Chapter #16- Arguments, Realizations, and Knots

Chapter Rating- PG-13

Liz had gone out and told Nikolas that Jasmine was on bed rest. He was glad she made that decision otherwise he probably would have himself.

Jasmine had changed into her pajama's and had been asleep for a few hours when Nikolas went to check on her.

Luke and Laura had gone home to rest and talk of everything that they both learned today.

Liz and Lucky were in the kitchen (of Nik and Jas's room) eating some of the lunch that got cold from that afternoon, when Nikolas came in looking for the camera.

"What for?" Liz asked.

"I have to take a picture. Jasmine and the boys are on the bed, all curled up next to each other. You have to see them."

Nikolas is able to get a camera as he takes a picture of his sleeping sons and sleeping wife.

"They are so adorable!" Elizabeth says smiling.

"Bro I want 2 copies…" At Nik's curious glance, Lucky continued "Hey – I gotta use them against Jas sometime!" Lucky laughed, joking of course.

"Okay well, we're hitting the hay." Liz said, yawning.

"Good idea." Lucky replied in agreement.

"Alright, I'll see you guys tomorrow. Goodnight." Nikolas said as he saw them leave.

Nikolas quietly crept back into his room and gently picked up his sons (one at a time) and brought them into their own room. He took off their shoes, and tucked them into bed. He whispered a quiet "I love you" before shutting the door, leaving it open a crack as to not make it pitch black.

Returning to his own room, Nikolas lit a few candles that were around the room (but not close to the bed) and got into his pajamas while carefully & gingerly slipping into bed as to not wake Jasmine and not cause himself more physical pain.

Jasmine, being a light sleeper, felt her husband settle in next to her. She felt his hand caress and protect her belly where their baby girls were. She took his hand in hers and rolled over so she could face him.

Although previously asleep, her eyes were still red and under her eyes were discolored. Jasmine just looked at her husband…

Completely lost.

"I told you." Jasmine said bleakly.

"Told me what?" Nikolas asked.

"Laura hates me."

"No she doesn't sweetheart." Nikolas replied shaking his head.

"You don't call that verbal tongue lashing hate? Nikolas she completely ripped into me, rightfully so I might add." She retorted.

"She was upset and in shock—"
"Understandably so but I saw the fire in her eyes. She really didn't want me near you."

"Sweetie, she'll understand everything soon. I think Luke's helping us out." Nikolas said, kissing her forehead.

'I hope so. I really hope so." Jasmine replied, not very convinced at her husband's words.

"There were so many times I thought I would slip up and tell Laura who our captor was. I don't want it to destroy her…"

"She's strong. Just as you are. She'll be able to handle it. All we have to do is give her the news in small doses." Nikolas said, holding Jasmine close, kissing her temple.

Soon she began to cry. Nikolas held her tighter.

"They were so scared Nikolas. I never thought I'd put that kind of fear in our sons' eyes."

"They'll be ok. I saw the fear diminish when you explained to them why some people yell. You did a wonderful job with them like you always have." Nikolas said.

"Thanks." Jas replied as she rested her head on Nikolas' shoulder.

"Hey sweetheart, lay on your stomach across my lap." Nikolas said suddenly, as an idea came to him.

"What? Why?" Jasmine asked perplexed.

"Just trust me." Nikolas said kissing her softly though a bit deeply.

Jas shook her head slightly and carefully did as Nikolas suggested.

"What may I ask my King, is the purpose of this?"

"I, my Queen am going to give you a much needed back rub."

Nikolas' warm hands slipped under his wife's top and maneuvered around Jasmine's cooler back, getting rid of some of the knots, tension, and stress she had. A smile graced her face as she laid her head on her arms.

Nikolas was making progress with getting rid of the knots but there was one in the middle of Jas's back that wouldn't budge.

"…I'm not gonna be able to get that phone call out of my head anytime soon…" Jasmine said quietly.

"It's going to be ok. It will all be over in the end sweetheart, it'll all be over." Nikolas replied.

A few minutes passed as the two just enjoyed each other's company until Nikolas broke the silence.

"Now, what aren't you telling me?" Nikolas asked frankly.

Spencer Home-

"Laura, don't you think you were a little hard on Jas tonight? I mean if anything she's kept those she loves safe as best she can." Luke asked.

"Luke she lied about who she was!"

"So did we! We did the same thing for years, running from one place to another, changing our names time after time when Lucky was still a young boy, way before we moved to Port Charles."

"She dragged both of my sons, Elizabeth, and us into this!" Laura instated.

"Okay darlin' I'm going to set you straight right now." Luke said to Laura while crossing the room.

"Number One: Lucky was the one who called me. Not Jasmine. Lucky knew all four of them were in a situation they couldn't handle on their own so he called me for backup."

"Number Two: Jasmine was in the hospital at the time because of the hell she went through that night."

"Number Three: Lucky and Liz had no idea that Nikolas' wife was even Emily. They only knew her as Jasmine."

"Exactly Luke—" Laura exclaimed but was interrupted once more.

"Number Four: Jasmine and Nikolas have done everything to protect their two little boys—"

"Those two little boys aren't even Nikolas' Luke!! Jasmine had those little boys before she even saw Nikolas again! He isn't their father!"

"For the moment, I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. Didn't you even HEAR what she said? Nikolas was kind and loving enough to take those boys in his heart as if they were his own. That counts big in my book. Just because I didn't accept Nikolas doesn't mean Nikolas won't accept those boys. I won't have you take your grudge for me out on Jasmine, just because I didn't accept Nikolas. You can't take your anger at me out on her just because you think Jasmine tricked Nikolas into accepting those boys as his own."

Lucky and Liz's Room-

"Well today was interesting to say the least." Lucky said as he got comfortable next to Elizabeth.

"Yeah definitely. Hey Lucky? Are you mad at Jas for keeping her real identity a secret?" Liz asked.

"I was initially but didn't say anything. As soon as she and Nikolas started to explain everything, it was ok, that and the whole Stavros angle. I'm not mad. I understand why they did what they did. I can't believe she had to go through so much hell. They all did. And she's right. Those two little boys mean the world to her and Nikolas. Those boys were the only solid place to fall back on before Nikolas re-entered her life. And I pray that no one ever takes those little boys away from her. She deserves them. As does Nikolas." Lucky said with a smile on his face.

"I just hope this is all over soon. That way Jasmine and Nikolas can finally live a happier, peaceful life where friends and family are only a few blocks away." Liz said.

"Me too baby, me too." Lucky said kissing her head as they fell asleep.

Spencer Home-

Knowing he had his wife's attention Luke continued.

"Jasmine always had a crush on Nikolas. Nikolas didn't feel the same way for her at the time. Then when he saw her again, he knew her as Jasmine. They fell in love Laura. Love. Love like we have. Jas got the courage to tell Nikolas who she really was! It may have taken her a bit of time but she told him regardless! She risked her sons' lives to let her (at the time) fiancée know the truth! Don't blame her because she's trying to protect everyone and taking this on by herself. She's done nothing wrong. And if you consider falling in love wrong, then I'm sorry. I can't support you when you blame a young woman for something that she couldn't control. I consider that young woman in that hotel room a daughter. I thought you did too."

After a brief pause, Luke continued.

"Laura, who was there for us when Lucky died?" Luke asked.

"Liz and Nikolas." Laura spat.

"LAURA!! Yes as much as that's true, so was Emily. If you think about it, Liz and Nik had each other and Em didn't have anyone to comfort her. Why else do you think she started dating that Juan kid? Who was there for us when there were just some things we weren't sure about telling Nik & Liz? Emily was!—"

"Luke, I'm sorry but I can't consider her family anymore. I don't want her near either of my sons, Elizabeth or especially Lulu. Yes, I'll admit, she's good with her sons but she shouldn't be able to have them! They're not safe with her!" Laura said.

"Don't you DARE try and rip those two little boys away from their mother. Don't you DARE try and rip that family apart!! They love her and she loves them. I won't let you rip Nikolas apart either. You heard her – those two little boys were her rock for the first 3 years when she had no one. And pardon me, but if I recall, weren't you just telling 'Jasmine' how great Emily was with Lulu and Michael a few hours ago?" Luke said very bluntly.

"Yes, but that was before she had two children of her own at 16! How could she be so irresponsible? So stupid? Yeah, we all thought Elizabeth was a trouble-maker when she first came to town but she changed her ways. Emily went from good to bad and just went downhill."

"Laura, she was KIDNAPPED remember? Taken against her will!! How much do you want to bet…" Luke trailed off hoping Laura would get the horrible gist without having to say anything more.

Laura just looked at him, some realization dawning on her, but still being stubborn.

"I don't believe you Laura. You're going to throw away years of friendship, closeness, and love all because you think she's hitting rock bottom and putting us all in danger? I never thought you of all people, my Angel, could be so heartless …" Luke said, shaking his head ashamed.

He then told his wife he'd be back later after taking a walk, leaving a stunned and guilty Laura in the middle of the room.

Nik and Jas's Room-

"What are you talking about Nik?" Jasmine asked as if she had no clue what her husband was referring to.

"Well let's see. Number one – you're a horrible liar, and number two? This knot is not easing up which means you're still thinking about something, the phone call I presume and it bothers you greatly." Nikolas said confidently, while still working on her back.

"Nikolas…"

"Jasmine, come on now. You know we don't keep secrets from each other." Nikolas prodded gently.

"Yes, you're correct. It does have to do with the phone call…"

"Sweetheart, what else did he say to you that you didn't tell us before?" Nikolas asked no anger toward his wife.

"Let's just say that he was very, very…detailed. He was very descriptive about what he'd do."

"I won't let him hurt you." Nikolas swore.

"It's not about him hurting me as much anymore. It's more about what he said he'd have you do to me. He said he'd make sure to punish us both at one time by having you inflict punishment on me. I know all of the things he said he'd have you do to me, you never would. But he said that he wouldn't give you a choice and make sure you suffered at the fact of inflicting the pain on me. I don't want that to happen to you. I could never imagine…" Jasmine said, crying once more.

"Shh…No Baby, no…It's not going to happen. Not as long as I'm living and breathing. I will protect you and our children with my life." Nikolas said.

Jas became quiet and just let her husband massage her. Realizing her husband was having a little trouble working her upper back because of her shirt, she ended up taking it off, as her bare back now came into full view.

He soon had finally been able to mead out that knot in his wife's back.

Nikolas now stared at his wife's bare back. Not being able to resist, Nikolas carefully leaned down and began kissing Jasmine's shoulders and upper back right where his hands had caressed her skin seconds before.

Smiling widely at the beautiful and very romantic moment, Jasmine ended up propping herself up on her elbows staring at the mirror on the wall ahead of her, while watching her husband behind her.

"Nikolas that tickles!" Jas giggled as she felt Nikolas plant kisses between her shoulder blades and on her spine.

"Well you did move..." Nikolas replied, smiling and burying his face in her long silky hair.

Jasmine looked at her husband out of the corner of her eye.

Realizing she was most likely weighing her husband down literally (in her quite pregnant state of 5 months and now growing by the day,) Jas decided to lift herself up off of her husband's lap in order to settle down next to him. She felt her husband's hands take hold of her waist as he curled his legs from under her.

"And just where do you think you're going my dear Queen?" Nikolas asked as he helped her sit back to her original spot, her back to him.

"Well I was going to sit next to you…Mmm that feels very good." Jas chuckled as Nikolas continued to massage her back, kissing as he went along, moving his hands down to her sides and caressing her waist.

Where his warm, soft hands went on his wife's skin, Nikolas' soft lips soon followed.

"Why, my Prince do I think you have other ideas…" Jasmine said mischievously, as she turned around to kneel and face her husband. Her warm, deep blue eyes added the perfect touch to her already beautiful face and her long, blonde hair falling gracefully atop her shoulders, also hanging past her shoulders.

"You are enchanting…" Nikolas said voice husky with emotion, his breath catching at the sight of her. Nikolas marveled that even at 5 months pregnancy, and only dressed in pajama bottoms, his wife could still be this enticing as she was on their wedding day – even if it was only 5 months ago.

"And you are as charming as ever my Prince." Jasmine replied as Nikolas made his way over to her, kissing her passionately, as both lovers' eyes were aglow with a warm, burning flame held solely for the other.

(A/N: Please R&R, thanks!! -E.B.F.R)