Chapters 111 & 112

 

 

Chapter 111 No More Pretending

 

Jason has just told Alexis about his conversation with Sonny a few weeks after the break up. "So what did Luke tell Sonny?" Alexis asks.

"Not anything that Sonny didn't already know. Anyway, Sonny decided to pay a visit on your cousin. You probably know the rest." Jason changes the subject. "Alexis, you and Stone need protection. You know that."

Alexis rises and walks to the window overlooking the city. "Yes, thanks to Jan, I can't pretend any more."

"Does that mean you'll agree to bodyguards?"

Alexis doesn't turn to face him when she answers, but continues to gaze out the window. "One bodyguard. Only one. I don't particularly care who, just so long as they don't look like one. Even Jan Landers would be okay, although she could use a lesson in sensitivity."

"She knows she was brutally blunt, but she's the natural choice. She likes kids and she's got security experience." Jason joins her at the window, standing behind her to look at the same view. "You're doing the right thing."

Alexis nods sadly. "I hate that it has to be this way, Jason. I know the security would have been tighter if Sonny were alive, but at least Stone and I would have had him with us."

---

A giddy Carly fumbles with the keys to the diner while an amused Benny looks on. Just as she's about to put the key in the lock, she drops the whole set of keys. "Oops! I must be all thumbs tonight."

"Or maybe just a tad tipsy?" He teases as he retrieves the keys and unlocks the door with little difficulty.

"Maybe just a little," Carly says with a chuckle. "I wasn't planning on drinking much, but we were having so much fun..."

Benny puts his hand in the small of her back and leads her to her apartment. "Yes, we sure did, didn't we?" He says while unlocking her door.

Instead of opening her door, she turns around to face him. "Thank you, Benny. For making sure I had fun tonight, for everything you do for me..." Her eyes glow with warm appreciation. Impulsively, she cups his cheek and reaches up to kiss him gently on the lips. His lips part slightly on contact, inviting her to deepen the kiss. Unable to resist, she strokes his parted lips with her tongue.

The teasing kiss makes him moan with deep longing. Burying his hands in her hair, he presses her against the door of her apartment and kisses her until they're both breathless. "Damn, that was too good. You have no idea how much I want you, Caroline."

"I think I do.." She murmurs, still shaking with desire from the searing kiss. She turns the knob of her apartment. "Come inside with me." Grabbing his hand, she starts to pull him inside.

He stands rooted to the spot, causing her to come to an abrupt stop. "No, not like this. If I do, I'll make love to you."

Carly looks confused, almost a little hurt. "Isn't that what you want? You just said you wanted me, and I want you too."

He pulls her back into the hallway and into his arms. "When we make love I want us both to be stone cold sober. You're too important to me to be a one night stand. Or a drunken mistake."

Carly is so moved her eyes glisten. "No one has ever cared that much about my feelings." She holds him so tight, he winces. "You better watch out, I'm likely to fall in love with you."

Benny caresses the top of her head gently. "If the guys you go out with treat you like that, then they're selfish jerks." He frames her face with his hands and forces her to look at him. "Listen to me, Caroline. You are a warm, generous, loving woman. You deserve to be treated with respect, with love."

Carly starts to cry but nods. "When you say that, I almost believe it."

He kisses her with such sweet intensity her knees wobble. "It's true, Caroline. Don't let anyone ever make you believe differently." He kisses the top of her head. "I better go before I break my promise."

Unable to speak or to stop crying, Carly hugs him one last time before retreating to her apartment.

---

The next morning, Lulu scampers up the steps of the Jones mountain cabin carrying brightly colored leaves. Laura, looking relaxed for the first time since learning of her pregnancy, trails behind her. They are both hit with a blast of warm air when Lulu opens the cabin door.

"Oh Mommy! The cabin's nice and toasty now!" Lulu carries the leaves to the table. "Can I have some hot cocoa?"

Laura dumps her winter coat over the chair and puts a pot on the stove. "Coming right up."

Lulu retrieves a large white piece of paper from her art supplies and starts arranging the large leaves on it. "These are the prettiest leaves ever!"

"What are you going to make, honey?" Laura asks curiously.

Lulu grabs the Elmer's glue begins gluing the leaves onto the paper. " I'm going to make a forest for Stefan."

"That's a good idea..." Laura says, watching Lulu work. "You really like him a lot, don't you?"

"I love him tons and tons," Lulu gushes enthusiastically, continuing her art project. "Mommy, do you like two or three leaf trees best?"

Laura considers her question. "Ummm, I'd say two big leaves or three small leaves are best... like this." She arranges the leaves for Lulu. " So what do like about Stefan?"

Lulu, seizing the opportunity Laura gives her, starts listing things off. "Lots of things... he listens when I tell him things, he hugs me when I'm sad or have nightmares, he draws with me, he plays games with me and teaches me new ones.... and does lots of other things too."

Laura smiles at her daughter indulgently. "Sounds like you think he's pretty wonderful."

"He is. Ummm.. Mommy..." Lulu suddenly becomes somber. "If I tell you something will you promise not to be mad at me or Stefan?"

Laura's heart sinks to her stomach. If Lulu has a secret about Stefan it couldn't be good. "I'll try, but you know I can't promise I won't be upset. You still have to be honest with me because I'm your Mommy."

"I know..." Lulu bites her lip nervously, then blurts out the secret. "Stefan visited me in the daycare when he wasn't supposed to. He did it because I called him all upset when I was missing him one day. Please don't be mad at him, Mommy!" She pleads, looking like she might cry.

Laura laughs with relief and gives Lulu a squeeze "Oh, Sweetheart. I know all about that. Miss Smithson told me the day he came by and then Stefan told me a few days later. I understand he brought Timmy to see you too."

"So you're not mad?" Lulu asks hopefully.

Laura kisses her on the top of her head. "Not in the least. I know he did it because he cares about you. And I was very wrong to try and keep you two from being friends. Will you forgive me?"

Lulu kisses her mother effusively. "Of course I forgive you! You're my mommy."

"You are most generous, LesleyLu Spencer." Laura says in a teasing tone, causing Lulu to giggle. Laura sits down at the table and draws Lulu into her lap. "Okay, one more question, then I'll stop bugging you. It's a big one, though."

"Go for it, Mommy."

"How much time would you really like to spend with Stefan? I'm not promising anything, punkin, but I need to know how important he is to you."

Lulu ponders the question with the seriousness of a girl much older than five years. If she told her mother what she really wanted, would her mother be mad? "If I told you, you would get mad or sad and it wouldn't happen anyway."

Laura is amazed by her daughter's intuitiveness. Obviously the losses her daughter has suffered have made her much older in spirit than she is in body. Maybe this would end up hurting Lulu, but she had to know."Lulu, honey. I won't be mad or upset with you, I just want to know how much this friendship with Stefan means to you. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lulu closes her eyes with dread and blurts it out. "I want Stefan to be my new daddy. Please don't be mad or think I don't love my real daddy, but he's not ever coming back!" Lulu breaks down into tears.

Laura starts to cry herself as she rocks Lulu soothingly, reassuring her repeatedly. "I know you love Daddy, honey. I know you do. I'm not mad at you at all. Not at all, Honey. Thank you for telling me. No matter what happens, everything's going to be okay. I could never be mad with you about something like this."

Lulu crying slows to sniffle. "You're not mad? You're not going to make me stop visiting Stefan?"

"No, not when he's so important to you," Laura reassures her with a squeeze. "Whatever else happens, you can count on that."

They cuddle in silence for a long time, when suddenly Lulu sniffs the air. "Mommy, is the milk burning?"

"Yikes!" Dropping Lulu off her lap, Laura rushes over to the stove and pulls pot full the black milk off. "Sorry, Honey. I think I struck out on the cocoa."

---

At Wyndemere, Stefan holds a dozing Stone while he, Alexis, Gina and Nikolas visit. Rather than looking awkward, cradling the baby seems second nature. He remains removed from most of the conversation, preferring instead to rock Stone and gaze off into space.

"Stefan? Stefan! Are you still with us?" Alexis prods for the second time during the visit.

Stefan is mildly irritated by the interruption into his private thoughts. "Yes, of course I am. Why is it that my family insists on becoming alarmed merely because I wish to be silent?"

Alexis, Nikolas, and Gina exchange glances, then Nikolas stands up. "It looks like Stone is sleeping, why don't Gina and I put him in the nursery so he can sleep better? It'll give us a taste of what it will be like when we have a child."

After a long pause, during which Stefan looks as if he might not give up the child, he gingerly lays the baby in Nikolas's crooked arm. "Make sure to lie him on the side and prop him up with blankets..."

Nikolas's brows furrow, as if it didn't make sense coming from Stefan. "Don't worry, Gina and I will take good care of him."

Alexis waits for Nik and Gina to leave before saying, "Laura's pregnancy has really affected you, hasn't it? You realize Nikolas and Gina are wondering what the hell is wrong with you."

"I imagine they are, but it is not time to tell them yet." Stefan gives a weary sigh. "Everything has changed since I learned of the baby... everything. Nikolas used to be the single-most important person in my life. Raising him gave me the greatest joy. Now he is a man... with a wife and a life all his own. He really doesn't need me. And now... there is another baby on the way... MY child. With a woman I have loved for decades, but who does not love me the same way. It is ironic, because I wondered what I would do with myself now that Nikolas is a man. I don't have to worry about that anyway."

Alexis gives him a wry smile. "Now you have a truckload of worries. I know all about it. Have you and Laura spoken since she told you?"

Stefan nods. "Yes. We have had a few promising conversations. We have both committed to work together to raise the child. You were right, Alexis. She was terrified that I might attempt to take the child."

"And you've convinced her you have no intention of doing that," Alexis surmises.

"Yes, as best I could. She has lost enough because of our family, the least I can do to make amends for that is to keep my promise about this. And..." Stefan continues. "I have asked her to marry me."

Alexis doesn't seem surprised. "And that is why she's out of town, she's considering your proposal. If she's smart, she will say yes. You have what it takes to be a wonderful father and husband, Stefan."

"I am not so certain about my abilities as a husband. I was less a less than stellar husband while married to Barbara. It is still unfathomable to me that I destroyed my marriage and almost turned away from my family all for a woman as unexceptional as Katherine Bell."

"You are allowed to be human, Stefan," Alexis argues. "Yes, getting involved with Katherine Bell was a horrible mistake, one you wouldn't have made if you hadn't been on the rebound from the love of your life, a woman you couldn't have. But now you are on the threshold of marriage with that same woman. Laura is the woman you've loved for most of your adult life. I don't think you'll be repeating the same mistakes. For one, you will be marrying for the best of reasons, love."

At that, Stefan shakes his head sadly. "I may love Laura with everything that is good in me, but if we marry, it won't be for love. We will be marrying for the children... LeselyLu, the new baby, and Nikolas. I just pray it is enough."

 

 

Chapter 112: Accosted On All Fronts

Stefan and Alexis continue their conversation. "Enough about me. How are you, Alexis? Taking care of a newborn infant is an exhausting experience for two parents, let alone one. And I have it on good authority that you have been insisting on caring for Stone by yourself."

Alexis gives him a wry smile. "Cassidy must be ratting on me again."

Stefan winces at the slang she's using. "Have you been taking some pro bono cases at the jail lately? Because it is ruining your speech." Without waiting for her to answer, he continues. "Cassidy is merely concerned. She says you hardly sleep, you refuse to leave Stone for more than an hour at a time every couple of days, and you only do so when she and Jason force you out the door."

"You're rather good at scolding me," Alexis teases. "Seriously, this is how I want to care for Stone. I don't want some stranger taking care of him, I want to be the one who sees his first smile, hears his first giggle. I want to see all his firsts. Can you honestly say you'd be any different? I know you wouldn't because I remember how you were with Nikolas after Stavros died."

"True enough," Stefan concedes. "Nevertheless, I did not look as exhausted as you do now when I was juggling my obligations as well as sneaking time with Nikolas. You look like you haven't had a decent night's sleep since before he was born." He studies her intently, catching the glimmer of sadness in her eyes. "There is more to your exhaustion than caring for Stone, isn't there?"

"I've been thinking a lot about Sonny," Alexis admits. "I don't think I really grieved for him before Stone was born. I was too busy surviving, trying to keep from falling apart. I think it's because I'm more capable of handling the feelings now. And as a result of the grieving I'm doing, I haven't been sleeping as much as I need to."

The sense of helplessness is frustrating to Stefan and he tries to convey it to her. "It has been difficult to stand back, Alexis. If I hadn't signed that blasted noninterference agreement...."

Alexis grins knowingly. "Ah, but you did. And a good thing for both of us, because I wouldn't have taken kindly anything you might have tried to ram down my throat. I'd much prefer it if you would ask me what I needed rather than deciding for me."

"Very well. Tell me what I can do to make things easier for you."

"You can tell me about your conversation with Sonny shortly after I broke things off with him." When she sees the curious look he's giving her, she elaborates. "It seems to be help with the grieving to share memories. Please, just humor me."

"If you truly believe it will help," Stefan begins doubtfully. "As I am sure you remember, I told you about it shortly after Sonny paid me a visit..."



"Frankly, Mr Corinthos, I don't have the time or the inclination hear your ridiculous ramblings," Stefan says with arrogant impatience, his hands folded across his chest and his head tilted slightly as he watches the shorter man bristle in front of him. "I am an extremely busy man, perhaps you would do better to schedule an appointment with my secretary."

"Stow it, Cassadine," Sonny says as he steps in front of Stefan to prevent him from leaving. "You ain't going nowhere until I get some answers."

Sonny's poor grammar causes Stefan to groan inwardly but he refrains commenting on it. Instead he decides to humor Sonny and avoid the physical confrontation that would inevitably result if he persisted in trying to leave."Very well, make your point quickly so that I may return to my duties."

Sonny crosses his arms in front of him and regards Stefan with cold calculating hatred. "I want to know when you decided that I was enough of a threat to you and your idiotic master plans that you put a hit on me."

The accusation seems so ridiculous that Stefan loses his patience. "If that is the game you wish to play, then we have nothing further to discuss. Get out of my way, Mr Corinthos."

Sonny steps in front of Stefan again when he tries to leave. "I suggest you answer me or you'll find yourself shipped back to Greece in a body bag."

Stefan's eyes narrow slightly. "I am relieved that Alexis saw the error in involving herself with you. Your cretinous behavior has sunk to a new low, she would be truly mortified. Now let me put this is in words that even someone with your limited intelligence can understand. I am not a killer. I do not order deaths, certainly not those that are dating my cousin. I realize you are having a hard time comprehending that she no longer has any interest in you, but that is not my concern."

This time Stefan walks around Sonny without being stopped, and just as he thinks he is free of Sonny, he hears Sonny say behind him. "What do you know about Olympic Initiatives' acquisition of Smithfield Oil? And don't bother trying to deny that the Cassadines own Olympic Initiatives."

Stefan evades the question. "What the Cassadines acquire or don't acquire is none of your business."

Sonny walks up behind Stefan. "It is when they use inside information to steal it out from under me. So how did you get Alexis to do it?"

With supreme effort, Stefan holds back his temper. "Alexis is an intelligent woman capable of acting on her own without my directives. I don't have to 'get' her to do anything."

Sonny snorts at the lie, spreading his arms wide and shrugging his shoulders. "You don't expect me to swallow that line, do you, Cassadine? Cuz I know all about how far you were willing to go to get her to break it off with Nedly. And I'd bet you'd go a lot farther to get rid of me. I'm not even remotely respectable. And I know for a fact someone was forcing her to break it off, someone who is capable of having me killed if she didn't. So she used Olympic Initiatives to do the deed. That makes you the logical choice, because you knew all about the acquisition Olympic Initiatives made... Right Cassadine?"

Stefan is surprised but he covers quickly. "I will not dignify that ridiculous accusation with a reply. The only thing obvious to me is that Alexis broke her relationship off with you because she found you tiresome. That she used extraordinary measures to accomplish it only leads me to the logical conclusion that she saw it as the only way to rid herself of you. The notion that the 'mob hit', as you call it, is somehow the reason is ludicrous. Now... " Stefan says, addressing Sonny as he would a young upstart. "If you are done interrogating me, I will be on my way."

The men part ways, both more confused than when they started.



"I remember what you told me after that conversation with Sonny," Alexis muses with Stefan. "You said.... 'next time you break up with one of your hoodlum boyfriends, let me know so I am prepared to be accosted by them'. Who says you don't have a sense of humor?"

---

The light knock on Carly's door reverberates painfully in her throbbing head. "Coming... just stop knocking!" She pads to the front door in her robe and slippers. Swinging open the door, she says. "Benny, it's a little early, don't you think....?"

Carly's eyes widen when she sees it's not Benny, it's Bobbie. "Oh, Bobbie. I didn't know you were stopping by. Is something wrong?"

"You could say that," Bobbie says as she bustles into Carly's apartment. "I'm trying to figure out if you are naive or what?"

Carly rubs her temples to ease the pain. "I'm not sure what you're referring to, but I do know this isn't best time. I'm simply not up to it."

"Why? Because your latest conquest is on his way over?" Bobbie snipes. "It's obvious you were out partying last night and drank too much. That's why you wanted Tony and I to take AR for a couple days. Here I thought it had to do with the violence at the diner last week."

"Listen, Bobbie," Carly begins, fighting to keep her temper. "You have no right coming in here and attacking me like this. Yes, I had a date last night, not that it's any of your business. And it happens to have been the first one I've had in months and months. If you don't want to take AR, fine. Just say so." Looking very much like a sullen teenager, Carly flops onto the sofa. "Maybe you should just go."

Bobbie looks contrite, but stops short of an apology. "You're right, Carly. I shouldn't have blasted about your date. At least you had the decency to keep AR away from it. What I really came here to talk to you about was the diner."

"I'm not selling," Carly says adamantly, surprising even herself. When had she made that decision?

Bobbie rolls her eyes in exasperation. "Are you really so naive that you think you and AR can be safe now? My God, there was a stabbing right in front in broad daylight. AR could have seen it, or worse been hurt. When I think of what could have happened to AR.... Carly, It's too dangerous. Cut your losses, sell the diner. No one's going to think less of you if you let it go."

Carly glares challengingly at Bobbie. "Tell me, would Aunt Ruby have sold the diner? Or is there a double standard because it's me?"

"If there's a double standard it has more to do with AR's safety than anything else," Bobbie explains. "I love that boy more than anything, I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to him. Could you?"

Something inside Carly snaps at Bobbie's insinuation. She launches herself off the couch in an angry tirade. "How dare you come into MY home and question my judgment! Of course I love AR, that little boy is my whole life!"

Bobbie backs away slightly when she realizes she touches a nerve in Carly. "Carly, that's not what I meant...."

Carly cuts her off. "Yes, it is. It is EXACTLY what you meant. First you make snide comments about my date and dumping AR on you. Now you're saying I'm not thinking of his safety because I'm keeping the diner. Why don't you just come out and say it?! Why don't you just come out and say you think I'm a terrible mother? You've been dying to since before he was born!"

"That's not true!" Bobbie retorts hotly. "I only want what's best for you and AR. I want you to be safe and happy. Can't you see that I care about you?"

But Carly doesn't see that. "No, that's not what this is about! This is about you waiting for me to fail. I know the game. As long as I tow the line and do what YOU think I should do, you'll pat me on the head and tell me I'm a good mother. But if I disagree with you, then I'm irresponsible or worse, I don't care about AR! You've never thought that I could be a good parent, but you're wrong. Everything I do is for him. And YOU have no right to judge me. You wouldn't win any mother of the year awards yourself, MOTHER."

Their argument is interrupted by a knock on the door. Carly and Bobbie glare at each other for a few moments in a silent power struggle. A second knock breaks the spell and Carly goes for the door. This time it's Benny. "Hi, Caroline," He says with a warm smile. "I thought you might like to share some coffee and bagels with me." Then the angry look on her face registers. "Oops. Bad timing, huh?"

Carly takes a calm breath and pastes on a smile, letting Benny in. "Nope, your timing couldn't have been more perfect. My MOTHER was just leaving." Carly glares expectantly at Bobbie, holding the door open for her to leave.

"We're not finished with this conversation, Carly." Bobbie presses. Benny shifts from one foot to the other, uncomfortable witnessing the tension between them.

Carly tilts up her chin defiantly. "Yes, we are. You don't have anything more to say to me that I want to hear. Good bye, MOTHER," she says the word mother like it's a dirty word.

Not really having any other choice, Bobbie capitulates and heads for the door. She stops on her way out to smile politely at Benny and offer her hand for a shake. "Hi, you must be Benny. I'm Bobbie, Carly's mother. I wish we could have met under better circumstances."

Carly silently seethes while Benny shakes Bobbie's hand. "Nice to finally meet you, Bobbie. Perhaps we'll have a chance some other time."

Bobbie stands in front of Carly, her eyes softening slightly with genuine affection. "I DO care about you, Carly. Think about what I said." Then she bows her head slightly and leaves.

Carly lets the door slam loudly behind her mother. She stomps her foot angrily. "God! I can't believe she can still get under my skin like that. Sometimes I really HATE her!"

"What exactly happened?"

"She basically came here to tell me what a terrible mother I am." Carly flops onto the couch in pout. "First she makes some sniping comment about my going out on a date last night, like I'm some slut or something. Then she starts in on my selling the diner, saying that if I keep running the diner, AR is going to get killed and it will be all my fault."

Benny, who has been standing up to this point, sits down next to Carly and rubs her back soothingly. "Sounds like the conversation went from bad to worse."

His kindness dissolves her anger, leaving her with the feelings of sadness and defeat. "I just wish she'd give me a little credit for everything I've been trying to do. Why is it when I'm just starting to feel good about myself, Bobbie finds a way to make me feel like dirt?" Carly bites her lip to keep from crying.

Benny pulls her into his arms, letting her bury her face in curve of his shoulder. "I'm sorry she was so insensitive, Caroline." He gives her shoulder a squeeze. "Can I give you a bit of advice?"

Carly sniffles into his shoulder. "Sure. You're probably the only one who could at this point."

Benny smiles at the compliment. "Don't let anyone's opinion of you affect how you feel about yourself. There will always be people who are just waiting to judge you, waiting for you to slip up. If you spend all your time fighting them or trying to please them, you'll drive yourself crazy."

Carly laughs at the simple truth. "How did you get to be so wise?"

"Listening to the right people," Benny quips. "Now how about some coffee before it gets cold?"