Chapter #20- Love and Leaving

Chapter Rating – High PG-13

3 Hours Later-

Nikolas and Jasmine were awake, while Lucky, Liz, and Luke discussed the details of the men's trip to Greece to save Alexis.

As if on cue, 3 hours after the original phone call, Stavros called once more.

"Hello again son. Have you made your decision?" Stavros' voice said.

"Yes, I'm coming to Greece to save Alexis." Nikolas replied.

"Good. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you. When are you coming?" Stavros said.

"Tomorrow morning." Nikolas replied.

"Spending time with Jasmine? She'll be fine." Stavros replied.

"She better be. No funny stuff, I don't want her harmed while I'm gone."

"She won't be. See you soon, son." Stavros said as he hung up.

"Well we're all set. Tomorrow we're going to Greece." Nikolas quietly said.

"Okay good. All we have to do is pack for I'd say about a week at most. Hopefully we won't be there that long and this is easier than it looks." Luke said.

"Yes, but if it's easier then it looks than it's too easy. In turn it means there's more to it than we think." Nikolas said.

"We'll decide more of our game plan when we get there. Don't worry Nikolas, both Alexis, and Jasmine will be fine." Lucky said.

"Thanks." Nik said.

"Well, I think I speak for my son and his fiancée when I say that we're all going to get out of here to pack, and we'll be by early tomorrow morning before the flight." Luke said.

"Bye guys. Sleep well." Jasmine said.

"You too." Everyone said.

"Oh Luke, can you take the twins for us tonight?" Jas asked.

"Sure. Luke replied.

After the boys left, Nikolas silently went into the kitchen and left his wife in the living room wondering what he was up to.

As she inquired to what he was doing Jasmine was close to standing, ready to walk into the kitchen herself only to be stopped by Nikolas' voice telling her not to leave her spot.

'How does he do that…it's like he's got eyes in the back of his head…' Jasmine wondered.

"I know what you're thinking and no I don't have eyes in the back of my head but it's definitely a husband's intuition about his pregnant wife. In addition, whenever no one answer's your question, you are always ready to get up anyway." Nikolas laughed as he called from the kitchen.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Jasmine called back.

Jasmine was getting impatient fast, and having no one else in the suite, Jasmine knew she'd be able to get away with what she was about to say.

"Nikky! What are you doing? Come on! Tell me!" Jasmine called out loudly while laughing hard.

A very red Nikolas poked his head out, despite no one other than his wife being in their suite.

"You do know that you are very lucky – no pun intended – that no one else is here right now don't you?" Nikolas said with mock anger.

Not being able to control her laughter at his tone, Jasmine simply nodded her head.

A reluctant smile crept upon Nik's face at Jasmine's laughter, he continued.

"Well, you can now bet there will be no dessert for you after that!" Nikolas jokingly scolded.

"Yeah right." Jas snorted back while still laughing.

"Well I'm not done yet, almost but not yet. So you have to wait." Nikolas called back.

"Fine." Jasmine pouted, only half jokingly.

"Ya know! I'm eating for 3 here! It's bad enough I'm hungry, but I could swear I'm already hearing the pleas and complaints of withholding food from our daughters!"

"Please relax – all 3 of you. Dinner is served." Nikolas said with a smile, as all he brought out with him was a picnic basket and a classic white & red checkered blanket draped over his arm.

"Nikolas…this is so sweet…so incredible!" Jasmine said, awed by the simplicity of her husband's actions.

"Well it is our last night together for what is hopefully not too long of a trip. It's just us. Only us." Nikolas said, bringing out two wine glasses and a bottle of apple juice – just to be different.

Smiling but blushing at Nikolas' display of love, Jasmine simply rested her forehead against his.

Kissing his wife tenderly, he laid her on her back across his lap and began to feed her, as if she were a queen by blood.

Smiling and looking into his eyes Jasmine just stared, lost in the love he held for her.

Dinner soon over, and his wife still on his lap, Nikolas leaded down and continued to kiss her.

Wanting to cherish this moment in her head and her heart, Jasmine simply encircled her arms around her husband's neck which deepened the kiss.

An idea popping into Jasmine's head made her sit up and slide off her husbands lap. Nikolas' hands soon came upon her waist.

"And where do you think you're going?" Nikolas said.

"Now it's your turn to wonder what I'm up to…" Jasmine said mysteriously as she walked away from her husband into their bedroom.

"Sweetheart, what are you planning?" Nikolas asked.

"You'll see!" Jasmine yelled back.

Nikolas waited all of 5 minutes before he walked into his bedroom.

His gaze went to the bed that he and his wife shared, only to find it undisturbed and empty.

Nikolas noted the lit candles strewn around the room to give it a soft, romantic glow.

He wondered where she could have disappeared to, and was soon staring at bathroom door.

After another 5 minutes of patiently waiting, he began to get worried at his wife's silence.

He lightly knocked on the door and asked if Jas was ok. When he got no answer he was 5 seconds away from breaking down the door, when he tried the knob to find it unlocked.

Eyes panicked at the thought that something happened to his wife, Nikolas breathed a loud sigh of relief when he saw that Jasmine was safe and sound.

"Honey,please don't scare me like that again…" Nikolas said relived.

"Sorry." Came her reply.

That's when he noticed her. Jasmine was resting in the large, full whirlpool tub filled with suds. Framing the bathtub and the rest of the large bathroom were lit candles and the smell of roses and lilies.

"So this is what you had planned? I must say, it was worth the wait." Nikolas said as he smiled.

Undressing himself, Nikolas entered the bathtub as he settled next to his wife.

After kissing her passionately, Nikolas just held her to him. In the silence of their thoughts, the love husband and wife shared radiated between them – just by being in each other's arms.

Nikolas moved Jasmine forward so she could sit on his lap and he could massage her shoulders.

"As much as I'm enjoying this, this was my idea."

"So?" Nikolas said with a smile, while grabbing a handful of bubbles and playfully & carefully (as to not get it in her eyes or mouth) put it in her face.

Laughing, they began splashing each other (Jas splashing backwards).

Jasmine soon turned around and faced him.

"Because this was my idea, my dear Prince, it is now my turn to seduce you…" Jasmine said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with all the love she possessed.

Mindful of her condition, Nikolas began to make gentle love to Jasmine while both lovers' eyes were burning with the hot flame of love and commitment.

(A/N- Okay, not really sure if they're allowed to do that w/Jas being so far in her pregnancy but its fanfiction…)

The Next Morning-

Wrapped together once again in love and limbs, Nikolas watched his wife sleep, as he gently caressed her face.

Jasmine felt her husband's hand and fingers on her skin, and made her face tingle.

She opened her eyes.

"What are you doing awake? It's 4:30 in the morning." Jasmine asked.

"Just watching you sleep. Sorry that I woke you." Nikolas replied.

"Don't worry about it. Wait…You're worried aren't you? Worried about me and the girls while you're in another country, on another continent? Nikolas it will be okay. I'll be okay. I can take care of all 4 of our children while you're gone. Liz will be here for us. Please, I don't want you to be worried sick about us when you need to focus on getting Alexis back." Jasmine said.

"But I love you—"

"I know you love me Nik. You tell me everyday and every night. I love you just as much if not more considering all you've done for me these past 3 years and from the time we've known each other. I love you so much and I can only show you so much, but even that doesn't compare to what's in my heart. Nikolas, our love bonds us across the world and across the universe. It will never break. Please believe that. I know you're scared. Truth be told, I am too. But we have to be brave. And I know you don't want to be, but we have to if we're going to get through this together. Remember all for one and one for all? I remember you told me that we're getting through this together – all four of us. If one of us goes, we all go. There's no "I" in "Team" and that when all I can think of are "what ifs", you told me that we just have to believe that we can get through this, and if we believe that, then we can do anything." Jasmine finished softly.

"You're right. I am scared…I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"I'll be fine." Jasmine said.

"I love you Nikolas." Jasmine said.

"I love you too sweetheart." Nikolas replied.

Nikolas simply rested his head against his as he began to kiss her deeply. Kissing him back just as deeply, the two began to make love once more.

A Short While Later-

Jasmine's back, once again was facing her husband. Jasmine's head was lying on his outstretched arm while his other lay upon her stomach.

"Nikky?"

"Hmm?"
"What should we name our daughters?"

"I don't know. Very good question." Nikolas pondered.

"Sarah and Serena?" Jas suggested.

"No…Imogene?" Nik said jokingly.

"No way! I'm sorry, I love Elizabeth dearly, but I really dislike her middle name. However, I do want Elizabeth as a middle name because after all – she and Lucky will be our daughters' godparents right?"

"Yes, definitely. So we have one middle name…" Nik said.

"But nothing else.

"Looks like we'll have to think about it some more…" Jasmine said and closing her eyes.

The blissful moment was interrupted by the sound of the alarm clock at 6am.

"Mmm…I don't want to leave…" Nikolas whispered in Jasmine's ear.

"I know you don't want to leave, but you have to if you want to get Alexis…" Jasmine whispered back.

Nikolas kissed the side of his wife's neck down along to her shoulder. He then rested his chin on her shoulder, his head also resting alongside hers, just content in the moment.

"You have to go get ready…" Jasmine said.

"I will, soon." Nikolas said, unwilling to move.

The girls' started to kick Jasmine.

"Ooh. Nikolas, you're still upset. The girls can feel it. Even though you're relaxed, you're still nervous. Our daughters can sense that even in your hand." Said Jas.

"I know. I just have to believe everything will be ok." Nikolas said.

"Yeah, no matter how hard it is." Jasmine agreed.

Nikolas began to trail kisses on the back of Jasmine's neck and down her spine when the phone rang.

Nikolas reluctantly rolled over on his other side to answer it.

"Yeah…Ok. Great Luke. Thanks." Nikolas said as he hung up.

"What was that about?" Jasmine asked.

"Don't worry about it." Nikolas said, wrapping his arms once again around his wife.

Nikolas started to get out of bed when Jasmine carefully rolled over once more, sat up and grabbed his hands.

"Wait." Jasmine said.

At Nikolas' glance, Jasmine continued.

"Nikky, 5 more minutes…?" She asked, eyes almost pleading.

Nikolas smiled wide as he got back into bed, wrapped his arms around Jasmine and kissed her very passionately.

He smiled as Jasmine started to giggle during the kiss.

"I could easily make you laugh if I wanted. But I'd rather make you blush." Nikolas said.

"How so?" Jasmine asked, intrigued.

"Easy – by making love to you. You know how you just asked for 5 more minutes before I got ready to leave?"

At Jasmine's nod, Nikolas continued.

"Luke just gave us another 30…" Nik said as Jasmine sank back into the pillows while she and Nikolas resumed what they had started prior to the alarm clock ringing.

Living Room- 7am.

Nik and Jas, Lucky and Liz, and Luke were all ready to say goodbye and leave. Laura was still mad at Jasmine, so she refused to be in the same room with her.

All 5 people currently in the room thought it was pointless, but knew it'd be better this way so they could continue to keep Laura safe.

"Now the plan is set. It sounds relatively easy, and it is. But knowing Stavros, nothing is that easy. So obviously we'll work logistics out once we get there. Now girls, I don't want you to be worried. I promise I'll take good care of your boys." Luke said, referring to Nik and Lucky.

"Thanks Luke." Jas and Liz said.

Nikolas pulled Jasmine aside as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and his arms encircled her waist.

Their foreheads together, Nik was the first one to speak.

"I love you princess." He whispered to her.

"I thought I was your queen, and the girls were your princesses?" Jasmine asked, confused.

"They are my princesses and you are my queen. But sometimes I'll call you princess." Nikolas clarified.

"Good to know." Jasmine said, smiling and then kissing him.

Though the kiss wasn't deep, it radiated with love. They broke the kiss, just continued to stare into each others eyes, their foreheads together.

"I really hate to break this up you two, but Nik, we gotta go." Luke said.

"Okay." Nik replied, then turning back to Jasmine.

"I love you Jas."

"I love you too Nikolas." Jasmine replied giving her husband one last kiss.

As he, Luke, and Lucky walked out the door, Jasmine called out to Nikolas.

"Remember to call – you promised."

"I will, don't worry. Love you!"

"Love you too! Be safe guys!" Jasmine called out.

A Few Hours Later-

The boys were taking a nap in their room, and Liz was watching television in Jas's suite.

Jasmine walked out, tears pouring down her face.

"Jas, what's wrong? What happened?" Liz asked, very concerned.

"I think it's just the hormones, but I miss Nikolas. I want him home…" Jasmine said, sobbing while sitting on the couch and resting her head on her best friend's shoulder.

"Don't worry Jas. Everyone should be home soon, and you know Nikolas will call you soon." Liz soothed.

"Yeah, I know. But I still miss him. We haven't been apart for more than a few hours…But not having him next to me at night, kissing me, telling me how much he loves me…Telling me it's going to be ok when all I can think of is the bad stuff…"

"Shh…He'll call you and tell you what you need to hear. And it will be the truth because he believes it and he loves you. Keep remembering that – he loves you." Liz said.

"He loves me. He loves me. He loves me…" Jas repeated as she fell asleep.