CHAPTER FOUR: BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT

 


It's morning. Jason Morgan stirs slightly and opens his eyes,hoping to watch his wife sleep. He sits up when he realizes that she's not there. "Robin?" he calls out while getting out of bed.

Jason gets all the way downstairs without seeing anyone. As he peeks in the living room, he sees Robin sitting in the rocker with her eyes closed, rocking Michael. Michael is sprawled out, but sitting in his mother's lap as best as he can, considering the fact that she's eight months pregnant.

Jason takes Michael out of Robin's lap and kisses her on the forehead, "I'm not asleep, really," she mumbles, giving away the fact that she is truly asleep.

Michael opens his lively brown eyes and smiles when he sees his father, then closes them again and falls back to sleep while in Jason's arms.

Jason takes his son upstairs and puts him in bed. By the time Jason can get back downstairs, Robin is in the kitchen making breakfast. Jason slips his arms around her from behind and nuzzles her neck. She moans softly in response.

"How long have you been up with Michael?"

"It's about 6:30 now, right?" Robin asks as she turns to face Jason.
He nods in reply. "Then I guess since about 4."

Jason frowns, "Honey, you're going to exhaust yourself. I think we need to get some help for you around here."

Robin shakes her head, "No Jason, I can manage all of this myself. I did just fine when Mike was born."

"Okay baby, just know that the option is there."

Robin smiles and kisses him lovingly. As a response, they both hear Michael starting to cry from upstairs, "MOMMY!" he yells.

Robin buries her head in Jason's chest and sighs audibly. Jason strokes her hair and kisses the top of her head.

Robin calls upstairs, "I'm coming, Mike." She smiles at Jason and says, "I can do this," as she slowly goes upstairs, yawning.

*****

Laura rolls over in bed and notices that Stefan is already up. She gets up and slips on her robe. On her way downstairs, she passes Lu's bedroom. She opens the door quietly and peeks in at her daughter.

Laura smiles as she sees Lu curled up in Georgie Jones' sleeping bag on the floor and Georgie nestled comfortably in Lu's overstuffed canopy bed.

Laura goes on downstairs and as she approaches the living room, she hears voices arguing in hushed whispers.

Inside the room, Stefan is trying to explain his frustration to Alexis, but she is simply refusing to listen.

"No, Stefan. I simply cannot do this. I won't do it. Besides, I have too many other things I'm involved in."

"Alexis, you don't understand. This is a simple corporate operation."

Throwing up her heads in disgust, Alexis counters back, "Cousin, I do understand. You're doing something to protect the family. I respect that, but I think this is overkill. What you are trying to do requires more than I can do alone. You have all the people necessary on staff at Cassadine Enterprises. Usethem."

"Nikolas has them on staff. This isn't about business, it's personal. I don't want Cassadine Enterprises involved in this, per se."

"You want this done, but you want it anonymous?"

Stefan smiles, "Not exactly. I have a plan."

Alexis shakes her head, "If you didn't, I would suggest you see a professional immediately." She smiles and adds jokingly, "I happen to know a good shrink."

Laura picks this moment to enter the room. Stefan walks up to her and kisses her lovingly on the cheek, "Good morning, Lasha. Are you feeling better today?"

Laura nods, "Yes, thank you." She looks at Alexis, "Good morning, Alexis. You're out and about early for a Saturday."

Alexis smiles, "I had to drop off Stone early for soccer practice."

Laura smiles in return, "He's really excited about his first game later this week, isn't he?"

"He hasn't stopped talking about it since they put him on first string. Are you both planning on being there?"

"I will. Absolutely," Laura says.

Mrs. Lansbury enters with a tray of coffee and breakfast muffins. "Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine, Mrs. Hardy. Here is your morning coffee. If there's anything else I can get you, just let me know."

Stefan nods as she sets the tray down, "Thank you, Mrs. Lansbury." Mrs. Lansbury smiles at everyone then takes her leave.

Alexis glances at the tray as Laura offers her a cup of coffee. "I can't stay really. I have another meeting to go to."

Stefan helps Alexis with her coat. Softly, he says, "We will discuss this again, Cousin."

Alexis only smiles at him and says goodbye to Laura before leaving. Laura sits down on the sofa. Stefan crosses the room and sits next to her. He looks intently into her eyes with concern. "Lasha, we need to have a serious discussion."

*****

Emily yawns as she opens the front door to the gatehouse. Gina is standing there. "Thanks for coming so quickly, Gina."

Gina looks at her friend with worry. "You made it sound important. Emily, what's wrong, I can see it written all over your face."

Emily motions Gina towards the sofa. Gina sits, realizing that this could be a long conversation. "Can I get you anything?" Emily asks.

Gina shakes her head, "Just tell me why you're so upset."

Emily looks blankly at Gina.

Gina sighs, "What does this have to do with oaky?"

"I'm carrying his child."

Gina's eyes go wide, "When did you find out?"

Emily frowns, "Yesterday. Gina, this has spiraled out of control so fast. I don't know what to do anymore." Within a few moments, Emily is sobbing all over again. Gina reaches over and hugs Emily consolingly.
After a minute, Emily regains her control and continues, "You know Lucky like I do and he's not ready to settle down."

Gina wonders for a second, "You and he always take off together at just a moment's notice. I always thought that you two were made to do anything--including raising a family."

"The same thing could have been said about you and Nik."

Gina changes the subject, "What does Lucky think about being a father?"

Emily looks down, "He doesn't know yet," she says quietly. "And there's another factor."

"What?" Gina asks, slightly concerned.

Emily shakes her head, "I, uh, well, you know that I've been sort of, well, dating, Tom Hardy on occasion too."

Gina raises an eyebrow, "No, I hadn't heard that."

"Well, I have. Lucky's and my relationship has been rather, well, undefined. Anyway, Tom proposed when he found out about the baby. He wants to raise it as his own. Even if it is Lucky's."

"Then you don't know for sure that it's Lucky's?"

Emily shakes her head, "No, it's definitely Lucky's. I've not slept with Tom since before Christmas. This baby is, well, a more recent development. Lucky and I were just thinking about getting serious, or so I thought. And now, well, this is like a huge step backwards for us. Lucky was just starting to trust me again after what happened with Nikolas years ago. He just couldn't get past that with me, you know? It was like it was okay for Nikolas, and okay for him when he slept with you after your breakup with AJ, but heaven help little Emily that she well, nevermind. That's in the past. But now, when he finds out about Tom, you just might as well count our friendship romance thing over."

"Does that mean you're going to accept Tom's proposal?"

Emily looked up at her. "I'm seriously thinking about it. Sure, I never expected that to become anything, but he would be a good father to the baby. I could really be happy with him, I think."

"But you love Lucky."

Emily sighs. "I don't know what I feel anymore." She quickly stands up and adds, "Except sick." She rushes upstairs to the bathroom, again.

*****