Dream a Little Dream

Chapter 51

Lucky Spencer sat straight up in bed, gasping for air. He frantically grabbed for the bedside lamp switch in the pitch black – knocking over the alarm clock – and turned on the light.

He looked around the bedroom with wild eyes, still taking deep breaths as it sunk in that he was in fact in his own room and in his own bed. Sweat shone on his bare chest. After his breathing slowed, he rubbed his face and lay back down, tucking the covers snugly under his chin and leaving the light on. He had to see – and keep seeing – that he was home, safe, and not back ... there.

What had awakened him in terror was a dream – or memories – of his time after being kidnapped by Caesar Faison and being held by Helena Cassadine. His memories were jumbled, but he remembered pain – both mental and physical. He remembered bits and pieces of the brainwashing and being turned against his parents. He remembered the feelings of isolation, anger and terror.

All that kept him awake for a long time. It annoyed him. He hadn't had the nightmare in almost two years. Why now?

* * *

Sunshine gleamed on the marble floors of the lobby of a hotel in Miami. An average-looking man – light brown hair, medium complexion, average height and weight, light brown eyes – strode through the lobby, wanting to get up to his room to take a phone call from his employer.

The man's utterly average appearance served him well in his work. He blended in almost anywhere in North America and Europe, where much of his work took him.

A doe-eyed maid was wheeling her cart out of the room as he approached. He gave her an extra tip, which earned him a lovely smile as she went away. He poured himself a glass of water as he waited.

He didn't have to wait long.

“Hello, Claude,” the voice on the other end, electronically disguised, said.

“Hello,” Claude said. “I hope all is well.”

“It is,” the boss said, “depending on what you tell me. Is everything in place in Port Charles?”

“Yes,” Claude said. “I took the list of names you gave me, and have monitors set up all over town for them.”

“Excellent. Any new developments?”

“Yes,” Claude said. “The youngest Spencer child, the daughter, is attending school in Port Charles now. Her mother remains in New York. We have someone in Manhattan watching her.”

“Good,” the voice said.

“Nikolas Cassadine has a paramour, one Emily Bowen Quartermaine,” Claude said.

“What is it with Cassadine men and Quartermaine women?” the boss said with a sigh. “Never mind. Emily is the adopted one, correct?”

“Yes,” Claude said.

“All right,” the boss said. “Your flight leaves tomorrow, as I recall. Check in with my assistant as soon as you are settled. Make sure that the monitors learn the routines of all of them – Spencers, Cassadines, Scorpios, etc. Report in with me at least once a week. Safe travels, Claude.”

“Thank you,” Claude said just before the call was disconnected.

* * *

“Sweet waltzing Lord,” Jeremy Logan said, then looked Heavenwards. “Sorry, Mom,” he added. He knew Anne would not like that sort of talk.

Jeremy was sitting at his desk in the office of his new Waterfront District condo. He'd designed it to accommodate several workstations, so he could run several projects at once. But he was only taking up half the space so far.

What had led to Jeremy's comment was his e-mail inbox. Between his new projects and old ones, he was swamped. Being so far away from Seattle, he couldn't just solve everything by driving to headquarters for a morning. Dealing with just what was in his inbox right now was going to take all day, between e-mails and phone tag. And he'd been hoping to get together with Courtney Matthews for an early supper.

I need a clone, Jeremy thought. Or a minion. Then a light bulb went on above his head. He grabbed his jacket and walked out to go to Vagabond.

* * *

It felt good to get away from the office, Nikolas Cassadine thought as he entered General Hospital, where he was picking up his uncle, Stefan, for lunch. He and Stefan had tried to make regular lunch dates since they reconciled at the Nurses Ball.

Emily had been so happy to hear it. Family was precious to her, after everything she had been through as a child, and knew Nikolas craved that connection even when he was too proud to admit it. Her medical school schedule limited their nights together to two, maybe three, a week. That was harder than Nikolas wanted to say. Between her studies and time with her family, he often felt left alone.

He was facing another lonely evening at home, without even a passionate phone call to look forward to. Emily had an important exam the next day, and would be studying all evening and going to bed early.

Nikolas wondered, if medical school was this demanding, what would her being a doctor be like? He knew young doctors like Karen Wexler had brutal schedules. Would Emily have time to be his Cassadine princess? He shook his head. After everything he and Emily had been through to be together, now was not the time for doubts. But cobweb traces of doubt remained no matter how he tried to shake them off.

Stefan's secretary was already at lunch when Nikolas entered Stefan's office. Through the closed door, he could hear voices.

“I think getting things in motion before the end of the year is absolutely the right course,” he heard Stefan say. “Are you sure you'll be able to do it?”

“Absolutely,” said a voice that Nikolas identified as that of Courtney Matthews. “The company's looking to move out this year's models, but next year's aren't radically different. So we may be able to negotiate a good price for the vehicles. And there are some other ways we can maybe bring our costs down.”

“Such as?”

“Sponsorship,” Courtney said. “Have you seen those vans and such that are 'wrapped' with a company's advertisement? We could do something similar. The sides of the buses would be the mobile health clinic's logo – which you should really get someone in marketing doing as soon as possible, Stefan – but the back of the bus could be a place to show sponsors. I'm sure ELQ would love in, not just because of the Quartermaines but because of being a pharmaceutical company. Maybe the Barrington Foundation, the Herald ... there are lots of possibilities.”

Nikolas was impressed with Courtney's acumen.

“That's true,” Stefan said. “It could help defray the costs. We could also discuss getting a discount on drugs from our drug suppliers.”

Nikolas knocked at the door. “Come in,” Stefan said. “Right on time, Nikolas.”

“Hello, Uncle,” Nikolas said, then looked at Courtney. “Good to see you, Miss Matthews. I hope I'm not interrupting anything urgent.”

“Not at all, Mr. Cassadine,” Courtney said with a smile. She looks so different these days, Nikolas thought. Her outfit of a warm brown tweed 3/4-length jacket, teal silk scoop-neck shell, brown pants and python pumps was flattering – much more so than her old all-white outfits.

“I'll leave you two to your plans,” Courtney said. “Have a good day, Mr. Cassadine. We'll talk later in the week about travel arrangements, Stefan. By the way, I'm still following orders.”

With that, Courtney left. Nikolas watched her go thoughtfully, admiring the transformations she'd made.

“Ready, Nikolas?” Stefan asked.

“Yes, Uncle,” Nikolas said.

* * *

Elizabeth Webber looked around the crowded General Hospital cafeteria, hoping to find an empty seat. She spotted fellow nurse Melissa Bedford waving her over to a small table.

“Thanks!” Elizabeth said, setting her tray down. “Heard you had quite a morning in obstetrics.”

“Amy's already got the word out?”

“I was with her when the security guards were telling about it,” Elizabeth said. “So this guy really went nuts as soon as he saw the baby?”

“Yeah, one glance and he knew it wasn't his,” Melissa said. “For a moment, it was heartbreaking to see the look on his face as it hit him. Then he went nuts. I was trying to shield the baby and call security while Epiphany and Dr. Meadows got between him and his wife.”

“My God,” Elizabeth said. “Was anyone hurt?”

“Thankfully, no,” Melissa said. “Security got there super-fast. And Epiphany stared him down so hard he didn't make a second run at his wife.”

“Thank goodness,” Elizabeth said.

“As horrible as this sounds,” Melissa said, lowering her voice, “I didn't feel very sorry for the wife.”

“Melissa, no one deserves violence!”

“No, you're right,” Melissa said. “But judging by what I heard her say, the circumstances of the baby's conception were entirely voluntary on her part. She caused the situation with her secrets and lies; she bears part of the blame for what happened.”

“That's pretty harsh,” Elizabeth said.

“Why?” Melissa asked. “She let this man believe for months that the child was his. He built up all these dreams, all these hopes. And it was all a lie. Everything he believed in – his marriage, his child – it was all lies. And he had to find out in such a humiliating way. Unless you've been on the receiving end of something like that, it's hard to explain what it feels like.”

“You have?” Elizabeth asked. Melissa looked down for a moment.

“Yeah, I was,” she said. “I'd just finished nursing school, and got a job in Glens Falls. I met a guy there who swept me off my feet. His name was Ed. He was tall, dark and handsome in a 'bad boy' kind of way. He loved spending time at my apartment. But I never went to see him. He told me it was because he lived with his parents and his mom was old-fashioned about that, so we should wait until he had his own place. He told me he worked for a contractor, so his job sites moved around a lot. He told me he was half-Native American. He told me he was going to go to Adirondack Community College the next semester. He told me he loved me. Lies.”

“All of it?”

“Just about,” Melissa said. “Five months after we got together, all of a sudden he stopped coming by. His phone was disconnected. I drove by his house before and after every shift for almost a month, hoping for a glimpse of him. Nothing. Finally, his sister took pity on me and waved me over one day as I was driving by. I had to sit there in his parents' house and hear that everything I believed about him was total bull. Ed was 100 percent Irish. He was a high school dropout. He didn't work for a contractor. He worked at a McDonald's down near Saratoga. He didn't tell me that because he had another girlfriend there. The reason he'd dropped out of sight? Because he'd gotten her pregnant! Her daddy had met him one night after closing in the parking lot with her brothers and several Louisville Sluggers to 'talk things over.' The wedding was at the Saratoga County courthouse a few days later. Ed had joined the Army and was in basic training by the time I found out the truth. Her daddy made him enlist to support her and the impending baby. It was the most humiliating time of my life, sitting there and being exposed as a total fool.”

“Oh, my God,” Elizabeth breathed. “That must've been horrible! Did he ever even write you to apologize?”

Melissa snorted.

“Are you kidding?” she said. “I heard from him about a week after finding all this out. He called and told me his Native American grandfather had died out on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota and he'd had to rush out there and take part in his 'people's' rites, and deal with the estate. I let him keep going to see how much bull he could sling, and it just kept getting more and more ridiculous. He'd had to take peyote in a sweat lodge and handle a rattlesnake, his family had a stake in some Black Hills gold mines, he was going to have a ring made for me, oh, God, Elizabeth, it got so bad it was hilarious! Finally, I couldn't stop myself from laughing. I told him his family had told me everything, that I knew he was in the Army, that he'd knocked up his little McMuffin and that he was a pathetic, lying loser. I started laughing again and he hung up on me.”

“I bet he thought twice before pulling something like that again,” Elizabeth said.

“You'd lose that bet,” Melissa said.

“What did he do?”

“About five years ago, I'd just gotten home from a shift here and the phone rings,” Melissa said. “It's him. He begged me to listen, told me that he couldn't tell me the truth back then because he was part of a secret NSA unit that ran 'black ops' missions all over the world, and he was afraid he'd never come back to me, the woman he really loved. Oh, how he'd dreamed of me all those years in the South American jungles and the mountains of Pakistan! But now, his service was up and we were free to be together. His wife had taken the children and left him for another man, he said. He just knew I'd never given up on our love because I'd never married. All he needed was bus fare out to Port Charles and we could have another chance at happiness.”

Elizabeth stared in slack-jawed horror and fascination.

“I told him that I wasn't going to waste another moment on him, so he was to never, ever call me again unless he wanted my friend the World Security Bureau agent or another friend, a member of the powerful Cassadine family, to ruin his life,” Melissa said. “Then I hung up on him. Just for fun, I had Felicia investigate him. Turns out he was wanted in Saratoga County for back child support after abandoning his wife and children. He'd finished his service in the Army. He was a medic – a perfectly honorable job, but other things were more important to him than honor, I guess. I had Mac Scorpio tip off the family court there with the phone number from where he'd called me. Never heard from him again. It was one hell of a learning experience. But as humiliating as it was, I got off easy. At least compared to that other girl who is now stuck with him for life, thanks to having his kids.”

“Whoa!” Elizabeth said. “That was a crazy story! But not all secrets are like that.”

“Look, Elizabeth, after that, I realized keeping secrets in a relationship is just plain lying,” Melissa said. “If you can't trust the person you're with with something important about you and your life, how can you say you love them? Isn't sharing a life together about, well, sharing your life?”

Elizabeth winced. Melissa, finishing her coffee, didn't see.

“Better get back to obstetrics,” Melissa said, looking at the clock on her cell phone. “Are you going to the Stone Cates Wing Halloween party?”

“Of course,” Elizabeth said.

“I'm sure you and Ric will be adorable,” Melissa said. “See you later!”

“See you,” Elizabeth said with a faint smile. She looked down at the remnants of her lunch, but her appetite was gone.

I should tell Ric about the rape, she thought. Melissa's right. If we're going to have a future ...

NO.

The commanding voice from deep inside was so forceful, it almost made Elizabeth ill.

Oh, God, she thought. If I tell him, he'll never love me the same way again. I'll never have what we have now. Everything will be ruined. I can't tell him.

I won't tell him.

* * *

“Will there be anything else, Mr. Cassadine, sir?” the elderly man asked in deferential tones.

“No, thank you, Boris,” Nikolas said.

“Enjoy your meals, sirs,” Boris said with a bow and departed.

Nikolas and Stefan were eating at Boris', a small Eastern European/Russian restaurant between downtown and Port Charles University. They came here a few times a year, when the Russian food that was a part of both their childhoods became a craving. The first craving usually hit in early fall, as the weather turned cooler and hearty food became more appealing.

They usually came here together. Alexis would not come, having developed an aversion to all things Russian after her childhood masquerade as Alexis Davidovich, orphan cousin on the Russian side of the Cassadine clan. She'd been made to believe that so the world wouldn't know she was actually a product of Mikkos Cassadine's passionate love affair with Kristen Bergman.

“Sounds like you and Courtney are moving along well with the mobile health clinic,” Nikolas said.

“Yes, thanks in large part to her,” Stefan said. “Her ability to raise funds has put us ahead of schedule. I didn't think we'd be talking about purchasing the vehicles until sometime early next year.”

“Jeremy Logan was quite a coup for her,” Nikolas said. Stefan nodded.

“But what impressed me is that she didn't count on him nor did she rest on her laurels after he came on board,” Stefan said. “She's created a network of givers who will be more inclined to help other hospital projects if all goes well with this one.”

“She's very driven,” Nikolas said. “I suppose it's to overcome having a brother like Corinthos. By the way, what did she mean by 'following orders?'”

Stefan laughed.

“She had an unfortunate run-in with Carly Quartermaine at the hospital last week,” Stefan said. “Instigated entirely by Carly, but it sounds like Courtney got the better of her. Anyway, I asked her to keep away from Carly while I was gone. She's keeping her word.”

“You can't blame Carly for not liking her,” Nikolas said.

“Absolutely not,” Stefan said. “But I don't run General Hospital based on the feelings of Carly Quartermaine. Courtney does excellent work, and I'm satisfied with her. I don't ask the Quartermaines to deal with her, so it shouldn't be a problem.”

“I agree,” Nikolas said. “It sounds like you've been fair on both sides, Uncle. Now let's change the subject to something pleasant. How was Lake George?”

Nikolas was startled to see his commanding uncle actually look like a shy, love-struck schoolboy.

“Uncle?”

“It ... was quite a good trip,” Stefan said with a quick smile. Being a Cassadine, expressing joy and optimism was hard. It was almost like tempting the gods he'd been raised on to mess with that joy.

“Really?” Nikolas said, gazing intently at his uncle and not letting him off the hook. “Go on, please.”

“You are a Cassadine, Nikolas,” Stefan said in wry amusement at his own expense. “Anna and I ... took our relationship to a new level. God, that sounds so ... so ... like psychobabble.”

“Then tell what happened in plain English,” Nikolas said, his eyes twinkling both with amusement over his uncle's predicament and happiness for him.

“In plain English, Anna and I declared our love for each other,” Stefan said, taking a sip of vodka.

The prickling of tears in his eyes surprised Nikolas.

“Uncle,” he said. “I'm so glad for you. It's good to see you happy again. I know Emily will be thrilled – she commented on it back at the Nurses' Ball.”

“Thank you, Nikolas,” Stefan said, a slight flush on his cheeks. “It seems quite strange to be happy. For both of us to be happy. I hate to even speak of it, for fear your grandmother is lurking in the shadows, waiting to destroy it.”

“She can't, Uncle,” Nikolas said. “Helena is dead. You know that better than anyone.”

Stefan nodded.

“Still, the Cassadines are not exactly known for happily-ever-after,” he said. “Our love stories tend to be more gothic and tragic than fairy tales. It is quite an adjustment, this happiness.”

“Don't hold back out of fear, Uncle,” Nikolas said. “Helena and the family took too much from you already. Your love with Anna is another break in their chain of misery. You're free of them and their legacy. We both are.”

“The optimism of youth,” Stefan said. “You must have inherited that from your mother. I am glad you have that. The princely side of you needs some ballast.”

“I think Emily has helped bring that out,” Nikolas said. “It's hard to be too brooding when you're deliriously in love.”

“That is true,” Stefan said. “Unfortunately, I have to leave now. I have a meeting with Zander in an hour.”

“Zander?” Nikolas said, furrowing his brow.

“Yes, I'd like to discuss him taking a job with the baseball team I plan on starting,” Stefan said. “He is knowledgeable and passionate about sports, and you know he is quite smart and capable. I'd been hoping Cassadine International would hire him, but ... Anyway, I think he'd be a fine member of the front office.”

“It's good of you to do that,” Nikolas said. “What you say of him is true, and it would keep him close to home. I know that would make Alexis happy. Good luck.”

Stefan rose, then leaned over to give Nikolas a kiss on both cheeks. Nikolas watched him go, then waved over Boris to pay the bill.

* * *

Lucky sat in his office at Vagabond. The coffee he'd made kept him awake, but between sleep deprivation and the emotional turmoil his nightmare churned up, he found it hard to concentrate on his work. He was glad he didn't have a rescue squad shift today. He could let Coleman run things and go home early to take some valerian root and go to bed.

There was a knock at the door. “Come on in,” Lucky called. He looked up as the door opened, expecting either Coleman, Hutch or his father.

“Jeremy!” he exclaimed. “This is a surprise. You here for lunch?”

They shook hands.

“Thanks,” Jeremy said. “I may grab something to go when I leave. I'm here on business, actually.”

“Business?”

“I wanted to ask you about your friend, Stan Johnson,” Jeremy said. “What sort of computer work does he do?”

“A little here and there right now,” Lucky said. “He was doing temp work before Katrina. Right now, he's doing some stuff for us here and at Luke's. He keeps an eye on things, makes sure no one can get into our network, set us up on an e-mail server, things like that. Why? Do you know of an opening somewhere?”

“I might,” Jeremy said. “He sounded really on the ball when I met him at the Quartermaines' on Labor Day. So he does need a job.”

“Looks like they're going to have to stay on a while,” Lucky said. “Their house is probably a total loss. All they have is what they brought with them. His mom's got a nursing job over at GH and they're all living upstairs for now. It's good for now, but eventually they're going to have to make some decisions.”

“Decisions?”

“Whether they're going to go back to New Orleans,” Lucky said. “The apartments upstairs are fine for now, but they're not ideal. Stan's grandparents have to decide if they're going to rebuild their home down there or give it up and sell.”

“Big decision,” Jeremy said. “Is he upstairs now, do you know?”

“Yeah,” Lucky said. “He worked over at Luke's this morning, but he finished around lunchtime. He spends a lot of time online trying to find old friends and neighbors for his grandparents.”

“It's okay if I go up?”

“Sure,” Lucky said. “Third floor. His door is on the left. He could use the company. He went out with TJ and some of the other college kids the other night.”

“I know,” Jeremy said. “TJ invited me, but I spent the evening with Aunt Audrey instead. Thanks, Lucky. I'll see you later.”

Jeremy waved and went out towards the stairs. Lucky turned back to his paperwork with an enormous yawn.

* * *

Stefan rose with a warm smile as Zander walked into his office.

“Glad you could make it, Zander,” Stefan said.

“Well, you intrigued me at the Nurses' Ball, but then school started, and I got caught up in that,” Zander said. “I'm glad you reminded me.”

“I hope you'll be glad with what I have to say,” Stefan said.

“I'm definitely curious,” Zander said. “But there's something I have to say. Alexis told me you felt guilty over what happened with me, Emily and Nikolas, that you'd tried to stop it and you were going to tell me the day after the party. I never blamed you for one minute, Stefan, and it meant a lot to me that you cared enough about me to do what you did. So you don't have anything to apologize for.”

Stefan looked down sadly, then back at Zander. “Thank you for that, Zander,” he said. “But I always will regret not being able to spare you that pain.”

“The fact that you tried is what matters,” Zander said, deciding to change the subject. “Now, what were you going to discuss with me?”

“I've had an idea for a while, and now it's coming to fruition,” Stefan said. “I'm planning on bringing minor-league baseball to Port Charles, building a stadium in the Waterfront District on the site of the old ball bearings plant. I'm getting investors on board – Faith Rosco, Amanda and Allison Barrington, some of the Quartermaines.”

“Really?” Zander said. “Stefan, that's awesome! I knew you liked baseball, but I never imagined something like this. Do you think you can pull it off?”

“If I didn't, I wouldn't be investing,” Stefan said. “Some things have to fall into place, namely enough space for a stadium plus parking, and some promises from the city and state in regards to public works. But, yes, this can be done. And that's where you come in.”

“Me?”

“I want you to be part of the front office,” Stefan said. Zander stared in shock.

* * *

Stan Johnson brought a ham sandwich and a glass of iced tea into the living room of his apartment as he took a break from the computer.

This was the first time he'd ever had a space of his own. He'd always lived with his mother and grandparents. It still felt strange, but he was growing to like the quiet and privacy. Out of gratitude to the Spencers, and because of the habits drilled into him by his grandmother, Celeste, the apartment was surprisingly clean for a young man his age. The only messiness was the pile of newspapers by the couch.

While he usually had lunch alone, he always went across the hall to have breakfast and dinner with them. He knew that skipping too many meals with them would upset his grandparents, and they'd been through enough change and upheaval. Also, well, there was Celeste's cooking.

He picked up the business section of the Port Charles Herald. While his work with the Spencers gave him something to do, and a little cash in his wallet, it wasn't enough. He had to step up and help take care of his grandparents, especially with the insurance situation over their home in New Orleans nowhere near a settlement.

Stan was feeling a financial pinch. With cooler weather, the few clothes the family had brought from New Orleans were woefully inadequate for upstate New York. Winter was coming, and all of them would need coats, boots, shoes, scarves, gloves, hats, sweaters, heavier socks ...

Lucky had given Stan one of his own coats, a smart black wool number that went down below his knees and belted. It would be good for working. But he still had to buy everything else, and help his mother pay for his grandparents' needs.

Stan was studying the news about the area's industries, businesses and economies. He'd done mostly temporary contract jobs since getting his degree. But would that be enough to gain entry in a local company? He didn't want to go back to contracting unless he had to.

There was a knock at the door. Stan quickly swallowed a bite of his sandwich and said, “Just a minute,” as he got up and went to the door. It was probably one of his grandparents.

Instead, he was shocked to see Jeremy Logan in the doorway. When he'd talked with Jeremy at the Quartermaine Labor Day cookout, he just knew him as TJ Hardy's cousin. Lucky filled him in the next day about Jeremy also being computer whiz J.H. Logan. Stan had read about many of Jeremy's works, and was mortified to think he'd talked like an equal with him.

“Hi, Stan,” Jeremy said. “Are you busy?”

“Um, no, Mr. Logan, I'm not,” Stan stammered, miserable about being caught by this industry leader in a nylon tracksuit and smelling of mustard and pickles. “Please, come in.”

Jeremy caught on quickly.

“Lucky or TJ told you,” he said. “Look, Stan, don't be intimidated by me. I'm just another dork. Keep calling me Jeremy, please.”

“All right,” Stan said. “But you're not just another anything, Jeremy. People don't get to your level by being like everyone else.”

“Good point,” Jeremy said. “An attitude like that will help you get ahead in business.”

“Yeah, it's done a great job so far,” Stan said with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

“You're looking for work?” Jeremy asked, taking the opportunity to change the subject.

“Yeah, but nothing so far,” Stan said. “I'd really like something steady, where I'd have a chance to move up. But all I've seen out there so far is contract work, and that's just dead-end.” He gestured to the newspaper on the floor. “I'm trying to learn about what businesses are around here,” he added.

“Good idea,” Jeremy said. “That's why I'm here. I know of an opening.”

“Really? That's great! Thanks!” Stan said. “Where?”

“Right around the corner,” Jeremy said. “At my office.”

Stan stared slack-jawed for a minute.

“You – you want to hire me?!” Stan said.

“That depends,” Jeremy said. “I want to see your computer first.”

“Sure,” a slightly dazed Stan said, leading the way. Jeremy spent the next hour checking it out – the dual boot that gave the user the option of Windows or SUSE Linux, the tight firewall, the organization of documents.

“This is really good,” Jeremy said. “Now, what the job would entail is basically, you're going to help me on my projects. I've got some already in the works back in Seattle, some I'm just starting here. It's too much for me to do by myself long-distance. Your main job will be to handle dealing with the folks in Seattle on any issues that arise from my projects there. That'll free me up for development work, which I'll also need assistance in. You'll be my employee, not any company's. So you answer only to me.”

Stan nodded, trying to absorb the possibilities. He wished he knew where his favorite Tulane professor had ended up so he could tell him about this.

“Do you want the job?” Jeremy asked.

“I – I can't believe this,” Stan said. “Heck, yeah, I want the job! Thanks, man! Thanks so much!”

“Don't you want to know how much you'll make?”

Stan stopped short, and laughed.

“Yeah, that'd be good to know,” he said. Jeremy made a generous offer, complete with health insurance and a retirement savings plan. Stan accepted it, and they shook hands on the deal.

“I'll see you Monday morning, 9 a.m.,” Jeremy said. “I'll have a computer and workstation ready for you by then. Any questions, here's my card, so you can give me a call.”

Stan looked at it. Seeing Jeremy's name there made him realize afresh what was happening, and his hand trembled a little.

“Thanks, Jeremy,” Stan said. “You don't know what you've done. It's not just the money. It's feeling like I finally might have a career, and a place to belong here. I haven't felt like I belonged since we left home.”

Jeremy nodded sadly. “I have an idea what that's like,” he said, remembering the lonely feeling of coming home to an empty, silent house after Anne died. “Well, let me know if there's anything else you need. See you Monday!”

“See you Monday!” Stan said with a smile and another handshake before Jeremy walked out. He stood there for several minutes staring at the closed door, then the card in his hand, trying to believe that what had just happened had really just happened. Finally, it sunk in. With a war whoop, he charged out of the door.

“Gramma! Pops! You're not going to believe this!” he yelled.

* * *

Zander was stunned at Stefan's statement. Then, he became suspicious.

“Stefan, wow ... I'm flattered,” Zander said. “But why me? Is this some sort of consolation prize, a way of helping you not feel guilty about what happened? If so --”

“Absolutely not, Zander,” Stefan said. “I thought of you as I was planning this, but had always hoped that Cassadine International would snap you up after you finished your MBA. But when ... things came to light, I knew that was no longer an option so I was free to make an offer. Your drive in school impressed me, as does your knowledge of sports and sports business, especially after our conversation that night at the Quartermaines'. I knew that I wanted young men who were not only smart, but driven and community-minded, in the front office. You fit the bill.”

“Thanks for telling me that, Stefan,” Zander said. “It really means a lot. It's a great job. But I can't accept your offer.”

“Is it because of me being a Cassadine?” Stefan asked. Zander smiled.

“No, it's because I've already accepted another offer,” Zander said. “I was in Boston last week and went to see the friends we made up in Maine. Ron is a sports agent, and offered me a job with his company.”

“So you'll be moving to Boston.”

“Yep,” Zander said. “I start after the holidays, so I'll probably move down right after finals, then come back for Christmas and go back before New Year's to finish getting settled before I start.”

“Have you told Cameron and Alexis yet?” Stefan asked.

“Yeah,” Zander said. “I could tell Dad was sad, but he wouldn't ever stand in my way.”

“You'll be missed here,” Stefan said. “And not just by your father, Alexis and Kristina. You have many friends here, Zander. Please always count me among them.”

“Thanks, Stefan,” Zander said. “The feeling's mutual. I hope this baseball team works out. That'd be really great for Port Charles. And for you.”

* * *

“What is it?” Brenda Jacks asked in surprise as Jax walked in the door of their Lady Jane Plaza apartment in the middle of the afternoon.

“We got it,” Jax said.

“Got what?”

“We got an outing with Benito,” Jax said, a grin spreading across his face.

Brenda stopped short. Her hands trembled, and she bobbled the bottled water she was carrying. Jax grabbed it and held her hands briefly to steady them.

Jax and Brenda had both been spending time at Ward House since the Labor Day weekend picnic. Brenda had been there more often, as she had days free to volunteer. She'd been having fun, and had made fast friends with Rebecca, the little girl who had helped her out with the lemonade stand at the picnic. Often, she and Rebecca would team up to read to the younger children. Benito, the little boy Brenda and Jax hoped to adopt, was usually there. He'd grown quite comfortable with both Brenda and Jax, although they were scrupulous to never show any favoritism, as the social workers advised it would upset the children.

Now their petition for a day's outing with Benito, another step towards adoption, had been granted.

“When?” Brenda asked, sitting down on the couch. Jax sat down beside her.

“A week from Saturday,” Jax said. “I'm so excited, Brenda. We're getting closer to our dream! The house is being built, and now we're moving towards adopting Benito.”

He looked keenly at Brenda.

“Are you all right?” he asked. “I thought you'd be thrilled.”

Brenda managed a shaky laugh and smile. “I am, Jax,” she said. “It's just a bit overwhelming, that's all.”

Jax smoothed her hair, then kissed her. “I understand,” he said softly. “Well, I wanted to tell you in person. Unfortunately, I have to get back to the office. Jerry and I have a dinner meeting. What'll you be doing?”

“I'm having dinner with Robin,” Brenda said, still smiling. Jax kissed her again.

“Give her my love,” he said. “And wait up so I can give you mine.”

Brenda laughed, a bit more relaxed.

“I can do that,” she said.

* * *

Nikolas felt a hard chill in the wind as he walked up to Wyndemere from the dock. He saw the gardeners finishing the day's leaf-raking, the results of which would be used for composting the gardens next spring.

It had been a busy day, and he was planning on just a quick supper, a workout and an early bedtime to keep from being lonely over Emily's absence.

He entered the front door and saw the fireplace blazing and his favorite leather slippers warming by it.

“Good evening, Mr. Cassadine, sir,” said the maid, as she took his coat and briefcase.

“Good evening, Lena, and thank you,” Nikolas said.

“Dinner will be ready shortly, sir,” Lena said, and left to hang up his coat and set his briefcase in his study.

Nikolas changed into the warm slippers, then went into the dining room to get a drink before dinner. He opened the door and gasped.

The table was set with the best tablecloth, Wedgewood china and Baccarat crystal. There was a fire in the fireplace in here, too. The lights were low, candles glowed and the table settings sparkled. And standing by his chair was Emily, in a smoke blue silk dress with a plunging neckline, knotted at the bust. Below the empire waist, the dress skimmed over her figure, tantalizing him.

“Welcome home, my prince,” Emily said, a sweet smile on her face.

Joy flowed through Nikolas as he smiled back and kissed her hand.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked.

“To my gerontology professor getting a cold,” Emily said. “Class was canceled, so I was able to spend today studying. Now I'm your's for the night.”

Nikolas pressed her to him, the morning's doubts receding. He kissed his way down her neck, back up, then down. They kissed long and deep.

“Dinner will be ready in a minute,” Emily whispered.

“Good, I'll need my strength tonight,” he whispered back, then released her so he could pour the wine. A few minutes later, Lena brought in dinner – lamb shanks braised in a red wine sauce with rosemary and thyme, couscous and green beans.

“How was your day?” Emily asked.

“Quite good,” Nikolas replied. “Uncle and I had lunch and I learned something very interesting.”

“Really?”

“He told Anna he loved her while they were away last week,” Nikolas said. Emily gasped and clasped her hands.

“Oh, Nikolas!” she said. “Did she ... did she feel the same?”

“Yes.”

“That's wonderful!” Emily said. “He's been so alone all these years. And now you both are happy and in love!”

“Quite strange for the Cassadines,” Nikolas said. “He's also doing well at the hospital. I stopped by his office to get him and it sounds like the mobile health clinic is moving along.”

“Jeremy really came through with that,” Emily said.

“He and Courtney Matthews, both,” Nikolas said. “I heard her talking over plans with Stefan and she's quite a smart businessperson.”

Emily made a sour-lemon face.

“The business of a tramp like Courtney Matthews is Courtney Matthews,” she said. “I don't care if she rescues orphans for the rest of her life. What she tried to do to AJ, trying to seduce him off the wagon, was unforgivable. I hate her being associated with General Hospital.”

“You don't believe in second chances or redemption?” Nikolas asked.

“Not for her,” Emily said. “Do you?”

“AJ's not my brother, so I can be a bit more objective,” Nikolas said. “But I have to say, the way she's turned from that sort of behavior is impressive.”

“Nikolas!” Emily said, shocked. “How can you say something good about her?”

Nikolas sensed he was in dangerous waters.

“It's not important,” he said. “Just an observation. She had to overcome her horrible brother as Uncle and I had to overcome Mikkos, Helena and Stavros. It's not an easy thing.”

“You're too kind, my prince,” Emily said. “Now, let's forget that horrible witch and have some dessert.”

“The only dessert I want right now is you,” Nikolas said, standing up and holding out his hand. With a loving smile, Emily took it as she stood. The tiramisu will taste wonderful in bed later, she thought.

* * *

From her cozy booth seat at Vagabond, Robin Scorpio waved Brenda over.

“Hi!” she said with a kiss for Brenda. “I'm so glad to see you! I'm so sorry about having to cancel last week, but work was insane.”

“It's all right,” Brenda said, settling into her chair. Just then, the waiter arrived. Brenda ordered a dirty martini. Robin ordered a glass of pinot noir.

“How are things at the hospital?” Brenda asked, after they got their drinks and the waiter took their dinner orders – butternut squash ravioli with a sage and walnut pesto for Robin, bouillabaisse for Brenda.

“All right,” Robin said. “Another day, another opportunity to watch Patrick Drake maneuver another nurse to the supply room in the basement.”

“You're kidding!”

“I'm just surprised no one else sees it,” Robin said. “But not even Amy is talking about it.”

“It's something how you always manage to run across each other,” Brenda said.

“I'm not sure what I did to deserve it,” Robin snarked.

“It's destiny,” Brenda joked.

“God, I hope my destiny is a little better than some smooth-talker like that!” Robin said. Then she noticed Brenda's hand shake a bit as she put down her martini glass. “Are you all right?” she asked.

“We got clearance for an outing with Benito,” Brenda said quietly.

“Oh, Brenda, that's wonderful!” Robin exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.

Brenda smiled faintly. “It is,” she said.

The waiter arrived with their dinner, saving Brenda for a few minutes as they ate. But Robin wouldn't let go.

“You don't look like a woman who is one step closer to having a huge dream come true,” she said gently. “What's going on? Is it something with Jax?”

“No!” Brenda said. “He's been wonderful. Amazing.”

“Then what is it?”

“I don't know if I can do this, Robin,” Brenda said. “I know I want to, I want him so much. I want to cuddle him and kiss him and tuck him in at night. But what if I'm no good at being a mother? I've told Jax before, no one ever beat a path to our door looking for us to babysit for them. How can I think that I can be what Benito needs?”

Robin reached over and took Brenda's hand, sympathy in her eyes.

“Brenda, you'll be fine,” Robin said. “You have so much love to give...”

“Yeah, and I've given it so freely, too,” Brenda said. “Look at how I wasted my love on Jagger, then Sonny...”

“Those relationships weren't a waste,” Robin said. “You learned and grew and became the woman who could make one of the biggest playboys in the world become the poster boy for home and family.”

“I'm so scared, Robin,” Brenda said in a small, trembling voice. “I can't screw this up. This isn't about me. It's about a little boy who will be looking to me for everything. Whatever I do, it'll shape his life in ways I never dreamed. Look at the way my parents shaped me – my mother dying, then my father's rejections. I don't want to mess him up the way I was.”

“It'll never happen,” Robin said. “First of all, you're not your father. Jax most definitely isn't your father. And you also are surrounded by a huge support system of people who love you and will love Benito – me, my mom, the Quartermaines, Lois. You're going to be more than fine, Brenda. You're going to be a great mom. I know it.”

Tears sparkled in Brenda's eyes. “I am so lucky you're my best friend,” she said. Then she wiped her eyes. “Now how about some dessert? I want that red velvet cake.”