Chapter 21

After leaving his mother's house Nikolas had driven around trying to
understand his role in the big scheme of things. Why was it the more he knew
about the events currently unfolding, the more he felt like an outsider? Why
were the Spencers so different from everybody else? Why was he, Laura's
first born child always coming in second place in her life? Laura had chosen
Luke Spencer over him all those years ago leaving him as an infant on a
remote Greek island in the care of his only well meaning relative and uncle.
And now in the present day she was addressing Lucky his younger brother's
needs before his own again. Would there ever be a day or a person who would
put his feelings first? Nikolas knew full well that if he tried to explain
it he would just come off looking like a jealous sibling and that wasn't how
things felt to him at all. Maybe neglected was a better word for his life
long experience.
Having really no other place to go Nikolas pulled the car into an empty
parking space at the entrance to the Port Charles city park and slowly
stepped out of the automobile. Maybe some fresh air would bring some clarity
to his melancholy mood. As he rounded a corner and enter a small clearing he
saw a familiar figure sitting on a bench. When he got a little closer he saw
it was indeed Emily. "So how's you mom taking the news", she asked
instinctively as soon as she noticed him standing there.
" She knows", Nikolas replied without much emotion.
"Do you want to talk about it", Emily said sympathetically looking up
into his eyes and indicating the vacant spot on the bench next to her.
" No not really, but can I sit with you awhile anyway?", he replied
suddenly tired from putting up a brave front for almost everyone else.
" Sure", Emily said nodding with a small smile creeping onto her face.
"Do you have a penny?", she asked suddenly
"A what?", Nikolas said shaking his head not sure what she was really
asking him.
"A copper coin with Lincoln on it commonly tossed into fountains like
that one over there", Emily answered pointing off in one direction.
"Oh yeah sure... hold on I think I got one in here somewhere", he smiled
running his hands simultaneously through his slack's pockets. Seconds later
his hand emerged with a fist full of change,"Will any of these do?", he
questioned her.
"Thanks", she said as he handed her several of the small coins. Nikolas
notice suddenly how quiet she had become as she studied the items.
"Something wrong, Em", he asked her a little worried as he reached over
for her free hand.
"No I was just thinking about something..." she answered reluctantly.
"Do you ever feel kind of forgotten? You know just left out of things... not
on purpose really just because you aren't as dramatic about life as other's
are?", Emily made a effort to explain. I mean take my family, the
Quartermaines for instance, Jason's involved in the mob with Sonny, A.J. is
always falling off the wagon, Grandfather is always carrying on about some
ELQ investment or another, But Me I'm just me... nothing is really getting me
all excited and I'm happy for the most part doing exactly what I'm supposed
to be doing and I hardly get noticed at all", Emily finished with a sigh.
"Yeah, I think I do feel that way sometimes", Nikolas admitted looked
over in her direction. "I know it's not because other's don't care about
what's going on in your life but all there energy is just spent on the more
dramatic ones in the family. And they all think 'well there's one person I
don't have to worry about today' right?" Nikolas finished and tossed a coin
in the direction of the fountain without really aiming.
"A penny for you thoughts", Emily asked surprised by his earlier action.
Nikolas wasn't exactly the kind of person who sits around on a park bench
throwing away spare change in to water fountains, but then again she was
leaning a lot more about him as time went by and maybe this was a side she'd
just missed before. Perhaps Nikolas was a lot more sensitive then he let on.
"No, not really I just thought It was time to make a wish for something I
want instead of just moping around after everybody eases dreams". "Why don't
you give it a try", Nikolas said drawing her attention back to the coin Emily
had forgotten in her hand.
"Really, she looked over at him wondering if he was teasing her or
something, but he just smiled and reached for another coin out of her open
palm.
"Just like this", Nikolas said as his fingers brushed the flat surface
inside her hand while picking up the round object. With hardly any effort
he tossed it into the bubbling water where it entered with a small splash.
"Okay then, what or who should I wish for", Emily asked shyly taking a
chance and looking into his eyes. He didn't look like he was teasing her
anymore Nikolas looked very serious in fact as he reached for her wrists and
moved it in a throwing motion towards the white statue.
"Wish for, the moon and the stars or maybe...", Nikolas paused for a
moment before soft adding, "me". Emily suddenly looked in to his eyes and
saw vulnerability in his soft brown eyes and an instant later she watched a
the coppery coin flew into the air and landed directly in the fountain with a
soft spray of water.

Chapter 22


Elizabeth's lips quivered as she lay on the grass in the Port Charles
park. Their foreheads together already, she was waiting for his mouth to
catch up. Elizabeth was more than a little surprised when Lucky instead of
kissing her sat up.
"Let's go someplace a little more... Lucky paused studying her face half
worried that what he was about to suggest would actually scare Elizabeth off.
"Special", Elizabeth answered filling in the end of his sentence so
easily as if she'd completely read his mind. Lucky was amazed by the power
of their connection...after all this time it hadn't diminished at all!
"Well, yeah I was thinking something along those lines", he said while
nodding and slowly rising to his feet before reaching one of his hands back
out to Elizabeth still siting in the green grass.

"Lucky, I still don't understand why we are sneaking up the back stairs
in your very own house, do you know what I'm beginning to feel like?",
Elizabeth whispered a little to loudly for Lucky's ears.
Shhh...," Lucky turned to her whispering back while putting a finger to
his own lips and carefully lifting his foot up yet another step. "We're
almost there".
"That's what's worrying me," she teased him in another hushed voice.
Exasperated Lucky stopped immediately and turned around to face Elizabeth on
the stairs, "Would you rather have climbed up a tree he asked with a now
serious expression on his face. Because I'm used to that too", he finally
finished and waited for her reply.
"I thought you liked climbing trees", she said with a confused expression
on her face.
"I do, but what about you?", Lucky stated mater of factly.
"I can't climb trees, you know that Lucky" Elizabeth announced trying not
to laugh.
"And therein lies my point, so we are taking or rather trying to take
the stairs", he answered back to her before moving up the next step and
pulling her by the hand again.
Elizabeth bit her lip to keep from laughing. "What would your mother
say?", she whispered at him again.
"Nothing.... she has never caught me", Lucky spoke again with his back to
her. Finally reaching the top Lucky stopped and turned his head one way and
then the other listening.
"What are we doing now", Elizabeth leaned over his should to get a better
look for herself.
Eliz-a-beth... What do does it look like I'm doing? Listening! What is
with all the questions? Don't you trust me anymore?" Lucky lectured her in a
hushed tone.
"Oh...I'm sorry, here let me help", with that Elizabeth leaned down and
started to untie her one tennis shoe.
"W- what are you doing?", Lucky asked eying her curiously.
" Taking off my shoes, silly, it will make less noise when we make our
break for it", Elizabeth said smiling up at him a little too sweetly.
"You don't have time for that now come on", Lucky said softly before
pulling a one shoed Elizabeth down the short hallway and into his room
closing the door behind them with hardly any sound at all.

Chapter 23

Emily tossed another coin into the air closing her eyes she held her
breath until her ears heard the sweet sounding splash of the tiny coppery
object landing in the whitewashed park fountain. "Have I reached my limit
yet," she asked laughing as she snuck a a glance over at Nikolas sitting on
the bench beside her. Watching him shake his head at her she fingered
another coin in her half empty hand. Emily could hardly believe her good
fortune, here she was in possibly the most beautiful spot in the city of Port
Charles with a guy she adored. And she prayed with her whole heart that the
moment wouldn't end too soon.
Emily wasn't sure exactly what made this spot this moment any more
special than any other in her life thus far. All she knew for sure is that
the park held magic for her. Maybe it was the fact that her mother had
always liked parks before she became so ill with cancer and was forced to
stay indoor because of the treatments. Somewhere in the middle of everything
she had found a precious sense of peace. Could it because she felt so free
in the beautifully landscaped area, the fresh air, green grass, fragrant
flowers of multiple shades colors or shades, and bright blue skies of summer
had that affect on her it seemed. How anyone could be sad with all this
surround them was uncomprehensible to her. But it wasn't just the season
either. She remember coming to the same spot in the middle of winter to see
the iced over statues and the pure white blankets of snow covering the
ground. And the fall was breathtaking with all the falling autumn leaves
creating a patchwork quilt over the twisting walking paths. But Emily knew
with out a doubt that today was even more wonderful because she had someone
just a special to share it all with... Nikolas!
Nikolas having exhausted his supply of pocket change minutes before
watched Emily in awe. Meeting her in the park on that day must have been fate
in his eyes. He'd driven around for hours feeling so left out and helpless
to affect the events in his own family. At first when he had caught sight of
her he'd almost walked away He really wasn't the kind who shared his thought
and definitely not his feelings with other very easily but with Em' it was
different. Nikolas had no idea why but it just was, maybe because she was who
she was. Over the years he'd known her Nikolas had learned a lot. One day
in particular came to mind. Emily was a shy, but pretty girl who was always
willing to listen to a friend and possessed a fierce sense of loyalty.
Emily was a true friend in every way. And for the slightest second he
wondered who else had discovered that about her as well... maybe Lucky.
Draping his arm over the back of the green bench Nikolas turned to watch
Emily again. It was hard not to be infected with her laughter as she focused
her attention on her wish making task. Trying not to be too obvious he
noticed how she pulled back a stray piece of her long dark brown hair with
one finger as it blew across her face by some invisible gust of wind. When
she smiled at him her entire face lit up not just her in her lips, but
cherries of her cheeks and the sparkle of excitement in her eyes as well.
Suddenly without saying a word he realized what he perhaps had always needed
in his life...

Chapter 24

He stood with his back to the door and let out a sigh while watching the
sun rise outside the window and Elizabeth wandering around the room. "So what
do you think," Lucky asked nervously.
"I don't think... I have ever been here before," Elizabeth said looking
over her shoulder at him. "Are you going to give me a tour?", she asked
Lucky hopefully.
"If that's what you want," he answered her. Elizabeth nodded her head
quickly. Lucky walked up behind her in a few short strides and directed her
towards the first site. "This is my closet," he announced. On cue Elizabeth
reached out for the door knob, but Lucky stopped her, "You don't want to look
in there, trust me," he pleaded. My window and my home away from home he
indicated the tree just outside, she turned her head to look into his face
almost anxiously. For an instant Elizabeth thought she saw something sad in
those two blue pools of his eyes. My desk he continued running one of his
hands silently over the space from which his computer was mysteriously
missing. And this my-, Lucky blushed.
"Your bed," Elizabeth finished for him.
"So what do you think," he asked again, practically begging for an answer.
"I think it's perfect," Elizabeth replied as she turned herself around
inside the circle of his arms and brought one had up to the side of Lucky's
handsome face. After brushing away a stray strand of his hair she let her
hands fall around his neck naturally and pulled him closer for a kiss.
"Perfect," he repeated, perhaps more to himself and in more of a question
than a statement. In fact Lucky hardly noticed as Elizabeth's hand traveled
down his arms and clasped his own hands in hers. Elizabeth took a few small
steps backward and pulled Lucky along with her. Pausing he held onto her
hands as she crawled onto the bed and knelt before him on her knees. A
moment later Lucky leaned towards her with a waiting warm kiss. And when she
kissed him back he had no choice, but followed her onto the bed.


That same morning Emily awoke to the sound of a familiar voice calling
her name, "Emily...," Monica Quartermaine called from the top of the
staircase. "You have a telephone call". Stretching slowly she reached for
the phone on her nightstand as she heard her grandfather's voice commenting,
"Sounds to me like that, that-, Oh what does Luke Spencer call him... the
prince of darkness or something," Edward exclaimed just loud enough for Emily
to hear.
"Hello," Emily said lazily into the receiver with her head still resting
on the pillow and the covers pulled up to her chin. She'd had the most
wonderful dream and just when things were getting interesting someone had to
call and wake her up... this had better be important she thought to herself.
"Emily, Is that you, you sound terrible," said a soft male voice on the
other end of the line. Nikolas paused waiting for a reply.
Yeah, well that's what you get for calling me so- but she was interrupted
by the mysterious voice again.
"Em' do you even know what time it is?," Nikolas asked a little surprised
at the strange direction of their conversation had taken.
Emily reached over to pull her alarm clock into view, "early in the
morning," she answered and her voice trailed off as she read the numerals...
8:45. Still halfway under the magic spell of the dream she suddenly
asked,"Who is this anyway?".
"Nikolas, silly, and I think he's been a little hurt by the tone of your
voice," he teased her lightly.
Emily sat straight up in bed instantly, "Oh Nikolas I'm so sorry, it's
just that I'm not a very early bird on weekends," Emily tried to explain
apologetically.
"Are you still in bed," he questioned her suddenly curious.
"I don't have to answer that," Emily shot back while a tiny blush
creeping into her cheeks.
"You are, aren't you?," he laughed.
"Okay, ha, ha, ha, I'm just so funny... now what do you really want Mr.
Cassadine...," she announced over-empathizing the last part of her statement.
On the end of the line Nikolas swallowed a lump in his throat thinking
it's now or never Cassadine. He couldn't believe he was actually nervous
about talking to Emily for the first time in his life. A voice inside his
head urged him, "just spit it out!".
"Emily, I was just wondering if you had time, I mean time to meet me
today at- at... the park, there is something I want to discuss with you,"
Nikolas finally managed to speak. He took in a deep breath of air.
"Well, let me see what I got open," Emily answered back throwing the
telephone over her shoulder while bouncing up and down on her bed a few
times. She could hardly believe it, not only had Nikolas called her, but
here he was asking her to meet him in the park. Pretending to thumb through
a make-believe calendar she placed the ear piece to her head again. Is nine
o' clock early enough?", Emily inquired.
"Yeah That's fine," he replied.
Nikolas, what are we discussing," she returned, but she was met with only
silence. "Nikolas, Nikolas..."


Chapter 25

This was nothing like their night in New York City and the small motel
where they almost made love for the first time. This time they were in the
familiar surroundings of Lucky's room. A place they both knew and were
supposed to feel safe in, but suddenly it didn't feel that way, at least not
completely. Lucky tried to push the thought away, but somewhere in the back
of his mind he was scared... scared that he would be taken away from
Elizabeth again. So Lucky held back.
Elizabeth could feel the weight of his body over hers as their foreheads
touched and she lifted her chin so Lucky's lips met her own in a lingering
kiss. Her hands held his face so Elizabeth could see Lucky's love for her
shining brightly in his own eyes. But she was still scared..scared that he
would vanish into a dark cloud of smoke like before. His hand brushed
against her cheek and cradled her chin before mouth pressed over hers. Lucky
kissed her several times and each time she had kissed him right back without
reservation. The first one was as light a if a feather had fallen from
heaven. The next filled her up with love, and the last one left not doubt
about how real his feelings for her were, Elizabeth was instantly thirsty for
more.


When Emily finally made it to the park she found Nikolas already there.
Sitting on the edge of the fountain that they had been wishing at the morning
before. He smiled when her saw her and waved her over.
"I thought you never get her," he said immediately.
"Well what's the hurry...what did you want to discuss with me that is so
urgent," Emily asked again. Nikolas paused and became very still as he
studied her seriously. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled out a small
navy blue box. He noticed ironically that by sitting he was at the height of
Emily's knees, there really was really no need to get down on his own two.
"Nikolas...," Emily exclaimed growing impatient with him rather quickly.
"Emily," he began calmly, popping open the box, "I have a question I need
to ask you..."


Elizabeth was so real, so soft to the touch, so in tune with him every
step of the way Lucky realized and if she hand any fears she hid them well.
He felt her hands rolling down his shoulders and start to caress his back
making slow deliberate circles on top of the thin fabric of his shirt. Lucky
made the move to mimic the action for her. Everything was happening so fast
and suddenly Lucky felt Elizabeth's fingers underneath his shirt moving up
his chest taking the material with them.
Elizabeth... I need to ask you something...

"Will you marry me?". "Emily?," Nikolas said when at first he got no
reply.
Totally stunned she stared at him, speechless. "W-what are you- are you
sure?". Nikolas nodded, beaming at her silently. "Yes!" Seconds later Emily
and Nikolas found themselves in each others arms and literally falling into
the splashing water of the fountain kissing.

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