CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The shrill ring of the phone is what brings Lucky out of his peaceful slumber the next morning. Rubbing his eyes and looking at the clock he groaned. It was only seven o’clock.

"Hello," He answered, stiffling a yawn.

"Rise and shine cowboy! I have your present for little Nikky right here on my desk. Better shake a tail feather and get down here," Luke’s bright voice floats through the phone, bringing Lucky to attention.

"You mean Katherine’s files?"

"The one and only. Now come on down and collect them. They’re burning a hole through my desk."

"I’ll be right there!" Lucky hangs up the phone and quickly dresses. Jotting down a quick note, Lucky is out the door and heading for his father’s club.

*

Luke was setting behind his desk puffing on a cigar when Lucky arrived. The file sets in front of him, waiting for Lucky to retrieve them.

"There you are my boy. Mission completed," Luke greets Lucky as he enters.

"Thanks dad," Lucky picks the file up and leafs through them. "This means a lot to me. Hopefully this will have the information I’m looking for to get Nikolas out of this marriage thing."

One minute later, Lucky finds what he’s looking for. "Just as I thought."

"No bun in the oven for Kat huh?" Luke arches eyebrow.

"Nope. None. This whole thing was a scam to trap Nikolas all along. Poor Nikolas…I don’t know how I’m going to break it to him. I think he was really looking forward to becoming a father."

"Well son, you’re going to want to do it in a way that will not only prove what you say, but blow Kat out of the water in front of everyone. Aren’t the Cassadines famous for their dinner parties?"

"And tell him there? In front of everyone? Dad I don’t think that’s a wise idea."

"Well then pull him to the side and give him the file. Then let him decide what to do with the information. I say tonight would be suitable since you want to get this barracuda out of his life as soon as possible," Luke smiles at his own idea. "Hey your mom and I will even come for good measure."

Lucky sighs and nods. "Okay. I’ll call and let you know the game plan. I better go now if I want to get this thing rolling."

*

Nikolas is outside practicing his martial arts when Kate comes outside and watches him. She sighs. He certainly was magnificent and she would do anything for him to be hers. But unfortunately that wasn’t going to happen. She was lucky enough for the other night to happen.

"Hey Kate," Elizabeth emerges from the house. "Have you seen Lucky? I woke up and he was gone."
"He went to his father’s club for something," Nikolas answered, wiping his face with a towel, finished practicing. "You’re talking about Lucky right? He left a note saying there was something he had to get at Luke’s and he’ll return shortly."

"Oh. After promising that I’ll be waking up next to him every morning," Elizabeth sniffed jokingly.

"Well when business calls it calls," Lucky comes up from behind and wraps an arm around her waist. "I’m sorry baby. But it was important. Dad wouldn’t wait until you woke up."

"So what did you have to get?" Nikolas asked.

"Something important. That will change everything around for someone I care about. But I can’t tell you right now," Lucky clears his throat. "Nikolas…I feel really bad for how I treated Katherine yesterday. I mean it wasn’t my place to question her like I did and I was out of line."

"Lucky don’t worry about it," Nikolas waves away his apolagy.

"No, I was wrong. Let me admit it. I was thinking…I’d like to invite her to dinner with us, family and friends. I already spoke with Stefan and Mrs. Landsbury and they’re getting the preparations for a dinner party for tonight together. Uh…I was wondering if Katherine can make it."

"Sure. Kat’s always good for a dinner party. I’ll call her right now," Nikolas heads back into the mansion and then stops. "Oh and Lucky…thank you. This means a lot to me." He smiles before disappearing into Wyndemere.

"Ok Spencer what are you up to?" Elizabeth looks at him, suspicion shining in her eyes.

"Huh? What makes you think I’m up to something?"

"That I have a secret plan look you always get when you’re up to something. Now spill."

Lucky sighed. "I have proof that Katherine is a liar. That’s all I’m saying," Lucky takes off after Nikolas, leaving the two girls staring at each other.

*

Six weeks later…

Due to the fact that Katherine kept on postponing her invitation to Wyndemere, the fateful dinner party was six weeks late taking place. During that time there was no word from the McCoys and Kate was going through some disturbing changes. She would get sick in the mornings but would be fine afterwards. She was always extremely tired, and she would have these strange cravings. After a home test and the support of Elizabeth she knew what the problem was. Another problem was what to do about it? Fearing the worse she had sworn Elizabeth to secrecy, which Elizabeth hated because her and Lucky never kept anything from each other. After overhearing a heated conversation between the two girls, Lucky was now more determined than ever to tell Nikolas the truth. There was no way he was going to let Katherine Bell marry his brother.

Nikolas and Lucky are at the stables finishing a riding lesson for Lucky. That was when he decided to broach the subject.

"Tonight’s the night Nikolas. Katherine is just going to have to drop whatever she has going this time and head out to Wyndemere. I want our families to make peace tonight," Lucky hopes down from his horse.

"Lucky…I can’t just demand for Katherine to drop her plans," Nikolas sighed.

"You have to be forceful man. Let her know who’s boss."

"Like you do with Elizabeth?"

"Elizabeth isn’t the type that needs that. We agree on everything practically. But Katherine on the other hand…"

"Alright. Fine. Call the Spencers and the Webbers and we’ll have a nice dinner party to welcome Katherine. I’ll handle Kat myself," Nikolas laughed at his brother’s determination. "Lucky…thank you. From both me and my yet to be born child."

"No problem Nikolas," Lucky shrugged sighing uncomfortably.

The dinner party is underway. Katherine sets between Nikolas and Stefan while Kate sets on the Nikolas’s other side, unhappily picking at her food. There was no way she can be happy to be celebrating the engagement of the man she loved.

Lucky is about to tell Nikolas that he wants to see him alone when Luke pulls his son to the side.

"Dad what are you doing?" Lucky growled. "I’m about to tell Nikolas about Katherine."

"I have a better idea. Where’s the file?"

"Right here," Lucky points to his sports coat.

"Give it to me. No reason for Nikky to be mad at you. It’s best to let the older Spencer deal with this."

"Oh no. What are you going to do?" Lucky takes a step back from his father.

"Let’s just say it’s an engagement gift, Spencer style," Luke grabs the file away from Lucky and heads back to the table. He taps a champagne glass with his fork. He stands up just as Lucky his seat between Kate and Elizabeth. "As all you good people here know, I’m not a big fan of the Cassadines and probably never will be. But since my son has grown an attachment to them, I’ve decided to become less vocal. And this, as a sign of my silence have brought a peace offering to the Cassadine prince my son’s half-brother. Nikolas, may this be a eye opener for you."

The whole table practically gasps with surprise as he hands Nikolas the file. Nikolas just looks at him strangely and accepts the gift. Opening the file his eyes narrow in confusion.

"What is this?" Nikolas looks at Luke.

"Just keep reading. You’ll see," Luke nods, sharing a knowing glance with Lucky, who didn’t seem too happy. Seeing Nikolas’s eyes widen with anger, he knew that the young man now knew the truth. "That’s right Nikky. She lied to you. Played you for a fool. Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be noble. Kat here is no mother. In fact, I think she’s all dried up."

"Excuse me?" Katherine glares at Luke. "What is this all about? What did you give him?"

"Your medical files Katherine," Luke gleefully rubs his hands. "Those files state that you’re not pregnant and never was. This whole baby thing is a scam! Good job. I must hand it to you playing the Cassadines for a bunch of fools. Don’t be mad Nikolas. I’m sure it won’t be the last time you’re played."

"Dad stop!" Lucky stands up as Nikolas stands from his seat, his anger boiling over. He had never meant for Nikolas to find out like this. In front of everyone.

"Yes Luke. That’s enough," Laura glares at her husband. Angry with him for hurting her son. "Have some compassion."

"Nikolas…that’s a lie. I really am pregnant. I really am," Katherine stammers, trying to grab Nikolas’s arm as he storms out of the dining room.

"Lucky go after him," Elizabeth placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder.

"Ms. Bell, you are no longer welcomed here. You must leave now," Stefan coldly replied, glaring at his ex-fiancee. "You have caused my nephew enough damage for a life time. You are no longer to see or even talk to him."

"Don’t you think that’s his decision?" Katherine angrily crossed her arms.

"That is his decision. He’s just so angry right now, it’s best he doesn’t express it. Now leave or I’ll have you escorted off the premises."

Katherine glares at the occupants of the room, her anger boiling over. "All of you were behind this weren’t you! You’ll pay for this! I promise you." She storms out of Wyndemere, never to return again.

"I’ll be back," Lucky disappears out the back door to talk to his brother. He finds him out in the garden, his head in his hands. Hot angry tears spilled from his eyes. Lucky sat down and placed a arm around him. "Nikolas?"

"I actually looking forward to being a father Lucky. I was going to do it right. And now…to find out it’s a lie…that there never was a baby…I never felt more of a Cassadine than I do right now. Well no, that’s not true. When I found you all beat up in Kentucky, I wanted to send the McCoy’s to my Grandmother’s torture chamber."

"I’m sorry Nikolas. You know I feel this is my fault. If I was here last summer this probably wouldn’t have happened. You would have seen through her lies from the start. But instead I was down in Kentucky…"

"Saving a little girl and that’s more important. Besides it’s not your fault. I was the one that got involved with Katherine, who slept with her. I was the one who had what she wanted most. Money. That’s all she cared about."

"You know, I believe at first, when you first met her she did care. But that all got twisted by her love of money. Listen why don’t you come back in. Everyone’s worried about you."

"Luke’s not. He’s rather gleeful about the fact," Nikolas wipes away the remainer of his tears.

"That’s just his way of showing concern. Dad doesn’t mean any harm," Lucky said.

"Yeah right," Nikolas laughed. "You knew didn’t you Lucky? You knew something was up. That’s what all those questions were about the other day. You suspected all along that Katherine was lying. You had Luke get that file didn’t you?"

Since Lucky didn’t believe in lying and wasn’t about to start now, he tells the truth. "Yeah. I wanted to help you. I was going to pull you to the side and tell you in private, but before I could, he grabbed it and announced the whole thing before I could take the file back. I’m sorry Nikolas. I didn’t want you to find out like that…in front of a roomful of people."

"Well at least it was a roomful of people that care about me," Nikolas laughs slightly. "Hey it’s ok Lucky. I’m not mad at you…heck I’m not even mad at Luke. I’m mad at myself really. For being so gullible."

"You’re not gullible. You’re just noble and kind hearted. Katherine took advantage of that."

"Well at least one of us is going to be a father. That’s a plus."

Lucky clears his throat uncomfortably. "Uh…Nikolas…you may want to talk to Kate. There’s still a chance for you two you know."

"Kate…what must she think of me?"
"I still think you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met," Kate smiles, walking up to the the boys along with Elizabeth.

"Everyone’s worried about you in there," Elizabeth tilts her head towards the house.

"I better go in and let them know that it’s ok, and not to shoot the messanger," Nikolas forced a smile. Come on Lucky. Let’s go."

Nikolas and Lucky disappear back into the mansion while Kate and Elizabeth remain outside.

"Kate, now is the time to tell him…"

"I can’t Elizabeth. Not now…not after learning that Katherine’s pregnancy was a lie. He’d think I was doing the same thing."

"Then when will you tell him? When you’re in the delivery room going into labor?" Elizabeth placed a hand on her hip. "Kate, you like Nikolas and he obviously cares a great deal for you. I saw the way he looked at you just now. Tell him."

Kate sighed. "I just need time Liz. I’ll tell him. Just not tonight."
"Ok. Fine," Elizabeth crossed her arms in defeat. "Have it your way. Come on. Let’s get back in there before the guys get worried."

"Nikolas?" Stefan stands just as Lucky and the others return.

"I’ll be fine Stefan. You know, this is actually a relief to me. Now I don’t have that wedding to pay for…or another…life…excuse me. I must be alone," Nikolas takes off for his room, leaving the others staring after him.

"Poor Nikky," Luke sighed, shaking his head.

"Shut up dad. You’ve done enough damage for one night," Lucky glared at his father and disappeared into his own room.

"What did I do?" Luke looked at the remaining people in the room in confusion, not getting why everyone was so angry at him.

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