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When Cassadines Fall
Birthday Girl
He'd barely been able to sleep worried that once again, Maddy would wake before him and leave. Nik casts an eye over to the clock... it's almost 5am. The alarm would be going off soon. Shutting his eyes, he cuddles in close to Maddy wrapping an arm around her feigning sleep when the alarm goes off. Maddy reaches over and turns off the alarm without even looking. She opens her eyes disoriented from waking it takes her a second to realize she is in bed with Nik and she can't remember how she got there. The last thing she could remember was working on her company books down at the kitchen table. She tries to ease out from under Nik's arm, but it only tightens around her.
"Where you think you're going, Birthday girl?" Nik rumbles in her ear.
"It's Monday. I have to get going." Maddy whispers back. he remembered!
"Not before you get your present."
"Niknik, I really don't have time..." Maddy reminds him.
"Not that. You're right; we'd need lots more time for that. But since you're offering I'll take a raincheck." Nik grins. He jumps from the bed and going over to his closet pulling an expertly wrapped present from the back. Maddy sits up in bed and flips on the bedside lamp. Nik puts the present in her lap and then climbs back in bed next to her. He looks at her expectantly. "Well?"
Maddy shrugs and starts tearing into the paper, opening up the box. "Oh Candy. It's beautiful." Maddy sighs.
"Try it on." He insists.
Maddy slides out of bed and lifts the silk robe from the box. She wraps it around her belting it casually. She runs a hand down her arm and practically purrs. The robe feels positively sinful against her bare skin. "It's wonderful."
"It looks great on you."
"You just wanted your robe back." Maddy leans over and gives him a kiss. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Nik runs a hand along the nape of her neck and brings her closer for another kiss. This had nothing to do with gratitude and every thing to do with passion. He pulls back reluctantly and gives Maddy a playful slap on the derriere. "Didn't you say something about having to get to work?"
Maddy glances over at the clock again. "Oh hell. I'm late." She races from the room.
Nik shakes his head and grabbing his own robe slides it on and belts it. He follows more leisurely down to the kitchen. The coffee had finished it's auto drip cycle so he pours himself a cup of coffee. There is a scratching on the back door. Evidently in her race down to the basement Maddy had paused just long enough to let Cinnamon out. Nik lets her back in and dries her paws. Cinnamon goes over to the cupboard where her kibble is kept and sits down expectantly looking up at him. "I can take a hint." Nik tells the dog. He pushes her out of the way and gets a scoop of food out pouring it in Cinnamon's dish. As soon as he hears Maddy's steps on the stairs he pours her a cup of coffee in her travel mug.
Maddy takes it gratefully and sips. "I needed this." She sighs. "How did I get in your bed last night?"
"Ouch." Nik grins. "I guess you don't remember the first time... or the second." Maddy's eyes go wide. Nik relents and tells her the truth. "You fell asleep in the middle of your bookwork." Nik tilts his head toward the kitchen table. "Something is going to have to give, Maddy. You're burning the candle at both ends."
"I'm young." Maddy reminds him. "I can take it." She can see that he isn't buying it. "Don't worry, Candy. Something will give. Em is leaving for Italy on Wednesday morning with her mom and not coming back til the following Tuesday. That means no class for that whole week. All I'll have to do is work."
"Work is what is keeping you up until Midnight and waking at 5am."
"Just til the first of the year and then things will get back to normal." Maddy gathers her paperwork together back into the neatly labelled folders. And gathers her classwork to take with her.
"Well pencil in me taking you out for a real dinner tonight." Nik suggests.
Maddy grimaces. "I wish I could but I'm already taking time out today to play chess with your uncle. I already put him off last week. And he moves so slow it takes forever to get a game in. By the time I get done over at Wyndemere then it'll be time to do the route again and check in with my suppliers."
"Wednesday then." Nik doesn't let anything slip about the party over at Wyndemere. "With the holiday the next day I'm sure you'll be getting at least a 24 hour reprieve."
"You'd think that." Maddy teases. She slides into the space between Nik's knees where he sits at the stool that runs by the counter where the coffee maker sits. "But I've got client that is going to take up all my time on Thanksgiving. Something about a party for what... eight people? You, me, Lucky, Liz, Stefan, Audrey, my aunt Dara if she is still staying out on the island, and we should really invite Mrs Lansbury. And this client is a real hard ass. He not only wants me to plan this holiday, I think he wants me to cook too."
"He does sound like a hardass." Nik agrees sliding both hands to rest on Maddy's hips. "Maybe you should make a list of things that need to be done in advance before you take over. Delegate a little."
"I'm actually an expert delegator." Maddy brags. "Tell you what. Why don't you ask Liz what we should have for thanksgiving dinner since she is the only one of us that was brought up normal. We can try for the whole Rockwell thing."
"I'll take it under advisement." Nik agrees.
"I got to go." Maddy says reluctantly.
"I know." But he doesn't move his hands.
"If I don't get going, I'm going to be working a heck of lot later than midnight to get everything done." With that Nik removes his hands but lingers for just a moment longer.
Maddy takes a step back. "Come on Cinnamon, we're rolling." Cinnamon races for the door. Maddy backs up a few more steps and then with a little laugh and a shake of her head turns around and heads out the door.
8:30 am the Quartermaine Mansion.
Em had grabbed Maddy and dragged her off to her room as soon as she arrived. Em collapses back on the bed. Maddy pulls her makeup bag out of her back pack and takes a seat at Em's makeup table. "Okay spill. Friday night. Us talking and then you disappearing."
Maddy shrugs. She looks at the mirror and starts applying the combination foundation powder. "What can I say-- scars turn me on. They show character."
"You were seriously freaked."
"I can't even imagine it. No, that's wrong. I can imagine it. Damn Em. He could have died."
Em nods in agreement. "I was there. He couldn't breathe. If Jason hadn't put in that trach..." She shudders. "Even Mr Spencer was freaked. He and Nik have a twisty relationship-- easier now than it was in the past but he went with Nik to the hospital. Held his hand in the ambulance so he wouldn't be alone stayed with him until Mr Cassadine could get to the hospital. Mrs Spencer wasn't in town-- again. I think she was living in Switzerland."
"You know that woman is starting to seriously piss me off! I don't even know her and I want to pull her hair out! The night of the fundraiser she was in town with Nik and Lucky's little sister... but did she call? Oh hell no. She calls the day they are leaving. And then she didn't call Niknik, she called Lucky. They went over to see her but..."
"Mrs Spencer is really very nice." Em throws in lamely.
Maddy just looks at her and then turns back to the mirror. With quick efficient moves she adds blush and then a touch of shadow. If makeup took longer than about ten minutes to put on she'd better have a big plans. "You know her so I guess you know best."
Em winces. "Okay let me qualify. I like her when she's around. Lucky used to be tight with his family. That's kinda fallen apart. And Nik... well..."
"Has never had a relationship with his mother." Maddy says flatly. "And up to age eighteen that's her choice, her responsibility. Now it would serve her right if Nik didn't give her the time of day." Maddy contemplates the mascara and knows in the mood she is will likely stick the damn thing in her eye. She tosses it back in the makeup bag and grabs her gloss. She puts on a quick protective coat. "You were down in New Orleans... you got to see what kind of woman my mother was. She was an alcoholic, a drugger and she had the godawfullest taste in men. But you know what I never doubted for a day that she loved me. Do you think Nik can say the same?"
Em sighs. "No. You've gotten really tight with Nikolas. Protective too."
"Nik can take care of himself." Maddy shrugs. "Well mostly. He still needs to work on pulling the handwashables out before they hit the dryer."
"Oh! He didn't!"
"You know anyone with a toy poodle? Cause he's got the cutest silk/cashmere sweater that will never fit now."
Em starts laughing as Maddy intended. "You keep trying to change the subject. Maddy, I want to know what's going on between you and Nik. You're both friends of mine and..."
"You want to know my intentions?"
"I don't want him to get hurt."
"Or you'll submarine me too?" Maddy asks. "Em, Nik and I aren't about getting hurt. I have plans for my life-- school, business. I already have getting my own place in the works. Do I care about him? He's a great guy and he's on the rebound from you. It's a good thing that we aren't serious because I'd be the one getting hurt."
Em bites her lip. "Do you think I should talk to him?"
"And tell him what? Gee Nik, you're a great guy but Johnny makes my heart go pitterpatter? I think he already knows. That's what makes him rebound guy. You guys know each other so well. You can bring it out in the open. Or you can sweep it under the rug. You swept it under the rug, and he's letting you."
"Maddy, about the house..."
"The guy who built the Taj Mahal didn't get to give it to whom he wanted either. There aren't any ghosts in the house, Em. Whatever reason Nik decided to move, whatever reason he had for renovating that hunk of junk and believe me I've seen the before pictures. It's his house now and real estate is never a mistake."
"I really miss you guys." Em sighs. "You think it's still too soon for all of us to do things... the six of us?"
"Who has time?" Maddy says honestly. "You are up to your ears in Deception. I'm going to be impossible until at least the first of the year. Johnny never gets a day off. Liz works and goes to school. And I have no idea what Lucky and Nik do all day."
"I know! Something that would ease into the situation." Em hops off the bed.
"What?"
"Rita's next horseshow. You know that Lucas will be in it too. That way we can all be together but the focus isn't on us."
"That'd work." Maddy nods as she agrees. "Course, the only thing that would probably get Niknik and Johnny working together on anything is you getting kidnapped again. It was the whole pulling a gun on Nik. Kinda spoils the mood. And I'd just as soon pass on that one."
"You! Sorry. There is a lot I'd do to get them to get along but getting kidnapped again... I'll pass too."
"Madeliene! Emily! Are you two going to stay up there all day?!" Edward bellows from below. The girls grin at each other.
Maddy packs her stuff back into the backpack. "Come on. Today and tomorrow and then we're off for a week."
"Oh it couldn't come soon enough." Em agrees. "It's all Mom's been talking about lately. Which is a relief. It's supplanted Carly's name in the conversation."
"I need to make you a list of all the things I want from Italy. What do you think the import duty on an Italian Hunk would be?"
They are walking out of Em's room and down the stairs while they talk. "Oh I can just picture how that would go over at the house. You might believe that Nik is rebound guy... but if I did bring you back a hunk the poor guy'd be a eunich in nothing flat."
"Oh spoil all my fun." Maddy protests. They walk into the room that has been designated their classroom. Edward is there as well as Mrs Q and Reggie. The tutor stands back from his desk where a ringed coffee style cake is placed. The cake is frosted in purple, green and gold. "Oh wow!" Maddy exclaims. "A King cake!"
"Mr Robideau had it delivered this morning from your favorite bakery." Lila tells her. "...to celebrate your birthday. Happy Birthday, Dear."
"Thank you, Mrs Q. I can't believe Poppi did this! You normally can't get them until after the new year because they're for Mardi Gras. Oh my gosh, I think I'm getting homesick. Mr Q, you are going to love this. And if you find a baby doll in your piece of cake... it just means you are going to have good luck all year long." Reggie ceremoniously hands Maddy the knife. She takes it from him and slices portions for everyone from the ring.
Edward examines his slice carefully. "It's kind of loud isn't it?" He refers to the color of the frosting.
"It's symbolic." Maddy after making sure everyone has a piece. "The purple stands for justice, the green for faith and the gold for power. They are the traditional colors for Mardi Gras."
Two thirty in the afternoon. Stefan paces in the living room of Wyndemere. The guests needed to get here-- now. Madeliene is notoriously prompt when it came to what she considered business appointments. And their chess game was but one example. Lucky, Nik and Liz arrive.
"She's not here yet?" Liz worries. "I didn't see her van over by the launch."
"No, she has yet to arrive." Lucky is holding a large package as is Liz. Nik is holding an envelope. "That's it? That's your present for Madeliene?" Stefan protests.
"She'll like it." Nik says confidently not bothering to tell Stefan that Maddy had already gotten one of her presents this morning. "Mrs Lansbury was just getting Mr and Mrs Quartermaine's coats." Sure enough Mr and Mrs Q arrive with Reginald who is carrying their present. Dara comes down the stairs. She carries a small wrapped gift.
Jerry and Bobbie arrive on the next launch with Johnny, who has the day off, and Emily. "Is she here yet?" Em asks.
"No, any time now." Stefan repeats. "Mrs Lansbury has set a table of refreshments in the solarium. Madeliene will go directly there."
"The Solarium?" Nik questions. He leads everyone to the room.
"Yes, so that she can bring the dog." Stefan glances down at his watch. His present had yet to arrive. He nods at Mrs Lansbury who is putting the finishing touches on the table. Miz Sophia's gift is already on a table on the side. Seeing it there the others set their gifts with it. Stefan sees Maddy approaching and points her out to the others. They take seats around the edge of the room where they won't be noticed first thing.
"Mr C., You ready to eat my dust?!" Maddy walks into the solarium. Then notices everyone there. There is a cheerful chorus of Happy Birthdays around the room. "Oh Wow." Maddy grins. "You guys were all in on this?" Hugs and well wishes abound. Everyone is socializing but Stefan presses the party on working from his internal clock. Candles are blown out. Cake is distributed.
Finally Maddy starts working on her presents. Mrs Lansbury hands her the present from Miz Sophia. Maddy opens it up. Inside is a handmade afghan, matching hat, scarf and glove set. There are oohs and aws over the delicate and skilled handicrafts. From Lucky is a winterizing kit for the van complete with wool blanket, camping stove and can of chicken soup. From Liz is a selection of fine chocolates. From Dara is a ring that belonged to her mother, Maddy's grandmother. From Jerry and Bobbie there is a beautiful cashmere sweater in a vivid red. From Johnny there is a gift certificate for a week off from doing the kiosk route. Maddy looks over and grins. "You are my hero!"
"I thought you might like it." Johnny grins back.
"Oh I do. And I'm going to take you up on it." Maddy reaches for the next present. It's the envelope from Nik. She tears it open and inside the touching hallmark is a voter registration form as well as a photocopy of his own new card. "Yes!" Maddy leans over and plants a quick kiss on Nik's face. "You knew I wanted this!"
"For the last month." Nik says wryly.
Em hands her another envelope. "This one is from Carly. She hopes you'll like it."
Maddy opens it up. Inside the card is a gift certificate for a total spa experience from head to toe. "Oh yeah, I like it. This will be heaven." Enclosed in the present from Edward and Lila is a pair of opera glasses and two season passes to every show put on by Lila's theater for a year and Edward has matched that with post theater desserts at Porters. She thanks them both and whispers in Edward's ear that he had better be her date for at least a couple of the shows. Edward gives her hand a squeeze.
Cinnamon who'd been being good through all the exchanges starts acting in a frantic fashion scratching on the door to get into the house. "Cinnamon?" Nik frowns. The dog looks at him and then at the door scratching at it again. "I don't know what's gotten into her."
"I do." Stefan replies. He goes over to the door and opens it. Cinnamon goes racing into the house.
"Mr C., I'm really sorry." Maddy apologizes. "She doesn't normally act like this. I'll go get her." Maddy is just about at the door when she sees what got the dog going. "Larry?! Ohmygawd! Larry! I've been so worried."
"Hey Maddy." Larry says quietly. He gives her a rib crushing hug.
"How? When?" Maddy stutters when she can breathe again.
"Dr Collins and Mr Cassadine came got me." Larry looks over his shoulder to Kevin. "I'm in an inpatient program at GH now. I got back on Friday but it took a couple of days for the fog to lift. Dr Collins signed me out to come to your party."
Maddy starts crying. She gives Larry another hug and looks over his shoulder to Kevin. She mouths a quick thank you. He nods and and mouths back no problem. Maddy pulls back from Larry and wipes at her eyes. "Thank goodness I didn't put on mascara this morning." She jokes and sniffs. Maddy goes over to Stefan and gives him a big hug. "You're the best. The absolute best."