Chapters 101 & 102
Chapter 101 A Little Help From My Friends
From the living room sofa, Jason watches Alexis tiptoe out of her bedroom and gingerly close the door behind her. "Finally! I thought Stone would never fall asleep."
"I wish you'd let the rest of us help more, " Jason scolds mildly.
Alexis gives him a wry smile, joining him on the couch. "I know you're right. But every time I leave him, all I can think about is getting back to him. I don't even enjoy myself." Pouring Jason some coffee, she changes the subject. "So what did you want to talk about?"
Wordlessly, Jason pulls a legal size envelope from the inner pocket of his leather jacket. "This is for Stone."
Alexis looks at him oddly. "What is it?"
He motions for her to open the envelope. "Open it."
Alexis pulls a thick packet of paperwork out of the envelope. Unfolding it, she scans the contents, her eyes widening as she reads. "No, we can't accept this. It wouldn't be right." She thrusts the papers back into Jason's hands.
Jason's expression hardens. "Yes, you will and it is. I promised Sonny I'd look after you and the baby. Most of what I inherited would have been Stone's and yours if Sonny had had a chance to change his will."
"I have plenty of money of my own," She argues in exasperation. "We don't need it and Sonny meant for you to have it."
"Alexis, this trust fund honors my vow to Sonny. Not only that, you know Sonny would want a hand in supporting his only child." Jason shoves the papers into the envelope and hands it back to her. "This isn't negotiable. If you don't accept the trust fund for Stone, I will keep it for him myself."
With a heavy sigh, Alexis takes the envelope again. "Put that way, I can't refuse. Thank you, Jason. I won't deny Sonny's only concrete contribution to Stone's upbringing." A shadow of sadness crosses her face. "He's in my thoughts all the time lately. I miss him so much. He should be here, sharing all of Stone's firsts with me."
Jason takes her hand and squeezes it. "You're right, he should be."
"I've been doing a lot of thinking since Stone's birth, and I've come to an important decision. I want all the bodyguards removed."
Jason shakes his head. "Absolutely not."
Alexis is adamant. "I mean this, Jason. A life full of danger, fear, and bodyguards is not what I want for me or my son." Her voice gets soft. "I want his childhood to be as normal as possible."
"Nice dream but it's not very practical. Bottom line, Stone is a target because he's rich, a Cassadine and Sonny's son. Anyone with half a brain would see him as perfect way to control me or the Cassadine."
"A life surrounded by bodyguards and constant fear is no life for a small child!" Alexis' face is flushed with anger. "I won't let Stone live like that. I'd rather move to some remote island."
Jason ponders the dilemma. He can see her point, but it doesn't change the facts. Alexis and Stone would be sitting ducks without some sort of protection. "What if I could find bodyguards that would be less obtrusive, that would blend in?"
"I'd think about it."
In quiet part of the Quartermaine mansion, Laura and Monica finish up their dinner. "This was delicious, Monica," Laura says as she wipes her mouth delicately.
Monica smiles at Laura and her empty plate. "Glad you enjoyed it. I'll make sure Cook hears about it. Maybe it will improve her mood. Lord knows Edwards constant grousing does nothing for it and she's missing Emily terribly."
"Lucky mentioned Emily moved out. That must be hard on you and Alan," Laura says sympathetically.
Monica nods sadly. "Yes, we miss her terribly. And I can't help but think we drove her away. She said as much when she moved out. I guess Alan and I have to face the fact that we're failures as parents. AJ's marriage to Keesha has fallen apart and he's starting his recovery all over again. And Jason, he's back to being the mob boss of upstate New York. We're 0 for 3. Can't get any worse than that."
Laura looks at her helplessly, not sure of any way to comfort her friend. "I'm sorry, Monica. I can see how hard all of this is on you."
"Well Alan and I are no strangers to this kind of pain. We've been here before. I know Carly is part of your family, but I hate the idea of Emily living under her roof. After what she did to AJ..." Monica shakes her head.
"That was a long time ago. I honestly think Carly has grown up. I know both Luke and Ruby thought so."
"I hope you're right for Emily's sake," Monica replies as she puts her napkin on the table. "I'm sure you've noticed how close Emily and Lucky have become. They're practically inseparable."
"Yes, I know," Laura agrees. "She's been so wonderful in helping Lucky deal with the aftermath of Luke's death. And I can see by the way Lucky talks of Emily that he cares for her deeply."
"The same goes for Emily. I had lunch with her yesterday. It was all 'Lucky this and Lucky says'. I just hope they don't rush things. How is Lulu doing? She started Kindergarten this year, right?"
"Yes, just last month," Laura says with a smile. "I can't believe she's in school part time now. Seems like it was just yesterday that she was in diapers."
Monica gives a small laugh. "Well, that's a stage you won't have to worry about again."
The knot in Laura's stomach that has been ever-present the last few days tightens, the realization that soon it will be obvious to everyone that's she's pregnant. "I have some news," she says quietly. "And I want you to hear it from me first."
"That sounds ominous," Monica replies, confused by Laura's sudden change in mood.
"I'm pregnant."
Monica's mouth hangs open. "WHAT?! How? Or more importantly, WHO?!"
"Stefan."
Monica is stunned speechless. This had to be some kind of joke, but Laura isn't laughing. In fact, Laura looks pale and scared. It didn't make sense that it would be Stefan. Monica would have noticed if Laura had been dating Stefan; heck, the whole town would have been buzzing about it. A horrible thought occurs to her. "He didn't force himself on you?" Monica breathes a sigh of relief when she sees Laura shake her head. "And you just found out?"
Laura nods. "Two days ago..." She gulps deeply. "Other than knowing I'm going to keep the baby, I have no idea what I'm going to do."
"Stefan can be a dangerous man, Laura. I don't have to tell you that. You've experienced it first hand. You haven't told him, have you?"
"Actually, I have. I thought he deserved to know." Laura feels the urge to defend him and her decision to tell him. "There's no way I could have hidden it from him anyway. And despite everything else, he's been a good parent to Nikolas."
"That's true enough," Monica replies soothingly. Now that the initial shock has worn off, she realizes what Laura needs a sympathetic ear, not someone judging her. "This must be very overwhelming for you, Laura. It's overwhelming for me, and I'm not the one who's pregnant. What I can do to help?"
"Be my friend?" Laura asks pleadingly.
Monica grabs Laura's hand and squeezes it tightly. "Always."
Lucky lays on Emily's bed reading a magazine while Emily does her calculus homework on the computer. "I'm almost done here with my homework. What do you want to do?"
"Order pizza and eat in?"
Emily throws a smirk over her shoulder before returning to her math problem. "We always do that! Don't you want to go somewhere, do something?"
Lucky tosses the magazine onto the night table and comes up behind Emily. "Yes, there is a thing or two I want to do tonight..." He plants a soft kiss at the base of her neck causing her to shiver. "Unless there's something else you'd rather do?" His hands span the back of her neck and massage it gently.
Emily leans her head back and closes her eyes. "Keep that up and I won't get the last problem done."
Lucky chuckles, his hand stretching her sweater toward her shoulder to reveal more skin. "Just call me a bad influence. Tell me you want me, Emily."
Emily shudders when his lips brush the skin between her neck and shoulder. "You know I want you," she responds in a hoarse whisper.
The phone rings and Lucky growls, releasing Emily so she can answer the phone. "Oh hi, Nikolas! Yeah, Lucky's here. Just a sec."
Lucky takes the phone. "What do you want, Nikky?"
Nikolas chuckles at the edge in Lucky's voice. "Did I interrupt something, little brother?"
"None of your damn business. What's up?"
"I definitely interrupted something," Nikolas teases. "I just wanted to know if you can meet me on campus with LesleyLu on Friday."
"Oh, right. The sleepover." Lucky pauses for a moment, mentally recalling his schedule on Friday. "How about four o'clock at the Student Union? I have to be at the club early to prepare for the weekend rush."
"My last class finishes at three-thirty, that will work fine. See you then, little brother."
Lucky hangs up the phone at the same time Emily turns off her computer. "Now where were we?" He asks, pulling her into a passionate kiss.
Emily breaks the kiss long enough to answer. "You were trying to convince me that staying in tonight was a good idea."
"Oh yeah, that's it." Lucky edges her toward the bed and quickly dispenses with her sweater, his hands finding all the pleasurable places. "How am I doing so far?"
Emily groans when he unclasps her bra and presses her back into the pillows on the bed. "You're doing fine, just fine."
"You never did tell me how Stefan reacted to the news," Monica asks Laura as they continue talking.
Laura shrugs. "He was pretty shocked and little worried about my health. What worries me most is what he's going to do when the baby's born. He might try to fight for custody."
"That wouldn't be a surprise coming from him," Monica agrees. The concern for her friend is written clearly on her face. "You need to take steps to protect yourself, Laura. If he fights you for custody, he's going to fight to win, no matter how dirty it gets."
If at all possible, Laura becomes paler at Monica's confirmation of her worst fears. "You think I should talk to a lawyer?"
"It can't hurt."
"Stefan made it very clear that he wants to be involved in raising this child," Laura takes a steadying breath. "What if talking to a lawyer sets him off? Right now it's just between Stefan and me. If I bring a lawyer in, he'll probably do the same. Besides, children need both parents."
"Even if one parent is a Cassadine?" Monica asks.
"I had a talk with Alexis earlier. She seems to think Stefan would want to marry me to make the child legitimate." Laura looks at her hands pensively. "All of this is too much."
"Well you remember what happened to Bobbie when she married him. It ended in disaster and there wasn't a baby involved." Monica takes Laura's hand again. "I'm worried for you, Laura. Stefan Cassadine is powerful and ruthless under normal circumstances."
Laura doesn't argue the point because it would be fruitless. No one outside a select few saw or understood the kindness in Stefan. His generosity with his family, her, Lulu, even on occasion, Lucky. She didn't know how to reconcile the two very different parts of him. One side ruthless and heartless, the other side loving and generous.
Laura looks at her watch and takes the opportunity to escape. "Oh, I better go. Betty's expecting me any time now. Thanks, Monica. I'll give Justus a call if I decide I need a lawyer."
Monica follows Laura to the door. "Just know that I'm on your side, Laura. If you need anything, anything at all, just call."
Chapter 102 It Can't Wait
Keisha stares at the large packet of papers on the desk in front of her. She never expected this to happen. Divorce, and not a simple one either. One that affected her child... their child, Bradley. Blinking back tears, she mutters, "No point crying over something long dead. Time to finally get on with my life." Picking up the phone she dials a number from memory. "Damn, got the machine.... AJ, it's Keisha. We need to talk. Give me a call as soon as you get this, it's important. Bye."
Saturday morning, Stefan and Lulu play checkers on Stefan's chess table. "King me!" Lulu demands when her piece gets to his end of the board.
Stefan puts a checker piece on top of hers, saying with a hint of sadness. "I think you are going to beat me."
Lulu giggles as she captures two of his pieces. "Lucky says I'm a checker-shark. Sort of like a card shark I think. So what do I get when I win?"
Stefan stifles a smile. "You don't lack confidence, do you, Angel? What would you like to win?"
"Ummmm...." Lulu pumps her legs back and forth under the chair. "One of Mrs Lansbury's brownies?"
"There is already one waiting for you in the kitchen." Stefan pauses to move a checker piece. "It has to be something I can give you of which your mother would approve."
"Oh." Lulu frowns with concentration, then her eyes light up with an idea. "I know! A picture of Timmy!" Timmy leaps next to Lulu at the sound of his name. Lulu hugs him tightly, causing him to struggle. "I wish I could take him home with me."
"Then I would be terribly lonely," Stefan says with complete seriousness.
"Then I'm glad he lives with you," says Lulu generously. "I don't want you to be lonely." She kisses Timmy on the head and hands the kitty over to Stefan. After receiving a few strokes on the head from Stefan, Timmy leaps down and bounds over to a large window sill to look outside. Meanwhile Lulu captures Stefan's last checker piece. "I win!"
"Very good, Angel. Shall we find your sketch pad and pastels?"
"Hi, you two," Nikolas says cheerfully as he enters. "Having fun without me?"
"Hi, Nikky!" Lulu extends her arms out for Stefan to pick her up. "Where's Gina?"
Nikolas follows Stefan who carries Lulu out of the gameroom. "She's at the college library doing a term paper. In fact, I have to go there myself."
"Does that mean you won't be able to take me home?" Lulu asks, with a little too much excitement in her voice.
Nikolas tries to smother a grin unsuccessfully."No, I can't take you home, little sister. I'm very behind on my studies; Gina and I both are after being out of town for so long. Either Mother will have to pick you up or Uncle will have to bring you home."
"Ahhh," Stefan replies with a knowing smile, having noticed the undercurrents between Lulu and Nikolas. "There is nothing to worry about; I will see you home, Angel. I have something I plan to pick up for your mother anyway. And I need a lady's opinion. Would you be willing to help me?"
"Something for Mommy? What is it?" Lulu settles down in the couch next to Stefan as he sets out her sketch pad and pastels.
"A surprise."
"Thanks for seeing me on a Saturday," Alexis thanks Tom. "This is above and beyond the call of duty."
"It didn't sound like it could wait until next week." Tom ushers Alexis into his office. "So how are you and the baby doing?"
Alexis' eyes light up with love. "Stone's doing great. Gaining weight daily, he's even outgrown some of his newborn baby clothes already. And the love I feel for him grows more every day if that's possible. He's amazing."
Tom smiles as he remembers the first time he held his son. The wonderment, the instant love. "Yes, I think can relate to that. I felt much the same way when my son was born." He takes a seat across from her. "You weren't specific on the phone about why you asked for a session."
"I guess Stone's birth stirred some things up about Sonny's death. You know, I thought I'd put that awful night in the back of my mind. The shooting, the blood, his last words..." Alexis' voice quivers with sadness. "But it's like he died all over again. I've even had a nightmare recently. I haven't had one of those in a couple months."
"It's very natural for you to be thinking about Sonny now, especially during major life changes like Stone's birth." Tom leans forward and softens his words. "You'll be grieving Sonny's death for quite some time."
"I know, you told me that before." Alexis gets up and paces the room. "What I didn't expect is how angry I'd be. Why?! Why did Sonny have to die? He was supposed to be here for Stone's birth. To hold him, to change his diapers... to love him." Overwhelmed by sadness and anger, the tears behind her eyes spill. She sags into her chair. "Why did it have to happen?"
"Who are you angry at? Sonny?" Tom asks quietly.
"I'm angry at myself .." Alexis hesitates for a moment, then presses on, her decision made. "But most of all I'm angry at the woman who murdered him."
Tom leans back slightly, surprised. "You've been very adamant about not discussing the circumstances of Sonny's murder."
"Well if I don't talk about it, the rage is going to choke me." Alexis' voice, normally lighthearted and teasing, turns gritty and cold. "I should have killed her when I had a chance."
Tom watches her silently, not wanting to interfere with her revelation in any way. Instead he lets her set the pace and content.
Alexis looks at him quizzically. "What? No reaction? You certainly had plenty to say when I talked of my own wish that I had died that night."
Tom shrugs casually. "Why react? You have every right to your feelings. Can't say I'd blame you if you killed her. Whoever she is."
"Perhaps you should be more careful with your words, I can still kill the old hag. In fact, I just might." Alexis furiously wipes the tears that stubbornly continue to fall. "I despise THAT bitch with everything that I am. Did I tell you the ironic part of this sad twisted tale? I suppose I didn't."
"You probably didn't."
"I was supposed to die, not Sonny. The hit was meant for ME." Alexis shakes her head at the irony. "So his death is my fault. It was my family that ordered the hit and it was meant for me. And if I'd just stayed away from Sonny like I planned, he'd still be alive."
"Like you planned?" Tom asks.
"Remember I told you in the beginning that Sonny broke up with me for a few months, just before we married? I tried to drive him away with the worst lie I could muster. Ned actually gave me the inspiration...."
"Alexis!" Ned says in exasperation into the phone. "How could you get involved with Sonny Corinthos of all people? You're an intelligent woman, you know what he's capable of."
Alexis rubs her temple, already hating this conversation even though it just started. "Ned, of course I know what Sonny's capable of. My family is capable of worse. So what is the big deal?"
"This is no minor mobster, Alexis. He's big time. And he'll get you killed, just like his first wife. He almost got Brenda killed too."
"Well, that's no great loss, given what I know about the girl," Alexis replies wryly. "She's an idiot, Ned. I'm sorry, I know she's a good friend of yours, but she doesn't have the sense that God gave a gnat."
Ned ignores her cheap shots at Brenda. "Did you know she got shot at in the shower? Are you prepared for that kind of violence, Alexis? I don't think even the Cassadine lifestyle is that precarious."
"You'd be surprised. You haven't known us long enough to really know."
"Alexis, this is serious, stop making jokes." Ned retorts. "Brenda was terrified after that incident. Sonny kept her in the dark about his business. When she asked, he lied about it. She got so desperate that she wore a wire hoping to get information to turn over the authorities. At the time, she thought it might be the only way to keep him safe."
Alexis whistles softly. "She betrayed him? She's lucky to be alive. What kind of idiot thinks that by turning her lover into the police he's going to be safe? I gather she didn't turn him in."
"He found the wire before she could get any information."
"She's lucky it was Sonny. Any other mobster probably would have killed her." Alexis says incredulously. "She's very lucky."
"Not that lucky, he went ballistic and threw her out." Ned explains. "After that, he made her life a living hell and he never trusted her again. He tried to, but in the end he couldn't. I think it's why he left her at the altar."
"That's no surprise. Am I supposed to feel sorry for the little twit?"
"No!" Ned yells back in frustration. "You're supposed to learn from her experience. Stay away from him, Alexis. You'll end up dead or brokenhearted. I care about you. I don't want to see you hurt."
"Great, then be happy for me that I'm having fun. That's all this is about."
".... So later," Alexis sums up. "When I realized that things had gotten too serious with Sonny, I just took a page out of Brenda's book. I told Sonny I was spying on him for Stefan."
