Chapter 32: Giving 'Em Grief

The next day, Stefan opens the door to find Alexis. "Hello, Alexis. This
is a surprise. We don't have a meeting this morning do we?"

Alexis gives him her coat. "Not a planned one. Good, Mrs Lansbury has
baked some of her delicious croissants. I'm famished." She quickly seats
herself, pours herself some tea and munches on a croissant.

Stefan smiles at her engagingly. "Well you seem a lot better this
morning, Cousin. I'm relieved. I was quite concerned last night."

Alexis(admonishing gently):"I told you last night I was fine. Why didn't
you believe me? I have to say it's hard to be mad at you with this feast
before me." Alexis continues to eat, savoring each bite.

Stefan looks at her quizzically:"Believe you?"

Alexis:"Cut the innocent act, Cousin. I'm on to you. You went to General
Hospital last night in search of my OB-GYN. You must have known I'd
find out."

Stefan:"Ah yes, Amy Vining. A great source of information, but unable to
be discreet."

Alexis:"Please don't worry, Stefan. There's no need to. I'm taking good
care of myself and the baby."

Stefan smiles as he sees her polish off a second croissant. "I can see
that. Would you like me to have Mrs Lansbury fix you something more
substantial?"

Alexis' eyes light up. "Would you? Cassidy left early for her first day
of work and didn't get a chance to fix breakfast. I'm not very useful in
the kitchen. Could you ask Mrs Lansbury for some nonfat milk too?
Thanks, you're a dear."

Stefan:"I'll go tell her to fix you something. Then we can talk about
you when you're moving in." Stefan leaves before Alexis can protest.

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

Jerry arrives at a prestigious Anchorage hospital where his father is
being cared for. It's obvious from Jerry's haggard appearance he hasn't
slept since being summoned to his father's bedside. Lady Jane, Jax, his
wife Brenda, and their baby girl are in the Cardiac ICU waiting room
when he arrives.

Lady Jane rushes to greet him. "Jerry, you made it!" The lines of
worry and grief disappear temporarily at the sight of her dearest son.
She embraces him tightly, fresh tears form in her eyes. "Your father is
waiting for you. He doesn't have much time. He's been holding on just to
see you."

Jerry:"Alright, Mum. But promise me that you'll be fine until I get
back?"

Jax:"We'll take care of her, Jerry."

Jerry:"Thanks, mate." He gives Jax a quick hug and bestows quick kisses
on Brenda's and Baby Sonia's forehead before entering John's room.

Jerry is shocked by his father's appearance. John looks tiny and pale in
the white hospital bed, a shadow of the vital, imposing man that Jerry
remembered. Jerry had tried to prepare himself for this moment, but
there was no way to prepare for this sight. John beckons him to his
bedside by a slight wave of his hand.

Jerry complies, taking his father's frail hand in his for the last time.
Jerry lips trembles as he tries to say something. "Dad...."

John(with great effort):"Jerry...I have so much.... to say. Please..
just listen."

Jerry is unable to prevent the tears from leaving his eyes. "Okay."

John:"I was.. hard ... on you. Too hard. I made you...do things ...I
shouldn't have..."

Jerry:"Please Dad. it's okay. I understand. I didn't then, but I do now.
You're a good father."

John:"And you...a wonderful son." John squeezes his hand. "I've always
been.... proud. Always."

Jerry:"And I'm proud to be your son."

John:"Promise me..." John starts to cough, getting weaker with each
spasm.

Jerry:"What Dad? Anything."

John:"You'll follow ..... your own path, Not.. the family's. I want ...
to know you ... chance at happiness."

Jerry is overwhelmed at the gift his father just gave him, unable to
respond for several moments. "Yes, I promise. Thank you, for
everything."

John closes his eyes, a look of deep peace crossing his face. "Good
bye... my son. Send in ...Mum."

Jerry kisses his father's cheek before leaving, his tears wetting his
father's dry cheek. "Good bye, Dad. I love you."

Jerry leaves his father for the last time, weighted down by grief but
lightened by his father's gift.

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

Alexis pushes back from the table. "That was magnificent, Stefan. I'll
have to tell Mrs Lansbury she outdid herself. I hate to disappoint you,
though; I'm not moving from the penthouse."

Stefan:"Your safety is compromised there, Alexis. Jason has just
inherited a violent business. There will be challenges to his authority.
Surely you wouldn't put yourself and your baby at risk?"

Alexis:"It is my home, Stefan. And Jason looks after me quite well.
Better than Cassadine guards ever could. Do you remember how we used to
ditch them as children? Do you think I'd have any trouble doing the same
thing now?"

Stefan(sternly):"You are an adult now, you know better than that."

Alexis:"I still have an independent spirit. Jason knows me; he catches
me before I even think of ditching protection. I want to live in the
home I shared with Sonny, Stefan. Besides, Wyndemere is positively
depressing, even with the esthetic improvements that Bobbie made before
she left you."

Stefan:"Nikolas and I are your family, and we adore you. You need to be
with family now, and we need you with us. You'll be shutting us out. I
can make sure you are pampered here; your needs will be anticipated. How
can living in a mob war zone be anything but stressful?"

Alexis:"Don't use the guilt angle on me, Cousin. It won't work. We would
drive each other crazy within a week. Living here would be very
stressful for me. At the penthouse I have Cassidy and Jason with me.
Jason practically lives there. They are both family. My answer is final.
I am not moving to Wyndemere."

Stefan: "Alexis, you aren't thinking clearly right now..."

Alexis struggles to keep her temper. "Don't, Stefan. Nothing can make
me angrier than someone condescending to me." Alexis gets up from the
table and fetches her coat. "I better go before either of us says
something we can't take back."

Stefan follows her to the door. "Cousin, I am pushing this because I
love you and I want to protect you." He takes her hands in his and
brings them to his lips for a kiss. "Be safe, Alexis. I will check on
you tomorrow. Mrs Lansbury's kitchen is always open."

Alexis kisses his cheek impulsively. "I can't stay mad at you when
you're so charming. Good bye, Cousin. And a word of advice. Keep
yourself busy; you get in less trouble that way."

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

Kevin and Cassidy enter The Outback for lunch after Kevin gave her the
tour around the Corporate Offices of Cassadine Incorporated.

Kevin:"You haven't lived until you've had one of these burgers, Cassidy.
Let's grab a seat."
Cassidy takes in the ambience of the place as sit at a table near the
bar. "I like it." Cassidy notices Kevin looking uncomfortably at the
female bartender. "Is there a problem?"
Kevin:"What?.. no, no problem. Just someone I used to be friends with.
Her name's Felicia Jones. If you stay in town long enough, you'll meet
her. Felicia and her fiancé, Mac. They own this restaurant and they're
private detectives."

The waiter takes their order. After he leaves, Kevin assesses the young
woman across the table from him. That feeling strikes him again. The
feeling of familiarity. "I must say I'm curious. You've obviously been
independent from a fairly young age."
Cassidy:"It's just been my father and I since I was two. We only had
each other to rely on, so I grew up fast."
Kevin:"And your mother? What happened to her?"
Cassidy:"Never saw her again. She died a while back."
Kevin:"I'm sorry you didn't get to know her."
"I'm not." Cassidy watches his face for a reaction- first surprise,
then wariness.

Kevin takes a step back from their conversation. "I think I just opened
a hornet's nest. You don't have to answer my questions, Cassidy. I don't
know if Stefan told you, but in a former life, I was a psychiatrist. So
I'm naturally nosy."

Cassidy:"I don't mind. This is usually the point where most people look
at me strangely and change the subject. I realize it makes everyone
uncomfortable. You won't hurt my feelings if you do the same."

Kevin feels compelled to find out her whole story. "If anyone
understands how it feels to make people uncomfortable, I do. When you
get to know me better, I'll tell you the story behind that. I also know
what it's like to hate your mother. But since you have my curiosity
hopelessly piqued, tell me the whole story behind Cassidy Corbin,
including why Sonny never knew he had a sister."

Cassidy laughs. "Dr Collins, I don't think Mr Cassadine would appreciate
us using company time. It would take hours."

Kevin smiles sheepishly. "You're right. So tell me what you know about
your mother. You must have been curious about her at one point."

Cassidy relates the story that led to Mike taking her and fleeing. "So
now you know why even if I had been curious, I kept my distance."

Kevin:"Do you remember what she looked like?"
Cassidy shakes her head. "Nope. To be honest I'm afraid to find out if
I look like her. Dad said she was quite beautiful."
Kevin looks at her quizzically. "How odd. You don't know anything about
her?"
Cassidy pauses before answering, watching him carefully. "I know her
name-- Melanie." .

Kevin's eyes narrow slightly. "Fascinating." Kevin looks at his watch
and quips. "I'm sorry, your hour's up. We'll have to continue this
discussion at your next session."

Cassidy laughs. "Mr Cassadine warned me about your sense of humor. Okay,
let's get back to work."

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

Gina steps off the Spoon Island launch and makes her way to Wyndemere.
Through the mist she spies Nikolas up above practicing some intricate
exercise that she doesn't recognize. She stops her trek to admire his
graceful body.

A twig breaks under her heel alerting Nikolas to her presence and
halting the performance. "Who's there? Reveal yourself."

Gina walks out of the shadows, making her way to him. "Hi, I was just
admiring your skill. I'm not sure what you're doing, but you seem quite
talented."

Nikolas smiles as he extends his hand to help her up the last few steps.
"Thank you, but my uncle is actually much better. I'm practicing Tai
Chi. It helps me focus my mental and physical energy."

Gina smiles hesitantly. "I hope you don't mind my dropping in
unannounced. To be honest, I was a little curious to see where you
lived. I've heard all kinds of things about it."

Nikolas smiles as his hands slide around her waist, pulling her against
his chest. "If I didn't want you to drop by, I wouldn't have extended an
open invitation. How did you know I was missing you?" He kisses Gina
leisurely as he reacquaints himself with her mouth. Her hands weave
themselves around his neck. Before the kiss becomes passionate, he ends
it, his hands remaining around her waist to keep their bodies in
contact. "Now that's how I like to say hello. Why did we wait so long to
see each other?"

Gina:"Because I asked for some time to get my head straight. It was a
stupid idea. I didn't really come here to see Wyndemere. I missed you."
Just as Gina is about to kiss him, they hear the sound of footsteps.
Stefan appears above them.

Stefan(hiding his amusement at seeing the couple embracing): "Nikolas,
please invite your visitor in. It's not polite to make her stand in the
cold. She must be freezing. Hello Gina, welcome to Wyndemere."

Gina:"Thank you, Mr Cassadine."

Nikolas whispers in Gina's ear before releasing her. "So much for
privacy." He turns to call out to Stefan. "We'll be right up." Stefan
disappears inside.

Gina smiles bravely. "Here goes nothing."

Nikolas:"His bite is worse than his bark. And he rarely does either."

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

It is late at night in the Spencer house. Small footsteps can be heard
crossing the upstairs hallway. Then the little voice calls out.
"Mommy? I can't sleep."

Laura turns over in her bed. "Come in, honey. Mommy's not sleeping
either."

Lulu trots over and climbs into bed. "Can I stay?" Lulu snuggles
against her mother's chest, calmed by the sound of her mother's heart
beat.

Laura wraps her arm around Lulu as she smoothes out the blankets on top
of them. "Yes you can stay, sweetheart. For tonight anyway." A little
while later they both drift off to sleep.