He watched her from a dark corner, his fingers lightly stroking his sculpted beard. Stefan Cassadine was a man with priorities, and always, the first one had been his family. Every ruthless act, every despicable deed had been done to ensure the Cassadine legacy. His entire life as the hated one by his mother had been to make sure that the Cassadine family stood tall with those that remained. Helena would always want her precious Stavros back, but Stefan knew that his older brother was the future of nothing. The future was Nikolas, and to an extent, Alexis.
The decision of who to share his return with had been easier than originally thought. He loved Nikolas dearly, and there had been no greater time for him than the short period where he was led to believe that he was truly Nikolas's father instead of Stavros. However, he knew that Nikolas was too far gone. The heir to the Cassadine throne had long ago relieved himself of the allegiances to his family, and had Stefan shown himself to him, Nikolas would have been the first to tell Luke Spencer that still lived.
More than that, he was almost positive that Nikolas would find a way to place all of his current woes on Stefan's head, when in fact, had he listened to his uncle, none of this would have ever happened in the first place. Had Nikolas taken the road that was handed him, made a life with Lydia and bore a child, he would not now be bothered with the issues put upon him by Emily Bowen Quartermaine.
But Alexis… His dear Natasha… Her strength came and went. It still pained him to think of the many betrayals she had set upon him, but at least she felt guilt over them. No matter what else he had been occupied with, Stefan had always kept his eye on her, watching her steps and looking on sorrowfully as she lost another battle. Had she trusted in him, she would never have lost her daughter. Had she put her faith in her brother instead of Ned Ashton, Sonny Corinthos would never have had the child in his care, and she would have never been taken. Had she not broken his heart, she would be walking with her head high instead of begging an unworthy man such as Ric Lansing to take her back.
Stefan looked down at his right hand. His ring was back where it belonged, and yet, it did warm his heart to know that she had taken it from him. She had held on to a piece of something Cassadine, a piece of him. For all the times that he had put his life in danger for her, for all the times that she had hurt him, he still loved her and he knew that she still loved him.
Of the two remaining relatives that were readily at his disposal, Alexis was the most trustworthy of the two. She was the one who would most readily accept his aid. He knew that deep down, Alexis knew she was better than all of this. Stefan had taught her over and again that she was better than any of these people, and she shouldn't allow them to bring her down to their level.
As well, Alexis had already shown that she still possessed the skill of a Cassadine. She had easily taken half a million dollars from the Cassadine accounts and, had she not been in the middle of proving herself a much more person than her estranged husband, she could have put it back just as easily with never a word said over the matter. She had condemned his methods in the past when it came to custody of Kristina, but in the end, she knew that darker methods were necessary. She embraced her darker side and proved herself open for Stefan's revelation.
Stefan stepped forward, stepping out of the darkness and into the light. Alexis started to stir and he moved closer. She would wake soon, and her eyes would gaze upon the only one who had ever truly loved her, the only one who had bonded with her. The only one that could ever help her.
As Alexis drifted into consciousness, her last waking moments repeated. Stefan standing at her door, calling her name. His fingers brushing her face. The tight grip that she held onto his fingers before everything went dark, before she started to fall. She sat up quickly and the covers fell from her to settle in her lap.
She was still dressed as she had been the day before, in loose slacks and a blouse from a high-end maternity store. Though it was well into June, Alexis felt a chill and hugged herself tightly. The memory of Stefan so close, so real… Had he really been there? Had he caught her when she fell? Had he carried her to the bed and tucked her in? She couldn't remember the last time he had folded the covers over her.
Alexis felt a presence in the room, and it was as familiar as any she'd ever felt. She peered into the darkness twice, three times it seemed before she actually saw him. It was as though he blended into the shadows, waiting and lurking. He could have come forward, let her know that he was there, but Alexis thought this was just another test. Did she really know Stefan Cassadine, could she really see him.
"You're…" She swallowed hard. "You're alive." Alexis pushed the covers back, prepared to rise, but she couldn't make her legs move. "But, no…" She swallowed again and shook her head. "I saw you. I… I touched you, and you were dead."
"Death is an illusion, Natasha." He moved forward slowly, his arms falling to his side. He stood over her, looking down at her, and Alexis felt cold again. Stefan reached out and his fingertips brushed her cheek. "We've seen Stavros return, and my very own mother survived a fall from the cliffs at Wyndemere. Do you really think that something so low as death could stop me?"
"But… Luke, killed you." Tears leaked from her eyes. Alexis rolled her lips and tried to talk around the growing lump in her throat. "How are you… Where have you been? How did you get back here? Please, Stefan… Please, don't tell me that you borrowed from Lorenzo Alcazar, again."
"Hush." The end of his word stretched out, a soft brushing hush. He lowered himself to the bed. "Natasha…" Alexis began to cry harder. When Luke called her that, it was playful, joking, reminding her just how pure her Cassadine blood truly was. When Stefan called her Natasha, it was out of love and respect. As children, he always called her Natasha when they were alone, to remind her that no matter what game was played by the adults around them, she was not just a displaced cousin. She was a Cassadine, blood of his own blood, and she should be proud of that. "Rest assured that I have means far greater than Lorenzo Alcazar for my arrival."
"Why… Why are you here?" Her words were thick as emotion overtook her. She wanted to grab him, hold him, beg his forgiveness. Yet, she thought that wasn't altogether necessary. The very fact that he sat beside her, speaking softly to her said that he had long ago forgiven her. Now, she just had to forgive herself. "After all that's been done, all that's been said… Why are you here, now?"
"For you, of course." He rose both hands to her face, cupping her cheeks. Alexis closed her eyes. "Look at me, Natasha." It was as the night before, but this time, she knew for certain that he would still be there when she looked at him. Alexis opened her eyes and stared at her brother through a blur of tears. "I have always cared for you, and I will care for your children. You need me, Natasha."
Her lips rolled together and she nodded. "Yes," she said with a sob. "I do." Her face trembled as she began to cry harder. "I need you, and I've always needed you. Everything I've done… I was mislead."
"I know," he whispered. His hand slid to the side and the pad of his fingers rested against her lips. "You don't have to tell me what I already know. I have forgiven you, and I will help rebuild you." She blinked at him in confusion and he said, "I will make you what you once were. Then, you and I, Natasha, will teach these people that they can not stop a Cassadine. We always win the war, in the end."
He brought her face to his and kissed her lightly. A brush across the lips. Once on each cheek. And then, finally, on her forehead. Alexis wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her closer. He embraced her and Alexis held tightly to him, crying tears for which she had no words. "Help me, Stefan," she muttered against him. "Help us all."