Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Three:
Sonata in D minor

Lesley's Flat, London, England.

Lesley feels her hand clench on the door. She'd known this moment was coming.

Lesley: Luke…

Luke: (smiling gently) I'm sorry, Lesley. This is non-negotiable.

Lesley: Luke, I know this is complicated, but…

Luke: There's nothing complicated about it. I'm here to collect my daughter. You too, if you're willing.

Lesley: What?

Luke: Come on, Lesley. You must have known something was going on when Laura brought Lulu here.

Lesley: I know you moved out. (She catches sight of Alexis, on a cell phone, on the street, and frowns) Isn't that…?

Luke: Let's discuss this inside. (Lesley pales and steps back, shaking her head) what is… (Luke takes this opportunity to move into the house, gently steering Lesley away from the door, and pulling it closed. At the sound of the door closing, Lesley snaps back into the moment and shoots an accusing look at Luke)

Lesley: What is SHE doing here?

Luke: You know her.

Lesley: (shaking a little, with some amount of rage) She's the Cassadine daughter!

Luke: Illegitimate. And freethinking in her own harshly restricted way. (Lesley presses her lips together) Lesley, I wouldn't bring her here if I thought there was a chance in HELL that you were in danger.

Lesley: I'm not in danger! I know that! (She deflates, the anger seeping out of her) It's not something I can be rational about, Luke. (She looks at him warily) I guess that is something we have in common.

Luke: They've hurt a lot of people. But Alexis isn't…

Lesley: I can't take this, Luke. Not from you. She might be a very nice woman, but…

Luke: Subject closed.

Lesley: Why? Why in God's name would you bring her here?

Luke: I'm not asking you to trust her. (Lesley gives a sharp laugh).

Lesley: Well I should hope not! (She sits down hard on the bottom step of the staircase) What ARE you asking me for, Luke?

Luke: To help me keep my daughter safe. (Lesley frowns)

Lesley: I'm tempted to ask you for the same thing.

Luke: I always take care of my family. That includes Laura. (Lesley looks suspicious. She doesn't like that wording)

Lesley: She's… She's not herself right now. She was so… Angry! (She catches Luke's expression) Not at you. No, any anger I'm directing at you is strictly my own.

Luke: This isn't about me. It's about my kids. Mine and Laura's.

Lesley: Does that include Nikolas?

Luke: That's out of my jurisdiction.

Lesley: (heavily) Oh, Luke… (She shakes her head and stands up) I just never know what to do where you're concerned. I just never know what to do where you're concerned. (She narrows her eyes) Laura's gone off to God knows where. She's looking for her sons. Both of them.

Luke: Did she say where she was going?

Lesley: I didn't ask. She cured me of that years ago. I just know it has something to do with Lucky and Nikolas… and they're being together. (Luke blinks. Lesley turns away) It's Cassadines, isn't it? Helena?

Luke: I'm gonna find them.

Lesley: (looking ill) Oh, God… Not again.

Luke: I'll bring them back, Lesley. (She nods, not giving the obvious doubts voice)

Lesley: (hoarsely) What is she doing? (Lesley closes her eyes. She knew this, she tells herself. That was why she didn't ask). Luke, you have to have some idea…

Luke: She probably said more to you than she did to me.

Lesley: She said she had to fix things with her children. That was all.

Luke: Did she say how she knew they were together?

Lesley: No. Just that… She knew Nikolas was ok because he was with Lucky.

Luke: And she never… (there is a creak at the top of the stairs)

Lulu: Daddy? (Luke looks up, surprised by the voice. He breaks into a smile at the vision of his little girl, in her favorite patch quilt dress, peering down at him. Lulu moves, quickly but carefully, down the hardwood staircase, with barely contained excitement)

Luke: Hey, little girl.

Lulu: Daddy! Daddy, you're here! (Lulu jumps up, off the stairs, into Luke's arms)

Luke: I'm here.

Lulu: (a mile a minute) Grandma didn't tell me you were coming. Mommy just said she'd call and then when she came back Lucky and Nikky would be with her. (She stops and pulls back, taking a breath) She never said you were coming!

Luke: Lesley, what are you feeding this kid?

Lulu: (confused) Toast.

Lesley: Lulu doesn't care much for English Cuisine.

Lulu: They call French fries chips here. Do you know what they call chips? Crisps.

Luke: What do they call crisps? (Lulu furrows her brow, thinking a moment, then looks up at Luke)

Lulu: You're teasing!

Luke: Maybe a little. (Luke studies her face) Oh, it's good to see you. (Lulu grins and leans forward, hugging him. She doesn't speak. Lesley watches them together, troubled, then clears her throat)

Lesley: Luke, we were just about to sit down to dinner. Would you like to join us?

Luke: Sure. Toast all around.

Lesley: And your… Companion…

Luke: She'll fend for herself. She's got some going concerns of her own to contend with. (He pulls Lulu back from him) We got some catching up to do, you and me. (Lulu nods, excitedly. Luke looks over at Lesley) I'll go inform my "companion".

The Cassadine Compound.

Nikolas opens the heavy oak door and stops dead as the aroma of the room wafts out to greet him. Old books, Egyptian musk, and the intangible weighty smell of the heavy tapestries. That hug particles of the air of every place they've ever been.

He could be five years old again. Travelling to this door always a little ajar, so that his small hands… unable to reach the heavy doorknob, let along turn it… could slip through and pull the door open. His uncle had always been there, after dinner, without fail. He can't remember now what he could possibly have had to say to him, what reasons brought him down the long hall from the west wing to this place, away from the nursery suite, where he slept, play and studied to this place… The silent and heavy place of the adults. But he'd always felt this was more his place. One of the first things Stefan had done after usurping Helen's position was grant Nikolas’ request to be moved to the East Wing. Seventh birthday present.

Nik: (under his breath) Welcome home. (Nikolas pulls the door open wide and walks through. The room is as Stefan must have left. Books, most leather bound, in several languages and at least three alphabets, line three walls of the room. The third, a rounded portion, is mostly windows, with a seat lined with deep red velvet. The Cassadine Crest is inlaid in yellow stained glass in the center window. When he was a child he'd come in to see his uncle sitting there, staring out the window at the far cliffs. Stefan would lift him up to trace the emblem with his fingers and talk about the medallion he'd wear some day. About being prince, about his duties… And about what lay beyond the cliffs. He'd been so different then. Helena constantly dismissed him as a "dreamer" and held contempt for the small quarters of his study. Stavros' study… the PRINCE'S study… was on the main floor. Large, dark, intimidating. And lifeless. Stefan had never used it, even after the coup. The ambiance of this room… in fact, Stefan Himself… changed violently then. His dress, his manner, his entire outlook. He'd assumed control without question… dedicated himself to it. For reasons Nikolas would not be able to truly understand for years.

This is, he thinks, walking through the door, the longest time he's been away from his father in memory. He should miss him. He should wonder where he is, HOW he is. He doesn't. It holds no meaning for him. Nothing before he left does. Not even Hannah. Some remote part of his brain is awed at how cold he is.

Nikolas moves to the windowsill and stares out into the inky black night. Not a light to be seen save the stars. The moon has not yet risen. Greek night. The island. His home.

It doesn't feel as familiar as he thought he would. He KNOWS this place, yes… but he's never ache for it. Never missed it enough to try to recall the detail. Even now, he's restless with the attack of nostalgia. His mind doesn't want to stay there. Rather, it's pressing to comb over the more recent past and just what it means to his present.

Lucky and Emily were, finally, together, safe and… he hoped… asleep. Partly because Lucky needed it almost as much as Emily. And truthfully, Nikolas needed to regroup. He had no idea what had happened today, or where it was going, or how, exactly, the rest of this was going to unfold with out them just pushing each other to extremes. And Emily… She was probably out of the game at this point. Which, he had to admit, was not something he minded. He'd been grateful for Emily's presence, but in the end, it was more important that she be safe… to both him and Lucky.

Aside from that… He wasn't feeling much more than fatigued. Destination, Maybe… but this was really only step one. And he still had a lot to think about. He hears a sound behind him and turns to see Josef standing in the doorway. He nods at him, and sits down on the window seat. Josef enters, shutting the door behind him. He crosses the room and stops a respectful distance form Nikolas. )

Josef: I've spoken to security. They are clear on their orders. I had Mariah come over from the mainland to ready the kitchen. She understands about father, but it may help if you speak to her personally. (Nikolas nods and sinks down onto the window seat)

Nik: I'll address the staff tomorrow.

Josef: Alright. I'll have them assembled at… 7:00 am? (Nikolas, remarkably, doesn't wince)

Nik: That will do.

Josef: And regarding your brother… Lucky? (The word twists, as if Josef is trying really hard not to respond to the absurdity of the name)

Nik: (ruefully) You're best to call him by his last name.

Josef: Spencer. (Nikolas leans his head against the window)

Nik: Do you think it will cause a riot?

Josef: (mildly) Perhaps I will have to post a reminder not to preface it with the usual expletives.

Nik: If they can avoid it. (Nikolas closes his eyes, and lets the fatigue sink in for a moment) I don't want them roused in the morning. Lucky looks like he needs his rest almost as much as Emily does. Around ten o'clock you can have breakfast sent to their room. (He exhales) Fruit. Emily will probably need fruit.

Josef: I am assuming your brother is not usually so… Recalcitrant.

Nik: No. He is. (he casts his eyes towards Josef) I wouldn't expect much enthusiasm or… (he searches for an appropriate word) Warmth. (Josef raises an eyebrow).

Josef: And here I was hoping for a new friend. (Nikolas allows a slight laugh, though his heart isn't in it. How the hell is it Lucky has the friends he does, anyway? Does he really approach some people withOUT a mountain of attitude?)

Nik: I'll be happy if you stay out of each other's way. He's likely to… (Nikolas frowns. Odd he's so convinced of this…) He doesn't like to be taken care of. I'm anticipating a rather hostile reaction to being waited on. (He grimaces) I think I'd be most comfortable if you handled him. Or Mariah. (He nods) Mariah would be best. He has a unique brand of chivalry, but it's there. He'd go easy on her.

Josef: have you explained the need for him to… (Nikolas laughs, cutting him off)

Nik: What? Keep up appearances? Submit to an expected role? I call your attention to his last name.

Josef: Which only further… (Josef stops, silencing himself)

Nik: You have a question.

Josef: I don't wish for you to be undermined. People will assume your brother is joining your ranks. They will expect him to act accordingly. If he does not… It breeds discontent.

Nik: (heavily) Are you familiar with the phrase "loose cannon"? The best I can hope for is sullen silence. (Josef's mouth tightens) Just don't upset him.

Josef: Quite the hothouse orchid. However am I supposed to do that?

Nik: Don't speak to him, direct him… Look at him sideways. (Nikolas stifles a groan) I know this is incomprehensible to you.

Josef: That is one word for it.

Nik: In the end… (Nikolas stares at the carpet.) He's my brother. Regardless of his behavior, he should be treated as such. Primarily I want him left alone. That will be easiest for him. (he looks back up at Josef) Understood?

Josef: Absolutely. And his wife? (Nikolas smiles)

Nik: Be excessively nice to her. She deserves it.

Josef: No deeply held resentment for your lifestyle?

Nik: No. Emily is not like that. She's… (he turns his head and looks out the window) A good soul… (Josef nods, frowning as he studies Nikolas’ manner unobserved.) Besides. She's from a wealthy family. She's somewhat accustomed to it.

Josef: And she's married to…

Nik: They're something of an enigma… Let it go. (Josef nods, his eyes moving to the window. He crosses the room slowly, watching the horizon)

Josef: It's my responsibility to protect you from liabilities.

Nik: Alright. Then know this. (he stands up, facing Josef) I wouldn't be here without Lucky. That's the bottom line.