Chapter 27: The Morning After

Lesley, Laura, Stefan and Lulu have just finished breakfast. Lulu is
running around the living room, investigating.

Laura:"You've outdone yourself, Mama. I wish you would have let me
help."
Stefan:"Thank you, Lesley. That was a wonderful meal."
Lesley smiles as she clears the plates, shooing Laura when she attempts
to help. "I like cooking for family. I don't get to do enough of it.
Maybe Hans and I should move to Port Charles."
Lulu bounds into the kitchen and climbs into her mother's lap .
Lulu:"Mommy, did I tell you about the fun I had on the plane? I got to
play pretend with Uncle Stefan."
Laura quickly corrects her. "It's Mr Cassadine, honey. You played
pretend? That sounds like fun."
Lulu(in a voice mimicking the official):" Yeah, I was LesleyLu
Cassadine."
Laura shoots Stefan a look. "Really."
Lulu:"Yup. I called him Daddy and everything."
Stefan winces. "There was no other way, Laura."
Laura eyes flash in anger, but she keeps it in check because of Lulu.
"What else did you do on the plane?"
Lulu:"I took a nap and I got to call you and Lucky when I got sad. And
then we had hamburgers for dinner."
Lesley pipes in. "How thoughtful of my son in law to think of fun food
for my granddaughter." Lesley reaches over and squeezes Stefan's hand.
Laura finds it hard to control her rising anger. It was starting to
sound like one of Stefan's master plans. Lucky was right. Stefan was
trying to take Luke's place. "Son in law? Did you just call Stefan your
son in law?"
Lesley:"Oh, I did, didn't I? Hans says I do that sometimes. Sorry,
honey."
Lulu:"Mommy? Can I go and play in the snow? I wanna make a snowman."
Laura:"Sure, sweetheart. But make sure to bundle up and stay close to
the house."
Lulu runs off to find her winter gear. "Okay, Mommy!"
Laura looks at Stefan accusingly. "How could you use my daughter and
mother to get to me? I will never forgive you for this!"
Stefan tries to remain calm:"I did what was necessary to bring your
daughter here. Why do you feel everything I do has an ulterior motive?"
Laura is yelling now. "Because there's always an angle! Always an
opportunity to take advantage of. It's disgraceful how you used my
daughter's grief to get close to me. "
Lesley watches the argument helplessly. "Laura, honey. He meant well. He
did this for you and Lulu."
Laura is so angry her mother's words don't register. "And you use my
mother to get to me as well. You obviously brainwashed her when you had
her locked up for years! My God, you make me sick! "

Stefan gets sarcastic. "If blaming me for everything suits your
purposes, so be it. Anything so you can remain blameless. Never mind
that you're running away from your problems like you always do."

Lesley, unable to cope with the fight, retreats into herself. Her eyes
get a glassy look and she starts rocking slightly. Stefan and Laura are
so engrossed in the fight; they don't notice.

Laura is crying now. "Don't you dare change the subject! The issue here
is that you're using my family to get close to me. I just lost my
husband, the love of my life! Have you no shame? And to think I used to
defend you to Luke!"

Stefan throws his hands up in the air. "Alright I give up, Laura. I'm
the devil for pretending Lulu is my daughter. I diabolically set out to
get Lulu on my island so I could run to the rescue." Stefan shoves his
coffee cup away angrily. "You see, I thought it was more important for
that terrified little girl to see her mother than it was to follow the
rules. You weren't there last night when she cried her eyes out after a
nightmare. I was. You should have been there, Lasha. You were
irresponsible and impulsive again. For God's sake, your son pulled a gun
on me and your daughter ran away. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to
see that your children needed you and you weren't there!"

Laura is sobbing as she covers her ears. "Stop! I can't take it anymore.
I can't!"

To his horror, Stefan realizes he went too far. He hadn't intended to
lose his temper like this. The last thing she needs is recrimination.
Impulsively he reaches over and grabs her hand with both of his to
comfort her. "I'm so sorry, Lasha. I didn't mean any of that. Please
stop crying. I'm sorry."

Laura(in between sobs):"Yes you did or you wouldn't have said it. You're
right. I've been a terrible mother."

Stefan(stroking her hand tenderly as her crying lessens): "No, I was
angry and I struck out. There has just been too much for you to deal
with. You've lost your husband. You are entitled to be upset."

Laura pulls her hand away, drying her tears. "I know you are trying to
help. And you have. I just went a little nuts; with Lulu calling herself
a Cassadine and calling you uncle, and my mother calling you her son in
law. I feel like the walls closing in."

Stefan(soothingly): "I'll make sure LesleyLu doesn't call me uncle
again. As for Lesley, her calling me her son in law is a remnant of her
past. I posed as her son in law when I placed her in the clinic. It was
the only way to get her placed."

Laura:"I know, my mother told me. I'm sorry for all the awful things I
said." Laura looks over at her mother and sees her staring off into
space, catatonic. "Oh, God! She must have been scared by our fight."
Laura leaves her chair and approaches her mother gingerly. "Mama, it's
me, Laura. It's okay now, we won't fight anymore."

Stefan's chest constricts with regret as he watches Laura attempt to
rise her mother out her catatonic state. He remembers the helplessness
he felt when he visited her at the hospital. She spent her days like
this, body rigid, eyes unseeing. It had given him the shivers then as it
did now. If only he had chosen differently, Lesley wouldn't have spent
years living like a vegetable.

Laura(fearfully):"Mama, come back to us, please. I need you."

Stefan rises from his chair and kneels at Lesley's side, taking her
hand. "Lesley, it's Stefan, remember? I used to visit you and bring you
news of your grandchildren."

Lesley turns her head and looks at him, straining to remember. Laura
follows up on the opening he provided. "Mama, Lulu is outside making a
snowman, do you want to go see it? She's very proud of it."

Lesley stares at Laura for a moment before smiling. "Yes, I think I'd
like to see Lulu's snowman." With that she goes to the closet and gets
her coat. Laura sighs heavily as she follows her mother outside, leaving
Stefan alone in the kitchen.

............................

Gina opens her door to find Nikolas standing there. "Hi, Nikolas." Gina
shifts uncomfortably.

Nikolas:"Hi, can I come in?"
Gina words come out in a rush as she steps aside to let him in. "Please,
come in. How rude of me."

Nikolas looks around the room as he struggles for a way to break the
ice. How could two people be so intimate all evening and then the
morning feel so awkward around each other?

Nikolas:"Did you sleep okay after I left?"
Gina(lying):"I slept just fine. And you?"
Nikolas looks at her tenderly. "Honestly? I hardly slept at all. I kept
thinking about last night, about you."
Gina looks down, embarrassed. "I practically threw myself at you. All I
can wonder is what you must think of me."

Nikolas quickly closes the distance between them, framing her face with
his hands as he kisses her mouth tenderly. "I think you are the most
beautiful woman I've ever known and I'm the luckiest man in the world.
But I'm worried that I rushed you into making love. I know what I feel
for you is real, but it's all new to you. Please say I haven't scared
you off."

Gina wraps her arms around his waist, relieved at his words. She kisses
him back passionately, enjoying the feels of his body rubbing against
hers intimately. "I'm absolutely terrified. But not of you. I've never
felt this way about anyone, Nikolas.

Nikolas slowly backs her towards the bed, guiding her body down, her
arms wrapped around his neck. He lays on top of her as his hand slips
under her sweater, craving the feel of her soft skin. "Neither have I.
I'll do anything to make you happy, Gina, anything."

..............................

Cassidy sprints into the PC Grill. She hates being late, even for
laid-back Jerry. She hails one of the waiters.

Cassidy(out of breath):"Excuse me, but could you tell me where Jerry
Jacks' table is?" Just then she spies him reading the morning paper over
coffee. "Oh, never mind, I found him!"

Jerry looks up as Cassidy slips into the chair across from him. "What?
No good morning kiss, darlin'?" There is a twinkle of devilishness in
his eyes.

Cassidy reaches over the table and quickly kisses him. "Sorry I'm late,
partner. Anything about the Cassadines in the paper today?"

Jerry:"Just on the financial pages. Nothing substantive. Shall I order
us breakfast? Your usual?"

Cassidy:"Yes, please. So do you want to hear my great news?"

Jerry places their order before continuing."You've been dying to tell
me. Spill it, darlin'."

Cassidy practically bounces with excitement as she leans over the table
to whisper in Jerry's ear. "I scored a job at Cassadine Incorporated, as
a computer consultant overhauling their security system."

Jerry:"Good girl. How'd you manage that?"

Cassidy:"Combination of good timing and good ears. Seriously, Mr
Cassadine recognized my abilities immediately."

Jerry raises an eyebrow. "You've met him? I guess that's not a surprise
given the delicate nature of the position."

Cassidy:"Yes, I've met him. He's about what I expected. Plays his cards
close to his chest, but expects other players to keep theirs on the
table. He'll be a slippery fish to catch if he's dirty."

Jerry:"Well that's what we aim to find out. How do you feel about the
possibility of spying on your sister in law? You okay with that?"

Cassidy:"There won't be a problem. Do you have background files on
Stefan, Alexis, and Jason? You know, with my connection to Sonny, I
should be 'in' with Jason too."

Jerry:"You're in, luv. Saw your report on the Venezuela case. Nice wrap
up. Victor Cassadine left quite a mess for you to clean up."

Cassidy:"Yeah, he did, didn't he? At least if Stefan Cassadine screws up
it won't be as messy. The guy is as fastidious as they come."

Jerry smirks:"I've noticed that." He pulls out some files and hands them
over to Cassidy. "Here you are. Files on Stefan Cassadine, Alexis Davis
Corinthos, and Jason Quartermaine Morgan."

Cassidy:"Thanks." The waiter puts their breakfasts on the table. Cassidy
studies the plates critically.

Jerry laughs. "It is always this way with you. Maybe you should be a
cook and hang up your WSB hat, darlin'."

...........................

Lucky invites Jason into the Spencer home.

Lucky:"Thanks for going with me to Ruby's funeral. it's nice to have the
company."

Jason:"Sure, no problem."

Lucky points towards the kitchen. "You want something to drink? I think
we have beer in the fridge."

Jason:"No thanks. Listen, we need to talk about Cassadine."

Lucky rolls his eyes. "Oh, man. Not you too? I told Nik I'd leave the
vampire alone."

Jason:"Hey, I'm no fan of Stefan Cassadine. Personally, he rubs me the
wrong way. But you'll be in a world of hurt if you take him on."

Lucky:"Like my dad said, the man's an oil slick. Nothin' sticks to him.
Not even being a murderer."

Jason:"Lucky, he didn't order the hit on Luke and Sonny. It was Helena's
doing. I swear to you, man."

Lucky:"Okay, explain it. I'm listening. " Lucky flops on the couch,
staring intently at Jason.

Jason sits across from him, leaning forward slightly. He looks earnest.
"You know I went after Harry Silver, right? Well, when I arrived at his
place, it was spooky. I expected a fight, and there wasn't one. Harry
knew he was a dead man before I even got there. He wanted me to kill
him."

Lucky:"So? That doesn't mean Stefan didn't hire him."

Jason:"Before I killed Harry he told me who hired him: Helena. He said
the hit was meant for Alexis and one of your parents. It didn't even
matter which one."

Lucky looks shocked. "So it could have been my mom instead? Stefan
wouldn't kill my mom. He wants her for himself."

Jason:"Yeah, your mother got lucky 'cause she was inside. Anyway, I
asked Harry if Stefan was in on it. He specifically said 'no'. He knew
he was dying, Lucky. He didn't have any reason to lie about it and every
reason to tell the truth."

Lucky is quiet for a long time, stunned by the news. His world view has
shifted unexpectedly. Finally he speaks, slowly as if he is not all
there. "I almost killed the man."

Jason(reassuringly):"But you didn't. That's all that matters."
Lucky:"God, how could I be so stupid?"
Jason:"Don't be too hard on yourself. It's over. Besides, Stefan could
use some shaking up."
Lucky:"Thanks for explaining it to me, man."
Jason:"Anytime. I better take off. There is a ELQ board meeting in a
couple of hours and I want to check on Alexis first."