Cassadine Island. Main House. Nikolas and Claudia's Bedroom.

There was a cool, soothing breeze tempering the warmth of the sunlight. Nikolas had opened the French doors to the patio while she was asleep. She hadn't opened her eyes yet, but there was that sweet toddler smell near her. And as that thought reached her consciousness, tiny fingers patted her chin. She struggled to keep up the appearance of sleeping. But he wasn't fooled. The teeny fingers gently pushed the corners of her mouth upward. She gave up the fight and smiled. And was rewarded with a soft, pleased giggle.

"Someone's been sleeping in my bed," Claudia said. She opened her eyes and found herself face to face with Jonah. He smiled. She kissed his fingertips. "Hello, piccolo," she said.

"Ciao," he replied. It was the fifth word he had learned. The first was the usual "Mama," followed by "Dada," followed by "Ped" -- his version of Spencer. And number four was "Uh-oh," which probably wasn't technically a word, but was hysterically funny coming from a one year-old. Almost six months later, it was still funny. He had added a few more words since then, but "Ciao," which sounded like "See-ow" coming from Jonah, was Claudia's favorite, and Jonah knew it.

Jonah pushed himself up to a sitting position.

"Oh, boy," Claudia said. "You're ready to get up, huh? Give Mommy a minute."

Jonah just smiled and played with her hair. She didn't know just how it had happened, but somehow her blunt aggressiveness, Nikolas' commanding nature, Spencer's mix of humor and arrogance, and Sonny's temper had all combined to create the sweetest and most sensitive little boy imaginable. Nurture was definitely out as a factor. She couldn't imagine where he'd picked it up through nature. It certainly wasn't from her family tree. As much as she loved Jonah's sweetness, the thought of it coming from somewhere out of Sonny's family tree gave her pause. A little like Jonah's dimples sometimes did.

She gingerly lifted herself up to a sitting position. Much better than earlier this morning. With that thought, she grimaced and snuck a look at the clock on the night table. She groaned.

"I take it you're not feeling better," Nikolas said, coming in with a tray holding a teapot and mug.

"Please," Claudia said, "Please tell me you did not feed our guests breakfast out of cereal cartons." Alfred's wife, Millicent, had an agreement with Claudia. Millicent was allowed to all of the cooking during the week ... as long as Claudia still got control of the kitchen on weekends. This weekend, apparently, was off to a rough start. Claudia had missed Saturday's first meal.

"We managed. Everyone's alive and satisfied."

Nikolas put the tray down next to Claudia on the bed. He took a seat next to Jonah and lifted the boy up onto his lap.

"So," Claudia began.

"Yes?"

"How did I end up with a visitor?"

"Ah," said Nikolas. "Someone was a little sleepy this morning. Even more quiet than usual. And he perked up when I suggested a nap with Mommy."

"Really?," Claudia asked Jonah.

Jonah held out his arms. She took him from Nikolas, and Jonah wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her.

Claudia pulled back and looked at him. "You're a little warm, piccolo." She looked up at Nikolas. "Did you take his temperature?"

Nikolas nodded. "Low grade. The doctor said to call if there's any change."

"Incoming!," Spencer shouted from the doorway. He launched himself onto the bed, landing with a feigned bomb sound that would've done any other almost-five year-old proud.

"Careful, Pedro," Claudia said.

"Hey," Spencer said.

"What? What happened?" Claudia whipped her head around, pretending to look for the source of the trouble.

"Stop it."

"Claudia," Nikolas cautioned.

"You let Jonah call you 'Ped,'" Claudia complained to Spencer.

"He's my brother. He can call me anything."

Jonah beamed at Spencer.

"What about me?," Claudia said.

"You're just my mother. You have to call me by the right name."

Spencer was a little too much of a bulldozer to notice, but Nikolas saw Claudia's eyes soften for a moment before she went back to teasing Spencer.

"That seems a little unfair," Claudia pointed out. "You call me 'Claudee.'"

"Careful," Nikolas said. He leaned in to whisper in Claudia's ear. "I wouldn't press the point if you like being called 'Claudee.'"

"Can I come in?," Alexis said from the door. Amazing. The four of them -- Nikolas, Claudia, Spencer and Jonah -- spent most of their time on the island. A large island, but an island nonetheless. Each boy had his own room. Claudia and Nikolas had separate offices. And every time Alexis went looking for one of the four, she found all four of them together.

"Of course," Nikolas said.

"Sorry about this morning," Claudia muttered, brushing a hand through her sleep-tossed hair.

"Come on the bed," Spencer said to Alexis, as he jumped up and down on the mattress.

"No," said Alexis. "Thank you. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going into Athens for the afternoon. I'm going to be a tourist. And hopefully find some good sales."

"All right," Nikolas said.

"What time will you be back?," Claudia asked. "Do you want me to hold dinner?"

"No, nothing that drastic. I should be back late afternoon. How are you feeling?," Alexis asked, a little belatedly. Absence had not made either woman's heart grow fonder. But they both dealt with it. Because they both loved Nikolas.

"Better," Claudia allowed. Especially since you're going into town, she thought. She looked up and caught Nikolas looking at her. From his raised eyebrow, she could have sworn he read her mind. "Are you taking the girls with you?," Claudia asked Alexis, in a much friendlier tone of voice.

**************************************

Cassadine Island. The Beach.

Molly and Spencer were playing in the surf.

Claudia dabbed some lotion on Jonah's nose. He sneezed.

"Oh! I'm sorry," she said, putting down the lotion and picking him up. She fell backwards, onto her back, and lifted Jonah away from her, and then back down to her again. He laughed. Claudia was about to raise him up again when she noticed a mark on his ankle. She made a mental note to ask Spencer and Nikolas about it.

"Can I hold him?," Kristina said, sitting down next to Claudia.

Well, this was different. Kristina had been hostile during every other trip to the island. On her very first one, she'd let Claudia know why. Michael. Claudia's best kept secret was no longer a secret in Port Charles.

Even though Claudia didn't like Alexis, she had to admit she had some respect for the woman. To Alexis' credit, her hostility toward Claudia hadn't increased since the news had reached her.

Looking at Kristina, Claudia's first instinct was to say, "Keep your hands off my kid!" But she stuffed that down and said, "Sure." She sat up and passed Jonah to Kristina.

"Hi, Jonah," Kristina said.

Jonah just smiled and reached for Kristina's earring. Claudia quickly reached up and took Kristina's earrings off.

"What are you --"

"He likes shiny objects. Like a bird collecting things for a nest. So unless you want a shredded earlobe..." Claudia tucked the earrings into her purse.

"Thanks," said Kristina. They were quiet for awhile, and then Kristina spoke again. "He's my brother, you know."

Claudia didn't know what to do with that, except be grateful Jonah wasn't old enough to understand this conversation. "I know," Claudia said. "He's ready for a snack. Do you want to help him eat?"

"Really?"

Claudia took out a baggie full of cheese. She passed a nugget to Kristina. Jonah turned away from it.

"Piccolo," Claudia said. Jonah looked at Claudia. Claudia grabbed a piece of cheese and popped it into her mouth. He reached for her. "Uh-uh," she said. "Kristina has yours."

Jonah looked at Kristina. She offered the cheese again, and he turned away from her.

"What is going on, piccolo? You don't like cheese today? How is that possible?"

Jonah chewed on his fist.

"Maybe he doesn't like me," Kristina said.

"No," Claudia said. "He likes you. Look at how he's holding on to you." She looked into the girl's eyes. "You're a natural. Have you done this before?"

"A little. Babysitting."

Well, thought Claudia, there's a conversation killer. Claudia had never babysat a day in her life, unless letting Spencer destroy his father's books in Wyndemere's library counted.

"Did it hurt a lot when you gave birth?," Kristina asked.

"Oh my God, yes," Claudia responded without thinking. And maybe this was something Alexis would be ticked at Claudia for discussing with Kristina.

"Like how much?"

"I don't know what to compare it to," Claudia said. Because your mother would definitely disapprove of me discussing knife wounds with you. "Also, I think it's different for everyone."

"People just say that. So that women will want to have babies."

"No. I thought that, too, but I've heard some women talk about it like it almost split them in two or something. And other women are like, 'It was nothing. I could have gone dancing that night.' And neither of those two are anywhere near what I felt. You know?"

"I guess. Why can't I take a picture of Jonah for my father?"

And Claudia thought 3 year-olds were good at non-sequitors. "It's not just your father. We don't want any pictures taken of Jonah. Ever. Or Spencer."

"Why?"

"I'm sorry, Kristina, I can't talk about that. But I can tell you that I wish we could take pictures. I would really love some for myself when the boys get older. So I can remember what they were like."

Claudia silently cursed herself as she saw Kristina put the pieces together. "It's because of Helena."

Claudia didn't answer for a moment. "Partly. She can't do any damage if she doesn't know what they look like, right?"

Kristina looked at Claudia with something resembling respect. "Right," she said.

**************************************

A Village Outside of Athens. Afternoon.

Alexis headed up the pier to the Cassadine sailboat.

"Alexis!"

Alexis turned around. "Ric? What are you doing here?"

"I have business in Athens." He smiled. "Well, business and pleasure. Are you here with the girls?"

"Yes, we're staying on the family island. Quick vacation before school starts up and Kristina goes back to college."

"So Molly's here."

"Yes," Alexis said slowly.

"Can I come over?"

"I... I don't know. Let me check."

"Check?"

Alexis gestured to the guards. "There's an exclusive guest list."

"My daughter's on the island."

"It's not my island," Alexis said gently. "I'll be right back."

**************************************

Cassadine Island. Main House. Kitchen.

Claudia was checking the steaks when Nikolas came striding into the kitchen.

"Claudia," he said. He seemed angry.

She stood up, concerned. "What is it?"

"Ric has just made his presence known."

Claudia felt her heart leap into her throat. "How?"

"He approached Alexis on the piers. He wants to come to the island."

Claudia grabbed onto the kitchen counter and steadied herself. "Tell me," she said.

"He says he wants to see Molly."

"On the island."

"Yes. Alexis is telling him no right now. You may not leave the island. Under any circumstances. Until we ascertain --" Nikolas cut himself off when Claudia turned away from him. "What?"

"It's just -- I have an appointment. Tomorrow."

"And?"

Claudia looked at Nikolas, the anger pulsing off of him. "Nothing."

"Is it important? Can you cancel it?"

"It's important," she said slowly. "But I can cancel it."

"Good." Nikolas stormed out of the room.

**************************************

Cassadine Island. Main House. Nikolas' Office.

An appointment, she said. Something that made her hesitate to take herself out of her father's path. Had Claudia known Ric was in town? Was she intending to meet him privately?

Of all the men Claudia had been with, Ric was the one who made Nikolas' blood boil the most. Ric. Who also had a despised father. Who had plotted with Claudia. Whom she had continued to sleep with when she was married to Sonny. Who also had that all-consuming dark side. They had so much in common, it was a wonder they hadn't become one person when they'd finally met. The shared emotions of unfavored siblings. The drive to prove themselves worthy. The shaky morality.

A few weeks after Nikolas and Claudia's wedding, they had gone over every conceivable warning sign that might arise concerning Anthony and Helena.

Claudia had told him about Ric in a blunt, understated manner. He'd pressed for details. She hadn't wanted to give them, didn't see the point. But Nikolas knew she was helpless as far as he was concerned -- if he asked, Claudia would always tell him the truth. There were sometimes when he avoided asking -- like that incident with Spencer's puppy -- because he didn't want to know. But her weakness toward him was something he occasionally used.

The night he'd made her talk about Ric was the first night they'd spent together when he hadn't reached for her. And when she'd reached for him, he'd pulled away from her touch and turned away from her. In the middle of the night, she'd shaken him awake, furious. "When a man blackmails me into having sex," she had said, her eyes moist with unshed tears, "generally, that's the end of the attraction for me. I can't believe you." She went to leave the bed. He'd pulled her back in, and had made love to her with a possessiveness neither of them had known he was capable of. The next morning they had made up. Tenderly. And that was the last time they'd discussed Ric.

**************************************

Cassadine Island. Main House. Dining Room. Evening.

Claudia picked up the last of the dinner plates. This was usually Nikolas' job on the weekends, but he had already gone into the kitchen. With Alexis.

He had barely looked at Claudia during dinner. He didn't seem to be talking to her either. At one point, Alexis had intervened and tried to get them all in a single conversation, but Nikolas had turned to Jonah and concentrated a little too hard on feeding him.

Claudia decided to ignore his behavior. At least for as long as they had guests. They had never had this problem before. Mike had visited. Lulu had visited. And this wasn't Alexis' first visit. Claudia had managed to be civil -- almost hostly -- during all of the visits. She'd been the reason he'd had to move away from his family. She wanted them to want to visit. For him to not lose anyone because of her.

Any time she felt her temper flare up, she thought of John. She thought of how she would feel if Nikolas made John unwelcome. She thought of how much she missed John, and how lucky Nikolas was to have family. She didn't want to jeopardize that for him.

If at first you don't succeed, Claudia thought, entering the kitchen.

**************************************

The Kitchen.

All conversation ceased when she came into the room.

She placed the dishes in the sink and began to rinse them.

"Leave those. The staff will get it," Nikolas said.

"Okay," Claudia said.

Most weekends, Nikolas usually watched Claudia cook. And Claudia usually helped Nikolas with the dishes. Neither of those things had happened tonight. Claudia shook off this feeling. He just wanted some time alone with his aunt. Probably.

She leaned in to kiss his cheek before she left. He didn't lean in to the kiss. He seemed to barely tolerate it.

Claudia got a lump in her throat.

"I...," she said. "I'll be in my office. With the fiber optics file. Always a laugh riot. Good night, Alexis."

"Good night," Alexis said, looking at Nikolas as if he had a third eye.

Claudia left.

"Trouble in paradise?," Alexis asked.

"What do you mean?," Nikolas said.

"I mean," Alexis said, crossing her fingers that this wouldn't be a subject that would make Nikolas shut down, "that you've been a little ... cold to Claudia. Rude. Has the bloom fallen off the rose?"

"You would just love that, wouldn't you?," Nikolas said. Before Alexis could pursue the topic any further, Nikolas continued, "Forgive me. I need to get some work done. I'll be in my office."

He left the room.

Since Nikolas had been with Claudia, he'd been happier than Alexis had ever seen him before. Looked like the lows were lower, too.

**************************************

Cassadine Island. Main House. Hours later.

She'd obviously been working in her office. But everything had already been tidied up for the night. Nikolas turned the lights off and headed down the hallway.

Claudia wasn't in the bedroom either, but the patio doors were open. He went outside.

She was walking along the beach. He waited for her to look out over the water, toward the mainland. Claudia loved city life. Every possible celebration -- birthday, anniversary, New Year's, every Saint's birthday that he could dig up -- basically any excuse he could find -- Nikolas took her to Athens. She never complained about spending so much time on the island, but there was a way in which she lit up in a club that was gorgeous to look at. Nikolas was probably too much of a homebody for Claudia, but she'd looked at him oddly the one time he asked her about it, and said she'd take his body any way she could get it, home or not.

Right now, Nikolas thought, she's probably wondering about a night in a club with Ric.

But Claudia didn't look toward the mainland. She looked inland. And Nikolas had a sinking twinge of remorse when he saw where she was looking. It was their cove. Where they went to be alone together.

One night, a little more than two months ago, they'd been sitting in the cove when Claudia asked him what he liked about her. He'd laughed.

"We've been married for over a year, and you're not certain about what I like about you?," he'd asked.

"No," she'd said, poking him. "I mean, aside from the obvious. The things you never mention."

"You mean there are things you don't mention."

"Well, yeah. I mean, you know I like the way you wake me up. And you know I like your laugh. But..." She trailed off.

"What?"

She reached out and touched his lips. "These. Your lips drive me crazy. I remember there was one night..."

"Are you blushing?"

"I don't blush, Batman." She was blushing. She quickly returned to the topic at hand. "At the guest house. On Spoon Island. Before we were together. I had you and Spencer over for dinner, and I..."

She leaned in, almost unaware of what she was doing. She skimmed his lips with her own and sighed. Then she kissed him, tugging at his lips with her own. Neither one of them had a chance. For the rest of the week, they kept finding sand in strange places. There were still some days when their eyes would meet during business meetings and his mind would wander back to that night.

Nikolas suddenly realized he'd never answered her question. He left the patio and headed toward the cove.

**************************************

She'd probably done something to offend Alexis. But she'd wracked her brain, and still couldn't remember a single thing she could have done to make Nikolas mad at her.

She considered making a blanket apology to Alexis in the morning, but Alexis already thought she was nuts, and if Claudia hadn't done anything to offend her, Alexis would know just how skewed Claudia's morals were; it would mean that Claudia didn't know the difference between right and wrong and just covered her bases all the time.

Claudia had a recurring nightmare. It didn't take a psychiatrist to figure out where it came from. In her dreams, Claudia would be making dinner while Nikolas watched, or she would be turning to Nikolas as she woke up in the morning, or they were leaving one of the kids' rooms after putting him to bed -- those parts varied, but the next part never did. Before she could speak, Nikolas would say, "I don't know how to tell you this, Claudia." And Claudia would try to get away from him. Because if he never said the words, he couldn't be held accountable. For falling out of love with her. She always woke up, with her heart racing, to find Nikolas peacefully sleeping beside her.

People fell out of love all the time. She knew that. She couldn't imagine falling out of love herself, but Nikolas was a romantic at heart. He fell in love with fantasies -- a lot. Rebecca. Nadine. He would convince himself that he was in love with someone, and then realize he was not. She had panic attacks sometimes that the clock was ticking down for her, that he was going to find out something about her that would finally open his eyes.

"Your voice." His breath tickled her ear and she started, turning to look at him.

"When did you get here?," she asked him.

He ignored the question. And repeated himself. "Your voice."

And she got it. Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Nikolas," she said, kissing him.

He pulled her down to the sand, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He spoke softly into her ear. "I was coming back from dropping Spencer off at Beecher's Corners. I had a nightmare, and I couldn't call you. And all I wanted to do was hear your voice. Even ... Never mind."

"What?"

"I'm going to keep that part to myself."

"Cheat," she said. He kissed her neck.

"You'll never guess where I found sand this morning," he said.

She laughed. And then she took a deep breath. She turned to him. She touched his lips. He smiled.

"I think that was the night, Nikolas," she said. He shook his head, not understanding. She grabbed his hand and pulled it to her abdomen. "I think ..."

Her voice trailed off as she watched his face change. As long as she lived, she would never forget that look of wonder, followed by ... He had never looked as in love as he looked at that moment.

She nodded. "I think I'm pregnant."

They kissed. Pulled back, and then hugged each other tightly.

Then he went cold. She began to panic, but when he pulled back, he looked angry at himself.

"That was the appointment," he said.

"I said it was important," she pointed out.

"We'll go tomorrow."

"But my father --"

"We'll take eight guards with us and stick the boys in the playroom with a small army outside. End of discussion."

******************************************

Private Doctor's Office. Athens.

Nikolas -- normally calm, still Nikolas -- was pacing around the room. Claudia watched him from her chair.

"You know what?." she said.

"What?," he said, continuing to pace.

"I just remembered that we had agreed that you'd be pregnant this time."

He laughed, stopping in his tracks. He turned to her. "No. You commanded me to be pregnant. A biological impossibility. Although..."

"What?"

"If I recall correctly, there was a reason behind your command. So I'd better start making up now for the four weeks of celibacy you're going to endure." He quickly edited himself. "If..."

The door opened and the doctor came back in.

Nikolas took his seat next to Claudia, and took her hand in his.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine," the doctor said. "Congratulations." There was more, but Nikolas and Claudia didn't hear a word after that. They turned to each other.

"When," she said.

"When what?," he asked.

"When, not if. You're going to be making it up to me."

"Mr. Cassadine? Mrs. Cassadine?"

Claudia looked up at the doctor. "I'm sorry, Dr. Doukas. You were saying?"

Nikolas whispered in Claudia's ear as the doctor spoke. "Everything will be okay. I promise."

Claudia kissed him. She pulled back to ask, "If it's a boy, can we name him Pedro?"

Nikolas laughed. "How far --?" He stopped himself, realizing he was asking the wrong person. He turned to the doctor. "How far along is she?"

The doctor looked at him strangely. "Like I said: a little over two months."

"I told you," Claudia said to Nikolas. "That was the night."

The doctor gave up. He scribbled out a prescription for prenatal vitamins and handed it to Claudia.

"Why don't you give me a call later in the week?," he said.

Claudia and Nikolas rose. They really meant to have the decency to look at the man, but somehow ended up facing each other.

"Thank you, doctor," Nikolas said, not taking his gaze from Claudia.

"Yes, thank you," Claudia added, her hand slipping up Nikolas' chest.

Dr. Doukas quickly left the room as Nikolas pulled Claudia to him.

******************************************

Boat Slip. A Village Outside of Athens.

Nikolas had been a little worried about how Claudia would take it once she was finally pregnant. It had taken a very long time to convince her to try for a baby. She wanted a baby, and she wanted a baby with Nikolas. But she'd also realized something about what this child would mean, and it was her primary argument against having it.

But she seemed all right now. Ecstatic, even. Nevertheless, they had to keep this quiet for as long as they could. Nikolas made a mental note to call Pentonville when they got home.

Just before they turned the corner, preceded by four guards and followed by another four, Nikolas bent down to whisper in Claudia's ear. "How about 'Sandy'?," he asked. "Good for a boy or a girl."

Claudia laughed, and pulled him down to kiss his cheek.

Nikolas' grin froze and then melted. Claudia followed his gaze to their boat.

Ric.

Claudia unconsciously took a step back. Nikolas stepped in front of her.

"Hello, Claudia. Nikolas. I think there's been a mistake."

Claudia stepped out from behind Nikolas.

"What's that?," she said.

"I've been given to understand that I'm not allowed to visit your island."

"That's right," Claudia said.

"Or my son," Ric continued.

Nikolas reached out and pulled Claudia back as she lunged for Ric. His arm circled her waist and he drew her close to him.

"If you have a son," Nikolas said, "by all means, visit him. Because he's not on our island."

Ric drew some papers out of his coat pocket. He held them out to Claudia.

"What are those?," Nikolas asked.

"This," Ric said to Nikolas, "is an order for a paternity test." He looked at Claudia. "Sorry, my love, but I find any results obtained within a five mile radius of you suspect. I'll see you -- and my son -- tomorrow."