Chapter 2: The Discovery Emily wandered the halls of Wyndemere wondering where Nikolas could be. He was just in the ballroom a few minutes ago, but now he seems to have disappeared. She decided to check the conservatory. As she got closer, she could hear a voice. The voice wasn't very clear, it sounded strange. Then she realized the person was not actually there, it was coming from a TV. `Maybe Nikolas is watching TV', she thought. When she right to the entrance, she heard a gasp. Laura: Does Nikolas know yet? `Know what?' she wondered. She realized she shouldn't listen in. She turned around and was about to walk away. Stefan: No, he does not know that he is our son… Emily turned around in a startled jerk, her jaw dropping. `SON?!' Laura: What are we going to do? Stefan: I don't know, but we must figure it out before whatever surprise Helena had planned happens. Emily didn't know if she should run away right now or listen in and find out what was going on. She had strong curiosity to hear more of the story, but this was none of her business. `I have to get out of here.' Laura: Right… Maybe we should tell him… Emily's leg bumped into the side of the bookcase as she was walking away. She put her hand on her leg and a hand on her mouth, trying not to make any noise, but Stefan heard her anyway. Stefan: Shh… She could hear Stefan's footsteps approaching. Emily decided there was only one thing she could do in a situation like this… RUN LIKE CRAZY! She took off as fast as he could, the sound of her heels echoing down the hall. Stefan: Someone heard! Emily was a ways ahead, but she could hear Laura and Stefan catching up. It was no use. She stopped and turned around to face the both when they turned the corner of the hall. Laura: Emily? Stefan: What are you doing listening on other people's conversations!? Emily: I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… Laura: Emily, how much did you hear? Emily closed her eyes. Emily: Nikolas is Stefan's son… Not Stavros. Stefan: How dare you… Laura shushed him and went closer to Emily. She put a hand on her shoulder and tried to think of a way to explain this. Laura: Emily, it's very important that you don't tell Nikolas. It's up to me and Stefan to tell the truth. Do you understand? Emily nodded. Laura: Good. Emily: I won't tell anyone, I promise. I'm sorry I overheard what you said… Stefan: *still angered* What were you doing in the conservatory for anyway? Emily: I was looking for Nikolas. I thought he might be in there. I heard the TV was on, so I figured he was watching TV, but when I got down there I overheard you two say Nikolas was yours, Mr. Cassadine. Stefan: Well, let this be a lesson to you not to snoop… Laura: Stefan, would you give it a rest? *looks to Emily* Why don't you go back to that party. If I see Nikolas, I'll tell him your looking for him. Emily: Thanks. Emily walked away as fast as she could. Stefan: That girl better stay quiet. Laura: She will, I trust her. Stefan: Well, since it is painfully obvious there is no privacy in the manor, maybe we should go to the brook. No one ever goes there. Laura: All right. Laura followed Stefan out. ~^~ Lori stepped onto the docks of Wyndemere and looked up at the manor. She only found out about this party a half hour ago, so she wasn't sure if she looked just right, but it would have to do. This was the perfect occasion to make a great entrance, maybe even meet a cute guy. She entered the manor and looked around. Fancy place, even though it was all gothic and creepy. Just then, a man stopped her. Man: Excuse me, may I have your invitation? Lori: Sure, just one second. Lori opened her purse and faked searching for it. Lori: Oh, shoot, I guess I must have left it at home… I'm sorry, but I have got to meet someone… Man: I'm sorry lady, but if you don't have an invitation, then you can't be here. Lori: Sir, I am supposed to be here, I can assure you of that! You don't want me to talk to Stefan Cassadine and tell him how poorly you've treated me, do you? Man: Go for it, he doesn't appreciate trespassers. He took her arm and dragged her back to the door, when out of no where this guy with black hair and a black tux stepped in. Guy: Excuse me, she's with me. Man: Oh… sorry Mr. Quartermaine. Lori: *angry* You should be! Lori took her arm away from him and smiled at her knight in shining armor. She went up to him and he took her arm. Lori: Thanks for the rescue. Guy: No problem. Lori: So, Mr. Quartermaine was it? Guy: AJ Quartermaine. Lori: I'm Lori Ardanowski. I'll leave you alone, you probably have another date tonight… AJ: Actually, I'm here by myself. Lori: *secretly grinning* Oh, really? What's a cute young stud like yourself doing alone at an occasion like this? AJ: Well, I'm not exactly alone, I'm talking to you, aren't I? Lori: So you are. ~^~ Carly entered her apartment and couldn't believe her eyes. The room was dark except for the candles lit up around the room. At the table was her favorite dish and a bottle of fine wine. Carly: What in the world? Jason stepped out of the bedroom. Jason: Hello, Carly. Carly: You did this? Jason: You bet. Carly went over to him and threw her arms around him. Carly: So this is why you wanted me to go to Luke's, so you could set this up? Jason: Yep. Carly: *looking deeply into his eyes* I love you, you know that? Jason: I love you, too. They both smiled as they kissed. ~^~ Laura looked around the woods. It was haunting the way the wind blew through the dark trees, the way the snow covered path curved all the way to the brook. She sat next to Stefan on the bench and looked at him. Laura: Nikolas needs to know the truth. Stefan: No, that is not an option. He will lose his inheritance and the family fortune will be wasted on anyone who has a drop of Cassadine blood in their veins. They don't deserve it as much as he does. Laura: Stefan, we have lived with these lies for too long. It's time to tell the truth. Stefan: Out of the question. Laura: How long do you think its going to last? Helena has set it up so Nikolas will find out anyway, and now Emily knows- Stefan: I thought you claimed we could trust her! Laura: To allow us to tell him first, but if we don't do it, who knows what she'll decide to do. She might let it slip. Stefan, you know it's the right thing to do. Stefan: I know nothing of the sort… Besides, I can not bare to see the look on his face when he finds out I've lied to him for all of these years. Laura: I'm telling him the truth, Stefan. I know it will be hard, but it needs to be done, with or without you. Stefan closed his eyes and nodded. The time had come, Stefan just wished it wasn't so soon. ~^~ Bobbie Cassadine circled the ballroom, trying to find her husband, but he was nowhere to be seen. She saw Mrs. Landsbury and went to her immediately. Bobbie: Mrs. Landsbury, do you know where I may find my husband? Mrs. Landsbury: I saw him walking with Laura Spencer outside a little while ago. Bobbie: Laura? Where were they heading? Mrs. Landsbury: I believe the brook. Bobbie was confused by this. Something was most definitely up, she could tell. Bobbie: Thank you, Mrs. Landsbury. Mrs. Landsbury: You’re welcome and have a happy New Year. Bobbie: You too. Bobbie went to get her coat and headed strait for the brook.