(Author's Notes- Well here's chapter #7!! Sooner than we both thought!! :-) Hope everyone likes it!! Please Read and Review!! Thanks!! --Am)

Chapter #7- Surprises and Relaxation

A Few Days Later-

Nikolas had planned to take Emily to the doctors for her ultrasound. He was determined, but yet again Stavros wasn't about to let that happen – especially when his wife's doctor was Elizabeth Webber.

Nikolas had been overpowered by Stavros and 2 of his men and has been tied up this time, leaving his wife in Stavros' clutches.

Doctor's Office-

"Well Jasmine, are you ready for you're ultrasound?" Liz asked, as Lucky observed, ready to do the technical stuff.

"Yes. I'm sorry my husband couldn't make it again. He really, really wanted to be here...I'm sure he'll be here next time." Em said as brightly as she could without giving evil looks to Stavros. However, she was feeling scared and sad that Nikolas was prevented from seeing this.

"Well Jasmine, let's see what we have here..." Lucky spoke up, blue eyes sincere.

"We have 2 arms, 2 legs, a nice sized head...and the heartbeats look to be..." Lucky trailed off.

"Heartbeats? There are 2 of them?" 'Jasmine' questioned curiously...

"Yes...it looks as if you're going to have twins."

"Again huh Jasmine?...Reminds you of when you were 16 doesn't it?" Stavros said just to rub her the wrong way.

"Please leave. Leave now." Jasmine said, voice low, trying to control her stress level, her tears, and her embarrassment/shame.

"Mr. Cane, I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave. Jasmine's blood pressure just sky-rocketed." Lucky said.

Stavros didn't move.

"Sir, you have to go now!" Lucky said.

Stavros finally left.

"So...you said I was having twins?" Jasmine hesitantly spoke up after a few moments of tension between Lucky, Liz, and herself.

"Yes, it seems that way." Lucky said, giving a small smile.

"But why doesn't the other baby show up that well?" 'Jasmine' asked.

"Well, the only reason I see one set of legs & arms, and one head is, I guess the 2nd baby is curled up in a ball directly behind his or her brother or sister." Lucky replied.

"Is that good?" She asked concerned.

"Well, it looks that although the 2nd baby is behind the other and if we move to the side here, the baby looks just as well developed as the 1st. And they both have very steady and strong heartbeats." Elizabeth reassured her.

"We see no problems so far. Continue to avoid stress, eat healthy, and continue to take vitamins and I don't foresee a problem." Elizabeth said smiling.

"Would you like to know the sex of your twins?" Lucky asked.

'Jasmine' pondered this a bit.

"...No thank you. I want it to be a surprise, but I also think that this should be a decision between my husband and I."

"No problem. Come back in about 2 weeks and we'll check your progress. If you have any questions or think there are any problems you know where to find us. Remember: avoid stress. I'm sorry if that doesn't come so easy for you though." Liz said.

"Thanks...and I'm sorry about him. He has very little patience for me..." Jasmine said.

"It's ok. If you don't mind me asking...how are your other twins?" Liz asked.

"They're good. They're only 6 years old, but the best sons I could ever ask for." Em said smiling. Her boys always brought her joy.

"I'm happy for you. Well I guess I'll see you in 2 weeks then?"

"Yes. Have a good day."

"You too." Lucky and Liz replied in unison.

After Jasmine left, Lucky immediately agreed with Liz.

"You're right, I don't like that guy at all. I did not like the looks that he was giving her, and I didn't like her reactions – however small – of fear that were displayed in her eyes. I'm going to follow them. Something just isn't right." Lucky said.

"Be careful Lucky." Liz warned.

"I will." Lucky replied.

Outside-

Lucky quickly hid and spied on the two, somewhat shocked, at what he saw.

Emily & Stavros were outside, prepared to go back to the castle.

"Look you little..." Stavros growled quietly as he grabbed a hold of Em's arm once again.

"Hey! Let go of me. There won't be many more times that you'll be able to do this, and I can't wait for that!" Emily growled back.

"All the more reason to do it now. How dare you...You think you can order me out of the room when I have every right to be there?"

"Wrong! You have no right to be there! My husband does! You keep preventing him!" Em countered quietly.

"Be glad you're pregnant because trust me you would have gotten slapped for that. But all the punishments you're getting away from now...be prepared – because you will NOT escape them forever. Trust me. When the time is right, you will pay for this. All of it." Stavros said, not putting up with anything.

"Not if my husband has anything to say about it. You know he's the one to punish me, not you." Em said, not liking where this was going.

"What you're husband doesn't know, won't hurt him Jasmine." Stavros said as he grabbed both her arms and forced her into a bruising, harsh kiss that as short as it really was, felt like a hellish eternity to Em.

"Now let's GO!" Stavros barked, while getting on the horse he rode in on, while Em walked. He grabbed her arm once again, this time with a little less force and tied it to a rope that was on the horse's saddle– not willing to let her run away. Emily followed, looking down at her feet the entire time.

Lucky followed, prepared to get Jasmine and her kids out of this obviously abusive situation, only hoping her husband wasn't worse...

Castle-

Lucky followed Jasmine and Lucien as best he could. He was able to sneak into the doors, and hid to hear more conversation.

"Jasmine, I suggest you be on you're best behavior unless you want me to convince my son that I should be the one either punishing you, or raising your sons." Stavros said.

'His son? I thought Jasmine was his daughter...' Lucky thought.

Jasmine simply nodded.

"Get out of here. I do not want to see you right now. Go!" Stavros yelled.

Nik & Em's Bedroom-

Emily quietly walked to her bedroom. A silent Lucky followed, but realized before he came close to the door that he had to find another way in. When he couldn't, he found a way outside and was able to find Jasmine's bedroom window – which lucky for him (no pun intended) was open.

"Hey baby. How'd the ultrasound...what'd he do this time?" Nikolas asked quietly as he saw her walk in - knowing she was upset.

Emily hadn't yet looked up at Nik and when she finally did she gasped in horror at the bruises on his face as she found him tied up.

"Nikolas! Oh my gosh! What have they done to you? First tasering you, then this? They're gonna end up killing you if I don't start listening..." Em cried as she rushed over to him, cradling his face, quickly kissing him, and soon untying him.

'Nikolas?! Nikolas is alive?' Lucky thought.

"I'm fine, I'm more worried about you." Nik said.

"Just hold me. Please? I don't want to do this anymore..." Emily cried as she latched onto her husband who wrapped his arms around her.

"Sweetheart what happened?" Nikolas asked worried sick.

"The ultrasound went well. Nik...we're having twins. I didn't want to find out if they were girls or boys...Lucky was there."

'How'd she know to tell Nikolas that I was there? Maybe he told her about me and Liz?' Lucky pondered.

"And?" Nik asked.

"It still took me everything I had not to break down. As much as my home is with you, it's more complete with them too."

"I know what you mean, I know exactly what you mean. But that's not everything is it?"

"No..." Emily said barley audible.

"It was Stavros..." Continuing to barley speak.

"Baby, what'd he do to you?" Nikolas said, voice in a low fury toward Stavros.

'Stavros? What's he doing alive...?' Lucky pondered.

Emily continued to cry as she slowly slid down to her knees.

"Baby? You're scaring me here, what's wrong? You know I won't love you any less. I love you with everything I have. You're not going to lose me." Nikolas said, trying to give his wife some confidence.

"He...he kissed me, really hard...Just after we got outside from the doctor's office...I didn't want to—" Em said as she started to sob.

"Shhh, shhh. It's not your fault okay. It's not your fault." Nikolas said softly, trying to sooth his wife, rocking her back and forth like a small child – like Emily did her sons when they were younger.

'Damnit!! He must be working with Helena. But I'm so glad my brother is alive!! And I really want to help Jasmine.' Lucky thought.

Fortunately for Emily, she didn't see the cold hatred in her husband's eyes toward Stavros getting colder and colder.

"Nikolas?" Emily quietly asked.

'Why the hell did that voice sound so familiar? I know that voice...' Lucky thought to himself.

"Yeah?" Nik replied quietly.

"Can you forgive me?" Emily asked eyes wide and pleading.

Nikolas was astonished that she would ask such a question.

"How and why would ever ask that question?" Nik asked quietly.

"Because of –" Em started.

"If you say because of Stavros – don't. You did nothing wrong. Nothing. It was all him, not you, never you. And I still love you, never less. Hell I love you more for the fact that you were honest with me and this didn't blow up in both our faces."

Emily stayed quiet with tears still falling because of course, that was her reasoning for asking her husbands forgiveness.

Not long after, Nikolas picked his wife up and put her on their bed.

He then left her and went into another room, leaving his wife to wonder exactly what her loving husband was up to.

She then heard bath water, but was too tired and emotionally exhausted to think anything of it. Em soon felt her husband pick her up again, and start to carry her into the other room.

"Nik, what are you doing? I just want to attempt to sleep right now..." Emily said, snuggling against Nikolas to get comfortable, not really caring if she was making sense.

"I am running you a bath. It'll help relax you. Plus it'll be good for you and our twins." Nik said with an innocent smile.

Lucky took the opportunity to leave his hiding spot, and go back to Elizabeth. He really wanted to tell her of his discovery. He also figured Nik & Jasmine didn't get too much privacy with Stavros around and wasn't about to let them lose this moment. In addition, for Lucky to stay – it was just wrong.

"Okay, okay fine. But I am not moving." Emily said.

"Never said you had to. Just relax ok. Just close your eyes and let me pamper you like you so much deserve."

"Okay..." Emily relented.

He helped Em get undressed and put her into the tub.

Nik then massaged his wife's shoulders, and washed & rinsed her hair. When Em was done, she lifted herself out of the tub into the awaiting arms of her husband who waited with a large fluffy towel to wrap around her.

He kissed her softly, and carried her to their bed as he sat her down and as she leaned against him he brushed her hair. Em then (with the help of her husband – because she literally was that tired) got into a set of beautiful, maroon colored silk pajamas that Nikolas had surprised her with. While Nikolas was brushing Em's hair, she ended up falling asleep. Nik chuckled to himself and tucked his wife in, as he too fell asleep with his arms around her.

Lucky & Liz's Apartment-

Lucky rushed back to his apartment that he shared with Liz out of breath, but actually incredibly happy.

"Liz! Liz!! Guess what?" Lucky exclaimed.

"What is it Lucky?" Said a groggy Liz, who's just been woken up.

"I've got great news! But you might want to brace yourself."

"Ok...Lucky what's this about? Wait! Is this about following Jasmine this afternoon?"

"Yes! I found out why Jasmine is scared of her father. Her father is none other than Stavros Cassadine."

"Wait a minute...Stavros Cassadine? Isn't that Nikolas' father?" Liz questioned.

"Yes. And Jasmine isn't his daughter. Jasmine is actually his daughter in law."

"But how? Nikolas is dead, and Stavros should be too...He doesn't have any other children that we know of..." Liz said shocked.

"That's it though...Liz, Nikolas is alive." Lucky said.

"What?...How is that possible?" Liz asked stunned.

"Does anyone really ever stay dead in PC? Plus Nikolas is Jasmine's missing husband."

"But if Nikolas hasn't changed (or so we presume) then where the hell is he when his wife needs him most?" Liz said angry.

"Apparently he was tasered a few days ago, and this time he was beaten and tied up to prevent him from coming." Lucky said.

"So...if Nikolas has been alive all this time..."

"Then why didn't he contact us? My guess – Stavros has been grooming him to be the Cassadine Nikolas never wanted or wants to be. And Nikolas, as far as I can tell, hasn't changed a bit. Loves Jasmine to death, and is not about to let that monster hurt her – especially if he can help it." Lucky said.

"I feel so bad for Jasmine. I mean having twins at 16, she's only 22 now...overbearing father in law – although I don't get why Stavros said Jasmine was his daughter."

"Me neither. Nik's apparently been trying to get home to us for the past few years. And I think he's told Jasmine so much about us, she feels as if we're her home too. I think she needs all the friends she can get." Lucky said.

"Agreed. Now if only we can find Em..." Liz said, still saddened by her friend's disappearance.
"We will...hopefully soon..." Lucky said as he kissed LIz softly.

(Author's Notes- Well I hope you liked that chapter!! Next one coming soon!! Please Read & Review!! --Am)