Chapters 71 & 72
Chapter 71 No Small Sacrifice
Stefan and Laura relax in the Wyndemere gameroom after all the guests have left. Laura lays down on one of the couches while Stefan pours drinks. The major mess has already been cleared away, but candles still glow in the background. Laura sighs as she accepts a drink from Stefan. "What a beautiful wedding, and everything went so smoothly. Did I tell you how beautiful Gina and Lulu were with those floral headdresses you created? It's nice to see your artistic talent being put to good use."
"Weddings bring out my artistic spirit," Stefan replies as he removes the jacket of his tuxedo, neatly folding it over a nearby chair. He unbuttons the top two buttons of the white dress shirt before reclining on another couch nearby, propping his feet up on a coffee table in an uncharacteristically casual way. "I am equally impressed with the decorations for the house. You gave Wyndemere a feminine touch that will make Gina feel welcome."
They both lie in companionable silence and sip their respective drinks. After a long time, Laura breaks it by saying. "I couldn't help but think of my own marriage to Stavros today. While I was watching Nikolas and Gina say their vows, I realized how different it was for me."
Stefan studies her thoughtfully. "I would think you would try to forget it; it was a painful time."
"I do most of the time. But seeing the Greek traditions brought it all back. I thought of when Nikolas was born. How happy I was when I held him in my arms for the first time." A sad smile passes across her face before it is replaced by a look of sheer agony. "Then I thought of the day I left him behind. I still wonder how I could have done it. What kind of mother does that to her own child?" Stefan doesn't answer, only looks at her sadly, silently communicating his understanding. "I missed so much. On each one of Nikolas' birthdays I used to imagine what he looked like, what he was doing... I'd even fantasize what he would do if I came back to claim him.. his initial wariness, then his love... the joy of feeling his little arms around my neck as he told me 'I love you, Mommy'." Laura's face is wet with tears as she relives the pain. "Why am I doing this to myself?"
"Because Nikolas is no longer the little boy you imagined. He is a man," Stefan answers gently. "I too have been reminiscing about Nikolas's childhood. His first steps, his first words.... I miss the curious little boy he was. I miss the total trust and adoration he had for me," He muses. "It was quite a let down for both of us when he realized I was mortal; that I was just a man, and often not a very good one."
"What was he like when he was four?" Laura asks. "I had this fantasy that he was bold, fearless, stubborn even. Much more so than most boys his age. Did he ride horses at that age?"
"He was imperious as a four year old. But then all good Cassadines are imperious." Stefan smiles at the remembrance. "And yes, he was both fearless and stubborn. He started riding lessons when he was three. I had planned to wait until he was four or five, but he was insistent. When he was four, I took him for his first ride out to the cove. He'd been there before on our walks, but you wouldn't believe the look of triumph on his face when he made it there on horseback."
"I can only imagine." Laura smile turns somber. "When did he start to ask about me?"
"On our first trip off the Island. That was the first time he saw other children with their parents. He was two..." Stefan shakes his head sadly, his voice laced with regret. "I didn't have a choice, Lasha. If I had told him you were forced to leave him behind, he would have grown up yearning for you, wanting something he couldn't have. I suppose if that were the only result, I would have allowed it. But I had to protect him from Helena's wrath."
"She'd punish a little boy for wanting his mother? Her own adored grandson?"
"You know as well as I how cruel she could be, even with someone she supposedly loved," Stefan argues. "And If I'd given her a reason to question my allegiance, she would have separated us. At that time, she had the power and she hated you, the woman who caused the death of her favored son, Stavros. Honestly I often feared she would make good on her threat to kill you. She toyed with the idea frequently. But enjoying the knowledge that she kept you from your son was enough to save your life."
"What did you tell him?" Laura asks, her voice a mere whisper.
"It was the hardest thing I've ever done, breaking his heart that first time." Stefan's eyes fill with tears at the remembrance. "I told him you ran away from us and would never come back. Later when he asked more questions I had to tell him you didn't love him." They sit in agonizing silence, both consumed by old grief. All that can be heard is the ticking of a clock on the wall. Unable to stand it any longer, Stefan gets up and kneels before her, putting a hand on her knee, his voice cracking with emotion. "Please forgive me, Lasha. I didn't see any other alternative. I had to protect his soul at all costs. Even if it meant him hating you...."
Laura lifts her hand to his lips to silence him, her eyes filled with understanding and surprisingly, gratitude. "I know that, Stefan. And I have no right judging you given the awful mistakes I've made, the times I've hurt him. You kept your promise to care for him and that means everything to me." She lets her hand and attempts to lighten the mood. "Would you tell me more about his childhood?"
Stefan takes her empty glass and returns to the liquor cart to fill it. "It would be my pleasure."
After slugging Mike in front of the club, Lucky storms into Luke's. Mike quickly picks himself up and follows. Mike enters in time to see Lucky pick up the closest chair and throw it at the wall as he yells at Mike. "I said you're not welcome here! GET OUT!" Lucky walks up to the bar and with a violent sweeping motion sends the cluster of bud vases shattering onto the floor. Just at that moment, Lucy walks in. She stares at the two men in amazement. Lucky, not noticing Lucy standing by the door, screams. "Damn you, Mike! How could you?"
Mike shakes with dread as it dawns on him that Lucky somehow found out his secret. It was the only explanation for Lucky's rage. But he tries to bluff out of it in the hopes that he's wrong. "Lucky, tell me what I've done to upset you like this. I don't understand, I thought we'd been getting along pretty well. Do you think I've stolen from the bar or something? I wouldn't ever..."
"SHUT UP!" Lucky bellows as he paces the length of the bar, trying to control his anger. All he can see is his father lying dead in a hospital room... the last time he saw the man he loved more than anything. And in front of him stood his father's good friend, a friend his father had trusted when no one else would. And the friendship turned out to be sham... some stupid plot by Stefan Cassadine. Then Lucky sees Lucy in front of him, putting her arms around him... he sags against her shoulder, grabbing onto her tightly, like a life preserver during a storm at sea.
After a few moments, Lucky collects himself and pulls away. "Thanks Luce." He turns to glare at Mike again. "You want to play innocent? Fine. I'll spell it out for you. I found out the big secret." He starts to pace the bar again, but this time his anger is in check. "You see I got suspicious when I heard Cassidy went to go to work for Cassadine, Inc. I mean.. why would she? To get to know Kevin? Plausible.. but then why did Nikolas treat her so fondly when he first met her? He's never like that with strangers. Never."
Mike gulps as he feels the noose tighten around his neck. There's no way to stop it now, short of an act of God. But how had Lucky figured it out?
Lucky continues."So I had Benny do a little research on Cassidy, you, and her lovely mother, Melanie. I was surprised to learn Cassidy was born in Greece and not only that, her mother was a Greek citizen. Just a coincidence that you share that similarity with the Cassadines? I went to Greece to find out." Lucky's voice turns tauntingly sweet. "Can you guess what I found there?"
A muscle in Mike's jaw twitches under the strain. "Just spit it out, Lucky," Mike says through clenched teeth.
Lucky smiles bitterly. "After looking through the records of marriages and name changes, I was surprised to find out Melanie's name was actually Melisande Sokolov Collins Chamberlain Corbin. Sokolov... nice Russian name."
Mike's shoulders sag with exhaustion and defeat. He limps to the nearest table, sinking into one of the chairs.
Meanwhile, Lucy is confused. "Russian? Doc's mom is Russian? I don't get it."
"The Cassadines are descended from Russian aristocracy," Lucky explains. "Sokolovs are also Russian aristocracy. In fact, the Sokolovs and the Cassadines intermarried."
Lucy gasps. "What?! Are you saying what I think you're saying? That Kevin is related to...to..." Lucy can't continue.
"Yes, to the Cassadines." Lucky glares pointedly at Mike. "It's amazing how complete the records in Athens are. Marriages, births, deaths, immigrations, name changes... everything."
"Oh God, this is too much! How is Doc going to handle this?" Lucy drops into a nearby chair several tables away from Mike. "How? How are they related?"
"Helena Cassadine sponsored Melanie's immigration from Russia to Greece in 1950," Lucky says. "The relation given on the sponsorship paperwork was sister. Melanie and Helena were sisters. Helena's maiden name is Sokolov."
Lucy jumps up. "Oh no! Melanie was related to THE Helena Cassadine? I have go tell tell Kevin... he needs to know right away. This explains everything... everything." She turns Lucky, giving him a worried look. "Will you be okay if I leave? You're not going to do anything stupid are you?"
Lucky waves her off. "Yeah, go. I won't kill him if that's what you're afraid of. At least not tonight."
Lucy runs back to kiss Lucky on the cheek. "Call me if you need anything; or just stop by, okay? I love you, pal." On her way out, she glares at the defeated Mike disapprovingly. "And you! You deserve whatever Lucky throws at you!"
Mike nods, his head bowed. He still can't believe it-- the secret he's kept hidden longer than he's been in Port Charles is out in the open. He doubted he could make Lucky understand his reasons, understand that he did love Luke.
The bar becomes strangely quiet after Lucy leaves. Lucky stands before Mike with his arms crossed. When he finally speaks, his voice drips with bitter sarcasm. "So was it fun to sell out my dad to Stefan Cassadine? Did you get a chuckle out of fooling him? The man who prided himself on not being a sucker? Don't even bother denying that you work for Stefan Cassadine. I won't believe you."
Mike takes a deep breath before looking up at Lucky. His heart physically hurts to see look of hate on his face. "I did work for Stefan, I admit that. But I don't work for him anymore. As soon as Cassidy came out of hiding, it wasn't necessary anymore."
Lucky shakes his head in derision. "Oh, c'mon! You really expect me to believe that? What a load of Bull! I bet you've been giving him regular reports on me." Mike gives up trying to convince, right now Lucky is too angry to believe anything he says. "I have a question for you, Mike. Was getting close to Sonny part of the game too? Part of Cassadine's orders?"
"No!" Mike protests. "I loved Michael with all my heart! I came to Port Charles to finally get to know my son. And I loved Luke like he was my own brother. That's the truth."
"Well I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be glad that Sonny and my dad were dead," Lucky says. "They would have been destroyed by this! They trusted you. My dad gave you a chance when no one else would, and you betrayed him to Stefan Cassadine! Don't try to pretend you didn't."
"That's not true," Mike argues. "When Stefan heard that I was coming to Port Charles, he told me to watch over your family... to make sure no harm came to you. Those were my orders. When Lulu became sick with aplastic anemia, I contacted him. Precious time would have been lost if I hadn't... "
"You lie!" Lucky screams. "My mother contacted the Cassadines herself. She told me. Don't try to make yourself a hero, Corbin, because you're not. You're a coward. Did you do it out of family loyalty? Money? Both?"
Mike struggles to explain. "It was for Cassidy. I had to protect her from Melanie and Helena. Stefan helped me hide Cassidy. When Helena's minions got close, Stefan was able to divert them on a false trail. I owed him."
Lucky rolls his eyes. "Great. So you sold your soul to the devil, and now you're paying the price. I don't give a damn what you're reasons were, man. I want you out of my club, NOW. GET OUT."
"No, Lucky, not until..."
"If you had any genuine feelings for my father at all, then show some respect and get out!" Lucky strides to the front door of the club to opens it for him. "Go. NOW."
With great effort, Mike rises from the table and walks reluctantly towards the door. He stops briefly in front of Lucky. "I'm leaving, but not for good."
Lucky's anger boils over as he watches Mike's retreating back. "If I have anything to say about it, you'll never walk through these doors again!"
Chapter 72: Surprise
Lucy enters the lighthouse to find Kevin standing in front of an easel painting a picture of Cassidy and Mike. Kevin looks up when he hears the door open. "Hi, sweetheart. I gather you got to see Lucky? Tell me, what do you think of this one?"
Lucy fidgets nervously, the task of telling him suddenly becoming overwhelming. How was she supposed to tell him he was related to a family full of power hungry lunatics? "Doc, it's beautiful, as always... could you sit down? I have something I need to tell you."
Kevin takes closer look at her and notices her anxiety. "Okay, I can tell this is big." He takes a seat on the couch. "I'm ready."
Lucy paces back and forth as she starts her story. "I hope you won't be too awfully mad at me, but I had Lucky check out Cassidy's background."
"What?! LUCY!" Kevin raises his voice, clearly very angry. "You invaded her privacy?! How could you?"
"I'm sorry. I know it was wrong, but it's done. Actually, I asked Lucky to do this before I found out Cassidy's your sister. And frankly, her working for Cassadine Inc. just didn't make sense." She sits down next to him and holds both his hands. "And Lucky didn't want to drop the investigation. He wanted to find out if Stefan had something on Cassidy to keep her working for him. He found out something, Doc, something huge. Something that affects all of us. Cassidy has a big secret."
Kevin cuts her off before she can say any more. "And she will tell me when she's ready. Honey, how could you do this without consulting me? You snuck around behind my back even though you knew how I'd feel about this! I thought we'd gotten beyond this sort of stuff."
"Please, Doc. Hear me out, okay?" Lucy pleads "You'll forgive me when I tell you what the secret is."
Kevin shakes his head emphatically. "I don't want to hear it. I told you, I'll wait for Cassidy to tell me in her own time. If she hasn't told me by now, I'm sure she has a good reason."
"This secret is already out and Lucky's already confronted Mike about it. You're going to find out about it one way or another. Please, just let me tell you."
Kevin looks in Lucy's tear filled eyes and relents. "Fine, tell me. But don't think this will change how I feel about Cassidy. I love her and I'm not turning my back on her."
"I know that, Doc. Truly I do." Lucy takes a deep breath. "I'm just going to blurt it out because I don't know any other way. Your mother... Melanie... she has other relatives. And they live in Port Charles." Kevin is struck dumb. Lucy rushes forward, afraid she will lose the nerve if she doesn't say it now. "It's the Cassadines. Stefan and Nikolas. Stefan's mother, Helena, was Melanie's sister."
Kevin's gapes. "You're kidding me?!" He quickly clamps his mouth shut and gets up from the couch. "Stefan and I are cousins? Are you sure?"
"Yes, Lucky went to Greece last week and dug through some old dusty archives in Athens. Apparently Helena sponsored your mother's immigration from Russia. Mike was there when Lucky told me; he didn't deny it."
Kevin paces in front of Lucy, his voice just above a whisper. "Stefan knew all this time? Of course he knew...this explains everything. Why he gave me a job when no one else would... why he befriended me. He probably even knew my mother. Why didn't he tell me? We've been friends for years..."
Lucy watches him pace."He's been lying to you because he has some other agenda. This is the proof, Doc. You can't trust him.. he's been lying to you for years."
Kevin's face takes on a determined look. "Stefan has some explaining to do, that's for sure." He stops in front of Lucy and bends over to kiss her on the cheek. "I'm going to Wyndemere." Kevin jogs to the door.
Lucy jumps up and follows him. "Doc, wait! Don't you want to think about this first? You can't barge over there just like that! He'll take advantage of the fact you're upset and twist everything around. At least let me come with you."
"No, Lucy. I need to do this now. If I wait, he'll have time to concoct some story to cover his butt. I want the truth. Catching him off guard may be the only way to get it."
"I'm coming with you then!" Lucy says as she grabs her purse.
"No, you're not. I have to do this on my own. This is my family. And it's not up for negotiation. Don't wait up for me, this could take a while." He kisses her on the cheek before running out the door.
"Well, son, you were right. I always let down the people I love most." Mike kneels at Sonny's grave, memorizing the inscription with his fingers. Tears flow freely from his eyes as he continues to speak. "When I came to Port Charles I swore it would be different, that I was different. That I'd be someone you could be proud of. That people I called friends would be proud to have me."
Mike gets up and walks around Sonny's grave. The night is warm and the full moon lights the cemetery. Mike shakes his head ruefully. "I have to agree with Lucky, I'm glad you aren't alive to witness my downfall. To see my true self revealed. You would be ashamed of me. It doesn't really matter that I did it to save Cassidy's life, that once I became Luke's friend I never revealed any secrets that would harm him. It's betrayal all the same. He'd hate me... and so would you."
Mike sticks his hands in his pockets as he hunches his shoulders unhappily. "Michael, if you can hear this, I want you to know I came to Port Charles for you. To get to know you, because I loved you. Not because Stefan ordered me to. You might hate me for this, but I'd do it again to protect Cassidy. She counted on me to save her life, I was all she had. I couldn't let her down."
Looking at the sky, Mike addresses Sonny one last time. "I hope you can forgive me, Michael." With that, he leaves the cemetery.
.
Stefan and Laura still lounge in the game room, their drink glasses empty as they share memories of Nikolas. Stefan now has his sleeves rolled up and his hair mildly tousled, giving him a handsome but roguish look. Laura looks relaxed, laughing easily when Stefan tells her an amusing anecdote from Nikolas' childhood. Timoria, the kitten, is draped across her tummy.
The conversation pauses. Stefan rises to take her glass for refilling, Laura smiles as she relinquishes her glass. "Just one more. I think I'll take advantage of this lull and go freshen up." Timoria protests loudly when she loses her bed.
Stefan pours the drinks."Timoria and I will be waiting,"
Meanwhile in the main part of the house, Mrs Lansbury opens the front door to find Kevin. "Mr Collins! This is unexpected. Did you or your wife leave something behind?"
Kevin walks into the foyer as Mrs Lansbury stands aside. "No, Mrs Lansbury. I need to speak to Stefan Cassadine, it's urgent. Is he here?"
"Yes, he is. I believe he's in the game room with Mrs Spencer, but ..."
Mrs Lansbury's words are cut off when Kevin heads in the direction of the gameroom. "Thanks. I know Stefan will want to see me. And he won't want to be disturbed."
Kevin walks into the gameroom to find Stefan studying the chess table in the corner. "Stefan, I need some answers."
"Kevin!" Stefan's face registers surprise and pleasure. "I didn't expect to see you again tonight." He studies Kevin's face more closely. "You're upset. Is there something wrong?"
"Yes, very wrong. You've been lying to me since the day we met and I want to know why."
Stefan gives him a puzzled look."Lying? I don't understand... what are you speaking of?"
Kevin walks up to stand face to face with Stefan. "I'll be blunt, since you won't be. I found out tonight that we're cousins, that my mother and your mother were sisters. Why did you lie all this time? What are you after?"
"Stefan? What is Kevin talking about?" Laura asks, suddenly appearing at the door.
Mike is back at his apartment on the phone. He looks frustrated. "What do you mean, Mr Jacks is refusing all calls? I need to get in touch with my daughter.... no, never mind, this can wait until morning. Just leave a message for Cassidy Corbin to call her father first thing."
Mike makes another call. "Mrs Lansbury, this is Mike Corbin, I need to speak to Stefan right away. What?! Kevin's already there? No... don't interrupt, it's too late now. Just leave a message for Stefan to call me in the morning. Good night, Mrs Lansbury."
Lucky sits alone in the dark of his father's club, hunched over a table with his head on his arms. Emily enters the club quietly. Her eyes soften at the sight of him; she approaches him gingerly.
"Lucky?" She whispers as she puts a hand on his arm. "I couldn't stop worrying about you. You were so upset at the wedding. Are you okay? "
Lucky sits up and rubs his swollen eyes. "No, I'm not. I lost one of my best friends tonight."
"I'm so sorry, Lucky. Was it Mike?" Emily sits at the table with him, her hand on his arm to comfort him. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah, it's Mike." Lucky's shoulders slump in defeat. "Guess what? He's been working for Stefan Cassadine this whole time. His daughter, Cassidy, is related to the Cassadines."
Emily looks aghast as the magnitude of the news. "Oh my God. You found this out on your trip?"
"Yup." Lucky shakes his head in disbelief. "You know, I've known this for three days and it's still unbelievable. Everything Mike has done for us is a lie. All of it. Even helping me with the club. How can I trust anyone? How can I trust myself?
