Chapters 121 & 122
Chapter 121 Calling Bluffs
Late morning at Kelly's diner. Benny sits on a stool at the counter, sipping coffee and eating the last sweet roll. Carly, needing a break before the lunch crowd, takes a seat next to Benny.
"How's Lucky this morning?" Benny asks between bites of sweet roll.
"About as well as can be expected," Carly answers. "Still in shock, mostly. He refuses to go back home, understandably. So I offered to let him stay with me until he figures some things out."
Benny grimaces good naturedly. "Damn, there go my plans for seducing you on your living room floor. And I was so looking forward to it too."
"You keep promising you're going to seduce me, but I'm starting to think you're just bluffing," Carly teases. "You're all talk and no action, Benny Baird."
Carly flounces off of the stool dramatically, making a great show of being annoyed. As she passes by, Benny grabs her by the waist hauls her against his chest. His mouth covers her in a hot demanding kiss that leaves her weak. She wraps her arms around his neck and whimpers into his mouth before deepening the kiss. All she can feel and taste is Benny.... the combination of sweet roll, bitter coffee and his own unique taste enthrall her senses.
The kiss ends much too soon. "Still think I'm all talk and no action?" Benny whispers in her ear, his own voice hoarse from the effects of the kiss.
Carly chuckles. "Maybe I should call your bluff more often."
"Only if you're willing to accept the consequences," Benny replies with a hint of amusement. "Which at the moment is putting on a show for your customers. Care to continue?"
Noticing the gawking customers for the first time, Carly flushes pink and pulls herself out of his arms. "Well, the good thing about having Lucky stay with me is a built-in babysitter. Maybe we could continue this... discussion later tonight?"
The sight of Carly looking flushed with a mixture of desire and embarrassment makes him smile. He strokes her cheek tenderly. "What happened to taking things slow? One date at a time?"
At that question Carly lets out a earthy laugh. "Oh, Sweetheart. This IS slow for me. I'm not sure I can take going any slower than this. I might die of frustration."
Benny stands up and straightens her blouse before paying attention to his own shirt. "That's something I'd like to see. I wish I could stay and tease you some more, but I have a meeting with Jason."
"Is this about the guys behind the stabbing?"
"Yes, but don't ask me more than that." He kisses her cheek chastely and exits the diner.
Laura's pale face brightens at the sight of Nikolas on her doorstep. "Nikolas! Come in! I'm glad you dropped by."
Nikolas kisses his mother's cheek. "I thought you'd want to know right away that the charges have been dropped against Lucky. Uncle would have come over himself to tell you the news, but I insisted that I be the one to tell you."
Laura smiles at that. "I have a hard time believing you got the better of Stefan on this one. I know how forceful he can be. Rather like a bulldozer."
Nikolas gives her a crooked grin. "Alexis and I convinced him that you could benefit from as much support as you could get. That and Alexis said she needed his presence to get a special marriage license. A blatant lie of course, and I'm sure Uncle saw through it."
Laura looks at her hands and says nothing, biting back the tears. Nikolas, who has sensed her sadness since he arrived, puts his hand on hers. "I wish there was something I could do to make things easier, Mother."
"You're just being here means so much to me." Laura takes his hand and clasps it between hers and meets his eyes. "Am I doing the right thing?... NO, forget I asked such a silly question. It's not fair to ask that of you. I'm the only one that can answer that question."
"Maybe I can answer part of it," Nikolas offers. "I believe he genuinely cares about you, LesleyLu, and the baby. I know he'll be a good father to both of them. And I think he'd rather die than hurt you."
Laura seems to relax at his answer. "How do you feel about us getting married?"
Nikolas is silent for a long long time as he sorts through his emotions. "Shocked.... You know, when I was a boy, I dreamed that I would have two parents who loved me and loved each other. And at the time, the only models of a happy marriage I really had were the few married servants we employed. It seemed unreal to me. And now I'm grown and married, that dream really shouldn't matter to me...." Nikolas looks at his mother with a mixture of hope, sadness, and love. "But it does matter. I know you aren't marrying under normal or particularly romantic circumstances, but it doesn't matter. I'm happy... happier than maybe I should be. Because I finally have a complete family. And because my new little brother or sister has a chance to be raised and surrounded by a whole happy family..."
Laura hugs Nikolas tightly, her tears now flowing quickly. "Thank you! You have no idea how much I needed to hear that."
Nikolas closes his eyes, surprised at how much comfort and simple joy there still is in being held by his mother."I'll do what I can for Lucky, Mother. There probably isn't much at this point that will help him understand this.... but I'll try anyway."
Jason, Benny and George Landers meet at Jason's penthouse, which is across the hall from Alexis' Penthouse. Landers is in the process of briefing Jason and Benny on his findings in Atlantic City. He shows photos of money changing hands and names the players involved. Finally he summarizes. "I made contact with an old pal of mine, Perez, and expressed your desire for a meeting with the bosses Salino and Smith. We should be hearing shortly on a time and place."
"Good.. So, now that you've been down there, what's your take on the situation? Is this just a few minor players going rogue to make some easy cash on my territory? Or is this sanctioned by bigger players?"
"Knowing the players like I do and what I've seen on this trip, I'd say this isn't a simple case of a few goons getting industrious. I think these jokers have carte blanc to do as they please up here while the bosses look the other way. I think Smith and Salino hope to weaken your financial base and drain your manpower without 'breaking' their agreements with you. They figure you won't call their bluff."
"Then they're fools," Benny say quietly. "It's times like this I miss my pop. He could have drawn them a real clear picture of how you would handle this. Some people just have short memories... and they don't recall Moreno."
"They'll be reminded soon enough. Landers, call me as soon as they set a time and place. Make sure it's no more, no less than three days in advance." Jason throws down four glossy pictures. "I want men shadowing these four losers. After the meeting, I want them to disappear."
"Even if Salino and Smith agree to your terms?" Landers asks.
"Yes. Their death warrants were signed when they did business in my territory. Which ever scenario the bosses are willing to admit-- either these guys are rogue and they need to be taken out or they're taken out as a warning to the people giving orders. And what I know of Salino and Smith is they'll smile to my face, shake my hand, agree to anything, and as soon as I'm out the door, they'll be planning a strike on Port Charles. I want them to know I'm watching what they're planning and I mean business."
"You think losing these four will be enough of a message?" This time it's Benny asking the question.
Jason stands up, signaling the end of the meeting. "Should be. And if not, then they'll keep losing men until they figure it out."
"Yes, Mr Gordon. I want it built as quickly as possible, certainly before April first of next year. Will that be a problem?" Stefan drums his fingers on his desk as he listens to the man reply on the phone. "Excellent. I will have the architect deliver the plans to you today. Once you've had a chance to study them, we can meet and discuss the schedule."
Mrs Lansbury arrives at the doorway. "Mr Cassadine, Mrs Spencer is here. Shall I show her in?"
Laura walks up behind Mrs Lansbury and smiles graciously. "Please address me as Laura, Mrs Lansbury. Mrs Spencer doesn't really suit me anymore."
Stefan's eyes light up upon seeing Laura, but addresses his comments to Mrs Lansbury. "I have been remiss in keeping you informed, Mrs Lansbury, and for that I should apologize. Laura has agreed to be my wife, as of yesterday."
Mrs Lansbury beams with pleasure. "That is wonderful news, Mr Cassadine! Mrs... Laura, I can't tell you how pleased I am by this news! Please excuse me, I'm sure you wish to be alone to plan and celebrate."
After Mrs Lansbury's hasty retreat, Laura turns to Stefan. "So many people to tell, it's overwhelming."
"They will all learn soon enough; news of this magnitude spreads quickly in this town. I trust LesleyLu has been told?" Stefan pours them both water and hands her a glass.
"Yes, she's thrilled by the marriage and the new baby." Laura sips the water gratefully, realizing for the first time all day how thirsty she is. With all the stress of the day, she'd forgotten to eat or drink. "Nikolas stopped by to tell me about the charges being dropped. Thank you. Nikolas seemed happy about our marriage too."
"I wish I could have prevented the charges altogether. As for Nikolas, once he got over the initial surprise, he was very pleased." Stefan studies Laura as he sips his water. Her paleness worries him as much as her sadness. The sooner the wedding is over, the better for everyone. The longer she has to reconsider, the more her family and friends would pressure her and the greater the chance she'd change her mind. If anything could be said of Laura, it would be that she craved approval from her family and friends.
It's almost as if Laura is reading his mind. "Nikolas said you and Alexis were working on obtaining a special license so we can get married quickly?"
Seeing her empty water glass, Stefan refills it. "Yes, I have the special license and there is a Justice of the Peace willing to marry us as early as tomorrow." He reaches for her free hand and brings it to his lips. "I know this may be asking too much of you too soon, Lasha, but I want to marry you right away. The more time we can spend settling in as a family, the less stress for you, the baby, even Lulu."
"I see no reason to delay," Laura answers quietly, secretly relieved by his suggestion. Without knowing it until now, this had been the reason for her visit, to push forward the wedding. Perhaps she should resent or be suspicious of his desire to wed quickly, but instead it seems to have settled her nerves. Waiting would be torture. Yes, this is the right choice. "As long as our ceremony is very simple, I think I can be ready as early as tomorrow afternoon. Packing up the house could take some time, but that can be done after the ceremony as easily as before. As for Lulu, I think she'll adjust to the change pretty quickly. In fact, I think this will make a nice early Christmas present."
Stefan feels an unfamiliar surge of pure joy. His eyes glisten and he can't help embracing her, his words coming out in an uncharacteristic rush. "You have made me very happy, Lasha. Let me handle all the details. I assure you it will be very simple. All you need to concern yourself with is getting you and Lulu ready. Is there anyone else you want present? It might be a challenge time-wise, but I could fly your mother from Switzerland..."
If Laura hadn't been feeling so numb, she might have caught his excitement. "No, that's not necessary. Simple, remember? There is one friend I'd like to invite if she can make it."
Stefan releases her but his eyes still glisten. He cups her cheek with his hand, rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone. "Tomorrow night, you will be my wife. As I did so many years ago, I will again pledge my every loyalty to you and your children. ALL of your children, Lasha. For the rest of my life."
His words reach past the thick veil of numbness surrounding her into her heart, warming it as nothing else could. "Th... Thank you. I can't ask for more than that."
"You deserve more and you will have more, Lasha. I will spend the rest of my days striving to make you happy." He lowers his head to brush his lips against hers.
His tenderness shreds her nerves further, causing Laura to stammer. "I... I should get going. I ha.. have a lot to get done before t.. tomorrow." Gathering her things quickly, she heads for the door, leaving Stefan to trail after her. Before leaving she turns to him. "Good bye, Stefan. Until tomorrow."
Stefan watches her rapidly retreating back thoughtfully. "Until tomorrow, Lasha."
Chapter 122 Wedding Bells
Early morning, Lucky and Emily are under the covers in her bed after making love. Emily props her head up on her elbow and studies Lucky.
Lucky looks at her quizzically. "What, Baby?"
Emily rubs his chest with her free hand. "You still haven't talked about it."
Lucky scowls. "What's the point of talking about it? It'll only ruin the first decent mood I've had in days." He draws her face down for a kiss to distract her from the subject. "Forget about it. Kissing you is the only thing I wanna talk about."
Emily shakes her head and pulls away. "No, Lucky. I love you too much to let this go, I can see it's eating at you. Even when you're pretending you don't have a care in the world. Talk to me, please." Her voice takes on a pleading tone.
Lucky pulls away by rolling to a sitting position at the edge of the bed with his back to her. He begins to dress. "What's there to say?" He says in a dead voice. "I don't have a family anymore. Nothing anyone could say is going to change that."
Emily puts a comforting hand on Lucky's shoulder. "Maybe there isn't anything you can do about your mom marrying Stefan, but that doesn't mean talking about won't help."
"Great, you sound like just like a shrink," Lucky replies gruffly. "You think all that head-shrinking you went through makes you an expert on what helps me? Think again. You have no idea."
Emily's face falls at his stinging remark. "I know about losing my parents. Even if I didn't lose them the same way, I think that qualifies."
Lucky swears at himself for his insensitivity and he pulls her into his arms. "I'm sorry, Baby. You're just trying to help and I'm taking it out on you. I'm sorry, I'm such a jerk."
"It's okay," Emily sniffles. "You're allowed to be a jerk sometimes. Especially when you apologize so nicely."
Lucky kisses her tears away. "I'm not done apologizing yet. Have I told you how much I love you, Emily?" Framing her face with this hands, he continues to kiss her face lovingly, her eyes, her nose, her cheeks..over and over.
Startled by his words, Emily looks into his eyes. "I don't think you've ever told me you loved me before, Lucky. I've never doubted you cared for me, but..."
"Yet another thing for me to apologize for..." Lucky lays her down on the bed again and rains small kisses her face and neck. "I love you, Emily. I don't know when exactly it happened, but I've known it for a while. I'm madly in love with you. Tell me you love me, Emily. You do, don't you?"
Emily hugs him so tightly he can't breath much less kiss her. "I've been head over heels in love with you since that day we made out on the lake. And I swear, every day I love you more. I just didn't want to scare you away and I didn't want to pressure you into saying something you didn't mean or being with me because you didn't want to hurt me."
"Right now you're hurting me!" Lucky complains with a strangled voice, making only a half hearted attempt to loosen her hold. "Emily, I can't breathe."
Emily loosens her hold. "Oops, sorry. I guess I was a little excited."
Lucky gasps for breath dramatically. "I hate to think what you'd do if you were REALLY excited."
Emily punches him in the arm. "Stop! How can you make jokes after such a major revelation!"
Lucky lays down beside her and becomes serious again. "Yeah, this is serious. Do you know who I thought of first after my mom dropped her bomb?" Emily shakes her head. "You. I thought of you, how much I need you, how much I trust you. And I knew if I could find you, I'd be okay. The afternoon I punched Stefan out, I wasn't looking for him, I was looking for you. It was just rotten luck that I ran into Cassadine first." Lucky looks away, his eyes glistening and his bottom lip trembling slightly. "Do you have any idea how scary it is to need someone as much as I need you?"
"Oh, Lucky..." Emily, so moved by his words that she's crying herself, tries to pull him into her arms again, but Lucky holds her back.
"You wanted me to talk, remember?" Lucky watches as Emily nods and drops back on the bed. "I've lost so much this year, Emily. My Dad, Mike, Aunt Ruby... and now my mom. You've been the one constant in my life. The only person besides myself I could count on. A year ago, my family was happy, together, and stronger than ever. Then the worst thing that could ever happen, happened. The soul of my family died, my dad. And my family has never been the same since. I fooled myself in the beginning, I thought if I was enough like my dad I could keep the family together. But my mother decided otherwise. She nailed the last nail in my family's coffin when she agreed to marry Cassadine. Yeah, there's Carly and Bobbie, I know they'll always love me and stand by me, but it's not the same. It will never be the same."
By now, both Lucky and Emily are crying. Emily reaches up to brush a lock of his hair out of his face. "I'm so sorry, Lucky. I'm so sorry. If there was a way to erase the pain, I'd do it."
Lucky, his heart swelling at her love and generosity, takes her hand and kisses the inside of her palm. "You can't erase the pain, but I don't feel so alone because of you. Because you love me. Promise me you'll never leave me."
At that moment, Emily sees little lost heart broken boy in Lucky. The boy who longs for his parents, for a family life that no longer exists. She knows this pain, it's all too familiar. She pulls him into her arms and lets him cry on her shoulder. "I'll never leave you, Lucky. Never. I love you. I will always love you."
Laura stands in front of the mirror in a guest room at Wyndemere. She takes several deep steadying breaths and for the hundredth time, straightens her elegant silk wedding dress. It had arrived on her doorstep this morning along with three other dresses, sent by Stefan with a note saying he hoped one of them would be to her liking.
"It's beautiful, Laura," Monica assures her from behind. "Very classy, feminine without being girlish. The ivory color looks perfect on you. You could have spent weeks looking for a dress and not found one more suited to you. No doubt about it, Stefan has good taste in clothes."
Laura looks up at Monica in the mirror gratefully. "Thank you. For calming my nerves, for being here on such short notice, for not trying to change my mind. For everything."
"I'm your friend, of course I'd be here for you on such an important day," Monica squeezes her shoulders affectionately from behind. "And I know you wouldn't go through with this unless you were sure."
Laura detects the hint of question in Monica's voice. "Yes, I'm sure. I have only one regret: Lucky." Laura bites her lip and forces the sadness away. "But I won't think of sad thoughts today. How much time do I have before the wedding?"
There is a soft knock at the door and a smiling Alexis peeks in. "Hi, there's a little girl out here that's anxious to see her mommy."
Lulu, dressed in the flower girl dress she wore to Nikolas's wedding, bursts in. "Mommy! You look pretty! Like a queen."
Laura kneels down to hug her daughter. "I guess that makes you my princess. Alexis, how much time do I have?"
Alexis checks her watch. "About fifteen minutes. There's still no sign of Nikolas, but not to worry, there's plenty of time."
Lulu looks up at her mother with worry on her face. "Mommy? Where's Lucky? Is he with Nikolas?"
"Yes, Nikolas. He's here." Emily steps aside to let Nikolas into her one room apartment. Lucky is across the room, sitting on the edge of her bed pulling his shirt on. When he sees Nikolas, dressed in white dress shirt and black silk pants, he glares at him.
"I've been looking for you for the last couple days, where the hell have you been?" Nikolas demands.
"Where ever you're not. Didn't you get the hint? I don't want to see you or anyone else from YOUR family." Lucky starts to put on his shoes.
Emily grabs her purse and makes a quick exit. "Lucky, I've got a few errands to run. I'll be back later. See you around, Nikolas."
"Thanks, Emily." Nikolas calls after her, then turns back to Lucky. "I Thought you should know that the charges against you have been dropped."
"I suppose now you're going to tell me I should be grateful? That I should thank the bastard?"
Nikolas shakes his head sadly. "No, I don't expect that and neither does he. Lucky, I know better than anyone how you feel right now, I've been there. The odd son out, the one who doesn't belong. But you have to know Mother loves you and Lulu needs you. We all need you."
"If this is Mom's way of showing her love, I don't want to have anything to do with her." Lucky looks Nikolas' clothes up and down, the realization making him sick. "Mom's getting married to him today, isn't she?"
Nikolas looks Lucky straight in the eye. "Yes, and I think you should come."
Lucky jumps to his feet in outrage, his fists clenched at his side. "NO WAY! You have to be nuts, Man! It'd be like watching the Titanic sink. Or my dad dying all over again! Get out of here, Nikolas, before I do something I'm going to regret."
Nikolas persists. "I know what Mother needs doesn't really matter to you right now, but think of Lulu. She's been asking about you all day, where you are, if you're coming to the wedding. She needs you, Lucky, as much as ever."
Lucky responds in a voice hard and bitter. "She'll just have to be disappointed then, because there is no way in hell I'm going to that wedding! She's got her new family, that'll have to be enough for now. And if Steffin's so good with her, he can look after her." He brushes past Nikolas and reaches for the door. "If you won't go then I will. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave me alone." Lucky slams the door behind him.
A small group gathers for a simple ceremony in the Wyndemere living room. Alexis, Monica, Gina, Mrs Lansbury and Lulu watch from the background. Nikolas arrives alone at the last minute. Stefan and Laura stand before the Justice of the Peace and both look relieved when Nikolas makes his rushed entrance.
The Justice of the Peace begins. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Laura Webber Spencer and Stefan Mikhail Mikkosovitch Cassadine in matrimony...."
As Stefan gazes into Laura's upturned face, the voice of the Justice of the Peace fades to the background. He memorizes everything about her at this moment. The slight dampness of her eyes as they look back at him with hope, her mouth trembling slightly and yet smiling. Her hair swept up in a simple but attractive Gibson, with a few loose tendrils framing her face perfectly. Her shaking hands holding his tightly for strength. The simple ivory dress that she's wearing, which would have been his own first choice for her. It fit her as he imagined it would, flattering her figure without revealing the slight thickening around her waist due to her advancing pregnancy. Never had there been a more beautiful bride in his estimation.
The Justice of the Peace calls Stefan to attention. "Stefan, will you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, as long as you both shall live?"
Stefan answers in a voice tremoring with emotion. "I will."
The Justice of the Peace addresses Laura. "Laura, will you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, as long as you both shall live?"
Laura's smile doesn't waver. "I will."
The Justice of the Peace waits as they exchange rings and personal vows. With trembling fingers Stefan slips the wedding ring on Laura's finger and she does the same. Alexis steps forward and wraps a white satin tie around their hands. She recites a traditional Greek marriage blessing, at the end saying in English, "And let love be the tie that binds you." She unwraps their hands and stands to the side.
"Then by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The Justice smiles. "You may kiss the bride."
With his right hand, Stefan cups her cheek lovingly and lowers his lips to cover hers in a tender kiss full of love, hope and promise. He is rocked when her mouth opens to accept his promise and she kisses him back just as sweetly. Then as quickly as she responded, she pulls away, leaving him longing for more.
The next thing he feels is a tugging at his pant leg. He looks down to find Lulu looking up at both of them happily. "Congrat'lations!"
Stefan laughs joyously and he lifts her up into his arms. "Thank you, Angel. I have two reasons to be very happy today. Not only did I gain a wife, I gained a little girl. A very special and very pretty little girl."
Emily opens the door to her apartment to find it lit only by candles and "Lady" sung by Eddie Maine playing softly in the background. Lucky stands in the middle of her room, dressed in dress slacks and a black button down dress shirt. Emily looks at him uncertainly. "What's going on?"
Lucky holds out to hand to her, his eyes holding hers. "Dance with me, Lady."
Emily lights up and takes his hand, her eyes closing blissfully as he guides her through the dance. "I think I've died and gone to heaven. I don't want this to end."
"There's no reason it ever has to end." Lucky crooks his finger under her chin and lifts it up. After a moment's hesitation, he kisses her reverently, caressing her lips with his.
Emily senses a difference in his kiss, a seriousness, an intensity that's never been there before, a different meaning. It moves her in a way none of his other kisses have, but it also alarms her. Emily pulls away slightly. "Lucky?"
He takes both her hands in his and leads her to the edge of the bed, motioning for her to sit down. When she does, he kneels before her. "Emily, I love you. I know I'll always love you just as you know you'll always love me. Marry me. Be my wife."
For those of you who haven't read the whole story, or wish a refresher on Lucky and Emily's time at the lake, check out Chapter 65.
