Chapter One Hundred Fourty-One:
When in Rome

Sant' Anna Hotel, Rome Italy.

Lucky and Emily are lying, fully clothed and on top of the covers, on the bed in the middle of their hotel room. Lucky is staring up at the ceiling, while Emily sleeps against him. She was beyond exhausted when they got there. Exhausted, but a lot more calm. Being in another country, on another continent, was a very good thing. Yesterday seemed to have taken a lot out of her. And it didn't help that yesterday still felt like today. He hated travelling west… loosing time, instead of gaining it. He glanced over at the clock. It was all ready 3:30. He had to wake her up.

Lucky looked down at her again, replaying the events of the last week in his head. He had to admit, being this far from home was equally comforting for him. He hadn't wanted her to know how off his game he'd felt in New York. First of all, he wasn't used to being on the run and having his picture out there. The mob didn't work like that. Even when he'd run away, his parents had chosen to come after him themselves.

The whole thing with the money had really pushed Emily to her limits. They'd argued about it for forty minutes in the cab on the way to the airport… a fundamental difference in philosophy. Emily had this disconcerting need for people to believe her… To think she wasn't up to something even when she was. Lucky, on the other hand, had pointed out that it didn't MATTER what the people thought, as long as you got what you wanted from them. So a bank teller thinks it's strange for a teenaged girl to want to convert twenty one-hundred-dollar bills into two THOUSAND dollar bills in the middle of Manhattan. There is nothing ILLEGAL about it, and as long as they do it, what was the problem? Emily insisted it was the fact that they looked at her like she WAS doing something illegal and the studious way they looked at her convinced her more and more each time that they were going to put the pieces together and recognize her from Edward's stunt. Finally Lucky had conceding that it was a stressful operation… but it was over. That seemed to be all she wanted. He was hoping that now that they were in Italy, she'd feel a little less high strung. She had been impressed with how much easier it was to hide large bills than small, at least. And, considering the stress level of getting out of Manhattan, she'd done really well. She had hated it, but she'd managed to go into bank after bank and smile, and try to act like her heart wasn't racing a mile a minute. Over time, it would have given her a condition, but for an afternoon she was fine. She was going to be fine. He was convinced of that. And it was a good thing too, because now that he had time to think ahead, he realized she was growing in importance.

Emily stirs finally, and buries her face against his chest, before finally lifting it and taking in the room. She blinks, then looks at Lucky, blearily.

Em: I fell asleep.

Lucky: I was just about to wake you up. (Emily groans and lays her head back on his chest)

Em: (muffled) How long?

Lucky: A couple of hours? I think.

Em: Oh, God… (She rolls away from him, onto her back) I feel gross. I hate sleeping just a few hours.

Lucky: Then you should have slept on the plane.

Em: I TRIED. I was tired, I don't know what was the matter with me. After all that walking all over, trying to sort everything out with the banks… (She looks up at Lucky) I want you to know that took ALL the glamour out of this, entirely.

Lucky: It was boring, I'll admit that. (She makes a face)

Em: My stomach still feels like it has rocks in it. (Lucky rolls over onto his side, looking down at her).

Lucky: You have to figure out how to relax, Emily. (Emily smiles, and closes her eyes.)

Em: Mmmmm… Got any ideas?

Lucky: A few… (Lucky leans in and kisses her, his lips barely touching hers. Emily lifts her face up to him, to deepen the kiss, but Lucky pulls back slightly, just allowing his lips to brush lightly against hers. Emily tries to move in again, but Lucky pulls away, just a little, again. Emily laughs against his lips, then falls back onto the bed)

Em: What are you doing?

Lucky: I've been thinking.

Em: Should I be impressed? (Lucky gives her a disapproving look)

Lucky: That's not going to get you anywhere.

Em: I used up ALL my charm getting here.

Lucky: You might want to dip into the reserves, then. (He leans down and kisses her. Emily sighs, contentedly, and wraps her arms around his neck. This place is nice, she decides. The company seems to be more sedate, and the actual room is cool and comfortable. She can think of worse places to feel like hell. She lets herself sink into the bed, kissing Lucky lazily, while listening to the sounds of the street coming in through the open doors to the balcony. Car horns, and general city noises, but muted, different. Lucky pulls back and she opens her eyes. He gazes down at her, brushing her hair away from her face). You were really great yesterday. I know it was hard on you.

Em: I'm just glad it's over.

Lucky: Yeah, well… Honestly? So am I.

Em: I thought you THRIVED on stuff like that. (Lucky laughs)

Lucky: The bank stuff? No. This is more my speed. I think.

Em: I HOPE.

Lucky: We'll be fine. (He leans down and kisses her again. Emily responds a little more this time, running her hand through his hair. He's been incredibly sweet the last few hours. Ever since that stupid argument in the cab. She thinks it's because he could tell she was about to have a heart attack buying the tickets. It was so close, she was becoming convinced everyone was watching her. And then there was the fact that her old picture was on her passport, not the revised her. She'd jumped visibly when the woman opened it, and then thought she might as well have announced that she was trying to pull one over on her. On top of that, she was terrified of letting Lucky down, of not being… Worthy. It made her feel ill. However, Lucky hadn't said anything. They'd gotten on the plane, he'd smiled at her… ONE DAY, she swore, she'd find a way not to just melt at his smile. But at that moment, she hadn't cared. She just knew it was going to be ok. She just had to believe that. Lucky, still kissing her, moves away from her lips and starts to trail kisses down her neck. Emily groans softly.)

Em: Lucky…

Lucky: What?

Em: You're avoiding something again.

Lucky: No, I'm not. (He sighs against her skin, then rolls away) There's nothing to avoid. (Emily rolls onto her side, propping her head up on her hand)

Em: Just Nikolas.

Lucky: I'm not avoiding Nikolas.

Em: Uh huh… Do you realize that you start making out with me every time you have to go see him? (Lucky looks over at her, as if she's out of her mind)

Lucky: What?

Em: You're denying it?

Lucky: Yes! Yeah, I am. Seeing as I'm not going to see him today? I'm definitely denying it.

Em: (a little nervous) What are you talking about? Nikolas said he's only staying three days, he's already been here almost two.

Lucky: I know. (He reaches over and picks up the envelope Nikolas gave him at the Tea Room, and pulls out the piece of paper) Hotel Raphael. Is that in your Travel Guide?

Em: (blinking) Travel Guide? (She shakes her head). Right. Where was that?

Lucky: I don't know, you were reading it on the plane.

Em: (heavily) OK. (She sits up and looks around, then groans and falls back onto the bed) It's over there. On the chair.

Lucky: What do you want me to do about that? (Emily looks up at him balefully)

Em: I'm not moving. That much I've decided.

Lucky: (getting up) Well, then you're really going to hate the rest of this conversation. (Emily frowns, then sits up again, watching him as he crosses to the chair where Emily dumped her purse and the book upon entering the room.)

Em: Why? (Lucky tosses the book to her. She misses it and it slides off the bed. She rolls her eyes and leans over to retrieve it) I've got so much talent. (Lucky sinks into the chair, leaning back into it)

Lucky: Don't underestimate yourself.

Em: I'm trying. (She sits up on the bed again unsteadily, still feeling queasy and achy. She leans back against the headboard.) I have a headache.

Lucky: (sitting up) What kind of headache?

Em: A “too much air travel, not enough sleep” headache. Nothing to get freaked about.

Lucky: Yeah, well… It hasn't been that long since… (Emily shakes her head)

Em: Let's not go there. (She opens the book) What am I looking up?

Lucky: Hotel Raphael.

Em: Like the painter?

Lucky: I have no idea. R-a-p-h…

Em: Found it.

Lucky: Where is it?

Em: Largo Febo 2, 00186.

Lucky: Does that make sense to you?

Em: Sort of. (Emily marks the page with her thumb) I spent a couple of weeks here once, remember? (she flips to the fold out map at the back)

Lucky: Yeah. You didn't send me a post card.

Em: (still studying the map) You didn't notice I was gone.

Lucky: I had a feeling you'd bring that up. (Emily smiles slightly and drops the book into her lap).

Em: It's near the Piazza Narvoro. Which is… Ok. Not that far from here.

Lucky: Does it show how to get there?

Em: Oh, it's not a problem. (She looks up at him and smiles) So… Why am I doing this? (Lucky leans back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling again)

Lucky: Stefan's not just going to let Nikolas just take off, right?

Em: Right.

Lucky: So there's got to be a small army watching his every move.

Em: Right. So he said.

Lucky: Ok. So… How many of those guys do you figure know who I am?

Em: Oh.

Lucky: Exactly. It's got to be lesson one in Cassadine Basic Training: “This is a Spencer. Shoot on sight”. (Emily stares at him a moment)

Em: That's not funny.

Lucky: Wasn't meant to be. (Emily shivers slightly and looks back at the book, deciding not to pursue this. The topic of Lucky and Nikolas can get ugly, but add Stefan into it, and it's downright scary).

Em: Well, they have the phone number…

Lucky: Can't call him.

Em: You can't.

Lucky: No. It might be monitored, can't take the chance.

Em: So what are you going to do?

Lucky: For once? I get to do a whole lot of nothing.

Em: Oh. (She stops and smiles) Hey, wait… Does this mean I'm not totally expendable?

Lucky: I don't think I've ever said you were expendable.

Em: No, you didn't… But I sort of thought…

Lucky: How are you feeling?

Em: Awful. But nothing a couple of aspirin and a shower won't cure.

Lucky: Great. (Lucky leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees) 'Cause like you said… time is money.

Port Charles Park.

Laura and Lulu are walking through the park, towards the playground. Lulu is staring at the ground, lagging slightly behind her mother until they approach the play area. She looks up, the starts across towards it without a word. Laura calls after her.

Laura: Lulu! (Lulu turns back) Lu, I want you to wear your sweater.

Lulu: It's too warm.

Laura: It's too cold to just wear that shirt. Come on. Put your sweater on.

Lulu: I don't want to.

Laura: Lulu.

Lulu: NO! (Laura closes her eyes, invoking the spirit of Dr. Spock).

Laura: Ok. All right. (She sits down on the bench) Why don't we just sit down for a minute? (Lulu glowers at her a moment, then heads over to the bench, sitting down next to her).

Lulu: (Kicking her feet out) I was just here yesterday with Daddy.

Laura: Oh. So you DID go to the park.

Lulu: Yes. (Laura knits her brow).

Laura: Well, I didn't know… I thought you'd like it.

Lulu: I want to go home. (Laura sighs deeply. Lulu has been irritable ever since she got back from seeing Luke. God knows what happened… she can't imagine he said anything negative to her. But she hasn't wanted to talk about it, and nothing Laura does seems to be the right thing today).

Laura: Lulu… Look. I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday. But… It was nice, you still got to see Daddy, right?

Lulu: Are you getting divorced? (Laura sits back, startled).

Laura: Ohhh… Lulu. I…

Lulu: Like Aunt Bobbie? Where Lucas doesn't even get to see his Daddy?

Laura: No. No, Lulu… That's different. I promise, you'll always be able to see your Dad. Always. (Lulu looks down at the ground beneath her).

Lulu: Until HE leaves.

Laura: Lulu. He isn't leaving.

Lulu: Lucky wasn't leaving. Lucky promised to stay… until you and Daddy started fighting… and then he left. (Laura stares at her a moment).

Laura: What… What did Lucky promise? (Lulu freezes)

Lulu: Nothing.

Laura: (gently) Lulu… You can tell me.

Lulu: Nothing. He said nothing. (She jumps off the bench) I'm going to play.

Laura: Lulu! Your sweater.

Lulu: (exasperated) I don't WANT the sweater. I all ready TOLD you.

Laura: And I all ready told you, it's too cold for… (Laura stops, taking in Lulu, her arms crossed, brow furrowed) You look like your brother. (Lulu looks up)

Lulu: Nikolas?

Laura: Probably… But Lucky too. When he was your age and he didn't want to do something. He'd get that same look on his face. And you know what I did?

Lulu: What?

Laura: I made him wear his sweater.

Lulu: I'm not Lucky.

Laura: No. But you're my daughter and it's my job to make sure you stay safe. (Lulu looks at her, unconvinced)

Lulu: What about Nikolas and Lucky?

Laura: They are safe, Lulu. But they're bigger than you, they don't need me the same say. Now come on… Lu… Please.

Lulu: I don't need it.

Laura: Lulu. It comes down to this… Wear the sweater and play, or don't wear the sweater and we go home. It's your choice. (Lulu scowls at her, then pulls the sweater out of her mother's hands).

Lulu: Fine. (She turns around to head to the playground and stops short. Laura, looks up, following her gaze, and spots Stefan standing at the edge of the clearing. She sits back.)

Laura: Oh… (She looks down at Lulu) It's all right, Lulu. You can go play. (Lulu looks back at Laura, then at Stefan. She sits back on the bench, and cuddles up to her mother.

Lulu: No. I wanna stay here.

Terrace Cafe outside Hotel Raphael

Nikolas sits at a table, reading. The book is getting tedious, and isn't doing anything to distract him from his present situation. He's so tense he feels like he could bend steel. He feels like he's in a cone of silence. In the middle of a beautiful city, in a place that feels closer to home than anywhere he's been in years… He still can't think straight. His doubt with Lucky is doubling by the second. And the helplessness of his situation without him is more than irritating.

He spoke to his father, briefly, a few hours ago. It had been a painful moment, answering the phone to find it was him. He had nothing to say. It was too hard to talk to him about anything right now. He couldn't think about that… about what was going through his father's head. It felt unreal. And he wanted to keep it that way.

Nikolas glances up as a shadow falls across his book. He glances up to see a tall, slim, dark haired woman with sunglasses standing in front of him. It takes him a moment to focus and realize who it is. He recognizes Emily in a sudden wave, and feels his stomach drop. He doesn't trust himself to speak. Emily cocks her head to one side and smiles.

Em: Buongiorno. (He suppresses a smile, so that only the corners of his mouth turn up, still feeling disoriented). Che ore sono? (Nikolas frowns at her, then looks at his watch).

Nik: Sono le cinque e mezzo. (Emily nods and sits down across from him, leaning across the table)

Em: (quietly) That is about the only Italian I know. That and “Non mi toccare!” (Nikolas shakes his head, still not sure he's not hallucinating)

Nik: “Don't touch me”?

Em: Grandfather wanted to make sure I knew all the important phrases before I came here. (Nikolas looks confused) Remember? Back in high school.

Nik: Right. (He shakes his head) I'm still… Adjusting. I didn't expect to see you. (Emily nods, taking his glass from the center of the table, and spinning it slowly on the table, trying to appear nonchalant.)

Em: It's Lucky's job to be cautious. (She frowns at the glass, and looks down to him) I have to agree with him. If your uncle has guards on you, we can't be too careful. So I suppose we have to play this like I'm some overly friendly Italian woman trying to pick you up. (Emily rolls her eyes and pushes the glass towards him) Not exactly my area of expertise. Just… Act like I'm invading your space, I guess. (Nikolas finally allows himself to smile and leans forwards)

Nik: God, I'm glad to see you. (Emily laughs, and sits back)

Em: Really? I wasn't sure what you'd think.

Nik: I wasn't sure what was going to happen… I mean, with you. Whether Lucky would want you to come along.

Em: I didn't give him a choice. But then, he didn't fight me on it either. Are you ok with this?

Nik: I'm enormously relieved. Though that's probably completely selfish of me. It's nice to not be the only non-Spencer on this outing. (Emily's smile falters slightly, then she sits forward, her elbows on the table).

Em: Well, I'm glad to be wanted. (She raises her eyebrows) I still officially think you're both crazy. (Nikolas looks away and picks up his glass, taking a drink. He sets it down, then looks over at her).

Nik: I'm finished with living my life this way, Em. It's just that simple. (Emily studies his face, the determination, the barely concealed pain, and nods slowly).

Em: I understand. I do.

Nik: I know. (He clears his throat looking away again) Thank you. (Emily shakes herself back to the task at hand).

Em: I just… I have to get used to it. (She sighs and pulls her journal out of her purse, placing it on the table). Lucky doesn't think you and he should be seen in the same place. In fact, he doesn't think he can run the risk of being seen, period. I mean, if your guards know who he is…

Nik: Most definitely.

Em: (opening the journal) Well, as such, Nikolas… I'm your contact. I'll tell Lucky everything you want him to know, and vice versa. Just while we're in Rome. (Nikolas nods, not sure exactly how he feels about this).

Nik: Good. I guess that works. God knows, I trust you. (Emily looks up from studying the journal, and looks at him a moment).

Em: I'm glad… (She looks back at the journal then across at him again) Do you… Trust him? (Nikolas stares at the contents of his glass intently.)

Nik: (quietly) I'm trying to. (He sighs and sits back) I think… I'd be doing better if he hadn't been so strange at the Tearoom.

Em: He… He's been having a rough a time. And… After my grandfather pulled that stunt… Neither or us needed that. I think I kinda got wrapped up in how upsetting it was for me, to have my family to that. But it wore on him too. It just one more thing.

Nik: He looked awful.

Em: He hadn't slept. Just a couple of hours. And he drove all night to get there. Actually, you're getting a repeat performance, I've only slept about three hours. Maybe.

Nik: Maybe you just clean up better. (Emily laughs)

Em: Flattery will get you everywhere. Just don't act like you like me too much, ok? Lucky put me through the paces before he let me leave, but I have to say, the idea of being followed back to the hotel makes me really nervous.

Nik: What? (Emily shakes her head).

Em: I'm not explaining myself well. Here's the thing… Lucky doesn't think he or I should call… ever. And if you call us, do it from a pay phone. He also doesn't want anyone to know what hotel I'm at, which means I have to make absolute sure I'm not being followed… Which, when you look at the last month of my life? Makes me really nervous, since my brother had someone shadowing me for, like, two weeks and I never noticed.

Nik: Great…

Em: He gave me some tips, I guess… I guess this is like learning to swim by jumping in the deep end.

Nik: I have faith in you.

Em: Thanks. (Emily takes a deep breath) This is weird. Does this feel weird to you?

Nik: A bit. We never really talk much.

Em: I know… It's kind of like, we decided we care about each other, and believe in each other, but… We never talk. We never hang out. Nothing.

Nik: Well. Lucky and I tend to put everyone in the middle. Whether we mean to or not. I know we did it to you.

Em: I really thought I could balance it at first… Right up until… Well. After the shooting, everything got complicated. (Nikolas nods)

Nik: I have to say this… (He takes a deep breath and looks at her) I've been… Nervous. About dealing with Lucky. I mean, we seem to get along in waves. And they only last about fifteen minutes. I'm glad we're going to have a buffer.

Em: I take it you guys have been getting along a lot better after my accident.

Nik: “Accident”. Yeah.

Em: He hasn't told me much, just that… Things are different.

Nik: I guess they are. (He stares off into space a moment, then snaps back) How are you?

Em: (shrugging) I'm ok.

Nik: Good. You look like you're fully recovered. (Emily wags her head side to side).

Em: I'm a little achy. My ribs are pretty much ok, unless I'm walking too fast or something… They don't hurt like they used to.

Nik: What about your head?

Em: Well, I have a headache, but I don't think it's a big deal. It doesn't feel the same. (She smiles) Are we done?

Nik: How is he? (Emily's face softens).

Em: He's ok. He's really ok. That's all I can really say.

Nik: I can't ask him, you know that.

Em: I know. (Nikolas leans forward again, getting down to business).

Nik: Ok. So… Did he have any messages for me?

Em: Yes. (She looks down at the journal then back at him) I took notes.

Nik: Notes?

Em: He had a LOT to say… It's strange, I sort of thought… (Emily bites her lip, then shakes her head) Never mind.

Nik: No, what?

Em: Well… When he said I had to go… I knew he had good reasons, but I figured he wasn't going to be losing a lot of sleep about it, but then he started getting into everything, and… I think he wishes he could just handle it himself. I mean, he trusts me, he just… He seemed anxious. Like he'd miss something by not seeing where you are, who's here, what's going on with you… All that stuff. (Nikolas raises his eyebrows in surprise).

Nik: Really? (Emily shivers, feeling immediately nervous).

Em: I just said too much again… (She looks heavenward) I just want you to know… (She leans back across the table at him) He isn't always as defensive and harsh as he can be with you. I guess I just want to make sure you know… he is going to help. He wants this as much as you do. And he doesn't want anything to happen to you, ok? So you can trust him. (Nikolas stares at her, letting the words sink in. It seems hard to believe, given everything thing that's happened. How cold he was at the tea room, the fact that it took this long to hear from him… It's starting make sense, why it's all unfolded the way it did, but still… Though he was relieved to see Emily initially, Nikolas is beginning to realize he'd probably feel better if he could lay eyes on Lucky, just momentarily. And it doesn't sound like that's going to happen soon. He looks up at Emily, sadly).

Nik: I'm trying to, I told you.

Em: Well, I guess I can't ask for more.

Nik: No… (He shakes his head) Do you ever feel like you have too much time to think? (Emily rolls her eyes).

Em: Oh, yes… I just spent a week in bed, I know exactly what you mean. It's not good for the soul.

Nik: No. I've been going a little crazy here on my own.

Em: Well… You're not alone anymore.