Chapter Fifty Seven -Sip of Champagin, Taste of sorrow

Victor clenched his jaw as he saw Brad looking to his direction, and then muttering something to Nikki. Even Jack did not irritate him as much, even in their worst times.
Brad Carlton was an obnoxious jerk, and he couldn't stomach his presence in the room, especially in such close proximity to Nikki

Victor saw Nikki turning to meet his eyes, he could see that even looking up at him was hard on her, the inner struggle was evident on her face.
He slowly approached her, unsure what he would say when he gets there... his feelings moved constantly between anger and confusion and hurt...
He stopped about a feet away from her, close enough to small the scent on her perfume...and said nothing.

Nikki fought with herself, She wanted to flee, go, run, not stand there under his gaze and having to lie to him.
But how could she tell him that she might be carrying a child that wasn't his? She knew what his reaction would be if the baby she is carrying is Brad's, and she didn't wasn't about to deal with it now.
And this wasn't the place to confront him about his conversation with Hope either, no matter how much she wanted to tell him how hurt she is.

She opened her mouth and said they first thing on her mind "So, where are the children?"
Victor replied very quietly "I'm sure they'd be here soon, they were right behind me"
Nikki said "Oh" She looked around the room and smiled weakly "It's a lovely party, I'm sure they're going to enjoy themselves" She lowered her gaze, her eyes not meeting his.
Victor said, "Yes, I'm sure they will..."
He looked at her and smiled "You look absolutely beautiful tonight..."
Nikki replied in a shaky voice, unable to look up at him "Thank you"
Victor hesitated and then asked, "Are you alright?"
Nikki looked up at him, and said without a smile "Sure, why shouldn't I be?"
Victor stared at her, his bafflement obvious  "Do I even have to ask?"

***Stick to the story Nikki, and you'll get through tonight...***

Nikki shook her head slowly "I don't know what you're talking about Victor"
Victor's eyes narrowed as he got upset, he gave her a chance to level with him, she didn't take it.
 "What do you mean, you don't know what I'm talking about? Didn't we have certain plans for tonight or have you forgotten that?"
Nikki blinked, his tone turned harsh and unforgiving "You read my note, haven't you"
Victor emphasized the word "Your *note*? Couldn't you have called me? I've been looking for you! No one knew where you were! I was worried about you, as well as the children! Where have you been?!"
Nikki got mad now "Where have I been? I don't have to tell you that! And as for the note, I'm sorry I didn't call but I was in a bit of a hurry!"
Victor, ignoring the first part of her response said "Oh, 'in a hurry'...To help Catherine?"
Nikki replied "Yes!"
Victor shook his head slowly and said pointedly "I don't believe you, at all"
Nikki swallowed hard... this wasn't going well at all...

***Sometimes, offence is the best defense...***

She looked at him angrily and said angrily "What do you mean 'I don't believe you'? Go ask Catherine!"
Victor glared at Nikki "I already asked Catherine. I know her, Nikki, Very well, I know it when she tells the truth and I know it when she's lying, especially, when she's lying for *you*"
Nikki tried to keep her voice steady "I don't know what you think you know,  but she had a problem and called me to help her. Maybe she was embarrassed that she couldn't handle it alone and that's what you heard in her voice, I don't know! What I do know, is that we're in public, and I would appreciate it if you don't yell at me!"
Victor lowered his voice a few notches "I don't want to yell at you, I want to know why the hell you're avoiding me!"
The hurt in his voice was clear as he cupped her face in his hands and asked  "What happened between this morning and now?, you were so happy, you were anxiously waiting for tonight and so was I, why are you shutting me out now?!"
 

 
 

**8:32 PM**

"Vic, do you see mom or dad?" Nicholas asked, helping himself to his first glass of Champaign.

Victoria, wearing a pink strapless dress with a shawl, turned to his direction after greeting a few co- workers hello.

She scanned the room with her eyes, seeing no sign of her parents "No, both of their cars are here, I suppose they should be here somewhere" She grinned "Hopefully, in their own little party"
Nicholas gulped down the Champaign and rolled his eyes at her good naturally "In the car, you thought we were missing on some major issue going on between them, now, you think it was no big deal?"
Vicki took the second glass of Champaign off his hands as he protested "Hey that was mine!"
Vicki said with a grin, taking a sip "Not anymore, go get another…"
As a sulking Nicholas picked another glass from a passing waiter, Vicki explained "I thought about it in the car, he was probably just worried and irritated because she didn’t call…" She smirked "He’ll take one look at her in that dress she got and forget all about it"
Nicholas said, "You’re seeing what you want to see, I think something bigger is going on"
Victoria paused and then said quietly "Actually, So do I… I just can’t imagine what that can be"
Nicholas shrugged "You’re the one living with mom, you don’t know if she and dad might have had a fight or something?"
Vicki shook her head "No, I said it before, they were so close lately, they’ve been getting along great"

Jack interrupted their conversation "Hey kids", He said.
Victoria and Nicholas turned to him and Nicholas hugged Jack "Hey man, what's up?"
Jack smiled at him "You're asking me? You're the one that has just been through hell and back, how do YOU feel?"
Nicholas thought about it for a moment and then said, "Like I'm alive again, and I'm ready to seriously party tonight"
Jack shook his head at them and then looked around "So, where are your dates"
Victoria wrinkled her nose "Oh, Cole's around here somewhere, Catherine introduced him to some writer that's been invited here tonight, so they are probably siting discussing the best way to get rid of a writer's block"
Nick said "Catherine took Sharon to a tour in the house"
Jack smiled "That should take a while"
Nicholas observed the room "Hey, where did that waiter with the cocktails go?"
Jack glanced at him and the empty glass of Champaign he was holding "Just remember that it isn't some collage party, not the place to get wasted"
Victoria snitched "It's his second glass in 20 minutes"
Nicholas said, "Hey, I'm celebrating, and look who is talking, you've had more than me"
Victoria protested "Hey, I turned 21"
Jack pointed out "You are both awfully young"
Victoria drawled "Jack, I'm an old married woman, cut me some slack"
Jack raised his hands defensively "Hey, I'm not either of your parents, I'm not even a step parent anymore"
Victoria eyed him closely "Say, Jack..."
Jack asked her "What?"
Victoria asked carefully "Did you see my mother today?"
Jack nodded "Well, yes, I did, I just talked to her a few minutes ago"
Nicholas was surprised "You did?"
Victoria asked flat out "What's going on with her?"

Jack debated how to reply, and then answered "I don't know, I was hoping one of you could tell me, she seemed pretty down"
Nick asked, concerned "You don't know why?"
Jack shook his head "Nope, what do you know?"
Victoria shrugged "Nothing, neither of us seen her since this morning, she left the house early to supposedly help Catherine, Dad didn't seem to buy it"
Jack cleared his throat "That's an understatement"
Victoria glared at him "Meaning what?"

She didn't need to wait for Jack to reply as the loud voices of her parents were heard from across the room.
Vicki couldn't make out what they were saying, but it definitely sounded like a fight.

Victoria and Nicholas exchanged glances and Victoria glared to Jack "Are you sure you don't have any idea what this is all about?"
Actually, now that Jack gave it some thought, he could come up with a few ideas.
But he couldn't really tell Victor Newman's daughter that her father probably behaved like a jerk again.
 

 
 

**8:30 PM**

Nikki bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears... she pushed his hands away and turned from him.
She shook her head "You couldn't possibly realize" She said bitterly.
Victor was past confusion, he was angry now, too angry to see just how much she was suffering "That's right, I don't! So why don't you tell me what's eating you!!"
Nikki was about to reply when she saw Victoria standing in the opposite side of the room, they were beginning to attract attention.
 "Victor, please stop, the children are here" she said.
Victor was not to be deterred "So what?!"
Nikki asked him angrily "Do you really want them to see us fighting? Now? It's supposed to be an evening for Nicholas and I don't want to ruin it for him"
Victor told her "They are going to ask a lot of questions you know"
Nikki replied tensely "Not if we won't let them see something is wrong"
Victor replied coldly "Good luck with that, they have already spotted us"
Nikki glanced toward her kids who were standing with Jack, she could see Victoria was already grilling him, and she was afraid he might confess to the truth.
She told Victor "I'm going to greet my children hello, so excuse me" She turned to leave...
But Victor wasn't about to let her walk so easily, he grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to him and asked, "What are you running away from? And why won't you talk to me?"
Nikki wiped a stubborn tear from her cheek, and raised her head to look him in the eyes, fighting to regain control of her voice.
"I can't" She whispered "I just can't, not now, not here...please, just let me go, so I could say hello to the children, so this night won't be completely ruined"
Victor looked at her helplessly and was about to step back and give her the space she needed, when his gaze fell on her earrings, recognizing them as Brad's Christmas present.
His stare wandered from her ears to her eyes, and Nikki wanted to just...disappear - so she won't see the betrayed expression on his face as he looked at her.
She tried to explain the choice of jewelry was unintentional as she started to say "Victor I..."
He did not give her a chance to explain.

Wordlessly, he walked away from her.

Nikki stood there, fighting tears looking at him walking toward the bar, she wanted to go to him, confess to the truth, explain, but her legs did not move. It was if they were glued to the floor., she didn't feel like she would ever find the strength to tell him all that had happened today.
She quickly looked around, trying to see just how many people witnessed that exchanged, and then breath a sigh of relief, realizing almost no one noticed, wiping her tears, lifting her chin and regaining some dignity, took a deep breath and walked toward Nick and Victoria.
 

 

**8:30 PM**

Nicholas commented "So much for your idea they are getting back together"
Jack tried hard to keep his expression blank, Victor and Nikki sure couldn't fool Victoria for long...he wondered what the hell went wrong,

Victoria claimed miserably "I don't understand it, they were perfectly fine until today, I haven't seen them fighting in weeks"
Nicholas said bitterly "Well, crisis is over isn't it? Things can go back to normal..."
Victoria touched his arm and tried to smile "I'm sorry, this can't be much fun for you, especially today"
Nicholas shrugged "Yea well, I'm used to this dysfunctional family, I've lived with it since I was born"
Victoria shook her head and said sadly "I'll never get used to it"

Jack suddenly commented "Your mother is coming over, which is my cue to leave..."
Victoria snapped "Yes Jack, go, I wouldn't want to put you in the position of having to tell something you don't want to tell"
Jack chose not to reply but to walk away to join his wife, sending Nikki a warning look as she approached them.
 

Nicholas looked at his mother as she approached them, she looked beautiful, but pale, her expression strained and weary.
It changed into a smile when she looked at her children, they both looked so lovely.
She gave each of them a kiss on the cheek "Hey"
Victoria stiffened and said nothing, just looked at her mother with silent disapproval.
Nicholas hugged her briefly "Wow mom, you look great"
Nikki said lovingly "I could say the same for you two, Victoria, this dress is stunning"
Victoria muttered brief thanks, and then cut right to the heart of the matter "Mom, what just went on with Dad?"
Nikki took a deep breath and said "Victoria, it was just a disagreement"
Victoria said harshly "No it wasn't, it was so much more than that"
Nikki sighed "Victoria, *please*"
Victoria wouldn't relent "Victoria *please* WHAT?"
Nikki said pointedly, "I don't wish to discuss this right now, lets not ruin the party, okay?"
Victoria ignored her "What made you two fight like that? Neither of you are not fond of public brawlers"
Nikki bit her lips and tried to keep herself from raising her voice on her daughter "Victoria, it was hardly a brawl and your father and I are divorced, sometimes divorced people fight"
Victoria replied "Hey, I have an ex, I would think getting a divorce is to make people stop fighting, with you and dad, sometimes it's the other way around"
Nikki took a deep breath "Things happen"
Nicholas interfered "What do you mean?"
Nikki said "Look you two, I do not wish to discuss it now, no good would come out of it. Nicholas,  Catherine is going to make the toast for you any minute now, I really don't want to get into it"
Victoria said, a little more softly "I just want to help"
Nikki said to he"Victoria, there is nothing TO help, your father was a little upset with me for not coming with the rest of the family, and I tried to explain to him that Catherine needed me. He got upset, that's his business - but I don't want it to ruin the day for this family"
Victoria shook her head and sneered, "You lie very convincingly mother"
Nicholas scolded her "Vicki!"
Victoria ignored him "Look at you, you've obviously been crying, you're upset, you don't look yourself and you aren't acting like yourself either. And you want me to think you just had a disagreement with Dad over something as insignificant as when you arrived to the party? I don't believe that, not for a moment"
Nikki closed her eyes for a moment, fighting a wave of nausea and asked her daughter hoarsely  "Angel please, let it go for today, it's suppose to be a happy occasion for this family, I don't want to spoil it by fighting, with your father or you"
Victoria sighed "Mom, this family can't celebrate when you and dad aren't speaking, you're here and he's there!"
Nikki said, "Well, lets try to make the most of it, because me and your father won't resolve this right now"
Victoria shook her head "I can't believe two grown people can get through one evening without fighting".

Their conversation was interrupted as Catherine approached them, very much aware of the tension.
"Well, time for the toast"
Nikki smiled at her gratefully as Nicholas said sheepishly "Catherine, you really don't have to do that"
Catherine pinched his cheek affectionately "Oh, but I do"
Nicholas's eyes scanned the dance floor "Hey, where are Cole and Sharon?"
Victoria's eyes darted toward the dance floor and said, "Dancing - with each other, think we should get worried Nicholas?"
Nick smiled, as he looked at Cole and Sharon "It's nice that they get along"
Victoria wrinkled her nose "It’s nice someone is getting along with someone tonight…Ahhh!"

Victoria screamed as Cole sneaked on her from behind and started tickling her, she started to giggle and squirmed at his arms "Cole, stop it, god, Cole!!!"
She slapped his shoulder "You wicked man, are you trying to scare me to death?"
Cole put his hand on his heart in extravagant gesture "Now Victoria Howard, would I do that?"

Victoria’s glare turned into a smile as she softly kissed his lips, Nicholas wrapped his hands around Sharon’s waist and grinned to Cole "So that’s the way to shut her up, tickling. Now why didn’t I ever think of that?"
Victoria broke the kiss and said to her brother good naturally "Place one finger on me, little brother,  and you’re dead"
Nikki raised a hand with a smile "Now, before you all kill each other, why won’t we let Catherine make her toast?"
Catherine looked around and asked Nikki softly "Where’s Victor?, I can’t make this toast without him"

The kids looked at Nikki who at her turn, looked at Cole "Cole, would you be so kind and go and find him?"
Cole pondered on the thought for a few moments and than asked her "Why don’t you go and find him, Nikki?"
Nikki sent Cole a tired look "Please, not you too! Cole, just go and get him to come over here"
Cole agreed "Alright Nikki"
Nikki sighed in "Thanks"
Cole kissed Victoria on the head and went to look for Victor.
 

 

**8:49 PM**

 

Catherine looked around the room and saw Esther arguing with one of the Catering men, she said in frustration "Oh, what is this woman up to now? Excuse me, I’ll be right back"

Nikki, in the meantime, turned to Sharon and gave her the look over, she said in approval "It’s a gorgeous dress, Sharon, my son has good taste"
Sharon smiled at Nicholas (Who was drinking his forth glass for the night) and said with a smile "Your son had a good teacher"
Nikki couldn’t help but smile "Referring to Victor or me?"
Sharon stammered "Both, I guess"
Nikki reassured her "Relax, it wasn’t a trick question"
Sharon said "Oh" and then added "I really love your dress too, Mrs. Abbot"
Nikki said, "Thank you Sharon"

A waiter with sushi appetizers walked by them and each took one, Nikki reached for one too but pulled her hand back when she realizes the negative affect the smell of the sushi was having on her stomach.

Nick looked at her and said  "I thought you liked Sushi, mom"
Nikki, trying to overcome her nausea shook her head "I’m not that hungry"
Victoria stared "But you haven’t eaten anything"
Nikki said, "I’ve eaten before, I will probably get hungry later"

Nikki hoped the terrible feeling in her stomach would go away soon, because right now, almost everything made her feel sick, she didn’t know if it was the stress of the pregnancy, or some combination of both.

Victoria helped herself to another appetizer "All the Champaign is making me hungry"
Cole looked at her disapprovingly "Wait a minute, Vicki, what glass is it?"
Victoria looked at the glass, holding her against the light "Number 4, I think"
Nicholas laughed "She means number 5"
Nikki raised her eyes at her children "Hey, I know you are celebrating, but don’t over do it, especially you Nicholas"
Nicholas protested "Hey, why single out me?"
Nikki answered "Because Victoria would be 21 soon and you just turned 19. Now I have no problem with a glass or two but no more, get it?"
Nicholas sighed, "Loud and clear"
Nikki said pointedly "Good"
Victoria said mockingly "You’re such a good boy, Nicholas" as she took another sip....
 
 

 

**8:45 PM**

 

Cole scanned the room with his eyes, until he noticed Victor.
Victor was sitting in the bar on the second level of the room, the bar was empty as most people rather take their drinks and cruise the room, mingling.

Cole stood behind him for a moment, observing the situation for a moment, and then pulled up a chair and sat down next to him, saying to the bartender "Whatever he is having"
Victor glanced at Cole and went back to stare in his glass.

Both men sat there with their drinks for a moment and then Victor asked, "What are you doing here?"
Cole replied simply, putting his drink down.
 "Nikki. She sent me to look for you, Catherine wants to make a toast for Nicholas"
Victor nodded slowly "I see"
Cole asked him "Are you going to come?"
Victor said curtly "I don’t know if it’s a good idea"
Cole said "Look, Victor…I don’t know what happened between you and Nikki, but obviously something did, but you two can’t let it ruin this night for Nicholas"
Victor closed his eyes in pain. Raising his head to look at Cole, he said sadly "That’s the last thing either of us wants, but I don’t know how I’m going to come over there now, I’m only going to say things I’m going to regret"
Cole asked him in confusion "I don’t understand, it has been my impression things were going great between you two, judging by that little scene I walked in on when you were in the hospital, what happened?"
Victor said, "I don’t have the slightest clue, Cole"
He said, shaking his head "Ever since this afternoon, Nikki has been shutting me out, and I don’t know why, she hasn’t told me"
Victor sighed deeply and said to Cole, evidence of hurt in his voice "We were going to tell the family everything today. We were going to tell them that we love each other, and that we’re reuniting this family after so many years. I don’t know what the hell happened to her"
Cole felt sorry for him, he could see how confused he was, and he wasn’t used seeing the ever-in-control father in law like this.

He asked him "Can’t you think of anything that might have happened?"
Victor’s expression tensed "There is only one thing that occurs to me"
Cole asked him "What’s that?"
Victor replied "Brad Carlton"
Cole exclaimed "Brad Carlton? Victor, I really don’t think that’s it"
Victor wasn’t impressed with Cole’s opinion "Oh don’t you? He was the man she was involved with before we got back together, a relationship she has told me absolutely nothing, *nothing* about"
Victor became angrier as he continued  "I found out they were seeing each other through Brad. Even after I asked it of her she refused to tell him what was going on between us, despite of his relentless efforts to win her back! When I walked in here she was in the middle of an intimate conversation with him, and she was wearing the earrings he bought her on Christmas, so what the hell am I suppose to think?!!"

Cole tried to calm him down, he was afraid of an explosion that would cause more harm than good.

"Victor, you can’t really believe that Nikki still has feelings for Brad, if there is one thing in the world I am sure of is that she loves you very much, I can’t believe you’re doubting that"
Victor snorted and looked at Cole with a slight smile "You sound like your wife"
Cole smiled and said "Victoria can be a pain. But she is not wrong, nor has she ever been, about the two of you"
Victor felt slightly better, but he still said "All of that does not change Nikki’s behavior, toward me or toward Brad Carlton"
Cole said calmly "Victor, can I give you a piece of advice?"
Victor said, finishing his drink and leaning back "You’re going to say it anyway so go ahead"
Cole said "Don’t lose your temper, and let Nikki tell you what’s bothering her on her own time.
I’ve seen her on difficult situations in the past and I rarely saw her looking more tormented… don’t pressure her now"
Victor smiled sadly "That sound like a good advice, but I don’t know how much more of it I can take, I need to know what’s going on with her"
Cole got up "Well, you ain’t gonna figure this out by sitting here"
Victor considered and then got up "You have a point"
He looked at Cole for a long moment "Thank you, I just wanted you to know I’m glad you’re a part of my family"
Cole grinned, "The feeling is mutual Victor, let’s go…"