Nik confronts Stefan about the hospital and insists that he look after it as it is his grandmother's legacy, and his mother had ties to it. New Year's Eve - music montage of all the PCers. At GH, Emily thanks Nik for getting her home safely one night when she was drugged out. She is grieving as it is the one year anniversary of her mom's death, Nik can relate. Tom flashes back to his meeting with Luke while the Spencers are in hiding. Tom finds Nikolas smashing equipment in one of the hospital's supply rooms. Nikolas explains to Tom why he came to the very room where his father died years ago. Recalling his promise to Laura, Tom encourages Nikolas to learn about the remarkable legacy his mother and grandmother left behind. Bobbie comes in next and for the first time, Nik asks about who Laura was and really listens.

The Spencer's return to the scene, they are in hidiing. Tom visits to check on Lesley. Leslie seems to have a special response to Lucky, he cooks for her and serves her food. She seems comforted by his presence. As Luke tells Laura his personal radar has gone on red alert, Tom phones to warn Luke that they have to move right away if they want to get Lesley into the Swiss clinic. Tom tips Sonny off after receiving word from Luke that Lesley's condition has deteriorated. Tom reports to Sonny on his recent visit to the Spencer clan. Explaining how the whole family has taken on new identities, Tom reveals that Lesley's mental health has deteriorated so badly she will probably require lengthy hospitalization. Tom visits the Spencer's again. He has refused Sonny's driver, Luke isn't happy with the deviation from the plan. Laura is worried about the drugs Tom is giving Lesley for the trip to Switzerland, Lucky reassures her.

Mac tails Tom and uncovers the Spencer's hiding place. Though Tom insists on driving the Spencers to the airport, Luke demands that they stick to Sonny's original plan to avoid any unnecessary risk of exposure. Nicholas takes a bouquet of daisies to his mother's grave. Kneeling by Laura's tombstone, he apologizes for keeping her at arm's length during the short time they were in each other's lives. Laura ducks for cover as Mac suddenly bangs on the door, shouting for Tom to open up. Confronted by the irate police commissioner, Luke vehemently denies being responsible for Katherine's injury. When Lesley becomes too agitated for her daughter and grandson to control, Laura is forced to reveal herself to an astonished Mac. Mac tells Laura she can take her mother and children to Switzerland but her husband must remain behind to face charges.

Katherine tries to console Nikolas as he tearfully rues the fact that he never told his mother he loved her. Stefan then visits Laura's grave. When Luke stubbornly refuses to leave his family, Mac informs the head of the Spencer clan that he's the prime suspect in an attempted murder case. Sonny arrives and sarcastically congratulates Tom for leading the police commissioner straight to the Spencers' door. As Mac continues to invoke the specter of the outstanding arrest warrant, Sonny reminds the commissioner that he's too badly outnumbered to stage any kind of showdown. To the Spencers' dismay, police reinforcements arrive as if on cue and the fugitives are forced to surrender. I rked by Taggart's gung-ho attitude, Mac orders his detective not to handcuff Laura or Lesley. During a quarrel, Nikolas bitterly informs his uncle that Bobbie is the only reason he's remained in Port Charles. Lesley reaches out to comfort Laura as she cries. Astonished to hear her mother speak her name, Laura tearfully embraces Lesley and shouts for Lucky to come meet his grandmother at last. By the time Lucky and Mac arrive, however, Laura is disappointed to see that Lesley has slipped back into her near-catatonic state. Laura tells Lucky she must find Nicholas before he hears the news about her and Lesley from another source. Back in Port Charles, Taggart interrogates Luke, who claims he totally improvised the scheme to fake his wife's death. Salivating at the prospect of putting Sonny behind bars, Taggart pressures Luke to admit that his mobster pal conspired with him from the start.

Nik returns home, gives Stefan attitude. Stefan tries to get through to him, tells him he loves him. Nik questions why Stefan has never visited kat. He has but she doesn't know he is Stefan Cassadine. Stefan tells Nik about visiting Laura's grave. Nik lashes out that he can't believe anything that Stefan says to him. Meanwhile, Laura realizes the urgency in getting to Nik and trying to explain that she isn't actually dead before he hears the news from someone else. Luke, Sonny, and Tom are taken into custody and are transported to the PCPD. Laura tries to explain to Lucky why she feels the need to contact Nik. Lucky is not happy about the whole faked death thing in the first place. He is still very hostile towards Nik but does understand that his mom needs to talk to Nik. Taggert questions the trio, Luke covers for Tom and Sonny. Stefan visits Katharine and introduces himself (he has visited her many times before without her knowing his true identity).

Bobbie is stunned to receive a call from her "late" sister-in-law. When Laura comes to Windemere, Bobbie greets her with a hard slap across the face and a bitter curse. Though Laura begs her to listen to the harsh truth about Stefan, Bobbie staunchly defends her husband and furiously insists she will never forgive Luke or his wife for their treachery. Mac tells Kevin about Laura being alive, he asks Kevin to exam Leslie (even though Kevin isn't currently licensed). Later, Lucy is startled to receive a call from Luke, who asks for some assistance getting out of the hoosegow. Nik comes down to the docks and comes upon Laura and Bobbie. Stunned to find his mother standing in front of him, Nikolas rushes forward to happily embrace Laura. Before she can utter a word of explanation, Nikolas tearfully apologizes for his earlier cruelty and for pushing her away. Expressing a fervent desire to start anew, Nikolas declares his love, sending Laura into a fresh outburst of tears. Watching the entire exchange with pursed lips, Bobbie coldly suggests to her sister-in-law that she give Nikolas the full details of her miraculous return from the dead.

At the jail, Luke fills Lucy in on how he faked the deaths of his wife and his mother-in-law. Laura hesitantly admits to Nikolas that she conspired with Luke to set up the explosion. Though she pleads for his understanding, Nicholas hardens his heart and bitterly informs Laura that she's dead to him now. Stefan is at Laura's gravesite, he has more flashbacks to Greece during their romance. At GH, they are dedicating the rennovation of GH as a tribute to Lesley and Laura. Back at Wyndemere, Bobbie tells Laura to stay out of their lives. Laura's sudden appearance in the middle of the service at GH draws gasps from the shocked assemblage. As a weeping Amy flings herself into her sister's arms, Laura faces the stunned throng and offers up a weak apology. When Monica finally finds her voice and demands an explanation, Laura admits to faking her death, then drops another bombshell about Lesley. Confronted by an outraged Ruby and Amy, Luke asks his relatives to remember that he had a good reason to inflict such emotional pain on all of them.Though Lucy staunchly defends her old pal, the rest of Luke's former friends turn their back on him in disgust.

Stefan confesses to a startled Katherine that he was the one who pulled the trigger. Explaining that the shooting was accidental, Stefan relates how he retrieved the gun which held Luke's fingerprints with the intention of framing his enemy for his own attempted murder. Luke arrives at GH, and comes to Laura's defense. Then Ruby shows up and she is none too happy with Luke herself. Stefan tells Katharine he will walk out of her life for good if that is what she wants, then Luke walks in before she has a chance to respond. Luke confronts Stefan in Katherine's hospital room. Relating some painful tales from her own childhood, Bobbie reminds Nicholas that he always has Stefan and Alexis and herself to count on during times of trouble. Though Luke prods her to name her assailant, Katherine claims she still has no memory of the shooting which laid her low.

Bobbie finds Nikolas standing at Laura's grave. Trying to comfort the boy, Bobbie assures him she understands how betrayed he feels. Nik runs into Stefan at GH, he tells Stefan that Laura is alive. Bobbie lights into Luke after encountering her brother for the first time in weeks. Scoffing at his oft-repeated theory about the Cassadines being the root of all evil, Bobbie coldly advises Luke to do everyone a favor by packing up his treacherous family and leaving Port Charles for good. Stunned by Nicholas' news about his mother, Stefan comforts the unhappy boy while furiously condemning Laura's underhanded actions. Afterwards, Nicholas tells Katherine how Laura faked her death in a sick ploy to hurt his uncle. Luke is appalled when Bobbie informs him that she considers herself no longer a Spencer but a Cassadine.

Luke, Sonny, Jason at the club. Justus enters, Luke is taken aback when Justus volunteers to represent him, Luke accepts the attorney's offer. Lucy asks Luke why Stefan wants to hire Kevin. She is worried about his involvement with the Cassadines. The Spencer family returns to their home for the first time in many weeks. Lucky calls Emily, she is very cool and distant with him. He realizes that the ruse may have cost him his friendship with her. Audrey tries to make contact with Lesley, who begins to respond to her old friend's stories, Lesley has a flashback to their early days. Back at Wyndemere, Bobbie questions Stefan about his lack of emotion regarding Laura's return from the dead.

Luke comes to Windemere to make another emotional appeal to his sister. Warning that she's walking into a dangerous cross fire, Luke informs Bobbie that something is going on between her husband and Katherine Bell. She refuses to believe his assertion that Stefan is the one who shot Katharine. Luke doesn't have much credibility with Bobbie, she is extremely anger and feels hurt and betrayed by his deception. Meanwhile, at GH, Stefan asks Katherine to consider Nikolas' feelings before she talks to the authorities about the shooting. Stefan returns home, Bobbie tells him about her meeting with Luke. She asks how his visit with Katharine went, they kiss. Next Stefan tells Alexis (to her horror) that he told Kat the full story about how he shot her, she wonders how he can be so sure she won't go to the police.

Agreeing with his wife that Lesley has a better chance of a full recovery if she's around familiar faces and places, Luke assures Laura he intends for the family to stay in Port Charles for a while. Justus drops by and tells the Spencers he's being blackmailed by his cousin but is still willing to represent Luke despite the threat from Ned. Tired of holding on to his terrible secret, Justus then confesses to a stunned Laura that he killed Damian Smith. As Nikolas vows to punish the Spencers by extending "Timoria", a pleased Stefan points out to Alexis that Laura's failed ploy has actually served to strengthen the bond between himself and his nephew. Laura rails at Justus for forcing her to endure the agony of a murder trial when he was the guilty party all along. Stefan offers Kevin a post as vice-president of human resources for Cassadine International. Lucy goes to the Spencer's, she continues to worry over Kevin's involvement with Stefan. Luke agrees she should be worried. Lucky later confides to Luke that he blew it, neither Sly nor Emily want anything to do with him.

Laura goes to Windemere to offer Stefan an apology. Unmoved by her words, Stefan coldly reminds Laura how deeply she's hurt her son. Meanwhile, Nikolas pushes his way into the Spencer house and informs Luke and Lucky that they both make him sick. Stefan tells Laura he no longer gives a damn about her or her family. Temporarily roused from her near-catatonic state, Lesley peers closely at Nikolas and recognizes her daughter's features in the boy's face. Nikolas introduces himself to his grandmother. Later, a trembling Lesley retreats into her shell when Luke pushes her to speak about what she's suffered at the hands of the Cassadines.

Nik and Lucky run into each other, they have words. Lucky tells Nik he wasn't the only one hurt, he challenges Nik to consider what Leslie has been through. Luke pushes Lesley to tell him about Stefan, but she just freaks at the mention of the Cassadines. Meanwhile, Tony asks Luke if he can prove that Stefan pulled the trigger. Lucky and Leslie talk. Leslie comments that Lulu looks like Nikolas, Lucky doesn't appreciate that comparison. Lucky tells Leslie about Lulu's bone marrow illness, and the transfusion. Leslie tells Lucky that Nik is a "good boy" like Lucky. Bobbie returns to Windemere to find her husband and Laura bitterly trading insults. Though Bobbie orders Laura to leave Spoon Island, Stefan suggests that the intruder be allowed to stay on and speak her piece. Before departing, Laura warns Bobbie to get away from Stefan before he hurts her the way he hurt Lesley. When Tony confides that he's secretly preparing to file for custody of Lucas, Luke expresses a hope that his sister will leave Stefan if push comes to shove and she fears losing her son. Following a short excursion outside, an anxiety-ridden Carly scurries back to the safety of her apartment but is appalled to find Luke comfortably ensconced on the couch in deep conversation with her lover. Stefan meets Laura down at the Spoon Island dock, he can't forgive her for knowingly hurting Nikolas. He vows to pay her back for this hurt. He tells her he can tell Luke the truth anytime he wants to and take away Luke's love. This threat from Stefan sends Laura into fresh waves of panic. Back at Wyndemere, Bobbie fumes about Laura too Stefan. Bobbie wonders why Laura came to Wyndemere. Lucky tells Luke about Lesley saying that Lulu looks like Nik, it obviously bothers Lucky. Lucky comments that Lesley sure seems to like Nik. Luke points out that leslie isn't playing with a full deck. Laura returns home, and they fill her in on Nik's visit and Lesley's encouraging response to him. Luke is just thrillled at the possibility of Lesley remembering and testifying against Stefan. Laura panics at the thought, she doesn't want to anger Stefan anymore than he already is.

Enjoying a rare introspective moment together, Luke asks Laura if she regrets any of the choices they've made over the years. Monica drops by the Spencer house to say hello to Lesley and to offer Laura an apology for coming down so hard on her the other day. There is a hearing for Kat's shooting, Bobbie testifies about Luke pulling a gun on Stefan. Then Stefan testifies. Kat enters, claims not to recall anything related to the shooting. She then calls for a cease to the Cassadine vs. Spencer feud. Luke is released on the grounds that he doesn't leave town. Nik and Lucky have another bitter confrontation. Luke later tells Laura that "it isn't over", he feels that Stefan has something up his sleave but he doesn't know what. Stefan thanks Kat for not testifying against him. Bobbie comes along and comments on how remarkable Kat is. Weary of hearing the same old song, Lucky takes exception to his father's constant references to the Cassadines in every conversation which takes place in the Spencer household. Nik asks Bobbie if she thinks that stefan was right to keep Leslie hidden away and if Bobbie really believes that Helena wanted to kill Lesley

Stefan enters and suggests Nik asks his questions of him. Nik tells Stefan about his visit to the Spencer's to see Leslie. Stefan defends himself that he gave Lesley the best treatment possible. Nik tells him he wants to get to know Lesley, Stefan is not pleased to hear this. After Nik leaves, Stefan fumes over what he sees as the Spencer's trying to draw Nik in first by using Lulu now with Lesley. Later, Bobbie warns Nik that Luke and Laura will lie and step all over him.

Foster snarls menacingly when Stefan appears on the Spencers' doorstep, asking for Lesley. Reluctantly calling the dog off, Laura allows Stefan inside but insists that her mother cannot be disturbed. Lunching together across town, Lucky tells Luke he's contemplating striking a bargain with Nikolas in an effort to help their grandmother recover. Stefan issues an ultimatum to Laura, warning the trembling woman that if she doesn't leave town with Lesley he'll reveal that he is the father of her oldest son. Lucky goes to Windemere to propose a deal to Nikolas. Lucky asks Nik if he will help get info on Lesley's medical history - he does this begrudgingly, in a challenging manner. But this is the first sign of the two of them possibly working together albeit reluctantly.

Under the gun from Stefan's ultimatum, Laura spends a sleepless night pondering her next move. She has more flashbacks to the Greek Island of her telling Stefan that she was pregnant. In bed the next am, L&L snuggle. Unaware that his wife is harboring a secret, Luke tries to reassure Laura they have nothing more to fear from the Cassadines. Lucky questions Nik why Lesley started to improve when they got her away from Stefan. He challenges Nik to find out what happened to Leslie. He admits he never knew her either but that Lesley looks at him like his is amazing. Nik says Lesley looks at him like that too. So Lucky tells him then be amazing rather than a pain in the butt! Stefan is disturbed to discover that Lucky has been speaking to Nikolas about their grandmother.

Meanwhile, Lesley continues to make good progress with her recovery but remains unable to recall any details about her long absence from Port Charles. She banters with Luke when he asks Leslie how old she is. Nik confronts Stefan, he tells him that the Spencers say he drugged Leslie. But he does believe that Stefan did his best for Leslie. Stefan also tells Nik that Luke and Lucky will say anything to blacken Stefan's name, and tells him not to trust them. Nik tells Stefan in order to prove his innocence that he should produce Leslie's medical records. He wants this to throw in Lucky's face that Stefan never harmed Leslie, Stefan is resistant at first then promises to try to obtain them. Stefan phones the Spencer house and again warns Laura to leave town immediately or face up to having her husband learn that they've slept together. Laura tells a startled Luke that she's taking Lesley to the Swiss clinic that very afternoon. When he reminds her that her mother has been making very good progress right here in Port Charles, Laura claims that she fears Stefan will hurt Lesley if they remain in town. Luke is puzzled by Laura's sudden decision when Leslie is doing so well in the familiar environment. Buying into Laura's story, Luke decides to pack up the whole family for the trip to Switzerland. Laura sets up a final meeting with Stefan.

Lucky thanks Katherine for her appearance at the DA's office, then apologetically explains how his improvisation on the night of the shooting left the gun within Stefan's reach. Lucky tries to convince Kat that Stefan was the shooter, she isn't interested in rehashing it. Laura informs Stefan that her entire family is leaving for Switzerland that day. Reminding Stefan that she will never forgive him, Laura bitterly rues the day she ever became involved with Stavros' brother. Nicholas goes to see Katherine and is annoyed to find his half-brother urging her to name his uncle as her assailant. The brothers have words again. Then Amy visits Leslie, she is hurt and shocked to hear they are leaving again so soon. Stefan scoffs when Laura demands one last visit with her oldest son.

Luke decides to return to Port Charles after escorting the rest of his family to Switzerland. Though Laura objects to another separation, Luke reminds her that the threat from the Cassadines still hangs over their heads. When Lucky returns home, Laura fills him in on her travel plans. He chooses to stay in PC with Luke. Laura tells Lucky she'll miss him but will respect his decision to stay in Port Charles with his father. Luke agrees that Lucky can stay with him. Laura takes Leslie to GH to say goodbye to Audrey and Monica. Sad scenes as L&L say goodbye again and Laura and Leslie once again leave PC, Luke wants to make sure she isn't leaving because of the backlash against her faked death by her friends and family. Troubled by nagging doubts, Bobbie asks Stefan directly if he kept Lesley Webber drugged and isolated from her family all those years. Luke returns from Switzerland and tells Sonny he's determined to find evidence that his sworn enemy shot Katherine. Stefan manages to avoid answering Bobbie's questions about Lesley. After bumping into Luke outside of Sonny's (he lives across the hall from Kat), Nikolas reports back to his family that part of the Spencer clan is still hanging around Port Charles. Stefan is not pleased to hear this. Luke fills Sonny in on Kat's testimony.

Luke pushes his way into Carly's apartment and orders the fuming young woman to funnel information to him about her patient's (Kat) relationship with Stefan. Stefan tells Nik about finding Kat lying on the floor of her apartment and asks him to check on her. Katherine is taken aback when his wife drops by instead. Alexis angrily reminds Stefan that his unhealthy obsession is jeopardizing the future of their entire family. At Windemere, Bobbie wonders why Katherine never mentioned the fact that Stefan rushed to her rescue following the tumble from her wheelchair. Nik and Stefan later discuss Kat, Nik is concerned that Kat needs to get out, this gives Stefan the idea to offer her a job at GH in PR. Luke, Tom, and Felicia confab about Leslie's progress, then Felicia's investigation into Kat's shooting. Bobbie walks in and blasts them for siding with Luke against her husband, she is especially disappointed about Felicia's involvement. Luke continues to hold the Leslie was drugged card over Bobbies head. Bobbie decides to take a look at Lesley's death certificate. At GH, Bobbie is startled to discover that her husband recently removed all of the hospital's medical records and had them shipped to a warehouse for "safekeeping". Bobbie tells Audrey she hoped to see Lesley's death certificate because she wanted to know how she could have been so easily fooled all those years ago. After Audrey tactfully discloses her reasons to be suspicious of Stefan, Bobbie begins to wonder if her husband might be keeping other secrets from her as well.

Nikolas receives a letter from his grandmother and smiles to see the enclosed photo of Lulu sitting on Lesley's lap. Nik reads the letter to Stefan, who points out that surely Laura wrote the letter rather than Leslie. After Bobbie brings Lucas back to Windemere, he is upset at seeing Tony kiss Carly. Stefan tells Bobbie about the letter. Bobbie doesn't understand Stefan's resistance to Nik getting to know his grandmother. Stefan bristles at her suggestion that Lesley might have been better off without his intervention a decade ago. Later, when Stefan attempts to become passionate, Bobbie invents an excuse to avoid making love. Bobbie's trip to the records warehouse turns treacherous. Luke pumps Carly for information about her latest visit to Ms. Bell. Reporting that Stefan offered her employer a job, Carly tells Luke how Katherine apparently rejected the opportunity without missing a beat. When Luke pressures her to do better, Carly snarls at her uncle and threatens to stop cooperating at all. Trapped by the flames, a frantic Bobbie screams for help. Just in the nick of time, Tony hears her cries and risks his own life to pull her to safety. At GH, Tony reassures Bobbie that although she suffered some minor smoke inhalation she should recover fully. Meanwhile, Audrey tells a relieved Luke and Carly what a stroke of good luck it was that Tony happened to follow his ex-wife out to the storage facility and was so close at hand when trouble arose. Bobbie awakes in the hospital to find Luke sitting by her bedside. Then Stefan arrives and finds Luke sitting by Bobbie's bed. Luke urges Bobbie to trust the instinct that lead her to the storage facility, he takes it as a sign that she is suspicious of Stefan. She stands by her husband though. Then Nik shows up to visit. Nik tells a relieved Carly that Bobbie will be okay. Later, Stefan gives Amy detailed instructions on ordering flowers, having gourmet meals sent from a restaurant, and a silk negligee...Amy makes a sarcastic comment.

Luke urges his sister to admit the truth and expose Stefan for the criminal they both know he is. As Stefan calmly denies starting the fire, Tony arrives and escorts Luke out before another family feud erupts. Luke smells a rat when Stefan claims he had all the hospital's records backed up by GH's main frame computer. Stefan tells Luke that all the hard copy hospital files are availabe on disk which eliminates any potential motive for the warehouse fire. He offers to give those files to Luke. Stefan tells Alexis he's about to permanently sever his connection to Katherine. Meanwhile, Luke pesters a fuming Katherine to admit that her relationship with Stefan has gone way beyond the "just friends" stage. Though Alexis warns her cousin that he'll be the prime suspect if the warehouse fire proves to be arson, Stefan assures her that Bobbie has already firmly declared her belief in his innocence. Thinking about how close Nikolas has become to his new "aunt", Stefan sadly informs Alexis that the time has come to put an end to his infatuation with Katherine. Luke presses Katherine to admit the truth about the shooting so he can repeat her words to Bobbie. Vowing not to take her story to the police, Luke slyly points out that Katherine will soon have Stefan all to herself if she helps him convince his sister to leave her slimy husband. Lucky and Nik actually have a civil conversation outside of Bobbie's room, Nik tells him about Leslie's letter. Lucky visits Bobbie.