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Half Way Up
Sequal to  Faithe

Written by:  Jaime


Chapter 1

"You've got to be kidding me!" Liz exclaimed.
"Elizabeth it is necessary for you to have protection." Stefan said from
behind his desk in his study.
"Why would I be in danger?!" She screamed.
"You are Alexis' daughter and because of that Helena's target. You are a
Cassadine now and must be protected as such."
"He is right honey." Alexis said from her place on the chair. "Now that
Helena knows you exist there's no telling what she'll do, she hates me and
that puts you in danger."
"And the fact that you're involved so closely with Luke Spencer only puts
you in more danger." Stefan said irritably.
"Luke is my friend and he happens to be my boyfriend's father." Liz said
angrily.
"That is another thing I wish you would reconsider." Stefan said obviously
very disgusted at the fact that his new niece has chosen Lucky Spencer.
Alexis rolled her eyes; she had told Stefan constantly not to try to
control her's or Liz's lives. But of course in true Stefan fashion he
ignored her.
"I really wish you would find a more suitable companion."
Liz was just about to open her mouth to protest when Nikolas spoke from his
perch in the corner.
"Father I happen to approve of Liz's choice. My brother loves Liz and he
would do anything for her." Nikolas said eyeing his father closely.
"Nikolas I think it would be wise for you to be quiet or we might start
discussing your choice of friends."
With that comment all three of them rolled their eyes. Stefan had always
been controlling but in the past month he had seemingly doubled his
efforts. With the addition of Liz to the family he had accepted Alexis back
into the family saying that he wanted to get to know his niece. Since then
he had almost been going overboard with protecting everyone. He had been
especially vocal about his problems with Faithe. Not that Faithe made it
easy; sometimes she did things with the sole purpose of annoying Stefan.
Neither made any effort to hide their dislike for one another and usually
Nikolas got caught in the middle.
Nikolas and Faithe had been seeing each other for the past month but
neither of them had admitted their feelings yet. Lucky and Liz had a tiny
bet on who would crack first.
Nikolas got up and went over to Liz.
"I do agree with him about one thing. You should have guards."
"I'm sure Luke already had Sonny put guards on me." Liz said as if that
should have solved the problem.
"Oh that's a comfort." Stefan muttered.
"Father, why don't you tell my guards to watch over her too."
Stefan started to deny the accusation, but Nikolas cut him off. "Don't try
to deny that I have guards, because I know I do. So they can watch both of
us when I'm with her and when I'm not with her then Alexis or Lucky is."
"Why do I need to be watched!?" Liz said defiantly.
"Liz, this is not a fight we're going to win today so why don't we just
leave." Nikolas said trying to avoid an all out fight.
"Where are you going?" Stefan asked.
Nikolas answered before Liz could say something that would only upset
Stefan.
"To Kelly's."
"We're meeting Faithe and Lucky there." Liz put in with a smug smile.
Nikolas quickly escorted Liz out of the room before another fight could
start.
"Stefan do you have to try and control her? She's just starting to get
comfortable in this family and she doesn't need you pushing all the
Cassadine responsibilities at her." Alexis said trying to calm Stefan down.
"What have I done? I'm merely trying to keep her safe." He said in all
innocence.
"Trying to get her to change her name, forbidding her from seeing Lucky,
and forbidding her from seeing Luke and Faithe." Alexis said like she was
making a list.
"Those people are dangerous, and why wouldn't she want to change her name?"
Stefan reasoned.
"She might want to in the future, but that is her decision. And I think
having the papers drawn up and ready for her to sign might have been
pushing."
"I don't push." Stefan said defensively.
Alexis raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Could you please give her a little more time to absorb this before you go
reading her all those royal decrees." She pleaded.
"She needs to hear those." Stefan said straight-faced, but the corners of
his mouth were tugging into a smile.
Alexis shook her head, "Just don't smother her, I'm just getting to know my
daughter. I don't want her to run screaming from this family."
"You worry too much."
"Well if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black." She muttered "Liz
and I should be over for dinner. I'll see you then."
"Good day Alexis." He said as she left. His face turned serious and he
waited a minute to make sure she'd left and then he picked up the phone.
"Yes, they'll all be at 'Kelly's'... I will not accept failure... very
good."  He hung up the phone and smiled.
 

Lucky and Faithe were sitting at a table out side of 'Kelly's'. The place
was packed and every other table was taken.
"I wonder what's taking them so long?" Lucky commented
"Oh come on, they went to Wyndemere to see Stefan. We might not see them
until tomorrow." Faithe said smiling.
They both laughed.
"I'm glad Elizabeth found her mother and that now she has a family who
really wants her. But I really wish that family didn't have Stefan in it."
Lucky said laughing.
"Yeah my life would be a lot easier if Stefan wasn't Nikolas' father."
Faithe said quietly.
"Are you sure you're not just dating Nikolas so you can irritate Stefan."
Lucky said jokingly.
"Yeah well that's just a bonus." Faithe said smiling.
"So why are you dating Nikolas?" Lucky said trying to get Faithe to admit
her feelings.
Faithe shrugged "We have fun together."
"That's it?" Lucky probed.
"Yeah, what else is there?" Faithe sighed there was something hopeless in
her eyes "Lucky, not everyone can have the kind of love you and Liz have."
"You think you'll never fall in love like that?" Lucky was surprised; he
had never seen Faithe give up on anything.
Faithe looked as if she didn't want to answer and her wish was granted when
Liz and Nikolas walked up to the table.
Liz looked like she was about to smash something.
"Are you all right?" Lucky asked her, taking her hand.
Liz's face softened at Lucky's concern.
"I'm fine, I just let Stefan get to me." She said after giving Lucky a kiss
on the cheek.
"Yeah you can't take him too seriously or he'll drive you crazy." Nikolas
said with a grin.
"I think I'm halfway there." Liz grumbled, then she looked around and
noticed that 'Kelly's' was packed.
"Hey guys can we go somewhere else? If Tammy sees me she'll probably ask me
to help and I really don't feel like it at the moment." She pleaded.
"Well where should we go?" Faithe asked, but they all knew the next thing
Lucky would say.
"Eli's?" he said sounding like a four-year-old boy.
Nikolas, Faithe, and Liz tried to look disgusted, but honestly that idea
sounded good.
"Well OK, since Lucky wants to go so bad." Faithe said dramatically.
"I know you guys like Eli's just as much as I do...OK not as much as I do."
They all laughed.
"Come on let's get out of here before Tammy snags Liz and makes her work."
Faithe said gathering her purse and standing up.
"Let's take my car, it's just across the street." Nikolas said.
"It' like four blocks." Lucky exclaimed gesturing in the direction of
Eli's.
Nikolas shrugged, "I like to drive, so sue me."
Faithe, Lucky, and Liz all looked at each other surprised.
"Oh no, he's spending way too much time with us." Faithe said laughing.
"Oh you think I spend too much time with you?" Nikolas said dangerously.
Faithe shrieked and took off running for the car with Nikolas in close
pursuit.
Faithe wasn't playful often and he loved to see the carefree look on her
face. She had just now started to relax. Luke was out of the hospital and
no one had seen or heard of Ilias in weeks. Faithe stopped abruptly in the
middle of a small alley, turned, and grinned at him. Nikolas came to a stop
at the edge and smiled at her.
"What are you grinning about?" He asked.
Her smile widened, "Nothing."
She was actually thinking that for the first time since her father died she
was truly happy. She couldn't believe that Nikolas was making her feel this
way.
Just then the sound of screeching wheels was heard and the previously
unseen parked car lurched forward and barreled towards Faithe.
She was frozen, all she could do the stare at the approaching car. Faithe
felt her body move and then felt the cold ground as she tumbled with
Nikolas on top of her and the car squealed away.
Liz and Lucky ran up to them. Faithe was just sitting there in silence
while Nikolas was trying to get her to speak. They had seen the car and
Nikolas pushing Faithe out of the way.
Faithe shook herself out of whatever trance she was in and looked up at the
group.
"It's happening again." Was all she said. Nikolas wrapped his arms around
her and just held her.
Lucky took out the cell phone his father gave him for just this emergency
and walked a few feet away.
When he came back Faithe was standing. She had put on the same mask that
she always put on when she was threatened. The mask that said she didn't
care and this wasn't a big deal.
"I talked to my dad. We need to get you out of here."
Faithe was about to claim her independence and say that she was going
alone, but Nikolas interrupted her.
"I'm going with you." His tone was decisive.
"We're all going." Lucky said looking at Liz who nodded her head fiercely.
"Here we go again." Faithe said grimly.
"We're meeting my dad at Beecher's Corners. He said we'll decide what to do
then."
They all nodded in agreement and headed for Nikolas' car.
 
 

The four of them were at a small house in Beecher's Corners that Luke had
always kept just in case the family had to get away quickly.
Lucky was looking out the window when he saw his father pull into the
driveway in a non-descript gray sedan. Now he was positive what his father
had in mind. He wasn't really surprised that they were going to run, but he
hadn't let himself think about it until now.
Luke stepped into the house and was pleased to see that everyone was all
right. Lucky hadn't had time to tell him much.
"So what exactly happened?" Luke said sitting down.
They told Luke about the car and about how Faithe was obviously the target.
"Did you get a good look at the car, plates?" Luke asked.
Nikolas shook his head. "The license plates were covered. It was a black
luxury car, but other than that, I couldn't get the make or model."
Luke shook his in frustration. "Whoever this was is serious."
"Whoever it is?" Faithe asked astounded. "Luke we know d@mn well who it
is!"
"I know Skeet, I know." Luke said in a calming voice.
"Where are we going this time?" Faithe said showing no evidence of fear.
Luke sighed. "Cowboy you probably don't remember this, but when you were
about two you, your mom, and I hid out in a carnival for a while."
Lucky shook his head indicating that he had no memory of this.
"You ran away with the circus?" Faithe asked incredulously.
"It wasn't a circus, it was a carnival. We didn't have animals or clowns.
Just games and fortune-tellers and rides and a few acts. I did a knife
throwing act and Laura read palms." Luke said proudly.
All of them laughed.
"The point of this is that in at this carny we met woman who treated us
like family. She reminds me a lot of Ruby." Luke said sadly. "We told her
all about Frank Smith and the Cassadines, and she said that if we ever
needed help she would be there for us. We never needed her help, but we've
kept in touch with her all these years."
Lucky gave his father a funny look and Luke knew what was on his mind.
"She's not in the carny anymore. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania
where she runs a boarding house. I already contacted her and she knows you
are coming. You'll take the car I drove and I'll drive Nikolas' Jag back."
Nikolas looked very skeptical about Luke driving his car, but decided that
he didn't really have a choice.
Luke handed Lucky a map. Lucky looked at it and then back up at the group.
"Pine Valley here we come."


Chapter 2      NEW!
Nikolas parked the car outside of a beautiful, old house. They all got out
and grabbed the bags Luke had brought for them and made their way to the
door.
"So what is this lady like?" Liz asked nervously.
"I don't really know, I don't remember her. But if Dad trusts her she's got
to be all right." Lucky said just before the door opened.
A tall slender woman with long dark hair was at the door. She looked to be
in her early twenties.
"Can I help you?" she asked in a heavy European accent.
"We're looking for Mrs. Fargate." Lucky said
"Oh of course, you must be the new borders. Mrs. Fargate told me you were
coming." The woman said allowing them in the door.
The house was cozy and had a very homey feel to it.
Then an older lady with bright red hair came out of a door at the far end
of the living room.
"Oh you're here!" she said coming up to them. She headed straight for Lucky
and hugged him. "You must be Lucky. You look so much like your mother, but
I bet you're just as crafty as Luke."
"Gillian, could you please bring the pitcher of iced tea from the kitchen?"
"Sure Mrs. Fargate." Gillian said and left the room.
Mrs. Fargate turned quickly to the teens and spoke quietly. "I told Gillian
and Jake, the young doctor who lives here, that you were kids of a friend
of mine. Which is true, but I didn't tell them anything about the car that
tried to run you over. Luke said you could use your real names here so
don't worry about that."
"Thank you Mrs. Fargate..." Lucky started to say.
"Call me Myrtle."
"Well thank you Myrtle."
Then Gillian came back with a tray stacked with glasses and a pitcher of
iced tea and set it down on the coffee table.
They all set their bags down and joined Gillian and Myrtle on the couch.
"Oh I'm sorry, Gillian Lavery, this is Lucky Spencer, Liz Webber, Faithe
Reynolds, and Nikolas Cassadine."
"Nikolas?" Gillian cried as she stood up and threw her arms around his neck
and hugged him. "You've changed so much!"
Nikolas pulled Gillian off of him with a puzzled look on his face.
"You don't remember me? You don't remember sneaking around the palace,
putting frogs in your uncle's shoes?" Gillian said with a playful smile.
"Gillian Andrassy?" Nikolas said pulling Gillian into another hug. "What
are you doing here?"
Faithe looked a bit uncomfortable.
"I came to visit Dimitri and I never left." Gillian said shrugging her
shoulders.
"Dimitri's here?" Nikolas said getting a little excited.
Gillian's face fell, "No, well, he died recently."
"Oh Gilly I'm so sorry. I know what Dimitri was to you." Nikolas said
softly.
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry to interrupt, and I'm sorry for your loss Gillian, but how do
you know my brother?" Lucky asked completely confused.
Gillian scrunched up her face in confusion and turned to Nikolas. "You
never had a brother."
Nikolas laughed, "Half brother actually, he's my mother's other son." He
said grinning at Lucky.
"Very funny." Lucky said shaking his head, at the words he had used to
refer to Nikolas so many times.
Gillian looked at Nikolas, still very confused.
"I'll tell you the whole story later Gilly." He said and then turned to
Lucky as they all sat down again.
"Gillian is a princess, and Stefan thought it would be good for me to
socialize with other royals so Gillian and I were introduced at a very
young age and we became best friends. We got into a lot of trouble."
"The last time we saw each other was when I was twelve and Nikolas promised
to marry me." Gillian said in a teasing tone.
"Oh you did, did you?" Lucky said to Nikolas.
"Hey, I was 10 at the time and Stefan had had this horrible fight with
Gillian's father and told me I'd never see her again, and that was the only
thing I could come up with." Nikolas said blushing slightly. "But it looks
like you got married without me. What's with the Lavery?"
"That's my ex-husbands name, we were married for about a year." Gillian
said sadly.
"Well if I ever find that guy, he'll end up in the hospital." Nikolas said
grinning.
Gillian laughed, "Thank you Nikolas."
"Well it certainly is a small world." Myrtle said smiling.
She looked up as the door opened. "And here's Dr. Jake Martin."
"Should my ears be burning?" Jake asked with a devilish grin crossing his
face.
Gillian got a confused and disgusted look on her face. "Why would your ears
be burning? Do you have an infection?"
Jake and Myrtle laughed. "No Gillian it's just an expression."
Myrtle quickly made introductions and then stood up and grabbed her purse.
"Well I hate to run, but if I don't I'm going to be late for my appointment
with Sven."
"Sven?" Faith asked.
"Oh, I'll make appointments for massages for you girls. Sven has magic
hands!" And with that she was gone.
"Oh, you'll love Sven he really does have a gift." Gillian said giving a
small smile.
Jake shook his head, "Well I've heard enough about Sven to last me a
lifetime!"
Everyone laughed.
"We should probably get settled." Lucky said
"Oh sure, I'll show you to your rooms." Gillian said brightly and then led
them to their rooms.
 

'Luke's'

The door opened and slammed with a resounding noise.
"Where are Nikolas and Elizabeth!?" Stefan said stalking up to Luke and
Laura. Alexis was not far behind him.
"What are you spitting about this time Stiffin?" Luke asked with distaste.
"Nikolas and Elizabeth have disappeared, they were supposed to meet Alexis
and myself for dinner, but they never arrived." Stefan said heatedly. He
looked more ruffled and worried than he usually did.
"Maybe they thought the soup was poisoned?" Luke said grinning devilishly.
"Luke." Laura said in a warning tone.
"All right, all right, Lucky and Faithe are missing too. Sonny's guards
said they were run down by a car."
"They ALL survived then?" Stefan asked slightly nervous. Well, as nervous
as Laura or Luke had ever seen him. Alexis was too busy worrying to notice.
"Yeah as far as we know." Something inside of Luke was screaming at him not
to tell Stefan where the kids were.
"My men lost them outside of Rochester heading toward Canada. They found
Nikolas' Jaguar outside a small town just north of the border." Stefan said
all business.
"Don't bother looking any further Count Vlad, Lucky and Faithe know how to
get lost. You won't find them until they want you to. When it's safe
they'll contact us." Luke said seriously.
"Luke please." Alexis pleaded. "If you get any information please tell us.
I just found my daughter I don't want to lose her again."
"You know I'll tell you anything I can Tash." Luke said gently.
"Thank you Luke." Alexis said thankfully.
"We will let you know if we hear from them." Laura said reassuringly to
Stefan who still looked skeptical.
"Yes, contact us the instant you hear from them." And with that Stefan
turned on his heal and strode out of the club. With Alexis trailing behind.
Once they were out the door Laura turned to her husband with a stern look.
"OK, why didn't we tell Stefan that the kids were safe?"
"Somethin' ain't right about him." Luke said shaking his head, the wheels
turning almost visibly in his mind.
"Luke you've been saying that for years." Laura said dryly.
Luke gave her a wry grin. "Well yeah, but this something other than just
his normal un-dead vibe." Laura shook her head and chuckled lightly. "No,
he was too worried."
"Luke, his son and niece are missing, I think he has the right to be
worried."
"Oh come on Angel, the most worried I've ever seen Stefan was when Nikolas
 was shot and the most he showed then was that little vein on his
forehead twitched a little!" Luke exclaimed.
"Luke what do you think he did, hire the car to run them down!?" Laura said
sarcastically.
Luke thought for a moment. "I don't know, but he could have."
Laura shook her head. "He wouldn't endanger Nikolas that way."  Then Laura
paused. "Or at least he better not have!"
"I just don't want to tell him anything until I'm sure."
"I understand, but Luke, what about Alexis? She was worried out of her
skin."
"I know, I know." Luke said sadly. He really did feel bad about not telling
Alexis. "Once I'm sure whether or not Stefan had anything to do with this
I'll tell Natsha."
"Tomorrow I want to go down and tell Lucky to watch his back when it comes
to Stefan."
"Luke, don't you think that's a little dangerous? I mean what if someone
follows you." Laura said worriedly.
Luke grinned roguishly. "You know I'm too slick to get caught."
"Oh you think you're slick do you?" She said raising an eyebrow
suggestively.
"I sure am." He said wiggling his eyebrows.

Outside 'Luke's'
Stefan watched Alexis' cab drive off into the night and then flipped out
his cell phone.
"Have you found them?... "Well I expect results by tomorrow. We must not
lose them!... Inform me the minute you find them... yes the girl must be
taken care of."
Stefan shut off his phone and walked quickly to his car.

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