Nikolas smiled as he walked up and joined Reese and Courtney. "Hey..." he said as he looked at Courtney. "Hi. Look about last night I'm..." Reese interrupted with a time out sign. "Woah people before this discussion goes any further I think I'll go join my husband and nephew.." Reese said hurrying off. Nikolas couldn't help but laugh. "No need to apologize...I shouldn't have..." "Look Jake isn't dead. I came back to Port Charles because I was on the run from him." "Why--Courtney why'd you lie? You should Know that I can and I will protect you and your son." "No...no you're not being pulled into this." Courtney said sternly. "If you think for one second that I'm gonna sit back and let this guy scare you you're crazy." "I can handle it!" "What if he comes after you!" Nikolas demanded. Sonny walked over and looked at him with a glare. "Look Cassadine...My sister is none of your concern is that clear?" "I Care about her Sonny!" "Well If you care so much then back off!"
"Stop it!" Courtney screamed as she stepped between the two men who were now acting more immature then her son. Sonny glared at Nikolas. "Sonny." she warned him as he soon backed off. Reese ran up panting and out of breath. "Ty--Tyler..." Reese pointed towards the sandbox trying to make gestures but couldn't make out the words. "Reese...Where's--where's Tyler?" "Someone--Someone took him." she said clutching her throat trying to catch her breath. "Oh My God..." Courtney ran as fast as she could looking all around for her son. "Tyler!" she yelled in a panick. Nikolas ran up after her. "Come on we'll go to the cops." just then her cell rang. "Hello?" She answered shaky and out of breath. "Hi Honey." The familiar voice said at the other end of the line. "Jake." She said Breathlessly. "Mommy!" She heard Tyler scream in the background. "Tyler!" She yelled back hoping he would hear her. "If you hurt him Jake I swear." "Hurt him? Oh but sweetheart I want us to be a family again...I may not be his father but I'm this boy's Daddy. You couldnt have been dumb enough to think I wouldnt find you two Courtney. Come on honey give a Texas guy more credit than that love."
"No You're not...You're not his father or his Daddy Jake!" Courtney yelled adamantly in protest. Nikolas by this time was looking confused. "Were at your place I suggest you don't come home too late sweetie." Jake said as he hung up. Courtney dropped her phone. What was there to do now. She was certainly most positive that Nikolas had heard her deny Jake as the father. It was too late to come of with some cover story now. She had to tell him there was no getting around it no matter what she tried. Courtney hit her knees and broke down. Nikolas bent down beside her. "Courtney?" he sounded so innocent and his voice was soft. Something she had missed when she left. Hearing him call her "Court" and hearing his attempts to sing to her were things she had often found herself dreaming of but now she knew that this secret just may be the thing that he could never forgive her for.
"My son...our--." She closed her eyes scared at the outcome once she told Nikolas that Tyler wasn't Tyler Parker but her was Tyler Cassadine. The Cassadine heir and Nikolas' son. This was something that was gonna either make him the happiest man in the world or turn his world upside down. "Nikolas.." "Yeah? Court I'm...Courtney wait!" Courtney got up and ran. Thats all she had ever known. Run when your scared or when you don't want to face reality. She figured as soon as she got Tyler back she'd tell him. Nikolas ran after her and finally caught up and her. He grabbed her from behind and held her as she kicked and cried. "If you Care About me you'll let me go!" "I care about you that's why I'm not letting you Go! I'm not letting you leave Again! I'll help you Get Tyler!" he pleaded for her to let him help. "You have the right." she whispered. "You're his Father..." Nikolas couldn't hear or understand her. "What? Courtney...I--" "You're his Father Nikolas!" She said in a loud comprehendable voice. "I--I...What?" "You're Tyler's Daddy! That's why I left!"