“5 little muriquis sitting in a tree
Tease Mr. Crocodile,
Can’t catch me!
Along comes Mr. Crocodile...SNAP!”
Kristina let out a shriek of laughter as Nikolas’s hand, pantomiming a crocodile’s mouth, nipped her cheek gently.
Stefan watched the display in front of him with barely concealed irritation. While he normally adored the sight of his young niece basking in all the attention of her older cousin, the songs and nursery rhymes Nikolas had spoiled her with since retrieving her from the family Alexis had left her with now grated severely on his nerves. Of course, there were more pressing issues that distracted him, but he wasn’t prepared to discuss those right now.
“Nikolas, most children become adept to entertaining themselves. They do not require this kind of stimulation.” The comment came off as desperate and Nikolas’s gaze flicked towards Dara. His face broke into a grin. “Come Father, I could be singing ‘5 little monkeys’ instead. This way, I expand Kristina’s vocabulary while amusing her at the same time.”
Kristina impatiently grabbed Nikolas’s hand, urging him to continue. Four fingers wiggled in response and she smiled eagerly once more.
“4 little muriquis sitting in a tree
Tease Mr. Crocodile,
Can’t catch me!
Along comes Mr. Crocodile...SNAP!”
“Snap!” Kristina shouted thrusting her own hand forward, hitting Nikolas squarely in the chest. Nikolas winced slightly but smiled for Kristina’s benefit. “Maybe we’ll try something else.”
Stefan rose suddenly and made his way to the back of the private plane, tuning out the happy sounds that filled the cabin. He felt restless. Not so much by the close quarters, but more by what had gone on in plain view for the past year. Poisoned by Helena. Deceived by his son and sister. Seduced by a WSB agent and now, on a need to know basis in regards to everything else.
He was weakened, not only by the poison, but by those around him he had trusted the most. Not that he had ever trusted anyone implicitly in his entire life.
The control he exerted was gone. Taken effortlessly by Nikolas. It had always been intended, for Nikolas to take official control over the family upon celebrating his 25th birthday but now, Stefan could not help but feel robbed.
And terrified. For so long, he clutched to the self-imposed truths about Helena and her machinations for Nikolas and the Cassadine Empire. That only he could withstand her blows. That only he could see the true depths of her foul nature.
That only he could protect the family he loved so dearly.
The singing stopped.
He turned back to see Nikolas, now deep in conversation on the phone, Kristina on his lap, resting against his chest. Sippy cup in hand, she played ever so slightly with the fabric of his sweater as she drank her juice while listening to Nikolas conduct business. Only a moment ago, she’d been demanding his undivided attention and now she sat patiently, eyes fixed on him. Already she knew when to peck at ‘Nikky’ and when to exert a little self control.
Perhaps his death grip on being the one to deal with Helena would fade in time.
Time would tell if he could trust Nikolas to handle her.
But credit was given when due. Nikolas had handled him. He admired the maneuver but at the same time felt saddened by its significance. For the first time in over 20 years, his position in his family was unclear.
“Have you talked to him yet?” Dara approached him, folder in hand. Stefan regarded her stiffly. “It is a family matter.”
“Of course it is.”
“Which does not include you.”
Dara ignored the remark. “You two need to sort this out. Preferably before we land.”
“My apologies. I was not aware that Nikolas and I had a schedule to keep.” Stefan turned and retrieved a bottle of water from the mini fridge. Dropping a few ice cubes into a glass, he poured the water out and took a seat. Dara sat across from him, staring at him expectantly. “It would make one less thing for me to be concerned about.”
There it was. The commanding attitude that he imposed on others for much of his adult life was now being blithely used on him. It did not sit well with him. “I will do things as I see fit and when I see fit. Is that clear?” The ice cubes jangled loudly as he took a quick gulp of the chilled water.
Dara sighed. He’d been rattled more seriously than she originally believed. Since meeting up at the home Kristina was staying at, Nikolas and Stefan had been cordial with each other, but more formal than necessary. It appeared that Nikolas had boxed Stefan in well enough but was now losing his footing with Stefan being out and about. Nikolas needed to take charge once more. Stefan was in a precarious position, emotionally, physically and mentally. She’d spoken at length to Nikolas on that matter and he’d seemed to take her concerns seriously, but was he really prepared to face Stefan squarely?
Clearly, she was talking to the wrong Cassadine. However, Nikolas was not the one she’d spent months with both professionally and personally.
Stefan was. She’d gotten to know more about him than she had ever thought possible.
And the nightmares.
Only she knew of the night terrors Stefan had been plagued by. One thing she had left out of all her conversations with Nikolas. Something deep within her had cautioned her to keep the information to herself. Perhaps it explained why she was reaching out to him first. She cared for Stefan.
Probably more than she should.
Definitely more than the higher ups at the WSB would allow. It seemed with each passing day, she became more entangled in Stefan’s world and that of his bizarre family.
She knew this and yet, couldn’t find the strength or the desire to pull from it.
“I’ll leave you to your drink,” she said quietly. She made no remark of the slight tremble in Stefan’s hands.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Dawn.
Alexis rubbed her bleary eyes and watched the orange glow of a new morning encroach on the night sky. On the road for over an hour, she had insisted on driving the route to the villa from the airport. Despite not having been there in 20 odd years, she knew every bump and turn as though she’d come this path only a few days before. Familiar sights struck her and her gaze would wander from the road every so often. Thickets of wild flowers had blossomed and spread everywhere. Trees in their infancy were now growing tall and strong. Time had passed for the landscape.
Not for her.
Old feelings swelled within her, both good and bad. The times when she had been young and just a bit wild. The times when the wind in her face wasn’t laced with the strong smell of the Aegean seas. Her happiest times and her saddest. Alexis’s vision blurred and her heart ached. Why had Robert brought Zander here? Why after all these years would he re-appear in her life?
“We’re getting closer.” Gia climbed over the passenger seat, thumping down next to Alexis.
Alexis nodded, expertly winding the vehicle around a narrow bend, shifting the gear into third.
Gia gazed out the window, watching the scenery fly by. She couldn’t see much, but outlines and curves in the landscape hinted at the beauty the coming day would reveal. If he hadn’t seen it coming in, she’d bring Zander out here. Just the two of them.
“I can’t wait to see him,” she murmured. “Just to see him, alive, you know? He’s probably trying to escape,” she laughed gently. “We should keep an eye out, in case we come across him trying to get back to us.”
Alexis smiled. Zander probably was going a bit stir crazy. “If he can move his legs, then he’ll think about walking. If he can walk, he’ll think about running. If he can run, he’ll think about the best escape route.”
Gia laughed a little louder. “He’s an energizer bunny. He won’t stop trying.” Her smile faded a moment later. Who would Zander run to if he could escape? Maybe Alexis, but Gia was filled with a sinking feeling as a more probable truth dawned on her.
Emily. He’d run to her.
He’d been so devoted to Emily and taking her hostage at the cottage had been terrifying to hear about. She had no doubt that Zander still wanted to be with his first love. He lived and breathed for Emily for the longest time and even when he ‘died’, it had been in Emily’s arms. Zander’s life was about Emily and now that was over. Or was it? Gia clasped her hands together, nervous and uncertain for the first time. She and Zander had always been great friends but had fumbled on anything more. What if her face wasn’t what Zander wanted? What if in seeing him again, she’d see disappointment in his eyes because it wasn’t Emily racing across the world to him?
“He’ll be thrilled to see you,” Alexis stated, sensing the younger woman’s fears. “He’ll see you and his eyes will light up and he’ll give you his happiest smile and even if he’s half dead, he’ll pull you into a huge bear hug.”
Gia nodded uncertainly. “He always told me what a good friend I was.”
“But you think he’ll see you and wish it was Emily instead, no matter how happy he is to see you?”
Gia glanced guiltily at Alexis before nodding again. “It’s so stupid and selfish. I mean, I should just be happy he’s alive, right?”
“No, it’s not stupid or selfish. It’s natural. You care about Zander a lot. You opened your heart to him and he went back to Emily. You went back to being his friend even though you still want to be with him. You can’t help the way you feel, Gia.”
“I wish I could bottle it up. It was awful watching him go back to Emily.” Gia blinked back the tears as she recalled the painful day. “For awhile, I hated him for that. Emily had cheated and treated him so badly and all I wanted to do was treat him the way he deserved and he couldn’t see that. All he could see was his life with her. I tried going back to just being friends but I couldn’t handle it, so I left.”
“Yet here you are.” Alexis knew all too well the story of watching the man you love return to the old flame.
Alexis and Gia exchanged a smile. “Yeah, here I am, back for more,” she declared ruefully.
“Because you care.”
Gia shook her head.
“Because I more than care.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
“You will tell me what I want to know.”
Helena’s cold declaration was met with defiant silence by the couple who sat on the plum coloured couch. “Kristina was here only a few hours ago. You needn’t tell me who retrieved her. My only query lies in where they went.”
She’d been furious to hear that Alexis had evaded their followers after leaving Christoph Knapp’s home. Tracked to a rundown airport, the man had watched Alexis, Gia Campbell and Christoph clamber into a small plane and fly off into the night. Only they hadn’t filed a flight plan and the guard who’d allowed the three onto the airstrip had no knowledge of where the three had flown. Time was wasting. Fortunately, Alec had contacted his mole at the WSB who’d gotten wind of where Kristina had been placed. A few well placed phone calls and a short side trip had allowed Helena to ensure that no mistakes would be made this time. It was just a matter of when and how to apply the pressure.
At the other end of the room, Alec paced, his ear attached to the cell phone he’d been talking on for the last 10 minutes. “Tell me about it.” He furrowed his brow as he patiently listened to the other end of the call. After a few moments, his expression brightened.
“Madame! I think I have what you want!”
Helena leveled her pistol at the couple as she called back to him. “What is it?”
“Victorian Rosewood. A framed settee. Inlaid with marquetry motif.”
“Circa?” Helena contemplated the piece of furniture as she took turns pointing the barrel of the weapon between her captors. Amusement danced in her eyes as she watched the couple pale further at her playful behaviour.
“Late 1800’s. Reasonably priced.”
Helena rolled her eyes. Price was of no concern to her. Her attention turned back to the matter at hand. “Your loyalty is admirable, but misplaced.”
“You have nothing to offer us,” the man spat at her. His female companion raised her chin in defiance.
Helena’s lips thinned with a knowing smile. “Nothing?”
She turned back to Alec, who flicked his head at a guard flanking the back door of the small home. A small boy of perhaps 10 was produced. Helena wrapped a warm arm around the shaking boy’s shoulder. Her pistol rested comfortably near his head. The woman cried out and moved toward her son but was pulled back by another guard. The man swore furiously in his native tongue. Helena waited patiently, feeling the child tremble against her.
“I have nothing? Perhaps you’d like to reconsider,” she said softly. Pressure applied perfectly. It was a beautiful thing to behold.
The agony of both parents was evident in their silence. Finally, the man nodded, capitulating to Helena’s will. “I will give you the address,” he said shakily, scrawling it down. Alec approached and snatched it up. Examining it quickly, he nodded to Helena and she in turn, released the boy to his grateful parents.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Helena and her guards left as quickly and quietly as they had come. Once safely ensconced back in the armor plated vehicles, she turned to Alec. “It’s amazing, the audacity some have in believing they have the right to bear and raise children, especially their own.”
Alec held out the cell phone, his hand covering the mouthpiece. The settee for the private sitting room on the Hera still needed to be decided on.
Helena paused. It would add some much needed colour to the room. “Take it.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
Zander stood. No pushing off. No support from the bedframe. Using his own strength, he pulled himself off the bed and stood for a moment, letting his body adjust to the change. His back ached and his upper body in general protested the unsupported movement, but he’d done it. Sun streamed in from every window and the air was cool. He didn’t smell now, but when the humidity picked up, he would. 3 days without a shower wouldn’t look or feel that great.
Victoire bustled into the room and smiled when she saw Zander standing near his bed. “Alexandre!” she said, delighted that he was up and moving already.
“Hi,” he replied, feeling more cheery than he sounded. Aside from Anais, Victoire was the only other person he felt relaxed around. She fawned and cared for him like he was an infant but he didn’t mind. His own Grandmother was more interested in garden parties and ordering the help around than spending time with him. He couldn’t remember the last birthday she’d acknowledged. Was it his eighth or nineth?
“Let’s get you clean,” Victoire announced, her accented voice soft, leading him into the small, but purposeful bathroom across the hall. Helping Zander ease off his shirt, she removed the bandages from his wounds with as much care as her frail hands allowed. Gingerly touching the healing marks, she smiled warmly at Zander. “Better?”
Although the areas were tender to touch, Zander hid the mild discomfort from the older woman. “Much better, thank you,” he replied, giving her smaller hands a gentle squeeze.
Victoire set to work preparing the shower, checking the temperature of the water to ensure it wasn’t too cold or hot for the young man she’d been doting on. “Come out when you are finished,” she instructed before shutting the door behind her.
His fingers found the warm water inviting and within moments, he’d shed the remainder of his clothing and hopped into the shower. Grabbing the sweet smelling handmade soap Victoire had provided, he lathered him frame as best he could, taking care in his vigorousness. Then he moved onto the shampoo and did the same treatment to his hair. His body ached from all the energy he was exerting but he paid no attention to it, instead allowing his mind to drift. How long would he be kept here? Alexis and Gia were looking for him and although his room was locked every night and there were guards posted below his windows, he did not feel like a prisoner. He was well cared for and while he didn’t entirely trust Scorpio or Jensen, he felt safe under their watchful eye. It was strange, all this attention being devoted to him. He’d never felt so important in his entire life. He had no idea why.
Rinsing off the last bit of soap, he shut off the water and toweled himself off. Slipping on a clean pair of boxers, he glanced at himself in the mirror. Didn’t need a shave just yet and he certainly wasn’t up to it. He pulled on the jeans Victoire had washed and bandanged the one remaining remnant of that awful night at the cottage. Deoderant and simple black t-shirt followed. After brushing his teeth and giving his hair a quick comb, he set about cleaning up after himself. Victoire kept insisting that he conserve his strength and focus on his recovery, but he wasn’t about to leave a messy bathroom for her to clean up. The floor and surfaces were wiped down, the dirty towels and clothing went into the hamper and Zander carefully put everything back the way he’d found it. It was the least he could do.
Opening the door, he found Victoire sitting patiently nearby. Stepping onto the creaking hardwood flooring, he approached her. She stood and her expression became suddenly somber. Her hand reached up and stroked his cheek gently, studying him carefully. Zander held in his breath, unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to startle her but at the same time, he wondered just what the faraway look in her eyes meant.
“Ton père,” she murmured, her blue eyes flickering sadly. “Je regarde as toi et je me souviens ton père.”
Zander stiffened at her words. Most he couldn’t understand, save for one.
Père.
Father.
Commotion suddenly interrupted the quiet moment and the small hallway filled as guards began rushing up and down the stairs. “Allons-y,” Victoire suddenly demanded, urging Zander back into the safety of his room.
“Wait! What’s going on?” he demanded. Robbie came up the hall, barking orders. “What’s wrong?” he asked more anxiously.
“Vehicle approaching,” Robbie relayed before passing him. “Who is it?” Zander asked, grabbing the older man by the arm.
Robbie stared past Zander, who in turn looked over his shoulder. Robert stood, an unreadable expression on his face. “Alexis is here,” he answered calmly.
Zander’s expression hardened. “I need to see her. Now.” He stood firm, he wasn’t going to be pushed back into his room without a hell of a fight. People he cared about were coming for him. He wanted to see them. “You can’t stop me,” he added, balling his fists aggressively.
Robert’s expression became pained. “I would never keep you from Alexis.”
Without another word, Robert and Victoire helped Zander move through the hallway and down the winding stairs with Robbie bringing up the rear. “Is Gia with her?”
“Yes.”
New energy surged forth, propelling Zander even closer to his destination.
Reaching the door, a guard opened it just as a black SUV pulled into the driveway. The morning sun created a golden tinge on everything in front of Zander. It took his breath away.
Inside the car, Christoph sat up and leaned in between Alexis and Gia. “Alexees, you are a fantastic driver,” he complemented grandly as the vehicle eased to a stop.
But her attention zeroed in on the scene before her.
Robert. Victoire. Zander.
Her Zander.
“There he is,” Gia breathed excitedly. “He’s okay.” She gave Alexis’s arm a squeeze before exiting the vehicle. Alexis moved more slowly, almost robotically, as she opened the door and stepped onto the rocky ground. She inhaled the air deeply.
Jasmine.
“Zander!” Gia squealed as she rushed forward to meet him. Victoire, still holding Zander, smiled timidly at the new guest.
“Gia,” Zander whispered, his throat clenching at the sight of her. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to take her in his arms and hold onto her for dear life. His wish was answered only a moment later as she flew into his open arms. He pulled her close, tearing up as he inhaled her scent deeply. “Gia,” he croaked happily.
“I can’t believe it! You’re okay! We thought you were dead!” she cried as she cupped his face in her hands, her watery eyes dancing with utter delight.
“I’m still here,” he replied, his arms not moving as he clung to her tightly.
“You’re still here,” she repeated, calmed by his assurance.
Robert had not moved from the moment he saw her. Alexis had not moved from the moment she saw him. “Like statues,” Robbie intoned wryly to no one other than himself.
He spoke too soon.
Alexis barreled for Robert her rage flaring as she raced towards her target. “Bastard!” she screamed before swinging her arm back and delivering a stunning right hook to Robert’s face, sending the man sprawling. “You stupid bastard!” Alexis seethed as she stood over him.
Robbie arched a brow at the climactic moment. “I warned him,” he muttered under his breath.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Translation:“Ton père,” she murmured, her blue eyes flickering sadly. “Je regarde as toi et je me souviens ton père.”
"Your Father," she murmured, her blue eyes flickering sadly. "I look at you and I remember your Father."
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