{At Wyndemere, Stefan has asked Alexis to find Luke Spencer}

Alexis:  "I’m willing to pursue whatever Luke is withholding, but if Luke doesn't want to be found, we're not going to find him."

Stefan:  "Well, I’m not convinced he's in hiding. He left because Laura took the stand in Nikolas' defense, and it's Laura he's avoiding. If he's confident she's not looking for him, it stands to reason he may not be so difficult to locate."

Alexis:  "Well, I see your point. But it seems, from everything that you told me, that Katherine’s rancor towards you has very little to do with whoever loosened the railing. She thinks that you never loved her."

Laura:  {The doorbell rings and then from the other room} "I’ll tell her. She's at a play date."

Alexis:  {Quietly}  "One last question--How do you think Laura’s going to take it knowing that you're trying to pin an attempted murder on her husband?"

Stefan:  "If he's guilty, I doubt her problem will be with me."

Laura:  {She enters and both turn to look at her} "Sorry. Am I interrupting something?"

Alexis:  "No, not at all. I'm on my way out. {Turning to Stefan} From everything that you've just said, I think you might be buying yourself some more trouble. You'll think about it, won't you? Laura, it's nice to see you." {She leaves}

Laura:  "I got your message. Is something wrong?"

Stefan:  "No, no, that wasn't my intent. Have you heard from Luke?"

Laura:  "Helena?"

Stefan:  "No. No. Nikolas and I had a conversation. That's why I asked you to come. He said that you told him he was conceived in love. Is that true?"  {He looks at her and she looks like she's trying to avoid the question}

Stefan:  {Coming over to her} "It's a simple question, Laura. Did you tell Nikolas he was conceived in love?"

Laura:  {Sighing} "Don't read into this."

Stefan:  {Smiling} "Thank you."

Laura:  "Stefan--"

Stefan:  "No, it helped him. It helped him. It's what he's wanted to believe. And he needed to hear it from you. Did you ever tell him how you first met his father?"

Laura:  "You mean Stavros?"

Stefan:  "I mean Nikolas' father." {Looking towards the door and then back at her}

Laura:  {Uncomfortably} "You know, I just don't understand why it's important for you to know that."

Stefan:  {Looking back towards the door} "This house has too many ears. Will you come outside with me? Please?" {She hesitates, and then finally walks out, with Stefan following}
 
 
 
 

Stefan:  {They walk over and sit on the bench} "Nikolas was asking questions about you. And I told him about the night we met--pretending, of course, that I’d heard the story from Stavros. I was wondering how you remember it."

Laura:  "I don't think we should go back there."

Stefan:  "Well, if Nikolas asks, our stories should match."

Laura:  "Ok. What did you tell him?"

Stefan:  "I told him that for his father, the tides changed course that night."

{Flashback to the night they met}

Laura:  {Running through a gate, looking over her shoulder, she runs into Stefan's arms} "Who are you?"

Stefan:  "No one to be afraid of."

Laura:  "Well, if that's true, then you'll help me. I'm being held against my will."

Man:  {From beyond the gates} "This way!"

Laura:  {Looking over her shoulder} "It's me. I'm the one they're after. Look, please, don't say that you saw me, please. Let me go. Please, let me go, please."

Stefan:  "No, here, here. Come here. {He leads her behind some bushes} Don't move. Be silent."

Man:  "Follow me."

Stefan:  "Over here."

Guard:  {Coming into the garden area}  "Mr. Cassadine."

Second Guard:   "We didn’t know you were back, sir." {Laura looks surprised}

Stefan:  "What seems to be the problem?"

Guard:   "We're looking for a woman. She's trying to flee."

Stefan:  "I saw someone get into a small boat just east of the jetty."

Guard:  "Thank you."

Second Guard:  "She won't survive the rocks."

Stefan: {He watches them leave and then goes to get Laura} "All right. Come out."

Laura:  "You're the other brother? Stefan?"

Stefan:  "Yes. You must be Laura, my mother's new captive."

Laura:  "Well, why didn't you turn me over to--"

Stefan:  "I know what it is to want to get away from them. This island is a fortress, however. As he said, no one survives leaving unless they want you to go. The tide, the rocks--they're all against you."

Laura:  "Sometimes if I can just get away for an hour or so, it helps."

Stefan:  "This is the wild garden. I've always called it the wild garden."

Laura:  {Looking around} "Is this the south side of the island?"

Stefan:  "Southeast. It's about a quarter mile from the diving cliffs."

Laura:  "Ok. Well, I guess I should probably go back. Thank you." {She starts to walk past him}

Stefan:  "I’ve found this garden is usually very safe." {She turns}

Laura:  {She smiles at him and he returns a half-smile of his own} "I’ll remember that. Bye."

Stefan:  "Bye." {She gets to the gate and turns back then continues, Stefan remains watching her}

Laura:  "When I got back to the villa, Stavros was waiting for me. He was furious. And I didn't get to see you again for a week."

Stefan:  {Watching her intently} "Six days." {They stare at each other, moving closer}

Stefan:  "Good. Then our memory of that time is the same."

Laura:  "Apparently so."

Stefan:  "It gratifies me. No matter what has happened between us since, I’ve always held firm that Nikolas was conceived in love. The memory of your face that night has never left me."

Laura:  "It's funny the things you remember. I remember your face, {She closes her eyes} your voice, and that incredible feeling that I wasn't a prisoner anymore." {She opens her eyes and they move forward into a kiss}