>>Author note: Liz stabbed Lucky, just like you saw on GH. And he spent the night at her house, just like you saw. Emily came home from her photo shoot totally excited about making a friend, etc., etc., and waited for Lucky to tell him all about it, feeling bad that she hadn’t told him she was a model. Anyway, he never showed because Liz was busy nursing his wounds...and Emily fell asleep waiting for him. That’s where the story picks up. >>


A slight creaking sound woke Emily up from her deep sleep. She opened her eyes, feeling completely disoriented. She was stretched over the couch, and her neck hurt like crazy from an awkward sleeping position. She didn’t remember falling asleep. The last thing she recalled, she’d been reading a magazine and waiting impatiently for Lucky to show.

Emily glanced over at the source of the noise. The door was opening ever so gently, and Renoldo peeked his head through. “Go ahead,” He whispered to whoever was behind him, and a moment later Lucky staggered through the doorway.

Emily’s mouth fell open in shock. “Lucky! What happened to you?” He was literally dragging himself across the room, and with every movement a flicker of pain crossed his face.

Lucky, just noticing her, winced. “It’s four in the morning. You’re supposed to be in your room, asleep.”

“I could say the same for you,” Emily returned, jumping up and rushing over to him. “I was waiting for you, and I fell asleep on the couch. Where were you last night?”

“I was with Liz,” Lucky responded, flinching as she tried to help him make his way toward the couch.

“What happened? Are you sick? Do you need a doctor or something?” Emily tried to ignore all the wild thoughts running through her mind. What had happened to Lucky? Had Liz been involved?

“I’m not sick. And I already saw a doctor.” Lucky grimaced as Emily gripped his arm and steered him toward the couch. Slowly, painstakingly, she helped him sit on one end. He leaned back, looking utterly drained. “It’s nothing. I’ll be fine.”

“What happened?” Emily asked again, desperate to know what had happened to put him in so much pain.

“I got cut.”

“On what?” Emily was staring at the large cut in his shirt, taking in all the blood splattered on his clothing and skin.

“A knife.”

Emily felt as if her eyes were bulging out of their sockets. “You were stabbed? How? By who?”

Lucky had his eyes closed. “I don’t want to talk about it, Em.”

“But how did you get here?”

“I took a cab.” Lucky sighed deeply. “Look, I left before Liz woke up, okay? She doesn’t know I left. So if she calls, she might be upset. Please tell her I’m fine and asleep.”

“Did you have a fight?” Emily asked quietly. She was trying to process all this new information.

“I didn’t say that, did I? I just said I left. Can we leave it at that?” Lucky sounded exasperated and weary. “I’m really tired, Emily.”

Emily’s mind was reeling. Lucky had been too adamant about not having a fight with Liz. Was that what had happened? Had Liz and Lucky gotten into a fight, and she stabbed him? But then why would he stay the night, only to sneak out in the morning? It didn’t make sense. But Emily didn’t care. She was furious.

If Liz did stab him, I swear I’ll never let her near him again, Emily vowed to herself as she eased away from Lucky slowly. “Lucky?” Emily said softly.

Lucky groaned. “Yeah?”

“Tell me if you need anything. I promise, I’ll do whatever I can to help you.” Emily watched him nod wordlessly as he drifted off to sleep, and she started creeping to the stairs to go up to her room. Starting with protecting you from Liz Webber, Emily thought silently.

* * * * * *

Emily bustled around the kitchen later that morning. She was starving, but didn’t want to bother Graciola when she could be satisfied by a simple piece of toast. When they’d all woken up, Jason had insisted on taking Lucky in to General Hospital to check his bandages, despite Lucky’s protests. And Robin had left to meet Brenda for a L&B meeting.

A loud knock on the door startled her. Emily knew that Leticia was upstairs, and could answer it if she wanted her to, but she was probably busy with Michael. So Emily walked over to the door and opened it. “Who is it, Renoldo?” She asked.

“Elizabeth Webber here to see Lucky,” Renoldo answered.

Emily felt anger swell up inside her. How dare she come visit Lucky after hurting him? What right did she have, especially when Lucky had so obviously fled from her earlier that morning?

“Send her in,” Emily ordered. Suddenly she couldn’t wait to see Liz and give her a piece of her mind.

Liz appeared in the doorway, looking out of place and uncertain. “Is Lucky around?” She asked.

“No, as a matter of fact, he isn’t,” Emily said coldly. “He’s at the hospital at the moment, being treated for serious wounds. But you wouldn’t know anything about that...or would you?”

Emily glared at her as Liz shifted, looking a little surprised and very guilty.

Chapter 7:

“Wha--did Lucky come here?” Liz stammered, faltering slightly as she looked down at the floor instead of Emily’s accusing gaze.

“Yes--he managed to drag himself across town to get here.” Emily crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“My grandmother checked him out,” Liz said uneasily. “She said he was fine. Did...did something happen? Is that why he’s at the hospital? Was there an infection? He’s all right, isn’t he?”

Emily watched Liz get more pale and frantic by the second. As upset as she was with the girl, she felt her heart soften slightly. Obviously Liz cared about Lucky...that was something not entirely unfamiliar to Emily. Of course she would want to know if he was all right. “He’s fine,” Emily admitted.

Liz relaxed immediately, and all the resentful feelings rushed back at Emily. If Liz cared so much, she wouldn’t have stuck a knife in his chest, Emily reminded herself. “Of course, I meant physically,” Emily added. “But I seriously doubt he’ll be very comfortable in a room with you when he hasn’t made sure you’re not packing any sharp weapons.”

Liz flinched. “What are you talking about?”

Emily smoothed her hair casually. “Lucky told me you stabbed him, Liz.”

Liz looked at her, her eyes shining with tears. “I told him I was sorry. It was an accident! I wasn’t thinking straight--he knows that. You don’t know the circumstances. You have no idea what was going on--”

“Oh, I have every idea,” Emily bluffed. “I know exactly what went on. And let me tell you this, Liz. Victims of a brutal attack just aren’t going to be buddy-buddy with their attackers the next day. You should know that.”

“Why should I know that?” Liz asked. Her voice sounded strange to Emily. It was a combination of fear, confusion and desperation. She was edging back toward the door, inch by inch, as if slowly escaping.

Emily shrugged. Better to be mysterious, she figured. That would make Liz think Lucky had told her more details about the incident than he really had. From the looks of it, Liz was really getting bothered.

“Lucky didn’t tell you anything about me,” Liz said, her voice shrill. “I mean... you’ve made your point about him being mad at me about the incident. But did he mention anything about me while he was upset? He wouldn’t say anything... I mean, I seriously doubt he’d tell you anything really private, but--”

Emily tried her best to look confident and cool. “Lucky tells me everything, Liz,” She said. She fixed her gaze on Liz. “Everything.”

Liz swallowed hard. “I don’t believe that,” She said bravely. “Lucky wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Oh, Lucky has looser lips than you think,” Emily said airily. At least that much was true. Lucky hadn’t exactly kept his voice down while he was on the phone, babbling to Liz about them living together.

Liz was shaking her head. “No, no. He couldn’t. He said he wouldn’t say anything--” She looked up at Emily, and her eyes were damp. “How could he?”

Emily shifted her position, watching Liz’s bizarre antics with interest. Obviously Liz had threatened Lucky if he told about their fight--or at least asked him to keep it quiet. Emily was glad Liz had shown up like this, and she could take care of it. Obviously Lucky was blinded by his feelings for her, and couldn’t see her for what she really was.

Liz looked so upset, Emily momentarily considered backing down and admitting that she didn’t actually know the details of what had happened. But she was helpless against the tide of resentment and anger. So many people in her life thought they could walk all over everyone else to get what they wanted. The Quartermaines had been doing it for years, but she’d always been too sheltered to see it. Now she felt broken and bruised inside, her entire view on her life shattered. She wasn’t going to let Liz break Lucky that way.

“Look, Liz,” Emily said, in her best attempt to be civil,” he was just very, very upset. Maybe I could ask him to call you, and if he feels up to it, you two could discuss this directly--”

“No,” Liz said suddenly, her lips trembling. “Don’t have him call me. I don’t want to talk to him ever again!”

Emily stared at her, stunned and speechless. Just then Lucky and Jason walked through the door, and the moment seemed to last forever. Emily saw Lucky turn almost in slow-motion, see her and Liz facing off, with Liz on the verge of a breakdown. His eyes narrowed as his gaze swiveled back and forth between both girls.

His eyes locked on Emily and he demanded tersely,” What, exactly, is going on here?”

Chapter 8:

Emily opened her mouth to defend herself, but it was like a wad of cotton was in her mouth. Suddenly she found herself unable to say a word.

Liz whirled around and headed for the door. She would have walked out without saying a word if Jason wouldn’t have reached out and stopped her. “Hey, are you all right?” He asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

Liz moved away from him. “I’m fine,” She said tearfully.

Lucky reached over to her, and Jason stepped out of the way to give them privacy. “Liz. What’s the matter?”

Emily peeked and saw that big tears were spilling down Liz’s cheeks, although she was trying to fight them. “Just leave me alone,” She begged, her voice a whisper. “I have to go.”

“Liz, tell me what’s wrong,” Lucky coaxed.

“I can’t.” Liz looked pained as she wiped away tears, while still more spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t want to talk to you, Lucky--not ever.”

Lucky’s mouth opened slightly, and he looked just as shocked as Emily felt. Emily turned her back, knowing she shouldn’t be witnessing this. She heard the tremor in Lucky’s voice and felt a lump in her own throat.

“Liz, why don’t I give you some time? I can call you later, or come over, and you can tell me what’s bothering you--”

Liz interrupted him. “No. Don’t call me, Lucky. Don’t come over to my grandmother’s house. Just leave me alone!”

Emily heard the door open and slam shut and then a long, silent moment. She turned around slowly. She took a peek at Lucky’s profile. He just looked stunned. He turned to her, moving almost mechanically. “Emily, what happened just now?”

Emily bit her lip. “Liz came over to see you. She--she was a little upset, I think.”

“A little upset?” Lucky stared at her, a sarcastic touch to his tone. “Emily, I think that was more than just a little upset.”

“She was distraught,” Emily said meekly. “She felt bad about the stabbing. I think she felt really guilty.”

“Emily, did you say anything to upset her further?”

Emily tried to put on her innocent face, but Lucky’s beleaguered voice was affecting her too deeply. “I guess I didn’t make it any easier on her,” She said quietly. “But, Lucky, she hurt you! I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t pretend to be best friends when she could have killed you!”

“She couldn’t have killed me,” Lucky corrected her, sounding positively furious. “It was an accident, Emily. An event which you know nothing about!”

“But, Lucky...she hurt you.” Emily spoke in an imploring whisper. She felt guilt rising up inside of her, but she tried her best to keep it out of her voice.

Lucky sighed deeply and sank down on the couch. “I can’t believe it,” He said, almost to himself.

Emily wondered briefly if he was just thinking aloud. But she sat down on the couch anyway. “This must be so shocking for you. First the injury, now this...”

“Forget this stupid injury,” Lucky burst out. “Do you think I care about a few stitches and some minor aches and pains? I want to know why Liz is hurting so bad and beating herself up over it--but she won’t talk to me! That’s what hurts me, far more than any cut could!”

“I’m sorry,” Emily whispered. She had no idea what to say, but she couldn’t turn around and walk upstairs to leave him alone when he was like this. She wanted more than anything to comfort him. But what was there to say? She was obviously saying all the wrong things.

Lucky buried his head in his hands. “Did she say anything important? Did she say it that bluntly, that she blamed herself for the whole incident?”

“She didn’t say that specifically,” Emily answered. “I think she was trying to convince herself she wasn’t responsible, but couldn’t.”

“Doesn’t she know I don’t blame her?” Lucky asked aloud, once again talking to himself. “I told her it was as much my fault as it was hers--why didn’t she believe me? I can’t let her blame herself. There’s no telling what she’ll do.”

Emily felt snide remarks forming on the tip of her tongue, but swallowed them. What was Lucky to Liz, a boyfriend or a baby-sitter? Then a horrible thought struck her. He didn’t think Liz might try to hurt herself, did he?

“I’m going to call her,” Lucky announced, standing up.

“No!” Emily cried, standing up as well and grabbing his arm. “You can’t. She told you not to.”

Lucky looked at her. “I have to try, Em. Maybe she’ll tell me what’s wrong.”

Emily’s mind raced. “She’s probably not home yet,” Emily pointed out reasonably. “She just left five minutes ago, and it probably took her that long to hail a cab.”

“I’ll leave a message,” Lucky said, shaking her hand off his arm.

“Do you think she’ll call you back?” Emily asked desperately. “Think logically, Lucky. She’ll just erase the message and hate you for ignoring her wishes.”

Lucky’s shoulders slumped. “I guess you’re right,” He admitted.

Emily’s breathing slowed to normal. “Yes. Good. Now, you should just sit down and maybe we can watch TV or something. Just try not to think about it--it’ll be less painful to think about in the morning.”

Lucky looked at her incredulously. “I just lost my best friend in the world, and you want me to watch TV and sleep on it?”

The words hit Emily like a slap across the face. ‘Best friend in the world’. That had been her once. He might have fought for her that hard once. She turned away so he couldn’t see the tears of pain that had sprung into her eyes.

Lucky didn’t notice her pain. He jumped up and raced over to the door. “Tell Jason I left. I’m going to go over to her house--I’ll sit on the doorstep all day if I have to. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

“Wait!” Emily cried, rushing toward the door. But Lucky had already closed the door behind him, too wrapped up in finding Liz to hear her pitiful cry.

Emily sank back onto the couch, balling up into a curled position and closing her eyes. What had she accomplished? She’d gotten Liz upset, caused her to break up with Lucky, and now Lucky was out chasing after her. Why had she turned vicious like that?

Emily squeezed her eyes shut tightly, trying to block out the feeling of guilt that was washing over her. If Liz didn’t relent, and Lucky came home miserable, it was all her fault. She didn’t know if she could handle the implications of that.

This wasn’t what she had wanted at all. She’d just wanted Liz to feel bad for what she’d done--and Lucky to realize that he deserved better than someone that would hurt him. She’d wanted them to break up--but not like this.

With her eyes shut to the dim lighting in the apartment, Emily saw only complete darkness. She heard only silence, as Jason was upstairs with the sleeping Michael. She felt completely and utterly alone.

Chapter 9:

The next morning, Emily awoke determined not to let guilt get the best of her. After all, the only thing she was guilty of was not hiding her distrust for Liz. None of the things that had happened yesterday were her fault, she convinced herself. Not Liz getting upset, Liz breaking up with Lucky, and certainly not Lucky coming home heartbroken last night after rushing to her house.

Emily picked out her outfit halfheartedly, a worn pair of jeans and a faded tee-shirt. Yesterday he’d been too miserable to eat, sleep or even respond to a simple question. It was highly doubtful he’d even notice her, let alone her appearance.

She spent most of the morning and early afternoon in the guest bedroom, flipping through magazines. She took in the bright ads and newest fashion trends without really absorbing any of it. She paused on the fashion layout section, wondering when her own pictures would be displayed. Then she remembered Lane Crussell, the other model she’d met at the shoot. Her gaze fell on the scrap of paper on her night table.

Before she could think about it, Emily reached over and grasped the paper. She picked up the phone and dialed quickly, grateful for the phone in the room.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Is Lane there?” Emily was nervous. What if Lane didn’t remember her?

“You’ve got her. Who’s this?”

Emily hadn’t recognized her voice at all. “This is Emily. From the Seventeen spread just a couple days ago. Remember?”

“Of course.” Lane’s voice became friendlier. “What’s up?”

“I was just bored,” Emily said uncertainly, wondering if she’d made a mistake. “I hope you don’t mind me calling--”

“I wouldn’t have given you the number if I minded,” Lane told her, a hint of laughter in her tone.

“Right. I knew that.” Emily felt flustered. “I just...well, I just saw some pictures in Seventeen and was trying to imagine opening an issue and seeing my face.”

Lane laughed. “Yeah. The first time I got a cover, I freaked out. The people down the street probably heard me scream.”

It was so weird, Emily thought. Even though she was insanely jealous of Liz--as much as she hated to admit it--she didn’t even feel a twinge of envy as Lane mentioned a cover job. It was just impossible to envy Lane, who was so down-to-earth. Or maybe it was just impossible not to envy Liz, who had everything.

“Have you ever gone to the teen club downtown?” Lane asked.

Emily almost laughed out loud, trying to imagine it. “Um, no, I haven’t.”

“Well, it is the most awesome place to meet people. It’s a lot of fun. Last night I met this guy who was in a band--” Lane launched into a story about some guy who thought he was a rock star, and Emily half-listened. Inwardly she debated whether she should tell Lane about what was bothering her.

Lane laughed so hard she almost couldn’t finish her story. “...so then, the owner had to come and pick him out because he was so loud and obnoxious. I couldn’t believe it!” She laughed, then quieted. “I guess you had to be there.”

“No, it’s a good story,” Emily insisted. “I was just...thinking. About some stuff that happened this weekend.”

“Uh-oh. Sounds bad.”

Emily desperately tried to make up her mind. Should she tell such personal stuff to a girl she hardly knew?

What’s the other option, Em? She thought wryly. Talk to your twenty-something brother’s girlfriend when they’re only putting up with you because they’re nice people? No way. That left... no one. Unless she took a risk.

“It’s kind of a complicated situation,” Emily ventured. “See, there’s this guy. We used to be best friends,” Emily said, and described how close they’d once been. “But then...I don’t know. Things happened, and we started to drift apart.” She thought of her heroine overdose. “He met another girl and forgot I existed.”

“Oh, no.”

Emily decided she liked having such a captive audience. “Well, she’s gone now. But he has this thing for her sister now, and it’s the same scenario.”

“Sounds like this guy just hops from girl to girl,” Lane commented.

“It’s not like that this time,” Emily said, frowning. “Don’t ask me how I know, but I think it’s serious. Lucky’s never been so protective of anyone...except maybe me, years ago. They’re never apart. I even heard that they...well, let’s just say they’re more than friends.” Emily decided not to repeat what she’d heard. “Anyway, the problem is that I thought she hurt him in a fight.”

“How did you think that?” Lane asked.

“He came home with a cut. So I assumed she did it, and he didn’t deny it. I could read it in his face that I was right. So she came over while he was gone, and I wasn’t exactly nice to her. In fact, I might have gone overboard.” Emily didn’t share exactly how nasty she’d been. “Lucky came in, and she broke up with him.”

“You’re kidding!”

“No. She was really freaked out for some reason--I don’t know. But she nearly got hysterical, telling him not to call her. Then he ran out after her, but I guess she told him to get lost. He’s miserable, and I feel terrible about it.”

“That’s a pretty messy situation,” Lane agreed. “I see where you’re coming from. But you don’t know anything for sure. You’re just guessing.”

Emily silently agreed, even though the bluntness smarted a little.

“I don’t think you can really mend things,” Lane said slowly,” except to do the last thing you want to do. Which would be telling him exactly what you said.”

Emily felt her heart drop. “I really don’t want to do that,” She whispered. “He wouldn’t understand--he’d take her side and hate me forever.”

“Then maybe you could just give the general idea that you provoked her,” Lane suggested. “Spare the gory details. The only other solution is to roll with it and hope they either mend it on their own...or that this could be your big chance.”

“I don’t know,” Emily said glumly. She wanted to pretend the whole thing had never happened--but that wasn’t any of Lane’s options. “Maybe I’ll just wait it out for a while.”

“In the meantime, you’d better figure out exactly how you feel about Lucky,” Lane advised her. “This was your childhood buddy. And correct me if I’m wrong, but your only true close friend, ever. That’s a pretty intense relationship. Are you sure you’re not just missing that closeness, and mistaking your longing for his friendship for romantic feelings?”

Emily was at a loss for words.

Chapter 10:

Emily wet her lips, which were suddenly dry. “I...I’m sure I’m not mistaking my feelings. I like Lucky. I always have.”

“What do you like most about him?”

“I don’t know.” Emily tried to think, but was distracted by the fact that he was just a floor below. “I guess...well, I guess I like the fact that we’re so much alike. We think alike, in a weird way. He’s a good listener, and he understands me. And I just...well, I know him inside and out and I’ve never found anything about him I disliked.”

“Emily, that was a year ago. He could have changed into a totally different person by now.”

“I know. I know that, I really do. But I can’t help thinking that it’s Liz that’s making him seem different, and if she was just about of the way then maybe it could be like before.”

Lane was reading her mind, it seemed. “Emily...what you just said. You want it to be like before. You weren’t a couple before.”

“I know,” Emily admitted. “I guess I don’t really know how I feel. The most important thing to me is his friendship. How can I miss his kisses if he never kissed me? How do I long for him whispering sweet nothings in my ear when he never did? All I knew back then was his friendship, and so that’s what I remember when I lay awake at night.”

“It sounds to me like you’re totally confused over this boy. I feel for you. I can’t imagine losing my closest friend like that, and seeing him all around and missing him.”

“Talk about all around,” Emily said wryly. “He lives in the same apartment as me.”

“No way!” Lane’s astonishment was so great that Emily knew she really, genuinely was interested. “How did that happen?”

“I’m living with my brother and his girlfriend. And his kid. Anyway, just when I took up the guest room, Lucky asked Jason if he could crash on his couch. So I see him every day.”

“That’s crazy. How come you aren’t living at home? Why isn’t he?”

“I don’t know why he isn’t,” Emily said. She hadn’t really thought about it until then. “He was always so tight with his family. But...well, I wasn’t getting along well with my family. It’s sort of complicated.”

“That should be your motto,” Lane joked.

“It probably should,” Emily agreed. Nothing in her life was simple--not anymore.

“Living in close quarters with the guy of your dreams and ex-best friend has got to be pretty strange,” Lane commented. “No wonder you’re so mixed-up.”

“I haven’t talked to him much,” Emily said. “Every time I see him I almost run up to him, tell him how my day has been, ask him how his little sister is--the stuff I used to do when we were friends. Then I remember that we’re not anymore, and I’m not allowed to do that stuff anymore.” Emily felt a tightness in her throat. “I hate it. Lucky was my best friend, and every day I wonder what I could have done differently so that it would still be that way.”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Lane said. “I think you’ve got a lot to figure out on your own. Just be really honest with yourself about what you want, and then maybe you can express it to him. That’s the best advice I can give.”

“Thanks, Lane,” Emily said, before they exchanged good-byes and hung up. She knew it was good advice, but she was tired of soul-searching. Her soul didn’t hold any answers; just a bunch more exhausting questions.

Emily sat on the edge of her bed, trying to conjure up an obscure memory of her and Lucky. Instantly a day years ago popped into her head, when they’d been making up a story together, each adding a small part and then having the other person continue. They’d ended up with a stupid, insane story about a farmer and a goose who went through adventures together. A few months later, they’d been walking and seen a goose. Lucky pointed it out and called it by the name they’d chosen in the story.

Emily laughed out loud. It was a stupid memory, really. But it was just so like Lucky to remember even a small little detail. And it had been just one example of their private jokes that nobody else would have understood. Jokes that nobody else ever would or ever could understand.

Emily glanced out the window, seeing the bright sunshine outside. Could she ever let go of those wonderful, unbelievably happy memories? Could she ever accept that things would never be that way again, and go on with her life? She wasn’t sure. She knew she didn’t want to consider it.

“I know how I feel,” Emily said aloud, talking to the wall. “I know what I want.”

She was sure even the wall knew what a liar she was.

Chapter 11:

“I’m fine here. Really,” Emily insisted later that day, talking to Monica on the phone. “It’s better without having to worry about when Alan’s leaving, and what he’s planning to do, and if I could stop him.”

Emily heard Monica sigh through the receiver and realized how much she missed those kinds of sounds--the jangling of her jewelry, the tight-lipped sighs, the light laughter. Despite her best efforts, Emily felt terribly homesick and clutched the phone tighter, afraid she was going to start to cry.

“I know where you’re coming from,” Monica said. “I honestly do. Sometimes I wish I could get away from it, too. But we have to be strong for Alan. He’ll get over this--once he admits he has a problem.”

“I can’t wait for that,” Emily said, knowing she was doing the right thing. “After I got clean, everyone told me to surround myself with clean friends, supportive family, etc. And I did, because I knew that was going to help me to stay away from drugs. I can’t be around an addict, no matter what’s he’s on or what the circumstances are.”

“Oh, Emily, you’re absolutely right.” Monica’s voice broke. “It’s just...it’s so hard not having you here. I hate knowing that you have to stay somewhere else...and I worry about you. Whether or not it’s necessary, I still do. It feels like it’s been months instead of a week.”

“It does,” Emily agreed. There was a long moment of silence.

“Can I meet you somewhere?” Monica asked. “We could go to a restaurant and have a late lunch. Or just get something to drink--I just want to see you.”

“That sounds okay,” Emily agreed. “I can meet you at Kelly’s in about fifteen minutes.”

“All right. I have something to finish up but I shouldn’t be much longer than that. I’ll see you there, Emily.”

“‘Bye,” Emily said, and hung up. She quickly changed out of her sloppy clothes and found something a little nicer to wear. She told Robin where she was headed, and one of Jason’s men chauffeured her there.

Emily walked up to the door of Kelly’s, deciding to wait outside for Monica rather than to go in and sit alone in the packed diner. She turned away from the door, wishing she’d brought a jacket. The day was gloomy and cold for summer.

Emily shifted, and caught a glimpse of a familiar figure walking slowly past. She stared, surprised. “Nikolas! What are you doing here?”

Nikolas looked up. “Oh, I was just walking,” He said in a neutral tone. “What are you doing here?”

“Meeting Monica,” She answered.

“Oh? How come?” Nikolas had a way of asking any kind of question without ever seeming intrusive. It was probably the low, even voice and the way he never appeared intrigued or curious, Emily decided.

“Well, I’m not living at home anymore,” Emily said,” and we haven’t seen each other in a week. So we decided to meet here and--” She stopped herself, cursing her loose lips. She always talked too much around Nikolas, and always gave away personal information without thinking.

“Where are you living?”

“At Jason’s.” Emily spied on him, and thought she detected a glimmer of interest. She decided to quell any forming Robin questions right away. “Actually, with him and Robin.”

“Oh.”

“Well, I see her now.” Emily saw Monica pulling into the parking lot and turned to Nikolas. “Nice talking to you, though.”

“Yeah. You too.” Nikolas walked slowly past, and Emily watched him with interest. Something was defiantly different with him, she decided. He was downright gloomy. She wondered if it had anything to do with the Cassadine trial.

Emily smiled as Monica neared, trying to ignore the feelings that were attacking her. She felt desperately homesick, and a part of her wanted to throw herself into Monica’s arms and beg to come home. But she knew that was just the child in her taking over, and it was the logical part of her that had her reasons for not coming home and not letting her homesickness control her.

But as Monica came up and hugged her tightly, Emily forgot her independence and logic, savoring the safe feeling it provided. For the minute, she was with the one person who she could always trust and rely on. And nothing else--not Lucky, not Alan and certainly not Liz--mattered to her. She only wished she could hold onto that moment forever.