Chapter #14 – Confessions and Reunions

Chapter Rating- PG-13

"So…What are we going to do about telling Laura?" Luke asked?

"I wait in the wings and you, Liz, & Lucky can tell her." Nikolas said.

"Yeah, that'll probably work best dad." Lucky said.

"Okay. But it's very late so we'll convene again tomorrow." Luke said, leaving.

"Yeah, we're gonna go too. Please tell Jasmine and the boys that we said goodnight and we'll see you guys tomorrow." Lucky said.

"I will. Bye bro, bye Liz." Nik replied as they left.

Nik and Jasmine's Room- (Not the Twins' room)

"So…" Jasmine hesitated, her back to her husband.

"Laura? Yeah, we're going to tell her tomorrow afternoon." Nikolas said.

Jasmine had been staring out the window…there was a bit of awkward silence between the pair.

"I knew I hurt them by leaving. But I was only going to stay gone for 2 months. 3 at most! I never intended or wanted to get kidnapped!" Jasmine said, crying and therefore revealing that she had been eavesdropping.

"Hey. Baby hey. Look this isn't your fault okay? You wanted to leave for a few months. That's understandable. And yes, you didn't intend nor want to get kidnapped. You are not responsible for you or your family's pain. I…correction Stavros is responsible." Nikolas said, correcting himself at Jasmine's glare, which told him not to dare blame himself for her kidnapping.

"I should have never left in the first place. I abandoned Lucky & Liz when they needed me most."

"You were in your own grief and pain. Lucky and Liz had each…"

Nik suddenly encircled his wife in a tight embrace realizing what he was about to finish saying.

"Sweetheart I'm so sorry." Nikolas whispered to her.

"No – Don't. My intention wasn't for you to feel guilty…but I have to admit, you are correct. Lucky and Liz had each other and it seemed as if I didn't have anyone." Jasmine laid her head on her husband's shoulder as he rubbed her back.

"Ironic, how in my time of grief mourning my mother, Lucky was there for me. Yet in his time, where the hell was I? I ran away like a coward. It's fitting that Lucky & Liz supported each other. After all, they were meant to be together. And when we thought Lucky had died…well frankly I was left out in the cold, yet I didn't abandon you or Liz. And when we thought you had died? Yet again, I am left out in the cold…I couldn't even bring myself to go to your funeral!!" Jasmine said, frustrated, as angry tears now flowed from her blue contacts.

Nikolas only drew her closer, holding her tighter.

"So why do I sound so bitter? I'm honestly trying not to be, nor am I saying all this to make anyone feel guilty…I guess it's just one way I tend to reflect."

"You're not left out in the cold this time. Not anymore. I'm here, and will always be. I'm not going anywhere. I love you too much. You're my life. You're the mother of my children – all 4 of them. Most importantly you love me and I'm very happy." Nikolas said as he kissed her, trying to bring a smile to her face.

"Hey – and just between you and me – you are my intelligent, wonderful, beautiful, and loving queen." Nikolas said, once again pulling Jasmine in close, nuzzling her neck and kissing her passionately.

"I love you my king...That sounds funny to say…" Jasmine giggled and thought for a minute.

"Okay I have it. As much as you are my king, you will always be my Prince."

Nikolas laughed as he picked his wife up and spun her around, bringing that smile to her face that Nikolas wanted to see.

Kissing each other with passion and love, Nikolas led Jasmine to their bed...

The Next Day-

Luke, Lucky, Elizabeth, and Nikolas all stayed in the living room/office portion of Nikolas and Jasmine's suite. Jas had gone into their sons' room and wanted to occupy them until either her husband or one of her friends came to get her and possibly the boys.

Luke had called Laura to the hotel, while Nikolas stayed in the bedroom.

Laura soon arrived.

"Luke, what's going on? What's so important that you couldn't tell me at home?" Laura asked curiously.

"Darlin' there's no easy way to say this…but we're goin' through déjà vu again." Luke said quietly.

"What are you talking about Luke? Lucky, Elizabeth, what is he talking about?"

"Mom, it's probably better that Dad tells you." Lucky said.

"Laura…it's Nikolas…he's alive."

Luke's reply was an unexpected slap to the face.

Blue eyes blazing, Laura ripped into Luke.

"How dare you get my hopes up like that!! How dare you tell me that my son is alive. It's been 6 years and nothing. At least with Lucky it was only a year. But Nikolas? No I don't think –"

"Mom." Nikolas said softly cutting her off and coming out of hiding.

Laura just stood there lost in shock.

"Nikolas?" Laura asked, not sure if she's willing to believe that her eldest was alive.

"Yes. It's me. I'm alive and doing pretty well." Nikolas said, smiling and slowly walking over to his mother.

Laura wrapped her arms around her son and held him tight. Nikolas equally returned the warm embrace.

"What happened to you? Where have you been for the past 6 years? Who took you?" Laura asked in a rush, not giving her son a chance to answer as she held him again.

Nikolas was not that willing to subject her to who his captor has been for the past 6 years.

Laura pulled out of the hug to look over her son to see how he's grown and matured.

Holding his hands, she noticed a wedding band.

At his mother's questioning eyes, Nikolas kissed her on the cheek and went into the other room to bring Jasmine out.

"Mother, I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is my wife, Jasmine. Jasmine, this is my mother Laura Spencer."

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Spencer." Jasmine greeted, extending her hand.

"Nice to meet you as well. Please, call me Laura." Laura replied, shaking Jasmine's hand.

"So…Nikolas, you've been married for 6 years?" Laura questioned, not sure if she was going to like the answer.

"No actually. We've only been married for a little over 5 ½ months." Nikolas replied calmly.

"Are you happy together?" Laura asked.

"Yes, we are very happy." Jasmine replied smiling to Laura and Nikolas.

"How…how was the wedding?" Laura asked, still a bit uncomfortable that Nikolas is now married.

"Very nice. It was simple, and small. The only thing that could have made it better was having family there." Nikolas said.

"Nikolas, we could always renew our vows even though it hasn't been a year yet…" Jasmine suggest.

"Great idea!" Liz piped in.

"Yeah! Go for it!" Lucky said backing Elizabeth up.

"Thanks guys. We…we have pictures of the first wedding if you and Luke want to see them?" Jasmine offered.

"Yes, that'd be wonderful." Laura said with a warm smile.

Jasmine excused herself to go find the pictures that they always carried on them.

However, unbeknownst to Laura, Jasmine sorted through the pictures to make sure Stavros wasn't in any of the ones Laura saw. She figured now was a good time as any to let Laura know about the boys.

As she returned, she quietly whispered in Nikolas' ear questioning if he wanted Laura to know about their sons. Nikolas simply smiled and nodded his head.

"Okay, well most of these pictures are taken after the ceremony itself. However, there are these first few of Nikolas and I by ourselves."

"The cameraman?" Laura inquired with a hint of a smile, as a few of the pictures were taken from a cameraman who only looked to be about 3 feet tall.

"Oh…that's one of our two ring bearers. They begged me and Nikolas to see if they could take a few." Jasmine said giggling.

"Here are the two ring bearers with us after the ceremony." Nikolas said.

"They're so adorable. How cute!" Laura said.

While Laura was still looking through pictures, Jasmine quietly pulled Nikolas to the side.

"How do I tell her? She'll hate me…" Jasmine whispered

"No she won't. Would you like me to tell her?" Nikolas offered.

"I don't know…you can tell the fact that their ours if you want, and I'll just answer whatever question's she has." Jasmine said.

As Nikolas began to move toward his mother again, he was pulled back. "Thank you." said Jasmine, kissing him quickly, as they both headed back over to Luke and Laura.

'I wonder if and how Jasmine will tell Laura about the boys…' Luke thought silently.

"Speaking of the ring bearers, Mom, they are actually our sons." Nikolas said gently.

Laura raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Your sons?"

"Please let me explain." Jasmine said quickly.

"Nikolas…well…he's not biologically the father of our sons. I didn't meet your son until about 3 years ago and by that time my sons were already 3 years old. Over that period of 3 years, Nikolas and I fell in love. Nikolas said 'our sons' because he was kind and loving enough to take my children into his heart as his own sons, love them as such and 'adopt' them if you will. My sons love Nikolas in return and to them Nikolas is their father in every way." Jasmine said, becoming nervous.

"If you don't mind me asking, who is the biological father? Is he someone who still wants contact with your sons?"

"Well, I don't speak of him. He wasn't the best person in the world, and I don't want anything more to do with him." Jasmine said as delicately as possible.

"Did you love him at all or ever?"

"No, it ended up being a loveless relationship…unfortunately (at the time) and to my surprise I became pregnant…" Jasmine said, not even willing to let Laura have a clue of the truth.

Jasmine gave a look of sadness and guilt to Nikolas for lying about her sons. Nikolas only looked at her with understanding in his eyes.

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that…and now…?" Laura trailed off, not sure of what to say though glancing at Jasmine's slowly growing stomach.

"I can guarantee that these babies – I'm having twins again, girls this time – are Nikolas'. I could never betray him like that. I love him too much." Jasmine reassured Laura.

"We didn't expect Jasmine to become pregnant quite this quickly, and we didn't necessarily plan to add to our family right away, but I guess it was just meant to be." Nikolas said, smiling.

"Well I'm very glad. If…if you have your sons with you, could I meet them?"

"Sure." Jasmine said.

A few minutes later, Liz and Lucky who originally had faded into the background, watching the previous exchange came out with one boy walking next to them.

Nikolas and Jasmine had agreed that when the boys were to meet Luke and Laura that they were able to call Luke 'Grandpa' or something along those lines. Nikolas had told Emily that he thought of Luke as a step-father, (and technically he was that) but a father figure none the less, while Stavros would never be a father to him.

"Boys this is your Grandma Laura and Grandpa Luke. Luke, Laura, these are your grandchildren: Anthony and Darien. Can you say hi?" Nikolas said.

"Hi." Both boys said, shyly.

"Hello there. It's nice to meet you." Laura said.

"I'm gonna teach you so much about life!! Like cooking and—"

"Dad! They're 6 years old." Lucky laughed.
"Yeah, come on Luke. Let's first get them settled before you teach them anything." Liz laughed along with everyone else.

"Okay, okay fine." Luke said.

"Mama?" Darien whispered, tugging at Jasmine's sleeve.
"Yeah?" Jasmine replied, bending down to listen to her son.
"I'm hungry." Darien said.

"Okay. Who wants to volunteer to bring lunch back?" Jasmine asked.

"We will." Lucky replied for himself and Liz.

"Can we go too?" Anthony asked.

"Well…" Jasmine hesitated.

"Please?" Begged both of her sons.

"I'll go with them Jasmine. Don't worry. It'll be ok." Nikolas said.

"I'm still unsure…but yes you boys can go with your dad, uncle, and aunt."

Jas chuckled at her boys' excitement.

Jasmine had said she was a bit tired and therefore sat out on this little road trip.

Elizabeth took down meal orders and she, Lucky, Nik and the boys all left.

Luke and Laura stayed behind with Jasmine, with both Spencer's wanting to get to know Jasmine more.

"Jasmine, you remind me of someone, especially when I saw you interacting with your sons." Laura said while Luke quietly observed.

"I do? Who?" Jasmine asked with curiosity.

"A friend of mine: Emily Quartermaine. She was and still is best friends with both my sons and Elizabeth. As is Elizabeth, Emily's always been like a daughter to me. Emily, though as you may know disappeared when we all thought Nikolas was dead." Laura said.

"I'm sorry that she's missing and I do hope you find her. Though how do I remind you of her, Laura?" Jasmine asked, mentally panicking.

"Well Emily was always good with children. She was especially good with my youngest child Lesley Lu or Lulu as we like to call her, and her nephew and godson Michael."

"Well, I really can't account for being around children a lot. I was an only child growing up. And I think a lot of it is a mother's instinct, intuition, experiences learned from their own parents, and love that makes a parent good with their child."

"I agree. You even look like Emily…you could probably pass for her twin if you tried." Laura said.

"Oh, no I really don't think so…" Jasmine said, very unsure of where this conversation was going.

"What are you kidding? All we'd have to do is dye your hair brown, and put in brown contact lenses. You're about the same height as she is." Luke said.

Jasmine didn't say anything, still completely baffled at Luke & Laura.

"Jas, you have many – and I stress many – similarities to Emily Quartermaine. Sometimes your voice sounds similar, physical appearance, personality. Emily could be very quiet at times, but is always willing to defend those she loves. Emily can be very outspoken and opinionated when she wants to be. She's especially protective of those she loves - if she were to ever get in trouble, she'd always try to handle it on her own and not bring her friends into trouble with her. Somehow they always managed though. But she was always loyal. You could not rip Emily, Nikolas, Lucky, and Elizabeth apart if you tried - not even with the jaws of life. And that's just part of what I love about her." Luke said.

Laura and 'Jasmine' just stared at Luke...Jasmine pondered what he'd say next, trying to figure out how to get out of this conversation.

"Ya wanna know how I know that you could pass as Emily Quartermaine's twin?" Luke asked.

"How Luke?" Laura asked.

"Because. Emily Quartermaine is standing right in front of me." Luke said, small smile to his lips, his blue eyes staring into "Jasmine's" blue.

At the same time the twins, Lucky, Elizabeth and Nikolas returned in time to hear Luke list off the personality similarities.

They all stood in shock. All 'Jasmine' could see and look at were Luke and Nikolas and everyone stayed silent.

(A/N- Please Read and Review! -E.B.F.R.)