Chapter 56


Carly rolls onto her back next to her lover, breathing hard. "Woah, who needs an aerobics class?"

Stefan props himself up on his elbow, slightly out of breath himself. He trails the back of his hand down the ridge of her jaw and throat as a feline smile plays across his face. "Am I to assume you prefer this form of exertion?"

"Definitely." Carly closes her eyes and sighs happily. Her breath catches when his hand travels lower and his lips nuzzle her ear. "Damn, give me a minute to catch my breath!"

Stefan chuckles as he pulls back and threads his hand with hers. "Then I'm afraid I have to insist on another form of entertainment. Perhaps we could resume the conversation you were so studiously avoiding when you seduced me in the shower."

Carly opens one eye to glance at Stefan as she pretends to consider what they could do. "Oh. Well. We could always watch a movie. Didn't I notice a copy of Interview with the Vampire in your collection?"

Her look of sham innocence transforms into a squeal of laughter when Stefan growls and bites her neck. "Keep this up and I may never let you out of this bed," Stefan threatens. Still laughing, Carly pretends to struggle underneath him as he devours her throat then her mouth, pinning her hands beside her head. What started as a play fight quickly develops into seduction. "You are quite delicious. Perhaps I should make you my next victim?"

Carly bats her big brown eyes like a true damsel in distress. She coos at him in a high pitched voice. "Oh please, oh please have pity on me. I have a small child at home that needs me. I'll do anything you want."

Stefan's eyebrows raise with curiosity. "Anything, hmm? Quite a tempting offer... To have you at my mercy..."

Carly breaks from her role. "You already have me at your mercy. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

Stefan rolls off her onto his side, pulling her with him to cradle her against his side. "Ah, but that is not true. It is I who is under your spell. I wait anxiously by the phone for your call, like a love sick swain."

Carly snorts at the ridiculous picture he paints. "Yeah, right. You forget how well I know you. When I'm not around to distract you, you're plotting what company you're going to take over next."

Stefan kisses the top of her head. "You believe you understand me, do you? What am I thinking now?"

"You're trying to decide whether to ravage me again or grill me about my conversation with Uncle Luke."

Stefan scowls at how accurate she is. "It has finally happened. The mystery is gone from our relationship. I have become stodgy and predictable."

"You could never be stodgy." Carly places her palm on Stefan's washboard stomach. "But I find it comforting that I know what you're thinking when no one else does."

Stefan captures the teasing hand. "What were you doing with Spencer tonight?" He demands, his patience wearing thin. He'd waited long enough. "Am I to assume you met with Luke so you could share cigars with him and offend my sensibilities?"

"It really is all your fault, you know," Carly teases.

Stefan fights his growing irritation. He knows she's teasing him, but the scent of Luke's cigar on her had shocked him. He is very sure he never wanted to smell that on her again. "Somehow I am to blame for your descent into Spencer's filth?"

"You did suggest I find a way to include Bobbie in Michael's life. Well the only way I could do that was through Luke. Whenever I see Bobbie, all I want is to do damage."

"Were you able to accomplish what you set out to do?"

"Well, not exactly. Luke and Bobbie had other ideas. He locked me in the back room of the club with Bobbie." Carly closes her eyes and hunches her shoulders in anticipation of the explosion.

Silence. Carly opens one eye to see Stefan's smoldering look. "It's not as bad as you think," She rushes in to explain. "It turns out it was Bobbie's idea, Luke was just going along with it. I tore a piece out of both of them."

Stefan searches Carly's face and sees what she is trying so hard to cover with her lighthearted storytelling. He pulls her close. "Forgive me for pushing you to deal with Barbara for Michael's sake. I know more than anyone the pain of a mother's betrayal and rejection."

Stefan's regret breaks something loose in Carly and her tears rise to the surface. "I want to do right by Michael, I do! But she's such a liar! She's so sanctimonious and judgmental, like she's better than the rest of us. But if she doesn't get what she wants, she doesn't hesitate to use manipulation, not caring who she hurts! I can't even look at her without wanting to rip her to shreds!"

Stefan strokes her hair soothingly. " You shouldn't have to deal with her at all, much less by yourself."

"I want Michael to have a grandmother to dote on him," Carly says into his chest. "And with the only other alternative being Monica, Bobbie is the better choice, both for me and Michael. But I'm so angry still, I don't think it would be good for him to see me with Bobbie."

Stefan kisses the top of her head. "You know what is right for Michael, Caroline, and that's for you to be happy and strong. You are a good mother, and he is fortunate to have you to protect him."



Helena's Yacht

After a long steaming bath, a seething Helena paces her bedroom dressed in an ornate silk robe. Andreas stands to the side watching her. "Stefan's trollop will pay for the humiliation she caused me! I will see that they both suffer."

"How Madam?" Andreas asks. "How may I help you avenge this grievous attack? I am at your service."

Helena stops her pacing abruptly and her eyes light up with pleasure. "You will summon Katherine Bell to me. She will serve my purpose to drive a wedge between Stefan and his slut."

"But your son lost interest in her long ago," Andreas argues. "He will spurn her."

"You and I may know that, but my son's slut is young and insecure." Helena sits at the foot of her bed, calming as a plan forms. "I will prey on their weaknesses for each other. She will see Stefan with Katherine and assume the worst. Likewise, I must find a young stud to turn her head. My son is quite possessive where she is concerned and she will chafe when he tries to reassert his control over her."

"Shall I call on Ms Bell now, Madam?"

Helena turns her head to give Andreas a feral smile. "Not tonight. Now that I have a plan to ruin that Spencer slut, I can wait to implement it until tomorrow. Now I need you, my darling. Come soothe my aches and pains as only you can."




"Speaking of mothers, I understand from Nikolas that you had a rather violent encounter with mine this afternoon."

Carly's eyes flash with anger. "Well that was quick. What did he do, run straight home to tell you all about it?" She rises from the bed and grabs the nearby robe.

Stefan sits up. "He was concerned for your safety, Caroline. My mother is dangerous."

Carly belts the robe tightly around her waist. "I handled it."

"To hear Nikolas tell it, you angered her and you humiliated her. And while I would have dearly loved to be a witness to you tossing her into the mud, it was a foolishly dangerous move. She will retaliate now. And the cost will be high to both of us."

"She insulted you and my son! What was I supposed to do? Smile and and go along my merry way?" Carly shakes her head emphatically. "I don't do that. I fight for what's mine."

"Her insults don't hurt me, they don't even register anymore. They are just words." Stefan rises himself and dons a robe. "As for your son, I will protect him as I protect you."

"Do you have any idea what she said? She said you were a strange child. She said Michael was just like you." She sits on the bed and cups his cheek. "And while I adore you, and would love for Michael to be the kind of man you are, she was so vicious. It makes me wonder what kind of mother she was. What did she do to you?"

Stefan's expression is shuddered. "I will not allow Helena to touch Michael," He states with grim intensity. "That is a promise you can be sure of."

Carly faces Stefan. "I know you mean that. But I'm Michael's mother, it's my job to protect him. Helena doesn't scare me. She's just like any other bully on the playground. She'll push and bully as long as she thinks she can get away with it. I won't let her."

Stefan grabs her shoulders firmly, letting some of the fear show to make his point. "No, she is not like any other bully. She is definition of evil, Caroline. You cannot not comprehend her capacity to do harm. You must listen and obey me on this, because your life could very well depend on it. She would kill you or your son without a single thought if it served her. Do not confront her again. She has made her life's work to thwart me, to destroy any chance I've had at happiness. If she sees you...." Stefan stops, his stomach clenching painfully. He had to have time to think, to plan the best way to protect Caroline. Even if.... "You must let me protect you. I will provide you with bodyguards. You will let them protect you?"

Carly puts a comforting hand on one of his outstretched arms. "This is important to you? Then yes, I will."




In the candle lit room the lovers are lost in the sweetness of the moment. Palm to palm, lips to lips, they walk towards each other until their bodies touch. The intimacy of the action ignites the passion. Their mouths open and the kiss deepens.

Nikolas breaks the kiss to place small kisses down Emily's throat. "I can't believe you're here. Tonight... All night."

Emily threads her fingers with his, letting her body mold with his, savoring the feel of his muscled body straining to touch her, yet restraining. "I am. I had to put an appearance at Allison's so her mom would think I was there. But now I'm here. And I'm yours."

Nikolas steps back to gaze at her body, which is still quivering with desire he aroused in her. He looks into her eyes, the gaze so intense Emily is sure he sees straight into her heart. "You are so beautiful, Emily. You take my breath away."

Emily blushes but meets his gaze full on. How had she captured this beautiful sensitive wise man? What had she done that was so special to warrant such a wonderful gift? For the thousandth time she thanks her lucky stars. "I love you, Nikolas. Every day I think it isn't possible for me to love you more, and then you smile at me or you look at me or you make me laugh and it happens again. Make love to me."

Nikolas lifts her into his arms and carries her to the bed. Putting a knee on the bed to steady himself, he lays her down on the comforter. Emily frames his face with her hands and draws his lips down to hers for a devouring kiss full of erotic promise. "Tonight we have all night," She whispers into his mouth. "All night."

Nikolas settles on top of her, one leg parting hers. Smiling down into her loving face, he says. "I have a feeling there won't be any sleeping."



The next morning at General Hospital

"Here's the prescription that Dr Quartermaine left for you." Amy hands Robin a slip. "it's good to see you, Robin. You just here for a visit, or are you sticking around for a while?"

Robin gives Amy a sunny smile as she puts the prescription into her purse. "Just for a visit. I'm going back to Sorbonne on Friday."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they say goodbye and Robin turns towards the elevator. Monica hails her just before she steps on the waiting elevator. "Robin! Alan said you were in town! I'm glad I caught you before you left. How are you? Would you like to get a cup of coffee or do you have to rush off?"

Robin lets the elevator close and accepts Monica's invitation. After Monica tells Amy where she will be, they head to the hospital cafeteria. Minutes later they grab a booth and are sipping their piping hot coffees. "Alan said you're going back to Paris in a few days."

"Yes, even though I love Port Charles, I'm glad to go back to Paris," Robin admits. "Too many ghosts here now."

"I'm sorry about Jason," Monica puts her hand over Robin's. "It's practically impossible to reach him once he closes his heart. Even with all the time and effort I've made, he hardly speaks to me. And now with Michael out of our house for good, I don't expect it'll get any better."

"I've had to accept it's over between us." Robin looks down at the table, knowing she won't be able to keep her composure if she looks into Monica's compassionate face. "I've loved him for such a long time, but he doesn't feel the same way anymore. And I realized this visit how bitter I've become. I didn't like what I saw. I thought it was better after I left the last time, but one look at Carly..." She presses her lips together to keep from going on a rant.

"I know. Lord do I know what you mean." Monica shakes her head. "When I think of what she's done to both my sons. She did her level best to destroy both of them, and now!" Her voice rises and she catches herself. "And now she has custody of my grandson and I don't even get to see him." Tears fill her eyes. "It's very hard not to be bitter about that. Impossible..."

"I'm so sorry Monica," Robin answers sympathetically. "You've lost so much. It isn't fair that Carly has custody of Michael. I've seen her in action, she's a terrible mother. I just hope... I pray that little Michael will be okay."

Monica squeezes Robin's hand. "Thank you, we need all the prayers we can get. There is some hope. Both AJ and Jason have regular contact with Michael. Maybe that will be enough." She looks at her watch and frowns. " "Well, this is odd. Emily should have been her by now. We were supposed to have a late breakfast together. I wonder what's keeping her?"

"I imagine it's Nikolas," Robin says with a knowing grin. "Those two are completely infatuated with each other. It's so cute to see such devotion. You must be thrilled."

My baby and Nikolas Cassadine?! How did I miss this?! Monica covers her surprise quickly. "Yes.... they are adorable together aren't they."

Robin rises from the table. "I better get going, I promised Maxie a shopping spree at the mall today."

Monica rises and gives her a warm hug. "You take care, Sweetheart. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

.

Chapter 57

Nurses Station


"I don't have a clue what to do about this, Alan," Monica says urgently into the phone while glancing around furtively to be sure no one's listening. "How did we miss this? My Lord, even Robin Scorpio knows, I'm betting the whole town does! Should I wait to confront Emily until you're here? Or maybe at the house would be better..." Her eyes widen at Alan's response. "Do you think that's the best way, Alan? It seems so sneaky.... Well, you do have a point there... Okay, Okay, I'll give your idea some thought." She looks up to see Amy approaching the counter. "I'll call you later, Honey. I love you, Bye!"

Monica smiles in greeting to Amy as she picks up a patient chart and writes an order. A moment later a breathless Emily dashes off the elevator and comes to a screeching halt in front of her mother. "Mom! I'm so sorry! I overslept and..."

Monica looks up from the file and smiles tightly. "Hello, Emily. I thought you'd forgotten our plans. I was starting to get worried when I called home and Reggie said you hadn't come home yet. I was just about to call Allison's house."

Emily looks stricken as she rushes to explain "I know. I'm sorry! But Allison and I were up all night talking about this guy in school she has a crush on..."

It really was amazing how convincing Emily's act was. If Monica didn't know otherwise she would have fell for it hook line and sinker. She lays a hand on Emily's arm to stop the flow of excuses. "It's all right, Honey. These things happen."

Emily lets out a breath in relief. "You're being really cool about this. Thank you."

Monica rounds the nurses station and slips her arm through Emily's. "How about an early lunch? We can catch up on everything that's been going on. It's been so long since we've had a nice long mother-daughter chat..."

Emily swallows uneasily as she falls into step beside Monica. Please God, don't let her find out. Not yet. Not now... "Sure, Mom. That'll be great."

.


Seated behind his desk at General Hospital, Stefan studies the budget for the Pediatric AIDS wing. Sighing, he removes his reading glasses and rubs his eyes. He has been trying to read this same report for the last hour but hasn't been able to absorb any of it. Every time he tries, the words blur and he finds himself pondering his conversations with Nikolas and Carly about Helena. It's not at all like him to be this easily distracted. He's always been able to compartmentalize.

The phone beside him rings, and Stefan interrupts his brooding to answer it. "Stefan Cassadine." The exhaustion in his voice is obvious.

"It doesn't sound like you got any sleep after I left."

Stefan smiles at the sound of Carly's cheerful voice. "You know I sleep better when I have you in my bed."

"I know," Carly answers wistfully. "You know how tempted I was. But with Nikolas in the same house, and Michael needing me I couldn't stay." She fiddles with the phone cord. "So are you busy?"

"I am endeavoring to make sense out of a tedious budget report." Stefan shoves the report away from him in disgust. "I have not been successful thus far."

"Can I tempt you into a picnic lunch with Michael and me?" Carly suggests.

Stefan's eyes widen. "Have you not noticed that the rain is pouring down?"

"Well, yeah," Carly grins sheepishly. "But Michael really wants a picnic and we were hoping we could have one in your office..."

"You want to commandeer the CEO's office for a picnic, do you?" Stefan says in his most arrogant voice. "Why would you believe such an important man would allow you use of his office for such a frivolous activity?"

Carly smirks. "Because I have an 'in' with the CEO."

"You do, do you?" Stefan leans back and smiles more broadly. "I suppose I could allow the use of my office for a picnic lunch." He pauses for dramatic effect. "On one condition."

"What would that be?"

"You seriously consider spending the weekend at Wyndemere," Stefan presses. "Nikolas will be out of the country. I could have one of the rooms made up for Michael..." His voice gets rough with emotion as the need to have her near swells. The sudden urgency overwhelms him for a moment. "I need to have you with me, Caroline."

Carly's gut tightens with the shock of his emotional request. He needs me?! "Okay, I'll stay. I'll work something out for Michael."

Stefan sags in his chair for a moment, not realizing until he asked her how important it was for her to say yes. He would have her with him for the weekend. Plenty of time. Practically a lifetime. "Excellent. So when I can expect you and Michael for lunch?"



Monica sits in the passenger seat next to Alan who drives at a discreet but visible distance from Emily's blue VW Bug. Fortunately the rain has slowed to a light drizzle. Biting her lip, she glances away from the road to look at Alan. "I don't feel right about this. We aren't even sure if she's meeting him. I don't like encroaching on her privacy. It feels wrong."

"Did she give us any other option?" Alan argues as he follows Emily's car off the main road out of town towards the rural outskirts. "You told me yourself. You gave her a chance to come clean today and she didn't. She's had numerous opportunities since Cassadine came back to town to tell us. What choice do we really have? Let her get into even more trouble? Lord knows what Nikolas Cassadine is up to. If we had any doubt what Emily is up to, following her this far clears it up for me."

"You're right," Monica sighs. "I'm just glad he's going back to Oxford next week and this will be over soon."

"This won't be over until I put the fear of Alan Quartermaine into that pinhead," Alan says grimly. "No one takes advantage of my daughter. Especially the offspring of a clan of megalomaniacs."

Alan slows down when he sees Emily's car pull into a gravel drive way. He pulls over to the side of the road instead of pulling into the drive. Monica looks at him curiously. "Why are we stopping here?" A tiny spurt of hope surges forward. "Have you changed your mind?"

"Nope." Alan gets out of the car and closes his door softly. "I don't want to give them a chance to cover their tracks. You coming or are you staying in the car?"

Monica exits the car, she can't shake the sense of impending doom, but Alan is hell bent. All she could hope for is that Nikolas and Emily still have their clothes on by the time they get there. Because if they don't, Monica can tell from Alan's predatory face and clenched fists that he's ready for the kill.

.

Emily sighs with contentment in the comfort of Nikolas' welcoming arms. "How is it that I went months without seeing you and I survived? I did my homework, I slept at night. I missed you, sure, but I functioned. Now..." Emily lifts her lips to plant a soft kiss under chin. "Now I crave you after only a few hours apart. How am I going to last when you leave?"

Nikolas strokes Emily under her chin causing her pulse to race. "It's only for a few days, at most. And when I come home, I won't be leaving again...." He brushes his lips against hers again and again until her mouth opens and demands more. "Of course, if you married me..." His tongue trails down her ridge of her chin, his lips caressing erotically near the sensitive ridge of her ear.

Emily struggles for breath as her hands tug his shirt free from his waist band. "You promised! You promised you wouldn't bring that up."

Nikolas gently nips her earlobe, groaning when Emily's expert hands travel under his shirt and score his back. "I should never have made that promise."

"It's too soon, my parents would never understand," Emily explains. It's a repeat of a familiar argument. "They'll freak. They'll think I'm too young. I don't want to fight. Not before you leave. We'll deal with it once you're back and settled in." Tiring of his teasing kisses, Emily captures his mouth and deepens the kiss until they are both gasping for breath and shedding clothes on their way to the bedroom.



Alan approaches the front door with Monica close on his heel. Sizing up the door, he turns one shoulder towards the door and hunches in preparation for busting his way through. "Stand back."

Monica puts a gentle hand on his arm. "Hold on." Alan stands back while she tentatively tries the knob and discovers that it turns. "I think this will work better, don't you?"

"Show off," Alan mutters, following Monica inside. Monica notes the plush interior furnished with comfort in mind. Modern, easy on the eyes, cozy and lived in. And silent. Monica's gut tightens. She turns around and almost bumps into Alan who is trying to push past her. "Alan, this is the wrong way to do this."

"I'm going to find my little girl and I'm going to squash Cassadine like a bug." Alan's temperature goes from medium rage to full blown at the sight of her discarded shirt at the hallway entrance. "You coming or not?" He doesn't wait for an answer but turns to follow the trail of clothes, gathering Emily's along the way.




Nikolas and Emily lie together with their limbs entwined, the sheets covering the lower half of their bodies. Emily shivers when Nikolas nuzzles her hair. "Cold?" He reaches for the closest piece of clothing, his shirt, and draws it around her shoulders to brush the collar against her cheeks.

Emily's hands pause from their sensuous exploration to enter the sleeve holes. Her fingers stroke his chin lovingly. "You're so good to me..."

Nikolas lays his palm flat at the base of her neck and slides it down between her breasts before grabbing the edges of the shirt and buttoning one button. "I love seeing you in my clothes, so sexy...."

The sound of the door crashing open has Nikolas jumping out of bed in a flash. "WHAT THE---?!"

The bedroom door slams against the wall with the force of Alan's rage. Alan's eyes find Emily first and he tosses her clothes at her. Then he finds his quarry, standing ready, dressed in only boxers. Alan's face turns purple and he launches himself at Nikolas. "You get your filthy paws off my little girl, you BASTARD!!"

Despite his innate agility, Nikolas is outmatched by Alan's fury and overall size. Nikolas is slammed up against the wall before he can take a step. Alan lifts him by the throat until they are eye level. Nikolas' attempts to pull Alan's hands off are futile. The men are nose to nose. "I should kill you, you Son of A--"

"DAD!! DAD!" Emily screams frantically, terrified at the sight of Nikolas pinned to the wall. "Let him go! You're hurting him!"

Alan gaze doesn't waver from Nikolas' alarmed face, unmoved by Nikolas' gasping struggles. He has him pinned so completely against the wall, Nikolas can't get leverage to move his legs. "He'll be lucky if I don't kill him! Get dressed Emily and go with your mother while I deal with this sleaze. It'll be my pleasure to knock some sense into him."

"Alan! This isn't the way, let go of the boy. He can't breathe for God's sake!" Monica tugs at his arm with all her strength, but she might as well be tugging at a tree trunk because Alan's grip doesn't falter. "Please Alan!"

"You let him go, Dad! Let him go!" Emily dashes across the bed and flings herself at Alan, trying to pull the other arm off of Nikolas. "Let him go or I swear I'll never forgive you!"

Alan abruptly lets go of Nikolas who slides down the wall in a coughing gasping heap. "Don't think I'm done with you yet. I'm going to kick your butt for taking advantage of my little girl! She's a minor and that just made it sweeter, didn't it? You couldn't keep your hands off her, could you? You saw a ripe fruit and had to pick it! You don't care if you destroy her in the process!" He turns to Emily. "Get dressed and go to the car with your mother. NOW."

Nikolas rubs his throat, still weak from the lack of oxygen. "It's not ... like that...."

"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Emily screams at her father from the floor where she's on her knees tending to Nikolas. "I can't believe you two could do this! You follow me here, you treat me like a little girl who doesn't have a clue. I'm not a little girl anymore! I'm practically an adult! I know what I want. And I've wanted Nikolas for years. I love him!"

"You don't know the first thing about love!" Alan retorts. "Look at you, you're practically naked. How long has he been seducing you? Did he even think to use precautions? You could be pregnant or get a disease. Have you forgotten he was sleeping with Katherine Bell?" Alan clenches and unclenches his fists at his sides. "For the love of God get dressed or I really will squash him like a melon."

Emily takes his threat seriously and rises to put on her pants under Nikolas' shirt. "He didn't seduce me. I did the seducing!" At Monica's gasp of disbelief, Emily says. "It's true. I did."

"No--" Nikolas shakes his head and pulls himself up to a stand. He couldn't let her do this, what happened between them was private, there was no reason for her to humiliate herself. "Emily, don't--"

"No, they think I'm some sort of innocent, but we know how it really was. I threw myself at him okay?!" Emily advances on Alan, using the truth as a battering ram. "It happened in Paris last summer. A guy tried to take advantage of me, to seduce me for real, but Nikolas saw what was happening and he protected me. He kept me from being raped or worse. He tried to be a gentleman, to take me home, but I stripped for him and I begged him to make love to me. So who was the one who took advantage?"

Silence reigns until Monica puts her hand over her heart and says. "Oh Darling, Sweetheart. I--" She struggles for words, but can't find any. The reality Emily paints is too bizarre to comprehend.

When Alan finds his voice, it's shaking. "I won't believe it, Emily. He is the adult, you are the child. He should know better. He's a Cassadine. They take what they want and throw it away when they're done without a single look back. He will hurt you. He may tell you he's serious, but has he come to us with his intentions? He's made you keep the relationship a secret, probably fed you lies about how he wants to protect your reputation, but it's not you he's protecting. How can it be love when he makes you keep it a secret?"

Nikolas, after hastily donning a pair of sweats and a tee shirt, faces off with Alan. "I want to marry your daughter, is that serious enough for you?"

"No, Nikolas!" Emily implores. "You promised."

"The promise doesn't mean anything now, don't you see, Emily? I'm not going to wait anymore." Nikolas keeps his eyes steady on Alan, his body ready for another attack. He won't be surprised this time when Alan comes at him. The next words he addresses to Alan and Monica. "I love your daughter. I want to marry her, give her children, and spend the rest of my life taking care of her. I meant it when I told your daughter a year ago, I mean it now, and I'll mean it in a year, 10 years, and until the day I die."

"Then why all the secrecy?" Monica asks.

"I was--" Emily begins.

"No, Emily," Nikolas tries to cut off Emily's explanation. He loved her for what she was trying to do, but he couldn't let her take the fall. Fact is, he'd let her convince him when he should have said no. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does! They think you're the one that insisted we keep our relationship a secret, and it's not true!" Emily turns to her parents. "He wanted it to be public, he wanted to go to you, but I convinced Nikolas to keep it a secret. With Nikolas in England and me in Port Charles, it didn't make any sense to tell you anyway. What was to tell? I told him you two would freak, just like you are freaking now." Emily paces in front of her shell shocked parents. Where was their sweet little girl? They hardly recognize her. "I knew if he told you he wanted to marry me that you wouldn't understand, that you'd try to break us up. And look what happened when you found out? You practically killed Nikolas, Dad! Don't try to say it would have been different if I'd come to you myself, it wouldn't' have!"

"So you're just going to stand there and hide behind Emily?" Alan looks Nikolas up and down with disgust. "That's the measure of a true man. Let her take the heat, so you can look good." His hands snap out and he takes hold of Nikolas by the the front of his tee shirt, giving him a good shake. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't snap your neck for what you've done to my daughter."

"DAD!"

Both Nikolas and Alan turn to Emily and say in unison. "Stay out of this!"

Monica takes a hold of Emily's arms and starts to tug her out of the room. "Come..."

Emily digs in her heels and tries to throw of Monica's hand. "No! I can't let Dad hurt him, I can't."

"He's all bluster now," Monica glances at Alan again. Years of experience have given her the ability to differentiate murderous rage from bluster. "Well, it's mostly bluster anyway. Come, the men need to talk, and you have some serious explaining to do." She lowers her voice so only Emily can hear. "It's a macho thing. He won't stop posturing until we've left. It'll be okay, really." I hope.


Chapter 58

After Monica and Emily clear the room, Alan releases Nikolas with
a shove that has the younger man stumbling back. ''I could squash you
like a bug, but you're not worth it. Soon enough, Emily will see you
for the scum you are.''

Nikolas clenches his teeth, and holds onto his temper. Getting
angry wouldn't accomplish anything and he had to find a way to limit
the damage for Emily's sake. ''Haven't you heard a word I said? I
love your daughter. I am committed to her. The best thing for Emily
would be for us to find a way to work this out.''

''We don't need to work out anything unless it's to 'work' you out
of Emily's life completely.'' Alan looks Nikolas up and down, disgust
written clearly on his face. ''So you've had your fun Stateside and
you're going back to Oxford for spring term, right? Do Emily a favor,
let your affair with her die a natural death.''

Nikolas keeps his eyes steady on Alan, not flinching or showing
any uncertainty. ''I'm not returning to Oxford for spring term. I
have decided to stay to Port Charles permanently. I am not walking away
from Emily, Dr Quartermaine. I have every intention of spending the
rest of my life with her.''

''Pretty big words, but I know exactly how guys like you think. I
was one once. You'll tell a girl anything to get into her pants,''
Alan retorts angrily. ''Well you picked the wrong one, because this
parent isn't going to sit by and watch you destroy his little girl.''
He crosses the room and picks up the phone and dials. Glaring
directly at Nikolas he says, ''Yes, this is Dr Alan Quartermaine. I
want Mac Scorpio, please. Yes, you can tell him I'm calling to report
a crime.''

Nikolas' heart drops into his stomach. He quickly crosses the room
and disconnects Alan. ''Don't do this. Don't humiliate Emily like
this.''

''Your choice, Cassadine.'' Alan thumps Nikolas' chest with his
finger for emphasis. ''You leave Emily alone or get ready to bunk
with a big guy named Bubba. Upsetting Emily is a small price to pay
for protecting her from you. I will do whatever is necessary to keep
you away from her. Pressing charges for statutory rape, obtaining a
restraining order, whatever it takes.''

''I am not staying away from Emily and I won't be sharing a cell
with anyone.'' Nikolas steps back from Alan, not retreating, but
creating breathing room so he won't lose his already frayed temper.
''I love your daughter. We will be together.''

''Like hell you will!'' Alan bellows, advancing.

Nikolas slowly maneuvers around Alan, turning his body to the side
to create a smaller more defensible target, his hands low but ready
to deflect a blow. He positions himself so that a chair is between
him and Alan, and he's within a few feet of the door. While he might
be faster, his throbbing throat reminds him that if Alan actually
gets a hold of him, he's finished. Nikolas' voice remains low but in
command. ''You won't be able to stop us. If you want to set the rules
of how we see each other until she turns eighteen, I will respect
them. But I love Emily and I plan to spend my life with her if she'll
have me.''

''Not if I kill you first!'' Alan lunges at Nikolas and stumbles
into the chair which slams into the wall with a loud thud. Nikolas
dances out of reach while Alan regains his footing and advances
again. ''Come on, Cassadine, face me like a man.''



After leaving the men to finish their argument, Monica faces off
with Emily in the living room. ''I want an explanation for all of
this. The sneaking around, the secrets! What were you thinking
keeping something of this magnitude from us?!''

Emily flips her tangled mane of hair out of her eyes and over her
shoulders to glare at Monica defensively. ''I already explained
myself. I knew you'd freak, and you did. My God, Dad could have
killed Nikolas and you're wondering why I kept this a secret?''

''You didn't even give us a chance. The benefit of the doubt!''
Monica blasts. ''Damn it, Emily. We could have dealt with this, with
this budding relationship with Nikolas. I could have advised you,
helped you make the right decision. But you didn't trust us with any
of this. My God, you could be pregnant, or worse! With his experience
with Katherine Bell.... Didn't Robin's experience teach you
anything?''

''Of course it did, Mother,'' Emily snaps hotly, crossing her arms
in front of her. ''Both Nikolas and I got checked out in Paris. We're
both clean, and we take precautions.'' Emily goes over to her purse
that's draped over the couch and pulls out a small compact. She waves
it at Monica. ''Satisfied?''

''You did this months ago... Without me? Without consulting me?''
Monica reaches out a shaking hand for the birth control pills. Her
daughter has grown up without her. Hadn't even trusted her to tell
her about the most important decisions in her life. Her voice quakes
with sadness. ''You never even gave us a chance, gave me a
chance.''

Emily feels the words like a blow to the stomach but she acts
nonchalant. The best defense is a good offense. ''Why does everything
have to be about you? It wasn't about you or Dad or any of the
family. It was about me and Nikolas being together.''

Reading the prescription, Monica notes it was filled at the local
Planned Parenthood Clinic, a cause she had donated to her whole life.
Fury bubbles to the surface, pushing the sadness aside. Emily may
think that she has a right to make these decisions on her own, but
she hadn't considered all the consequences. ''You think you have all
the answers, do you? Do you have any idea what kind of risk you've
put Nikolas in? And I don't just mean Alan attacking him.''

''There isn't any risk to Nikolas,'' Emily retorts, but the seed
of doubt grows in the pit of her stomach.

''What's the first thing an angry father would do after finding
his teenager daughter in bed with a grown man? Finding out not only
had they slept together, but they have been for months, and that his
daughter had 'stripped' for this grown man?''

''Just stop it! You can't bully me!'' Emily yells. ''I am old
enough to decide what I want. It's MY personal choice. Are you
saying now that it's not? That you and Dad should have a say on when
and how I have sex?''

''That's not my point at all, but your actions do have
consequences! I'm trying to get you to see what you've done by lying
to your father and me about your relationship with Nikolas.'' Monica
paces angrily in front of Emily. ''It's our job to protect you, and
you've left us completely in the dark about what's going on in your
life. Not just you having sex, but your whole relationship with
Nikolas! My God, I never even knew you were almost raped in Paris!
When do I have a right to ask questions, Emily? When do I have a
right to protect you? Do I have a right to protect you when you're
higher than a kite and about to dive off a roof because you think you
can fly?''

Emily's head snaps back as if she's been slapped. ''You have NO
right!'' She hisses. ''You are not the one to talk about the
consequences of sex! Have you forgotten how you destroyed our family
because you couldn't keep your hands out of Dorman's pants?''

Monica's hand shoots out and slaps Emily's face soundly, startling
both women. Emily's eyes immediately fill with tears. ''I hate
you.''

By a sheer act of will, Monica keeps herself from weeping. She
sits down heavily on the couch. Her daughter is a stranger to her and
she's been reduced to reacting with violence. How had her life gotten
so out of control? ''I'm not real happy with you either at the
moment.''

''What are you doing here?'' Emily demands. ''What right did you
have barging into this house without knocking?''

''I found out about you and Nikolas,'' Monica answers, the fight
gone out of her. ''Your dad and I decided to follow you here.''

A loud thud and crash from the vicinity of the bedroom has Monica
on her feet and following Emily down the hall.



Nikolas dodges another attempt by Alan to grab him by the throat.
''I'm not going to fight you, Dr Quartermaine!''

''That's right, because once I get my hands on you, I'm going to
pound you into a fine powder!''

''Dad!'' Emily jumps between the two men, stopping Alan
from getting a hold of Nikolas. Monica is a step behind Emily. ''Stop
it! Please!''

Alan gnashes his teeth at having been thwarted once again. ''What
is she still doing here, Monica?''

''She wouldn't leave with me.'' Monica steps up to Alan and puts a
hand on his chest. ''This isn't the way, Alan. You know that.''

Emily turns to Nikolas, her only concern is for him. ''Are you
okay? He hasn't hurt you, has he?''

Nikolas eyes don't leave Alan's, but his voice is soft and
reassuring to Emily, further incensing Alan. ''It's okay, Emily. I'm
fine. How about you?''

''He's gonna pay...'' Alan takes another step towards Nikolas but
Monica stays in front of him.

Emily whips around to face her father. ''No, Dad!''

''You leave with us right now, Emily, or I'm calling the cops and
having this jerk arrested right now!'' Alan's fists clench and
unclench at his side. ''Don't think I won't do it.''

''If anyone should be arrested, it should be you!'' Emily accuses.
''You're the one who broke into this house! You're the one that
assaulted Nikolas. He should be calling the cops and having you
arrested.''

''And he is a grown man who slept with a minor!'' Alan shoots
back. ''I swear to you, Emily. If you don't leave with me right now,
I'm calling Mac and having him arrest Nikolas.''

Panicked, Emily looks between the two men helplessly. Finally she
walks up to Nikolas. ''He can't do that, can he? Can he?''

Nikolas takes her hand in his to reassure her. ''You know how I
feel about you. You know that's not going to change.'' He says
softly, his hand brushing her cheek.

Alan takes another threatening step. ''Get away from her,
Cassadine.''

''Give him a minute with her, Alan,'' Monica says in a low voice.
''Maybe he can convince her where we can't.''

Emily leans her cheek into Nikolas' hand, finding it hard to
believe that just an hour ago she was blissfully happy, when now
she's in the middle of a brawl. ''I hate this! This is exactly what I
was trying to avoid. ''

''We can't avoid the inevitable,'' Nikolas reminds her gently.
''You need to go with them. For now.'' Emily shakes her head, tears
threatening. His voice softens to an intimate whisper. ''Do it for
me. I promise, it'll only be for a little while.'' He lifts her chin
so she's looking at him. With his eyes he communicates his complete
confidence in her, in them and their future. ''We can do this. We
can.''

''Get your hands off her, Cassadine,'' Alan threatens through
clenched teeth. The only thing keeping him from flattening Nikolas is
Monica's staying hand. He refused to believe that any part of the
reason could be that his body is sore as hell. Damn, he's getting too
old for this.

Emily drags herself away from Nikolas and walks up to the bedroom
door. Tossing a furious look at her parents before walking out, she
states, ''I'm going with you because Nikolas asked, but don't think
for one minute you've won. The only thing you've succeeded in doing
is making me despise you. I can't wait to be an adult so I can
be free of you for good.''



In the middle of the floor of Stefan's spacious office at General
Hospital, Carly, Stefan and Michael sit on a red checkered picnic
blanket with the remains of three lunches before them. Carly banters
with Michael and packs up the food while Stefan looks on, sipping his
bottled water. Michael munches on a bit of crust from his
sandwich.

''Michael,'' Stefan announces. ''I must thank you for sharing your
picnic with me. Do you think we could do this again soon?''

''I'm sure we could,'' Carly interjects, closing the lid on the
artichoke pasta salad. She winks at Stefan over Michael's head. ''And
now that I know how much you like bologna, I'll make sure to make
enough for you.''

Stefan shudders with disgust. ''That meat, if you can call it
that, is not fit for my dogs. It is worse than the hospital cafeteria
corn dogs, and that is saying quite a lot.''

Laughing, Carly covers Michael's ears. ''Stop! You're going to
hurt his feelings!''

''If you would allow Mrs Lansbury to spoil the child, I am certain
he would never touch that disgusting food again. '' Michael looks up
and offers his gummed up bread crust to Stefan. Carly watches in
morbid fascination while Stefan moves to gobble up the bread,
stopping just a hair short of touching the disgusting food. Michael
chortles and pulls his food away, protecting his prize from Stefan.
Carly covers her chuckle when Stefan gives Michael a wounded look.
''I believe I am being teased.''

Michael throws his head back and laughs with glee. Her heart
painfully full at the sight of her joyful child, Carly tousles his
red hair. ''Mr Man, you are a mess. Let's clean you up before Leticia
gets here to pick you up.''

''Yucky!'' Michael bitterly complains as his mother makes quick
work of cleaning his face.

Just as Carly begins to clean Michael's hands , the inside of her
purse starts to ring. She rummages inside and finds her cell phone.
''Hello... woah, Leticia, slow down... are you okay? .... Are you
sure? No, don't worry about us, we'll do fine. Just make sure Reggie
gets checked out at the ER. Those bumps can sometimes turn serious...
Take as much time as you need, and if you need a ride afterwards,
I'll arrange for someone to pick you up... Okay, thanks Leticia,
bye.'' Carly hangs up her phone and returns to the task of wiping off
a squirming Michael. ''Leticia and Reggie were in a car accident on
the way over here. She's fine, but she won't make it in time to pick
up Michael before my appointment with Diane. I guess I'll have to
cancel.''

Stefan considers the problem for a moment. ''Dr Reardon's office
is just one floor down, if I remember correctly. Why not leave
Michael in my care for an hour?'' he suggests. ''I am certain we will
get along quite well, and if we run into difficulties I will be able
to find you easily.''

Carly bites her lip. She really wants to meet with Diane today.
She has so much to report about Michael's progress as well as her
own. And she needs a fresh perspective on how to handle Bobbie, from
someone outside of the situation. ''Don't you have meetings or
something? I'd like to see her, but... he's never been alone with you
before. What if he gets upset?''

''Then we will go downstairs and find you. What do you say,
Michael? Will you play with me?'' Stefan holds out his hands towards
Michael, who takes up the challenge and rises to his feet to walk to
Stefan. Carly shakes her head in bemusement. The men had obviously
decided.



Helena's yacht

With an air of royalty, Helena picks up the bone china teapot and
pours two cups of steaming tea. She hands one teacup to her companion
before lifting her own to her lips. ''It is so nice to see you again,
My Darling. It has been too long since we last spoke.''

Trying to shake a growing sense of unease, Katherine sips the tea
carefully, as if afraid it might be poisoned. When Andreas had
arrived at her hotel room and 'invited' her here, she knew she
couldn't refuse. ''I've been a rather busy running Deception the last
several months and you've been recovering. You look a bit tired even
now.''

Helena smiles graciously. ''It has been a long recovery, but rest
your mind. I am fully fit now. And I have missed you terribly. You
haven't forsaken our friendship, have you?''

Katherine forces the tea past the growing lump in her throat. She
can almost feel the noose tightening. She knows exactly how lethal
Helena is when crossed. ''No, of course not. I will always be
grateful for what you've done for me.''

''Then you must help me,'' Helena says earnestly, leaning forward.
''I'm in a terrible fix. My son has formed the most inappropriate
liaison with a trollop that isn't fit to clean the Cassadine floors.
I cannot allow him to make a mockery of our family.''

Katherine puts her partially filled teacup on the coffee table.
''But what can I do to help? Stefan has shunned me completely. He
made it quite clear he wants nothing to do with me.''

''I'm sure you misunderstood,'' Helena insists. ''I'm sure the
little trollop has him completely without wits. It may mean you will
have to take a less direct approach to gain his attention. But once
he is free from her grasp, he will see your value and turn to you for
consolation.''

Katherine shakes her head, unconvinced. ''You'll need a crowbar to
get that tramp Carly away from him. He's her gravy train. Once Carly
gets a hold of a man, she doesn't let go until he's bled dry.''
Katherine makes a face, remembering all the eligible and wealthy men
Carly has used.Tony Jones her first conquest hadn't fit that mold,
but every man since had: Jason, AJ, and now Stefan. The little
conniver was successful at her game, and Katherine envied her. Carly
had already gotten more from the Cassadines than she had. Carly had
been put up in style while all Katherine had gotten for her trouble
was dropped like a filthy habit from one hundred feet.

''Ah, but my sources tell me Caroline Benson is as insecure as
they come,'' Helena argues, refilling teacups as she explains. ''She
is impulsive and irrational and unbalanced. She shot Tony Jones in
open court! If she is pushed, if she feels betrayed or cornered, she
will lash out. If we can make her believe Stefan has betrayed her,
she will turn on him.'' Helena's smile is calculated. ''And then you
will have your chance with my son. Now here's what you'll do...''

Katherine leans forward to listen carefully to Helena's plan.
Given the choice, she would have steered clear, but no one ever said
no to Helena. Better to stay in Helena's good graces than risk
retaliation. She would do as Helena asked.


Stefan sits with Michael on the floor, pushing trucks back and forth. Michael makes revving trucks sounds with his truck as the truck Stefan is holding follows his around. After several minutes, Michael tires of the game and sends his truck crashing into the nearest wall. Stefan looks at him quizzically. "Enough of that game, hmmm?"

Michael crawls into Stefan's lap and Stefan smiles at him. "So you met my mother, did you? The wicked witch of the Europe? I understand you threw mud at her."

Michael claps his hands together happily. "MUD."

Stefan kisses the top of Michael's head indulgently. "Yes. Mud. She deserved it, I am sure. I wish I had been there to watch." He lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "I confess I have wanted to throw mud at her from time to time, but I have never had the nerve."

Michael laughs and claps his hands over and over. "Mud mud mud."

Stefan chuckles. "You love mud, do you? I remember as a small child loving to build sand castles. We had miles of beaches on the island I grew up on. Have you ever made a sand castle?"

Michael looks at him in wonder. "Cas-sle?"

Stefan gives Michael a quick hug, unable to resist the emotional pull from the trusting child. "We must plan an outing to the beach so you can build a sand castle, it is even more fun than mud."

"Ma-ma?"

"Yes we will go with your mother," Stefan assures him. "And I will make you another promise. I won't let the wicked witch hurt you or your mother."

FLASHBACK

Tears are streaming down the young wispy boy's face as he sits on the floor with a broken vase and crushed flowers beside him. Helena, beautiful with long blonde hair, swoops down to grab the child by the arms. "You clumsy nit. You've broken my favorite vase."

A sob chokes out from the little boy. "I'm sorry Mama! I wanted to bring you flowers."

Helena sneers at the flowers, stepping on them and crushing them under her heel. "Those are ugly weeds. You will stop crying this instant,Stefan. You know how I detest crying."

The little boy tries valiantly to stop crying, but can't. A loud sob escapes. Helena takes him by the wrist and pulls him along behind her until they reach a door. The closer they get, the more Stefan digs in his heels. Helena opens the door to reveal steps down nto a huge cavernous damp basement. "You will stay here until I am ready to come for you." She lifts the boy easily and takes him down the step and puts him down at the bottom of the steps. When he tries to hold onto her hand she slides out of his grasp. "You will learn to control your outbursts, Stefan." The door shuts leaving him in the dark.


Stefan attention snaps to the present at the sound of his office phone ringing. Cradling Michael under his arm, he rises to his feet and answers the phone. ''Stefan Cassadine.... yes Amy. I do want those reports. I also need the budget for the nursing program on my desk before I leave.'' His voice changes from chilly to irritated at Amy's protest. ''No, this is not a new request. I have been expecting it for a week... you do that. I will be in my office until three.'' He ends the call and makes a growling sound at Michael. ''I am surrounded by idiots. What shall we do next, hmm?''

''Horsie!''

Stefan gives him a puzzled look as he lowers Michael to the ground. ''Horsie?''

Michael tugs on Stefan's leg repeatedly until Stefan is on his knees, then he stretches his little body up so he's grasping the highest part of Stefan's suit coat that he can reach. Realizing what Michael wants, Stefan scowls before going down on his hands. ''Michael, I suspect I am too old for this, but I am willing to give it a try. That last time I was called to duty, Nikolas was a small child not much older than you.''

Michael shimmies up Stefan until he's straddling his back, then bounces up and down with glee causing Stefan to groan. ''HORSIE!''

The next moment the office door swings open. Bobbie starts talking before she even registers that the man she wants to talk to isn't seated at his desk. ''Stefan, what is the---'' Her words die out when to her astonishment she sees Michael astride Stefan, who on his hands and knees gazing at her with an arrogant smirk on his face.

 

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