"My Nikolas, for what do I owe this visit?" Helena asked as Nikolas stood above her in her bedroom.
"Oh, grandmother, you know exactly why I am here." He responded.
"Obviously you are smart enough to know you need me for it or else you would have attempted to strangle me already. I still don't understand your attachment to those lower beings you call a family."
"Those lower beings that you want to create an heir out of?" Nik questioned.
"Unfortunately I have succumbed to the fact that you are never going to marry to your dignity and produce an appropriate offspring."
"Instead you are willing to lower the standards to a child you can use to hurt all those who have insulted and harmed you in the past?"
"I hoped you would be the first one to fit all the pieces of the puzzle." Helena grinned.
"It only comes with understanding the twisted way your mind works, but since it looks like I have what you want and you have what I want I propose a trade." Nikolas responded.
Helena chuckled. "You're willing to let me have your little niece or nephew? Your brother's only real shot at having a child with his barren partner?"
"If she's so barren than who says an heir was ever created? If you're asking me to chose between my cousin and the possibility of a fertilized egg…"
"Oh, grandchild, don't think I haven't had top geneticist working this case."
"If it's so important to you…" Nik threw out the offer. "Meet me at the parking lot of the Heraklion airport tonight at sunset. Bring Sam, alive, and I will give you what you want."
"Consider it a date, but Nikolas don't think you're going to pull any fast ones on me. It's going to be a long time until these cognitive functions start deteriorating."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." He smirked before walking off.
XXXXXX
Claudia returned to the bedroom after freshening up. Sonny looked up when he realized she was missing from his grasp to find her standing before him in her black silk night gown.
"You're not just going to stand there, are you?" He sported his dimples while inviting her under the covers.
"Where would you have me?" She grinned as she walked forward. Sonny sat up enough to lift her onto the bed cradling her in his arms as he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and responded back with passionate kiss of her own.
"Have I been able to tell you yet how beautiful you look?" He asked gazing into her deep brown eyes.
"Not yet." She replied back.
Sonny started nibbling on her neck. "You're gorgeous." He whispered into her ear. If it wasn't for the vividness of the silk sheets against her back, the slight tickle of the nearly shaven whiskers against her cheek as he kissed her, and the fragrant of his expensive cologne Claudia would have sworn she was dreaming. It wasn't a dream; she was in his bed, pregnant with his child, and he wanted her there; he loved her. All she wanted was to take in that moment for as long as it lasted.
XXXXXX
"There you are." Joey said looking up at Stella.
"Those nice guards out there let me in."
"I'm going to have to tip them extra. How was your first night home?"
"Quiet. It was nice, and Ali was so excited, but I guess I got used to certain people being around." Stella explained.
"Are you trying to tell me that you miss Anthony Zacchara?"
"No." She replied adamantly, and then kissed him on the cheek. "No, I was thinking about other people."
"Well, I couldn't stop thinking about you last night, but I did want to have a serious talk before I went back to prison." He replied holding her hands as she sat down on the bed next to him.
"Why do I have a feeling this is an 'uh oh' conversation?"
He shook his head. "I can't ask you to wait for me."
"You're not. I made that decision all on my own." She replied.
"Stella, you don't… you don't know me. There's a part of me you can't stand, and that part isn't going away. If I get out…"
"When you get out." She corrected him.
"The mob is the only thing I've ever done, it's the only thing I've ever known, and it's a part of me. Corinthos has offered me a position in his organization."
"And you agreed to it." Stella replied somberly.
"I've agreed to be his second after I'm released."
"Do you realize how dangerous that is? If you get caught while you're on parole then… I can't tell you that I'm going to be the perfect mob moll."
"Are you saying that you're willing to give it a shot?" Joey questioned.
"I'm saying that you need to heal, and then get to your parole date and wow the judge, and we'll see what happens from there."
"I can handle that." He replied.
"Good; I was told only a couple minutes, but there was one thing I wanted to do." She said bending over to connect her lips with his in a passionate kiss. "Thank you again for saving my life."
XXXXXX
Alexis found Michael alone in the basement with the lights off shooting pool balls into the pockets. "I was hoping to be able to give you more time, but the prosecutor wants all my files on her desk today."
"I need to decide right now?" Michael questioned.
"Maybe she'll find an angle that I didn't and she won't even need your testimony." Alexis replied. "I know it's not fair."
"It's not, but I respect that you gave me the choice instead of naming me as key witness. The truth is, as I look back on what was said, Claudia never outright stated that she ordered the hit." Michael responded.
"What do you mean?"
"Johnny told me. I was at the hospital and mom was asleep and for some reason when I saw her I flashed to the moment where I found her passed out on the couch. I ran out and bumped into Jason and got him to tell me what happened that evening. He told me that he suspected that Claudia was responsible and that was the information that caused mom blood pressure to spike. Because Claudia was pregnant I didn't want to go to her right away so I went to the garage and Johnny confirmed everything. He told me that my dad had beaten him up and Claudia was reacting to a threat; that I wasn't supposed to be there. I wanted to tell my dad; I wanted the cycle of violence to end but dad was intent on making whoever was responsible pay so I didn't instead I got a text from Claudia. She wanted to talk to me first, but she didn't actually say that she hired Ian Devlin; she didn't say she was responsible for the hit."
"It was implied."
"But unless we're willing to take down Johnny as an accomplice can I testify to that? Johnny won't testify against his sister; so for the court to believe me than I am going to have to convince them that John Zacchara is committing perjury." Michael replied. "Johnny has saved my mother's life; he was there for Morgan when on Thanksgiving when we got that call, I can't."
"I understand." Alexis identified. "I should probably tell you that your dad is home; Claudia has been issued house arrest so she is there with him. They are allowed visitors that are searched at the door and she has to wear an ankle bracelet at all times."
"Does Morgan know that this trial is coming?"
"No; neither Morgan nor Molly are aware of what's going on."
"Would it be okay if Kristina and I told them?" Michael offered.
Alexis nodded her head. "If that's what you want. Jax and I are going to go to my office and then down to the next precinct with Britni. I hope you don't mind looking after Morgan and Molly for a couple hours."
"That will be fine. Alexis, thank you again for giving me the option."
"It's what Carly would have wanted."
XXXXXX
"Do you miss having the puppy around?" Dante asked as Caitlyn got up for her morning jog.
"Maybe a little bit, but with work and class starting this week it's probably better that she's not here." Caitlyn conceded. "Although it was kind of nice having a pet."
"You're not thinking about getting a dog are you?"
"No, not until I settle down and maybe get a yard or something."
"Settle down with the white picket fence?"
"Nah, I'm thinking more like a castle with a gothic metal spike fence and gargoyles looking down over the tower." She teased.
"Oh, so you want to take over Wydemere; great idea! Have you forgotten I'm unemployed?"
"If you are going to buy me a castle you better work on that." She grinned.
"Now I'm responsible for buying a castle?"
"You always complain that I never ask you for help." Caitlyn teased.
"How about that pet? What were you thinking? A cat?"
"How about a little bunny rabbit? They are so cute, and you can train them to use a liter box and can have them hop around the apartment, but only when you're home or else they chew on everything."
"You want a bunny rabbit? You know, maybe we can check out the humane society later this week and see what's available." He replied.
"If we're picking it out together that means it would be ours." She replied.
"I think I could be okay with that."
"Good." She smirked before kissing him. "But I really should…"
"Go, run, but don't hurt yourself."
XXXXXX
"Olivia, may I come in?" Johnny requested standing outside her door at the MetroCourt.
"Nobody is stopping you. How was your trip?" Olivia questioned.
"My sister is home, and my father is dead. I'll consider it a success."
"I'm sorry, John. I know you and your dad…"
"He murdered my mother and about fifteen years later I shot him. There's a certain justice to that, don't you think?"
"Is that what you're here for? To boost about killing your dad and not feeling anything about it?"
"No; I thought you should hear it from me before the news starts reporting the death of former mob kingpin Anthony Zacchara."
"Okay, well you've done that."
"And I didn't get the chance to try to straighten things out before I had to leave."
"There's nothing to straighten out." Olivia assured him. "No hard feelings, that's the promise we made when we started."
"You can't pretend that you're not hurting. I can see it." Johnny responded.
"Yeah; I'm hurting." Olivia replied holding down the knot in her throat. "My best friend is dead and the other side of my bed is empty and I feel lonely and… but it doesn't matter. I knew we would eventually get to this point and it's better to do this now."
"Liv, don't." He pleaded.
Olivia walked up to him standing only inches away and pressed her lips against his. "Goodbye my almost lover."
XXXXXX
Jason caught the first boat he could to King's Island staring at the address the entire way there. He couldn't believe how close he had gotten; something in him knew that this was it. He knew he was going to see her again.
"The house you're looking for it's about 3 kilometers that way." The captain pointed out. Jason offered him an extra tip before getting off the boat. "Good luck!"
"Thanks." Jason waved to him before taking off.
As he walked he kept thinking about what he was going to do to Jerry when he saw him. His gun was sitting behind his back ready to be drawn at a moments notice. His pace was fierce until the address grew closer and then fears and doubt crept in about what he would do if he was wrong. If Carly wasn't there than would that mean that she was gone? He walked on the beach catching a blonde in a red sun dress from behind. Her walk; they way her dress swayed from side to side was identical.
"Carly?" Jason reluctantly called out to her. He remembered Jax' warning of chasing ghosts and the disappointment that came every time they turned around. He had experienced it more times than he'd ever care to admit on his journey.
The woman turned to look at him. It was her, down to the mole on her lip. "Do you… do I know you?" She asked confused.
Jason's heart dropped as he realized the truth. "You don't know me." He uttered.
"Please, don't take offense I barely know myself." She smiled. It was that smile that melted his heart. "What did you call me?"
"Car…"
"Cora, get away from him!" Jerry called as he held a gun out on Jason.
"But…" She replied.
"Step back." Jerry instructed.
"Don't listen to him, please." Jason pleaded with her.
"He's a killer. He a hitman for the mob back in New York." Jerry told her.
"Is that true?" Carly asked Jason. Seeing that man brought something back in her that she couldn't explain, but there was no fear or worry in his presence.
"Whatever he had told you, don't believe it." Jason warned her.
"I'm warning you now Morgan, walk away or I'll end this now."
"Morgan…?" Carly questioned as her breathing got shaky. The world around her starting spinning as she collapsed to the sand.
Jason thought he was going to panic as she started thrashing violently.
"She's seizing." He heard someone on the beach say.
"I'm calling an ambulance." Someone else replied.
Jason merely dropped down to his knees in horror waiting for her to stop before scooping her head into his arms.
"I'm a doctor, let me through." Seth called into the crowd that was forming on the beach.
"Don't." Jason stopped him from coming closer recognizing the man from the photo on the hospital wall. "Don't you touch her!"
