The room was eerily quiet as Robert, Alexis and Zander sat together. Alexis and Zander were on the chesterfield and Robert had pulled up a warm coloured ottoman to perch on.
It was Alexis who spoke first. She was accustomed to taking control in a situation, just never one quite like this. She wasn’t entirely sure how to broach the topic.
“This is an old house.” The statement hung in the air for an uncertain moment, an attempt to break the very present ice.
Zander looked around the room politely. “Yeah,” he agreed, but said nothing more, waiting for Alexis to continue.
Alexis took in a nervous breath. “I came here once when I was younger, right around your age, in fact.”
“This is a family house?”
Alexis sat stunned for a moment. Zander was more right than he knew.
“It’s my house,” Robert supplied with an encouraging nod to Alexis. “Not officially, but I’ve used it so much over the years, most WSB agents know to consult me before using this house.”
“So this is a safe house?” Zander surmised with a curious look to Alexis. Where was this going?
Alexis nodded. “Very much so. I always felt it was.” She could not stop her gaze from drifting to Robert’s. “For awhile, it was a sanctuary of sorts. I never felt more safe or happy or…” she paused as she looked at Robert, watchful for his reaction, “loved.”
Robert’s countenance froze. Inside, his emotions swirled about madly and suddenly, he wanted the floor. He wanted to do all the talking. He’d never known how deeply she had felt for him and now that he did, he could barely suppress the urge to spill forth his own pent up feelings after 20 odd years.
Zander’s gaze flitted from Alexis to Robert, understanding dawning on him a second later. “Oh,” he finally said. “Do you need a moment?” He felt a sudden awkwardness, as though he was invading their space. Perhaps he should leave.
“No no!” they both blurted out, each grabbing a hand of his as he rose.
“It’s just that you two seemed like you needed it,” Zander explained as he sat back down. Alexis and Robert exchanged another look.
“You’re important to this, it’s why you’re here.”
Alexis nodded again. “Zander, Kristina isn’t my only child,” she launched in a rush.
“She’s not?” His surprise was palpable.
She shook her head. “I had another. Here. One terrible night years ago.”
Zander’s face visibly softened. “That’s great.” He peered at her more closely. “Isn’t it?”
Alexis smiled. “It was the most wonderful thing.”
“Boy or a girl?”
“We had a son.” Robert announced, his voice suddenly thick with emotion. Hearing the tremor in Robert’s voice unnerved Zander. “We have a son.”
Zander’s voice melted as Robert’s words washed over him. “You have a son, Alexis? But that’s great! Where is he? Is he in trouble? Do you need my help?” His concern rose when Alexis blinked sadly, tears cascading down her cheeks. “Don’t be sad, I’ll help you anyway I can. You know that, right?” He squeezed her hand gently, wanting to prove himself to the woman who had always been there for him.
Alexis let out a sob that sounded more like a laugh. Perhaps she was feeling both. Her heart thumped mightily against her chest and she knew she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Zander, you are my son.”
Her whispered words struck Zander full force and for what seemed like the millionth time in his young life, his world seemed to spin on its axis, dizzying him beyond belief.
But for the first time in a long time, this was a good spinning.
A good dizzy feeling.
“What?” he asked, almost dazed. “Really?” he said before anyone could answer his first question. “Really?”
Robert nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat, his adoring gaze shifting from Alexis to Zander. “You are the son we believed died over 20 years ago. We found you,” he said brokenly, his own tears freely falling.
His whole life he had felt out of place. Growing up in Florida, he felt more tranquility with the waters of the Keys than he had ever felt in the only home he had ever known. He loved his parents and his brother, most definitely and he knew they loved him.
But that’s how it always was.
They.
And him.
Separated by a chasm neither could define nor fill.
And now he knew why.
“Are you sure?” Looking at Alexis now, his chest burned with the hope that it was true. He knew that she cared for him and he hoped she knew how much he had always respected and admired her, both for what she had done for him and for her friendship. The idea that she was in fact his Mother, that he came from her and that they were truly connected filled his heart with the kind of joy he had never felt before.
“A DNA test was done. You are our son.” Robert’s voice brimmed with pride.
Zander’s hand slowly drifted up to his mouth as he sat, awestruck by the confirmation. “I’m your son,” he said allowed, placing his hand in the middle of his chest.
Alexis’s hands cupped his face and she beamed at him. “Yes, yes, yes!”
“You’re my Mother.”
“I am.”
With that ferocious declaration, Zander’s face crumpled and he fell headlong into Alexis’s welcoming embrace, a sob escaping him as he felt the arms of his Mother encircle him tightly.
For the first time since he was born.
“Alright,” Alexis soothed as she felt her son tremble as he wept. Blinking happy tears, she pressed a soft kiss to his head and simply held him. The moment she had waited for had brought her a serenity she had never experienced before. She was complete. Both of her children with her, safe and together under one roof. “Alright, my love, everything with be alright,” she promised.
Robert’s hand reached out and tenderly stroked Alexis’s cheek with one hand while placing the other on Zander’s back.
Just as he had done 23 years before.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Anais entered her room as quietly as possible. She knew all the weak spots in the floorboards and took due care when crossing the room.
“You think I do not hear you?”
Anais winced slightly at her Father’s gentle chiding. Caught. Turning slowly, she smiled winningly. “Papa, I was just helping Victoire,” she explained in her native tongue.
Christoph grinned. Always the mischief maker, his little Anais. “You must not wander about, you know this.” Moving from his seat beside the window he went to a nearby armoire and pulled out a small valise. Opening it carefully, he removed a small handgun from the protective casing and ejected the clip. Anais joined him, cuddling close to him as she watched him inspect the weapon closely. Patience was never a strong suit with Anais and she quickly spilled forth her eager question. “Is that for me?”
Christoph gave her a look as he set the weapon down on the armoire, mere inches from her. Anais furrowed her brow. “You always bring me a present Papa.”
“You believe a 9mm semi-automatic is a good present for a young woman?”
Anais jutted out her chin boldly. “Of course. I know how to use it.”
Christoph’s amusement faded slightly as the hard reality of Anais knowing how to defend herself with such deadly force came into focus. He had not relished the decision to have RJ, Dara and himself teach Anais such tactics, but the memory of her Mother’s death still fresh in his mind and the woman responsible for it hardened his resolve.
“I am aware of that. It’s not your gift.” Christoph moved back to the armoire and removed a colourfully wrapped item for Anais to see. She let out a squeal of delight and jumped onto the bed, bouncing eagerly. “What is it? What is it?” she demanded, her eyes glittering with curiosity.
Biting back a laugh, Christoph handed the gift to her, watching her tear the wrapping with a smile on his face. “Something to keep you from creeping about and getting your mischievous nose dirty.”
Anais let out a gasp of recognition as she ran her fingers over the smooth red covering of the hardcover book. “Inkheart by Cornelia Funke,” she read aloud. “Papa, I just finished The Thief Lord, this is perfect!” Anais hugged the large book to her chest, beaming at her Father.
“I think you’ll like it,” Christoph said, taking a seat next to her. “It’s about a Father and daughter who share an extraordinary gift.”
“What kind of gift?”
Christoph pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’ll find out.” He rose and moved to the door, knowing that Anais would settle back and immerse herself in the magical works of one of her favourite authors. For a child like Anais, a bit of whimsy and magic and hope was just what she needed at a time like this.
They all did.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Gia traveled the grounds, finding the house too confining for her taste. With so many jumbled thoughts running through her head, a walk in fresh air would do her some good. Finding a path, she followed it, making sure to not stray too far from the guard who was accompanying her at a discreet distance. The formality of Cassadine life did not irritate her as it used to when she and Nikolas began dating.
That was a lifetime ago.
Just as she thought she was free of one Cassadine man, it was now appearing that she had unwittingly grown fond of another. Albeit a half-Cassadine, half-Scorpio.
Zander.
Alexis’s son.
She gave her head a gentle shake, still not quite believing it. Rounding a bend in the path, she came upon the stables and quickened her pace in their direction. She inhaled deeply the familiar smells and smiled at the sounds she knew all too well. One of the few things she didn’t regret in her relationship with Nikolas was his introducing her to horses and riding them. The exhilarating first time she’d ridden Stefan’s mare with complete abandon, letting the horse gallop at its own pace had cemented her newfound passion. Spying a small office, she peered in and found it empty. Noticing a small refrigerator, she knelt down and opened it, knowing that fresh vegetables and other cool treats lay inside. Grabbing a few carrots, she left the office and headed for the nearest stall. A beautiful mare greeted her with a suspicious whinny. Dark eyes studied the stranger. Remembering Nikolas’s instructions, she approached the majestic beast cautiously, speaking in a soft, low voice. “Hey girl, I’m not gonna hurt you, in fact, I’ve got a little treat for you,” she murmured as her hand extended the orange gift.
The chestnut coloured horse shook her head up and down and let out a loud snort. Gia smiled, Sheba had behaved in the exact same manner when she was pleased with whatever treat Nikolas had brought her. “There girl, all for you,” she said, holding the carrot as the horse began crunching down on it. With her other hand, she gently rested it on the horse’s nose, waiting for the animal to settle to her touch. “That’s a girl, you love being treated like a princess, don’t you?” Rubbing the nose gently, Gia brushed the forelock gently from its eyes and moved her hand in a smooth motion down the neck and back up again. Very slowly, the horse moved forward and blew a bit of air in Gia’s face.
“I think she likes you,” came a masculine voice from behind her. Startled, but not wanting to do the same to the horse, Gia slowly turned her head to her new visitor.
“I think so too,” she replied as Nikolas came up beside her. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you Bella?” he crooned, mimicking Gia’s actions. The horse shook her head and let out another snort, moving closer to Gia, rejecting Nikolas. Gia let out a giggle, “I think she’s not swayed by your charms.”
Nikolas gave an easy shrug. “It happens from time to time,” he joked. “I thought I might find you here.”
Joking forgotten, Gia allowed a slow nod. “Things were getting pretty serious in there.”
“I agree.”
Gia stole a look to her ex-fiance as she fed Bella another carrot. “How long have you known about Zander?”
“Awhile, but by the time I did learn, it was too late to prevent the shooting at the cottage,” Nikolas replied, resting his forearms on the stall gate. “This is a long time coming.”
Gia agreed. “For everyone it seems, but especially Zander. He’s been through so much already.”
Nikolas noticed the warmth in Gia’s voice as she spoke of his younger cousin and he wasn’t quite sure how he felt about it. He still cared for her a great deal and he had once loved her so much he wanted to do nothing more than be her husband. Now, things were different. “You care about him,” he said calmly.
Gia turned to him, hesitating in her response. She studied his face curiously, but only found genuine openness in his eyes. “I do,” she admitted.
Nikolas nodded. Their time was over. He knew that and so did she. “I’m happy for you Gia. Zander and I may not always see eye to eye on things, but I know he’s a good man and when he loves, he loves completely.”
Gia couldn’t help but beam at the declaration. Her nerve endings tingled at the thought of Zander taking her in his arms, his warm brown eyes captivating her just before their mouths met in a dizzying kiss. “I hope so.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
“So she sleeps.”
Dara entered Kristina’s room and smiled at the now sleeping toddler who lay curled up on the bed. Stefan rose from his seat and placed his newspaper down, his glasses following suit. “A few minutes running in the garden was all she needed,” he responded quietly as Dara shut the door behind her. He stood formally, his hands clasped behind him and he waited expectantly for the news she brought. Dara gave a hesitant smile, trying to quash the butterflies in her stomach as his emerald orbs held her gaze.
“I’m sorry.” The apology came out like a whisper. Stefan gave no reaction. Dara waited a beat before continuing. Twining her hands together nervously, she spoke gently. “My deceiving you was part of the operation and one I did gladly for the operation. I know that I hurt you-”
“You did no such thing,” Stefan injected, cutting Dara off. Stunned slightly, she firmed her resolve to finish. “If I did, I apologize.”
Other than a slight twitch of a muscle in his jaw, Stefan made no move.
“I’ll go.” Deflated, Dara moved to the door.
“Did you fail?”
Dara frowned, turning back to Stefan. “Pardon?”
“Did you fail?” he repeated more deliberately.
“No,” she admitted.
“Then you have no reason to apologize. Your operation was a success and I was completely fooled.”
“Oh?”
Stefan nodded briskly. “In fact, you should be congratulated for your work. It was exemplary.” The tinge of cool bite was unmistakable. Dara bristled and narrowed her gaze.
“You’re a man of manipulation yourself. There’s no need to get huffy when someone puts one over on you.”
Inwardly, Stefan smiled as he saw the flicker of fire in her eyes. Her deception had stung him more deeply than he showed, but even now, he was drawn to her. “Huffy? A poor description from a Harvard graduate.”
Dara arched her brow. “Fine. There’s no need to get bitchy when someone puts one over on you,” she challenged.
“Ahhh, coarse language. How ladylike,” Stefan bit back, taking a step towards her.
“Hey baby, life is a little more chill when the stick up your ass finally comes out,” she sassed at him.
If she didn’t know any better, she swore he was getting closer to her. A tingle ran down her spine. Was it from the fact that it was suddenly much warmer in the room or because anytime Stefan came within five feet of her, she had to fight to not throw herself at him?
“Delightful,” he murmured before swooping his arm about Dara’s waist, pulling her to him easily. She was intoxicating and he was helpless to cede his lust for her. But Dara beat him to the punch. Wrapping her hands around his neck, she pulled him down to meet her hungry lips in a searing embrace that seemed endless. Their thirst for each other grew with every second and mindful of the small, sleeping lamb nearby, they spoke in silence.
Dara’s phone began vibrating and she knew she had to take the call. Breaking the kiss reluctantly, she pulled the small device from her pocket and examined the display screen. “Headquarters. I need to check in.”
“Of course,” Stefan said, but made no move to release her from his powerful grip. Dara gazed at him and gave a small sigh. “Later,” she promised.
Finally Stefan broke his grip and allowed her to step away. “Later,” he echoed as she exited, shutting the door behind her.
*~*~*~*~*~*
“Oh wow, I got your shirt wet.” Zander laughed apologetically as he pointed to the dark stain on Alexis’s blouse. He wiped a few stray tears from his cheeks.
“It’s okay,” Alexis said, holding his free hand in hers. “I’m just so happy to have you back. My son. Finally.” She studied his features once more, memorizing them as she had once done when he was first born. Robert seemed to read her thoughts. “Same ears, same eyes and nose.”
Same son.
Alexis laughed. “Your nose,” she reminded Robert.
Zander felt his nose. “I always wondered who I looked like. The pieces never seemed to fit in my family.” He stilled at the mention of the family he had left behind in Florida. Father and brother dead. Mother gone. His smile faded.
Alexis’s face fell with her son’s. “I’m so sorry, Zander. I wish we’d have found you sooner. You didn’t deserve to have that tragedy happen to you.”
Zander’s face suddenly became vulnerable. “I’ve already lost an entire family. I don’t know where my Mother is. Now I have my real family back and I,” he stammered tearfully, “I don’t want to lose anyone else. I can’t handle the idea. Not Kristina or you or anyone!” he declared, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t do it Alexis, not again.”
“It’s not going to happen again,” Alexis insisted, pulling Zander into another hug. Robert nodded. “Never again, no matter who steps in our path, we are a family and we always will be.”
Zander lifted his head to look at the man he now knew was his Father. Determination shone from his eyes and instantly, Zander felt safe. “Promise?” he asked in a small voice. He felt like a little boy again, hiding behind the power of his Father’s stance. For the first time in a long time, he was relieved that he wouldn’t be facing his uncertain future alone.
Quelling the tremble in his voice, Robert cupped the side of Zander’s face in his hand and nodded once. “I promise.”
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