Chiarelli Compound. Outside of Milan.
Unless you had known John Zacchara, he was almost unrecognizable now. His hair had grown out a little, and was no longer swept back. It was also generously streaked with gray. He had a full beard, neatly trimmed.
He was safe. Unless the person looking for him had known John Zacchara.
Rudy handed Johnny three passports. "These should give you some time. I would start in some place where your name is not known. If it were me."
Johnny tucked two of the passports into his backpack. He put the other in his inside jacket pocket.
"You cannot get in touch with Claudia. You understand? She will be watched."
"I know."
"Should you get in trouble, and have no way out, you will contact me as we have discussed, but if I am unavailable, you do not leave a message, you do not speak."
"I understand."
Uncle Rudy enveloped Johnny in a hug. After a long moment, he stepped back. "You are an outlaw among outlaws now. If you build a good life, no matter how much you may want to share your news, we cannot know of it. You're a good boy. I hope the best for you. But you must remain careful, no matter how safe you think you are."
"Thank you for everything," Johnny said. "Claudia's everything to me. Everything. If you hadn't --"
Rudy coughed and turned away. When he turned back to Johnny, his eyes were glistening. "I could not have wished for a better brother for Domenica's daughter. You are a remarkable young man. I wish you were my own." Rudy's eyes darkened. "Should anything happen to you, it will be as if you were my own. There will be justice."
Johnny felt a chill run down his spine. One day, Rudy and Anthony would face each other. And one would not make it out alive.
Rudy clapped his hand on John's shoulder. Then he went into his study.
And Johnny Zacchara disappeared into the night.
*****************************************************
Wyndemere. The Study.
Everything had taken longer than a week. Longer than expected.
Claudia was running out of crossword puzzles to fill out and meals to prepare. She said that the bookstore in Beecher's Corners wasn't well stocked with crossword puzzles and eventually the freezer was going to be full. And she said that she missed him. She had been waiting for months to be with him. She didn't want to waste any more time.
Nikolas knew the feeling.
He'd taken a trip to the stables that morning, and looked at the empty stalls. They'd been empty for a few months now, but it still cut him. Selling Sheba had been painful, but there was no choice. There had been too much to worry about without adding international horse transport to the list. And transporting Sheba would, in itself, have been a big tip-off to Sonny or Spinelli or whomever was keeping track of his movements. He'd decided only to move that which would take very little time. Inanimate objects seemed to fit the bill best.
He watched the movers pack up the last of the paintings. There was a knock on the study door.
"Come in," Nikolas said.
Alexis came in.
"You do realize that normal people can't even pack up a one bedroom apartment in the time it took you to do this move," she said.
Nikolas came out from behind the desk and hugged Alexis. She blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to stave off the tears.
"Well," she said. "Unfortunately, I have good news for you."
Nikolas smiled and pulled back. "All done?," he asked.
She opened her briefcase on top of the desk and took out two envelopes.
"Custody and annulment granted." She mock bowed as she handed them to him.
"Very good." His words were measured, but Nikolas looked like he was going to start levitating at any moment.
"You have the divorce papers?"
"Yes. But we can't take care of that until Claudia can fly."
"Is that like pigs flying? Sorry. Reflex."
Nikolas sensed Alexis was about to babble. "Alexis."
"Please don't make me do a full scale, bended knee apology. For one thing, my knees are getting creaky."
Time to be blunt. "Alexis, where are the baby's things?"
"Oh my God. Sorry. Sorry." She took out a large manila envelope. "Birth certificate and passport. But he won't be allowed to fly unless the custody papers are with him everywhere -- and I mean everywhere -- he goes."
Nikolas took the envelope. "Thank you."
"Sonny has been a little out of control," Alexis said.
"It's of no consequence," Nikolas said. "Unless he's been disruptive to you?"
"No," Alexis said. "No. Mac has been there both times, he tried to... By the way, speaking of out of control, what have you done with Cassadine Industries?"
"What do you mean?," Nikolas said, trying to stifle his smirk.
Alexis pointed at him. "You. You are being evil. Tell me you did not know that something is starting between me and Mac Scorpio."
"I did not know," Nikolas said, sincerely.
Alexis narrowed her eyes at him. "And then you had to go and stir things up."
"I'm merely covering my own bases. I'll still be in control of Cassadine Industries. I just need someone to take charge of the business that operates out of Port Charles."
"Why Ned?," Alexis said, exasperated.
"He's astute and well-versed in Port Charles, and I think he'd do well to operate something outside of his own family business."
"And you wanted to interfere in my love life."
"Up until this conversation, I was unaware you had anything going on in your love life to interfere with."
Alexis groaned. Then her mask dropped. "I guess this is it."
Nikolas dropped his bantering tone. "It is."
"What am I going to do without you?," she asked.
Nikolas raised an eyebrow. "I've always needed you more than you've needed me."
"Let's call it a draw."
"Will you come visit?," he asked, for a moment looking like the child she'd known all those years ago.
Alexis' breath caught. "Of course I'll come visit," she said. "And I'll owe you a housewarming gift. Perhaps a nice dartboard of Helena to complete your gameroom?"
Nikolas smiled. He hugged Alexis again. "You call me," he said. "If you ever need anything."
"And you take care of yourself. Not every god knows that you're royalty. You're human. Promise me you'll start being a little careful."
NIkolas pulled back and looked Alexis in the eye. "Maybe just a little," he allowed.
******************************************
Beecher's Corner. Laura Spencer's House.
Claudia was out exercising. She'd started taking long walks on her third day here, and graduated to running this week. She seemed put out that Beecher's Corners didn't have a gym, but quickly got over it and started doing calisthenics every afternoon. And yoga in the evening. Laura gave a silent prayer of thanks every morning that her generation was more relaxed about those things.
Laura finished washing the last of the breakfast dishes and placed it in the drying rack. Claudia had looked like it physically pained her to consent to Laura doing the dishes. Laura suspected it wasn't because of an overblown sense of gratitude on the younger woman's part; Claudia seemed to consider the kitchen her own territory.
Laura looked out the kitchen window. The garden was in full bloom.
It was why she rented this house.
Sure, privacy was a factor. And the proximity to the farmer's market was a plus.
The house did have faulty plumbing. So far Claudia hadn't experienced the kitchen sink's cold water handle falling off in her hand, but it only was a matter of time.
The hot water had gone out only once since the Zaccharas had arrived, but before they came, there were three mornings where Laura had had to make a game out of taking a cold bath for Spencer. Spencer wasn't fooled for one second, and his "entitled prince" persona had come out in full force.
In the end, the plumbing didn't matter. Laura loved this place. The house and Beecher's Corners -- all of it. This was the place that had always sheltered and welcomed her.
When she walked down the street, everyone knew her name, but no one cared about her history. Some of them remembered her wedding all those years ago, but to most of the people here she was just Laura. No legend, no twisted past to live up or down to. They just knew that she was happy here, and they took her in as one of their own.
It was like the town she lived in in France, but in her native tongue. Laura didn't know why she had planted some vegetables a few weeks ago. Maybe the next tenants would appreciate them.
******************************************
Beecher's Corner. Country Road.
Claudia hadn't packed her iPod. Which was probably for the best, since she needed to keep her eyes and ears open while she was still in the States.
This place was odd. Not in offensive way, but... everyone called out to you when you passed them. If they didn't know her name, they were saying "Hello." Claudia was starving for some nastiness. Or the opportunity to be nasty. Where were this town's criminals? The long-lost siblings? The car accidents?
She slowed down to a walking pace as she got a stitch in her side. Her body was slowly shrinking back to its normal shape. Except for her abs. She hoped she hadn't lost them for good, since eventually she was going to see Nikolas again. In theory. He hadn't called today, and Claudia kept silencing the voice in her head that said he was coming to surprise her tonight. She needed them all under the same roof. She was craving it.
Other than her greediness toward all things Nikolas, two things were bothering her.
One was John. He was supposed to leave this week. He'd been optimistic about seeing her again, but when he'd left her at the hospital, she knew. That was probably it. She'd almost picked up the phone to call him a dozen times in the past week. But she'd vanished without a trace, and one phone call between the two of them could blow everything for both of them. She quickly brushed away a tear. This was her own fault. Johnny had been trying to get out for years, and she kept dragging him back in. She should have left town instead of marrying Sonny. Now she was going to pay the price. She was sure that the United States prison system could not invent a greater torture for her than losing her brother.
But she'd hadn't really given the justice system a chance to try, had she?
And Laura was so nice. Laura treated her like Nikolas treated her: like she was a lady. Like she was a normal human being. That was the other thing that was bothering her.
******************************************
General Hospital. Maternity Ward.
Nikolas dropped off Dr. Waters' keys. The new hire was starting on Monday. Dr. Waters was safe and sound back in New York, with a copy of the recording of Jason and Sonny plotting to kill Claudia. Just in case he had any surprise visitors.
"I heard you were here," came a voice from behind him. Liz.
Nikolas turned around, smiling.
"Were you going to leave without saying good-bye?," she asked.
"No," he said. "I looked up your schedule. I knew you were on."
He drew her into a hug.
"You happy?," she said.
"Very," he answered. He pulled back. "How's Matt?"
"Oh," she laughed, poking him. "I think you know how Matt is. Thank you."
"I can never repay you both," Nikolas said.
"Well, you made a good start," Liz said.
"Lucky's upset with me."
"He'll get over it."
Nikolas was quiet for a moment. "It's hard for me to leave," he said. "It's like leaving Emily all over again."
Liz nodded. "I know," she said. "But I don't think you are. I think you'll carry her with you, no matter where you go."
"Great," came a voice from down the hall. "Little Lizzy Webber is here too. I get a two for one." Carly.
Nikolas squeezed Liz's shoulder and murmured to her, "I think you should go."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'll keep in touch. I promise."
"Take care of yourself."
Nikolas kissed Liz's cheek. Liz went quickly down the hall.
Nikolas turned to face Carly.
"You just gonna let her get away with it? Shooting Michael?"
Nikolas didn't answer.
"My son is devastated."
"Your son attempted to murder Claudia recently."
"Can you blame him?"
"Trying to shoot a defenseless pregnant woman? Yes."
Carly laughed bitterly. "Yeah, I guess you would see it that way. After all, it wasn't your child who was in a coma for a year."
"No," said Nikolas. "Mine was stolen at birth. By you."
"Is that what this is about? Spencer?"
"Go home. Take care of your baby daughter. And leave my family alone. For good."
"So Claudia's your family now?"
"Yes."
"Good luck with that. Maybe she'll destroy you too."
With that, Carly turned on her heel and left.
Nikolas was glad he wasn't sticking around.
*******************************************
Beecher's Corners. Laura Spencer's House.
"Your son is a mirage."
Laura looked up from the book she was reading. Claudia was no longer working on her crossword puzzle.
"I'm sorry?," Laura said.
"He doesn't exist, right? He's like a collective hallucination. Because I remember him saying it would only take a week to get here. And now it's almost been two."
"You're bored," Laura said.
"No," Claudia said. "But I have a problem. I can be patient. When I want to be. I can wait forever. But if I reach the end of the waiting period, and then I have to wait some more? I'm impossible."
"You haven't been that bad."
Claudia looked over at Laura. "Say that again with a straight face."
"Well, maybe you've been a little more domineering in the kitchen," Laura said.
Claudia laughed. She put her crossword puzzle and her pen aside. She went to sit by Laura. "I have to tell you something," she said.
Laura slowly put her book down. Claudia looked anxious. "Okay," Laura said.
"You've been great to me. People are usually not so nice. And there's a reason."
"Claudia, you don't have to --"
"I just don't think it's fair to let you keep on thinking of me as whatever person you think I am. Because there's something wrong with me. There's a reason Sonny wanted me dead, and if you're going to be helping like this, I think --"
"I know about Michael," Laura said, cutting Claudia off.
"Oh." Claudia got up and walked around the room, distracted. Nikolas had told Laura. That made sense, in a way. He probably wouldn't have let his mother uproot her whole life without giving her the full story. Claudia was certain Liz didn't know. If she had, it would have come up in their little heated argument in the ambulance.
"Claudia?"
Claudia turned and faced Laura. "I don't understand you," she said. "I like you, but I don't understand you. I can figure out most people, even though they don't think the way I think. But you... Don't you see what I am?
"Claudia, it took a lot of courage for you to tell me what you've done. But now you're the one who doesn't have the whole picture. Come here. I have something to tell you."
Claudia went and sat by Laura again.
"When I was sixteen years old," Laura said. "I killed my lover."
Claudia's jaw dropped open.
"But that's not the worst of it. He was a much older man. He was in love with my mother. It was an accident. I didn't mean for it to happen. I was very hurt and angry and there was a struggle, and... Well. I did kill him. There's no excuse. But the worst of it was that when I couldn't remember what had happened, my mother stepped in and claimed responsibility. She went to prison. And when I finally remembered, it took me awhile to be brave enough to tell the truth. I let her sit in that prison cell for another week before I came forward."
Laura saw Claudia struggle to reconcile the woman in front of her with the girl who had done those things. After a long moment, she sighed and smiled weakly at Laura. "I wish I'd killed my lover at sixteen," she said. "That would have been a much better choice than the one I made."
"You don't mean that," Laura said.
"I don't know. Maybe I do. I've been fighting for my life since I was born. It damaged me. Maybe it's not possible for me to stay the woman your son fell in love with."
"Of course it's not," Laura said, surprising Claudia. "But you won't go back to who you were, either. You're both going to change and grow. I wouldn't be so worried about how it's all going to end up. You seem to be leaning toward the light."
"Maybe," Claudia said slowly, considering the possibility. "I hope so."
"I know so," Laura said.
"It's just hard to look at the wreckage I've left behind me now, you know?"
"I'd be more worried if you didn't look at it at all," Laura said.
*******************************************
West 47th Street. New York City. Afternoon.
Nikolas left the store, the box tucked away in his pocket, and headed for the parking lot.
He didn't care about the crowds, the smells, the noise or the humidity.
This was one of the top ten days of his life.
He was taking the Jag, too. Probably a little foolish. But it was his last real drive, the last time he'd be driving this car, and he was feeling a little sentimental and overly optimistic. It didn't matter if anyone spotted the car now. Everything had been taken care of.
He paid the parking lot attendant, got in the car, and buckled up. He turned the key in the ignition.
He was finally going to be with his family. He couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces when he surprised them.
*******************************************
Beecher's Corners. Laura Spencer's House. 3 A.M.
The Jaguar's wheels crunched against the gravel as the car came to a stop.
Nikolas didn't bother to unload the car. He hurried to the front door.
The front door was unlocked. Nikolas went inside.
He was overcome by a sudden burst of energy. They had done it. Now he just had to find his way around the house. Starting with the first floor.
All right. Obviously, this was the living room. With all of the toys scattered around, it was clear that Laura and Claudia were letting Spencer run the house.
He went left. Kitchen. Claudia's domain. It looked like a low-end version of the Wyndemere guest house. He was certain that if he opened the refrigerator, he'd find meals for the next five months.
He heard a noise from somewhere inside the house.
"Claudia?," he called out quietly.
No answer.
He went out of the kitchen and picked his way through the living room. Pirate hat on the couch. Claudia was spoiling Spencer.
There was a door to a room at the back of the house. Nikolas opened it quietly.
Claudia. Moonlight was streaming through the window, and it hit her hair.
The baby coughed.
Nikolas looked over at the cradle. He was tempted to go over and introduce himself, but thought Claudia might kill him if he didn't wait for her.
She was sleeping on his side of the bed.
He knelt by the bed.
"Claudia," he said quietly.
She was heartbreakingly beautiful when she slept. He kissed her. After a moment, she responded.
"Claudia," he said again. Still half asleep, she smiled against his lips and pulled him closer to her.
"Nikolas," she murmured, kissing him again. "You're here. You're here."
She pulled back and opened her eyes.
And suddenly all he saw was terror in them. Claudia shot up to a sitting position.
And he felt a hard piece of metal touch the back of his head. And a click.
"Get away from him," Claudia said to the person behind Nikolas.
"I've heard a lot about what happens if you die, Claudia," Sonny said. "What happens if Nikolas dies? There's no one for our son to go to but me."
"Don't you hurt him," she threatened, her voice shaking. The gun was right at the back of Nikolas' head. It was an automatic. The safety was off. She was helpless.
"You gave me a choice, Claudia. I'm giving you a choice."
"Anything. Please don't hurt him. I'll do anything you want, just don't hurt Nikolas."
"Give me my son," he said. "And Nikolas lives."
