not sure yet. Why?"

"Well… Carly we need to talk. There's something important I need to tell you."

"Um ok. 8 o'clock at Kelly's?"

"Actually I was thinking about the brownstone."

"OK. That's fine. I'll see you later momma. Love you. Bye," Carly finished and hung up.

"Well, I'm going to get going. I'll see you later Jase," Carly said as she started to head off.

Jason knew that Carly was hurt, and he just didn't want to tell her the truth. He couldn't tell her the reason why he had been avoiding her.

"Carly, wait!"

"Jase it's ok. Really," she said turning around and plastering a smile on her face. Before he could stop her she was outside.

Once she was outside and away from Jason, Carly let some tears fall. She culd feel the salt stinging her eyes and the hot tears burning her face. It hurt. It really did. Why can't he just see? Carly thought to herself. Why couldn't he see that she was in love with him. Why couldn't he see that he was everything she wanted… and needed. She could feel him slowly slipping away from her and it killed her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What? Are you certain?" Stefan spoke into the phone.

"I understand. Thank you," Stefan said and hung up the phone. A look of shock evident on his face.

"Uncle, what is it?" Nikolas inquired.

"It's Helena."

"What has she done know?" Nikolas asked not really wanting to know. She had probably killed someone else or God knows what.

"She's dead."

"What?! Are you sure?"

"Yes. There was an explosion on the yacht. Apparently Helena was aboard when it occurred."

"Perhaps this is just another one of her ploys, Uncle. She is always scheming and pulling off some sort of outrageous stunt."

"No this is not another one of her ploys. They found some of her remains."

"Wow. Wait a minute. If Helena is dead then this means…"

"Yes Nikolas. It means I am now trustee and head of the Cassadine Empire and Estate until your twenty-fifth birthday."

"Mom is not going to be thrilled," Nikolas pointed out.

"No she won't. Not at all," Stefan agreed while figuring out a way to inform Laura of his new position in the family. It was enough that her son was the heir, but now her husband was the head of a family Laura despised, for the most part.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Emily zipped up her last suitcase, and did one final mental check.

"All ready to go?"

Emily turned around to face her brother standing in the entrance of one fo her many bedrooms.

"I believe so."

"It's weird isn't it?" Toni asked his younger sister.

"What is? The part where Dad had another child and never told us, and yet our mother knew as well and kept it a secret to her grave. Or the part where Dad left a child in this world not to be raised as one of us, and raised not knowing her brother and sister and the rest of her family?"

"Emily…"

Emily let out a sigh. "I know, Toni. I'm sorry. It was just a shock that's all. The fact that I have another sister who was mothered by another woman that mom was just a little too much to comprehend at the time."

"I understand. But it still doesn't change us. It doesn't change the fact that we are family and that we love each other. And it doesn't change the fact that Dad loves us."

"I know and I will never doubt that. It's just… I don't know."

"What's wrong little one?" her older brother asked using the nickname she had been given as a child.

"Nothing. I just can't shake the feeling that something is going to happen. Something that will test us all and test just how strong our family is," she said revealing her fear to her brother. Something she usually didn't do. She usually confided in Taylor, but something was different this time.

Toni walked over and gave his younger sister a hug. "Everything will be ok. We will all be ok. I love you," he said.

"I love you too."

"So Port Charles huh?" Toni inquired as they pulled away.

"Yeah."

"Come one kid. Dad, Taylor, Charlie and Joey are all waiting for us,' he stated as he two rather large men entered the room and grabbed her belongings.

"Hey isn't Port Charles where that Cassadine guy lives?" Toni asked as they left her bedroom.

Emily let out a groan and Toni let out a little laugh.

"Oh God, Don't remind me," was her reply to her brother's question. Just what she needed. On top of everything else she had to deal with Nikolas Cassadine courting her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*