Epilogue:
Beginnings

The water is calm under the barge as it floats, anchored less than a mile off shore of Cassadine Island. An island that's seen death, hope, love, birth and destruction. A place that sums up, for better or for worse, the history and future of the Cassadine Family. It's free right now -- that place. There is nothing written in stone for it's future, anymore than it is for the three figures on the glorified raft that has been towed by boat out here for this final ceremony.

Here, cradled in the arms of the Aegean, at the sunset, they are going to say their last good-bye. It's been a year in coming. A promise they made to each other while struggling to cope with the aftermath of what this woman brought into their lives. This is the place, finally, where they can put her to rest.

Emily stands up first, raising her head to the sky and breathing in the fresh salt air. She closes her eyes, trying to absorb the feel of this place -- where she had decided her Aunt would rest. She opens her eyes and looks over at her companions. They are both watching her -- one with concern, and the other with understanding. She holds out her hands to both of them, and they rise, each taking one hand in theirs. After a moment, they link their free hands to each other, so that the three of them stand in a ring around the box that rest on the floor of the barge.

Her ashes have lain there for almost a year. It's time to set them free.

Emily is the first to speak, her voice soft, but loud enough that both Nikolas and Lucky hear her.

"I'm here to say good-bye... And I'm here to say thank you. I know you didn't think you brought anything into my life but trouble, but I want you to know... That you gave me a lot before you left. You gave me some beautiful pictures of my family -- you told me about the day my parents became my parents, and shared some details I'll have with me for the rest of my life. You listened to me when I was upset, you let me yell at you, and you let me come back after I turned my back on you. You gave me everything you could, and you tried really hard. And I'll always be... " Emily blinks hard as tears spring to her eyes. "I'll be sorry our time was so brief. But I love you. And I'll keep you with me. I promise you that."

There's a long silence following Emily's words. Lucky's hand tightens around hers, and she looks up with him, giving him an emotional smile. He smiles back at her, sadly, then looks back at the box.

"Hannah..." Lucky lets the word move slowly from his lips. "I... I'm thanking you for having some great taste in music and knowing how to sing the life into a song. For putting that passion on the stage every night, even when your life was falling apart, because... when things got really rough, no matter what I said to you -- I knew you had some real honesty, because... I know music. And I know you can't put your heart in something like that if you don't have one." he lets out a long breath. "I thank you for what you gave Emily and Nikolas. For hanging in there even when I tried to scare the life out of you. For doing everything could. I'll always remember you for that."

Again, a moment of silence is observed, and the torch passes, quiet naturally, to Nikolas.

"I'm here to let you go, but I'm not here to say good-bye... Because I need to keep a part of who you were with me. Forever." Nikolas swallows, hard. Tears are already streaming down his cheeks. "But I can let your body go now. I can let you be a peace, because I know now that we're all going to be Ok. I can't list off all the things that you gave me that I'm grateful for... but the most important one... was letting me know that... I could be loved. That I could love someone back. And that it could feel like the most natural and easy thing in the world. And I thank you for pushing me to do things I didn't have the stamina to pursue before. In the end, you gave me a family. You brought me to the point of being able to let myself be who I was and who I wanted to be. And for that, you have my heart -- forever. I'll love you for the rest of my life. Be at peace."

Emily is crying, tears streaming down her face, and she looks up at Nikolas wanting desperately to break the ring and go to hug him. She holds her place, though - something they all agreed to, and watches as he pulls himself up, and looks at her with sad eyes. They share a moment of understanding, then she Lucky's hand loosen on hers, and they all turn their attention to the box. Emily kneels down and picks it up. She moves to Nikolas, holding it in her hands, and holds it out to him. Nikolas removes his medallion from his neck and slips it into the slot on the box. The box snaps, indicating that the lock as been released, and Emily moves past him to the front of the boat. The wind is blowing at her from behind, and it will carry her offering away from her and out over the water quickly. She lifts the box in both hands and holds it up to the sky. Behind her, Nikolas lifts the lid. She tips the box just a little and the wind grabs hold of the contents, pulling the ashes from the container and carrying them free on the wind. Setting them free.

Now, you didn't think I was just going to let this go without some long rambling note, did you?

How UNLIKE me.

Well -- you made it! All of you, who have managed to get this far, you have a special place in my heart. I can't believe you did it. I can't even believe I WROTE it. It's been almost exactly three years since I started No Expectations, I've gone through two computers, endless amount of paper and more than a few hours of frustration -- but it's all worth it! Cause I am OUT of here!

I never thought that I'd ever do anything like this. It is entirely unlike me -- a lot of people would agree with that -- but I've gotten so much out of writing this story. There are personal demons I got to give a voice, and then burn up.

This story reminded me that I can write, that it's fun, that I enjoy it. And through this story I made a whole list of friends over the Internet -- Something I would have thought was completely bizarre and creepy three and a half years ago.

Thanks to:

The Faithful -- Arica, Kate, Jill, Rebel, Cyn & Jenners -- who read from pretty much the beginning right up until the bitter end and took the time to let me know after almost every chapter that they were still there and they still cared.

The Detailed -- Those who came late, or replied less often -- but were invaluable to me as the story continued. Angela, Ynette, Elizabeth, Lane & Sarah. You all have apologized to me for sporadic replies -- but I can't tell you how much I valued hearing from you all. Your efforts were invaluable.

My Internet Genie: Erana -- for giving Poison Rose a home, and having patience with my neurotic and unreliable editing schedule.

The Support Team -- Jacen, Arica, Cyn, Kate & Rebel -- who have all had to listen to me whine -- not only in email form, but over IM.

And finally, to everyone who read, who ever replied, who ever just enjoyed being in this twisted little world for a while. It's been a real experience.

Ok. NOW -- business. I still have another one of these things languishing in limbo, and I'll try to address it when I get home... yes, home. As I've been saying, I catch a plane out of Canada tonight and I won't be back at the computer for a little while. I'm absolutely hungry to hear anything anyone feels to share with me upon this story's completion -- but I won't be able to answer (or read) the mail for a little while. Please -- FEEL FREE to email me, though. I really do want to hear any final thoughts anyone might have.

Also -- the change of computers cost me my mailing list for Casualties -- if you would like to be on that mailing list... you're gonna have to drop me a line. If AOL barfs the email up -- try NarlaX@aol.com. I'll write everyone -- I swear I will -- when I get home.

Thanks again, everyone.

I'm going to go cry now.

Xara.