Volume I, Issue v

January 1999

GH in Review by Amy McWilliams

View a section by clicking on the links below, or read the entire review by scrolling down. The review takes up 8 separate pages, but the navigation at the top and bottom of each remains consistent.

General Hospital

The Quartermaines

Carly/Jason/Robin

Mac and Felicia

The Spencers

Bobbie

Lucky and Elizabeth

Luke

The Cassadines

Jax

Sonny

The Cassadines

• Laura goes to the island and demands to know if Stefan intended her to find the evidence against Luke. Stefan lies and denies it, admitting only that he knew about Luke's plan with Alexis and that he wants Laura to choose him over her husband. Laura tells him that Luke does know that Stefan is Nikolas's father, but she's confident that he will keep the secret because Luke knows that he'll lose her if he doesn't. Stefan brought up their time together in the past and Laura left. Luke sees her getting off the launch, but she doesn't see him. (12/3)
• Katherine and Nikolas begin their work on the fundraiser. Katherine says that she has begun to remember more about the night of her fall. Helena interrupts them and tells Katherine she's impressed by how close Katherine's become to her grandson. (12/3)
• Nikolas asks Stefan why Laura was at Wyndemere (Katherine told him); Stefan tells Nikolas that she was there about Luke's threats to Nikolas. Stefan then cautions Nikolas about Katherine's association with Helena. (12/4)
• After her run in with Bobbie, Laura meets Stefan at the PC Grill (Bobbie had already been there, coincidentally) and says that she wants to tell Nikolas that she loves him before the secrets start coming out. Nikolas is up in Katherine's room, Stefan says, but he doesn't know that Nikolas and Katherine are flirting. As Nikolas and Katherine discuss their plan for a bachelor auction, Nikolas kisses her, and flirting turns to sex. (12/4)
• Stefan phones Nikolas at Katherine's room, rather than he and Laura going upstairs as they'd originally planned. Nikolas prepares to join them so as not to excite suspicion. Laura and Stefan worry that Katherine will remember the truth of that night. (12/7)
• Katherine waits for Nikolas at the hotel. When he arrives, he kisses her and they have sex again. He later tells her that it's the anniversary of the day Luke killed his father. He talks of his mother and his uncle, and Katherine remembers that night on the parapet. She says nothing. (12/11)
• She covers for Nikolas, though she remembers everything. She asks Nikolas about family, and he says that family is more important to him than any inheritance. Later, Katherine meets with Helena and asks her about her true intentions towards Nikolas. Luke interrupts them. (12/14)
• Katherine tells Luke that she knows he was responsible for her fall, but she thanks him for freeing her from Stefan. She says that she won't press charges. She leaves, and Helena questions Luke about his plans for Stefan. He almost tells her about Nikolas, but refrains. (12/15)
• Meanwhile, Stefan warns Nikolas about Luke as they remember the anniversary of Stavros's death. Nikolas says that he and Lucky have decided to have no part of the feud between their families. (12/15)
• Luke watches Katherine and Nikolas enter her room. When Stefan can't get in touch with Nikolas upon hearing of the shooting at The Outback, he goes to meet him as per the concierge's (Luke's) phone call. He arrives and overhears them speak of making love. He leaves without letting them know that he's there. Later, he warns Nikolas again about Katherine's connection to Helena. (12/21)
• Stefan visits Laura to give her a photo of Nikolas as a child for Christmas. He asks her to spend Christmas with them, but she says she can't. After Luke leaves her, Laura comes to Wyndemere for Christmas Eve. (12/23)
• She tells Stefan that they must tell Nikolas the truth before Luke does. Stefan asks her to wait until after Christmas, since it will be the first one Nikolas will have with his family all together. When Nikolas returns from the GH Christmas party, Laura and Lulu stay for dinner. (12/24)

Laura: "Yes. Or no. Did you set me up?"
Stefan: "If I had wanted to set you up, as you put it, I would've been much less obvious. More importantly, if I wanted you to know, I would've told you. And why didn't you confront me then, when you found the report?"
Laura: "Why didn't you tell me when you found out?"
Stefan: "I told you months ago I suspected Luke was behind Katherine's fall and my being framed for it. You proclaimed me a liar and my allegations ludicrous. The woman I was engaged to was nearly killed in this house before my eyes. I was falsely accused because of evidence someone else planted. I have a responsibility and an obligation to find out who was responsible."
Laura: "Please don't turn Luke over to the police."
Stefan: "Even if I considered that possibility, I couldn't do so now. Exposing Luke would mean exposing my own sister. Alexis was his accomplice."
Laura: "He didn't mention anything about Alexis."
Stefan: "And yet you're angry with me. You think I tricked you so you would find out about Luke and, what, run to me? I can't pretend I don't want you. But when you come to me, I want it to be because you want me. Not as an alternative to Luke. Because I am the man you choose to be with."

Stefan has always manipulated Laura. Lately, however, there seem to be more bald-faced lies from him, and I'm not sure I like it. At the same time, his spoken ridicule of the very thing he did seems to show that he himself doesn't believe that he's acting according to character. He will, however, do what he can to ensure that Laura will choose him. As always, he parallels Luke strongly; he wants Laura to choose him. Yet a conscious choice is precisely what Laura will not or cannot make. Stefan seems, however, to be quite willing for Laura to come to him in any way he can get her, as demonstrated by his marooning her on Spoon Island previously. He's speaking one thing and thinking another, but that is, perhaps, less a reason for me to be irritated with him than a testament to his character. When faced with the actual possibility of having what he's always wanted, why should we expect him to behave strictly according to any expectations? That he doesn't know what to do with himself is clear. I still would prefer that he would be a little less underhanded in his courtship. The Spencer marriage is on the rocks with or without his present, particular help, after all.

For her part, Laura seems to let Stefan get by with a lot of lies. Either that, or she truly doesn't think that he's lying. I'm not sure what I think of that, but I do suspect, as I've said before, that she's letting herself see only the good in Stefan and only the bad in Luke because she's pondering her choice. I don't trust, however, that she'll make a choice in the near future. And indeed, Luke was to make a huge choice for her in the next few weeks.

Stefan: "Do you ever imagine a future with me? Not the fleeting time we had on the island, but a life?"
Laura: "You never give up, do you?"
Stefan: "As I've told you, when I love, I love forever."
Laura: "We have other things to discuss. Luke has agreed not to tell anyone about Nikolas, but he is volatile, to say the least. He could easily lose his temper and push us all past the point of no return. So please, for Nikolas' sake, leave Luke alone. Don't make matters any worse."
Stefan: "I have to prepare, nonetheless. You of all people should know what my mother is capable of. Fearing for Nikolas' life is not some grandiose paranoia on my part."
Laura: "I know. I know that. But it's not necessarily the right time to jump into battle mode, either."
Stefan: "Luke has information that could wreak havoc on my family. Why should I sit idly by? How can you expect me to?"
Laura: "Because Luke knows if he does anything to hurt Nikolas, he would lose me forever."

Stefan alternates, as always, between underestimating Luke and giving him the credit he deserves (a reflection on Stefan's states of mind, perhaps, or his conversational companion). Laura, however, is the one that's missing something here. Luke believes, or is beginning to believe, that he has already lost Laura forever. Moreover, he's wondering if he ever had her to begin with. She's holding on to an image of Luke rather than facing the reality--a major theme in this storyline, as well as in the Carly/Jason/Robin plot.

Stefan: "Why is it every time we've kissed, I don't have to draw you toward me? You come to me. Why do you do that? And then when you pull away, you try to tell me those feelings are of the past. You have feelings today, right now."
Laura: "I have to go. I just came here to ask for the truth about your investigator's report. You've given me an answer. Whether or not that's true remains to be seen."
Stefan: "You leave us in the past because that's easier for you. All these years you've told yourself you and I can't exist in the present. Look at me, Lasha. Laura. We do."
Laura: "No."

Stefan is right. Laura denies the possibility of Stefan as a present, real option because it lets her deny that there is a choice to be made. At the same time, Stefan exaggerates the present-ness of their relationship both because it is to his advantage and because he wants to believe in it.

Laura: "I love Luke."
Stefan: "You love who he was. When you were a girl and he was an adventure. Your husband used a letter opener of mine to loosen the railing on the parapet and then planted it in my desk drawer for the police to find."
Laura: "Ok, so now we're back to this. Why? For what reason?"
Stefan: "To retaliate. For my telling Nikolas--for my telling Nikolas that he violated you."
Laura: "Do you have proof of this?"
Stefan: "Not yet. But will you admit that my leaving incriminating evidence in my own desk is a bit out of character for me? As I said, Nikolas needed to be protected. I make no apologies for that."
Laura: "Have you been spying on me?"
Luke: "Come on. The Chuckles is a very small town. I don't have to spy. Did you really think you could just stroll into PCPD and visit Stefan Cassadine and me not know about it? Of course, that supposes that I'm on your mind at all."
Laura: "You've been on my mind--a lot. So I'm just going to come right out and ask. Did you frame Stefan for Katherine's murder?"
Luke: "Is that what he told you?"
Laura: "Yes."
Luke: "Well, why would I expect him to tell you the truth? That he killed Blondie."
Laura: "I'm asking you. Did you loosen the parapet railing with his letter opener and then, you know, put it back in his desk so the police would find it?"
Luke: "What do you think?"
Laura: "The man I love would never ever kill an innocent woman."
Luke: "Well, there you have it."

Laura didn't answer Stefan's first claim, and that is because it was something she had to truly think about. I loved that moment because, in her reflections on past conversations with Luke, I could see her stop taking her marriage for granted and truly examine her feelings for Luke and about her marriage. I want more of that.

The choice of the last line in the flashback above was incredibly smart. Luke and Alexis's plot to kill Helena was more than a stupid plot device or an out-of-character mistake. It was smarter than most people give it credit for being, because it not only served to demonstrate the motives and insecurities of both partners, it told us that Luke was acting on desperation, on an exaggerated version of his role in his family. I have always argued that the plot was completely in character: Luke took the excuse of being the protector to his family and added it in to his desire to prove to Laura (and himself) that he was unforgivable, both fearing that she would condemn him and hoping that she would side with him against the Cassadines--against Stefan. In true Guza style, this is precisely what Carly's doing/done; she expects love and believes that she won't get it at the same time, condemning those who don't give her what she herself doesn't believe she deserves.

Luke was right. This was the thing that would force Laura to question him. Some people didn't like that she was cutting Stefan excessive slack throughout this progression, buying his lies and not questioning him while she questioned her own husband rather than trusting in him. That's the point, though. She's questioned Stefan in the past, blamed and cajoled him, and she's never been willing to turn that criticism on her husband--not completely. She criticizes some of the things he does, but doesn't ever question her overall understanding of him. Now she's seeing the flip side of both men; she's letting herself see the bad in Luke and the good in Stefan where she wouldn't let herself before.

Bobbie: "On this day especially, you are the last person I thought I would see."
Stefan: "Then, please, don't let me detain you."
Bobbie: "Expecting company?"
Stefan: "Obviously."
Bobbie: "Anyone I'm related to?"
Stefan: "How kind of you, Barbara, to mark this memorable day by wishing your former husband all the best."
Bobbie: "Oh. Is that what you're doing? You celebrating the anniversary of the second Spencer-Cassadine marriage? Or are you plotting the next?"

Stefan: "Your loyalty astounds, Barbara. In the face of overwhelming futility, you continue to defend your brother."
Bobbie: "That's right. And I call them like I see them. You are trying to sabotage Luke and Laura's marriage."
Stefan: "According to whom? That master of objectivity himself?"
Bobbie: "Laura has an insatiable need for attention, and you are giving her exactly what she wants. But Luke is the man she loves, and she will always go back to him."

Coming after Bobbie accosted Laura at Kelly's for hurting everybody around her, Bobbie credits Laura for her loyalty. This seeming flip-flop goes way back. Bobbie always thought Laura was bad news, and yet she would encourage Luke to pursue her and/or forgive her once she was convinced that Luke really needed and loved her. This is one of the things that continue to be beautifully consistent, and I loved the writers casting it in this conversation with Stefan.

Laura: "Well, I--I worry sometimes that you may be encouraging our son with fantasies about a future at Wyndemere that includes me on some kind of a permanent basis."
Stefan: "Fantasy has never been a priority in our son's upbringing. But if reality encourages him, I can hardly be held responsible."

Laura: "Oh, we are so different. I come from the completely emotional school of child rearing. I can't think anything through until it's over. How did we ever --"
Stefan: "It's simple. Balance."

It's interesting to me that Stefan finds their differences to be a positive thing here, when he's trying to convince her that they belong together, simply because he was so taken aback by her response to the news that Nikolas and his friends had taken on the blackmailer. Their parenting styles are indeed different, and that may trip them up for a while until they figure out how to work as a unit.

Katherine: "Are you all right? Did you and Stefan have an argument or something?"
Nikolas: "No."
Katherine: "Are you worried that he'll find out about this?"
Nikolas: "No--I mean, I hope that he doesn't but--if I only hadn't run into Luke tonight."
Katherine: "That's the curse of living here. California has their earthquakes, and we have Luke."

Katherine: "Did something happen today?"
Nikolas: "No, nothing. Not really. Everything. Lost my parents. Today's the anniversary of when Luke killed my father. And my mother had no choice but to pretend that I didn't exist."

Katherine: "What if someone told you that you had two parents? That your father never died?"

Nikolas: "I'm the eldest son of the eldest son. It's my job whether I want it or not. When I was growing up, I was too busy preparing for it to even ask myself if it's what I really wanted. And now most of my life is about obligation to others. There's a power that comes with that that some people envy, but power is heady. You know who I envy?"
Katherine: "Who?"
Nikolas: "Lucky."
Katherine: "Lucky?"
Nikolas: "Yeah."
Katherine: "He's a charming boy, but --"
Nikolas: "Lucky. He can and does whatever he wants. You know, he lived in a boxcar for a little while? Can you believe that?"
Katherine: "I can't imagine anyone wanting to."
Nikolas: "The freedom. The opportunity to make choices without having to answer to anyone. If anything, Lucky answers to Liz, and that's because he chooses to."
Katherine: "Ok. Suppose somebody could make this legacy disappear. Would you be willing to walk away from it?"
Nikolas: "Not from the best part--my uncle. He's the true wealth in my life. As for the rest of me, I am what I am, you know."

And she does. Their affair makes sense for her too. She feels unloved, as always, and unaccepted, both by Stefan and the Qs. She is hurting and vulnerable, and has always been fond of Nikolas. She, too, saw the inappropriateness of their relationship, and was in love with Stefan. So now she takes the offer of comfort and affection--and passion--out of true feeling, in part. Yes, I'll grant her that. I've always believed that she cared for Nikolas and wished him well.

That's not to say that the whole thing isn't warped. But that's why it's so fun! *G* She has transferred her desire for one Cassadine male onto the other, and he, perhaps, has transferred his desire to have a mother into a sexual affection for this would-be wife to his Uncle. I also believe that, conscious or not, this is Katherine's revenge on Stefan for not loving her. Her connections with Helena (apparently a plan to ruin Stefan) are not behind this; it's clear that she's uncomfortable with the thought that Helena could use this against Nikolas. Her needs and her good intentions, however, can't negate the fact that this will play into Helena's hands, perhaps, or at least into her rage. Katherine's digging herself a whole in about a million ways. And perhaps that's why I like it so much. I also like it because she doesn't look stupid, just trapped. I much prefer her scenes in this storyline (even though I still find her to blame for her lack of judgment), because I understand her. Finally, I understand how she's been written since she's returned (at first, the mystery was unsuccessful because we were given so many contradictory scenes-that seems to be a pattern with things these days, that we get clarification of characters' motivations late in the "act" and are left to assume too much along the way without confirmation from the writing). She seems human, rather than the stereotype she becomes when she's with the Qs.

Luke: "Oh, man, look at this. I've walked into my favorite horror movie--"the undead meets back from the dead." Bummer--no popcorn."

Helena: "Luke, my darling. I heard you were back. We've missed your charming company."
Luke: "Oh, thank you, my dear. I'm flattered."
Helena: "Well, you've missed many fascinating events since you've been gone."
Luke: "Yeah, so I hear, beginning with the reanimation of Miss Bell. Welcome back to the land of the undead and the walking wounded."
Katherine: "Thank you."
Luke: "Resurrection's quite a trick. I stand in awe."
Katherine: "It was no trick and no fun, I assure you."
Luke: "Well, for having been dead, you look good."
Katherine: "All the credit goes to Helena. I have her to thank for saving my life and giving me this rare opportunity. Not every murder victim gets to come face to face with her killer."

Katherine: "Learning to walk again was the hardest. You'd think having already done it once, it would've been a snap. But apparently, it's not like, say, riding a bike."
Luke: "No, it isn't. I had to do it once. I know. Near-death experiences can be exhilarating or they can be a real drag. I seem to remember telling you not to hang out with the Cassadines."
Katherine: "And you were right. You did warn me how dangerous it was to be with the Cassadines. But I didn't listen. I guess I had to learn it the hard way. I backed into the trap that you set for Stefan."
Helena: "Right murderer, wrong victim. Luke loosened the parapet railing, but his intended target was me."
Luke: "Oh, Helena, darling, paranoia doesn't suit you."
Katherine: "As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't much matter who Luke was trying to kill. The point is I'm the one that fell. But I guess that I should be grateful. At least it freed me from Stefan."

Luke: "Well, you know, whoever loosened that railing did you a favor. I know it was indirect and you took a terrible fall--I'm sorry for that--but look at the result. You don't have that glazed look in your eye anymore and you can see Stefan for the rotten, little bloodsucker he is."
Katherine: "I have peripheral vision now, too. I can see other things--like you faking attempted murder charges."
Luke: "Oh, miss bell, there's no proof of that."
Katherine: "Except my will. It wasn't a forgery. I did leave everything to Stefan, and I distinctly remember telling you about that, which puts you in the ideal position to have faked the forgery."
Luke: "Sheer speculation."
Katherine: "Maybe. But I think the police would still be interested in hearing about it anyway."
Luke: "Miss bell, the forgery t Stefan off. Now, explain to me why I would go to all the trouble of framing him just to turn around and save the wasteless blob of flesh?"
Helena: "Oh, I know this one. You were obviously covering up for an accomplice. Oh, I've known for some time that you and Alexis conspired to kill me."
Luke: "You know, I have been accused of a myriad of crimes through the centuries, but very few of them have been proven."
Katherine: "Well, you don't have to worry on my account. I've decided not to have you arrested. Although I do love the idea of Alexis in jail, I'd hate to send you away, too."
Luke: "Would you? Should I be pleased?"
Katherine: "Grateful. I'd rather have you owe me one, because you are the best when it comes to tormenting Stefan."
Luke: "Well, thank you. Stick around. There's a lot more where that came from."
Katherine: "I'm counting on it. I'll be eagerly awaiting new developments. If you'll both excuse me, I'm going to head on home."
Luke: "Miss bell? It's good to see you back."
Katherine: "You, too."

This was one of my favorite scenes this month. I loved the mention of Luke's own injuries, but most of all I loved these last lines. Many people criticized Luke for showing no remorse after Katherine's fall. I never believed that the coldness he showed was the sum total of his emotions about the event. We never saw him alone about it for the first several weeks after it happened; we always saw him with a hysterical Alexis. Of course he would be cold and calculating then. He was trying to contain her and keep her from causing them more trouble. And he was desperate, as the plan itself showed (I've discussed this elsewhere, probably more than once, so I'll leave it at that for now). Finally, though, we had the scene at Lulu's birthday where Luke sat on the front porch and imagined Katherine's visit to him. His self-defense was weakly given, and in that scene I saw the remorse that he couldn't afford to show to anybody else because of his defensive, vulnerable position. And here, in this quiet exchange after all the posturing was over, I saw him apologize and I saw her accept. It was lovely and subtle, and quite in keeping with the Luke I know.

Luke: "Watch yourself, darling. You're stumbling down a very dangerous path. There are more direct ways of dealing with you than loosening parapet railings."
Helena: "I am simply asking you to leave the children out of this."
Luke: "Why? You got some deep, maternal feeling for the littlest Cassadine?"
Helena: "I'm devoted to him. Unfortunately, Nikolas hates me because Stefan has made sure that he would. Now, all of Nikolas' life, Stefan has poisoned him against me. But the only reason that Stefan has had any influence at all is because you--you killed Nikolas' father."
Luke: "Did I? It's funny--I don't remember killing Nikolas' father."

Helena: "Are you implying that Stavros is alive?"
Luke: "Oh. God, no. I am just saying his legacy lives on like the bubonic plague."
Helena: "I will not allow you to be disrespectful to his memory, especially on the anniversary of the day when you killed him."
Luke: "He was a very clumsy man. He fell down a flight of stairs."
Helena: "Because you hit him over the head with a bed knob. Oh. Oh, no, I'm not going to dwell in the past, because if I do, I'll probably end up killing you myself, and that would be a grave miscalculation."
Luke: "Not to mention the end of this lovely time together. You're not getting soft on me, are you, baby?"
Helena: "Oh, hardly. Hardly. With you out of the way, Stefan's path to his lady love Laura would be free and clear. And the last thing I want to be responsible for is Stefan finally getting his heart's desire."
Luke: "Well, I was worried. I'm relieved now."
Helena: "Well, of course, it--it may be out of my hands already. Laura's been a permanent fixture at Wyndemere for months."
Luke: "Yeah, well, it's the weather."
Helena: "Oh."
Luke: "She's a sucker for musty, dank fog."
Helena: "Oh, my, my. You do hide your feelings well. But surely Laura's increasing contact with Stefan can't be pleasing to you."
Luke: "Whatever I feel or don't feel, I don't need you egging me on."
Helena: "I was just trying to provide a little inspiration."
Luke: "Yeah? You want to help? Tell me how Stefan fabricated that so-called evidence that I'm the one that loosened the parapet railing."

Helena: "In the course of Stefan's destruction, you don't suppose you could blow up that awful house? I mean, it's as dark and gloomy as its occupant."
Luke: "Oh, don't worry, baby. Before I'm through, more than the house of usher is coming down."
Helena: "Ooh, brave talk. But I wonder if you can follow through. Oh, you're slipping, Luke. It was--it was foolish to leave proof behind when you arranged my murder."
Luke: "Proof? What proof? There is no proof. Why don't you help me find out who's providing Stefan with backup on this?"
Helena: "Oh, you're mistaken. Stefan is far too secretive to trust anyone. No, he's outwitted you, Luke, and I only pray that it's not a portent of things to come."
Luke: "Well, you might want to hold that judgment until the dust settles."

Helena: "Would you like to join me for a nightcap? I promise to sip out of your glass to prove that it's not poisoned."
Luke: "It's tempting. Tonight, it's very tempting. But I'm afraid I must decline."
Helena: "Well, good night, then, Luke. But don't forget--I'm depending on you."

It amazes me that Nikolas didn't figure this out earlier. Lucky's right when he tells him that he wanted to believe the story. That it hasn't dawned on Helena to at least suspect drives me nuts, especially when Luke practically gives her that suspicion on a silver platter. What I love, however, is that it is her love for Stavros--her obsession with him--that keeps her from seeing the secret that will blow up in her face.

The best line, however, was when Helena voiced the reason that Luke's still alive. These two keep each other alive because they enjoy the game too much, I think, to kill each other off. But the fact she keeps Luke alive to thwart Stefan is beautiful, and I think Luke keeps her alive for the same reason. Delicious.

Stefan: "'We'? So you and Lucky are acting as a team now?"
Nikolas: "No, we're acting as brothers, to each other and to Lesley Lu. No matter what happens between you, Luke, and Laura, we won't allow that to affect how we deal with each other."
Stefan: "You were raised with few companions. I always knew that you longed for a close friend and hoped that someday you would find one. That it turns out to be Lucky Spencer is an irony I can on observe with amazement."
Nikolas: "Lucky and I have some things in common. We understand each other. At least we're beginning to, anyway."
Stefan: "Well, then, the choice is yours."
Nikolas: "Thank you."
Stefan: "I will, however, offer a word of caution. The difficulties Laura, Luke, and I experience do not occur within a vacuum. You're more involved than you know."

Paternity secret aside, Stefan is right. Nikolas and Lucky's decision to stand apart from their family on this feud is, perhaps, an impossible one to keep.

Stefan: "A father is irreplaceable. I'm only happy I could fill in."
Nikolas: "You're not a fill-in. A fill-in implies that I wanted someone else there instead. Whenever I would think of my father, I'd see you every time."
Stefan: "The death of my brother, coming as it did at the hands of our enemy, was a tragedy. Yet at the same time, for me, it has always been a blessing. Through it, I've come to know a boy whose spirit and intelligence were extraordinary from the beginning--a boy who has returned to me a thousandfold everything I've ever given him."

This was only foreshadowing to the beautiful scenes we'd have between father and son after Christmas (well, I didn't find them all to be beautiful, but that'll have to wait until next time). The thing I've held on to throughout my months of disappointment with Stefan is his love for Nikolas, and this payoff was to be pretty darned good.

Laura: "It's all three of them together. You made this possible."
Stefan: "I? No."
Laura: "Yes, you did, by raising Nikolas to be the generous and patient and forgiving young man that he is. And for bringing us all together."
Stefan: "Well, I'm afraid that what I brought you today may seem redundant."
Laura: "Another picture?"
Stefan: "Yes."
Laura: "Oh. Thank you. How old was he here?"
Stefan: "6."
Laura: "6. My god. He was so beautiful even then."
Stefan: "I'm glad you like it."
Laura: "The flowers you sent me were beautiful. Unfortunately, there was an accident and --"
Stefan: "Where there are children, those things happen."
Laura: "Well, I guess I'm not a very good Christmas shopper, or at least not a very good friend. I don't have anything to give you."
Stefan: "You gave me Nikolas--my life."
Laura: "Well, I did manage to wrap a couple of things for him. I hope you won't mind bringing them back for him."
Stefan: "Well, I had hoped that you would bring them out to Wyndemere yourself."
Laura: "Stefan --"
Stefan: "I mean, you and Lesley Lu, of course."
Laura: "I can't do that."
Stefan: "You have plans? I know that Nikolas would love to see you and his sister on Christmas day."
Laura: "I'm sorry. I just can't do it."
Stefan: "Well, I'll have Nikolas stop by himself, then. How will that be?"
Laura: "Thank you."
Stefan: "I've taken enough of your time."
Laura: "Stefan? There's so much that I owe you for. Not a day passes that I don't remember that."

Stefan: "Are you certain?"
Laura: "Yes. He as much as told me to my face that he was going to tell someone. Whether that's Nikolas or Helena or the Port Charles Herald, I don't know. But I do know that he meant it, so we've run out of time."

Stefan: "No. No. Not yet. I want him to have this one Christmas with his mother before we face the anger and recrimination he's sure to feel when he learns we've kept such a secret from him. It's Christmas Eve. I don't want to spoil it."
Laura: "No. No, it's a disaster in the making. Luke may have left me and gone directly to Helena. He may be laying in wait for Nikolas the second he steps off the launch."
Stefan: "Nikolas will be furious whenever he finds out. It doesn't --"
Nikolas: "Everything all right?"
Stefan: "Yes. Fine. We'll see you at dinner, then?"
Nikolas: "Yeah. Lesley Lu's helping Mrs. Lansbury decorate gingerbread cookies. I'll be back as soon as I can. It's good that you're here. Thank you."
Laura: "He could walk back through that door knowing everything."
Stefan: "He's never had a Christmas with the feeling of a complete family. If I can preserve that for him for the next 24 hours, it's worth the risk--at least to me."
Laura: "All right, then. But let's tell him tomorrow."

What strikes me most in these scenes is that Laura is so quick to assume the worst about Luke. Yes, he practically proclaimed that he would tell the secret of Nik's paternity, but she immediately jumped to the worst case scenario. Luke actually found a much better way to handle the revelation, and a much better audience for his tale. That said, I was glad to see her make the decision to tell Nikolas, rather than her not taking the initiative as she's done so often. Consequences would take that option away from her, but it was her choice. And choices from her are few and far between these days.