Chapter 62

Carly's back hits the silk sheets as she gulps for air. "Well that was... mind blowing. How do you do that exactly?"

Stefan rolls onto his side to look at her, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Do what?"

"As if you don't know?! You drive me ... wild. You were down right blatant in manipulating me." Stretching her body like a cat, she sighs and closes her eyes. "And what's worse, it worked anyway."

"I confess it is a mutual condition, driving each other wild..." Leaning down, he drags his lips over the smooth skin of her shoulder. Already it starts, he wants more. "Would you prefer that hid my manipulations?"

A little thrill shoots through Carly when she hears she has the same affect on him. "No, I wouldn't want you to hide it." She rolls to her side so she's facing him. Cupping his beard, she kisses him full on the mouth, letting her tongue tangle with his. She breaks it off to grin at him."Besides the sex is great."

Stefan rolls her onto her back, pinning her with his body. Threading his fingers with hers, he holds her hands against the mattress as his forehead touches hers. His eyes bore into her with burning intensity. "We do NOT have sex," He answers with fierce possessiveness. "Make no mistake, we make love, Caroline." His mouth takes ownership of hers, silencing any answer she might give.



Cassadine Jet above the Atlantic:

Nikolas takes his fiance's hand and squeezes it. "Having second thoughts? It's okay if you are."

Emily turns her head to look at Nikolas and gives him a brave smile which doesn't quite reach her eyes."No, this is the right decision. I'm sure of you, I'm sure of us."

"Yes, but let's be honest with each other about this. This isn't how either of us dreamed of getting married."

Emily squeezes his hand back. "None of that matters. What matters is we love each other and no one can stop us from being together."

"No one can stop us from being together whether we get married or not," Nikolas corrects. Taking her white knuckles to his mouth, he brushes them with his lips in a tender gesture, soothing away the tension. "Not if we are determined to be together. Put aside what happened today for a minute. How did you dream of getting married?"

"I told you, it doesn't matter. What does is that I love the man I'm marrying. I want to spend my life with you." Emily searches his face. "You haven't changed your mind about marrying me, have you?"

"No, not in the least. I have wanted to marry you for a long time, I've never made any secret of that. I just didn't imagine it like this. I always thought when we married, we'd have a large elaborate wedding, with our families driving us crazy the entire time." Nikolas shakes his head, a smile touching his lips as he gets a faraway look. "I would lay in my bed at Oxford and I would imagine you at our wedding in the Quartermaine garden, in a long flowing white dress. You would be ethereal, exquisite. Everyone we love would be around us, but the only one I'd see is you, and you, me. Your eyes would be shining as if you were ready to cry. But it wouldn't be from sadness, Emily. It would be because you were so happy to be marrying me, so in love with me." He looks up at her wide brown eyes that are clouded with warring feelings. "That isn't how you look now. And can you honestly say you don't want the big wedding with all the trimmings, family and friends around you?"

Emily's eyes fill with tears. "You know I do. But every time I close my eyes, I keep seeing my dad with his hands around your throat and your face turning purple. I've never been so scared my life, Nikolas. I thought he was going to kill you."

Nikolas unbuckles her seat belt and lifts her into his lap. "Shssh, it's okay, Emily. He's not going to kill me. Even if you don't believe that, I do."

"How can you say that? You can't be sure!" Emily wipes the tears off her face with the handkerchief he offers. "My dad threatened you with jail, he even tried to attack you a second time. I've never seen him act like that before. I don't know my dad anymore. What if he tries again when my mom and I aren't there to stop him?"

Nikolas takes the handkerchief out of her hands and takes over the task of wiping her face. "But he didn't kill me, not even after he saw me in bed with his little girl. There could be no greater provocation. Granted, I came closer than I ever want to be to being strangled. But I think he acted in a moment of anger. I don't think he'll try it again."

"I wish you were right, I truly do. But I don't think my family will stop until they've driven you away. And it won't just be my dad. Grandfather can be worse when he sets his mind to it. While he won't use physical intimidation, he'll be sneakier. If all I had to deal with was normal parents, I could handle that. But the Quartermaines don't 'do' normal."

Nikolas smiles ruefully. "Nor do the Cassadines." Pressing a kiss to her temple and cuddling her close, he whispers. "So we will be married. But not because we're running away, but because we love each other. And when the dust settles, we'll have the wedding of our dreams."

Emily closes her eyes and leans her head against his shoulder. "I'd like that. Have I said lately how much I love you?"



Sleepy and uncharacteristically content, Stefan pulls Carly close so her back is against his chest and their bodies fit in a spoon-like fashion. Pressing a kiss into her silky hair and closing his eyes, he floats into a pleasant semi-conscious state, where time stretches like a rubber band.

The night had been close to perfect. They made love often, relishing the relaxed atmosphere. With no rush to meet schedules, no worries, and no guilt, they were free to just lie with each other, something they rarely had time for anymore. This more than anything else, is what he missed when she moved to the cottage.

They had much to discuss before tomorrow. Nikolas, Helena's threat, and Caroline eluding her guard, but not now. He wanted to savor this rare moment of peace and tranquility. After this weekend, he didn't know when they'd have a chance to languish like this again.

Helena. The mere thought of her is like a poison seeping into his system, rousing him from his dozing state and destroying his peace of mind even as he fights against it. She is the stuff of children's nightmares, his nightmares. Instinctively, his arms tighten around Carly, whether it is to protect her or to draw comfort, he doesn't know.

She would strike, but how and where? He desperately needs more time and information. He has hired spies and investigators, but the sources are unreliable at best. Helena is cagey, careful to include only the most loyal in her plans. And even then, her loyal staff knew the tip of the iceberg.

Once he has more information, he needs time to devise a plan to neutralize his mother's threat. But information is key. Without information, he is vulnerable. Caroline is vulnerable.

Nikolas, while still a target, was becoming more and more capable of protecting himself. He has no illusions about what Helena was capable of, so he was naturally wary. His son accepted the limitations guards put on his life. Having always had them, he did not chafe against them. But Caroline... she is a different matter altogether.

Without a doubt his most serious vulnerability is Caroline. Now that Helena knows of their relationship, Stefan has no doubt she will take advantage of Caroline's ignorance of Cassadine intrigue to trap her. And then there will be no end to the possible ways Helena can torment Stefan or force him to do her bidding. Caroline vulnerable and used as a pawn in a Cassadine family war is unthinkable. He has to find a way to remove her from harm's path by making her untouchable or... or insignificant.

Carly shifts in his arms, rousing from her own sleepy state. "You're squeezing me." He loosens his hold a little and she turns in his arms to press a kiss into his bearded cheek. "God, how can you be so tense? I'm just one big puddle myself. I would think you would be enjoying your victory in getting me to stay tonight."

"Indeed I am." Stefan's hands slide up her bare back to cup her head. Drawing her mouth up to hers, he kisses her deeply, channeling his worry into passion for her.




The next morning.

Alan's entrance into the Wyndemere conservatory is sudden and loud. "I want to know where your son took my daughter!"

Mrs Lansbury follows behind Alan, wringing her hands. "Mr Cassadine, Sir, I'm so sorry, he barged right past me before I could stop him."

"You have no reason to apologize Mrs Lansbury, you are not at fault for Dr Quartermaine's boorish manners. You may leave him with me. " Stefan, still in his Gi from Tai Chi, pushes aside the plate of scones and stands, facing a furious Alan with a good measure of disdain. "What gave you the impression you would get your demands answered by bullying your way into my home?"

"I could give a damn for your delicate feelings, Stefan," Alan retorts with disgust. "I want to know where Nikolas is, and I want to know now."

Stefan purses his lips but doesn't so much as flinch at Alan's glowering look. "Where Nikolas happens to be at the moment is not your concern."

"The hell it isn't!" Alan takes a step closer to tower over Stefan. "It's my concern because he has my teenage daughter with him! I know he took off with her and I want to know where. NOW."

"I will not give you access to Nikolas whatever the reason." Stefan meets Alan's intimidation with an equally thunderous look. "It is easy to see how Jason Morgan is your son, Dr Quartermaine, for you are no more than a thug yourself. Your history of physical violence speaks for itself."

Alan bats aside Stefan's insults like they are pesky flies. He will find his daughter even if he has to tear down this mansion stone by stone. "I could give a rat's behind what you think of me. Nikolas is going to have more to contend with than my fists, I tell you. I'll have him arrested for kidnapping. And if he's stupid enough to take her across state lines, that would be a felony. And you, an accessory if you get in the way of me finding them."

Carly strolls in through the open doorway. "Gee Alan, have you been going to night school to become a lawyer? Throwing around all these threats of felony and jail time... Or is this just family experience? Seeing as how most of your family has committed a felony at one time or another, you all must be experts."

Alan doesn't even turn to greet her, his eyes fixed on Stefan in silent battle. "Carly, I don't have time for this. This has nothing to do with you so why don't you leave us alone."

"You better believe it's my business when you come barging in here, threatening Stefan and ordering me out of the room. It's not his fault you can't keep track of Lolita. Maybe if you weren't such a rage-aholic running around blaming everyone else for your daughter's choices, she would have told you where she was."

Off balance, Alan whirls to face her. "What do you know, Carly? Where is she?"

Carly comes to a stand in front of Alan, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Of course I know where she is. Emily and I are so tight! Fact is we go lingerie shopping together for the little peekaboo nighties." She holds out her hands, thumbs and forefingers pinched together as if she's handling a dainty undergarment. "You know, if I were Emily in a insane family like yours, I'd run as far and as fast I could. Go away, Alan. We've got nothing to say to you."

Infuriated at being thwarted at every turn, Alan gives up. "It's obvious you two won't help, but you can be sure I will find out where they are." He turns at the doorway to deliver his final parting shot. "And you better start praying now for the continued health of the family jewels."

Stefan is enraged by the threat and moves to follow Alan, but Carly puts her hand on his chest. "Let him go. He's scared and stupid. Cut him some slack for loving his daughter."

The front door of Wyndemere slams, signalling Alan's departure. Stefan clenches and unclenches his fists at his sides. "If that menace so much as touches a hair Nikolas' head, so help me...."

"Well, given that Alan is still in one piece, I gather Nikky didn't fill you in on the details of Alan's attack," Carly replies with relish. Let Nikky be on the other end of a tattletale and see how he liked it.

Stefan turns white. "Attack? He said he wasn't hurt...."

"He probably didn't want you to get involved. According to Emily, Alan had him in a choke-hold and for a moment there it looked like he might kill Nikolas."

Stefan's mouth works and he reaches for the phone. "That bully has gone too far. He thinks he will have Nikolas arrested for a felony? Alan is the one who will be arrested when I speak to the PCPD about attempted murder."

Carly pulls the phone out of his hand and turns it off. "You don't want to do that."

Stefan glowers at her. "I know exactly what I want and what I am doing. You will not interfere, Caroline."

"And will Nikolas thank you for it when he gets back?" Carly carefully returns the phone to it's cradle. "Remember, he's in love with Emily, he's not going to appreciate your interference, especially if it lands Emily's father in jail. Didn't you say you've learned to stay out of Nikolas' relationships with women?"

Stefan crosses his arms and scowls at her. He didn't like that she was right one bit, especially since it meant allowing Nikolas to be at risk. "You think you are so wise, reminding me of vow of non-interference?"

Carly grins. "Yep, in this case. Let Nikolas handle it the way he wants. Seems he knows what he's doing."

"So you saw Emily."

"I did. She stopped by to see Michael yesterday afternoon, looking like a lost puppy." Carly scowls. "She actually got me to feel sorry for her."

Stefan's lips curve into a small smile. "I am sure you detested that." Returning his thoughts to Alan's visit, he sighs and runs his hand over the top of his head to the back of his neck. "I presume Alan was correct in his assumption that she is with Nikolas."

"Last I heard, she was on her way to meet him."

"Nikolas was on the way out of the country, which means he committed a felony, as Alan suspected." Stefan shakes his head. "He is taking a foolish risk."

"Felony, shelomy," Carly dismisses his worry. "Whoever has the best lawyer wins, you taught me that. Why did you have Alexis get that fancy law degree anyway?"

"Still, Alan is angry enough to try to get Nikolas arrested," Stefan argues. "Nikolas spending even one minute in police custody is unacceptable."

"Alan would be stupid if he tried. He would lose Emily for sure. Hell, Nikolas and Emily could just stay in England until Emily hits eighteen."

"All you say is true, but I have just become accustomed to his presence again. I don't want him living across the water." Stefan reaches out a hand to clasp hers in an affectionate gesture while Carly moves into the circle of his arms and puts her hands on his shoulders. "Why are you defending my son all of a sudden? You two have been at odds since the moment he arrived.."

Carly wrinkles her nose. "Which will continue to be true as long as he comes tattling to you every time he doesn't like something I've done."

"He would be remiss if he didn't inform me of potential risks to your safety. And he isn't the only one who's informed me of the risks you've been taking. Your guard lost track of you again yesterday. Why must you fight against the protection I am trying to provide you?"

Carly bristles. "Because I don't like being followed around like I need a baby sitter. It's ridiculous! Helena isn't going to try anything in broad daylight. I'm not defenseless, you taught me how to take care of myself. Besides I'm a Spencer. Spencers always win against Helena. Haven't you figured that out yet? Check the scorecard." Seeing him scowl, she reaches up to plant soft kisses along the ridge of his bearded jaw. "I don't want to fight. Not right now, not when I have to leave in a few."

Stefan closes his eyes at her tender assault. It amazes him how many emotions she can evoke in such a short span of time, no one made him feel this vulnerable. Turning the tables, he captures her lips for a searing kiss. "You need not leave at all. Stay. Michael is content to be here. You belong here, with me."

"I promised to stay last night, and I promised this weekend." Torn, Carly pulls away reluctantly. "But today I have lots to do. Michael has an appointment with the pediatrician, which is..." She looks at her watch, her eyes widening. "In an hour! Darn it, between our long night turning into a late morning and Alan's tantrum, my schedule is screwed. I got to go now." Pressing a kiss into his cheek and grabbing a scone off the plate, she dashes for the steps to retrieve Michael.


Chapter 63

After a night's sleep in London, Emily and Nikolas are back in the air. Nikolas calls his father at General Hospital. "Hello, Father. I'm calling because there's been a change in plans."

"I am already aware of your change in plans," Stefan replies, standing beside his desk and fingering a file absently. "Miss Quartermaine's father barged into Wyndemere demanding information on your whereabouts. I assume she is with you?"

"Yes, we've made a bit of a detour." Nikolas looks over at Emily beside him and squeezes her hand. "We'll be back Monday."

"So not only have you have taken her out New York State, but out of the country," Stefan states, not hiding his disapproval. "Do you know what you're doing, Nikolas?"

Nikolas ignores Stefan's criticism. "Yes, I'm about to marry the woman I love, the woman I will spend the rest of my life with."

"WHAT?!" Stefan sits down in his desk chair, hard. "You can't be serious?"

"Serious as a heart attack. I'm going to marry Emily.... In about two hours, in Scotland." Nikolas winks at at his future wife. "We're going to marry in Gretna Green."

"I must insist you come home at once," Stefan dictates, his mind already in crisis management mode. "A marriage is not something to be entered into lightly, it is not a decision to be made on the spur of the moment. We must discuss and prepare for the ramifications to your place in the family."

"It's not spur of the moment, believe me," Nikolas argues. "It's better if I marry before I become THE Cassadine, you told me so yourself. And I have wanted to marry her for a very long time. "

"Then why is it that I'm hearing about it only now?"

Nikolas walks to the front of the plane and lowers his voice to keep their argument from upsetting his fiance´. "Because you can't help yourself from interfering in my life. Every relationship I've had, you've succeeded in ruining. I wasn't going to let you ruin this one too. She's too important to me."

"I see," Stefan says, though he doesn't see it at all. "So now I am shut out of what will be the happiest moment of your life, to be informed like a distant relative."

Nikolas winces. He hadn't counted on hurting his father. He'd been so focused on Emily, he hadn't thought of anything or anyone but her. "Father, it's not like that. I haven't told anyone else."

"So I suppose I should be thankful you are calling me at all."

"Please, just be happy for me."

"I want to be happy for you, Nikolas. But you haven't allowed me to be a witness to what could be the most important relationship of your life. You have kept your relationship with Miss Quartermaine a secret until I discovered it on my own. You haven't brought her to Wyndemere once, for us to become better acquainted. If you had, I am certain any of my concerns about your happiness and welfare would have been allayed. You have shut me out completely...."

Nikolas sighs. The conversation is going nowhere fast. "Could you save this for when we get home? I called because I love you, Father, and I wanted you to know. Don't ruin this day for me."

"There is no dissuading you? You are intent on doing this."

"You have to trust me to do what's right. I love her with everything that I am, and she loves me just as much. Please, Father," Nikolas pleads. "I know it's sudden, I know you're upset. But could you try to be happy for me? Please."

"You are asking too much."

Nikolas hears the hurt in Stefan's tone. "I'm sorry, but I have to do what is right for Emily and me. Please don't make me hang up without your blessing."

"I have dreamed of the day you would find a woman who loved you as you should be loved, of seeing you married," Stefan says earnestly. "You won't even consider postponing it long enough for me to attend?"

Nikolas's answers in choked whisper. "Father."

"All I want is for your happiness." Stefan waits a beat, torn between wanting to give his son what he's desperately asking for and his own conscience. "I understand your motives, Nikolas. I can even applaud them. You obviously love Emily deeply. I imagine you want to protect her from her rampaging family, a noble emotion if there ever was one. But it is your methods I cannot condone. Whisking Emily, still a minor in the eyes of the law, out of the country without my permission or the permission of her family. Rushing headlong into marriage. Robbing me of the opportunity of sharing in your joy? How can I bless such an irresponsible act without even the benefit of discussing this with you in person?"

Nikolas swallows painfully. "So you won't give me your blessing."

"In all good conscience I cannot, Nikolas."

Much to Nikolas's irritation, his eyes fill with tears. "I'm still getting married. I love her."

"I am painfully aware I cannot stop you," Stefan answers softly, his voice filled with sadness over the disagreement that can't be breached. "But even if you do not have my blessing, you will always have my love."

Emily watches Nikolas, with his back turned to her. She sees him turn off the cell phone and bow his head. Unbuckling herself, she approaches Nikolas and puts a hand on his shoulder. "It didn't go well, did it?"

Squeezing his eyes shut, Nikolas uses his thumb and forefinger to wipe any evidence of tears before raising his head. "It doesn't matter."

"Nikolas...." Emily can hear the pain in the softly spoken words. She rubs his shoulder.

Nikolas turns to give her a weak smile. "It's just par for the course. My father never approves of any move I make unless he's had a hand in it."

Emily reaches out and pulls him into a hug. "There's nothing wrong with you wanting him to be happy for you."

Nikolas presses his face into her soft hair, inhaling her sweet scent, trying to banish his dark thoughts. "I keep being surprised. You'd think I'd get used to his manipulations and guilt trips."

Emily takes Nikolas' hand and leads him back to the seats. "We don't have to get married."

Taking her hands in his, he kisses the back of one hand and then the other. "No, we don't have to get married, but I'm not going let my father ruin this for us."

"Nikolas...." Emily feels a lump forming in her throat as her love for him wells up inside her. There were so many reasons to love Nikolas, but his generosity, his steadfastness, his loyalty were right at the top. She puts her hands on either side of his head, so that his hands are holding hers, which are cupping his face. "You know how much I love you."

Nikolas turns his head to kiss the palm of her hand. "Yes. I think I have a pretty good idea."

Emily takes a deep breath. "Good. Because we're not getting married." At Nikolas's thunderous look, Emily rushes to continue. "Not today. Not alone, thousands of miles away from our families. We will get married, just not like this."



General Hospital

Exiting a patient's room, Bobbie rolls her tired shoulders back once, tilting her head from side to side as she heads for the nursing station. Working is good, working to exhaustion is even better. It keeps her mind busy and away from brooding. At home she had Lucas to keep her occupied, but the nights. The nights get her every time. After Lucas has gone to bed, her mind would turn without fail to any number of torments....To the custody trial where she turned her back on Carly, to the argument in the elevator when she slapped Carly, to the argument at Luke's Club, to the sight of Stefan playing with Michael like he had more right to be with her grandchild than she did. Hours were spent tossing in bed, tormenting herself until exhaustion took over. Then it would start all over with dragging herself out of bed in the morning, pretending to the world that she was just fine, when she was dying inside. Absently she wonders how long she can go on like this. When is she going to snap?

"Bobbie! Do you have a moment?"

Bobbie turns towards the voice she is so familiar with, the voice of a woman she considered her a close friend until recently. Now their friendship is in no-man's land. In the last couple weeks, they'd maintained a sort of truce by avoiding any personal conversations, and that suited Bobbie just fine. But the strained tone in Monica's voice tells Bobbie that the peace is over. She puts on her game face, careful to keep it blank of any emotion. "Monica, what can I do for you?"

Monica looks around apprehensively at the other nurses and doctors milling around the nurses station. "How about we talk in the library?" Bobbie nods and follows Monica. Once the door is closed, Monica turns to face Bobbie. "I was hoping you could help," Monica begins awkwardly. "I haven't seen Michael since Carly was awarded custody, and I was hoping..."

Bobbie cuts her off before she can even finish. "Don't tell me, you were hoping I'd sneak you a visit?" She looks away from Monica towards the ground, struggling to keep her temper in check. Monica isn't at fault for what AJ did, but it's hard remember that when all she can see is what she has lost and might never have again. What Monica is asking for hurts too much. "I'm afraid I can't help you."

"You can't or you won't?" Monica waits a heart beat and when Bobbie doesn't look at her, the frustration wells up till she is choking on it. With Emily God-knows-where, she needed to do something. And here is Bobbie, who is supposed to be her friend, standing in her way. "I get it," Monica answers, not able to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "How stupid of me to think you'd return the favor and help me see Michael after I campaigned with my son for you. I foolishly thought this friendship was a two way street. Forget I asked."

Monica tries to push past Bobbie to leave the library but Bobbie grabs her arm. The gloves are off now. She'd tried to be nice, but Monica pushed her too far. "You have the unmitigated gall to come to me expecting me to sneak behind my daughter's back after your son lied and bribed and connived to cost Carly custody of Michael? When it was your son's actions that had me coming to you hat in hand in the first place? Your family cost me my daughter and grandson! Don't come crying to me to help you out of a mess your family created."

"This is so like you, Bobbie," Monica snarls. "Revisionist history. You remember only what you want to remember. You and I both know what your daughter is. Lord knows I don't condone what AJ did to get custody of Michael and I hate how it hurt you, but I understand why he wanted to keep his son out of your daughter's clutches."

Bobbie's eyes glitter dangerously. "Here you are begging for my help to see Michael on one hand and slandering my daughter on the other. You say you're sorry for the pain AJ has caused me, but have you come to me once since this all happened and asked me how I'm doing? Have you once apologized to me or Carly for the pain your family has caused us? You have no idea much I've lost, do you? Let me clue you in. Carly can't stand the sight of me. I don't get to see Michael anymore than you do." When Monica tries to speak, Bobbie puts up her hand to stop her. "Just stop. I don't want your fake sympathy now. You and your family are a bunch of hypocrites, and our friendship is a crock. I wouldn't help you see Michael even if I could. You talk as if your son is all good, but he's worse than Carly. He's a lying drunk who cheats to get what he wants, and doesn't blink when he destroys people's lives."

"Don't you blame this on AJ!" Monica shoots back. "If your daughter wasn't the lying tramp she is, he wouldn't have had to..."

Bobbie slaps Monica so hard the sound echoes through the room. Monica gasps and holds a hand to her reddened cheek. Bobbie's voice is a low growl. "Don't you ever call my daughter names again! If I hear so much as a word against my daughter from you, I'll be all over you so fast, you'll wish you'd never heard the name Spencer."

"I'm already sorry, believe me," Monica snaps.

"Just shove it. My family has suffered over and over at the hands of your precious family. You act holier than thou, but it's all an act and everyone in this town knows what a bunch of lunatics you are. I've given your family slack through this whole mess with Carly, even to Carly and Michael's harm. At the time I thought it was the right thing to do, but now I can't think of one reason why . But no more. I will never forgive your family for what they've done to Carly, Michael and me. Just stay away from me and my family, all of you."

Monica takes a threatening step towards Bobbie, her hands at her sides twitching with the desire to attack. "Then maybe you need to find another place to work. I hear Mercy Hospital isn't picky."

"Don't you dare threaten me, Monica. I'm here to stay at this hospital. You try and force me out and you'll have a fight you won't know how to finish. I'm more than capable conducting myself in a professional manner. Can you say the same?" Bobbie opens the door to library and turns back to Monica. "Until you're ready to give my daughter and me a full apology, stay clear of us, you got that?"

Before Bobbie can leave herself, Monica barges past her into the hall where she runs right into Stefan. Enraged at having her exit delayed, Monica bellows as she pushes past, "God, who am I going to run into next? Carly? Shoot me now."

In the hollow silence after Monica vacates the hall, Bobbie stands rooted to the spot. All the energy she had, all the self control she had used in keeping herself from wiping the floor with Monica is gone. Facing yet another nemesis is too much. Bobbie looks away, into the library. God, don't cry. Don't. "Look, I don't have enough energy to go round and round with you today, you're just going to have to pick a fight with me some other time."

"I am not here to fight." Touching her elbow briefly, he guides her back into the library and closes the door. Bobbie keeps her back turned to Stefan as she struggles to keep her composure. "I heard the raised voices and came to investigate. Are you all right?" He asks carefully.

Bobbie gives a short hysterical laugh, then exhales. Big mistake as soon as she lets her breath out, the tears start to fall. "Yeah, sure. I'm fine. Just Peachy. Can't you tell?"

Stefan offers her his handkerchief. "The Quartermaines will pay for what they've done to Caroline and Michael."

Bobbie hesitates a moment before taking his handkerchief. "Good, they deserve whatever you do to them."

"Dr Quartermaine will not force you out of this hospital, Barbara. Whatever our differences, you are a talented nurse."

"Thanks, it's one thing I have going for myself huh? I may be a rotten mother, but hey, I'm a great nurse, right?" The irony of talking to her ex-husband who is now her daughter's lover is just too much. A truce with Stefan Cassadine? Impossible. "Forget I said that. Chalk it up to a moment of exhaustion-induced insanity."

"I seem to recall you being an excellent mother to Lucas."

The questions burst out of her mouth before she can take them back. "How is she? How is Michael?" She shakes her head. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She's just asking for abuse.

Stefan clasps his hands in front of him in a casual gesture. "They are well."

Well, that went better than expected. "This is weird. You and me, talking. Almost friendly. Why are you being nice to me, anyway?" God, she's the queen of dumb questions. Bobbie waves away any possible answer. "Forget I asked that. What's the saying? 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth'?"

"I assure you, I am bearing no gifts." Stefan fights a smile. "No ulterior motive, I assure you. You are upset, I was here. We both despise what the Quartermaines have done to Caroline. It gives us a common interest, a common foe.."

He was right, it was a start. "You know I love her." She studies him carefully. "And you genuinely care for her." Carly was something they shared, however tenuous Bobbie's relationship with her daughter was. Alienating Stefan didn't help her cause.

Stefan stiffens automatically and Bobbie sees the moment of ease evaporate. "Yes, I do."

Bobbie hands back the damp handkerchief. "Thank you for not making it worse."

Stefan shrugs. "My interest is to only see Caroline and Michael are protected and content. I see no reason to stand in your way."



Chapter 64

Carly and Leticia meet in the General Hospital Lobby.

"Thanks for making the trip out here, Leticia." Once Carly transfers Michael to Leticia's arms, she slides the diaper bag over Leticia's shoulder. "I never would have made it to my meeting with Vincent on time otherwise."

"It was no problem," Leticia says as she shifts Michael's weight on her hip to a more comfortable position. "I'm glad I could return the favor after you let me have the cottage to myself last night."

Carly places a goodbye kiss on Michael's forehead and smooths his hair down. "You be good for Leticia, Mr Man, and I'll see you in a couple hours, okay?"

Carly's head turns at the sound of the familiar and dreaded voice of Monica Quartermaine. She spies Monica at the nurses station with Alan, their backs to her. Carly sends up a silent prayer for luck. Looking around, she spies a hallway that leads in the opposite direction. She lowers her voice to an urgent whisper to Leticia. "Quartermaine Alert. I think you and Michael should take that hallway, which if I remember correctly, leads to a stairwell. If Monica or Alan try to make a move, I'll head them off."

"Good thinking. I'll see you back at the cottage later." Leticia turns to leave.

Once Carly is sure Leticia and Michael have made their escape, she lets out sigh of relief. Glancing around to be sure she's unobserved, she strolls to the edge of the lobby where she can overhear the couple's conversation and be shielded from detection by a large fake fern.

"She was totally out of line, Alan," Monica vents. "She ranted and raved about how the Quartermaines tried to destroy her precious little girl, forgetting completely what a..." She lowers her voice to a hiss. "psychotic b*tch of a daughter she has!"

Alan puts a hand on his wife's shoulder and squeezes. "I'm sure she didn't mean it, Monica. A lot of things get said in the heat of the moment, that later we wish we could take back. Give yourselves some time to calm down, and I'm betting you'll work things out."

"After what happened today?" Monica rolls her eyes dramatically. "I'm telling you, she was out of control. Not only did she refuse to help our cause to see Michael, but she had the gall to slap me!"

Carly's eyes widen and she bites her lip to keep from laughing. A touch on her shoulder causes her to jump. She whirls around to find Stefan smiling down at her. "You! You scared me! You shouldn't sneak up on me like that, I almost had a heart attack."

"And you shouldn't eavesdrop on other people's conversations where you can be caught," Stefan retorts, leading her away from the lobby to his office. "Though perhaps in this case, it is warranted. Tell me, what was Monica railing about?"

"Poor Monica," Carly says with false sympathy, letting Stefan open the door to his office for her. "Nothing is going her way these days. The best part is, I don't have to lift a finger to make her miserable. She does it all herself!" Plopping herself into the chair behind Stefan's desk, she gives out a full bodied laugh. "God, it couldn't happen to a nicer person!"

"You are feeling mighty pleased. So what horrible fate has befallen the esteemed Dr Quartermaine? Or is this a mess of her own making?"

Carly rocks back in the office chair, bemused with the turn of events. Somehow in the space of a few moments, her world seems brighter, more colorful. All because her mother had smacked Monica. "I still trying to soak in what I heard, it's still so... so.. unbelievable. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't heard Monica myself. My mother, Bobbie Spencer, got into a fight with her about Michael and slapped Monica! Isn't that just rich? Oh, I would have paid to see that."

Stefan saunters around the desk until he's facing her, then leans up against it. Crossing his arms, he smirks. "It was, in fact, a memorable scene. What Barbara's technique lacked in polish was redeemed in the force of the blow. Her defense of you was impressive. It is a shame you didn't witness it yourself. Classic Barbara Jean Spencer."

Carly stops rocking, narrowing her gaze at him. "You were there? When, exactly, were you going to tell me?"

"You answered that yourself, you wouldn't have believed it from me or anyone else."

"Details, I want details. All of them." Carly leans forward. "You didn't happen to tape it, did you?"

.

"Vincent! Hi!" With the phone cradled to her ear, Carly pauses to listen to the rapid fire response as she makes her way slowly to the nurses station. "I'm sorry I'm late, something came up--- oh good. I'll be there in twenty minutes tops. Bye!" Snapping the phone shut, Carly walks up to woman managing the station. "Hi..."

The ward clerk looks up from her charts. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, can you tell me when Bobbie Spencer gets off shift?"

The ward clerk consults the schedule. "Hmm.... it says here that she gets off around three, but she isn't in surgery right now. Would you like me to page her?" The clerk picks up the phone as if to page her.

Carly rushes to stop her. "NO..." She smiles charmingly. "No, that's okay. I just want to leave a message." Rummaging in her purse, she extracts a small sheet of paper. Grabbing a pen off the counter, she quickly scribbles a note, folds it over once, and hands it to the clerk. "Could you make sure she gets this before she leaves? Thanks."



Bobbie literally drags her tired body past the nurses station. "Jeanette, I'm out of here until tomorrow. Unless I call in dead."

The ward clerk smiles at her sympathetically. "Bad day in surgery?"

"One right after another, and every single one of them took forever!" Bobbie vents, refusing attribute any of her exhaustion to the fight with Monica. "I know I like to keep busy, but this is ridiculous."

"Well, if it's any consolation, the doctors look worse than you do. They don't have your stamina." The ward clerk wishes her a good night, then stops short. "Oh, I forgot! A young woman left you a message this morning." She hands the white slip of paper to Bobbie.




Bobbie,

Meet me at the cottage at 4pm today.

-- C



Bobbie's eyes practically pop out of her head after reading the note. Could it be a prank? "What did.... what did the woman look like who left the note?"

"Pretty, long blonde hair, early twenties.... she's someone you know, right?"

"Yeah...." Bobbie ponders the meaning of the note. "I think it was my daughter."



The cottage.

Leticia, Michael and Carly are playing on the living room floor with trucks. Michael chortles as the two woman make revving noises with their vehicles while driving them into head on collisions. Checking her watch, Carly rises to a stand. "Leticia, would you take Michael up for his bath? I'm expecting a visitor and it's better if Michael isn't present."

"Sure." Leticia rises and gathers Michael into her arms. "Okay Michael, how about we go play motor boats in the bath? We'll see your mom later." Michael waves to Carly as Leticia carries him up the steps. Carly makes quick work of cleaning up the toys by tossing them in the large tub in the corner.

A moment later there is a knock at the door. Carly smooths out her sweater, takes a deep breath, and answers the door.

Bobbie stands on the doorstep with the slip of paper in her hand. She eyes Carly warily, half expecting a diatribe followed by a door slammed in her face. "Hi.... did you leave this for me?"

Carly shifts from one foot to the other. She might have called this meeting, but damn if she doesn't have a clue how to start it. "Yeah, that was me.... why don't you come in?"

Bobbie steps gingerly into the house feeling as if she's entering the lion's den. She comes to a stop on the landing, not confident enough to go in any farther. She glances around the room, realizing this is the first time she's seen it since Carly moved in. Soft welcoming colors and comfortable modern furniture seem to be the theme of the room. It's definitely a room for living in. "It's... it's beautiful, Carly."

Carly fights the urge to blurt out a defensive remark, reminding herself that sometimes a compliment is just a compliment. "Thanks... why don't you come in and sit down. Would you like something to drink?"

Bobbie walks down the couple steps onto the living room and sits stiffly on edge of the couch seat. With her heart lodged firmly in her throat, there was no way she'd be able to swallow anything. "No thanks."

Carly stifles a smile, the nervousness evaporating in the face of the obvious discomfort of her mother. It's so satisfying watching Bobbie's anxiety, she's tempted to let her twist in the wind a bit longer. She takes a seat in the wing back chair next to the couch. "I bet you're wondering why I asked you to come over."

"Yes, you've made it abundantly clear you didn't want anything to do with me."

"That's true," Carly answers, giving in to the urge to provoke her mother just a little bit. "And in all honesty I still don't want to have anything to do with you. I doubt I'll ever be able to forgive what you've done to me and Michael."

Bobbie rises to her feet, fighting to keep the crack out of her voice."If you asked me over here to chew me out and to tell me to stay out of your life, you can save your breath." Damn it, she should have known this wouldn't be a friendly call. "I got your message loud and clear last time. I'll stay clear of you and Michael."

"Sit down, Bobbie," Carly answers patiently.

"I don't know what Stefan told you, but I didn't know Michael was in his office. I swear it. And while I treasured the few moments I got to see him, I left right away. You don't have to worry about me pushing my way in."

"Just shut up and sit down, Bobbie." Carly waits until Bobbie settles herself on the couch. "Stefan told me all about how you accidentally walked in on him and Michael. If he says it was an accident, I believe him. It's not like he's your biggest fan. Jesus, you jump to conclusions."

Bobbie clenches her hands in her lap. "What was I supposed to think? You just told me you didn't want to have anything to do with me, so why call me over here now?"

Carly stands and starts to pace the living room. "I've done a lot of thinking and there are some things that are more important than the bad blood between us. And one of those things is Michael's welfare." Carly turns to face Bobbie. "I want Michael to know his grandmother. Even at our worst, I never doubted that you were a good grandmother to him."

Bobbie grasps onto the lifeline Carly is throwing her. She looks earnestly at her daughter. "I love that little boy, Carly. With all my heart." And I love you too.

Carly searches her mother's face and nods. "I know. He needs all the love he can get, especially now."

Bobbie's heart skips a beat, but she doesn't dare hope out loud. "So what are you saying, exactly?"

Finding it impossible to say the words while looking at Bobbie, Carly turns her head away. "I'm saying it's okay with me if you start visiting him on a regular basis."

Bobbie swallows convulsively as a piece of sorrow that's been eating away at her breaks free. The relief is so profound it almost brings her to tears. This is the first step. "That's more than I could have hoped for. " She looks at her daughter with a resolute expression. "You won't be sorry."

"I better not be." Carly crosses her arms protectively over her chest. She had wanted to be nonchalant with Bobbie, immune, but her mother's reaction was so quiet, yet so emotional, that she couldn't help herself. Damn.

Carly starts pacing again, not daring to look at Bobbie again because she might reveal how much this is effecting her. "I think it's best if we minimize our contact. I don't think it's good for Michael to see us fighting. Call first, before you come over to see him."

"You're his mother," Bobbie answers softly, respectfully. "You get to call the shots. I'll honor your wishes, whatever they are."

"This means no Quartermaines see him except for Emily and Lila," Carly mandates. "AJ has his regular visitation, and that's all he gets."

"Okay, I can abide by that," Bobbie agrees. "Anything else?"

"Just don't push me for more, okay?" Carly glances at Bobbie, and then away again. "I don't want to pretend everything is all sweetness and light between us, I couldn't even if I tried. Just looking at you I still get so steamed I want to tear you to pieces. That's not good for me, you, or Michael. I'm working on getting past it, but you can forget planning any cozy Spencer family dinners. It isn't going to happen. Even if I could get past what you did, I know you wouldn't welcome Stefan into the mix."

"If Stefan is the man that makes you happy, Carly, I'm prepared to keep my mouth shut." Bobbie shrugs. "He seems to genuinely care about you. It's not my place to pass judgment on you anymore. I lost that right."

"You did," Carly answers firmly. "So, we'll try this for a while and see how it goes."

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