Nicholas fliched as his uncle called him when he got home. ''Yes Ucle?''
He asked, stepping into the den.
Stephan rushed over. He put his hands behind Nicholas' ears. ''Nicholas,
what happened?''
''Some people didn't like me too much.''
''Apparetly....Did the Spencer kid have some thing to do with this?''
Stafen crossed his arms.
Nicholas rolled his eyes. ''No uncle. If you must know some guys from
PCH attecked me. Lucky is the one that stopped them actually.'' Nicholas
smiled at this last comment.
Stefan smiled as well. ''So, you are pleased at this development?''
''Yes, very. Now, I must go to sleep. I'm bushed.'' Nicholas started
up the stairs.
''Bushed?'' Stephan called after him. ''Where exactly did you spend
your night?'' Nicholas came back down.
''Long story that you wouldn't approve of, so let's just skip it.''
''Very well.'' Stefan turned, hurt by his rejection to confide in him.
''Uncle, I was at Lucky's.'' Nicholas put his hand on Stefan's shoulder
and turns.
''Why would I disapprove? Son, I just want to see you happy.''
Nicholas gave him a strange look. ''Son?''
Stefan stuttered for a moment before regaining his composure. ''Ah,
well, Nicholas. Uh, See. It's just that I 've always thought of you as
the son I never had, and sometimes I forget you're not in actuality.''
Nicholas stepped forward and put his hand on Stefan's face. ''I think
of you as a father too. I love you.'' Then he hugged Stefan. Stefan clutched
on to him.
Then Nicholas turned and went to his room to sleep. Had he turned around
he would have seen the tears folwing down Stefan's face. 'I love you too,
son,' Stefan thought to himself sadly. Then he went out the door.
[Sorry Stefan haters. I love Stefan. He's so great. (Don't get me wrong,
nobody tops Luke!) Especially his scenes with Nicholas, and he's so cute
with LuLu, and GOD, when with ''Lasha'' recently. Be still my heart!]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emily sat on her bed chewing her pen. Liz had suggested she write Nicholas
telling him how she felt about him.
''Liz, no way! He'll, he'll, laugh or something!'' Emily gaped at Liz.
Liz laughed. ''No way Em. He'd never do that. I can tell, he REALLY
cares about you. Even if he doesn't feel the same, he's never hurt you
like that. And he's never let it ruin what ya'll have now.''
Eventually Emily had relented, realizing Liz was right. If she didn't
try, she'd kick herself forever. She began to write.
Emily sat and read and reread it after she had finished, chewing on
her pen once again. She heard a knock on her door. ''Enter,'' she said
not even looking up. All of a sudden the letter was taken from her hands
and she looked up.
''What's this Em?'' Lucky grinned slyly, waving it in her face.
Emily gasped in horror. ''Lucky, how dare you, give it back.''
Lucky started to read it, in a sing song voice. '''Hey, Nik, how's
it goin?' Oh, it's to Nicholas huh? 'Just wanted to thank you for well,
you know. No, that's not it. I mean, I do thank you, but that's not what
this letter is for. I feel so stupid! I guess I'll just make this quick
and painless. If you don't feel the same, just play like you never got
this kay?''' Lucky raised his eyebrows at her. Emily's face was bright
red. He read it to himself now. 'Nicholas, you are my best friend. The
thing is, I'm in love with you.' Lucky almost choked. 'Let ,me explain.
You are the greatest guy I know, (Along with Lucky. Do you know how much
ya'll are alike?)' Lucky smiled. ''Ya think we're alike?'' Emily was too
embarrassed to reply. Lucky read on. 'Smart, funny,and incredibly attractive.
I hope I'm not ruining our friendship with this letter. I'm the one who
wrote to you during the Katherine thing. Okay. I have everything off my
chest. Good bye. ~Emily' Lucky looked up at Emily slowly. ''Wow, Em. I
had no idea this was, well, this.''
Emily yanked it back. ''Forget it. What do you want.''
Emily, I'm really sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I liked it.
I'm sure Nicholass will too.''
''Lucky, it's okay. I'm just embarrased. Well, since you *read it*,
do you think I should give it to him?''
''Definately Em. And if he's a jerk about it, I'll kick his ass.''
Lucky ruffled Emily hair with affection.
Emily smiled. ''Ya don't have to do that. So, why did you come?''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nicholas couldn't sleep. He decided to go over to Emily's house to
see how the Quartermaine confrontation went.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laura went to the door to answer it. ''Stefan?''
''Lasha, I need to speak with you.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke picked up his car keys from the bar. ''Well, Mike, guess it's
time to go home and face the music, eh?''
Mike smiled at Luke. ''Godd luck friend.''
''Thanks man, I'll need it.'' With that he took a puff of his cigar
and left.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emily and Lucky shared a big laugh when Nicholas walked in. Emily gasped.
''uh...uh...uh...''
''Hey, Nickolas. Wanna join?'' Lucky said, winking at Emily.
Nicholas smiled. ''Sure Lucky.'' He sat on the bed and patted Emily's
knee. She about melted and Lucky had to contain his laughter. ''Hey Em.''
''Hey, Nicholas. What're you doing here.'' She slid the note onto her
dresser upside down.
''Came to say hey.'' They chatted for a little while. Then Lucky looked
hesitantly at Nik.
''So, Nicholas. I was heading over to talk to my mom, uh, our mom,
and I thought, well, maybe you could play with LuLu and I could talk to
mom, and after we could do something. Whatcha think?'' Lucky looked at
the floor.
Nicholas smiled widely and took a deep breath. ''Sure Lucky. That'd
be great.'' The brothers smiled at each other. Then Lucky grabbed Emily's
note and folded it and stuffed it in his pocket.
Emily pannicked. ''Lucky?...''
''I'll deliver it for ya, okay Em?'' Lucky smiled warmly at her.
''Okay...I guess.''
''Alright, Prince Cassadine, let's jet.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laura stepped out on her porch. ''Stefan, what are you doing here?''
''Lasha, I had to talk to you. When are you going to come back to Windemere?''
''Never Stefan. Nicholas can see me here. Or somewhere else. Just leave
me alone.''
''LAsha I can't. I can't turn off my feelings for you.'' He smiled.
''and neither can you,''
''Wanna bet?'' Laura snidely raised her eyebrows.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucky reached out to stop Nicholas and Nichoals nearly fell. ''What
the hell Lucky?''
Lucky crouched down at the flower bed in his backyard. HE nodded at
the porch. Nicholas followed his gaze and saw his uncle and Laura. Laura
was crying softly. Nicholas started to rise. ''No, wait, I wanna see what's
going on.''
Laura looked desperatly at Stefan. ''Why do this to me? Why do you
make me treat you like this?''
Stefan's face became bitter. ''Oh yes, Lasha. Yes, it must be excrutiating
to know that there is one man who LIVES HIS LIFE FOR YOU!'' Lucky and Nicholas
looked at each other, totally shocked. ''It must be SO horrid to realize
this. Every mornig I wake up and reach out for you, only you're never there.
Every night I call out your name, but you don't answer. I feel for you,
it's certainly unbearable huh?''
''Stefan, what do you want me to say. That I love you?'' LAura asked
him, shouting. Stefan grabed her arms and looked tearfully at her.
''Yes LAsha. I do. If you do feel that way.''
Laura sat down. Stefan sat next to her. ''Don't do this. Not now, I'm
too, I'm too lonely.'' She broke down.
Stefan spoke softly as he brushed her hair back. ''Lasha, did you ever
love me?''
LAura looked upand touched his face. ''Oh, Stefan, you know I did.
And part of me still does. Part of me wishes we could raise our son together
as a family. But my life is with Luke, and LuLu, and Lucky, if he eever
comes back to me. And Nicholas will be a opart of it. As he should have
been all along. But not you. You can't be. it's not possible.''
Lucky looked at Nicholas to see if he had caught that as well. Apparently
he had. He gripped Lucky's arm hard enough to rip it off. ''Lucky? She
did not just say that Stefan was my father, did she?'' He had tears forming
in his eyes. Lucky felt his outrage turn into sympathy for Nicholas. This
was the first time he's ever found his parents out in a lie. He squeezed
Nichoalas' arm.
''Lasha, why not. I love you.'' LAura and him locked eyes. Slowly they
came together and kissed. Lucky and Nicholas's heart jumped into their
throats. They looked shocked at each other again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke turned the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. There, on the
swing on HIS porch, he saw Stefan Cassidine kissing his wife, Laura, his
baby, and she wasn't resisting. ''Well, if it isn't a welcoming home party.
I'm SO GLAD TO BE BACK!!!'' Luke shouted at LAura.
Laura and Stefan jumped apart. ''LUKE?'' LAura gasped.
''Yeah baby. Ya recognize me? I'm surprised with King right there.
Thought maybe your head was too full of other ideas.''
Lucky and Nicholas came over to luke. Lucky put a restraining hand
on Luke's chest and glared at his mother.
''Lucky? Nicholas?''
''Hello mother. Uncle, or is it FATHER?!!!''
''Nicholas, I can explain!'' Stefan stuttered.
''Forget it man! We heard everything. There is NOTHING you or YOU''
Lucky pointed at his mother, ''can explain,'' Lucky spat at them. Luke
slowly turned and strted to walk away. Lucky followed.
''LUKE! LUCKY PLEASE!''
Nicholas turned his smoldering gaze on Laura. ''You can do nothing
to change this Laura.''
''Nicholas....'' Stefan desperately called.
''Forget it ... I don't even know what to CALL YOU NOW!'' With taht
Nicholas spun around and ran to catch up with Lucky. Laura ran sobbing
into the house leaving a totally devastated Stefan on the swing, tears
cascading down his face.
************************************************************************
