Nikolas got up from the bench, anger in his eyes after hearing the story his mother just told him. He didn't want to believe a word she said, but when he looked at her, he could tell she was telling the truth. Stefan was his father. All his life he had been lied to about his father. Stefan had told him of how his mother left him and his father to be with a common man, only later to have that man kill his father. That was his main reason for hating the Spencers, and now that reason was gone. He wasn't going to stop hating Luke, but it wouldn't be the same.
Nikolas started to pace as he digested this new information. He wanted to just run away, but he learned long ago that running away from the truth was pointless. He just wanted to know why neither one of his parents wanted to be his parents. Neither one of them obviously wanted him, otherwise they would have claimed him long ago.
Laura sat there and watched her son. She knew this was going to be hard for him and she desperately wanted to comfort him. But she knew he wouldn't accept it. He felt betrayed by everyone he ever cared about. She knew what it felt like to not know who your real parents were until you grew up, but she couldn't comprehend what it must be like to have lived with one of them and not know it. If there was any way she could take his place, she would without a second thought, but this was something he was going to have to handle on his own. All she could do was be there if he ever needed her.
Laura noticed Nikolas' pacing had slowed down. She thought this might be the only time she could actually talk to him before he confronted Stefan. She took a deep breath before calling his name, "Nikolas..."
Nikolas: Don't you think you've said enough.
Laura: I just wanted to let you know I'm here if you need me.
Nikolas: Like you were there when I mourned over your grave?
Laura: I...
Nikolas: You couldn't be there for me so you're trying to hurt the one person who was there my whole life.
Laura: You know that's not true. I would never try to destroy your relationship with Stefan.
Nikolas: Then why tell me this secret? Did you just think I would accept it and run off to see my father?
Laura: No, of course not. I understand you feel betrayed, but there were reasons. Everything was done to protect you, Nikolas, not to hurt you.
Nikolas: How protected did I feel at night when I was young and called out for my mother and father only to have an uncle come to my aid? Stefan has always been like a father to me, but I yearned to have my father alive. Now I find out he is alive, but just didn't want me.
Laura: Stefan loves you more than anything, Nikolas. The reason we kept this secret was to protect you from Helena. My whole reason for being on that island was to hurt Luke and to produce the next Cassadine heir... Stavros' heir. Helena would not have been so kind to you if she knew you were the illegitimate some of Stefan.
Nikolas: Helena's still around, so how come now you can tell me?
Laura: Because I had to. I wasn't going to live my life out of fear.
Luke was still walking around trying to clear his head. He didn't know what to do, and that was a state of mind he wasn't too thrilled to be in. He was completely losing control of everything around him. The man with a million plans, had none this time, and that frightened Luke more than anything else.
He got to the park where he thought he might just sit for a while to calm down before going back home. He knew that Laura and him would have to talk about this and he wanted to have a clear head when it happened. He just didn't know if he knew Laura anymore. He always said she couldn't lie because her face would give it away, but he was completely wrong about that. She had lied to him through almost their whole marriage, and he didn't doubt her for one second. He didn't even doubt her when she told him about Nikolas. He just accepted her word when she said it was Stavros' son.
As he walked through the park, he noticed two people talking. When he got closer, he saw that it was Nikolas and Laura. What were they up to now? Were they trying to pull another fast one on him? Were they comparing stories so not to make it look like there was another secret to tell? This time Luke was going to be one step ahead of them. He hid behind the bushes and listened to the rest of the conversation, knowing that any amount of information was going to help him out in the long run.
Nikolas: (sarcastically) What fear?
Laura: Nikolas, Stefan had threatened to tell Luke the truth if I didn't leave Port Charles with my mother and Lulu. He felt that you were getting too close to us. He didn't want you to be hurt by me again. So, I ran away to Switzerland.
Nikolas: Oh yes, you must protect Luke from this secret.
Laura: I did it to protect you more than anyone. You were the one who was going to stand to lose the most. I didn't want you to hurt from this news.
Nikolas: Like I asked before, why tell me now?
Laura: Because I am not going to run anymore. I rather you have heard it from me than from Luke or Lucky. I'm not going to run away from what I have done. I'm not ashamed of having you Nikolas. I'm only ashamed that I had to leave you.
Nikolas: Do Luke and Lucky already know this? Am I the last to find out?
As Luke heard this question, he knew it was his cue to come out of hiding. "So the prince didn't know he was really a bastard."
As soon as Luke said it, he regretting it. The shock was seen on everyone's faces, including Lucky's who just walked by to hear it.
