Chapter #18 – Dinner, Magic, Anger, and Sorrow

Chapter Rating – PG/PG-13

Kitchen-

Everyone was seated at the long table with Nikolas and Luke at each end.

Next to Nikolas (on his right) were his wife, the twins and back to Luke. Next to Luke (on his right) were also his wife, Elizabeth, and Lucky, now coming back around to Nikolas.

"So…how's P.C. been since….well…" Nikolas tentatively asked.

Understanding the hint, Lucky answered.

"Well…it hasn't been the same without you two. That's for sure. Everyone in town misses you two and would be very happy to see you." Lucky said.

"Unfortunately we still have to lay low, so we still can't see all those we love." Jasmine said her voice a little sad.

"We will don't worry." Nikolas said.

"Nikolas, Jasmine, I hope you don't mind but when I went out earlier today I picked up some of these books and pamphlets." Elizabeth said as she handed Jasmine wedding books and Nikolas a few church pamphlets.

"Elizabeth these are gorgeous! I love it!" Jas replied happily.

"This church is beautiful. Look at this." Nikolas said.

"We decided that we liked the idea of a 2nd wedding so we took it upon ourselves to help get it set up, or at least brainstorm. We hope you don't mind." Lucky said.

"Not at all." Both Jasmine and Nikolas said.

"I would like everyone here to be in the wedding somehow." Jasmine said (including Laura) but who hasn't made eye contact with the older woman all throughout dinner.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can support this. I don't think I'll be at the wedding" Laura said.

"Mom, no. We want you there." Lucky and Nikolas both said.

"No Grandma Laura. You have to come. Don't make Mama and Papa sad!" Darien said.

"Yeah, don't make Mama sad again." Anthony added.

Jas went in for damage control.

"Boys it's ok. You don't have to worry about it. It's something for the grownups to handle."

"But she's going to make you sad…"

"Sometimes grownups have disagreements over things. They think different things and they see a different version of things and don't always like what the other side is doing or seeing. It happens. Papa and I hope it doesn't though." Jasmine said in a loving soft tone.

"But what about—" Anthony started.
"Shh!" Darien said, looking at him saying 'no' through his eyes.

"What boys, what is it?" Jasmine asked.

"We can't say. It'll make you sad like it did before, and like it always does." Anthony said, now realizing what he was about to say.

"Go ahead, whatever it is you can say it. It's okay." Jas encouraged, her tone soft even though she had a strong feeling what it was.

"Grandma Paige." Darien simply said.

"What about Grandma Paige, Darien?" Jasmine asked, slight reflection going through her voice as she felt Nikolas grab her hand from under the table, giving it a squeeze.

"Well, you said she's in Heaven and can't be here with us. And if Grandma Laura won't come than neither grandma will be there. That's not right…"

"Boys, remember how Mama always said that Grandma Paige will always be with us, even though she's not actually here where we can see her?" Nikolas asked.

At the nodding of their heads, Nikolas continued.

"Well she is. She's watching us from Heaven and most importantly, she's with us in our hearts. That way she'll always be with us no matter what. We just have to believe and keep remembering her in a spiritual sense."

"Feel better?" Jasmine asked her sons.

"Yes, we're sorry we got you upset." The boys said as they carefully hugged her.

"It's okay. I wasn't upset. I love you guys so much." She replied lovingly.

"Jasmine, are you ok?" Nikolas asked, noting the look on his wife's face, shortly after their sons had returned to eating.

"Would you all excuse me for a moment as I borrow my husband and sons briefly?" Jasmine asked.

"Sure, go ahead." Liz said, knowing by the look in Jas's eyes what she wanted to show her husband and sons.

The Living Room-

Nikolas helped Jasmine sit down.

"Are you ok? What hurts?" Nikolas asked, ready to go into complete "protective mode" as she liked to call it.

"Yes, I'm ok. I want you to do something for me. Give me your hand."

Nikolas looked at her, a bit perplexed, but did as she said.

His hand in hers, Jasmine made Nikolas' hand flat and lightly laid it against her stomach.

There one of the baby girls kicked.

'Is that…?" Nikolas asked in amazement.

"Yes, that is one of our daughters kicking…and it hurts…" Jas said.

"Is that why you were hurting before Mama?" Anthony asked.

"Yes, baby that's why. But it only hurts a little." Jasmine answered.

Turning to Nikolas, she saw his eyebrows were raised in question and could tell he was slightly annoyed that he wasn't informed of her being in pain.

"Later." She answered him, letting him know now was not a good time to explain everything.

"Boys, let Mama have your hands so you can feel your little sisters' kicking." Nikolas said, smiling down at his sons, and a bit worried about his wife.

Jasmine did the same with her sons' hands as she did with her husband.

Once more Jasmine and Nikolas didn't think their sons' eyes could go any wider.

"Wow…" Darien marveled.

"It's like magic Mama!" Anthony said.

"Yes, it's like magic." Jasmine said, smiling at the peaceful moment between her, her husband, and their sons.

"Thank you for this magical surprise." Nikolas said, briefly and softly kissing her.

"You're very welcome." Jas replied.

"Come on everyone, let's go back and eat." Nikolas said, escorting his wife as the boys walked ahead.

Everyone was in their little conversations when Nik, Jas and the boys returned.

The boys had another question on their minds – one they weren't sure should even be asked.

"Boys, you alright? You look like you have something on your minds." Nikolas asked.

"We do…but we're not sure if we can ask…" Anthony said tentatively.

"You can ask me anything." Jasmine said.

"Anything?" Darien questioned.

"Yes,anything."

"You promise you won't get mad?" The boys asked

"No, I won't get mad. I promise." Jasmine said softly, wondering what her sons were thinking that would cause them this much hesitation.

"What's…what's a drug addict?"

Jasmine's hand went straight to her forehead in frustration, shock, and distress, she was very close to crying but wouldn't let anyone see that. That was the last question she thought her sons would ever ask her at the age of 6.

Everyone else who was in conversation froze and just stared.

"Well…you know how you can ask me anything? Well, there are some questions where I will not give you an answer. That last question – that's one of them. You're both way too young to know the answer to a question like that. I must ask of you please don't go around repeating that question to anyone else and please do not ask that again. I don't like hearing those words come from my little boys okay? I'm not angry with you; I would just appreciate it if you would not ask that again." Jasmine explained very calmly.

"…Will you ever tell us the answer?"

"I want to say 'no,' however maybe one day – when you're much, much older. But for now I don't want you knowing an answer to such a question."

"Okay. We're sorry—"

"Boys you didn't do anything wrong. You have nothing to be sorry for. I promise." Jasmine said, making sure they didn't feel any guilt in just asking questions.

"I'm sorry if this sounds out of place, but how would you tell them exactly?" Laura asking, who did not speak a word to Jasmine throughout dinner.

"Mom!!" Nikolas and Lucky exclaimed at the same time, astonished.

"Mama, don't worry, we weren't going to ask any more questions."

"Laura, they are satisfied with the answer I gave. Why are you trying to make this harder than it already is?" Jasmine asked, a lone tear falling from her eyes, trying to keep her stress level in check.

"I was just curious…" Laura said.

"Why?" Anthony asked Laura.
"Why what?"
"Why do you like to make Mama cry?" Darien finished.

"I don't like to make your mother cry." Laura replied.

"But you made her cry before, why'd you have to make her cry again?"

"Boys, why don't we go and play in the other room ok? Come on…" Jasmine said quickly wanting to get both herself and her sons out of this situation.

"Hang on. What do they mean Jasmine?" Laura asked.

"Laura, please not now." Luke said.

"You know what they mean…" Jasmine tiredly said.

"No. I don't."

"Laura! You know EXACTLY what they mean! What? You need examples? Ok. Care to tell my husband, your husband, and my two doctors how you said I didn't deserve any of my 4 children, how they should go to Nikolas? Care to tell my husband how he deserves better – much better than me? I can't do this anymore Laura. I won't. I'm ending this conversation here and now. Nik, I'm going to go rest…" Jasmine said, trying not to get upset as she and the boys left.

"Jas wait, I'm going with you." Elizabeth said as she wanted to monitor her.

"Care to tell me anything else mother?" Nikolas said, angry that his mother said those things to his wife.

Nik & Jasmine's Bedroom-

Jas is laying in bed, her boys on the floor quietly playing cards.

Liz called Lucky in to help her set up the portable sonogram (ultrasound) machine.

"Jas, your stress level is too high. You and Laura are not allowed in the same room together." Elizabeth said.

"Fine with me. Lucky, how are my girls? Ow…" Jas winced as a baby kicked her.

"They're doing good. But they know something's wrong. They want you to calm down so that's why they're kicking you so hard. They want to continue to remind you that they're there inside of you and you have to take care of yourself." Lucky said.

Extending Jasmine's bed-rest and giving her more prenatal vitamins, Elizabeth packed up the sonogram kit and said she'd monitor Jas more another time.

Elizabeth said she would go back in the other room to make sure no one was getting too extreme in their reactions.

"Lucky? Could you do me a favor?" Jasmine asked.

"Sure, what do you need?" Lucky asked going over to her.

"Could you hand me the picture of my mother and I?" Jasmine asked as her eyes scrolled over some pictures on the dresser.

There were a few of her and Nikolas on their wedding day, many pictures of Anthony and Darien, a few of Nikolas and Alexis, a picture of Nikolas, Lucky, and Lulu, and one of the 4 Musketeers. There were a few of Jasmine alone, one of her mother Paige alone, and one of them together that Jas held so close to her heart.

Lucky took the picture carefully in his hands and gave it to Jasmine.

Once Jas had it in her hands, she held it close to her body and curled up into a ball, closing her eyes.

At first to Lucky it looked as if Jasmine was going to sleep. However, he looked a little closer and saw a few tears coming out of the corner of her eyes, soon hearing a few sniffles.

"Jasmine, Jasmine what's wrong? What happened?" Lucky asked very concerned.

"We'll tell you." The twins answered him.

Lucky realized Has had shaken her head at his question so he took the boys out of their parent's room to hopefully give Jas some time to sleep.

Living Room-

"Boys, what happened today? Why are my mom and your mom not getting along?"

"Because they were fighting before when everyone else wasn't here. Grandma Laura came over, and everything started out okay. Mama was asking why she thought differently of her and what changed between them." Anthony started.

"And Grandma Laura yelled that it was always about Mama, how she lost Grandma Paige when she was a little girl…then asked Mama how she'd raise us for being what we aren't allowed to ask about. Grandma Laura brought all of it up first, not Mama. Grandma Laura also said that Mama didn't deserve us or our little sister's that Mama is carrying. " Darien said.

"Mama said that Grandma Laura was throwing her past back at her. She tried not to yell or get stressed but ended up yelling and started crying." Anthony said.

"We hate it when she cries…" The boys both said.

"So do I boys, so do I. Why don't you guys to in your room okay? I'm going to go give this information to your dad." Lucky suggested as the boys gave their favorite uncle a hug and walked quietly to their room.

Kitchen-

"Nikolas, I don't know what your wife or the twins are talking about." Laura said.

"Mother, please don't play dumb. What happened while I, my brother, Elizabeth and Luke were in Lucky & Liz's room?" Nikolas asked impatiently.

"Nothing, I didn't even see Jasmine today."

"Mom, just stop lying. Just stop. I know everything." Lucky said angrily.

"Lucky what'd Jas tell you?" Nikolas asked.

"Jasmine right now, is hopefully sleeping. Anthony and Darien told me what happened."

"Lucky, they're 6 years old, surely they'll take things out of context and twist it around." Laura said, trying to diffuse getting herself into trouble.

"I'm going to tell you this one time – do not dare accuse my sons of lying." Nikolas said, his voice low.

"Liz, you might want to check on Jas when she wakes up. Apparently our best friend and our mother had a nice little fight this afternoon. Mother apparently likes to throw people's pasts back at them." Lucky stated.

"Paige? That's why the boys were asking about Paige before…Mother how could you? You know this pregnancy is hard on Jasmine. How could you add to that?" Nikolas asked furious.

"In addition, that's why the out of place question of being a drug addict came about. Our mother brought it up first. I can see it in Jas's eyes, she'd never tell the boys of that part of her past, especially when they're this young." Lucky added.

"I can't believe you. Are you trying to get my wife to go into premature labor? Do you want her to be in pain?" Nikolas asked incredulously.

As Nikolas is about to continue his rant, someone clears their throat. Everyone turns to see that it's Anthony and Darien.

"Yes boys? What is it?" Nikolas asked patiently and calmly.

"We forgot to mention something when we told Uncle Lucky the truth."

"What would that be?" Nikolas asked, wondering how and if the argument between Jasmine and Laura could get any worse.

"Grandma Laura also said that Mama was Nel-…nectoring…" Anthony started, having difficulty.

"Neglecting you?" Elizabeth said.

"Yes! That's it! She said Mama was neglecting us because she didn't realize we where still in the suite." Anthony finished.

"Well what kind of parent forgets their children are in the room?" Laura said, determined to make Nikolas see Jasmine was a bad mother.

"So you're saying that you never forgot Uncle Lucky or our father was in the room or listening somewhere close when you were talking to Grandpa Luke about something you didn't want them to hear?" Darien asked in a tone that wasn't rude (although he wanted to be.)

"Well why were you listening in on your mother's and I private conversation in the first place?" Laura asked as if they were her own sons.

"We didn't do it on purpose." Darien said.

"Not to be rude, but it's kind of hard not to hear you when you're yelling at Mama, and she's doing everything she can not to yell back." Anthony said.

While that little exchange was going on, Luke noticed both Lucky and Nikolas seething in the background and knew now would be a good time to get the boys out of the room.

"If it's ok with you Nikolas, I want to take the boys out for ice cream, and I'll pick up some for Jasmine (if she can have it) and anyone else who would like some."

"That'd be great Luke, thank you." Nikolas said quietly, closing his eyes to extinguish the fury in his eyes as not to scare his sons.

"We can?" Both boys asked excitedly, forgetting about the argument they were having with Laura.

"Yes you can. Be good though and don't eat too much." Nikolas said smiling.

"Come on boys, let's go." Luke said as he got ready, and helped get the twins ready. "Be careful Luke. Just be aware." Nikolas said, knowing Luke would get the underlying message.

"We will." Luke called back, now leaving Nikolas, Lucky, Elizabeth, and Laura alone.

"Nikolas—"

"Don't mother. Just don't. I don't even want to contemplate how my wife must have felt when you said everything that you said to her.Neglecting our children? My loving wife, my children's mother? I think not. Jasmine has kept my sons so safe over the past 6 years. She has kept herself alive, despite at times just wanting the pain to end. But she's strong. She's so strong. Why are you trying to break her down?"

"Nikolas, shh…We don't want to wake Jas." Lucky said.
"You're right. She needs as much sleep as she can get."

"Mother, please leave." Nikolas said.

"Why?" Laura asked.

"Mother please. I can't even stand to see you right now. My wife's under enough pressure and stress as it is. The fact that you're adding to it doesn't help keep her and consequently our daughters healthy." Nikolas said quietly.

"Mom, just go." Lucky added.

"Fine, I can see that no one is happy with me right now. But just wait, you'll see that I'm correct.' Laura said.

"Out." Nikolas stated firmly, as Laura finally left.

After Laura left, Nikolas rubbed his face in frustration.

"How could she? How could she add tons of extra stress on Jas? What's gotten into her? I just don't understand." Nikolas said.

"I know, bro. I know. It's like she doesn't want to believe that you married Jas. I don't know which is worse for her. That you're married to Jasmine or the fact that you've taken in the twins as your own…But I'm glad you did both. She needed someone stable in her life and Stavros obviously isn't the number one candidate – so I'm glad she has you. And to take the twins in as your own – that had to be a blessing in disguise for her. To finally have a father figure in their lives. Best part of it is that you love those boys and they love you." Lucky said with a smile.

"Thanks bro. That means a lot." Nik said hugging his younger brother.

"Hey…" A voice said from behind everyone.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing up? Go back to bed." Nikolas said softly as he went over to her.

"Can't sleep." Came her simple answer as she wrapped her arms around her husband, who held her tight.

"I'm glad you're awake actually. I want to give you another blood pressure check and see how much your stress level went down."

Nikolas escorted Jas to the couch, where he sat next to her. As Elizabeth ran the tests, Jasmine laid her head on Nikolas shoulder.

The tests concluded that Jasmine's blood pressure and stress had gone down. Elizabeth had told Jas to go back to bed and told Nikolas that she'd be on bed rest for another week. Jas wasn't thrilled, but knew she had to keep her daughters safe.

Lucky and Liz had left for the night and offered to take the boys for the night. Nikolas and Jasmine both agreed that would be a good idea and called Luke to let him know to bring the boys back to Liz and Lucky's room.

Nikolas' and Jasmine's Bedroom-

Nikolas had then escorted a very exhausted Jasmine into their room and helped her lay down. He wanted to carry her in, but Jas had insisted she was too heavy.

Her back against his chest, Jasmine snuggled closer to Nikolas, while holding her mother's picture in her hands.

Nikolas knew what the look her eyes must have reflected. He rubbed and kissed her shoulders and kissed her neck as well.

Jasmine had turned herself around and curled into her husband who kissed her head and held her close.

"It hurts Nikolas. Everything hurts. I just want to know why. I just want to know why Laura would throw my past back at me…Did both her and I change so much in 6 years? We had our reasons for keeping my true identity a secret…"

"Shh…shh…I know we did sweetheart. I know. She'll understand one day. I'm just very sorry I wasn't here for you this afternoon. And I don't want you listening to what she said. I can't do better than you. You are it. You are my love and my life. If anyone deserves our sons and our daughters it's you. We help each other out. You help me be a good father, and I help you be a good mother (though you don't need my help because you're a natural.)" Nikolas said lovingly.

"Thank you." Jasmine said kissing him softly.

And as she began to softly cry once more from today's events, Nikolas just cradled and rocked her back and forth, telling her everything was going to be all right as she cried herself to sleep – leaving her husband to want to do anything and everything to take her pain away.

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