"Bring Stefan Back Fanfiction Challenge"       A Little Hope   By CQ   "Well I hope you're satisfied?" Lucky stormed into the study. Lydia looked up only briefly, frowned and returned her gaze to the spreadsheet on the laptop in front of her. She'd have them run the numbers again. If they purchased the rights now, there would be an initial loss in revenue but in the long run she was sure the venture would be vastly profitable. It was all about the long run now. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Lucky stood in front of the desk. Lydia looked up again and smiled this time. "It seems your brother must have shared our happy news with you." "You're pregnant." "Well aren't you going to congratulate me?" "You've ruined his LIFE!" "You give me too much credit." Lydia stood and rounded the desk. "Can I get you a drink, Lucky? You look like a man who could use a drink. You'll understand if I can't join you, perhaps I'll have some milk…" "I thought he was rid of you. How did you manage it?" Carefully, Lydia thought. Very, very carefully. "If you are not more careful, you are going to fall." She hadn't heard anyone else on the terrace. "And what a tragedy THAT would be." Lydia snorted but eased herself back from the railing. She could see the headlines now. Disinherited Heiress Goes Splat! It had a nice ring to it actually. But no, she'd wait until he was dead. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of going first. He was really dying this time. He'd been dying for more than a decade but this time it was real. She knew it was, she could see the anger in his eyes. The fury that he couldn't buy his way out of it. He'd been writing large checks to the grim reaper for years to keep him away but money wasn't enough now. "Champagne used to make me feel like I could fly!" She stretched her arms out but they quickly flopped to her sides. "Doesn't work anymore. Nothing does." She pouted. The man set two glasses on a nearby table. "I noticed your glass was empty so I was bringing you more but it sounds as though you've had enough." "There's no such thing." She turned around to face him and her head swam for a moment, her knees buckled and she started to fall. He reached out for her but she'd managed to recover and grasp the railing behind her. He held onto her anyway. She looked up into sad green eyes. Sharp, focused, but sad none the less. Older than he'd sounded, but still attractive. Older men usually ran from her, sensing trouble, and rightly so. No, Lydia usually attracted younger men. Primarily young men who used her for her money and discarded her when they were through. Most tried to take a bite out of the family fortune upon departure with threats of blackmail or pleadings for her to invest in some scheme. Her grandfather was very adept at getting rid of them. It pissed him off that he had to and whatever angered the old bastard pleased Lydia, always had. But now he was dying and he made it very clear that he wouldn't be around to bail her out of her messes. He didn't care how much she embarrassed the family after he was dead. The game was coming to a close and when it did she'd have nothing left to amuse herself with. She'd have nothing left at all. "I hate this party." Lydia grumbled. The man brushed the hair back from her eyes. "You've had too much to drink. You simply need to clear your head. A walk in the garden, perhaps?" He pointed the way and with Lydia leaning on his arm they began to walk. "I hate all parties." She announced as they passed a group of guests trying to fill the swimming pool with champagne. "Why did you come?" She shrugged. "There was nothing better to do. There never is." "I saw you at the Galarneau Estate earlier this spring." "Probably." "For someone who despises parties, you attend quite a few." "Every night." She sighed. "Every night?" "Yes, I always start the day saying I'll find some better use for my time but then there is lunch with my grandfather and dinner with grandfather and after a large helping of grief and an even larger glass of wine….I end up here." "Here?" "Here, there, anywhere there is a party. If I don't find one, one finds me." "Perhaps you should stop dinning with your grandfather." "I've tried, but somehow I always end up back at his table." "Anton Karenin is a difficult man." Lydia stopped and looked up at the man. "Let me guess, he sent you?" She let go of his arm. "No." "But you know who I am." "Yes, I'm sure everyone in attendance here this evening knows who you are. You have admitted yourself, you are rather social." "You know my grandfather." "Yes, by reputation." "Let's see." Lydia smiled. "You want me to introduce you? You have some business he needs to invest in and…" "If I need to speak to your grandfather, it will be arranged, I require no introduction. He will see me." "Really?" Lydia rolled her eyes. "Then what do you want with me?" "A walk through the gardens it seems." "You make a habit of sobering up young women?" Lydia shivered. He shrugged off his jacket and had it around her shoulders before she could protest and then the warmth and even scent were too inviting to discard it. She pulled the jacket closer. She didn't have enough pride left to storm off and he was the one who would be cold now. "How gallant." She smirked. "You appeared to be a damsel in distress; it has been far too long since I rescued one of those." "I suppose I should be insulted by the damsel remark in this day and age but the distress is true enough and I'm still too drunk to argue. Thank you." "You're welcome, but I've done nothing, what is the nature of your distress Ms. Karenin?" "Too much champagne and a sleeveless dress?" "You looked ready to jump before." "Fly, I told you, I wanted to fly." "Purchase a plane, you have the money for it." "It's not the same thing and I don't have two cents to rub together, my grandfather has all the money." "He allows you to use it." "With plenty of strings! The dinners I spoke of earlier, being one of them. Yes, I can purchase a plane or anything else on the planet for that matter, except what I really want." "And what is that?" "If I knew that, I'd buy it." She winked at him. "What do you want Ms. Karenin?" "To be sober. You're making my head hurt." "I apologize." "Don't! I drank the champagne, I'll suffer the consequences. I'm not a drunk." "I know." Lydia took a seat on a nearby bench. "You do?" "Yes, I've seen you before, at other parties. Sometimes you don't drink at all." "I leave more of them sober than I do wasted." "I'm still curious why you attend so many." He sat next to her. "It's what's expected of me and in some ways…it's good for me." "How is that?" "See that girl over there, by the pool." Lydia pointed to the party goers; several had discarded their clothing and jumped in the pool. One blonde was doing a striptease poolside. "That one there." "Yes, Bunny or Blaire or Muffin…" The man scratched his head, as if he were trying to remember and irritated that he could not. "Muffy." Lydia laughed and then stopped. "I shouldn't laugh at her that could be me. Hell, five years ago that WAS me. She's doing so much coke now that she probably won't even remember tonight, or this week for that matter. Her parents will dump her in rehab soon and she'll get out and move up to…. heroine maybe? In and out, in and out. That's the rest of her life." "How do you know? Some people stop, you stopped." "I never went that far, she reminds me why. Some people DO quit, but she won't, she's too far gone. There's a line, she crossed it, I won't, so long as I keep seeing her and everyone like her." "Now I know why you hate all parties." He frowned. "But it beats shooting up alone in my room." She tugged on the jacket and drew her knees up so that she sat under it like a small child. There was a scent, something spicy and exotic, it tickled her nose. "You seem like a woman capable of more than just attending parties." She shrugged under the jacket. "What else is there to do? Get a job? I could work myself to death and never come close to earning the money my grandfather hands me for nothing. I've done the charity thing, it's depressing." "Depressing?" "It's never enough. I could give them every dime and nothing ever seems to change. The hand is always out no matter how many times I fill it." She laughed, "Then every stitch I buy, every bobble, every trinket…..makes me feel even worse. Numb and oblivious is better. Petty and selfish….but that's me." "I see more." He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She looked at him and realized they were sitting so close that the scent wasn't only coming from the jacket now, but the man himself. "They say people over 40 are always far sighted." "You need to find a purpose, Ms. Karenin." "How about hope? You asked me what I wanted before….that's it, that's all. Just a little hope." "Perhaps you just need to look in a new direction." "Where? Is there a boutique I've missed that sells it? Is it available on-line? I have the money, if it's not enough I'll sell my heart and soul for it." She let her cheek rest on her knee so she could watch him. "I looked for it once myself." He actually seemed moved and suddenly Lydia didn't want this party to end. "Did you find it or just give up looking?" "Neither." His voice was low and a little raw. "It found me when I least expected." His hand rubbed her back and Lydia closed her eyes. The scent was everywhere, it was everything. Is this what hope smells like? He rose. "It's late, I should go." Lydia felt hope sink. "What time is it?" "Nearly morning." "Lydia!" A young man called out. "Where are you? We're going to Paris! Jacqueline has a jet waiting…." "I don't want to go to Paris." Lydia grumbled. "Your friends are looking for you." "They're not my friends." "Still, more fun than this tired old man." He smiled. She stood up. "Must be the light, you don't look so old to me." "Lydia! Didn't you hear me calling?" Rafe had lost his tie and his jacket was rumpled. "We're ready to go." Lydia turned to him. "Go without me, I have a headache." He reached for her hand. "Don't be ridiculous. If you're hung over you can sleep it off on the plane like the rest of us. Who were you talking to?" Lydia spun around and the man was gone.   "How could you!?" Emily was in tears. "I'm sorry." "How could you, Nikolas! How could you do this to us?" "It was a mistake." Emily sat down and cried even harder. She wanted to hit him. Damn it! They were so close and now…………Lydia was pregnant? Nikolas sat down next to her and tried to take her hand but she snatched it away. "I hate you right now." "I know." He sank back into the couch. "I remember." Emily sniffled. "You remember?" "I remember the feeling! I felt the same way when you married Zander." His back handed way of pointing out this was NOT entirely his fault. "When?" She asked. He was puzzled for a moment and then realized what she was asking. "After…after Uncle died. One time, I know that doesn't really make a difference now but just once." "Once was more than enough as it turns out." "I drank too much. I don't even remember…." "Well I don't want the DETAILS!" She spat. "Emily, I love you." "Then divorce her!" "I can't." "Of course you can. I'm divorcing Zander. And don't tell me it's because of the baby because people with kids get divorced all the time!" "It's not that simple." "Yes it is!" It wasn't and Lydia had proven that to him. "I don't care, I still want the divorce!" Nikolas fumed. "Fine, you can have it! But you'll never see me OR this baby again!" "You're not going ANYWHERE!" "The hell I'm not! You think I'm going to sit around here and wait for Alcazar to take out a hit on you? You think I'm going to stay here and expose myself or my baby to that?" "I'll take care of it!" "With WHAT? Your good looks and charm? Alcazar isn't falling for it and neither am I. He wants his money, he won't wait forever, but he WILL wait 7 months." "How do you know?" "I asked him." "You what?" "I went to him this morning, showed him my grandfather's will and my medical records. He knows now all he has to do it wait, unless you divorce me of course. If you do, I doubt you'll last a week." "I'm under Jason's protection." "Really? How well is that going to sit with his 'business associates' when they find out he's protecting a dead beat?" "I'll get the money." Lydia threw her arms up in exasperation. "There you go again! You think money grows on trees? If it did, we wouldn't be in this mess! And WE are in it because my baby is in danger too! You go to Morgan and what……he protects you as long as he can. What's he going to do, lend you 70 million dollars out of the goodness of his heart? And nice friends you've got there by the way, just what I want around the baby, career criminals!" "I'll…" "Ask Emily? Her entire inheritance MIGHT put a dent in the debt. I guess she can get a loan for medical school. The two of you can move into some slum and live on looove." Lydia batted her eyelashes. "Why are you DOING this? I don't love you." "I don't love you either! But there's a child now and either you do the right thing, stick it out and give this baby the life it deserves or I'll leave and find someone else who WILL! So help me Nikolas, I'll sell every last thing I own down to the ring on my finger and go someplace you'll never find me before I stay here and expose this baby to criminals and assassination attempts!" "We can't do this Lydia. We can barely be in the same room together. We can't raise a child together. It not fair to us, it's not fair to the baby." He looked defeated and Lydia relaxed a little. He was seeing it, he was finally seeing the reality of it. She crossed her arms, "We won't have to." "In order to get the money…" "We get the money, all of it, when the baby is born." "The will says we have to stay married for at least five years." "Once we have it, I can pay the lawyers. There is no one else to object Nikolas. I have no other family. All of the money was going to charity. The only people stopping us are the lawyers, they want money, they'll get it! I'll make sure they are very rich men. They'll turn the other cheek when it comes to our divorce. All I'm asking for is a year." "A year?" "One year." "I'll….I'll lose Emily." "Why?" "Why?" He asked incredulously. "I'll be married to YOU!" "She can't wait a year? She's what….20 years old? What's the big hurry?" "I don't think I can be away from her anymore…" Lydia shrugged, "So don't." Nikolas shook his head. "I told you before…" She rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, all that nonsense about not cheating. Please, those were your rules, not mine and this marriage involves TWO people! Keep Emily, I don't care. I'd prefer the two of you didn't flaunt your affair in public but what you do behind closed doors doesn't concern me. And as for me, don't worry, I'm not interested. I'm pregnant and then I'll have the baby……you can have your cake and eat it too. Keep your mistress and a faithful wife." "It was never about that." "What was it about then, Nikolas? You haven't been faithful to me a single moment since we met. Despite your pretty speeches about honor and duty you've always been in love with Emily and I've always known it." "Emily won't do it." "She had little trouble cheating on her husband. She'll do it. She'll do it because she loves you and it will save your neck! She could care less about me but I'll speak to her if you like." "This is completely insane." "This is reality. Learn to live with it and me. Otherwise, you won't live at all." ~ "This has to be killing them." Lucky took the drink from Lydia and sat on the couch. "I'm sure they are weeping in each others arms as we speak." Lydia sat down next to him. He drained the glass and sat it down on the coffee table. "Jesus Lydia, why do this? It can't make you happy." "Oh so NOW you're worried about my feelings?" Lucky rubbed his hands over his face. "I just……I guess I just don't get rich people. The money really means that much to you?" Lydia looked up as the maid entered the room and handed her a glass of milk and two large prenatal vitamins. She was grateful for the interruption. How could she tell Lucky it wasn't about the money? It had never been about the money. She was miserable. She hadn't thought before that night that she could be any more miserable but she was. No one knew who he was! She'd looked everywhere but had nothing to go on. Only a handful of guests even remembered seeing the man and they were mostly too stoned or drunk to really remember him. She had nothing to go on. She'd done most of the talking that night. She tried to remember if he'd given her any clues, but he hadn't. All she had left was his jacket and like some stupid love sick school girl she had it tucked away in her closet. The scent was fading. They had a guest for dinner that evening. One of her grandfather's business associates. Boring as hell she was sure but at least her grandfather showed some restraint in berating her when guests were present. She dressed for dinner as always. Hair up, uncomfortable but stylish dress, jewelry, heels, the whole nine yards. She waited in her room until the last possible minute, then drew a long breath and descended the stairs. She heard his voice before she saw him. She froze on the landing and wondered if her mind was playing tricks on her. "I do apologize, Mr. Cassadine. Mr. Karenin will be with you shortly." "It's quite alright, I know he's been ill." "His granddaughter will be joining you as well." "Splendid." Lydia stood just outside the doorway and begged her heart to stop slamming into her chest. She was being ridiculous! She'd only met the man one time. He was nearly old enough to be her father, but she didn't care, couldn't make herself care! She'd dreamed of speaking to him again. No….of listening to him this time. She was still angry with herself for never shutting up that night. She didn't know anything about him, except that he listened to her and seemed to genuinely care about what she had to say. Now she wanted to know about him. And just when she thought she'd never have the opportunity again, new hope. "It found me when I least expected." He'd been right about that. "Don't just stand there, Macy. Offer our guest a drink." "I'm fine." He waved off the maid. "Lydia." He took her hand and kissed it. "Mr. Cassadine, I presume? I never caught your name…" "Good, so the two of you have met." Anton Karenin wheeled into the room looking like death barely warmed over. "I'm afraid I'm not feeling very well this evening, then again, I'm never feeling well these days." "If you would rather we discuss it some other evening…." "I have far fewer evenings ahead of me than behind me so it is best not to waste them. I'm here; I might not be tomorrow so we shall dine. Besides, you've peeked my curiosity with this proposal." "That's promising." "What proposal?" Lydia asked. "Are you and grandfather going to be working together?" She was thrilled he'd be sticking around. "Nothing for you to worry about Lydia." Anton moved through the house in his chair as Stefan and Lydia followed him to the dining room. "Don't you have a party to go to or something?" He sounded annoyed. "Maybe later." She gritted her teeth behind his back. "I'm not sure you know what you are getting yourself into, Cassadine." Anton stopped at the head of the table and a maid hurriedly adjusted his place setting and folded his napkin in his lap. Stefan pulled out a chair for Lydia before the staff could. "I believe I do know, Mr. Karenin." "Just the same, you should be warned, it's a risky venture." "I have everything to gain." "If you can….control the product and how the market receives it." "I have little doubt I can." Business talk and purposely vague business talk. She wanted her grandfather to shut up! "So if you and grandfather will be working together you will be staying here in Milan." "No, I plan to return to the states soon." "Oh." Lydia was crestfallen. "Lydia likes America, don't you Lydia?" Anton took two bites of his soup and waved the bowl away. It was fine, he simply had no appetite anymore. "Yes." Lydia answered. "Her parents raised her there." Anton added. "Moves too fast for my taste and I find the culture, or lack there of, rather vulgar. But Lydia adores it." He certainly wasn't sparing her tonight. "Yes, well, I do LOVE my MTV." She no longer wanted her soup either. "The entire world is moving faster now Anton, soon the Americans will be the only ones who can keep up. It's not the culture, it's our age I'm afraid." This seemed to amuse Anton. "You aren't in my category yet, Cassadine." "Certainly not." Lydia smiled, thankful for Stefan's save. "Yes, but I feel the pull to pass things along to my nephew now. He's American you know. I was worried about raising him there as well but now I feel he may be more in tune with society as a whole and that can only be a good thing. We Cassadines have always been so…remote. Nikolas is a part of it now and ready to take full control." "And what will you do then, Stefan?" Anton eyed him carefully. "Settle down. I think I have earned the right to enjoy myself." He chuckled. Lydia could think of a million ways to help him enjoy every minute. "So that brings us to your proposal." Anton nodded. "Yes." "You are ready to hand the reins over to the young prince?" "More than." "Well, it seems we have some details to work out then. Lydia, why don't you run along to your party." "No…I" "I insist. No need for two old men to bore you into a coma with business." "This does concern her." Stefan added. "It does?" Lydia actually felt her cheeks flush. He was ready to settle down…why were they being so vague? Exactly what kind of proposal were they talking about? She felt her palms grow damp. She looked across the table at the man. She knew little to nothing about him. He did seem rather proper, perhaps old fashioned but was he actually going to ask her grandfather….. "I think I should stay." "Lydia, this is not the time to annoy me! Mr. Cassadine and I have business to discuss and whether it involves you or not is up to me! Don't try my patience tonight young lady." Lydia dug her nails into her palms. The fact that he had ANY say in her life was bad enough but to have a say in this? That was nearly unbearable! But if her suspicions were correct…..was Stefan Cassadine old fashioned enough to walk away if her grandfather did not give his consent? She didn't know what she wanted. It was all happening too fast. She wasn't sure she wanted to marry this man at all, but the idea of him walking away and her never knowing…..She couldn't stand to think about it. She knew she'd been miserable since she'd lost him that night and more excited in the last half hour than she had been in years. Perhaps ever! She could say no later if she changed her mind. But she didn't want to lose the opportunity all together. Perhaps this was the purpose he spoke of. It might even be the hope she was looking for. But she would have to allow the old man his say for it to even be a possibility. Lydia stood as gracefully as her two shaky legs would allow. She leaned down to kiss her grandfather's cheek. She held her breath to avoid the stench of impending death. She'd be free of the stench soon and perhaps ensconced in an exotic, spicy aroma that her senses still remembered and longed for. Stefan was standing when she approached him. She smiled and for an instant, she saw something there, hesitation? But he recovered quickly, smiled warmly and took her hand when she offered it. He covered it with his own and kissed her fingers lightly. "It was a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Karenin." She grasped his hand with both of hers, leaned in and kissed his cheek. There was the smell, the sad green eyes and lips so close she wanted to taste them. She remained too close too long and her grandfather snorted. "The pleasure was all mine." She whispered. "If things work out, we will be seeing a great deal more of each other." His knuckles brushed underneath her chin quickly and his arm ever so slightly against her breasts. An accident? She didn't think so. "I'll let you get back to your business then. I'll see you later this evening, grandfather?" He snorted again. "I'll be asleep later this evening, I'm half way there now and with your dawdling we'll never get through this. I'll speak to you tomorrow, if I'm up to it." She hurried up to her room with Macy following her. "Oh Miss Lydia, he's devilishly handsome." "Isn't he though." She smirked. "Oh, a man like that…..the things I would let him do to me." Macy giggled. "Hands off." Lydia teased. "Now go back downstairs, I want a full report!" "Yes maam, I'll do my best." "You aren't my best snooper for nothing. Get to work, you can name your price on this one." "Oh Miss Lydia, I'd do it for free just to get to stare at him some more." "Try not to drool." Macy giggled her way down the stairs and Lydia closed her bedroom door. She supposed she would have to go to the party now. He was doing this to torture her, she was sure and if she didn't do exactly what was expected he'd find some way to torture her some more. But those days might be behind her very soon. She'd insist on a long engagement. She was intrigued but not insane! Oh who was she kidding? She was excited. It was something new. It was something different. It was something to hope for. "Lydia, are you feeling okay? You and the baby are okay, right?" Lucky looked concerned. Lydia sat the glass down. "I'm fine, fit as a fiddle in fact. I just don't like milk." She made a sour face. "There are other sources of calcium." "Well aren't you just Officer Goodbody today." "Enough Lydia." He snapped. "Oh calm down. The baby and I are fine. Nikolas will be fine. This saves him you know. Alcazar has agreed to wait for the payoff, gotta love those interests charges." "Fine, so Nikolas will be alright. What about you?" "I told you I'm fine." "What about when you have the kid and Nikolas leaves you, because in the end, he's going to leave you. You might be able to stand this arrangement, but he won't for long." Lydia stood up and walked away from him and back to her laptop behind the desk. "We'll see." "Great plan." "I'm flying by the seat of my pants on this one." She lied. Where do nightmares begin? Didn't most start off as a good dream and then somehow turn on you? She knew when her dream turned. She remembered going from giddy to nauseas in five seconds flat. "His NEPHEW!" Now she knew why he'd made the staff leave the room and Macy hadn't been able to tell her anything. "What did you expect Lydia? You didn't really believe Stefan was……the man is very cultured, well educated, too…old for you." Too good for her was what he meant. Odd moment to choose to spare her feelings. "Well I won't do it!" "Of course you will, my dear." "Why should I?" "Because if you do, you will get it all." Lydia looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "You've gloated for YEARS that I'll be penniless when you die and now you're telling me if I marry this man…I get it all? Why?" Anton smiled at her. "Finally found a way to rein you in." "What makes you think Stefan Cassadine's nephew is capable of controlling me when YOU never could." "Oh I doubt Nikolas Cassadine is capable of tying his own shoe. But the Cassadines, now there is a family who won't put up with your nonsense. My love for you, my dear, has clouded my judgment, I've let you run wild…." "You've never loved me!" "…the parties, the drinking…" "You've just found a way to torture me even after you're DEAD!" "Oh my darling Lydia." "Well it won't work! I won't do it." He smiled. "Of course you will. 20 billion or nothing? What kind of fool would walk away from that? You're a fool Lydia, but not that kind of fool." He began to hack and cough. Lydia couldn't make herself help him. She didn't want to see him die right in front of her but she couldn't seem to call for help either. "I hate you old man." "Yes, yes, I know. I'm not too fond of you myself but you're all I'm leaving on this God forsaken rock so I'll use what I have left to make sure you serve SOME purpose here." Purpose. He might as well have slapped her in the face. She ran from the room. Knowing in the end, she'd do what he wanted. In a matter of days, he was dead. She couldn't tell if she was crying for him, because despite it all he was the last living relative she had, or if she was crying for herself. She just started crying that afternoon and couldn't stop. The only thing she knew for sure was that she hated Stefan Cassadine with a blind passion. "He said you would make a fine consort." Anton had laughed. "Said you weren't at all the petty little party girl I know." She'd prove Stefan Cassadine wrong even if it meant proving her grandfather right! She gathered up her flashiest and most revealing clothes, said goodbye to the house she'd lived in, for better or worse, since her parent's death and headed to America. Home of MTV and all the other vulgar things her grandfather, and she suspected Stefan, despised. She thought she'd lost all her pride. She guessed she could thank Stefan for at least helping her find that. From there, the nightmare grew worse and like someone in a coma, she went deeper and deeper, unable to make herself wake up. She put on a good show. It was easy at first. She was rude, he was ruder. She was cruel, he was crueler. She made sure to highlight every last trait he would despise in a wife for his blessed nephew. And she made sure to never, under any circumstances, show him the real reason she stuck around. It wasn't about the money. She didn't come for the money. She came to show him everything he'd passed up in his stupid obsession to save precious Nikolas. And of course, that was the most painful part. He showed his true colors the moment she arrived. He was cold, he was ruthless and if that was all she had encountered she would have left with in the first week. But then she would see him with Nikolas and at times he was the man in the garden again. But only for Nikolas, never for her. Still, it was enough. Devotion to the point of obsession. Frightening and moving and something she was beginning to understand. Why was she staying? Like the parties, she really had nothing better to do….and in a way, it was good for her. She was witness to everything she didn't want to be. To the parts of herself she wanted to make disappear. If she saw enough, she would be able to leave. It never seemed to be enough, though. Until the night he kidnapped her. "What are you working on?" Lucky narrowed his eyes and tried to sneak a peak at the lap top but she snapped it closed. "Just shopping." She yawned. "Shopping? It looked like a spread sheet." "It was an order form. Christmas is just around the corner Lucky, only 18 shopping days left." "I don't really have anyone to buy for except Leslie Lu." "Well, I have a baby on the way and lots and lots to get done." Lucky shook his head sadly. "Nikolas should be helping you with that." "Make up your mind. Are you mad at me because I'm ruining his life, or mad at him for ignoring me?" "I'm mad at both of you for being so stupid!" "You're going to make a wonderful uncle." He hadn't thought about that. He was going to be someone's uncle. He looked at her suddenly. "You know what, I am. I'm going to be a fantastic uncle!" "Well good for you, at least someone besides me is excited about this baby. Well, there is Alcazar, he seemed pleased. I wouldn't be surprised if he sent the first gift." She laughed. "Make sure it's not ticking." "Oh no, he wants his money and he'll get it." "Lydia, you have to be careful." "I know…" "I mean it! He's a dangerous man and he's not all you have to worry about. The Cassadines aren't exactly the Brady Bunch. They plot, they scheme…" "Nikolas…" "You and I both know Nikolas is….distracted. Looks like I'm all you've got." She smiled at him genuinely for the first time since he'd entered the room. "Lucky, you know what, you're my only friend." "Ya, you haven't exactly been Miss Popularity since you arrived." "I wasn't trying to be." "Well you succeeded." She stood, took his arm and began leading him toward the door. "I'm glad you're kind of on my side." "I just don't think you should be alone." She stopped and patted her stomach. "I won't be." "Is that really enough, Lydia." "At least I have a purpose." "Well that's something I guess. I just hope it's enough." Hope. No, she almost had that one as well, but it slipped through her fingers. Purpose would have to be enough. "Stefan, let me go!" "Come with me." He'd found her in the tunnels. Those damn tunnels that seemed to serve more harm than good. She tried to run but he grabbed her around the waist, covered her mouth and dragged her into one of the suites. She fought as hard as she could. Kicked, scratched, tried to scream but he had her mouth covered. "Lydia be still, calm down." He hissed in her ear. "I won't hurt you." She went rigid suddenly. He was a murderer! He WOULD hurt her. He'd do worse than that given half a chance. He could feel her start to shake and let her go. She ran to the door but it was locked. "Lydia, please. I need to…." "Help!" She pounded on the door. "No one else is here." He told her calmly. She spun around and grabbed a candle stick off the bed side table. "Stay away from me!" "Calm down." "The police are looking for you." "I am well aware…" "It was stupid of you to come back here. Do you know what they'll do to you when they find you?" "I doubt they would think to look here, as you pointed out, it is rather…stupid. And even if they did find me…" "I can't believe they let you out!" "They've never been accused of being competent." "So you aren't scared of them…fine! Someone else is looking for you too and he probably WILL think to look for you here. When Mr. Spencer finds you…" "You looking for me, darlin'?" A small lamp switched on in the corner and Lydia jumped. Stefan took advantage of her shock and grabbed the candle stick from her. "Ha! He found you." Lydia wanted to smile but Stefan didn't really look alarmed. Luke lit a match and began puffing on a cigar in the corner. Stefan glared at him. "Put that thing out!" "Watcha gonna do Stif, call the police, have them arrest me for smoking?" He laughed for a minute at his own joke. "Gotta love that Sharon Stone. You ever catch that one?" "This is hardly the time, Spencer." Lydia's eyes were huge. "Well don't just sit there!" She screamed at Luke. "Do something!" Luke blew out a long stream of smoke. "You sure you want to drag her into this? She seems a little slow on the uptake." "There is no one else." Stefan nodded suddenly. Lydia kept her back pressed firmly against the door and pointed at both of them in horror. "You're….you're in on this together?" "There she goes." Luke slapped his thigh. "Give the little lady her cupie doll." "He's a MURDERER! He admitted it! YOU made him admit it!" "That was quite a show, wasn't it?" "It was a spectacle." Stefan muttered. "Oh, come on Vlad, you were stellar! Oscar worthy even. It was the performance of a lifetime." "It was a vulgar, tasteless…" Luke shrugged, "People are bored with Springer." "…completely disgusting exercise in…" "It got the job done." "In the most tasteless manner possible. But I'd expect nothing less of you, Spencer." "How can you…he killed that woman and you don't even CARE!" "Lydia, allow me to explain." "Explain what…you ADMITTED it!" "Yes, but there were circumstances even I was not aware of until….until.." "Until I saved his ass, sister." Luke finally rose from his chair. "That's what the bat is trying to choke out." "You! I thought you hated him! I thought you wanted him dead!" "Ah, you think too much. Me and Stif go waaaay back. If I'm gonna kill him he's gonna be sharper than a stick of butter when it happens." "I was drugged, Lydia." "Drugged? With what?" Lydia slid her hands through her hair, she never would have believed it. If Spencer hadn't been standing right there, she NEVER would have bought it for a second. "What the hell kind of drug makes you order a woman pushed off a cliff?" "Better yet, what kind of drug makes a Cassadine so sloppy?" Luke made a sour face. "Hasn't been any fun since he returned at all!" "I think you're BOTH on something." Her head was spinning. "Take a load off sister." Luke grabbed her arm and virtually dumped her on the bed taking a seat beside her. "Hey, nice gams." He eyed her legs. "How did a pretty little thing like you ever get messed up with the bat anyway?" "Spencer." Stefan growled. "Right, right. Need to catch the little lady up." He looked down at her legs and wiggled his eye brows. "It's a long story." "The abbreviated version will do." "What's your hurry? We got all night." "No, I have just tonight and I need to speak to Lydia alone so if you will just get on with it already." Stefan crossed his arms, turned and moved away from them to the fire. "Don't mind him, sister. He's just testy cause I'm in charge. He hates that." Luke winked. "I can imagine." Lydia nodded. "But……….why?" "Oh well, ya see its like this. Me and Stif, we go way back, like I said. I'd say I know him about as well as I know myself. It gets like that when you spend years plotting and scheming against each other." Lydia looked completely confused but Luke continued anyway. "See, we had this kind of agreement when he left. Didn't really seem there was too much left to fight about and well…..he was kinda down cause his girl died and I felt sorry for him and…" "Spencer, you're wasting time!" "So he comes back all wrong. I mean all wrong. Straight off I know something is up because he's snarling at me and threatening…..like the good old days." Luke smiled blissfully for a moment. "So he was rude, I've seen that, it doesn't explain…" "No, no darlin' we had an agreement. Stif likes to think of himself as a gentleman, he actually takes those things seriously. Now me, I go with the flow, I'm rude and obnoxious but Cassadines have manners." Luke puffed on his cigar some more. "So he was rude and you figured out he was on drugs?" "I wasn't ON drugs." Stefan spat. "I was drugged! There is a difference." "See, testy. I think he's coming down off of them now, been a real pain in my ass….. But no, it wasn't just the manners. There were other things. He was sloppy. Now Cassadine here is arrogant, manipulative, amoral…" "I object." Stefan turned to face them. "Trials over, stop interrupting, I'm telling the pretty lady here a bed time story. Anyway, I'll send you a list of sins later but he's not sloppy and he's not a cold blooded killer." "How do you know?" "Told ya, know him like I know myself, and don't think THAT don't keep me up at night! Nah, he's no killer. Had years to kill me and didn't try. Had decades to kill Mommy Dearest and she's still around. But you want me to believe he's gonna make little Emily Quartermaine go splat for money? Nah. Now Mamma Cass……now there's a woman who enjoys a good splat!" "Why didn't you tell the police?" "Hey, they were ready to put the noose around MY neck! I knew I didn't do it, I knew HE didn't do it, but I didn't have any proof, so I went looking for it." "That's where you were all those months?" "Ya. Went to Milan, started poking around. Thought maybe he was one of Queen of Damned's boy toys in disguise for awhile, then I started thinking maybe clones…" "Clones?" Stefan looked at him with complete disdain. "Hey, go back to your fire. You're the one with the popsicle for a brother! If they can clone a sheep don't think Mummy hasn't tried to create her own army of sex gods. There was always something fishy about those Ari, Andreas guys…bet she's got some more stashed somewhere." Stefan shook his head and took a seat in the chair in the corner where Luke had been. "So I go poking around and low and behold it's not something nearly as creative this time. I guess the old gal is getting old. She was just having him drugged." "What kind of drug?" Lydia asked. "We don't know." Stefan added miserably. "Ya, well, she did get creative there. See all the Cassadine lab rats can't seem to get a handle on it. It's something new." "Then how do you…" "We only have a small sample. It is completely organic and has similarities to many known hallucinogens but there is more and since we don't know what it is we have to prove what it does and that means testing and that means we have to…" "You have to find more of the drug." Lydia sighed. "An herb most likely." "She put it in his tea. Had a little more kick than chamomile. I stick to coffee myself." "You stick to bourbon." "Coffee ain't coffee without a shot of bourbon." Luke smiled and reached for the flask he always carried in his jacket pocket. "So I go poking around in Milan and find this little baggy in one of the cupboards in the kitchen and wonder if old Mrs. Lansburry is hitting a bong or something on her night off and things start clicking. Had my guys check it out and they can't come up with anything so I head back here and…." "And the two of you have been working together ever since." "Ya." "And the trial?" "He owed me. Had to make sure no one ELSE took the wrap for this. And I deserved SOMETHING for my trouble." "I agreed to the terms of public humiliation. Seemed a small price to pay under the circumstances." Stefan brushed a piece of lint from his sleeve. "The opinions of peasants, i.e. the general public, don't mean a hill of beans to old Vlad, but it sure made my year." "I'm so pleased you were amused." Stefan glared at him. "Hey, I leave the country to save your ass and my kid becomes a COP! Don't think you're off the hook for that one. Once you get your head screwed on straight and the dope out of your system I'm kicking your ass. For REAL this time." "Why haven't you told Nikolas?" She looked across the bed at Stefan sitting in the corner. "I still did it, Lydia. I still told Darius…" She jumped off the bed. "But you weren't yourself!" "I need more proof. I need to find the herb, have it tested, I need to prove…." Lydia shook her head, "You don't think he'll believe you." "But you do." He nodded. She looked at Luke and then back to Stefan. "Yes, but why me? Why are you telling me?" "Quite frankly, you are the only one involved in all of this who does not have…an emotional investment." He should have just kicked her, it would have been less painful. Was she invisible to him entirely? "And I still need your help." "That's my cue to leave." Luke slid off the bed. He stood behind her and squeezed her shoulders. "He's gonna ask you to save the kid ya know? I say let little Nicky sink or swim on his own. With gams like those, you can do better." "That's enough Spencer. I'll see you down stairs." "When?" Luke looked at his watch. "I'll be down as soon as Lydia and I finish." "I've got to get down to the track. Corbin gave me a tip on a bitch in the first…" "You told me I had until dawn." "Man, I was hoping to get some shut eye after I killed you." "Killed you!" Lydia looked at Stefan. "It's all for show Lydia. I'll be leaving the country in the morning and I can't have the police looking for me." "I've got it all mapped out. Knife straight to the chest!" Luke mockingly did his own death scene in the doorway and then stood up again. "Lots of blood and guts! You know, all the stuff that drives the ratings." Lydia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Am I to be witness to this little show?" "You guessed it babe. See you on the set. I expect you to arrive bright eyed and bushy tailed and hey…..you've got a cute little tail to match the gams there don't ya?" "OUT Spencer!" Stefan roared. If he had to suffer on more minute with Spencer HE'D be the one doing the stabbing. "One last thing." Luke popped his head back in the door. "You ever tell anyone I was working with the bat I'll……" "You'll what." "I'll feed you the voodoo his Mummy do so well and turn you into my own private chambermaid zombie." He winked. Lydia's mouth fell open she was so appalled. "Come on, not so bad." "I'd rather you plunge the knife into MY chest!" "Ouch. But seriously, I've got a bad reputation and I intend to keep it. Word gets out I helped old Vlad here and I'll have every blood sucking Cassadine on me like white on rice." "Your secret is safe with me." Lydia assured him dryly. "Damn, I was really hoping the chambermaid thing was an option, had the costume and everything." "I suppose you can wear it yourself." Lydia smiled. "Oh she's good, I like her. Take your time getting back here Stefan." "Goodnight Spencer." "Stab ya in the morning." Luke finally closed the door and they were alone. "Are you sure life in prison isn't a better option?" She asked. "There have been times in the last few weeks when I have considered it." "He's a buffoon." "He saved my life." Lydia turned from the door and looked at Stefan. She could see how tired he looked now. How worn out and sad. "He knew…he knew it wasn't really you when…" "When my own family did not. Yes." He shook his head. "A very sad statement about my life, don't you think? That my mortal enemy knows me better than the people who claim to love me." "You have to tell Nikolas." "No. No, I can't. Not until I have more data." "He's your nephew! He loves you! He shouldn't require any data! I don't." Stefan sighed. "As I said, you are the only one with no emotional investment here." "And that's why you chose me." "Yes." "What about your sister?" "I've treated Alexis appallingly since my return." "But the drug!" "Lydia, I have considered all of this! Do you think I want it this way? Do you think I want to leave in such a manner after everything I have done to them this summer? And worse yet, I have done this before." "What?" "My Mother tried this before only she was even less subtle the last time. I let Alexis and Nikolas think I was dead." "Then don't do it to them again!" "I MUST!" "Why?" "Because it wasn't just the DRUG!" Lydia looked at him carefully and didn't even realize she took a step back. "They were my thoughts, it's as if the drug simply gave them action." She shook her head. "I don't understand…..did you know what you were doing or not?" "Yes, no, sometimes, maybe. Does that explain it? I can usually find words but they escape me now." He looked around the room like he needed something to hold onto, like he was a drowning man." "Tell me. Just. Tell me." "I…I had another sister." "Yes, Kristina. The one the baby is named after." "I'd only just met her when I left, I never should have left. She was an angel and I thought I had time but……" "It was an accident, you couldn't have known." "It was Alexis!" "You're sister…." "My sister. My sister, the one I practically raised, I thought I could trust her but she was too busy lusting after Sonny Corinthos to show any regard for Kristina. THAT is why there is a baby named for a beautiful young woman who would be here now. I WARNED Alexis over and over and now Nikolas is tied up in the mess as well!" "So you knew what you were doing to Alexis?" "Don't you see? I AM that angry with her! Would I go so far under normal circumstances? I don't know…I can't tell you. All I know is what I see and feel now. She's lost her child, my niece! I don't want that and yet…." "Stefan, they love you. That comes from something before this." "It wasn't perfect before Lydia. I've done things in my life, deplorable things." "Spencer says you're not a killer." Stefan smiled for a moment. "And I am left to his opinion of my moral character? He stands for me, knows me when no one else does! Mother was kinder when she just did it quickly and tossed my body into the river. This is too cruel even for HER!" He looked on the verge of tears. "May I ask you something?" He only looked away from her. "How long?" "What?" His voice was gruff. "How long do you think you've been under the influence of the drug?" "I can't tell, Lansbury says it started in July." "Mrs. Lansburry drugged you?" "She's been used before, I should have been more careful. She said July. I have no true way of knowing." "I met you in June." "Yes." "She's telling the truth. Where………where is she by the way? Do I want to know?" "She's not dead if that is what you are asking but she is far away from here. She's someplace where she can do no more harm. How do you know she speaks the truth?" "Because the man I met in the garden wasn't a killer." "Lydia." He sucked in a breath. "I think what Luke says is true, it's the drug. We all have thoughts. Do you know how many times I have wanted to kill YOU?" "I've treated you appallingly as well. But I will not lie to you now. I went there that night to ascertain if you would make a suitable bride for Nikolas. For the money." "But you wanted to know if he would like me." "I suppose." "If I had been……if I had been Muffy lets say. The girl by the pool? Remember?" "Vaguely." "If I had been like her, would you have brought me home to Nikolas?" "Probably not." "You didn't know about Emily then. You DID plan to push Nikolas and I together, but perhaps you wouldn't have been so……forceful about it." "I couldn't say. His life was on the line." "And you were desperate." "And you seemed so……lonely. So lacking in…" "Purpose?" "I was going to say direction." "You said purpose that night and you were right." "So if not for Emily Quartermaine, you are saying the plan was not entirely…." "Evil?" "My mind is, was so muddled, I can't begin to tell you how far I would have gone but would it have been so terrible?" She didn't answer. "Is it so terrible now?" "You looked at me that night and saw a suitable young woman for your nephew. I can't even…I can't tell you how terrible that was for me." She was crying now. "An arranged marriage in this day and age is such a preposterous idea, I'm sorry. I truly am. I didn't consider your feelings then and I can't consider them now." She shook her head and walked away from him. He wasn't listening to her. "I need for you to stay married to Nikolas." She stopped crying….and started laughing. "Lydia?" It started in her gut and just bubbled its way up. A sick feeling really, nothing fun about it, that was for sure. And she had no control over it. Hysterical laughter. "Lydia, please, there is no time for this." "You IDIOT! No, no, you're a smart man, or you were! THIS is the drug, it has to be." "Lydia, I must leave and there is still a threat hanging over Nikolas…" "When are you going to understand it's not ME! He's NEVER wanted me. I could ask him, beg him….he doesn't want to be with me!" "So you are just giving up?" "I never wanted him to begin with!" She screamed at him and turned to the door. It was unlocked this time and she had to get away from him, she HAD to. "Lydia no! Wait!" He raced and slammed the door back before she could pull it open enough to squeeze through. She grasped the doorknob with both hands and jerked but he was directly behind her and pushed it closed. "Lydia, I just need a little time!" "No!" "The money?" "I don't want the damn money I NEVER wanted the damn money and I never wanted Nikolas!" He brought his arms down and tried to pry the doorknob out of her hand. "Then WHY did you stay this long?" "Let go of me!!!" She tried to use her elbows, she used her nails to claw at him, she stomped on his foot and he cursed. "Tell me why you stayed? I demand to know! If not for the money, not for Nikolas, for what?" She was turning in his arms, it was like trying to hold onto a wild cat! "Let go of me! I don't want you NOW!" I don't want you now? Don't want…you? His heart nearly stopped. Not the money, not Nikolas. She was there for………him? He tightened his arms and bent his head to her ear. "Shhhhh." "Bastard! Let go." "Lydia, hush." He soothed as she continued to fight and curse. "Hate you!" "I didn't know." He whispered. "You don't know ANYTHING!" She was crying now and growing too tired to fight him, it was like hitting a brick wall anyway. She was calm enough so he could hold her with one arm and he let the hand of his other slip through her hair. "Shhhhh." She took in shuddering little breaths and she could smell it again. She'd almost swear she hadn't caught that scent on him the entire time she'd been at Wyndemere. She hadn't been wrapped up in it since the night he'd come to see her grandfather. It was all she could smell then. She'd turned into his chest or he'd turned her, she couldn't be sure but she felt her legs go weak and he was holding her up. Soothing, meaningless words meant to comfort her. It wasn't any comfort, she was drowning in him. He was all she could hear, see, smell, touch. Taste. She pressed her lips against neck and he was very still but didn't pull away. He loosened his hold around her waist and allowed her to continue up his neck, across his jaw line. "I'm leaving in the morning." She leaned back but before she could indicate she understood his lips came down on hers. Spicy, like the scent. Warm and more tentative than she wanted. She slipped her hand around his neck and tried to pull him in closer. He was thinking about Nikolas, she knew it! She tried to push him away suddenly but he held onto her. "He has EMILY!" She spat. "You're his wife." "He has Emily and I get NOTHING! Nothing I want and that's YOUR fault." He shook his head. "Lydia I never meant for this to happen." "You don't want me." But he did. He was hesitating but if he said he didn't want her he'd be lying. She squeezed her eyes closed. He just needed a push. "There could be a baby." He stared down at her and she kept her eyes closed. She swallowed away what was left of the pride she'd found. "He'd stay, I'd make him stay. He'd be safe! That's what you want. That's been my purpose from the beginning anyway! If I have to give you that…" She started crying again. He eased her back toward the bed. He slipped her sweater over her head and she would finally get what she wanted. All it costs was 20 billion, marriage to a man she didn't love, her pride, her heart, her soul. He took his time. It was very nearly torture watching him undress. And then it very nearly killed her when she saw him unclothed. Beautiful, like some perfectly formed statue only he moved with a cat like grace. If she hadn't known it was only for Nikolas, she never would have been able to tell. He did want her. And everything that was left of her wanted him. In the end there was something to be said for making love to man with complete abandon because she simply didn't care anymore. This was her one night with him and she was going to enjoy it, if it was the last thing she ever enjoyed in her life. But the sense that it wasn't the same thing for him left a lot of bitter after the sweet. And worst of all, before it was over, she already missed him. She clung to him in sleep, was crying before she was even awake and felt him ease her onto her back and settle over her again. She didn't want to know what time it was. She was actually terrified to know what time it was but there was no light coming from the window and when she looked into his eyes….for the first time, they weren't sad. The second time he made love to her he didn't just want her, he needed her. And whatever lies he told himself about this being all for Nikolas were just that, lies. She knew even if he didn't and she decided she could live the rest of her life on it. It was more than she'd ever had before. He lay on his back afterwards and stared at the ceiling. She tried to sit up but he pulled her back down. "I only wanted the comforter. It's cold." He reached to the foot of the bed and pulled it up to cover them both. His arms wrapped around her and he spooned in behind her. His hand slid down to her belly and stayed there. She covered it with her own and they were both silent and still. He never said a word, but his face was buried in her hair and she felt his tears on her neck before she drifted off to sleep. And then, emptiness. An empty bed. She woke up with a start. She remembered she was supposed to go to the bluff….she tried to sit up, tried to think of what she was supposed to do but she looked at the spot in the bed where'd he'd been, it was cold. She fell back down face first into her pillow and cried herself sick. It lasted hours and she begged the migraine that followed to kill her. She'd earned it. It was like the champagne, if she'd had too much, she'd suffer the consequences and not complain. He found her slumped over the desk. Probably fell asleep shopping on line. Such devotion his wife had to shopping! He poured himself a drink and watched her for a minute. She looked hysterical with her arm draped over the lap top like she was guarding her latest find with her life. He shouldn't be so hard on her. She was being more of a grown up about it than he was. How could she not be terrified! A whole living person on its way and the two of them would be responsible for it, him, her…whatever. And the idea that responsibility should frighten him so much was appalling. Hadn't he been raised for it? He was ashamed of himself. Not at all sure he even liked the man he had become. He set his drink down and tried to wake her. "Lydia." "Go away, she grumbled." "You fell asleep." "Still sleeping, leave me alone." "The mall will be open tomorrow." "Shut up." "You can't sleep here." "Fine." But she didn't move. "You're pregnant, come to bed." She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "NOW you invite me to bed? A little late now, Nikolas." "That's not what I meant. Come on." He urged her up. "Too tired." He pulled her up into his arms. "How gallant." She let her head fall back on his shoulder. "This is a one time deal, in a couple months you'll be too heavy!" He carried her up the stairs and she tried to swat at him playfully but missed. He pushed the door to her suite open with his foot and deposited her in her bed. He sat down next to her. "You have to take better care of yourself." He pulled the covers up over her. "Fine." "There's a baby now." "Really, couldn't tell, musta been busy throwing up." He pushed her hair back out of her eyes. "Is it bad?" She shook her head, of all the times for him to want to talk! "Not bad, just really tired." "That's because you're pregnant." "Where's Emily?" That would shut him up. "Thinking it over." He mumbled. She patted his hand absently. "She'll come around." "I don't know." "I do. She loves you. Now turn off the light and go away." "You really don't care, do you?" "I told you, no." He sighed and remained there. "I don't understand you." "Good, I still have an air of mystery, most wives lose that by now." "Lydia, I don't want you to do this alone." "Nikolas, go call Emily." He should be thrilled she was so understanding. Why did it hurt so much? "I want to talk about this." "Not now, in the morning. Late, late, late in the morning, okay? Night, night, sweet dreams." "I…I can stay." She finally opened one eye. "You snore." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "If you need me, you know where I am." She nodded and he finally left. She dreamed of a canopy crib with silk sheets in a creamy shade of vanilla. His hand slid into her hair. Enough! She sat up and fumbled for the lamp. "Damnit Nikolas let me sleep!" Her heart nearly stopped when she saw him. "Stefan!" She launched herself into his arms. His arms slid around her. "Shhhh." "What are you doing here?" She leaned back to look at him. He looked awful! Sunburned, full beard, his hair needed trimming desperately. She kissed him anyway before she could think and to her surprise, her kiss was returned with more fervor than she could have hoped for. She pulled back to catch her breath. "What was Nikolas doing here?" "Give me your hand." She ignored his question and grabbed his hand placing it on her stomach. "It worked." She whispered. He had tears in his eyes. "I know." Her lip snuck out in a pout. "I wanted to be the one to tell you." "You're okay?" He asked her. "Perfectly healthy." She smiled. "What was Nikolas doing in here?" Her smile faded. He couldn't be happy for them for 1 minute? It was always about Nikolas! "Don't worry, he's doing his duty, he's agreed to stay until it's born." "He's agreed to stay but the marriage is still……….it's in name only." She couldn't believe him. "I did what you wanted!" She hissed. "I didn't know you meant I had to be his wife in EVERY way! I thought the point was to keep him alive." "No, Lydia, you misunderstand." He tried to reach out for her but she pushed him away. "I'm not a miracle worker! I did what you asked. He thinks the baby is his." She tried to climb out of bed but he grabbed her wrist. "Is it?" "What?" She looked at him incredulously. "Is it…….could it be his? How did you make him believe…." "No! I didn't sleep with him! I mean I didn't have sex with him. He was upset, he had too much too drink, I gave him a sedative and we woke up together. He assumed the worst and…" She didn't finish. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Kissed her so hard it stole her breath. He pulled her up against him and wrapped his arms around her tighter. "I don't think I've slept since that night. I couldn't take it, couldn't stand it, didn't know what you would do." "He believes it." "I don't care!" "Shhhh! Do you want him to hear you? You shouldn't have come here, it's too dangerous. Why did you come?" "I've found it." "You…you have!" "Yes." "Then…" "No, we still have to test it, analyze it, prove what it can do. You're sure you and the baby are alright? You've seen the doctor?" "Yes! I've seen the doctor." "When are you due?" "June." "I met you in June." She smiled, he looked so excited. "I have until July then. Time for you to deliver, sign the papers, make the payments." She nodded her head. "He's agreed to wait and Nikolas has agreed to stay with me until the baby comes…" "You didn't answer my question, why wouldn't he let you sleep? Was he here earlier?" "Yes." "What did he want?" "He wanted to talk, I was tired." "Lydia, look at me, he cannot fall in love with you." "I don't think there is any danger of that." "I didn't think there was any danger of it myself, but it happened." Her breath caught. "I…I thought all of it was for Nikolas." He slid his hands into her hair and drew her back to him kissing her. "You saved him for me." "It was all you wanted." "Not anymore." "I thought…..I thought he was all that mattered." Stefan shook his head. "Not anymore. I won't let him die. I won't let him be killed for my mistakes or failings. I love him. But not enough to give you to him, or our child." She knew she was going to cry. "You want us?" "I love you." 20 billion dollars, marriage to a man she didn't love, her pride, her heart her soul. It was a bargain. "I love you too." He kissed her again. "I have to leave. I want to stay…" "I know, but you shouldn't have come." "I had to." She drew in a long breath. "If you don't leave now, I won't let you go at all." "Only until July." "Only until July." She nodded. But that seemed so far away. "I'm coming back and you and this child are going to be with me!" She kissed him again and he reluctantly stood. "Go back to sleep, Lydia." "I might think this was a dream in the morning." "I love you, I'm coming back for you." She smiled at him as he made his way back to the passage. "Stefan?" "Yes." "You were a bargain." "What?" He smiled back at her. "I told you I'd pay any price for a little hope, you were a bargain." "July." He whispered. "Just until July." It was so far away but sooner than she'd ever dreamed of. It was more than she'd ever dreamed of. She would just have to hope the time passed quickly.