''I haven't seen him in quite awhile, you know,'' Katherine seated herself at a table and crossed one slender leg, folding her hands in her lap.

The smile on her face was twisted in an expression that Nikolas couldn't quite read. It was on the verge of wicked and yet it was mocking. He couldn't quite figure it out.

''And it's all because of that business of his.'' she shook her head. ''Working at the hospital day and night. And having Laura yet to pine after, it must be so hard to handle.'' The fakeness vanished and for one swift moment Nikolas could have sworn that he detected true emotion in her next statement. ''How are you holding up, dear Nikolas?''

He had it.

It wasn't wickedness or mock that he heard in her voice and saw in that smile. It was scorn, despise, revenge.

But why? Because he refused to talk for her for even a minute? Because he wouldn't even look at her? Because he didn't hop right into bed with her anymore? No, never again would he do that and she knew it.

He glared at her.

''What do you want Katherine?''

His voice came out in a low growl.

''Just a chat.'' she answered innocently. ''To catch up on old times, to see how your father is.''

''His father's dead.'' Lucky broke in on the conversation.

And there was that evil smile again, turning onto Nikolas' half brother.

''You are a computer expert, aren't you Mr. Spencer? You know how to get into files of all sorts, how to hack into personal business records...'' her voice trailed off as she waited for an answer.

Lucky slowly nodded.

''Well, I'm sure that you can find the information that you are looking for then. And if not there, then you can quite certainly ask your mother.''

With that, the woman stood and picked up her purse. She headed for the doorway, but then turned back towards the young man who was staring after her in puzzlement. And then, as if deciding that hints weren't enough, she walked back over and peered into his eyes.

''You really don't get it, do you?'' She asked sadly.

Nikolas stared at her.

''Oh, Nikolas. Stefan isn't your uncle. He's your father.''

Hours later, he ran up the steps as soon as the launch docked, fury mixed with frustration and bewilderment written all across his face. He stopped right outside the door to Wyndemere, glancing up at the tall, extravagant house in which he had lived for the last few years. Living in a web of lies that had been spun around and around. It was time, he decided, to break free of the deceit. He ran up the steps to Stefan's room and threw open the door. Stefan bolted up in bed.

''Nikolas, for goodness sakes, what's the matter?'' The handsome man's forehead creased with lines of concern.

Nikolas only stared at him, suddenly unable to find the words. Worried, Stefan tossed back the comforter and took a step towards the boy. He reached for his robe and asked once again what the cause for alarm was.

''You never told me the truth.'' He finally said, causing the man to take a step back.

''What haven't I told you about?'' he asked, genuinely confused.

''My father.''

Stefan stared at him for a moment, worry flashed across his face and in an instant it was gone. ''So this is what the madness is about? In the morning I shall tell you anything else you would like to know about Stavros-''

Nikolas held up a hand to stop him. ''Don't.'' he ordered. ''Don't. Katherine told me. Helena hinted to me, but Katherine told me.'' His eyes flashed with rage. ''And now I want to hear it from you. Stavros wasn't my father was he...Was he!'' His shout was such a shock that Stefan took another step back.

''Nikolas-''

''All of these years,'' he said quietly, ''all of these years while yearning for a father, you brought me up as your nephew.''

''I can explain everything.'' Stefan replied calmly.

''I don't want excuses, just tell me!'' he lowered his voice. ''Are you my father?''

Stefan sighed and paused, arguing the voices in his head telling him not to reveal his identity, but Nikolas needed to hear the truth.

''No Nikolas, I'm not your father.''

Nikolas took only a moment to recover from Stefan's unexpected answer. ''Why can't you admit it, why can't you just say it!''

''Where are you going?'' Stefan asked in alarm as the boy turned around to leave.

Nikolas' only answer was the closing of the door behind him.

She was grateful for Elizabeth's company. More grateful for the shoulder that she had offered. She had spent the evening eating apple pie and talking to Elizabeth outside of Kelly's. But she didn't tell her friend about what had happened. Perhaps it was because she was still too angry, still too upset. Or perhaps it was because while they were gossiping about their peers at school and about the prom, she was starting to feel whole again, not so alone.

And no one, not even Emily herself, understood just how alone she felt. Betrayed by both her family and brother-the person she trusted most. How cruel life seemed to her, to put her through ordeal after ordeal, to leave her with this feeling of loneliness day after day.

Now, passing up Elizabeth's offer of having a sleepover, Emily walked through the park aimlessly. She had no where to go and perhaps she liked it better that way. For when you have no where to go, you don't have to think about facing people. You don't have to face the fact that you are in need. And now, Emily didn't have to face the loneliness inside of her. She could wander about, without having to think about her problems. Her mind wandered back to Nikolas and the final dance they had shared at the Penthouse. Sitting down on a stone bench, Emily closed her eyes, still feeling the feel of his hand running through her hair. The touch of his soft skin on her back seemed to linger even now as he held her close. The scent of his cologne still filled her nostrils as she imagined resting her head on his shoulder. And most of all, she recalled the feel of his lips on her cheek.

Nikolas was one who would understand. He was the one who could comfort.

Hope filled her head and all thoughts of not wanting to bother him went away. She needed him. Hurrying out of the park, she found a pay phone just as it began to drizzle and rushed into the booth.

Hearing someone pick up on the other end, she asked for Nikolas.

''I'm sorry, but he's not here Miss Quartermaine.'' the housekeeper said.

''Do you know when he'll get back?''

''He's not here, that's all I know.''

''But-''

"'Is there a message?''

Emily closed her eyes and leaned back against the back of the booth as the rain began to pour. ''No, no message.''

There was a click on the line. Emily stared at the phone in her hands, listening to the dial tone.

Determined to find him, to talk to him, she hurried out of the phone booth and into the rain.

She ran back through the park, the bottom of her borrowed athletic pants already dirtying from the mud. She was about to rush back to Kelly's to see if Nikolas was there, but she spotted a figure just ahead of her. His head was bent against the rain, hands shoved deep into his pockets.

''Nikolas!''

He turned around at the call of his name. Emily's smile broadened at the sight of him. She hurried to catch up and ran into his arms. ''I've been looking for you.'' she told him over the rain. ''I need to talk to you, you're the only one I can talk to.''

He pulled away from her embrace coldly and avoided her gaze. She stared at him, the smile disappearing from her lips.

''What's wrong?'' she asked, gazing up into his face.

''I need to be alone right now.'' he told her.

''But-''

''Emily, please.''

He started to walk away, but Emily called after him.

''Talk to me?''

''No.''

His answer only infuriated her. ''But I need you right now. And it's obvious that you need someone too, so why can't you talk to me?''

He stopped walking and turned to look at her. Emily could see his brown eyes were full of tears, despite the rain that was dripping from his hair down his face. And he didn't say a word, just looked at her.

''Nikolas,'' she repeated desperately. ''Talk to me?''

Despite the distance between them and the gentle patter of the rain on the benches, she heard him sigh and shake his head. Rain water splattered from his hair at the movement. ''Everything's different now, Em.'' she heard him say. ''Everything has changed.''

He couldn't have meant them. Emily thought. What had changed between them? They had danced, nothing else.

''I don't understand-'' she began.

Nikolas stared. He couldn't tell her, couldn't let her know. But why? He knew that she would listen to him, he knew that she would lend a shoulder, but still he couldn't. He didn't want to see her eyes when he told her. He didn't want to see the pity when he told her that his own father couldn't admit that Nikolas was his son.

She started to come closer to him, but he held up a hand.

''Don't Em. I just need some space right now.''

Pain flashed across her face and he turned his head