{Nikolas is standing outside of Stefan's study}

Stefan:  "Come in."

Nikolas:  "Hey."

Stefan:  "Nikolas. You look troubled."

Nikolas:  {Walking into the room} "Is it that obvious?"

Stefan:  "Well, to me. Is it something you want to discuss?"

Nikolas:  "I visited Katherine today."

Stefan:  "Did you?"

Nikolas:  "I thought I was helping her, but I think I may have upset her instead."

Nikolas:  {They move to sit on the couch} "Katherine said that she's starting a new life with the Quartermaines, but I can see how unhappy she is. And as long as she is, she's vulnerable to Helena."

Stefan:  "Yes. Exploiting the pain of another is second nature to your grandmother."

Nikolas:  "Well, then, we need to protect her. I mean, that's the least we owe her after all the unhappiness our family has caused her."

Stefan:  "Nikolas, I hurt Katherine--unwillingly, but deeply. Perhaps permanently. But you have always been her friend."

Nikolas:  "I hope so."

Stefan:  "So then tell me, what did you do today that concerns you so?"

Nikolas:  "I told Katherine that Laura spent the day of the storm here at Wyndemere with you."

Stefan: {On the phone} "No, an escort will not be required. Our visitor knows the way here. Yes. {Hanging up and turning back to Nikolas} Now then--what compelled you to inform Katherine of Laura’s visit?"

Nikolas:  "Because I owe her the truth for all the times she's been honest with me."

Stefan:  "Discretion is not dishonesty, Nikolas."

Nikolas:  "Well, in this case, it would have been. I mean, one moment, she's telling me you two have no future together. The next, she's telling me how much she loves you. I had to tell her the truth."

Stefan:  "Which was?"

Nikolas:  "That my mother is now a presence in my life as well as in yours."

Stefan:  "Laura and I did not make love here that afternoon."

Nikolas:  "That's not what I meant. But it's obvious that when you two are together, she makes you happy and you make her happy."

Stefan:  "Nikolas, my principal concern in all of this is your happiness."

Nikolas:  "I know. Look, I’m not saying that you meant for it to happen, but it did, ok? And it's only a matter of time before Laura realizes it's impossible to be with somebody as erratic as Luke Spencer. {Stefan swings around to look at him} And when she does, she'll have you to turn to here at Wyndemere. That's what you want, right?"

{Katherine shows up and gives back her ring to Stefan. Stefan tells her he wishes they could have remained friends like she and Nikolas have and then Katherine leaves}

Nikolas:  "Maybe I shouldn't have told her about Laura."

Stefan:  "This moment was inevitable from the instant she fell from the parapet. Perhaps earlier. Now, before we were interrupted, I gather that you want your sister and mother to live at Wyndemere."

Nikolas:  "Yeah, I do. But how do you feel about that? I don't want you making any more sacrifices for me."

Stefan:  "Anything done for your happiness is no sacrifice, Nikolas. Laura is your mother, and as such she will always be welcome here."

Nikolas:  "Is it fair? Is it fair for me to gain a family when Katherine and Lucky lose one?"

Stefan:  "Nikolas, none of that is your doing. {He takes him by the shoulders} You were deprived of the family you deserved for most of your life. Now the wheel has turned. Your mother is back with you. I believe there's justice in that."