I~ From now on the character: Carly, will be referred to, even by the author, as Caroline, it just makes sense because that's what everyone in the story calls her, so it seems stupid to write her as Carly ~ /I
The NEW Marvel
By Clover
Chapter 3
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
b** One week later, Friday **
** Seven pm **/b
Micah was out of town because of a problem at one of his businesses, that his father had left him, out of the country.
So Caroline was alone, setting up for an old fashion, Movie Night, pigging out, with Joey, Kevin, Drew, Rachel, and Kelly. I[As I've said before, I never really watched OLTL before last year, I was too young! I wasn't allowed to watch them! My parents actually left instructions with our daycare providers NOT to let us watch them, WHAT A RIP OFF!]/I
Caroline hurried to the door and opened the door angry, "Joey!"
"Hey Cari! God, this place is HUGE!" He exclaimed stepping in, taking off his coat.
"Come on, I was just setting up. You are late. I thought you had bailed out on me! You were supposed to be Iearly/I. Everyone will be here any minute." She scolded.
"Sorry! Dad was giving me a lecture about safe sex again. Which you are to blame for . . . but I forgive you."
"Oh ha ha." Caroline turned around and led him to the kitchen to prepare the snacks.
They were in the midst of popping the popcorn in the air-popper when the doorbell rang again.
"I Itold/I you they'd be here any minute."
"I already apologized!" Joey protested, then sighed, "I'll get it."
"Bring who ever it is in here, they can help!"
Joey found Kevin at the door, "Hey, come on in-to the house that Micah built."
"God you tell the worst jokes." Kevin complained shaking his head at his little brother, "So, what does this, Micah look like? What is he like? Give me the low down on Caroline's new beau."
"Ok. Micah Dante Asher, 6' 4", looks as though he works out a lot, blond hair, blue eyes. Basically your typical Scandinavian, like his mother. He just moved here from Sweden a few weeks ago. Originally from Italy, where his father's family lives, but he grew up in Sweden, for the most part. Real last name, Giovanni. He and Cari met two weeks ago. They moved in together last week after Cari stayed with him for six days. Oh, he's a doctor on top of that, and VERY rich. Inherited his family's entire fortune when he was 21. Runs tons of companies, but only goes in when there's a major emergency, which is why he's gone right now. Other wise he can run everything from here." Joey reported.
"How does he treat Caroline?"
"Frankly, from the little of seen of him, he's 'enchanted' by her. And she seems to be 'spellbound' by him. I think he'll turn out to be a pretty ok guy, once we get to know him. Who knows, maybe we bmight/b even like him."
"I think I'll hold of on giving my opinion once I've met him." Kevin told him. Then opens the kitchen door just as the doorbell rang again. "Go, I'll help Caroline." Kevin offered.
"Right."
Kevin stepped in and looked around. It was an impressive kitchen. Island stove, oven on the wall, marble countertops. Copper pots hung above the island, which was long enough to get several stools in, and a double-door shiny silver refrigerator. Caroline was taking brownies out of the oven while the air-popper was busy popping up a second batch of popcorn.
"What can I do to help?" Kevin asked, making his presence known.
"Um, grab the carrots, peeled carrots in the plastic container, and get the ranch dressing and French onion dip out of the fridge. Then pour the plain bag of Ruffles into one bowl and the cheddar sour cream into another." She dictated him, setting the brownies down to cool. Then she put a cut up stick of butter in a measuring cup, covering it up with wax paper. She placed it in the microwave and pushed start.
"So, Caroline, what's this, Micah? Like?" Kevin asked as he opened the refrigerator door and looked around for what he was instructed to get, questioning the pronunciation of the guys name.
Caroline sighed, "Well, at least you're direct about it. I know you probably know he's Swedish, rich, and a doctor, who you all don't really trust. But you don't know him." She ordered, walking over. "Hey, leave the door open, I need something out of there."
"And you do? Caroline, you've known him all of two weeks. And you ought to know we're just trying to protect you. We love you, and we all just don't want you to get hurt again. I know for a fact, that if it wasn't for the reason that Jason is in the mob and protected, Joey, Drew, Uncle Bo, my Dad, and Grandpa would have beaten the shit out of him by now."
Caroline pulled out four 2-liter bottles of pop. Pepsi, Diet Mountain Dew, Diet Cherry 7 UP, and Raspberry Canada Dry.
Caroline sighed as she put the bottles on a tray. "I know, I know. You're just trying to protect me. But I'm a big girl. Kevin, my God, I'm going to have my own child in about, five ½ months, I'm going to be a mommy. You have to let me grow up and make my own mistakes. And try to fix them. I lived on my own for two years. I only made a few major mistakes in that time, and they were all in Port Charles, there's something about that town . . . Anyway, I do know Micah, he is kind, caring, sweet, smart, honest, respectful, tender, honorable, chivalrous, and understanding. Most importantly, he cares about me, and he makes me happy. And I am getting so tired of telling everyone this."
Kevin stood there, his arms crossed, leaning against the counter, silent, for a moment, "You're happy? I mean, you're really truly happy?"
"Uh huh."
"Do you think you have a future with him?"
"I hope so."
"Do you promise that if he ever hurts you, in ANY way, emotionally or especially physically you'll come home?"
"Yes. On my honor as a Buchanan."
Kevin sighed, then nodded his head, "Then you'll have my support all the way."
"Ours too." Drew agreed, startling them, gesturing to Joey, "We came in while you were at, 'I'm a big girl'. If Micah's really all that, he just might be worthy of my little sister. But Caroline, please be careful."
"Yeah, Cari, don't trust him too much." Joey warned her.
Caroline rolled her eyes, "Fine."
Then Drew and Joey left the kitchen, feeling slightly better now that their jobs were partially done.
"I don't know about you," Joey whispered, "but I'm reserving my opinion until Grandpa's contacts come back with that background check."
"Same here . . ."
~*~
"Ok, let's load up the trays." Caroline ordered.
A few minutes later Caroline and Kevin walked out of the kitchen, Caroline led Kevin to the next room, where there was a giant big screen TV, VCR, and a state of the art stereo system.
Joey, Drew, and Kelly, who had arrived a few minutes ago, were lounging around waiting for them.
"Where's Rachel?" Caroline asked.
"I'm right here." Rachel responded from the doorway, "I knocked, but nobody answered. I heard your voices, so I let myself in, I hope you don't mind."
"Of course I don't! I'm just glad you're here!" Caroline saidm putting her tray down on the coffee table. She picked up the remote and plopped down on the big comfy couch next to Joey, "Alright, now lets start the first tape and watch movies till the sun comes up!"
Joey wrapped his left arm around her shoulder, and they all got comfortable.
The movie, The Breakfast Club, started and they guys groaned.
"Awwww man! Cari, you promised no chick-flicks." Joey jokingly complained.
"But, but you said it was your favorite . . ." Caroline whimpered, her eyes filling up with tears.
Joey's eyes widened in shock, this was definitely Inot/I the cousin he knew.
"He was just teasing Caroline." Kelly told her, "He didn't mean it. And he's sorry. Aren't you Joey."
"Yeah! Right, of course. I was just messin' with you. This movie rules in my book." He stammered, surprised at her taking it so seriously.
Caroline sniffed, "Sorry about crying. It's the hormones."
"That's perfectly alright. We completely understand." Kevin assured her, "Don't we guys?" he prompted.
"Of course." Joey replied.
"Right." Rachel promised.
"Totally." Drew stated firmly.
"So not your fault." Kelly chimed.
Caroline wiped under her eyes, "Ok . . . let's watch the movie."
b** A lot later, around two am **/b
Micah pulled into the drive and noticed all the cars by the house. He'd missed Caroline so much that as soon as he'd straightened out the emergency, he'd had his pilot fly him home.
He quickly got out of the SUV [hey, I have NO idea what was popular back then! I couldn't drive yet!]
Micah opened the door and looked around, it was dark and quiet. Then he noticed the glow of the TV in the Entertainment Room.
He looked in and found the small group of friends asleep in various places in pajamas. Drew with his hands behind his head in a pair of flannel pants and a gray t-shirt, was on the floor. Rachel, in red silk shorts and shirt, was in the chair, her legs hanging over one end. Kelly, in her pink satin nightgown, was curled up in the love seat covered in an afghan. Kevin was at the left end of the couch, Joey was at the right, both were wearing sweat pants wearing red (Kevin) and black (Joey) t-shirts. And Caroline was curled up with her head on Joey's shoulder, in her light blue Winnie the Pooh flannel pj's, her head in two French braids, courtesy of Kelly. All were completely dead to the world.
Micah picked up the remote and turned off the TV. He then gently picked Caroline up, she stirred just enough to put her arms around his neck, but really didn't even realize she was doing so.
He carried her up to their bedroom and laid her down, then covered her. He kissed her lightly on the lips, then went to the other side of the bed, and got into his navy-blue and dark-green flannel pants and got into bed. Micah put his arm around her, and fell right to sleep.
b** 9:30 am **/b
Joey awoke and smelled the air, bacon!
He looked over and saw that everyone was asleep, except for his brother, whom had just woken up too.
Joey looked at Kevin, "Do you smell food?" he whispered.
"Yeah, but who on earth is cooking? Caroline's gone, but she couldn't cook edible food on a stove if her life depended on it." Kevin whispered back, getting up to go the kitchen.
Rachel who was half-asleep heard them, "Wait, I'm coming too."
The three walked into the kitchen to find Micah cooking.
"So, you're the one who's cooking." Kevin acknowledged, "We knew it couldn't be our cousin Cari, she'd have lit the kitchen on fire by now."
"I found that out when she managed to ruin box macaroni and cheese when she tried to make lunch." Micah told them grinning, "However she is fine with the oven and microwave."
"True, her cookies are amazing. It's just anything cooked over fire that she has trouble with." Rachel laughed.
Kevin introduced himself, "I'm Kevin Buchanan, she's Rachel Gannon, and you know Joey, it's a pleasure to finally meet you Micah."
"Caroline has told me so much you, now please, sit down. There is a giant plate of pancakes on the counter, and the bacon is almost done."
"Thanks!" Joey exclaimed, sitting down on a stool and taking a stack of pancakes, he was really starting to like this guy.
"Where's Caroline?" Kevin questioned, putting butter on his large stack of pancakes.
"She is still asleep. She typically sleeps nine hours every night. The pregnancy really tires her out. And since it looks as though you guys had a late night, she should be asleep until eleven or so, if she doesn't get woken up by morning sickness." Micah informed them.
"What time did you get in last night?" Kevin asked, before shoving a huge fork full of butter and syrup-covered pancakes into his mouth.
"It must have been about two."
"So, Micah, is it just us, or is Cari getting really sensitive lately?" Joey inquired.
"So you noticed. She has been very emotion, and easily upset since she neared her second trimester."
"You've been dealing with that for over a week?"
"Well, there is still over five months where she will likely be very emotional because of hormones. Then she's going to experience the most intense pain of her life for hours and hours and hours. Accordingly she has my complete sympathy. I am willing to deal with what ever she is going through."
"Good point." Rachel regarded him, with much respect.
"That is what I thought. So, where are your friends? Drew and . . . oh, Caroline told me her name, oh yes, Kelly." Micah inquired, opening the fridge.
"Our cousin Drew probably watched the movie until the credits rolled, them fell asleep right after, and he's a deep sleeper, so he won't be up for a little. As for Kelly . . ."
"I'm up, I'm up." She mumbled, stumbling in running her fingers thought her hair yawning, "Hey! Who cooked?" Kelly asked perking up, her eyes not having reached the refrigerator.
"Micah did." Kevin told here, pointing to the muscular light blond in flannel pants, an untied robe and no shirt, who closed the door to the fridge and brought back more bacon, "Kelly, Micah. Micah, this is Kelly"
"Nice to meet you." Kelly told him, plopping down on a stool.
"Please, make yourself a plate of food." Micah insisted.
"Do you have any grapefruit?"
"Hey! No breaking the rules!" Joey protested loudly, jumping out of his chair.
"Sorry! It's been two years since we had one of these. I forgot, 'No food, but junk food, and the occasional carrot, as long as it's with ranch dressing.'"
"Excuse me? I am sorry. But the word's meaning escapes me. What is junk food?" Micah asked confused.
"Chips, nachos, popcorn, cookies, brownie, sugar, bacon, sausage, dip, pizza, hot dogs, fries, basically anything not healthy." Drew explained, coming in yawning and scratching his side, his hair going every which way.
"Ah, I see."
"Ooh! Food!" Drew noticed.
He ate a plate of pancakes in one minute, with everyone watching him in disgust. He tooka large gulp of milk then finally asked, "Hey, where's my sister?"
"Still asleep." Joey informed him.
"She's still asleep? She's usually up by nine. Even if she was up till two."
"She sleeps more these days." Micah repeated, placing another plate of bacon in front of the group, then sat down and started eating himself.
b** 20 minutes later **/b
After idle conversation Micah stood up, "Well I'm going to go work out."
"Can we come?" Joey asked, getting an idea.
"Sure."
Joey, Kevin, and Drew follow Micah into the basement.
"Nice set up." Kevin complemented.
"Thank you." Micah sat down on one the home gym things and began working on his triceps.
"Micah, there's something we need to know." Joey admitted, "What are your intentions towards Caroline?"
Micah let the weights go down, "My intentions?"
"Yeah, do you love her? Do you want to marry her? Are you ok with the fact she's pregnant? Or are you just using her?"
"I, I . . ." Micah took a deep breath, "My English is not perfect, so please, just try to understand what I say. Caroline makes me feel . . . feel like I . . . no, I do not know how to describe it. But when she is near, or I look at her, see her, or even just think about her, my heartbeats faster. Everyone else in the room just fades away and I only see her. And if I were not ok with her being pregnant, I would never have asked her to live with me. I do not know how she feels for me. But I know that I will never feel more for a woman then I do for her." Micah divulged, then he started doing the weights again.
Kevin's heart went out to him, he was now 100% in support of Micah, "Man, you should hear what she says about you. She sang your praises to us. And I know that she wouldn't stick around if she didn't really care about you. Let me let you in on something, she's loyal, and if she's in love, doesn't let anyone get in the way or say anything against them. My God, the last guy she loved was a mobster."
Micah dropped the weights.
"Whoa! Are you ok man?"
"Yeah, I am fine, just lost my grip."
"Good, ok, where was I? Oh yeah, She doesn't think much either. She reacts and acts out first, thinks later. Don't hurt her man, cause you would have six guys or more on your ass with just one word from her. Jason is lucky he's in the mob, and that Caroline won't let us butcher him."
"Ok, first of all. It is not a good idea to threaten me, since there are security camera's all over the house, and my Uncle Vinnie will be watching them from his place in Italy, via satellite. He would almost certainly send someone out here to make sure you never do it again. He is a bit protective. I'll call him and tell him to ignore that, but it's not very smart, especially since that house about 30 yards back from that window is filled with bodyguards. The Giovanni's are a very protective family, which I am born into.
I understand what you are doing. I would do the same if I had a sister, or if it was my niece or cousin or maybe someday a daughter. But there's something you have to realize as well, Caroline can take care of herself. She did it for two years on her own."
"First of all, what are you saying? Are you . . . connected?" Kevin asked, putting it delicately.
"My family is. My father left the family, and tried to go clean, but because of my family ties, they might try to use me, to get to my Uncles and Grandfather. But don't worry about Caroline. She has guards on her 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I won't let anything happen to her."
"Does Caroline know about this?"
"Yeah, she figured it out after she spotted the guard following her last week. She asked me, I told her. Now Lenny and Joshua go with her everywhere. She's never unprotected. And she's fine with it."
Joey sighed, and Drew shook his head.
"She never told us. But you right. She can make her own decisions. And she just pointed it out that she'll be a mother in less than six months. We can't baby her anymore."
"Precisely. Now that you know how Caroline and I feel, will you please, let us live without your always putting us down?"
Drew sighed, then nodded his head, "Alright. We'll back off. But if you hurt her, truly, not even the mercy of God could save you. I'm sure her uncle, Luke Spencer, would have a major problem with it too. And he's well connected as well."
"I understand."
~*~
b** 10:30 am **/b
Caroline woke up and took in her surroundings, I 'How on earth did I get here?''/I she wondered. Then she noticed Micah's side of the bed was messed up too, and his clothes in a heap on the floor. He must have come home early and brought her upstairs last night.
She stretched, put on her fluffy, white, furry slippers and went down the spiral staircase into the kitchen and shuffled to where Kelly and Rachel were talking.
"Hey sleepy head." Rachel greeted perkily, too perky for Caroline's taste.
"Uh-huh."
"I'd just like to state for the record," Kelly announced, "that I am officially jealous. Cari, you always manage to catch the Greek Gods."
"Scandinavian and Italian in this case." Caroline smiled sitting down and taking some pancakes.
"Caroline. You have found your perfect man, not only do you really, really, like him, but he's hot, brawny, sweet, a doctor, rich, a romantic from what you've said, and he can cook too. And he knew you were pregnant before you got involved, and I have to admire that."
"Hey, he's a doctor in name only. He doesn't practice medicine. And he's family is . . . well connected, but you are right, I am lucky, I think I've actually found The One. He's so nice about my many mood swings too."
"Here is the most important question, what is he like in bed." Kelly asked, smirking.
"Why Kelly! I'm shocked!" Caroline gasped in mock horror.
"Come on sis, dish!" Rachel persisted.
"Ok, well he's, amazing. And that's all I'm saying."
"Caroline, you are so lucky."
"I know . . . trust me, I know."
"Oh my god! I almost forgot!" Kelly exclaimed, hitting her head with the palm of her hand, "Asa's decided to have a masquerade, where no one knows whom anyone else really is. So obviously we all have to wear masks. He's still trying to makeup for yelling at you. We would have called you, but you forgot to give anyone the number."
"A masquerade huh? Is there a theme?" Caroline questioned excited.
"Yeah, Fairy Tales and Children's Stories. We're supposed to let you buy your costume first . . . so hurry!"
"Alright. I'll think of something. How are we going to make sure no one gets the same costume?"
"Well, since there's only costume maker in town, as soon as someone's taken that character, it's pulled out of the running, but nobody else will know who has what."
"When is it?" Caroline asked.
"Halloween of course!"
~*~
b** October 31 **/b
Finally, the day of the masquerade arrived.
Caroline obviously was going with Micah.
All the Buchanan's had gotten rooms, at the hotel where the Masquerade was being held, to get ready in. Caroline, Kelly, Rachel, and Jessi had gotten a suite, which Jessi and Kelly would be staying in tonight. Micah, who'd become good friends with Joey, Kevin, and Drew was letting the guys get ready in the suite, he had gotten for the weekend, where Caroline and he would stay tonight, since it would be so late once the ball ended. Bo and Nora had a room. Clint and Vicky had their own room as well.
Caroline, Kelly, Rachel, and Jessi had all arrived at the room at the same time, four hours before the party would start, costume bags in hand, and a small bag of jewelry, makeup, hair accessories, shoes, and masks.
They hurried into the room. Before now, they had no idea what each other were going to be, and now it was time for the unveiling. Caroline actually had her hair up in a baseball hat.
Kelly pulled out her dress out first, "I've decided, on the classic, Sleeping Beauty."
She pulled out a pink dress, which was narrow, it had long sleeves, which hooked to her middle finger. The skirt was long, and was a little bit full.
Jessi went next, "I have decided upon, the traditional, but always very beautiful, Cinderella."
She revealed an icy-blue dress, tight bodice, and full, shimmery, skirt.
"I've decided just to go as a lady in waiting for Maid Marian. Truthfully, I couldn't think of anything!" Rachel laughed as she pulled out a dark green dress, with long sleeves, and a lace front.
"Wonderful!" Kelly exclaimed, "Alright, now it's your turn Caroline, whom have you chosen?"
"Well, I have decided to go with a newer version, of sorts." First she pulled off her hat to reveal her long, no longer blond hair, which she'd dyed a stunning dark brown, "I've decided to go as Belle."
"Oh my god! You really dyed you hair!"
"I know, but I felt like I needed a change, so rather than buying a wig, I dyed it last night. And now, seeing as my hair has been up in a hat, I need to go take a shower, and rinse it out." She told them, stepping into the bathroom.
b** 10 minutes later **/b
Caroline came out in a robe, drying her hair. She brushed through it, then pulled a bag of rollers out of her bag, "Guys, can you help?"
Soon they had all her hair in the rollers, which would form ringlets all over her head.
b** 30 minutes later **/b
Kelly had her costume on, just not done up yet.
Caroline slipped on her hoopskirt complaining, "Ok, why on earth did women subject themselves to this?"
"I have no idea." Jessi grumbled, as she slipped her sparkling icy blue dress over her head, "Hey! Give me a hand! I'm stuck!"
Caroline and Kelly rushed over and pulled down the dress, and buttoned up the long row of buttons, which held on the tight, form fitting bodice, which accompanied all their dresses. It looked good on Jessi's 17 year old body. [I know, the age isn't right. But I need her to be older! I can work with her more that way.]
"You look great in this." Caroline complemented.
Jessi looked down and smoothed out the skirt, "I guess . . . Come on. Let's get you into that dress."
She helped tie the hoopskirt on, and knotted the laces.
Kelly picks up the yellow satin dress off the bed. Caroline held out her arms and they pulled the dress on her, then buttoned up the back.
"God, this feels a bit tight." Caroline complained.
"Well, you're like four and a half months pregnant." Kelly summarized, "But you do look terrific, you are just starting to get a little heavier, like you should be. What are you wearing now, a six?"
"An eight." She told them gloomily.
"See, you've only gone from a four to an eight. It's not that much!" Rachel assured her.
"I know, you're right." Caroline goes to the mirror and takes her hair out of the curlers, which had given her new locks the perfect shape. Ready for Kelly to form into the rest of the look, while Caroline did her own makeup.
Jessi had her hair done by Kelly too, while Caroline did her makeup. Kelly left a few golden blond tendrils hanging down into Jessi's face.
Kelly did her makeup, while Caroline and Jessi buttoned Rachel's costume, and put one of those stupid hats they wore on her head, and pinned it on.
Then they got out the shoes and accessories.
A gold crown and a diamond necklace for Kelly.
Ice blue gloves that went a few inches above the elbow, a black choker, and pearl earrings for Jessi.
An emerald pendent and matching earrings for Rachel.
And yellow gloves that went just a bit above the elbow and gold earrings for Caroline.
After accessorizing and putting on their shoes, they critically looked at themselves in the mirror. Finally they slipped on their masks, which covered their eyes, the string, which held the masks on, was hidden beneath their hair.
"God, you look so different with brown hair!" Kelly exclaimed once more.
"There's definitely going to be no one who recognizes you." Jessi agreed.
"That's the idea. But, at least you guys will know it's me!" Caroline told them cheerfully.
Just as they finish getting ready, there was a knock at the door.
Jessi opened it and the guys came in one at a time. First came Kevin, who was dressed as Robin Hood, green from head to toe, except for his huge white shirt and tights.
Then Joey came in, who was dressed as the scamp Will Scarlet, a white shirt, a vest and tight pants and tights.
Drew followed him, dressed as Little John, basically the same thing.
The three had planned this, but not let anyone in on it.
Finally, last but the best looking, Micah. His blond hair was slicked back. He had on obvious tights under the tight black pants he was wearing. A large white shirt, a gold vest, and a blue jacket with tails, which was bordered with the same gold color fabric as the vest. The human version of the Prince/Beast.
Needless to say, they all felt very uncomfortable. [To quote the movie "Robin Hood, Men in Tights" in their minds, I"You've got to be a man to wear tights!"/I] And felt very lucky that they would be wearing masks, so no one could recognize them.
"You all look great!" Caroline exclaimed.
"You look quite beautiful." Micah complemented, taking her hand and kissing it.
Caroline couldn't help but blush.
Kelly, Rachel, and Jessi look at the other three expectantly.
After a long moment Kelly finally exclaimed, "Well how do we look you brutes?!"
Joey jumped, "Oh, you look amazing, I was . . . uh . . . left speechless by your beauty."
"Same here!" Kevin agreed.
"Oh yeah, you look lovely." Drew added.
"Nice save." Jessi told her brothers and cousin sarcastically.
"Should we not be going?" Micah asked, trying to avoid the obviously impending argument.
"Right!" Joey agreed, silently thanking his cousin's beau.
"My lady." Micah offered her arm to Caroline, which she accepted.
Joey, Kevin, and Drew did the same.
Kelly took Joey's arm, Rachel took Kevin's, and Jessi took Drew's.
Kelly and Joey led the couples to the elevators.
On the way down, the guys made comments about Caroline's hair.
"You know, I almost didn't recognize you." Joey confessed.
"Oh yeah. You look great, but why did you do it?" Kevin questioned.
"Because I felt like I needed a change." Caroline explained simply.
Then the elevator dinged, signaling that they'd reached their floor.
The double doors were opened and the four couples looked into the ballroom full of people in costume. Some of the couples stuck out. The King and Queen of Hearts, King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, a Jester, and Asa, who though he had come up with the party, refused to wear a costume, except he was wearing a cowboy hat.
Kelly and Joey, and Caroline and Micah went right to the dance floor and started dancing. Rachel, Drew, Kevin, and Jessi went their separate ways.
Jessi stood on the sidelines, contentedly watching her cousin dance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
II swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
And I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I see the questions in your eyes
I know what's weighing on your mind
You can be sure I know my heart
'Coz I'll stand beside you through the years
You'll only cry those happy tears
And though I make mistakes
I'll never break your heart/I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jessi could tell how happy Caroline was, but she was still a bit jealous of her cousin's very good fortune. Suddenly, a dark haired, muscular, stranger, dressed as Prince Charming walked towards her, even though he was dutifully masked at his eyes, it was very obvious that he was very handsome. He had dark brown hair and eyes, and his skin was a tanned olive color, making him look like dark prince.
Her breath was caught in her chest, and her heart was in her throat.
He stopped right in front of her. Never even speaking, he offered her his hand, which she readily accepted, but was taken aback at the tingling sensation that went down her spine when her hand met his.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
IAnd I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
I'll be there
I swear like a shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear
I'll give you every thing I can
I'll build your dreams with these two hands
We'll hang some memories on the walls /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jessi's heart pounded wildly in her chest. She'd lost the ability to think. She was filled with emotions, she had never even imagined existed.
Who was this mystery man, her Prince Charming?
At the same time, the Dark Prince [Ias he shall be referred to until we get his name/I] was also amazed at what was happening. When he'd spotted her across the room, something inside of him changed, everyone else in the room had faded away, and he immediately had made his way to the lovely Cinderella.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
IAnd when just the two of us are there
You won't have to ask if I still care
`Coz as the time turns the page, my love won't age at all
And I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jessi was lost in his deep brown eyes, they seemed to bore into her very soul.
The Dark Prince was lost in her hazel eyes
What on earth was she doing to him? He'd been pulled to her, like there was some force, trying to make them meet. Whatever it was, it had worked.
He danced her out to the terrace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
II swear (I swear) by the moon and stars in the sky
I'll be there
I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every (single) beat of my heart
I swear, I swear, oh... I... swear... /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They stopped there, breathing hard, because of the manner their hearts were beating.
The Dark Prince finally spoke, "I am Prince Nikolas Cassadine." [IOne more thing, I've also aged Prince Nikki a bit, here he is 18 as well. Why? Because I can have more fun then!/I]
"I'm Jessica Buchanan, you can call me Jessi." She replied.
"Call me Nikolas."
"Where on earth did you come from?" Jessi implored, wondering if maybe he'd fallen from heaven or maybe someplace darker. If he had, she didn't care if he was the devil himself, she was fully trapped within his snare.
"Well, Greece. But my father and I moved to Port Charles New York this year. I didn't really like it there. So I'm going to be living here and attending classes at the University."
Jessi looked at him skeptically, "You're a prince? And from Greece?"
Nikolas laughed, "I know it sounds unbelievable. But I assure you it's true."
Something dawned on Jessi, "Did you say Port Charles?"
"Yes, why?"
"My cousin just moved here from there!"
"Oh, does she know the Spencers?"
"Only Luke. He's her Uncle. Would you believe he threatened to kill her?"
"I got the same welcome from my, well I guess he's my step-father. He's wife, Laura Spencer, is my mother."
"You have got to be kidding me! That is SOOO weird!"
"What's your cousin's name?"
"Well, Caroline Leigh Buchanan, but she while she was there, Carly Roberts." Jessi informed him, then decided to find out a lot more about this, Nikolas, "So, why'd you decide to move here?"
"Well, my cousin Alexis is friends with another lawyer here, Nora Buchanan, I guess that you'd be related to her too. Anyway, I'm going to be staying with them." Nikolas explained.
"Nora is my Aunt. Caroline's step-mother." She told him shocked.
"So you're the Jessi they were talking about."
"That would be me!"
"Why don't you tell me more about you." Nikolas prodded, wanting to know all he possibly can about this beautiful creature in front of him.
"Um, I'm one of the only Granddaughter's of the family. Actually, there are only two of us. So Grandpa, my dad, Uncle Bo, my cousin Drew, and my brothers Kevin and Joey are very protective of Caroline and I. You should have seen how mad they were when they found out Caroline was . . ." Jessi realized she was about to say something she shouldn't, and that she'd said something else she shouldn't have earlier, so she decided to tell him the OTHER thing they were mad at her about. "That she was moving in with a guy she'd just met the week before, and had been staying with while they were all worried about her."
"What does your family do?"
"Well, my mother and father own and run the Banner. My brother Kevin works there as a reporter. Joey's a photographer. Uncle Bo's the commissioner of the police. And Grandpa is a cranky but sweet, very rich, Texan, who runs the family business."
"What does Caroline do?"
"She spends her days with Micah, her boyfriend, mostly. Or shopping. It's not that she can't do things, she's very, very smart. It's just that she just got off a bad relationship, she's pregnant, and Micah's well off too. There isn't really a reason for her to. She never went to college. She's only 19."
"Oh, I guess I can understand that. I don't really need to go to college I already know what I'm going to do."
"What's that?"
"When I turn 25, I take over our Empire and become The Cassadine. My Uncle is holding the title for me, until I reach 25. My father would have been The Cassadine now, but he died when I was a baby. I was raised by my Uncle on the family compound, which is on our island in Greece. My Grandmother, Helena, was there as well. But she is a cold, heartless woman, who wants nothing more than to be able to control me, she is a terrible person, if she ever comes near you, tell me. If it weren't for my Uncle staging a coup when I was a boy, she would have raised me. And I would have grown up unloved, and cold, just as she is. My mother left me, when I was just a baby. To return to Spencer. The only good thing that came of that was my half-sister, Lulu. She's why I came back. She needed my bone marrow because she was dying of Leukemia. And I guess my half-brother, Lucky. Even though we don't get along at all."
"Wow. That's a complicated life."
"I guess. I don't know any other way. Tell me more about you."
"Um, I'm 17, a senior in High School." She looked at his masked face, "How old are you? You act so maturely . . . but I know you're under 25. So, what are you, 20, 22?"
"I'm only 18."
Jessi smiled, "Do you have a girlfriend?" she was personally shocked at how forward she was being.
Nikolas was surprised at the question, but quickly answered, "No, I don't have a girlfriend. Do you have a beau?"
"Not anymore."
Nikolas took her hands, "Is that so . . ."
"Uh-huh."
Nikolas leaned down, and kissed her tenderly.
Jessi responded happily.
b** A bit before midnight **/b
Jessi and Nikolas return to the main room, a little flustered, they'd been out on the terrace all night, alone, together.
They make it back, just in time for Joey to get up on the makeshift stage.
"All right now! Thanks for coming everyone. I hope you have a great time. But the bewitching hour is fast approaching, so it's time to unmask yourselves!" Joey announced, "Now, on the count of 5, everyone take off your masks, 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5!"
Everyone took off their masks and looked around.
It turned out that the King and Queen of Hearts were Clint and Vicki. King Arthur and Queen Guinevere were Todd and Blair. Friar Tuck accompanied by Maid Marian was Andrew and Cassie. The Jester was Hank. Nora and Bo had gone as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and a lady in waiting.
Micah and Caroline stayed around for 20 minutes, talking to people, then Micah pulled Caroline outside.
"Where are they going?" Drew asked Kevin, who was the closest with Micah. Kevin and Micah had talked a lot, and become good friends.
"He's going to do something very surprising." Kevin answered vaguely.
"Which is . . ." Joey prompted.
"Ask her to marry him."
"What?! So soon?" Drew questioned shocked.
"They relationship has always progressed rapidly." Kevin replied.
"Well, isn't that giving them too much credit? I mean, they've only known each other what, a month?" Joey insisted.
"Joey, if it's love, it shouldn't matter how short a time you've known each other. Beside. You really have to be amazed by him. You know how insane Caroline can get sometimes. And how insecure she is. Plus, she's four and a half months pregnant with some other guy's kid. I really got to admire the guy for being willing to raise the kid."
~*~
The night had a bit of a nip to it, but Caroline and Micah didn't notice.
The sky was full of stars, and music drifted out onto the terrace through the open doors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
IThere used to be a graying tower alone on the sea
You, became the light on the dark side of me
Love remains a drug that's the high and not the pill
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large
And the light that you shine can't be seen? /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Micah spoke "Caroline, I wish to ask something of you."
Caroline, who was looking up at the moon spun around, "What is it?"
"I have never felt about anyone, feelings so strong, wonderful, and amazing as I do for you. You know about my family, yet you still live with me. And I hope, you love me, as much as I love you."
Caroline looked into his eyes, "I do love you. With all my heart."
"And you know that I will love your baby, as much as I love you."
"You will?"
"Of course." Micah pledged, "What I wish to ask you is, will you do me the honor, of marrying me, and becoming my wife?"
"Oh my . . . You want to marry me?"
"More than anything in the world. Please, say yes."
Caroline smiled, "I will . . ."
Micah's face lit up, "You will?!" he picked her up and spun her around.
Caroline laughed, "Yes, I'll marry you!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Please, I want replies, I know it sounds pathetic, but I live for feedback, good or bad! I need to know what you think so I know where to go with this.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The NEW Marvel
By Clover
Chapter 3
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
b** One week later, Friday **
** Seven pm **/b
Micah was out of town because of a problem at one of his businesses, that his father had left him, out of the country.
So Caroline was alone, setting up for an old fashion, Movie Night, pigging out, with Joey, Kevin, Drew, Rachel, and Kelly. I[As I've said before, I never really watched OLTL before last year, I was too young! I wasn't allowed to watch them! My parents actually left instructions with our daycare providers NOT to let us watch them, WHAT A RIP OFF!]/I
Caroline hurried to the door and opened the door angry, "Joey!"
"Hey Cari! God, this place is HUGE!" He exclaimed stepping in, taking off his coat.
"Come on, I was just setting up. You are late. I thought you had bailed out on me! You were supposed to be Iearly/I. Everyone will be here any minute." She scolded.
"Sorry! Dad was giving me a lecture about safe sex again. Which you are to blame for . . . but I forgive you."
"Oh ha ha." Caroline turned around and led him to the kitchen to prepare the snacks.
They were in the midst of popping the popcorn in the air-popper when the doorbell rang again.
"I Itold/I you they'd be here any minute."
"I already apologized!" Joey protested, then sighed, "I'll get it."
"Bring who ever it is in here, they can help!"
Joey found Kevin at the door, "Hey, come on in-to the house that Micah built."
"God you tell the worst jokes." Kevin complained shaking his head at his little brother, "So, what does this, Micah look like? What is he like? Give me the low down on Caroline's new beau."
"Ok. Micah Dante Asher, 6' 4", looks as though he works out a lot, blond hair, blue eyes. Basically your typical Scandinavian, like his mother. He just moved here from Sweden a few weeks ago. Originally from Italy, where his father's family lives, but he grew up in Sweden, for the most part. Real last name, Giovanni. He and Cari met two weeks ago. They moved in together last week after Cari stayed with him for six days. Oh, he's a doctor on top of that, and VERY rich. Inherited his family's entire fortune when he was 21. Runs tons of companies, but only goes in when there's a major emergency, which is why he's gone right now. Other wise he can run everything from here." Joey reported.
"How does he treat Caroline?"
"Frankly, from the little of seen of him, he's 'enchanted' by her. And she seems to be 'spellbound' by him. I think he'll turn out to be a pretty ok guy, once we get to know him. Who knows, maybe we bmight/b even like him."
"I think I'll hold of on giving my opinion once I've met him." Kevin told him. Then opens the kitchen door just as the doorbell rang again. "Go, I'll help Caroline." Kevin offered.
"Right."
Kevin stepped in and looked around. It was an impressive kitchen. Island stove, oven on the wall, marble countertops. Copper pots hung above the island, which was long enough to get several stools in, and a double-door shiny silver refrigerator. Caroline was taking brownies out of the oven while the air-popper was busy popping up a second batch of popcorn.
"What can I do to help?" Kevin asked, making his presence known.
"Um, grab the carrots, peeled carrots in the plastic container, and get the ranch dressing and French onion dip out of the fridge. Then pour the plain bag of Ruffles into one bowl and the cheddar sour cream into another." She dictated him, setting the brownies down to cool. Then she put a cut up stick of butter in a measuring cup, covering it up with wax paper. She placed it in the microwave and pushed start.
"So, Caroline, what's this, Micah? Like?" Kevin asked as he opened the refrigerator door and looked around for what he was instructed to get, questioning the pronunciation of the guys name.
Caroline sighed, "Well, at least you're direct about it. I know you probably know he's Swedish, rich, and a doctor, who you all don't really trust. But you don't know him." She ordered, walking over. "Hey, leave the door open, I need something out of there."
"And you do? Caroline, you've known him all of two weeks. And you ought to know we're just trying to protect you. We love you, and we all just don't want you to get hurt again. I know for a fact, that if it wasn't for the reason that Jason is in the mob and protected, Joey, Drew, Uncle Bo, my Dad, and Grandpa would have beaten the shit out of him by now."
Caroline pulled out four 2-liter bottles of pop. Pepsi, Diet Mountain Dew, Diet Cherry 7 UP, and Raspberry Canada Dry.
Caroline sighed as she put the bottles on a tray. "I know, I know. You're just trying to protect me. But I'm a big girl. Kevin, my God, I'm going to have my own child in about, five ½ months, I'm going to be a mommy. You have to let me grow up and make my own mistakes. And try to fix them. I lived on my own for two years. I only made a few major mistakes in that time, and they were all in Port Charles, there's something about that town . . . Anyway, I do know Micah, he is kind, caring, sweet, smart, honest, respectful, tender, honorable, chivalrous, and understanding. Most importantly, he cares about me, and he makes me happy. And I am getting so tired of telling everyone this."
Kevin stood there, his arms crossed, leaning against the counter, silent, for a moment, "You're happy? I mean, you're really truly happy?"
"Uh huh."
"Do you think you have a future with him?"
"I hope so."
"Do you promise that if he ever hurts you, in ANY way, emotionally or especially physically you'll come home?"
"Yes. On my honor as a Buchanan."
Kevin sighed, then nodded his head, "Then you'll have my support all the way."
"Ours too." Drew agreed, startling them, gesturing to Joey, "We came in while you were at, 'I'm a big girl'. If Micah's really all that, he just might be worthy of my little sister. But Caroline, please be careful."
"Yeah, Cari, don't trust him too much." Joey warned her.
Caroline rolled her eyes, "Fine."
Then Drew and Joey left the kitchen, feeling slightly better now that their jobs were partially done.
"I don't know about you," Joey whispered, "but I'm reserving my opinion until Grandpa's contacts come back with that background check."
"Same here . . ."
~*~
"Ok, let's load up the trays." Caroline ordered.
A few minutes later Caroline and Kevin walked out of the kitchen, Caroline led Kevin to the next room, where there was a giant big screen TV, VCR, and a state of the art stereo system.
Joey, Drew, and Kelly, who had arrived a few minutes ago, were lounging around waiting for them.
"Where's Rachel?" Caroline asked.
"I'm right here." Rachel responded from the doorway, "I knocked, but nobody answered. I heard your voices, so I let myself in, I hope you don't mind."
"Of course I don't! I'm just glad you're here!" Caroline saidm putting her tray down on the coffee table. She picked up the remote and plopped down on the big comfy couch next to Joey, "Alright, now lets start the first tape and watch movies till the sun comes up!"
Joey wrapped his left arm around her shoulder, and they all got comfortable.
The movie, The Breakfast Club, started and they guys groaned.
"Awwww man! Cari, you promised no chick-flicks." Joey jokingly complained.
"But, but you said it was your favorite . . ." Caroline whimpered, her eyes filling up with tears.
Joey's eyes widened in shock, this was definitely Inot/I the cousin he knew.
"He was just teasing Caroline." Kelly told her, "He didn't mean it. And he's sorry. Aren't you Joey."
"Yeah! Right, of course. I was just messin' with you. This movie rules in my book." He stammered, surprised at her taking it so seriously.
Caroline sniffed, "Sorry about crying. It's the hormones."
"That's perfectly alright. We completely understand." Kevin assured her, "Don't we guys?" he prompted.
"Of course." Joey replied.
"Right." Rachel promised.
"Totally." Drew stated firmly.
"So not your fault." Kelly chimed.
Caroline wiped under her eyes, "Ok . . . let's watch the movie."
b** A lot later, around two am **/b
Micah pulled into the drive and noticed all the cars by the house. He'd missed Caroline so much that as soon as he'd straightened out the emergency, he'd had his pilot fly him home.
He quickly got out of the SUV [hey, I have NO idea what was popular back then! I couldn't drive yet!]
Micah opened the door and looked around, it was dark and quiet. Then he noticed the glow of the TV in the Entertainment Room.
He looked in and found the small group of friends asleep in various places in pajamas. Drew with his hands behind his head in a pair of flannel pants and a gray t-shirt, was on the floor. Rachel, in red silk shorts and shirt, was in the chair, her legs hanging over one end. Kelly, in her pink satin nightgown, was curled up in the love seat covered in an afghan. Kevin was at the left end of the couch, Joey was at the right, both were wearing sweat pants wearing red (Kevin) and black (Joey) t-shirts. And Caroline was curled up with her head on Joey's shoulder, in her light blue Winnie the Pooh flannel pj's, her head in two French braids, courtesy of Kelly. All were completely dead to the world.
Micah picked up the remote and turned off the TV. He then gently picked Caroline up, she stirred just enough to put her arms around his neck, but really didn't even realize she was doing so.
He carried her up to their bedroom and laid her down, then covered her. He kissed her lightly on the lips, then went to the other side of the bed, and got into his navy-blue and dark-green flannel pants and got into bed. Micah put his arm around her, and fell right to sleep.
b** 9:30 am **/b
Joey awoke and smelled the air, bacon!
He looked over and saw that everyone was asleep, except for his brother, whom had just woken up too.
Joey looked at Kevin, "Do you smell food?" he whispered.
"Yeah, but who on earth is cooking? Caroline's gone, but she couldn't cook edible food on a stove if her life depended on it." Kevin whispered back, getting up to go the kitchen.
Rachel who was half-asleep heard them, "Wait, I'm coming too."
The three walked into the kitchen to find Micah cooking.
"So, you're the one who's cooking." Kevin acknowledged, "We knew it couldn't be our cousin Cari, she'd have lit the kitchen on fire by now."
"I found that out when she managed to ruin box macaroni and cheese when she tried to make lunch." Micah told them grinning, "However she is fine with the oven and microwave."
"True, her cookies are amazing. It's just anything cooked over fire that she has trouble with." Rachel laughed.
Kevin introduced himself, "I'm Kevin Buchanan, she's Rachel Gannon, and you know Joey, it's a pleasure to finally meet you Micah."
"Caroline has told me so much you, now please, sit down. There is a giant plate of pancakes on the counter, and the bacon is almost done."
"Thanks!" Joey exclaimed, sitting down on a stool and taking a stack of pancakes, he was really starting to like this guy.
"Where's Caroline?" Kevin questioned, putting butter on his large stack of pancakes.
"She is still asleep. She typically sleeps nine hours every night. The pregnancy really tires her out. And since it looks as though you guys had a late night, she should be asleep until eleven or so, if she doesn't get woken up by morning sickness." Micah informed them.
"What time did you get in last night?" Kevin asked, before shoving a huge fork full of butter and syrup-covered pancakes into his mouth.
"It must have been about two."
"So, Micah, is it just us, or is Cari getting really sensitive lately?" Joey inquired.
"So you noticed. She has been very emotion, and easily upset since she neared her second trimester."
"You've been dealing with that for over a week?"
"Well, there is still over five months where she will likely be very emotional because of hormones. Then she's going to experience the most intense pain of her life for hours and hours and hours. Accordingly she has my complete sympathy. I am willing to deal with what ever she is going through."
"Good point." Rachel regarded him, with much respect.
"That is what I thought. So, where are your friends? Drew and . . . oh, Caroline told me her name, oh yes, Kelly." Micah inquired, opening the fridge.
"Our cousin Drew probably watched the movie until the credits rolled, them fell asleep right after, and he's a deep sleeper, so he won't be up for a little. As for Kelly . . ."
"I'm up, I'm up." She mumbled, stumbling in running her fingers thought her hair yawning, "Hey! Who cooked?" Kelly asked perking up, her eyes not having reached the refrigerator.
"Micah did." Kevin told here, pointing to the muscular light blond in flannel pants, an untied robe and no shirt, who closed the door to the fridge and brought back more bacon, "Kelly, Micah. Micah, this is Kelly"
"Nice to meet you." Kelly told him, plopping down on a stool.
"Please, make yourself a plate of food." Micah insisted.
"Do you have any grapefruit?"
"Hey! No breaking the rules!" Joey protested loudly, jumping out of his chair.
"Sorry! It's been two years since we had one of these. I forgot, 'No food, but junk food, and the occasional carrot, as long as it's with ranch dressing.'"
"Excuse me? I am sorry. But the word's meaning escapes me. What is junk food?" Micah asked confused.
"Chips, nachos, popcorn, cookies, brownie, sugar, bacon, sausage, dip, pizza, hot dogs, fries, basically anything not healthy." Drew explained, coming in yawning and scratching his side, his hair going every which way.
"Ah, I see."
"Ooh! Food!" Drew noticed.
He ate a plate of pancakes in one minute, with everyone watching him in disgust. He tooka large gulp of milk then finally asked, "Hey, where's my sister?"
"Still asleep." Joey informed him.
"She's still asleep? She's usually up by nine. Even if she was up till two."
"She sleeps more these days." Micah repeated, placing another plate of bacon in front of the group, then sat down and started eating himself.
b** 20 minutes later **/b
After idle conversation Micah stood up, "Well I'm going to go work out."
"Can we come?" Joey asked, getting an idea.
"Sure."
Joey, Kevin, and Drew follow Micah into the basement.
"Nice set up." Kevin complemented.
"Thank you." Micah sat down on one the home gym things and began working on his triceps.
"Micah, there's something we need to know." Joey admitted, "What are your intentions towards Caroline?"
Micah let the weights go down, "My intentions?"
"Yeah, do you love her? Do you want to marry her? Are you ok with the fact she's pregnant? Or are you just using her?"
"I, I . . ." Micah took a deep breath, "My English is not perfect, so please, just try to understand what I say. Caroline makes me feel . . . feel like I . . . no, I do not know how to describe it. But when she is near, or I look at her, see her, or even just think about her, my heartbeats faster. Everyone else in the room just fades away and I only see her. And if I were not ok with her being pregnant, I would never have asked her to live with me. I do not know how she feels for me. But I know that I will never feel more for a woman then I do for her." Micah divulged, then he started doing the weights again.
Kevin's heart went out to him, he was now 100% in support of Micah, "Man, you should hear what she says about you. She sang your praises to us. And I know that she wouldn't stick around if she didn't really care about you. Let me let you in on something, she's loyal, and if she's in love, doesn't let anyone get in the way or say anything against them. My God, the last guy she loved was a mobster."
Micah dropped the weights.
"Whoa! Are you ok man?"
"Yeah, I am fine, just lost my grip."
"Good, ok, where was I? Oh yeah, She doesn't think much either. She reacts and acts out first, thinks later. Don't hurt her man, cause you would have six guys or more on your ass with just one word from her. Jason is lucky he's in the mob, and that Caroline won't let us butcher him."
"Ok, first of all. It is not a good idea to threaten me, since there are security camera's all over the house, and my Uncle Vinnie will be watching them from his place in Italy, via satellite. He would almost certainly send someone out here to make sure you never do it again. He is a bit protective. I'll call him and tell him to ignore that, but it's not very smart, especially since that house about 30 yards back from that window is filled with bodyguards. The Giovanni's are a very protective family, which I am born into.
I understand what you are doing. I would do the same if I had a sister, or if it was my niece or cousin or maybe someday a daughter. But there's something you have to realize as well, Caroline can take care of herself. She did it for two years on her own."
"First of all, what are you saying? Are you . . . connected?" Kevin asked, putting it delicately.
"My family is. My father left the family, and tried to go clean, but because of my family ties, they might try to use me, to get to my Uncles and Grandfather. But don't worry about Caroline. She has guards on her 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I won't let anything happen to her."
"Does Caroline know about this?"
"Yeah, she figured it out after she spotted the guard following her last week. She asked me, I told her. Now Lenny and Joshua go with her everywhere. She's never unprotected. And she's fine with it."
Joey sighed, and Drew shook his head.
"She never told us. But you right. She can make her own decisions. And she just pointed it out that she'll be a mother in less than six months. We can't baby her anymore."
"Precisely. Now that you know how Caroline and I feel, will you please, let us live without your always putting us down?"
Drew sighed, then nodded his head, "Alright. We'll back off. But if you hurt her, truly, not even the mercy of God could save you. I'm sure her uncle, Luke Spencer, would have a major problem with it too. And he's well connected as well."
"I understand."
~*~
b** 10:30 am **/b
Caroline woke up and took in her surroundings, I 'How on earth did I get here?''/I she wondered. Then she noticed Micah's side of the bed was messed up too, and his clothes in a heap on the floor. He must have come home early and brought her upstairs last night.
She stretched, put on her fluffy, white, furry slippers and went down the spiral staircase into the kitchen and shuffled to where Kelly and Rachel were talking.
"Hey sleepy head." Rachel greeted perkily, too perky for Caroline's taste.
"Uh-huh."
"I'd just like to state for the record," Kelly announced, "that I am officially jealous. Cari, you always manage to catch the Greek Gods."
"Scandinavian and Italian in this case." Caroline smiled sitting down and taking some pancakes.
"Caroline. You have found your perfect man, not only do you really, really, like him, but he's hot, brawny, sweet, a doctor, rich, a romantic from what you've said, and he can cook too. And he knew you were pregnant before you got involved, and I have to admire that."
"Hey, he's a doctor in name only. He doesn't practice medicine. And he's family is . . . well connected, but you are right, I am lucky, I think I've actually found The One. He's so nice about my many mood swings too."
"Here is the most important question, what is he like in bed." Kelly asked, smirking.
"Why Kelly! I'm shocked!" Caroline gasped in mock horror.
"Come on sis, dish!" Rachel persisted.
"Ok, well he's, amazing. And that's all I'm saying."
"Caroline, you are so lucky."
"I know . . . trust me, I know."
"Oh my god! I almost forgot!" Kelly exclaimed, hitting her head with the palm of her hand, "Asa's decided to have a masquerade, where no one knows whom anyone else really is. So obviously we all have to wear masks. He's still trying to makeup for yelling at you. We would have called you, but you forgot to give anyone the number."
"A masquerade huh? Is there a theme?" Caroline questioned excited.
"Yeah, Fairy Tales and Children's Stories. We're supposed to let you buy your costume first . . . so hurry!"
"Alright. I'll think of something. How are we going to make sure no one gets the same costume?"
"Well, since there's only costume maker in town, as soon as someone's taken that character, it's pulled out of the running, but nobody else will know who has what."
"When is it?" Caroline asked.
"Halloween of course!"
~*~
b** October 31 **/b
Finally, the day of the masquerade arrived.
Caroline obviously was going with Micah.
All the Buchanan's had gotten rooms, at the hotel where the Masquerade was being held, to get ready in. Caroline, Kelly, Rachel, and Jessi had gotten a suite, which Jessi and Kelly would be staying in tonight. Micah, who'd become good friends with Joey, Kevin, and Drew was letting the guys get ready in the suite, he had gotten for the weekend, where Caroline and he would stay tonight, since it would be so late once the ball ended. Bo and Nora had a room. Clint and Vicky had their own room as well.
Caroline, Kelly, Rachel, and Jessi had all arrived at the room at the same time, four hours before the party would start, costume bags in hand, and a small bag of jewelry, makeup, hair accessories, shoes, and masks.
They hurried into the room. Before now, they had no idea what each other were going to be, and now it was time for the unveiling. Caroline actually had her hair up in a baseball hat.
Kelly pulled out her dress out first, "I've decided, on the classic, Sleeping Beauty."
She pulled out a pink dress, which was narrow, it had long sleeves, which hooked to her middle finger. The skirt was long, and was a little bit full.
Jessi went next, "I have decided upon, the traditional, but always very beautiful, Cinderella."
She revealed an icy-blue dress, tight bodice, and full, shimmery, skirt.
"I've decided just to go as a lady in waiting for Maid Marian. Truthfully, I couldn't think of anything!" Rachel laughed as she pulled out a dark green dress, with long sleeves, and a lace front.
"Wonderful!" Kelly exclaimed, "Alright, now it's your turn Caroline, whom have you chosen?"
"Well, I have decided to go with a newer version, of sorts." First she pulled off her hat to reveal her long, no longer blond hair, which she'd dyed a stunning dark brown, "I've decided to go as Belle."
"Oh my god! You really dyed you hair!"
"I know, but I felt like I needed a change, so rather than buying a wig, I dyed it last night. And now, seeing as my hair has been up in a hat, I need to go take a shower, and rinse it out." She told them, stepping into the bathroom.
b** 10 minutes later **/b
Caroline came out in a robe, drying her hair. She brushed through it, then pulled a bag of rollers out of her bag, "Guys, can you help?"
Soon they had all her hair in the rollers, which would form ringlets all over her head.
b** 30 minutes later **/b
Kelly had her costume on, just not done up yet.
Caroline slipped on her hoopskirt complaining, "Ok, why on earth did women subject themselves to this?"
"I have no idea." Jessi grumbled, as she slipped her sparkling icy blue dress over her head, "Hey! Give me a hand! I'm stuck!"
Caroline and Kelly rushed over and pulled down the dress, and buttoned up the long row of buttons, which held on the tight, form fitting bodice, which accompanied all their dresses. It looked good on Jessi's 17 year old body. [I know, the age isn't right. But I need her to be older! I can work with her more that way.]
"You look great in this." Caroline complemented.
Jessi looked down and smoothed out the skirt, "I guess . . . Come on. Let's get you into that dress."
She helped tie the hoopskirt on, and knotted the laces.
Kelly picks up the yellow satin dress off the bed. Caroline held out her arms and they pulled the dress on her, then buttoned up the back.
"God, this feels a bit tight." Caroline complained.
"Well, you're like four and a half months pregnant." Kelly summarized, "But you do look terrific, you are just starting to get a little heavier, like you should be. What are you wearing now, a six?"
"An eight." She told them gloomily.
"See, you've only gone from a four to an eight. It's not that much!" Rachel assured her.
"I know, you're right." Caroline goes to the mirror and takes her hair out of the curlers, which had given her new locks the perfect shape. Ready for Kelly to form into the rest of the look, while Caroline did her own makeup.
Jessi had her hair done by Kelly too, while Caroline did her makeup. Kelly left a few golden blond tendrils hanging down into Jessi's face.
Kelly did her makeup, while Caroline and Jessi buttoned Rachel's costume, and put one of those stupid hats they wore on her head, and pinned it on.
Then they got out the shoes and accessories.
A gold crown and a diamond necklace for Kelly.
Ice blue gloves that went a few inches above the elbow, a black choker, and pearl earrings for Jessi.
An emerald pendent and matching earrings for Rachel.
And yellow gloves that went just a bit above the elbow and gold earrings for Caroline.
After accessorizing and putting on their shoes, they critically looked at themselves in the mirror. Finally they slipped on their masks, which covered their eyes, the string, which held the masks on, was hidden beneath their hair.
"God, you look so different with brown hair!" Kelly exclaimed once more.
"There's definitely going to be no one who recognizes you." Jessi agreed.
"That's the idea. But, at least you guys will know it's me!" Caroline told them cheerfully.
Just as they finish getting ready, there was a knock at the door.
Jessi opened it and the guys came in one at a time. First came Kevin, who was dressed as Robin Hood, green from head to toe, except for his huge white shirt and tights.
Then Joey came in, who was dressed as the scamp Will Scarlet, a white shirt, a vest and tight pants and tights.
Drew followed him, dressed as Little John, basically the same thing.
The three had planned this, but not let anyone in on it.
Finally, last but the best looking, Micah. His blond hair was slicked back. He had on obvious tights under the tight black pants he was wearing. A large white shirt, a gold vest, and a blue jacket with tails, which was bordered with the same gold color fabric as the vest. The human version of the Prince/Beast.
Needless to say, they all felt very uncomfortable. [To quote the movie "Robin Hood, Men in Tights" in their minds, I"You've got to be a man to wear tights!"/I] And felt very lucky that they would be wearing masks, so no one could recognize them.
"You all look great!" Caroline exclaimed.
"You look quite beautiful." Micah complemented, taking her hand and kissing it.
Caroline couldn't help but blush.
Kelly, Rachel, and Jessi look at the other three expectantly.
After a long moment Kelly finally exclaimed, "Well how do we look you brutes?!"
Joey jumped, "Oh, you look amazing, I was . . . uh . . . left speechless by your beauty."
"Same here!" Kevin agreed.
"Oh yeah, you look lovely." Drew added.
"Nice save." Jessi told her brothers and cousin sarcastically.
"Should we not be going?" Micah asked, trying to avoid the obviously impending argument.
"Right!" Joey agreed, silently thanking his cousin's beau.
"My lady." Micah offered her arm to Caroline, which she accepted.
Joey, Kevin, and Drew did the same.
Kelly took Joey's arm, Rachel took Kevin's, and Jessi took Drew's.
Kelly and Joey led the couples to the elevators.
On the way down, the guys made comments about Caroline's hair.
"You know, I almost didn't recognize you." Joey confessed.
"Oh yeah. You look great, but why did you do it?" Kevin questioned.
"Because I felt like I needed a change." Caroline explained simply.
Then the elevator dinged, signaling that they'd reached their floor.
The double doors were opened and the four couples looked into the ballroom full of people in costume. Some of the couples stuck out. The King and Queen of Hearts, King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, a Jester, and Asa, who though he had come up with the party, refused to wear a costume, except he was wearing a cowboy hat.
Kelly and Joey, and Caroline and Micah went right to the dance floor and started dancing. Rachel, Drew, Kevin, and Jessi went their separate ways.
Jessi stood on the sidelines, contentedly watching her cousin dance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
II swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
And I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I see the questions in your eyes
I know what's weighing on your mind
You can be sure I know my heart
'Coz I'll stand beside you through the years
You'll only cry those happy tears
And though I make mistakes
I'll never break your heart/I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jessi could tell how happy Caroline was, but she was still a bit jealous of her cousin's very good fortune. Suddenly, a dark haired, muscular, stranger, dressed as Prince Charming walked towards her, even though he was dutifully masked at his eyes, it was very obvious that he was very handsome. He had dark brown hair and eyes, and his skin was a tanned olive color, making him look like dark prince.
Her breath was caught in her chest, and her heart was in her throat.
He stopped right in front of her. Never even speaking, he offered her his hand, which she readily accepted, but was taken aback at the tingling sensation that went down her spine when her hand met his.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
IAnd I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
I'll be there
I swear like a shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear
I'll give you every thing I can
I'll build your dreams with these two hands
We'll hang some memories on the walls /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jessi's heart pounded wildly in her chest. She'd lost the ability to think. She was filled with emotions, she had never even imagined existed.
Who was this mystery man, her Prince Charming?
At the same time, the Dark Prince [Ias he shall be referred to until we get his name/I] was also amazed at what was happening. When he'd spotted her across the room, something inside of him changed, everyone else in the room had faded away, and he immediately had made his way to the lovely Cinderella.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
IAnd when just the two of us are there
You won't have to ask if I still care
`Coz as the time turns the page, my love won't age at all
And I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jessi was lost in his deep brown eyes, they seemed to bore into her very soul.
The Dark Prince was lost in her hazel eyes
What on earth was she doing to him? He'd been pulled to her, like there was some force, trying to make them meet. Whatever it was, it had worked.
He danced her out to the terrace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
II swear (I swear) by the moon and stars in the sky
I'll be there
I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there
For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every (single) beat of my heart
I swear, I swear, oh... I... swear... /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They stopped there, breathing hard, because of the manner their hearts were beating.
The Dark Prince finally spoke, "I am Prince Nikolas Cassadine." [IOne more thing, I've also aged Prince Nikki a bit, here he is 18 as well. Why? Because I can have more fun then!/I]
"I'm Jessica Buchanan, you can call me Jessi." She replied.
"Call me Nikolas."
"Where on earth did you come from?" Jessi implored, wondering if maybe he'd fallen from heaven or maybe someplace darker. If he had, she didn't care if he was the devil himself, she was fully trapped within his snare.
"Well, Greece. But my father and I moved to Port Charles New York this year. I didn't really like it there. So I'm going to be living here and attending classes at the University."
Jessi looked at him skeptically, "You're a prince? And from Greece?"
Nikolas laughed, "I know it sounds unbelievable. But I assure you it's true."
Something dawned on Jessi, "Did you say Port Charles?"
"Yes, why?"
"My cousin just moved here from there!"
"Oh, does she know the Spencers?"
"Only Luke. He's her Uncle. Would you believe he threatened to kill her?"
"I got the same welcome from my, well I guess he's my step-father. He's wife, Laura Spencer, is my mother."
"You have got to be kidding me! That is SOOO weird!"
"What's your cousin's name?"
"Well, Caroline Leigh Buchanan, but she while she was there, Carly Roberts." Jessi informed him, then decided to find out a lot more about this, Nikolas, "So, why'd you decide to move here?"
"Well, my cousin Alexis is friends with another lawyer here, Nora Buchanan, I guess that you'd be related to her too. Anyway, I'm going to be staying with them." Nikolas explained.
"Nora is my Aunt. Caroline's step-mother." She told him shocked.
"So you're the Jessi they were talking about."
"That would be me!"
"Why don't you tell me more about you." Nikolas prodded, wanting to know all he possibly can about this beautiful creature in front of him.
"Um, I'm one of the only Granddaughter's of the family. Actually, there are only two of us. So Grandpa, my dad, Uncle Bo, my cousin Drew, and my brothers Kevin and Joey are very protective of Caroline and I. You should have seen how mad they were when they found out Caroline was . . ." Jessi realized she was about to say something she shouldn't, and that she'd said something else she shouldn't have earlier, so she decided to tell him the OTHER thing they were mad at her about. "That she was moving in with a guy she'd just met the week before, and had been staying with while they were all worried about her."
"What does your family do?"
"Well, my mother and father own and run the Banner. My brother Kevin works there as a reporter. Joey's a photographer. Uncle Bo's the commissioner of the police. And Grandpa is a cranky but sweet, very rich, Texan, who runs the family business."
"What does Caroline do?"
"She spends her days with Micah, her boyfriend, mostly. Or shopping. It's not that she can't do things, she's very, very smart. It's just that she just got off a bad relationship, she's pregnant, and Micah's well off too. There isn't really a reason for her to. She never went to college. She's only 19."
"Oh, I guess I can understand that. I don't really need to go to college I already know what I'm going to do."
"What's that?"
"When I turn 25, I take over our Empire and become The Cassadine. My Uncle is holding the title for me, until I reach 25. My father would have been The Cassadine now, but he died when I was a baby. I was raised by my Uncle on the family compound, which is on our island in Greece. My Grandmother, Helena, was there as well. But she is a cold, heartless woman, who wants nothing more than to be able to control me, she is a terrible person, if she ever comes near you, tell me. If it weren't for my Uncle staging a coup when I was a boy, she would have raised me. And I would have grown up unloved, and cold, just as she is. My mother left me, when I was just a baby. To return to Spencer. The only good thing that came of that was my half-sister, Lulu. She's why I came back. She needed my bone marrow because she was dying of Leukemia. And I guess my half-brother, Lucky. Even though we don't get along at all."
"Wow. That's a complicated life."
"I guess. I don't know any other way. Tell me more about you."
"Um, I'm 17, a senior in High School." She looked at his masked face, "How old are you? You act so maturely . . . but I know you're under 25. So, what are you, 20, 22?"
"I'm only 18."
Jessi smiled, "Do you have a girlfriend?" she was personally shocked at how forward she was being.
Nikolas was surprised at the question, but quickly answered, "No, I don't have a girlfriend. Do you have a beau?"
"Not anymore."
Nikolas took her hands, "Is that so . . ."
"Uh-huh."
Nikolas leaned down, and kissed her tenderly.
Jessi responded happily.
b** A bit before midnight **/b
Jessi and Nikolas return to the main room, a little flustered, they'd been out on the terrace all night, alone, together.
They make it back, just in time for Joey to get up on the makeshift stage.
"All right now! Thanks for coming everyone. I hope you have a great time. But the bewitching hour is fast approaching, so it's time to unmask yourselves!" Joey announced, "Now, on the count of 5, everyone take off your masks, 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5!"
Everyone took off their masks and looked around.
It turned out that the King and Queen of Hearts were Clint and Vicki. King Arthur and Queen Guinevere were Todd and Blair. Friar Tuck accompanied by Maid Marian was Andrew and Cassie. The Jester was Hank. Nora and Bo had gone as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and a lady in waiting.
Micah and Caroline stayed around for 20 minutes, talking to people, then Micah pulled Caroline outside.
"Where are they going?" Drew asked Kevin, who was the closest with Micah. Kevin and Micah had talked a lot, and become good friends.
"He's going to do something very surprising." Kevin answered vaguely.
"Which is . . ." Joey prompted.
"Ask her to marry him."
"What?! So soon?" Drew questioned shocked.
"They relationship has always progressed rapidly." Kevin replied.
"Well, isn't that giving them too much credit? I mean, they've only known each other what, a month?" Joey insisted.
"Joey, if it's love, it shouldn't matter how short a time you've known each other. Beside. You really have to be amazed by him. You know how insane Caroline can get sometimes. And how insecure she is. Plus, she's four and a half months pregnant with some other guy's kid. I really got to admire the guy for being willing to raise the kid."
~*~
The night had a bit of a nip to it, but Caroline and Micah didn't notice.
The sky was full of stars, and music drifted out onto the terrace through the open doors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
IThere used to be a graying tower alone on the sea
You, became the light on the dark side of me
Love remains a drug that's the high and not the pill
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large
And the light that you shine can't be seen? /I
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Micah spoke "Caroline, I wish to ask something of you."
Caroline, who was looking up at the moon spun around, "What is it?"
"I have never felt about anyone, feelings so strong, wonderful, and amazing as I do for you. You know about my family, yet you still live with me. And I hope, you love me, as much as I love you."
Caroline looked into his eyes, "I do love you. With all my heart."
"And you know that I will love your baby, as much as I love you."
"You will?"
"Of course." Micah pledged, "What I wish to ask you is, will you do me the honor, of marrying me, and becoming my wife?"
"Oh my . . . You want to marry me?"
"More than anything in the world. Please, say yes."
Caroline smiled, "I will . . ."
Micah's face lit up, "You will?!" he picked her up and spun her around.
Caroline laughed, "Yes, I'll marry you!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Please, I want replies, I know it sounds pathetic, but I live for feedback, good or bad! I need to know what you think so I know where to go with this.
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