Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 83

"Good morning, Stefan. I hope I'm not intruding," Dawn said softly as she stood in the doorway to his study. Her hand rested on her lightly rounded abdomen as if she was drawing strength from the life which was forming there. Her lips, a tad bit fuller because of the pregnancy, turned upwards in a relieved smile as Stefan smiled back at her.

"You could never be an intrusion." Stefan rose from behind his desk and moved to stand in front of Dawn. His hand beckoned for her to enter when she remained hesitant. "Please, come in."

"Thank you," Dawn said as she came further into the room. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the books, the ledgers, the framed photographs of Nikolas...and herself. She was surprised to see a picture of herself on Stefan's desk. She and he had made much progress in establishing a relationship, but his having a photo of her was a shock to her. Without thinking, she blurted, "Where did you get that?"

"The photo of you and Nikolas?" he asked, moving to stand beside her. He picked up the sterling silver frame and looked at the happy faces it held. Then, he handed the frame to her. "Nikolas gave it to me."

"He did?" she asked. She smiled as she looked at herself and her Nikky. The photo was taken at a carnival a couple of weeks before they were married. Elizabeth, always an eye for a great shot, had taken the photograph of them. She made them stand in various poses before she found the perfect shot, and that was it. Dawn knew that the photo was one of Nikolas' favorites and as a yet another surprise for his birthday, she'd had it placed inside a gold pocket watch for him. He'd loved it and told her he'd carry it with him always. Looking at the photo now in Stefan's frame surprised her because she'd had no idea that Nikolas had already made quite a few copies of it on his own.

She handed the frame back to Stefan as she said, "He didn't tell me."

"I asked him not to," Stefan admitted as he placed the frame back on his desk.

"Why? I wouldn't have minded if you had a picture of us. My mother does." She shrugged.

"I find that I have no answer for your question," he replied with a shrug of his own. "I asked for it a few weeks ago, and now, here it is. I can't imagine why I didn't want you to know. Forgive me."

"No, please." She raised her hand as she willed herself not to laugh. Stefan asking her for forgiveness was not something she'd ever thought would happen. "There's no need for forgiveness. I'm sorry for asking you about it. I shouldn't have. It's just that I was surprised to see it there, that's all. To be honest, I'm flattered that you would want a picture of us on your desk."

"You shouldn't feel flattered, Dawn," Stefan said, softly as he watched her closely. He felt an overpowering urge to draw her to him. To place his arm around her as he had done the night before, but he remained still. His instinct told him to do so, and he obeyed...even though a small part of him wanted him to disobey it. As the days came and went, Dawn Jensen-Cassadine was becoming the daughter Stefan never had, and the reality of it warmed his heart. "You're a part of us. Of course, I'd have your likeness among my possessions."

Dawn felt the sting of tears burn the back of her eyes at Stefan's softly spoken words. One of us, he'd said. She hadn't considered that before. Being one of them. She'd always thought of herself as being a part. Separate. An individual. Her relationship with Nikolas, in her mind and heart, was completely isolated from the Cassadines and the Jensens, but now...she was one of them. Slowly nodding her head, she agreed. She was one of them. Her voice was husky as she said, "Thank you...I'd never thought of that before."

"As you've told me, there's no need for thanks." As if it had a mind of its own, Stefan's hand moved from his side and lightly cupped her cheek. The faint wetness he encountered there, surprised him and caused him to draw her into his arms. Patting her back, he murmured against the top of her head, "There, there now."