“The course of true love never did run smooth.” William Shakespeare

Chapter 22

It is early evening, and Katherine is walking up the main path to Wyndemere. She 
can see Stefan looking out the window. When she gets to the door, he is there to 
greet her with a smile. They rush into each other's arms and kiss passionately. 
He pulls her inside, still kissing her. They stop kissing, but he continues to 
hold her tightly and looks longingly into her eyes.

S: I have yearned for you, my love. 

K: I’ve missed you, too.

S: I apologize for the pain I caused you. If you’ll let me, I will spend the 
rest of our lives making up for it. Promise to *never* abandon me again. I 
couldn’t bear it. 

K: I promise. 

S: I love you. I will always love you.

K: I have always loved you.

They begin to kiss again, and they make their way to the couch. They sit, he 
pulls her legs over his, she sinks slowly back, and he presses into her. As they 
kiss she begins to unbutton his shirt. While she does this, he is fervently 
working her jacket off. She begins to loosen his belt, but stops when she hears 
crying in the distance. He keeps hungrily kissing her neck and lips.

K: (breathless) I can hear the children crying. Where are they?

S: (looking into her eyes) The governess is taking care of them. (Taking her 
face and kissing her hard) I want you… now.

K: I want you, too, but I should go check on them.

S: (disappointed) Yes, of course. I’ll go with you.

They ascend to a room down the hall from Stefan’s. When she opens the nursery 
door the room is cavernous in size, and there are pink and blue bassinets as far 
as the eye can see. Stefan is standing behind her, arms around her waist, 
nuzzling her neck. Katherine’s mouth is agape and her eyes are wide with shock.

K: (inquisitively) Just *how many* children do we have?

S: (low and sexy) One for each time we’ve made love.

K: (astounded) Oh, boy… 

S: (chuckling) And girls.

K: (dumbfound) But… But… I, I, I… I *can’t* take care of THAT many children.

S: Of course you can. (Unbuttoning her blouse) And I’m in the mood for more.

He spins her around and plants another austere kiss on her. Katherine is torn; 
she wants him and the pleasure she knows he will bring her, but she can’t help 
wondering about all the babies. She pulls away from him, then gingerly 
approaches one of the bassinets. In it there is a baby that looks exactly like 
Nikolas. As she scans the other bassinets, she sees other faces she recognizes. 
Ned, Edward, Lucy, Alexis, and Jerry. Her heart begins to beat faster as she 
sees one that looks like Laura.

K: (puzzled) How can that be?

S: (lovingly) Isn’t she beautiful? She’s my favorite.

K: (softly) No. You said you were over her.

Stefan approaches the bassinet, and lifts the baby Laura up. He looks 
affectionately at her.

S: (smiling and talking in a baby voice) Yes, I think she’ll *always* be my 
favorite. Yes, I do.

K: (angrily) NO! You…

Katherine tries to escape by running into the hallway, but a huge, alloy robot, 
with barbed blades where the hands should be, blocks her path. It is moving 
slowly toward the nursery, emitting a green light and scalding steam as it 
approaches. As Katherine glances upward she can see it has a twisted version of 
Helena’s face. The eyes are glowing red; the mouth has enormous ragged metal 
teeth.

H: (in a hissing, robotic, Helena voice) Move aside Laura proxy. I’m here for 
the children of my impotent son’s cheap courtesan.

A panicked Katherine blocks the door with her body.

K: (defiantly) No! You can’t have them. They’re mine.

H: They are bastard Cassadines from the lowly cook’s daughter. I must destroy 
the undeserving whelps.

K: NO! I won’t let you!!! Stefan, help!

Stefan is still holding the baby Laura, cooing and smiling at her. He doesn’t 
seem to notice the robot. As the robot enters the room, it swings its massive 
arm to shove Katherine aside. She jerks awake and sits up. Jerry awakens and 
sits up with her.

J: (sleepily) What’s wrong, Lois? Another bad dream?

K: Yeah. (Bewildered) Helena was a robot and she was coming for the children. 
She said she had to destroy them… It seemed so real. 

Jerry reaches over and runs his hand over her firm, round belly.

J: (yawning) Nope. They’re still there. (Patting her belly) No more schnitzel 
for you, young lady. (Kissing her on the cheek) Tell yourself it was only a 
dream, and go back to sleep.

Jerry lies down again and makes himself comfortable. Katherine remains upright, 
trying to remember the dream.

K: (sadly) And Stefan said he was sorry. He loved me and couldn’t live without 
me, but Laura would always be his favorite.

Jerry gently pulls her down to him, so she is resting her head on his chest. He 
begins stroking her hair.

J: Shhhhhh. It was only a dream. Go back to sleep.

K: Yeah. Only a dream.

Katherine peers around the room and realizes she is not at home.

K: (agitated) Where *are* we?

J: Innsbruck, Austria. (Wryly) The one that *doesn’t* have kangaroos.

Katherine giggles, sighs as she relaxes, then closes her eyes and drifts off to 
sleep again.


Nikolas is standing on the dock waiting for the launch to visit Helena. It has 
been nine days since his final altercation with his uncle. He always knew his 
uncle was keeping secrets from him, but as each one was revealed, Stefan 
convinced him either it was for his own good or turned it around and made him 
believe another lie. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

S: They are your siblings.

Nikolas stood staring at his uncle for several minutes trying to take in what he 
had just heard. Then he began to laugh. It was a long, loud laugh that puzzled 
Stefan.

S: (perplexed) Do you think I am joking? (Adamantly) You know I would not jest 
about such a matter.

N: (still laughing) You are incredible! You just can’t stop lying, can you?

S: It is the truth.

N: Oh, of course it’s the truth. It’s not like you would LIE to me. I mean, not 
about something *important*. Nooooo, when I asked you point blank, “Were you in 
love with my mother?” You said, “No. It was just *pity* I felt for her.”

S: (earnestly) I *did* feel pity for her. That was not a lie. 

N: (laughing in frustration) How do you do it? How can you stand there and try 
to twist everything around when I KNOW the truth? How do you always manage to 
come out smelling like a rose? When, my *whole* life, you’ve fed me nothing but 
BULLSHIT!

S: Nikolas, I had my reasons for not telling you…

N: Yes, I know… You’re a habitual liar. But you’re NOT just any *commonplace* 
liar. Nooo. (Aristocratically) *You* are the Prince of Prevarication. The Count 
of Canard. The Earl of Evasiveness.

S: (impassioned) THAT is enough! I AM your father. I couldn’t tell you, because 
your protection, and future as head of the Cassadine empire has *always* been my 
priority. (Controlling his emotions) Think about it, Nikolas. Having learned 
what you did about my past feelings for your mother… Is it *that* preposterous 
an idea?

N: No. No, you telling me anything BUT lies… THAT is a preposterous idea. 
(Shaking his head with disdain) I just realized something. I can’t stand the 
sight of you anymore. I’m leaving. DON’T try to contact me EVER again.

Nikolas stormed out of the room, leaving a crestfallen Stefan to initiate 
emergency procedures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nikolas spent the week trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life. He 
was not accustom to being on his own, and he wished he had someone he could 
trust to talk to, but he was still unsure of Bobbie’s and Alexis’ integrity, and 
Katherine was out of the country. He decided to call his grandmother. His uncle 
may have lied about her, too. When he called, he told her his sole purpose of 
visiting was to ask questions, and that she shouldn’t expect a reconciliation 
between them. 

Helena was ready for him when he finally arrived. 

H: (smiling) My darling Nikolas. I’m so glad you came.

Her arms are outstretched to greet him with a hug, which he deftly avoids. She 
shakes off her chagrin, and smiles broadly at him.

N: I’m sorry it had to be so late.

H: Nonsense. I’m happy to see you no matter what the time is. I’ve waited so 
long for a moment such as this. Let me look at you. (Concerned) You look thin; 
have you been eating?

Nikolas glares at her. He is not in the mood to be mothered.

H: (with realization) Oh. I’m sorry. In my excitement to see you, I forgot about 
your loss. Please, please accept my deepest sympathies at the death of your 
sister. It should never have happened to one so young. How is your mother 
holding up? I, too, know the pain of losing a child…

N: (disgust) Don’t. There is only so much hypocrisy I can tolerate in one 
lifetime. I came here for one reason and one reason only.

H: Yes, of course. You want explanations. Something you don’t trust your uncle 
to provide you.

N: Yes. I’m not saying that I’ll believe a word that you say. However, you were 
right about him and his feelings toward my mother. That is the only reason I’m 
willing to listen.

H: (with sincerity) That is all I have ever wanted. Just a chance to let you see 
my side of the story. Come, let us go and sit in the living area. I’ll have Ari 
serve us some tea and cookies. Ari!

Ari enters the room. His usual eagerness to please, and the youthful sparkle in 
his eyes are gone. They have been replaced with dispassionate dutiful movements, 
and a rather morose expression, as if something in him had died. 

N: I’ll just have a soda. In an unopened can.

H: I see your uncle *has been* telling you stories. Well, I am willing to take 
the time to earn your trust.

Helena waves Ari off, then she and Nikolas move into the living area.


Stefan is sitting on the bench by the bluff. He is staring off into space, as if 
transfixed by something he sees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Katherine is sitting up in his bed. The door opens and four little children, two 
boys and two girls, run into the room. Katherine collects a kiss from each of 
them, as she helps them onto the bed.

K: Good morning, my angels! Did you sleep well?

The children all smile and nod. 

Boy: Where’s Daddy?

Katherine points to the bathroom.

K: In there. (Slyly) Do you want to scare Daddy?

All: YEAH!!

K: (smiling) Shh. Shh. OK, hide under the covers, and when Daddy gets back in 
bed… you can scare him. All right?

The kids clamor to get under the bedspread. Katherine tries to smooth it out 
over the children’s squirming bodies. They are giggling noisily.

K: Shhhhhh.

Stefan enters and sees all of the wiggling lumps in the bed. He smiles at 
Katherine, and she winks at him.

S: Did I hear voices?

K: (innocently) Nooo. It must be your imagination.

S: (sternly) Because if I did… There will be a severe price to pay. Do you know 
what I do to small children I find in my bed?

As he is saying this he walks over to the bed, and takes hold of the covers.

K: No, what?

Stefan yanks the bedspread off to reveal the children.

S: I EAT THEM!!!

With that the children scatter off the bed screaming and squealing with delight. 
Stefan chases them and collects them in his arms, then begins to “bite” them, 
much to their delight. Katherine gets out of bed and begins to straighten the 
covers. Stefan gets a mischievous look in his eyes.

S: (stage whisper) Let’s capture your mother.

Katherine turns around, smiling, to see the horde descending on her.

K: (laughing) Oh, NO! Leave me out of this.

Stefan grabs her around the waist, and drags her onto the bed. The children 
climb on her and begin to tickle her, soon she is giggling uncontrollably. The 
door swings open and Nikolas enters the room with a stern look on his face.

N: (mock angry voice) What is going on here? Can’t a guy get some sleep?

K: (almost breathless) Get Nikolas! Get Nikolas!

One of the boys jumps off the bed into Nikolas’ arms. Nikolas staggers backward 
and “falls” to the floor. The other children run to join their brothers in a 
tickle fight. Stefan and Katherine are sitting on the bed happily watching the 
children’s battle. Stefan turns Katherine’s face toward him and looks lovingly 
in her eyes.

S: I am blessed. 

K: (smiling) *We* are blessed.

He nods in agreement, then they begin to kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ralston: Mr. Cassadine. Mr. Cassadine.

Stefan shakes off his trance, regains his business like demeanor, and looks at 
Ralston.

R: I’m sorry to disturb you, but you asked to be notified when he was with her.

S: How long has he been there?

R: About an hour, Sir.

S: Fine. Let me know when he leaves, and where he goes.

R: Yes, Sir. 

S: Did you locate Mr. and Mrs. Jax? Are they still in Spain?

R: We located them, but they are now in Austria. The city of Innsbruck, to be 
exact.

S: Keep me apprised of their whereabouts. That is all.

R: Yes, Sir.

Ralston retreats down the path. Stefan longs to return to his dream, but there 
is still work to be done.

S: (to himself) Someday Katherine. Someday I *will* hold you again, and we; you, 
our children, Nikolas and I; we will be a family.

Stefan stands up and walks back down the path to the house.



Ned is preparing to leave Alexis’ suite. He has a brief case in one hand and an 
arm around her waist. They are slowly kissing.

N: Mmmmm. Thank you for your help, Counselor.

A: (smiling) I’m not sure that taking a bath with you qualifies as “helping”. 
*Not* for tomorrow’s presentation, anyway.

N: Ohhhh, but it is. The last time you “helped” me before a presentation it went 
wonderfully. And having your friendly *face* there to look at, really relaxed 
me.

A: Yes, but you were a little too relaxed. If you’ll remember the day in 
question…

N: I love it when you talk legal. It makes my “briefs” tingle.

A: AS I was saying… You were so busy picturing me naked that instead of saying, 
“this company has *burst* onto the market.” You said, “this company has *breast* 
onto the market.” I thought Edward was going to choke on his coffee.

N: Welllll, these things happen. Besides, I couldn’t think of a way to work the 
words, “warm”, “moist”, and “thighs” into a sentence. Speaking of which…

He reaches up and tries to nudge her robe open, but she breaks free from his 
embrace.

A: (smiling) I think you should go now. You need your sleep.

N: (wiggling his eyebrows) I could sleep here.

A: You won’t *sleep* here. Good night, Mr. Ashton.

She opens the door, and he steps out. Stopping for one last kiss.

N: Good night, Counselor.

She shuts and locks the door after he walks away. She walks toward the bedroom. 
The phone rings. She smiles, thinking it is Ned making one of his routine, 
obscene phone calls.

A: (happily) Hellooo.

Helena: (curtly) I’m glad you’re still awake. I have another job for you. It 
involves Nikolas. He will soon be coming to you, and I’m faxing over what I want 
you to say in response to his questions.

Alexis’ smile fades. It is replaced by a scowl. As Helena speaks, a fury wells 
up in Alexis. A fury so intense that she begins to tremble as it takes hold of 
her. She suddenly has a strength, a resolve so strong, that won’t allow Helena 
to order her around any longer.

A: (flatly) No.

H: (annoyed) What? I don’t have time for this. You will do as you’re told.

A: (firmly) No.

H: Surely you understand what will happen if you disobey my orders.

A: (defiantly) I don’t care. After what happened to Lulu Spencer… I won’t help 
you. *Especially* if it involves Nikolas. 

H: (snidely) Are you saying the thought of dying the same way your mother did, 
doesn’t bother you?

A: (angrily) You’ve played that tune for the last time Helena. I don’t give a 
damn what you do to me. I *won’t* help you.

H: I see. Well, I suppose I’ll have to teach you a lesson. To prove I’m serious.

A: (antagonistically) Take your best shot, Helena. 

Alexis slams the phone into its cradle, still trembling from the rush of anger 
that swept over her. She decides that if she dies tonight, she will have died 
happy. She’s accomplished more than any other Cassadine woman ever did. She just 
made love to the man she loves. The one who understands and loves her more than 
any other man ever did or ever could. Death would also mean she would be out 
from under Helena’s thumb. Yes, she could die happy.