Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Five:
Connections

Katija and Andrea's House, Countryside of Czechoslovakia.

Laura sits at the kitchen table, her face grim, eyes cold and empty. She is staring at the tabletop while Katija moves around her. She's aware that the woman keeps pausing in her work to look at her, and can't imagine what sort of conclusions she's drawing. She hears the woman stop her movements and the floorboards creak as Katija turns back to her.

Katija: Water? (the woman's voice is hard, gruff. Something it never was back on the island. Laura shakes her head, and looks up at her.)

Laura: No. No, I'm alright.

Katija: Must have been a long walk. (Laura just smiles) My sister is in town. She'll be back this evening. Do not expect her to be pleased to see you if you are planning on staying the night.

Laura: I'm not certain about my plans. Planning's never been my forte. (Katija crosses her arms and leans against the counter.)

Katija: No. I suppose you could not make that claim. (Laura exhales. Here we go again…)

Laura: I made a lot of mistakes. I know that. But I honestly don't know where else to go.

Katija: I can not help you get to the island. I have no powers of persuasion there.

Laura: Not even with Stefan as regent? (there is a silence) I thought he would have supported your…

Katija: (biting) Betrayal. My betrayal of my position and of his family?

Laura: You did it for Nikolas.

Katija: It does not matter why I did it! I chose to ally myself with an outsider. No Cassadine would take the risk of my association again. (Laura runs a fingertip along a crack in the surface of the table)

Laura: I'm so thankful they didn't just…

Katija: Have me killed?

Laura: Yes. (Looking up) You were good to me, Katija. But you were better to my son. You weren't allying yourself with an outside, you were allying yourself with the prince.

Katija: No Cassadine has ever looked at it that way. Even today, if I was to step back into that world, I would be ostracized.

Laura: Even by you cousins? (Katija takes a breath, then narrows her eyes into slits, focusing them on Laura.

Katija: Why are you here, Mrs. Spencer. (Laura gives a weak smile)

Laura: I need your help. (There is a long silence, then Katija throws her head back and laughs. Laura sits back in her chair and bites the inside of her lip hard, so that she does not have to take in the sharp feeling of shame and embarrassment that laugh is setting off in her)

Katija: (still laughing) My help? What help can you possibly expect from me? How can you even have the gall to ask?

Laura: (quietly) Because my son is in trouble. (Katija ceases to find this funny)

Katija: The prince?

Laura: (exhaling) Yes. He… He's disappeared. (Katija's expression travels rapidly from shocked worry to suspicion)

Katija: I can not help you with that.

Laura: I'm not asking for anything more but… You’re understanding of where things lie right now. I can't go to anyone else. I can't go to Stefan, my son is out there in the world some place, hurting. Badly. Something has gone very wrong for him, and I have to find him before he does something stupid!

Katija: (a bit insulted) Stupid? The prince?

Laura: You were his nanny, Katija. And I remember what you told me in those letters you weren't supposed to write. I had to burn them, I couldn't risk them ever being found… But I read them and memorized every word. You'd tell me he needed a mother. You'd tell me he was a determined and strong little boy, but that a part of him ached with loss… Those were your words. That is why you risked your life to try to allow me to see him that one time… That one time Helena found out and cast you out of the island and had my mother killed. You knew he had that wound, even back then. He still has it. And I'm not sure what he's willing to do to make it go away. (Katija stares down at the floor)

Katija: (after a moment) What can you possibly think I can help you with?

Laura: I need to find Helena.

Lesley's Flat, back garden.

Luke Spencer sits on the steps, watching the early morning sky and reveling in the warmth of his daughter's small body curled up in his lap. He's missed this. Having it now fills him with an ache he'd been able to ward off in the past weeks since Lucky disappeared. He'd needed to focus on his son, on that one thing. The rest had been too much and it was hard to see it as more important than Lucky for the simple fact that, the last time Luke had really spoken to his son, Lucky had been saying things about taking an easy way out. About not believing in unconditional love. Things he'd never expected from his child, and things he needed to fix right NOW. Before something truly unfixable happened.

But Lulu was bringing the entire picture into focus for him. She was happy to see him, yes, but overall, she was sadder than he'd ever seen her. She missed her brother. She wanted her parents back. She wanted to be home with her friends. And now Luke was asking her to move again. Lulu was agreeing to it with a listlessness that unnerved him.

Luke: It's only for a little while, baby.

Lulu: I know.

Luke: You're being quiet.

Lulu: (after a moment) You're not coming with us.

Luke: No.

Lulu: And Mommy's not going to know where we are.

Luke: I'll tell her. (Lulu doesn't say anything) Don't worry, Lulu. (Luke smoothes her hair back and kisses the top of her head) I'll tell her where you go. (There is another long pause and then Luke feels Lulu's body shudder against him and she turns in his lap, burning her face against his chest and begins to cry. Luke holds her, tears stinging his own eyes, and waits for her to talk again. Her hands clench into fists and she digs one into his stomach. HE closes his eyes. God, he'd known this wouldn't be easy.) Come on, Sunshine.

Lulu: I'm not your sunshine! (Lulu sits up, her tear-filled eyes dark and infuriated. Luke's heart nearly stops at how much she suddenly looks like her mother, dark hair aside) If Grandma and I go away then Nikolas and Lucky won't know how to find me! And Mommy won't be able to call. And you'll forget about me! (Luke jerks his head back)

Luke: Lulu! I'm not going to forget about you. (Lulu starts to cry again)

Lulu: Everyone says they'll come back. Everyone says it will be better. I don't like this! I want everyone to come back now. I don't want it better. This isn't better! I want to go HOME!

Luke: You can't go home yet.

Lulu: WHY?

Luke: It's not safe there.

Lulu: Then why does Foster get to stay? (Luke frowns)

Luke: Foster is safe. Don't worry about that old dog, he's gonna be ok. But you… Lulu, listen to me, ok? (Lulu hiccups, but nods her head. She looks up at Luke with desperate eyes, waiting for him to explain all of this away. Again, Luke things… So much like her mother) You are our princess, you know that. And in all the fairy tales, you have to protect the princess. She's what you're fighting for. (Luke smiles) You have to go away and be safe and make sure that everything is ok with your Granny so that Lucky can come back to you and tell you all his adventures. And I don't want to hear another word about him not being able to find you, or me forgetting about you. You're the most precious thing in this family. Everyone thinks that. Me, your mother, Lucky… Even Foster. And you gotta know that Lucky would do ANYTHING to find you. Even if he didn't know where you were, he'd move heaven and earth. He'd slay all the dragons.

Lulu: What about Nikolas? (Luke grimaces)

Luke: Yeah. Yeah, him too.

Lulu: (leaning back against Luke) I just want this to be over. I want everyone home.

Luke: Honey. It's time for some cold hard facts. We've tried to be gentle about it but… You're a Spencer. (Lulu looks up at him, confused)

Lulu: I know that.

Luke: Yeah. But this is the thing… Being a Spencer isn't always easy.

Lulu: (Sitting up, protesting) I KNOW that!

Luke: I know you do. But this is the thing… When things get really rough, everyone's got a job. And right now, you're job is to be the hope. You understand that?

Lulu: (confused) How do you be 'hope'?

Luke: You go with your grandmother and you keep yourself happy and you wait. You wait every day… no matter how hard it is, or how much you want everything to end… and you tell yourself that everyone is coming home and you believe it. Because your Daddy would never EVER let anything happen to his family. And you got to believe that. It's what keeps all of us going. Can you do that? (Lulu looks up at him, frowning. She slides off her lap)

Lulu: That's hard.

Luke: I know.

Lulu: Will it help?

Luke: Yeah. More than you'd believe.

Lulu: Ok. (She raises her chin) I can do that.

Luke: (smiling) I know you can.

The Cassadine Compound

Nikolas ascends the stairs to the second floor, having thoroughly satisfied his initial duties as prodigal prince. He'd toured the compound viewed the gardens, the stables… Everything was immaculate maintained and he'd delivered the minimal praise expected of him. After all, immaculate upkeep was expected, even if he had descended on them without notice.

It's like riding a bike, he thinks dully. Not that he's ever ridden a bike. He learned when he was six, solely to be able to say he could to it, and had never touched a bicycle since. But he could probably still do it. He could still do this. He hadn't really noticed, with the minimal staff of mostly American help on the island, that Spoon Island was THAT different from Greece. It was though. Everything had kicked back in the moment he'd arrived here and he'd become the Prince again. The problem was… and this part he hadn't been prepared for… He didn't really LIKE the Prince. He'd really acted like this all the time once? Vague recollection, but now it feels like a lie.

He reaches the door to the south terrace and notices a shadow receding. Pacing… Lucky is already for him. He should have expected that. Though a part of him really thought Lucky wouldn't appear until he extended the invitation personally.

Stepping through the door, he's greeted with his brother's back. Lucky is dressed in clothes that Nikolas finds mildly familiar. He realizes that Josef must have procured them. He really wasn't going to let that "appearance" thing go. Perhaps he had more of a point than Nikolas wanted to admit. The Prince part of him knew that the more Lucky fit in here, the better it was for everyone. However, Nikolas himself couldn't shake the feeling that it was more important for Lucky to be comfortable in his surroundings, and having things dictated to him wasn't going to help him. But then… He was wearing the clothes. Maybe he was ok with this.

Sensing his brother's presence, Lucky pivots to face him and the idea of anything being 'ok' vanishes from Nikolas’ mind. Lucky's eyes are dark, his expression tight and clearly unimpressed. He puts his arms out, inviting inspection.

Lucky: Do I pass? (Nikolas stifles a long-suffering sigh. God, not this again…)

Nik: (playing dumb) Clean clothes. That must be an improvement. (Lucky just looks at him) After the trip.

Lucky: I won't ask why they're here.

Nik: (crossing to him) What do you mean?

Lucky: There are clothes. In my size. That just… Happen to be here? (Nikolas frowns)

Nik: Yes. Apparently.

Lucky: I thought no one knew we were coming.

Nik: They didn't. (Lucky laughs bitterly and turns away, walking back across the patio) Lucky. Are you accusing me of something?

Lucky: Doesn't add up, man. (He stops) Am I allowed to say that? Or do I have to call you 'the prince'? (He turns back) Wait. Should I have bowed? I'm a little behind on my Emily Post.

Nik: Stop it.

Lucky: What do you expect me to do, Nikolas? (the words shoot out of Lucky's mouth with a speed that suggests they didn't pass any censors. Nikolas pulls in a deep breath. What does he expect Lucky to do? Enjoy this?)

Nik: I know this is hard…

Lucky: You don't know anything. And please, don't use words like "hard" and "difficult"…

Nik: Lucky, I'm just responding to what you said yesterday…

Lucky: Do me a favor. Don't. (Nikolas grits his teeth. Ok. Fine. Lucky turns from him again and wanders to the edge of the terrace, looking down over the edge. Nikolas closes his eyes and silently thanks the Gods that he doesn't have a audience to this display.)

Nik: (quietly) Where is Emily.

Lucky: Asleep. She'll probably sleep most of the day.

Nik: Good. Good, is she… Coherent?

Lucky: Yeah.

Nik: That's good. (pause) I'm glad, Lucky.

Lucky: So am I. (Lucky puts his hands on the wall of the terrace, letting his arms take his weight for a moment. He feels a minor twinge of guilty. He'd meant what he'd said to Emily, on some level. Nikolas had come through. He'd really made sure Emily was ok. And he should say something. Somehow, he just can't make the words come out. He hears Nikolas move behind him)

Nik: They didn't know you were coming. Lucky, I haven't been lying to you, ok? I don't know what else I can do to show you that. I'm running out of options. (Lucky closes his eyes and lets out a long breath) It's expected that the staff anticipates out needs. I don't question it, because I'm supposed to expect nothing less of them. And I know the clothes might not be your style, but they're more appropriate to the climate and… Maybe blending isn't such a bad thing. Besides… Things have always just appeared on the island. Clothes, food…

Lucky: Wives. (Nikolas steps back from Lucky like he's just been hit. Alright. So much for that approach.)

Nik: Then just wear what you have, ok. Don't do me any favors. (Lucky lets out a groan and leans forward on the wall. Nikolas looks at his back, confused. After a moment, Lucky turns around and leans back against the wall. He looks at Nikolas, his expression some place between annoyed and… Repentant)

Lucky: I didn't mean to say that. To be honest… I didn't MEAN to say half the stuff I just did. (Nikolas frowns. Ok… Was that an apology?)

Nik: (after a moment) It takes some getting used to.

Lucky: I'm not going to get used to it.

Nik: We're probably going to be here at least a few days, Lucky. You want it to feel like dental surgery the whole time?

Lucky: Yeah. I think I do. (Nikolas looks lost.)

Nik: You're really that masochistic? (Lucky gives another bitter laugh, and looks away, though Nikolas catches a look of deep sadness in his eyes)

Lucky: You haven't picked up on that yet? (Nikolas looks down at the interlocking brick of the patio. He feels incredibly guilty at those words. He'd accused Lucky of being selfish so many times… Most of the time because he'd found out about something Lucky probably did just to tear at his own skin.)

Nik: You always say I don't know anything about you. I don't want to jump to any more conclusions. (Lucky doesn't say anything) You don't have to do anything here. You never followed rules a day in your life, I'm not going to be stupid enough to make you do it now. Besides, you're not subject to any of this Prince garbage. (Lucky gives a small laugh at the word "garbage". That terminology out of the mouth of the prince himself makes the knot in his stomach loosen just a bit)

Lucky: You want to tell that to your servant? (Nikolas looks up)

Nik: (surprised) Mariah?

Lucky: Josef. He's got some pretty heavy attitude. (Nikolas grimaces. He should have known…)

Nik: I told him not to antagonize you. I'll talk to him again.

Lucky: No. Don't bother. (Nikolas looks at Lucky oddly) He was just trying to push my buttons. You don't have to run and tell him if he got close or not. (Nikolas smiles slightly)

Nik: Ok. Your call. (Lucky shrugs)

Lucky: I can handle it. (He looks out at the sea for a long moment) Believe it or not.

Nik: I never said I didn't think you could do it. (Lucky looks back at him skeptically, his eyes silently informing Nikolas that he didn't HAVE to tell him. He turns back to look out at the water and squints at the sun bouncing off the water)

Lucky: (slowly) You know… I used to have sunglasses.

Nik: I'm sorry?

Lucky: (looking back) In fact I used to have a lot of things. (Nikolas just looks blank) What the hell happened to our bags?

Nik: (frowning) You don't have them?

Lucky: No. (Nikolas feels himself bristle. Damnit! Josef just couldn't leave anything alone, could he?)

Nik: I'll get them.

Lucky: (warning) I'd appreciate that. (Nikolas nods, knowing exactly what Lucky is referring to. Sunglasses don't matter at all. The fact that his brother came to the island armed… That is something he'd rather not get out.)

Nik: Good. (He stops, realizing that, at this second, things seem to have suddenly ironed themselves out. For the first time in almost forty-eight hours he feels like he can actually talk to Lucky. He clears his throat) Was the room… Comfortable? Do you think it's alright for Emily?

Lucky: We'll, we've already been moved. (He shrugs) Apart from the fact that there was this big shrouded picture of some guy in the corner, I guess it could have been creepier.

Nik: Shrouded… (His voice trails off) Oh. My Great Uncle Victor. That was his room.

Lucky: (wincing) See, I didn't want to know that.

Nik: It's alright. It could have been much worse. (Lucky's face clouds at that, an inevitable question rising in him. It seems to work it's way up from his stomach and into his throat, where it sticks. It's going to come out eventually, he thinks. He can't pretend that he's not obsessed with the possible answer… If that was Victor Cassadine's old room… What rooms had belonged to his mother? He looks back at Nikolas, his expression exposing his thoughts more than he'd like it to. Nikolas looks concerned.) What? (Lucky opens his mouth but no sound comes out. He looks away, trying to form the words, but stops when he sees a figure I the doorway.)

Lucky: (shocked) Emily! What are you doing out of bed? (Nikolas turns to see Emily standing before them, wearing a long, loose, cotton dress. Josef again, Nikolas thinks. She gives a weak smile, and Nikolas notes that she is holding the doorjamb for support.)

Em: I wasn't as tired as I thought. (Lucky starts towards her, shaking his head)

Lucky: Em…

Em: Really. Lucky… (She takes a 'could be more steady' step towards him, and Lucky reaches out, extending his hand. Emily gives a grateful smile and takes it, letting Lucky reel her in and slide his arm around her waist. She leans against him and puts her head against his chest) Thanks. (Lucky turns so that they are facing Nikolas. Nikolas feels odd, looking at them. They never do things like that, he realizes. Not big on hand holding, or this strange possessive hold Lucky has on her now. They do look like a couple now. He has a suspicion it's not going to be that much of a stretch to believe they are married.)

Nik: Good to see you up, Emily. (She winces in embarrassment)

Em: Yeah. I know… I… Thank you, Nikolas. Lucky said you… Well. I know you got the doctor and everything. (Lucky turns his head and looks down at her, making it impossible for Nikolas to read his expression.)

Nik: You don't have to thank me, Emily. (Emily gives a small eye roll and breathes in deeply)

Em: I'm just glad we're here. (Nikolas opens his mouth to say that he's glad someone is, but then thinks better of it.)

Nik: Yes, well. (He clears his throat) I think… If you're up to it… you and Lucky should meet the house. (Lucky looks back at him)

Lucky: The house.

Nik: The people you'll be dealing with. They know you're here. It will look strange if there isn't some sort of acknowledgement. (He sighs) It looks strange anyway.

Em: I'm getting that nervous "too much time in bed" energy. I think I could handle it.

Lucky: (sternly) Just that.

Em: (looking up at him) What, no marathons? Yes, just that. Though… If I could sit outside or something…

Lucky: Oh, yeah… in the sun? (Emily takes his hand and squeezes it)

Em: I feel like I need some air, that's all.

Nik: We could set something up for you on the lower terrace. There's a shaded area, you could sit out there. (Lucky shoots Nikolas a look) Maybe tomorrow? After you've had some more rest. (Emily leans against Lucky, looks suddenly amused)

Em: Why do I feel like I'm being ganged up on? (Lucky brushes her hair back from her shoulder, and kisses the top of her head)

Lucky: (quietly) Don't push.

Em: Never.

Nik: I'll assemble everyone while you're still up to it. And Lucky? (Lucky looks up at him) We should probably discuss some things. (Lucky looks up and meets his brother's eyes. He nods)

Lucky: Probably.