Chapter 16   "I think... we should throw a party." "A party?" Alexis looked at Stefan as if his sanity was now being questioned. "What, exactly, are we celebrating?" "Stavros' miraculous return to us. The re-ascension of the Cassadine Prince." "Re-ascension?" Stavros looked at him. "Mother mentioned that. It seemed important to her." "It is. But only if she feels she is controlling it." Stavros nodded. "I think I understand. She wants to control the money, the Estate, through me." "That is an important part, yes. Mother craves money and power. No amount is enough for her." "So her talk of world domination is not just empty ranting..." "To her, no." Stefan fingered his beard as he thought. "But there has always been more to it. You have always been special to her, Stavros." "Special..." He thought of the combination of love and revulsion he felt when she touched him, when she spoke to him in that caressing manner... He wondered if it was possible that somewhere in the history he had forgotten... No. He shook his head. It was not possible. "What is it, Mr. Cassadine?" Nancy DaSilva's voice, quiet, gentle, prodded into his consciousness. "I was just... trying to understand her." Stefan chuckled. "Leave it to Dr. DaSilva and the other psychiatrists. You and I never will." "It would help, though..." He thought for a moment. "This party, you mean for it to coax her out?" Stefan nodded. "You do not think she will see your intention?" "I think she will not be able to help herself." V said, "What can I do?" Stefan said, "We will have to put everything together very quickly. There is no time to waste. So I will need everyone's help... I would like this party to take place within one week." V took a deep breath. "I didn't mean the party - though I'll do whatever you need with that, too - I meant... you know my background. Whatever I can do to help you bring your mother to justice..." she glanced at Stavros "and protect your brother... count me in." How strange this feels, Alexis thought. This sense of... solidarity. Of family. Centering on Stavros, of all people. And including these two women who have no reason to take on the whole complex legacy of being Cassadine... V had come in out of her friendship for Jax, and for Chloe, but now? Her gaze went to Nancy DaSilva. The doctor had a wonderful reputation (Alexis had looked into her as soon as she had started on Stavros' case)but Alexis wondered if she really understood the complex dynamics of the family she was treating. Because when you were involved in one Cassadine life, inevitably you became involved in all of them. In addition, Alexis had noticed the way Stefan looked at the doctor sometimes, when Nancy DaSilva was unaware of it. She smiled to herself. It was about time Stefan had something for himself... Kristina was saying to Stavros, "Are you sure you're strong enough for this? There's a lot of risk involved." Stavros nodded. "I have to be. We have to... end this. Whatever happened before, it cannot happen again." He paused. "She is dangerous." "She is that," Alexis agreed. "I know she is my mother, and she loves me. And I should love her. I suppose that I do... but what she wants is not what I want." There was another pause. Dr. DaSilva said, "What do you want, Mr. Cassadine?" "I want... this." He motioned at the people around him. "I want to be part of this, of this family." "But, Father..." Nikolas rose and went to him. "You already are." Father and son embraced. Then Kristina got up and went to Stavros and hugged him as well. Stefan, standing nearby, hugged each of them - Nikolas, Kristina, Stavros - in turn. Alexis watched, exchanging glances with a clearly moved Nancy DaSilva. What is holding me back? she asked herself. The past? He doesn't even remember it. Am I angry that he doesn't? That it can live so strongly in me, but he gets a pass, gets to waltz right by it? And yet... there was something in Stavros' eyes, a sense of being haunted, and by something he did not even fully comprehend, that told her he wasn't waltzing by anything. So often in my life, professionally and personally, I argue in favor of redemption, of second chances. Do I believe in it or don't I? Nikolas believes... She was filled with a fierce pride in her nephew, who was now taking Gia by the hand and leading her into the series of embraces. Alexis remembered their conversation in the conference room the day Stefan told them Stavros' memory of the past was irretrievably gone. They had wanted to institutionalize him, for his safety and their own peace of mind. But Nikolas had seen it differently... ''You said that we could redefine what it meant to be a Cassadine. And we all swore that we would do it together. Well, now is our chance. If we could... show him what it really means, what it can mean... he doesn't remember the evil things he did. But he recognizes us as his family. We can work with that. We can... retrain him. Show him new ways of being.'' With tears in her eyes, Alexis Davis, born Natasha Cassadine, got up and went to her oldest half-brother, and put her arms around him... An hour later, Stefan was in his study, on the phone with the event planner at the PC Grille, V sitting nearby, working on the invitation and guest list, when Nancy DaSilva knocked on the study door. Stefan excused himself from his phone call. "Yes, Doctor?" "I just wanted to say everything seems under control here, so I'm going back on the launch with your sisters." He nodded. "Thank you for being here for us. I assume you have another session with Stavros scheduled between now and the party..?" "Yes... in two days. So I'll see you then. And good luck with the party. I imagine I'll get a full report!" He smiled. "You will be able to make one yourself, Doctor. Surely you did not think we would not invite you." "Well, I didn't think... I mean, really... that's very nice of you, but I got the feeling that it's a family party." "We will be inviting some of Port Charles' more prominent families, as would be suitable for this sort of event..." "I'm hardly prominent, Mr. Cassadine." Another smile. "You have become a... prominent factor in our lives, Doctor. And it may be that, if there is a crisis, we would have need of you." Her face seemed to fall slightly. He continued. "We have all come to trust you... and to like you. We - I - hope you will be there." "Yes... of course. And thank you." "No. Thank you." In the hallway, Stavros approached Alexis. "May I speak with you a moment?" She nodded, and allowed him to draw her aside. "I understand that you knew Miss Ardanowski previously..." "We're friends, yes." He nodded. "I have come to like her, to trust her. She has been kind to me. Moreover, when I was with Mother, she put herself on the line to find me and keep me safe." "V is a very kind and courageous person," Alexis agreed. "I want to do something for her, something... appropriate. Something suitable. A small gift. I thought, someone who knows her might be able to advise me appropriately." Alexis chewed her lower lip briefly, taking in the irony of what was happening here. "You want my advice on an appropriate gift for V." "Yes." After a moment Alexis shrugged and said. "Why not? As a matter of fact, there is something..." With great speed, the guest list was drawn up, the invitations issued, the Port Charles Grille given a menu. It had been decided not to hold the party at Wyndemere because security would be too good. "Give her a chance at me," Stavros had said, "a good chance." V had offered to coordinate with Marcus Taggert, to make sure that the police presence, which she insisted was necessary, would not be obtrusive. "If we don't work with them." she warned a recalcitrant Stefan, "they will be there anyway, and we won't be able to control it." V met Marcus at Kelly's. "You do realize that this is a waste of time," he told her. "We're staking out the Cassadine party. We don't actually need Stefan Cassadine's permission to do it." "Actually, he understands that." Marcus looked at her and she said, "I persuaded him to, anyway. I was just hoping we could work together." "How do we do that, V?" "Stefan Cassadine knows his mother better than anyone. He believes that the party - that the fact that it's in his brother's honor - will draw her out. And Stavros Cassadine is willing to be the bait. I know you have to be there, Marcus. But... if you could just let us make our moves." "Us? You're part of an 'us' over there?" "Marcus, we're all on the same team - you, me, the Cassadines - I know it's hard for you to believe, but it's true. We've all got the same goal - to make sure Helena Cassadine pays for her crimes." "And what about Stavros Cassadine? What about his crimes?" "I'm telling you, I went to that island ready to convict him in my mind of everything short of war crimes in Bosnia, but he's not the same man. Punishing him for Chloe's death would be like punishing a dog for making a mess two days earlier." "Legally, he's in the clear. But it sticks in my craw, V." "It'll stick worse if Helena Cassadine gets away. This is the best way to her. She wants her son back in her power. He's willing to play a dangerous game to stop her. What more do you need?" "V, if it was anyone but you we wouldn't even be having this conversation." "Well, what about your sister?" "What about Gia?" "She believes in this." "Oh, well, we won't talk about Gia's judgment." "Does it ever occur to you that you might be wrong about anything?" "Constantly." He looked around for the waitress. "Look, if we work together we can do this. If you and a couple of reliable men stake out the party discreetly and let us set the pace, I think you've got a heck of a good chance of getting Helena Cassadine back behind bars. But if we're all six ways from Sunday, with you going your way and Stefan and Stavros going another... it's going to be a disaster. I can promise you that." He thought for what seemed like a long time. Finally he said, "I'll run it by Mac. I can't promise anything. But... you make a certain amount of sense. At least... as much sense as anything in this crazy case." "Thank you, Marcus." "Don't thank me. I may end up having to arrest the whole lot of them." "Are you bringing a date?" Alexis turned from her filing cabinet to stare at Jax. "That's kind of personal, isn't it?" "I'm your ex-husband. I get to be personal." "Not if we respect the 'ex' part of that." He shook his head and chuckled. "You're not answering the question." "It's a silly question." "Answer it anyway. I have my reasons." "You always do." "Alexis..." "No, I'm not bringing a date. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not dating anyone right now." "Good." "Good?" "Good. Because now you can bring me." "Excuse me? You want me to bring you as my date to Stefan's party in honor of Stavros' most recent return from the dead?" "Exactly." "Okay, let's skip all the stuff about you making no sense whatsoever and get down to where you tell me why this is a good idea." "Because whatever is going down - and I have a feeling there's far more to it than you're telling me - you and Kristina are going to need me there." "We're fine, Jax. It's going to be all right. There will be plenty of security, and probably some of Port Charles' finest and... believe it or not, Stavros isn't even the biggest threat out there right now." "I'm well aware that it's Helena." He took a step towards her. "You've established that you're an independent woman, Alexis. I admire that. But don't tell me I can't help you." "I feel as if I'm entering this uncharted territory. As if my brother has become someone new, and every idea I've ever had about him is being challenged. And does that mean every other fixed notion I've ever had is going to be up for grabs?" "No. It doesn't have to. Though a little uncertainty is good for all of us." "Including you? You never seem to suffer from it." "I assure you, Alexis... I do." He touched her cheek. After a minute, she nodded. "Okay. I'd love you to come with me. Just... try to keep that uncertainty principle in mind. Because all bets are off." V got back to Wyndemere late that afternoon and went right to her room. She threw her jacket on the bed, and that was when she noticed the beribboned box on her nightstand. It was a ten pound box of the finest Belgian chocolate truffles, a brand she had seen in gourmet stores, but had never dared buy herself. "Oh my God," she said. She could gain weight just looking at them. "Well, just one. For now. And one after dinner..." She started to open the box, and saw the note attached. "Note first," she reminded herself.   My dear Miss Ardanowski, These chocolates are a humble gift in exchange for the gift of your faith, your honest support and concern. You have expressed your dislike for your name. I think of it in the Greek, as Aphrodite... but perhaps Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Truth, would be a better choice. The wisdom and the truth you have shared with me and help me find in myself are sweeter than any of these delicacies. Your quiet presence, calm strength and infinite good humor are a rich and precious gift. Please accept this small token of my appreciation and my affection, my trusted Athena. Yours, Stavros Cassadine PS: Perhaps some day you will learn to appreciate your given name and realize that you truly are Venus rising.   She read the note several times. She had never received one like it. Well. For a man with no memory, he could write like nobody's business. And he knew her guilty secret... she wondered who had given her away... probably Alexis. She would definitely forgive her, V decided as she took a first, heavenly bite of a big, rich truffle. Mmmm... better than anything on earth... She would have to find a way to thank Stavros Cassadine for such a thoughtful gift... The invitation to the Cassadine party arrived at the Quartermaine house, but after much discussion, Alan and Monica decided they would not, could not attend. Their elder son, visiting his grandmother, overheard the discussion. Too bad, AJ thought, but not really. Pocketing the invitation, he took it back to his hotel suite and read it over. The Quartermaines will be represented, he said to himself. This is my chance. The news of the party was carefully leaked to the papers. Helena, who made a point of keeping up with the news, noticed the item immediately. "Andreas," she called. He was at her side immediately. Pointing to the gossip column, she said, "I will need something appropriate to wear..." She imagined Stavros at the party, handsome and regal, his Cassadine medallion against his chest... "My darling," she purred. "Soon we will be together again."   Chapter 17   Stefan, fully dressed and ready, sat in the study, nursing a brandy. A party, he thought. In honor of the re-ascension of the Cassadine Prince. My brother. My demonic, sadistic older brother, twice returned from the grave. He lifted his glass. "To you, Stavros. To your triumph over death, over justice and, ultimately, over yourself. The final triumph, and the one that makes all the others bearable." He thought about the last month, about having Stavros at Wyndemere, watching him regain his strength, gradually losing the fog of uncertainty that swirled around him. Little by little, they were seeing the man he was becoming, unhampered by their twisted upbringing and the imposition of their mother's cruel affections... In a way, he envied him. And yet... wasn't it possible to let go of the past without having to forget it? To learn from it and then move on? Wasn't that what Chloe had tried to teach him? Wasn't it the very core of the work Nancy DaSilva was doing with Stavros? Just then Stavros himself knocked on the door frame. Stefan looked up and smiled. "I see your amnesia doesn't extend to tying a tie." Stavros shook his head. "I seem to have retained most of the important skills." "Come in, come in. I was just having a drink. Would you like one?" Stavros nodded, and Stefan poured him a brandy. "I suspect I will want more than one before tonight is over," he confessed, then said, "But I know I must keep a clear head." "As clear as you can," Stefan agreed. "Stavros, you do understand how dangerous this is, don't you?" "Yes... But that is not a reason to avoid what must be faced. How else will I be free to discover my own life?" Stefan nodded. "Have you any thoughts on what that life may contain?" "Well... for one thing, I am hoping to find something to do." "Something to do?" "I may have lost my... identity, and my memory in one sense, but I still seem to have much of what I've learned in that other life... I have been going crazy wandering around Wyndemere with no real purpose between my sessions with Dr. DaSilva... I read a great deal... do Tai Chi with Nikolas... talk to Miss Ardanowski about... well, all sorts of things. But a man's life should be more than that, don't you think?" "Some men would be grateful for the lack of obligations on their time," Stefan said, thinking that he would be one of them. "Well, I want to do something." Stefan thought carefully. He couldn't help remembering the talk with Nikolas in the waiting room that first day, when the doctors had told them Alexis said, "There are some legal implications here. He can't be held legally liable if he doesn't remember what he did." "That's if he really doesn't remember," Stefan pointed out. "He might be faking it." "If he is, we should be able to prove that." "And if not..." Stefan thought for a moment. "It would be sufficient mental impairment to block him from any involvement with the Estate." Nikolas looked at his uncle. "Why are you talking about the Estate now? Is that the only important thing?" "No, but it needs to be considered... It is your legacy, Nikolas, and I'm bound to protect it." How things had changed since that day... he had certainly changed, small things mostly, but perhaps a few larger ones. And maybe he was still changing. He was pleased to discover that he could do so. He went to the desk and took a file off a stack. After glancing through it, he handed it to Stavros. "Go over this when you have the time. See what you think. Present me with a plan of action. And then we'll talk." Stavros accepted the file with a nod. "Thank you, Stefan." "I'm not promising anything in particular, Stavros." "I understand that." He started out of the room just as Nikolas came in. Father and son smiled at each other, then Nik said, "I was asked to tell you that the ladies are ready." "Thank you, Nikolas," Stefan said. Stavros, replacing the folder Stefan had given him, smiled and said, "So, we have Gia and Miss Ardanowski waiting downstairs for us... don't you wish you had asked Dr. DaSilva to join us for a drink here before the party?" "Why would I do that, Stavros?" Stefan answered, conscious of a mild, rootless irritation. "Because then we all could have left together." "We will see her there," Stefan said. "Yes, of course," Stavros said dryly. "If you have something to say about Dr. DaSilva, I wish you would just do so." Stavros shrugged. "I have nothing in particular to say about her. Except that she is a very attractive woman, and I advise you to make your move soon if you want a chance at all." Nikolas nearly sputtered with laughter. Stefan shook his head. "Why are you even bringing such a thing up? There is nothing between Dr. DaSilva and myself." "No, my brother, and at the rate you are going, there never will be. Which would be a shame." "And why would that be?" "Because I see how you look at her. And... having been responsible for your losing a woman you loved, I should like to see you find that again." How dare you, Stefan wanted to say. Of all the people to bring up Chloe... He doesn't remember, he reminded himself. He isn't responsible. Stefan remembered his irritation when Alexis had said Stavros' amnesia would bar him from being legally accountable for his crimes. Legal accountability was a far cry from real responsibility and Stavros had never taken responsibility for any of the destruction he had sown throughout his life. Which was exactly how their mother had wanted it. Before Helena's demented Endgame, as she called it, the only time he and Stavros had discussed Chloe's death his brother had taunted him with it, saying it was Stefan's fault, actually, because Chloe was going to tell Stefan that Stavros was alive. And so Chloe died, and Stavros lived... again. He shook his head again. He doesn't remember doing it, he isn't legally accountable for it... but he feels responsible. And if there was any way to gauge how much he had really changed since that final confrontation, this was it. Stavros felt responsible. And wanted to do something about it. Something like, fix his brother up with his own bright, beautiful psychiatrist. The woman drives me crazy, Stefan thought. Always needs to be right. He neatly shoved aside the urge to kiss her he had felt the week before, and decided to turn the tables on his brother. "Well, if we're going to talk about ladies and chances, what about your own chances? You're not doing much in pursuit of Miss Ardanowski..." "Well, that is because I am not pursuing her. She is a remarkable woman, straightforward and fearless, but..." "But, what?" Stefan said, smiling. "She is... this is a job to her. I am part of that job. I have no idea what, if anything, she feels about me as a person, as a man. And anyway, I am still finding myself. What can I offer someone else?" "I don't know, Stavros. Why don't you try finding out what she wants?" Nik laughed and said, "I find that works best with Gia, just asking her. And... if Miss Ardanowski is anything like I think she is... at least you'll get an honest answer." Stavros chuckled. "Honest, to say the least.. Well, let's not keep either of them waiting..." The sign at the front door of the Port Charles Grille said 'Closed For Private Party', but the rest of the Port Charles Hotel was very much open for business. No one took special notice of the young man who reserved one of the suites and later brought his invalid grandmother, wrapped in shawls, to occupy it... The suite was the same one in which Helena had held court previously, before Stefan, during her imprisonment, had cut off her funds, shut down the suite and released her remaining staff. This suited her sense of justice, as well as her sense of irony. Not to mention the utter suitability of hiding in such plain sight. And although she enjoyed a certain element of risk, she was not as foolhardy as her sons, and had waited until Jasper Jacks had left his own suite to pick up Alexis and Kristina before she let Andreas smuggle her in. Now she was relaxing on the couch, in an elegant, soft gold Balenciaga. "Our people are in place?" she asked Andreas, in a tone that assumed the answer would be yes. He nodded. "The items you required have all been secured, Madame." "This would have been so much easier with the Ice Princess, but..." She shrugged. "One does what one can." "Madame, if I may be so bold as to ask... after you have His Highness under your influence again... what then?" "He is re-ascending tonight. Grasping the reins of power that were always his by right. When that is done... and when we are side by side, as we were meant to be, Stavros and I will take the world by storm. We will reign over those who once thought they could destroy us." "Very good, Madame," Andreas said with a short nod, and went into the other room. Helena sat back, swirling the wine in her glass, smiling to herself as she thought about the plan she had in place, and the alternatives for when things went wrong... because if experience had taught her nothing else, it was that you had to be prepared for something - or someone - going wrong. Inside the Grille, soft music was playing, the waitstaff were doing some last minute setting up. Marcus Taggert had two men working as waiters and two men patrolling the perimeter. Marcus himself was talking to the events manager when the door opened and the Cassadine party entered. Although it still bothered Taggert to see his sister with them, he had to admit that Gia looked fine, in an Ashanti-styled dress of earth-themed colors, and some funky jewelry. He went over to say hello to her. He hugged Gia, and managed cordial hellos to the three Cassadine men and a more sincerely affectionate one to V, who was sensational-looking in a long, beige cashmere dress with brown leather touches at the shoulders and waist. She was wearing big hoop earrings and her hair was brushed back and moussed. "What do we have here?" he asked. "Versace," Gia informed him. "V in Versace! You like?" "I like V in or out of Versace," he said with a laugh. V looked slightly embarrassed and Marcus noted that Stavros Cassadine looked irritated. "You will be... inconspicuous?" Stefan asked. "I will be whatever I need to be to assure your mother's capture," Taggert responded. Gia gave her brother The Look, but he was far more immune to it than Nikolas. Soon after, the guests started to arrive. Stefan saw Jax enter with Alexis and Kristina, and went to greet them. "You look lovely," he said to Alexis as he kissed her cheek. She had her hair up and was wearing a burgundy velvet gown, very simple, but low cut. "So do you." Kristina was in dark green satin. Each was wearing her half of Kristin Bergman's necklace. "Don't I look lovely?" Jax asked him. "Always," Stefan said, straight-faced. Kristina went over to Stavros and hugged him. Alexis said to Jax, "She has the most open nature of anyone I know." "I know. It's going to get her into trouble one day." "I know. So... why do I wish I was more like her?" "Because you respect innocence." "And of course, as an attorney, I see so much of it." Just then Stefan saw Nancy DaSilva enter. She was wearing a midnight blue gown with a high neck, long sleeves, and a slit up the side that showed her excellent legs. She was wearing a tinselly necklace that looked perfectly wonderful against her neck, and matching earrings. It was a classic, classy look, with a little something extra... That was Nancy DaSilva, he realized, classic and classy, but with a little something extra. He went to her. "Dr. DaSilva, you are a vision." She looked at him with amusement. "Thank you, Mr. Cassadine." "You are welcome." There was laughter in her eyes. She had already taught them all so much... Perhaps she could teach him to laugh again... "Would you like a glass of wine?" "Maybe later. How is everything going?" "We are just getting under way." Other guests were streaming in. People were starting to mingle. He knew he would have to start mixing with them. He glanced at Stavros, looking for signs that he was feeling uncertain or overwhelmed, but his brother seemed to be handling himself well. Still, he held himself at the ready to step in if things became too overpowering. Nancy read his expression. "You have to let him do this. It's the only way he'll know that he can." Stefan nodded, then said, "Will you excuse me for a moment?" "Of course."   At the door, AJ Quartermaine was showing his invitation to the security officer. Stefan stepped forward and said, "You're the Quartermaine boy, aren't you?" "I'm AJ Quartermaine, yes." "I don't want to be rude - " "Then don't," he said with a disarming smile, which Stefan ignored pleasantly. "You aren't on the guest list." "I'm representing my family." He showed Stefan the engraved invitation. "I was under the impression that the Quartermaines had all declined. "Well, we decided that would be rude... I'm sorry if the signals got crossed. If you insist on my leaving, I will, but..." Stefan shook his head. "No, of course not. And I apologize for the misunderstanding." "No problem." He watched as Stefan walked away and placed the invitation in his left inside jacket pocket. Under his right arm was the only other thing he'd brought. A small, sleek, silver item that would finally put paid to Chloe's account. He smiled at some people he knew and accepted a glass of water from a passing waitress. He watched Stavros Cassadine talk with a woman he recognized as V Ardanowski, all dressed up. He'd watch, he'd wait... he'd take his shot. It was only a matter of time.       Chapter 18   "What's AJ doing here?" Alexis murmured suspiciously. Kristina looked in the same direction. "Oh, I remember him. You sort of introduced us here at the Grille that day." She studied AJ. "He doesn't look happy." "AJ Quartermaine is only happy when he thinks he's pulling something on someone." "Alexis! I meant... his aura. It's a sad one." "He's sad all right." Alexis shook her head. "Some day I'll tell you the Quartermaine family history. They're as dysfunctional as the Cassadines, just not as Gothic and grandiose." Kristina looked at her sister. "Why are you so cynical?" "I've lived longer than you." Stavros was talking pleasantly with some people he did not remember, when a waiter bumped into him, which sent him backing into someone else. "Excuse me, sir," the servant said anxiously, as if Stavros' old reputation hung in the air, and he was terrified that the next step would be the dungeon or worse. "It is only water," he assured the man, who was hastily trying to clean him up, his anxious demeanor irritating Stavros more than the actual collision. The man he'd been backed into also apologized to Stavros, but in moments both were gone and he resumed his conversation. The waiter went out towards the terrace and handed something to the man waiting near the door. Andreas gave the waiter a barely perceptible nod and pocketed the medallion and its now broken chain... At the other end of the room, Stefan and Nancy DaSilva joined Stavros. "Anything?" Stefan asked his brother, who shook his head. "Well," Nancy said. "If this doesn't work as a trap for your mother, at least it's a lovely party." Stefan smiled. "It is gracious of you to say so." She turned to look at something at the other end of the room and he admired the graceful curve of her neck, the tendrils of hair curling behind her ear, the splash of her earring tumbling down to graze her shoulder. When she turned back, he refocused his gaze, resting on his brother, when he saw something. Or rather, the absence of something. "Stavros... you were wearing your medallion, weren't you?" "Yes, of course I am." Stefan shook his head. "You are not wearing it." Stavros reached to his throat, then under his collar. "It has slipped under the..." He frowned. "It is gone. Perhaps the chain..." Stefan shook his head. "The medallions are always put on very strong chains." He looked at Nancy. "She is here." "Your mother?" "She has announced herself." Stavros said, "But why in this manner?" "I do not know," Stefan admitted. "It may be that she wants you to think you cannot re-ascend without her. Or she may need the medallion itself for some scheme or another. But... whatever the reason, she is here." "So," Stavros said, "your plan is working." Stefan nodded. "And now...?" "We wait for her next move." And I make sure my people are near you at all times. AJ had slipped out to the terrace unnoticed, and was now positioned behind a hedge tall enough to obscure him but with some conveniently sparse sections that allowed him a clear view. He smiled as Stavros Cassadine came out onto the terrace with V Ardanowski. He was laughing, the laugh of an innocent man, a laugh that filled AJ with anger. "I have barely had a moment with you," he was saying to her. "You are my only friend, I think, and I am talking to these people I do not know, playing the Prince..." "You're playing it well," she assured him. "How would you know?" he teased. "I am probably the first Prince you ever met." "I'll have you know I've been to Monte Carlo, and... other places." Stavros laughed again... Just beyond a pillar, Helena watched, irritated. Stavros still had the most appalling taste in unsuitable women. Well, that would be dealt with, too... "What makes you who you are, V?" Stavros was asking. "Just, I don't know... I eat right and I exercise and... I try not to lie more than absolutely necessary and sometimes not even then." "I see. That is good to know..." AJ took the small revolver out from under his arm. Cassadine was standing with his back to him, in perfect position. He aimed carefully, not wanting V Ardanowski to get caught by a stray bullet. One minute, maybe two... and it would be over. Chloe's murderer would pay for his crime... the Quartermaines would have closure... and he would have done something no one else could do... bring Stavros Cassadine to justice. "I wish you could see yourself clearly," Stavros was saying. "Believe me, I do." "No, no... you are a miracle, my dear Venus..." "Don't call me that." "You are a goddess. Why do you not see that? Truth is beauty, beauty truth, that is all ye know, all ye need know..." "How come you can't remember who you are, but you can quote Keats?" "Different brain cells," he assured her. "And... there are ways in which I do know who I am. Or who I might become." "Which is the important part," V agreed. "But Stavros, I'm V - plain old V - Venus is a mythical creation and I'm just a girl from the rowhouses downtown, don't make me into anything more, please." AJ took in his breath and prepared to pull the trigger. And found that he couldn't do it. Why? he asked himself. It needs to be done. And it needs to be done by a Quartermaine. Why can't I just fire one shot and put an end to it all? What kind of wimp am I? The kind who can't shoot an unarmed man in the back, a voice inside him said. It's the same man who strangled Chloe... a helpless woman, he argued with himself. Why can't I do something he would do without breaking a sweat? Because you can't. And if that makes you a coward, a weakling, a failure... hey, it's not like it's the first time... Behind the pillar, Helena tried to control her disgust. Just then Andreas came up behind her. "Be careful!" she hissed at him. "If I had screamed..." "But Madame, you never do.... You must leave. There are two plainclothesmen patrolling the grounds. They will be here in a few minutes... and there are others inside. As well as your son's own security." "I will not stop now... not when we are so close." "For your own safety, Madame..." Just then, Nikolas stepped onto the terrace. "Father... Uncle is ready to make the announcement." "Thank you, Nikolas." He started to offer his hand to V, who made a motion with her hand. "I'll be in in a sec. I thought I heard something." "Do you want me to - ?" "No... it's all right. It's probably nothing. Go on. Your brother can't do this without you and it's an important part of his plan.." So, Helena thought, Stefan had a plan. An ineffectual one, most likely. She smiled, inspiration striking. "Andreas," she said. "I believe you are right. I will withdraw upstairs." She motioned towards V as Stavros followed Nikolas inside. "Bring Miss Ardanowski."   Chapter 19 AJ had put his gun - as useless as he was - back under his arm, and was preparing to slink away, when he saw something startling: a tuxedo-clad man stepped noiselessly from behind a pillar and in one unified, efficient movement, grabbed V Ardanowski, one hand over her mouth, while its accompanying elbow pressed against her collarbone, the other arm encircling her in a sharp movement that seemed to knock the wind out of her. AJ barely knew V, and this was clearly Cassadine business, which probably meant Cassadine madness. He would be ill-advised - and ill-equipped - to interfere. He knew all this - but his mind seemed too slow for his instinct, which responded viscerally to a woman being dragged off helplessly. He followed them. Inside, Stefan stepped up to the podium. "May I have your attention please? Thank you. Nikolas, Stavros, will you please join me?" He waited for his nephew and brother, and spoke again. "My name is Stefan Darius Mikkosovich Cassadine. I am the younger son of the late Mikkos Cassadine, and trustee of the Cassadine Estate in the name of my nephew, Prince Nikolas Mikhail Stavrosovich Cassadine. This trusteeship, valid under the Laws of Succession of the Estate, was undertaken at the presumed death of Nikolas' father, the elder son of Mikkos Cassadine..." As Stefan spoke, Stavros looked out at their guests. Was Stefan right? Was Helena among them? He saw no sign of her. Then, as he finished scanning the room, he realized that someone else was missing. V. She had said she would be right in. But he did not see her. And she had noticed something - seen, heard something amiss? - on the terrace... Stefan said, "I do hereby recognize, as the one, true indisputable Prince, Stavros Nikolai Mikkosovich Cassadine." He turned to Nikolas, who stepped forward slightly and said, in a strong, clear voice, "I do accept Stavros Nikolai Mikkosovich Cassadine as the one, true, undisputed Prince. From eldest son to eldest son." He turned to embrace his father. "Don't you find this incredibly archaic?" Jax whispered to Alexis. "Absolutely," she said. "But that's the Cassadine Way - wedding a classic aristocratic arrogance to an almost science fiction appetite for technology. Only the Cassadines would use cryogenics to raise a man from the dead, and then hold a ceremony like this to celebrate it." Stavros returned Nikolas' embrace, then stepped up and said, "I do accept the hereditary role of Prince and titular head of the Family." Stefan nodded, prompting a flutter of lukewarm applause. But Stavros was not finished. "In the interests of continuity and the continued prosperity of the Estate, it is my wish that my brother, Stefan Darius Mikkosovich Cassadine, continue in his role of trustee until such time as either myself or my son Nikolas is deemed capable of full service to the Cassadine and all it entails." Jax muttered, "Well, I never..." Alexis nodded. "If I hadn't already made that leap of faith, I'd believe now that he's changed... the Stavros I knew would never have turned away from absolute power." This time it was Stefan and Stavros who embraced, and after more lukewarm applause, the three Cassadine men stepped down into the party. Gia went up to Nikolas. "You were pretty good up there." He smiled at her. "Thanks, Sparky." "So... are you sure you really want to walk away from all this? I mean, it's okay with me either way, but.. you looked pretty comfortable with all that ceremonial stuff." They walked towards the buffet. "Gia, there are many things about my heritage, about my family, that I respect, that I care about... but there is so much that makes me uncomfortable. So much that's just... a trap. And anyway, tonight is really about helping my father and stopping Helena." She nodded. "Okay. Like I said, it's okay either way... but you did look in your element up there." "I was trained in that element from the time I was a little boy." He put his hands on her shoulders. "These last couple of years have been the first time I've been able to find out what my element might be." "I'll tell you what your element is... it's here, with me," she said, as she kissed him... Andreas brought V into the suite. "Welcome," Helena said. "We haven't met officially, but I'm sure you know who I am and I certainly know who you are." She watched as Andreas and the other young man in the suite tied V to a chair. "You shouldn't have interfered, Miss Ardanowski. This is a Cassadine family matter." "Your family matters tend to pull in an awful lot of other people," V noted. "If you understood power, you would understand the need to think globally, but act locally," Helena said. She went to the small desk in the corner and started to write something on a piece of hotel stationery. Andreas, meanwhile, opened a bottle of red wine... "Sorry," V said. "I don't do red wine." "Stavros has always had a taste for it... which I hope has carried over in spite of his current problems. But then his other tastes have." She glanced at V meaningfully, and returned to her writing. V didn't ask Helena what her plans were, or why she thought they would succeed. This was not a James Bond movie, and it was unlikely that Helena would feel moved to deliver a lengthy monologue. Anyway, she seemed to have a front row seat... Helena finished her writing and sealed the sheet of paper in an envelope, handing it to Andreas. "First, the diversion, then the delivery." Andreas nodded and left the suite. Andreas nodded and left the suite. After he left, Helena smiled to herself. "So much to do..." She took a vial out of a wooden box on the desk and poured a small amount of clear liquid into one of the wine glasses. "The wine needs to breathe, and so does this." During her time at Wyndemere, V had heard a great deal about Helena's mind control experiments, the damage done to Lucky Spencer and others. She had no doubt that whatever Helena had put in the glass was along those lines. "Your own son," she said. "How can you?" "Yes," Helena said. "My son. I gave him life - twice! I have never denied him anything. No one has ever loved him as I have - as I do." She shook her head. "He has been misled, turned against me, but I can bring him back to his true nature." "Is that what you call it?" Helena picked up an apple from the fruit and cheese assortment next to the wine and turned it over in her hands. "Silence her," she said to the manservant. V steeled herself, but all he did was tie a thick piece of cloth firmly across her mouth. "When Stavros is himself again," Helena said with a smile, "he may prefer you this way." Downstairs, in the Grille, Stefan made his way to Nancy DaSilva, who was talking with some of her colleagues from the hospital. "May I..?" She nodded and excused herself. Stefan took her out to the terrace, where she said, "What is it?" "I just.." He was thrown slightly by the question, by her businesslike manner. "I have wanted to spend time with you, just you and I, all evening." "So this isn't about your brother?" "No." He smiled slightly. "This is about you. And me. And how lovely you look." She smiled, a little awkwardly. "Thank you." Stefan took her hand and kissed the palm. He was gratified to note that she trembled slightly. "I hope... that this does not represent a conflict of interest..." "I don't think so. In any event, we haven't really done anything..." He nodded. "Allow me to remedy that." Leaning forward, he kissed her gently. She responded to his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. It intensified, and when the kiss broke, she smiled at him. "I think more of... that would be permissible. But if we progressed much further than that, you might want to consider finding another therapist..." He nodded. "I am certain you could recommend someone appropriate. And you did say that Stavros was making remarkable progress..." "Absolutely." She looked up at him as if daring him to kiss her again. But before he could meet the challenge, they heard footsteps behind them. "Stefan." It was Stavros. Without completely letting go of Nancy, he turned to face his brother. "It is V. I cannot find her anywhere. I - I think Mother has her." "What's funny is, you two are almost always on opposite sides from each other, but you have exactly the same world view. Cynical, totally sour on human nature." Gia laughed and sipped at her champagne. "You're the second person tonight to call me cynical," Alexis said. "What about you, Taggert?" Taggert shrugged and said, "I get called worse all the time." One of his men approached and said, "Lieutenant, we just got a call. There's a bomb threat across the street. We're nearest, so Mac wants us to take it." Taggert looked around the room. Helena Cassadine was still on the loose and who was to say she wasn't behind the bomb scare? She'd done lots worse. And wasn't this 'party' for the purpose of smoking her out? "Take the team. I'm staying put for now, but if you find anything significant, call me." The man nodded and went to round up the rest of the squad. Taggert glanced at his sister, and at Alexis Davis; both of them looked anxious. And with good reason, he thought. "Maybe she went to the ladies' room," Nancy said, though she didn't really believe it. Stavros shook his head. "She has been gone since before Stefan made his... speech." He explained about the 'something' she'd heard or seen on the terrace. "I should have stayed with her." Stefan shook his head. "If Mother has her... all it would mean is that she would have you now, too." "But V would not be in danger." There was something in Stavros' tone, something in his eyes, something Stefan had never heard or seen before. But now was not the time to say anything about it. Still, he marveled at it... Stavros, caring more about someone else than about himself. Nancy was saying, "She's a very resourceful woman, Mr. Cassadine. I'm sure she's fine. She may be following a lead of some sort.." Stefan nodded. "She used to be a policewoman, remember." "She has taken our trouble on herself... she is a valiant woman." Stavros looked away. "If only I could remember! I could help..." "If you could remember," Stefan said, "perhaps you would not want to help." Just then, a waiter came out to the terrace and came to Stavros. "Sir, this was left for you." Stavros took the small envelope and ripped it open. My darling Stavros - I can't leave things the way they are between us. I have invited your little 'amusement' for a drink and I sincerely hope that you can join us. If you can find it within yourself to give a lonely old woman an evening's happiness... Suite 2A... come alone... and all will be well. Your loving Mother Wordlessly, Stavros passed the note to Stefan, who read it and then gave it to Nancy. "Before you say anything," Stavros said. "I'm going. Alone. And nothing you can say will stop me."