“Stefan?” Her jaw dropped in surprise. “How-, I was just-,”

Jessica's confusion amused her handsome guest. He sensed that the brilliant attorney was not often flustered. “May I come in?” he asked suavely, already stepping past her.

“Where did you just call me from?” she demanded.

Stefan turned and smiled fully at the confused woman. “I spoke to you from my suite several floors above.”

“What time did you get in?” Jessica's questions came rapid-fire. “Why didn't you let me know you had arrived?”

“I never left here,” he informed her as he unbuttoned his gray suit coat. The subdued color appeared almost festive in comparison to Stefan's normal attire of tailored black suits. “I wished to respect your privacy during this time,” he said in response to her incredulous expression, “but I also wished to be available if you needed me.”

Jessica was floored. “You have been in this hotel the entire week?” She took in Stefan's nod of assent. “In case I needed you?” Once again he nodded. Jessica's legal training surfaced. “There's been no contact between us at all this week. How would you have known I needed you?”

“How did I know just then?” Stefan countered. “Implausible though it seems, there is a connection between us, Jessica. One I am not afraid to acknowledge.” He shook his head. “That discussion is for another time. Come,” he extended his hand to her, “tell me what troubles you.”

After a moment of consideration, Jessica placed her hand in his and allowed Stefan to lead her out onto the suite's balcony. The sun was beginning to part clouds which had lingered from the previous day's storm front. “In the face of such beauty,” Stefan said, angling them toward the morning sun, “you will find that most troubles become minor.”

Jessica felt a feeling of comfort engulf her as Stefan pulled her back against his solid chest. The warmth of his skin seeped into the taut muscles of her back and she felt her body melt against his. Did there truly exist a connection between herself and Stefan Cassadine? Or was she so very attracted to him because they did not share all the emotional baggage which accompanied her relationship with Duncan?

All questions fled Jessica's mind as she felt Stefan's strong arms encircle her. His warm lips pressed against her temple in a tender gesture of support. Jessica gave herself up to the sensations. There would be time enough for introspection later.

Duncan watched in stony silence as the couple stood locked in an embrace outside on the balcony. The way in which their bodies molded to one another signaled a certain level of familiarity between them. He did not see the two people speak, yet Duncan knew that a constant stream of unspoken communication flowed between them. The kind he and Jessica once shared.

Bonnie, who had been preoccupied with the enormous stuffed giraffe her father had purchased from the gift shop downstairs, now noticed her mother and Stefan Cassadine standing out on the balcony. “Uncle!” she cried joyfully and began to run that direction.

Grudgingly, Duncan was forced to admire the way his ‘rival' reacted to the little girl's interruption. Stefan Cassadine looked back toward the interior of the suite, a genuine smile of welcome on his face. He did not rush to release Jessica from his embrace nor did he exhibit any discomfort upon observing Duncan's presence. ‘Aye' , the seething Scotsman thought, ‘he is a cool one.'

Only when Bonnie had nearly reached the waiting couple did Stefan remove his arms from about Jessica's waist. He stepped slightly away from her and extended his arms to Bonnie, who went leaping into them with a giggle. After a quick hug and kiss for the man she called “Uncle”, Bonnie then transferred her attentions to her mother.

Viewing the scene, Duncan felt like an outsider. In all his plans to win Jessica back, he had never considered the possibility that she might have moved on with someone else. He set his shoulders in determination. If it was a fight for Jessica's heart that Stefan Cassadine sought, then it was a fight he would get.

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