GH2005.21 Dinner Party

 

Katherine enters Wyndemere; Nikolas takes her coat. They share a kiss, much to the dismay of Stefan who lurks in the hallway. He approaches them cautiously."Katherine, how lovely to see you again."
Katherine smiles as she clutches Nikolas possessively. "Hello Stefan. How are you and Laura these days?"
Laura walks in and wraps her arms around her husband smiling. "We're just fine, thank you. Please-- join us in the parlor." The foursome head to the parlor when a knock is heard on the door. Laura turns to answers it. "Alexis, Tom please come in." She takes their coats and smiles at Alexis. "Could you join me upstairs? I have something to show you."
Alexis catches the hint."Absolutely."
Tom smiles as he walks away."It's okay, ladies; I'll let Stefan know you are gossiping."
Alexis rolls her eyes as she follows Laura upstairs."When did he get so obnoxious?"
Laura laughs. "When did you finally notice?"
They enter Laura and Stefan's suite; Laura collapses on the bed."I want to claw her eyes out. It's juvenile; I suppose, right?"
Alexis smiles."Well, I called Brenda a slut if that's not juvenile-- what is?"
Laura raises her eyebrow."Brenda? When did you see Brenda?"
She sighs."Sheeeeeeeeee's Baaaaaaaaaaack. I ran into her at Lucky's club. It was as if my oh so proper upbringing left me; I just wanted to lunge at her and beat the..well you get the picture. Perhaps we should have had Tom join us. He'd love to analyze this."
Laura nods."Let him analyze Stefan, Nikolas and the vixen right now. I can't believe she's pregnant."
Alexis chokes."Pregnant? Oh my god. That is what this meeting is about?"

Laura nods."I should have waited until Nikolas told you, but I have to discuss this with someone sane. In this family that's you."
Alexis laughs."I married the shrink, try again. Okay, is it my imagination or did she just bed him not two weeks ago."
Laura nods."Exactly. How is it she already knows she's pregnant? Something is not right here. It's not just mother's instinct either. She is trapping my son and I want to stop it now."
Alexis nods in agreement."I understand. What am I going to do when Stone is old enough to date? If he brought home someone like Brenda I'd kill."
Laura laughs."I haven't ruled that option out. You know, Gina was perfect for him. They had something there he just hasn't been able to replace."
Alexis smiles."Curse of the Cassadine men. Fall passionately in love with a woman who just can't handle living the Cassadine way."
Laura shakes her head."No, that wasn't it. He refused to talk to her, Alexis. He hid all his emotions so deep no one could reach them. I'm responsible for that."
Alexis shakes her head."You take to much credit. Stefan taught him to hide those emotions."
Laura:"Only after I left him over and over again did he listen to the advice Stefan gave. Stefan and I have discussed this so many times. Together, in our attempt to love him, we hurt Nikolas so badly he still has the emotional scars."
Alexis takes Laura's hands."Stefan had years of emotional scars and baggage that the love of a good woman healed. Nikolas will be okay. It will just take some time. The men in my family might be crazy, possessive, arrogant, pompous asses at times, but they are the most resilient men I've ever known. Especially Nikolas and Stefan. He's young and he'll make mistakes. He will learn from them. I know you want to reach out to him, but you can't."
Laura's fill up with tears."No, I lost that right many years ago. No matter how much I want to mother him, he won't let me. I have to accept that. Most of the time I do without question, but this time. Alexis, she's using my son and I want to stop her. Can you use your connections to check into what she's been into since leaving Port-Charles?"
Alexis raises her eyebrow."That is Stefan's way, not yours. But I will do it."
Laura nods."I'm desperate. Between Lucky disappearing and now this, I feel like I'm walking through a mine field."
Alexis smiles and squeezes her hand."I'm always here for you. Lucky is due back tonight, right?"
Laura nods."That'll be interesting. For once I'm going to let the boys air out their own differences. They're grown men, time to see if they are capable of acting that way."
Alexis laughs."That will be interesting. I suppose we had better go back down and join them."
Laura rises."Thanks, I needed to vent before I faced this."
Alexis laughs."Well, if it gets too ugly I can always hunt down the weather machine and freeze her."
Laura begins to laugh."You're too much. Only you would joke about it."
Alexis smiles mischievously. "Gotta love me. Besides it got a laugh out of you."

They join the others downstairs and all move to the dining room to eat. Once seated, Nikolas raises his glass."I'd like to offer a toast. To Katherine, the beautiful woman who is carrying not only my child but my love as well. Thank you for walking back into my life."
Everyone mutters "To Katherine" and she beams at Nikolas. Laura and Stefan fight the nausea as they watch her mouth the words "I love you" to him.

Stefan:"So, Katherine what have you been up to since leaving Port Charles?"
Katherine smiles at him."Working on Deception. Enjoying life. After I made my recovery from the accident, I decided to not take life for granted anymore."
Nikolas looks at her lovingly."Still no memory of it?"
Katherine shakes her head."No, none." She turns to smile at Stefan."But they say it could always return without warning." Stefan smiles in return noting the hint of threat in her voice. She looks back at Nikolas."But that's ancient history, no reason to drag it back up, wouldn't you say?"
Nikolas nods."Whatever is easiest for you."
Katherine:"Where is your daughter this evening?"
Nikolas:"With her mother. I want to tell Anastasia about the baby in private."
Alexis smiles."I wonder what she'll think of a new baby."
Tom:"She'll probably adore it. She's at an age where kids are eager for
siblings."
Stefan smiles at Tom."And to think she's not much younger than Stone. Is he
at the same age?"
Alexis blushes as all eyes fall on her and Tom. Tom smiles back."Actually yes, he is."
Alexis changes the subject."Stefan, I hear you have been working on a new
portrait. This one of Nikolas and Staci?"
Stefan smiles proudly."Two of my favorite subjects. I can only get them to pose for a little less than an hour a day. To antsy for long sittings."
Katherine:"Well, children hate to sit still."
Stefan laughs."I was talking about Nikolas. Staci loves posing for her portrait."
Everyone laughs and Nikolas scowls at Stefan."Let me see you sit for hours to have your painting done."
Stefan meets the challenge."When you learn to paint a portrait, I'd be glad to pose for you."
Nikolas refuses to back down."Well, we both know that won't happen, but I'm sure Kevin Collins would be glad to paint one of you. Where did I put his number?"
Alexis hands him a card."Here you go. I'm betting Kevin would enjoy it as well. In fact Stefan and Laura should pose together."
Laura looks up at Stefan and stifles a giggle at his silent outrage of being
ganged up on."Honey, I would love a portrait of us."
Stefan smiles."Well, if Kevin can find time I see no reason why not." He looks from Nikolas and Alexis and silently vows."I'll get them for this."
Alexis and Nikolas clearly gloating raise their glasses to one another slightly. The dinner is interrupted by a knock at the door and then Lucky walking in."Good-- food, I'm starved."
Mrs. Lansbury:"I'll bring you a plate, Mr. Spencer."
Laura hugs Lucky."Don't you ever do that again. Thank God you're ok."
Lucky blushes slightly."I'm ok, Mom. Just starved." He notices the look of disapproval on his brother's face."Not now, Nikolas. Let me eat; then you can yell or whatever. We have a lot to discuss." He looks at Stefan."You'll be interested in this as well."
Stefan nods and looks at Alexis."You know we never feed you for free. I'd like you to attend the meeting."
Alexis smiles."Absolutely, cousin. Tom has a patient to go to after dinner anyway."
Tom thanks her silently for the excuse to leave. Laura turns to
Katherine."Seems it will be just us for after dinner drinks."
Katherine pats her stomach."Not me. But I'll be glad to stay and chat."
Laura smiles."Looking forward to it."
Dinner continues. After awhile the foursome leave to discuss Cassadine business and Tom makes his hasty retreat. Katherine joins Laura in the parlor and takes the club soda she offers.
Katherine: "You're angry with me."
Laura smiles. "Why would you say that?"
Katherine laughs."You've a face that hides nothing, Laura. I do love Nikolas."
Laura disregards her last statement."That was a quick pregnancy. Weren't you using birth control?"
Katherine:"I'd rather not discuss my love life with you. It's really none of your business."
Laura smiles."It is when you bed my son in an attempt to have his child and inherit a hefty sum of money for your trouble."
Katherine looks at her in shock."Is that what you think?"
Laura smiles."Like you said, my face hides nothing. I don't want to anger Nikolas, so I won't press this any farther. You know where I stand."

In the study Lucky is going over the information with them."So, it was your own chief of operations. He was reporting the theft to you and then reselling the merchandise and making his own profit. He found out that I was snooping and tried to kill me."
Stefan:"Thank God, he didn't succeed. You did an excellent job, Lucky. Do the family a favor and try not to put yourself in so much danger next time. Alexis, you and I have phone calls to make."
Alexis nods and Nikolas turns to Stefan."You sure you don't want me to handle this?"
Stefan shakes his head."Alexis and I will see to it. You and your brother need to talk."
Lucky and Nikolas leave the room and head out to the dock. Lucky lights up a cigar.  "Out with it. I know your busting inside."
Nikolas sighs and looks at him."You worried me, Lucky. I was wracked with guilt and fear thinking you had gotten yourself into something you couldn't get out of. I was here watching Mother worry knowing I was the one you sent you into danger. I'd rather not go through that again."
Lucky is shocked at his honesty and feels a twinge of guilt."Look man, I didn't mean to worry anyone. I did what I had to do. I can't rethink my instincts out there, Nikolas; or I will get killed. Besides you have nothing to feel guilty about. I wanted to go."
Nikolas laughs."We both know why I sent you."
Lucky shrugs."Does that really matter?"
Nikolas catches the underlining meaning and shakes his head."No matter how much of a pain in my ass you are; you're my brother. Enough said."
Lucky looks at him as he puffs on his cigar."Ditto. You aren't going to get all mushy are you?"
Nikolas laughs."With you? Right. One more thing. You missed my announcement.  Katherine is pregnant, I'm going to be a father again." Nikolas laughs as Lucky chokes on his cigar.
Lucky:"Jesus man, a little warning when you drop bombs."
Nikolas turns to walk away."You shouldn't puff on those things. They could kill you."
Lucky shoots back."Not as dangerous as beautiful women in their sexual peak."
Nikolas mutters to himself."Too true Lucky, too true."

A man in black and a ski mask enters the nurses' locker room. Laughing to himself at how easy this is going to be. He looks at the nurses' schedule in his hand and realizes she has to be the one in the shower. He walks into the shower quietly and curses when Amy turns around and screams. He takes her by the hair and slams her head into the wall hard enough to see the life slip out of her quickly. He takes a bar of soap and places it near her feet and then slips off the nurse's pin from her uniform in her locker and leaves quickly, undetected. Once outside he curses. "Damn you, Carly; it was supposed to be you."

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