Nikolas ran back to Wyndemere after his meeting with Laura. He didn't know whether to trust her or not. On the one hand, she was his mother and he didn't think she would intentionally hurt him like that with a lie. On the other hand, it wouldn't be the first time she had hurt him with a vicious lie. She did fake her own death. His head was spinning and he knew the only way to stop it from spinning would be the one person he always trusted in his life... Stefan. He just hoped that trust wasn't falsely placed.
As he walked into Wyndemere, he saw Stefan sitting at the table going through some papers. Stefan looked up at Nikolas, who he noticed was struggling inside. "What happened, Nikolas?"
Nikolas, still unsure of how to approach Stefan on something that was most likely a lie that Spencer forced Laura into telling. He just took a seat on the couch and looked at his hands, the slight thought of who helped produce those hands crossing his mind. Stefan became worried as he stared at Nikolas on the couch. "Nikolas, is something troubling you?"
Nikolas: My father.
Stefan: (taken aback by the statement, but not showing it) What about him?
Nikolas: Was my father a good man?
Stefan: In his own way, yes.
Nikolas: Did he love my mother or did he hurt her?
Stefan: Both, I suppose.
Nikolas: Did she love him?
Stefan: At one time, he believed she was capable of it. What's the purpose of these inquiries about your father?
Nikolas: I want to learn as much as I can about him. I want to know him.
Stefan: Nikolas, I have constantly told you about him over the years. Stavros was...
Nikolas: (whispering) My uncle.
Stefan: Excuse me?
Nikolas: I can see it in your eyes. I saw my mother today and she told me that Stavros was not my father. Instead you are.
Stefan: And you took her word at face value?
Nikolas: Not immediately. But, I can see it by the way you speak about her. Every word that has come out your mouth regarding the feelings that my father had for my mother is your own words. Your own feelings. You can't hide that fact. Why have you tried to, though?
Stefan: To protect you.
Nikolas: From what? The joy of having my father in my life instead of mourning his "death"?
Stefan: The pain that Helena would have no doubt put you through if she found out the truth.
Nikolas: You're giving me the same garbage Laura just gave me. Everything was to protect me from Helena. Didn't the two of you realize that the pain you have caused me outweighs any of the pain Helena could ever have inflicted?
Stefan: Helena could do far worse than you are imagining if she finds out you are my son and not Stavros'.
Nikolas: How? I'm still a Cassadine.
Stefan: Because you are not of the first born son. The power is passed down from first son to first son to first son.
Nikolas: Do you think I care about whether or not I'm The Cassadine? I never wanted the power to begin with. All I ever wanted was a family... a mother AND a father.
Stefan: I've always loved you as my son and treated you likewise.
Nikolas: But you never allowed me to know I was your son. Was I really that unwanted that you couldn't claim me?
Stefan: Of course not! You have always been a blessing in my life.
Nikolas: From where I stand, it seems to me I was more of a burden than anything else. I was a reminder to my mother of her years on the island, being taken away from her husband. And for you, I am a constant reminder of a woman you can't have. If you claimed me as your son, you would also have to admit that you love my mother. But you can't admit to that love because your ego won't allow you too. Because she chose another man over you.
Stefan: I have never looked at you like that.
Nikolas: Save the act, Stefan. My father may not have died at the hands of Luke Spencer like I was led to believe my whole life, but he did die today... by his own hands.
Nikolas turned and ran out the door. Stefan cried his name, but the sharp sound of a door slamming destroyed any hope of Nikolas listening. Stefan fell down to his knees and placed his head in his hands, crying softly. He heard the door open and hoped that Nikolas had indeed return, but when he looked up, he saw the person he hated most in the world.
