Life As It Should Be: Chapter 9
Saturday, 25-Nov-00 01:21:04

4.54.20.175 writes:
CHAPTER 9

After walking around the grounds for a while she decided to head to the stables. She nodded at the stable hands in acknowledgement and went straight to the last stable. She smiled when she the occupant of the last stall neighed at her in greeting.

" How are you today Pegasus? Have you missed me?" she rubbed the nose of the huge black stallion. The Arabian neighed again in response pushing his head against her hand. Caroline laughed. She looked to the side and picked an apple out of one of the bins. She held it out to the horse after she opened the gate. He happily chewed on the apple as she saddled him up. Pegasus was the son of Beauty. She had been a fan of the story ‘Black Beauty’ and when her father had given her the black mare on her sixth birthday, she had hurriedly named her Beauty. Beauty had died years ago...and she had been heart broken, she had been a beautiful horse, but she had been happy to have Pegasus. Who was a part of her, part of her father’s gift to her. He was magnificent.

She walked him out and when they were outside she mounted. She was not dressed for riding in fact she was in a pair of Gucci pants, a silk shirt and prada boots, but she didn’t care. She leaned down to pat the restless stallion before galloping away.


Jonas watched her ride away not bothering to follow. He could see riding into the field below. He could see the entire field from here so it was fine. He shook his head worriedly though. She was riding like the devil was on her tails. He just hoped that she would be okay. That she would ride it off.

Spencer House…

Luke walked through the door and immediately called out for his wife.

" Laura? Laura!" he called out as he walked through the house looking for his wife. Just as he was about to go upstairs he saw her coming down the stairs.

" You hollered?" Laura smiled as she came to stand in front of him. When he didn’t smile back she frowned worriedly.

" What is wrong? What is going on?" she asked touching his arm. Luke pulled away and turning away then turning back to face her.
" YOU tell me Laura!" he glowered. Laura frown deepened " What are you talking about Luke?"

" Helena paid me a visit this morning. Is there something you want to tell? Huh Laura? Is there?" he yelled waiting.

Laura paled and asked warily " What did she say?" she stepped back.

" She said Caroline is Bobbie’s daughter, and that you have known this. Is that true? Is that true Laura?" Luke demanded angrily.

Laura stepped back again her hand covering her mouth. And she nodded. She nodded slowly. And Luke felt his heart sink. He had been hoping that it was not true, that his wife had not been hiding this secret for years, from him.

" How could you not tell me? Tell Bobbie?! How could you not Laura!" he shouted shaking his hand at her. His finger waving in front of her face. Laura started to sniff.

" My sister’s child Laura! How could you let her be raised by those bloodsuckers?! How could you let her come and ruin Bobbie’s marriage?! Hurt my sister! How could you Laura?!" he continued ignoring her tears. He continued to question and shout at her. And finally she could not stand there and take it anymore.

" How could I? How could I? I am not the one who helped convince my sister to abandon her baby! To leave her out in the cold stoop of a convent…not knowing whether anyone could even hear the baby cry. Because we both know there was no doorbell on that old wreck of a building. No Luke that was YOU! That was you who didn’t even stay long enough to see if any one came to take her. It was you who helped convince her to give up her child so it would not interfere with her ‘job’. Not that you she needed much convincing. You were willing to let that child die out there and now you are chastising me for not telling you that the child was alive and cared for, even if it was by Cassadines? You are a hypocrite Luke! YES I knew and I didn’t tell you. Why should I? You have never mentioned that child, from the moment you tossed her out there you and Bobbie never said a word about her!" She shouted back.

"So you would rather let my enemies raise my sister’s child!!" Luke countered. Ignoring the truth in his wife’s words.

" She is Stavros’ child too Luke…at least he WANTED her!" she countered. These were hurtful things she was saying ...she was aware of it but she couldn’t help it. She was not going to let him make her feel guilty over this. At her words there was a wall of silence broken only by a loud gasp that came from the doorway. They both turned to see Bobbie standing there. It was obvious that she had been standing there for a while. Laura sighed and wiped her face. Wiping the tears that still streaked her cheeks.

" How dare you imply that I didn’t want my child! I am not you Laura, I do not leave my children in the care of Cassadines willingly!!" Bobbies stepped forward glaring at Laura.

" Bobbie," Luke said softly moving forward to comfort his sister. Laura had had enough. She shook her, how dare she? Why was she to blame?

" You can say whatever you want Bobbie, at least I knew where my son was, who he was with, that he was taken care of. YOU left your child out on a stoop when it was 4 degrees outside, Bobbie, you can NOT tell me that you wanted that child. Your actions speak louder than words. No mother does that to a child she wants. You never even stayed to make sure they took her. You sure never even called them to check on her, so DON’T compare me to YOU! Because there is no comparison, I went after MY child."

" LAURA!" Luke tried to get her to be quiet but she continued.

"I worry about him, I think about him everyday, and I am trying to mend the wrong. YOU act like she never even existed. No don’t EVER compare me to YOU!" with that she stormed off, leaving the siblings in the living room together. Bobbie crying in Luke’s arms.


In a car down the street…

The man in the car quickly got on his phone " Miss Spencer just waked into the house and five minutes later Laura Spencer stormed out off her house. She looks like she has been crying Madam,"

" What about Spencer?"

" He and his wife seemed to be having an argument and now he is comforting his sister,"

" Good, good… keep watch," she hang up. Helena leaned back on the massage table with a cool grin. Ahh…the chips had began to fall. It was good to be back in Port-Charles she laughed softly. The wicked laugh made her masseuse shiver in trepidation. He felt sorry for madam’s target. Whoever it was, was in for some… bad times… to say the least.


A week later…



Jason’s Penthouse

Jason was staring out the window. He had not seen her since the nurses’ ball. He had not been able to talk to Caroline after the scene in the park. He had not had the chance. Robin had been sticking to his side like glue ever since. She had been trying to involve herself in all his free time. Thinking of things that they should do. In the past week he had been on three picnics. Been to one play, one opera and two trips out of town…to go shopping in New York. Since when did Robin like to shop till she dropped? He knew that she knew. Why she just didn’t say anything was a puzzle to him. She acted like there was nothing a miss when there obviously was. She had been talking about their ‘moments’ as she put them. The first time he kissed her stuff like that. Then stopping every now and then to ooh and aah over rings, and babies. What was that? It was ‘ Ooh they make such a cute couple it’s as if they are newly weds,"…" Isn’t that a beautiful baby?" Exactly how many newly weds could there be? And since when were all babies ‘beautiful and breath taking’?

He had a fair idea about what she was up to. He knew what she wanted. But could he give it to her? 8 years was a long time, could he ruin that for Caroline? For what with Caroline?

" Jason?" He turned to find Robin standing next to him. She was dressed in cut-off jeans and a small white T-shirt. She looked so fragile, so innocent and beautiful. How could he even think of hurting her?


" Hey Robin," he nodded as she came to him and touched his arm looking at him with those doe-like eyes. He sighed and looked away from them.

"Robin we need to talk," he said holding her back by the shoulders. He saw the fear on her face and without a thought he reached to place a reassuring hand on the side of her face.
" What do you want to talk about?" Robin moved from his hands and went to sit on the couch. Her voice shaking as she asked. Jason sat across from her and just looked at her. His eyes saying it all. It was time to talk about Caroline. She nodded with a sniff. It was time.

" Why?" she asked. Jason took in a breath. Why? He didn’t know, maybe it was the air of mischief always around her, her dancing eyes, her strength, the vulnerability that lay beneath her front, her beauty, her ‘go for it’ attitude. Her love for adventure. He could not pin point it out.

" I don’t know." He answered truthfully.
" You don’t know?" she looked at him in disbelief. " 8 years Jason and you don’t know?"

" Robin, it is everything about her. " he run his fingers through his hair nervously. " I would never hurt you. It happened when we broke up, when you went back to Paris, But now she is back and---" the phone rang making him stop mid sentence. He flipped the phone open and listened for a while, then nodded before closing the phone.

" I have to go," he said looking uncomfortably to her crying form. She looked at him in disbelief.
And he said quietly " It is important, we can finish this when I get back," he sighed rubbing the back of his head uncomfortably. " I’ll be back as soon as possible,’ he added as he walked out of the door. He rushed out to the elevator that was just arriving. Sonny stepped out. They stared at each other for a moment. Things were still strained between them because Sonny wanted him to tell Robin. Well, he had started doing that now, hadn’t he, and look what was happening.

"Sonny,"
"Jason,"
"Where are you off to?" Sonny nodded towards his him.
" The ware house,"

Sonny nodded and stepped out of the elevator, out of Jason’s way. Jason moved forward then hesitated. " Could you go in and check on Robin," he looked towards his penthouse.
Sonny frowned worriedly, " Sure, what is wrong with her? Is sick?"

"No. we were talking before I got called to the ware house…look just check on her okay?" he sighed walking into the elevator . Sonny nodded with a frown and watched the elevator close.

He went straight to Jason’s penthouse walking in without bothering to knock. Robin jumped when the door opened. He had come back to reassure her, to finish the talk. She looked up hopefully. But her face fell when she saw Sonny. Sonny saw this. He saw her tear streaked face.

" Robin what is it?" he walked in towards her.

" Ooh Sonny!" she rushed forward into his arms crying. Sonny held her then leaned back to look into her face.

" He is going to leave me for her!" she cried. Sonny sucked in his breath in shock.

" What?" his voice was raspy. It could not be true… Jason wouldn’t do that.

" Did he say that ? He told you that he was leaving you for her?" he asked insistently. Not bothering to pretend that he didn’t know who she was talking about.

" No. But he said he didn’t know why he had an affair with her and before the phone rang he was telling me he had had an affair with her when we broke up but now that she was back—" she continued to cry.

" Now that she was back what?" Sonny prodded. He wanted to know. Not only because he wanted to find out if Jason intended to break Robin’s heart but also for himself. He couldn’t explain it.

‘ I don’t know.. the phone rang…but I know he was going to say he wanted her not me," she wiped at her eyes.

Sonny let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. " Robin you don’t know that. Jason has been feeling horrible about this whole thing. I don’t think he would just up and leave you. You guys have been together too long and he loves you," Sonny reassured rubbing her back.

" You think so?" Robin wiped her eyes and looked at him hopefully. He nodded.

" I know so," he helped wipe her tears. He said it but in his head he wasn’t sure anymore. " How about I make you some dinner, then we can take a walk down at the docks okay?" she nodded and followed him to Jason’s kitchen.

Docks…an hour later

Caroline strolled down the docks. She was supposed to meet her grandmother on her yacht, but she didn’t bother to hurry even though she was already twenty minutes late. She was not happy with her grandmother at the moment. Apparently Helena had decided to let the news of her paternity break. Depriving her of the pleasure of breaking the news herself. Once again her grandmother was up to her schemes, one only wondered what she was up to now. She had not had a great week and from Jonas’ constant worried glances she knew that he knew it too. He had been watching her like a hawk all week. You go out riding once in your nice clothes and now you are on 24-hour surveillance she laughed to herself. Although in the back of her head it wasn’t really funny. In the back of her head she knew she would watch her too if she were in their shoes. The dreams were back, she was not really sleeping. Jason hadn’t called her, did she really care about that? Stefan was up to something too, she could tell, he had been wearing his predatory look most of the week. Nikolas had been walking around the home sullenly. Bringing her lower, gloomy people don’t like to be around other gloomy people. Nikolas was worried about his mother…who was staying with Leslie this week, apparently she had been crying a lot. (An overused talent for Laura she thought) He had even invited her to stay at Wyndemere. Thank god she had refused that offer. She had a good guess that the Helena had something to do with the Laura thing. In fact now that she thought about it her grandmother had seemed almost cheerful this week. As cheerful as Helena could look that is.

She was frowning at this thought when she heard her name.
"Caroline!" She turned to see who it was recognizing the voice even as she did so. Jason walked towards her and came to stand before her.
" Hey," she nodded at him. He looked her up and down.

" How have you been?" he asked quietly. There was something off. It was in the back of her eyes.
"Fine. How are you?" she turned the question to him. He looked kind of haggard. For Jason Morgan that is; his face was the same stoic look, but he had a weary look to him.

He nodded to answer that he was fine. " I haven’t seen you in a week," he said softly.

"I know, but you have my number," she pointed out non-chalantly. Jason released a frustrated sigh. " I couldn’t" he said truthfully. She frowned at this then when she realized why he probably hadn’t she sniffed. " What? The girl friend keeping you too busy," she asked sarcastically.

" Caroline." He shook his head " It isn’t like that"

" So what is it like then hmm?" she raised a cool brow.

" She has…she knows and...look I need to talk o her…we: she and I need to talk about this," he tried to explain touching his hand to the back of his head where all the tension was collecting.

" Oh…so you have to talk. Good for you. Drop me a note when you do," she said coldly and moved to continue on her way.

Jason growled in frustration " Caroline!" he called out reaching out to pull her back, turning her towards him. He took her face in his hands. She reached up to move his hands placing her hands on his wrists.

" Look…give me a break please, I need to figure this out," he pleaded looking into her eyes. His eyes willing her to yield a little. Caroline’s demeanor began to soften and he felt the grasp of her hands on his wrist softened too. He felt some of the tension ease from his neck. Caroline sighed. She moved to touch his face when he froze at her touch. What the? She was about to pull back when there was scream behind her.

"Get your hands OFF HIM!" She turned to see a small figure rushing towards them. She frowned when she saw Robin. She pulled out of Jason’s hands, before she could say anything. Jason moved forward. " Robin it wasn’t what you are thinking, it was nothing, calm down" he explained quickly.

" She should keep her hands OFF you! What do you mean nothing Jason!"

" Yeah Jase what do you mean nothing?" Caroline threw in angry malice. Robin didn’t hear her, she just continued in her tirade. " She had her hands all over you!" at that last comment Caroline snorted.

" Robin please.." Jason pleaded reaching for her.

"No…" she burst into tears and rushed back the way she came. Jason barely glanced at Caroline before he ran after her. Caroline watched in disbelief, a man running after the other girl, not her. That was a first. She focused on a figure that stood a couple of feet from her. Oh great, Sonny. He stepped forward. " Are you happy now?" he accused.

" Should I be?" she asked coolly. This man annoyed her to no end. She could not put her finger on it. It was the superior know-it-all attitude, his arrogant stance, those brooding all seeing eyes.

" You are ruining their relationship" he accused moving forward. As he did he took in her figure. She was dressed in a pair of black silk slacks a small white shirt and a 3&Mac218;4 black jacket. Her hair fell on her shoulders. There was nothing extraordinary about her dress but she looked beautiful. Though he noticed that something was different about her, her eyes…they weren’t as fiery as they usually were. He pushed that thought from his head and focused on the matter at hand. " Why can’t you leave the man alone?"

"Leave HIM alone?" she laughed angrily. " If that relationship is going down the tubes it is not MY fault. Jason is a big boy, he can make his own choices."

"Then why don’t you let him make his choice without being in his face?" he sneered. Caroline glared at him.

" Being in his face? Believe it or not at the moment Jason is not at the top of my list. His indecision is not my fault."

" No it is just your tool to keep him with you," Sonny spit out. Knowing even as he spoke that it sounded stupid, but he never took it back. He wanted her to leave Jason alone!

"What? What are you on? I do not plan to wait for the man. I have better things to do," she shouted at him.

" So you admit you don’t care about him!"he moved into her space latching onto her statement.

" I care about him…wait you are one to talk we both know your concern, has nothing to do with Jason’s happiness," she sneered at him in angry amusement. Sonny sputtered, looking at her in disbelief though he knew she was right. " How dare…" he was now standing two inches away from her. Glaring down into her eyes. Caroline took in a deep breath as her eyes fell on his lips. They were on the same level as her eyes. Those sexy—

"Sonny!" a cheerful voice broke in and they both snapped their heads towards the voice . Bobbie walked down the stairs coming to stand next to them, she turned to Caroline. " Hi Carly," she smiled hesitantly. The other woman frowned at her angrily.

" The name is Caroline, what do you want?" she demanded.
" I …I..I just wanted to say hello…" Bobbie answered flustered an appealing look in her eye.
" Yeah right," Caroline scoffed coldly.

" Caroline!" Sonny warned glaring at her. She ignored him.

" So you have said hello why don’t you be on your way?" she pointed to the other side of the dock.

" Carly please.." Bobbie pleaded, hoping to talk to her daughter.

" I told you it is Caroline, and I don’t want to listen to whatever you have to spew" she snapped.

" Caroline don’t you dare talk to Bobbie like that especially after the crap you have already done to her!" Sonny demanded glaring coldly at her.

" I can talk anyway I want to, to my hypocrite of a mother!" she snapped back " Now if you will excuse me, I can’t handle the stench any longer," with that she turned around and marched away. Leaving a gaping Sonny behind, standing next to a guilty Bobbie.
He turned to the woman " What is she talking about? You are her mother?!"

Bobbie nodded " Yes." At Sonny’s questioning glance she began her tale. Never one to pass up an opportunity to narrate her woes.

Helena’s Yacht

"You are late." Helena said without looking up. Her back to the door. Caroline walked to the bar and poured herself a drink " So what’s new?" she shrugged.

" Ahh you are still angry with me." Helena smiled coolly.

" I don’t waste my time being mad at you grandmother. But I do resent the fact that you have yet again over stepped your boundaries."

" Boundaries?" Helena’s brows shot up in cool amusement. Caroline shook her head and waved this matter off. Another time.

" I have other things I want to discuss with you," she took a sip of her drink.
" But of course my dear, what is it that you need?" Helena smiled calmly sitting back on her seat. Happy to let the matter go, for now.

" I want my boat back," Caroline stared into her glass of bourbon.
" What do you mean my dear?" Helena frowned.
" The IRIS, the boat I had you dock at your island in Greece. I want it back." Caroline looked up from her glass looking straight at her grandmother.
Helena stared at her granddaughter in shock and concern. She wanted the boat her husband had died on?!

mikmi