Chapter One Hundred Fourty-Four:
Facing Facts

Sant' Anna Hotel.

Emily wakes to find herself lying alone on the far edge of the bed. She rolls over and examines Lucky's side of the bed… Noticing that, for some reason, in all the hotels they've been in since leaving PC, he always sleeps on the side nearest the door. She reaches out and touches the pillow with her hand. She smiles to herself, then sits up, stretching slightly to acknowledge the slight ache of her back and the omnipresent, but lessening, twinge in her ribs. She looks over towards the balcony and sees the door is open. Looking around the room, Emily spots the shirt Lucky was wearing the night before on the floor just inside the door. She slips out of the bed and grabs it, pulling it on, and haphazardly doing up a few buttons. She rolls up the cuffs as she walks to the balcony door, then stops when she spots Lucky, standing with his back to her, staring out at the Terrace below, dressed only in the jeans he was wearing the day before. Emily leans against the doorjamb, then steps out onto the balcony, sliding her arms around his waist from behind. Lucky, deep in thought, starts slightly and her touch, then loosens his grip on the railing, closing his eyes as Emily lays a few light kisses along his shoulder blade.

Em: Morning. (Lucky turns around, leaning against the railing, and wraps his arms around her, laying his head against the top of hers. She closes her eyes, pressing against him, feeling comforted by the warmth of his skin against her cheek. This is nice. This feels like a place she belongs, where she could happily stay. She holds him a long moment before she pulls back, smiling up at him. Lucky looks down at her pensively, brushing her hair out of her eyes). Have you been awake long?

Lucky: It's two A.M. in Port Charles.

Em: In other words, "yes". (She laughs softly) I'm beginning to think my way's not so bad… Just deprive yourself of sleep until you fall over.

Lucky: You didn't fall over. (He leans down and kisses her softly) Don't worry. I got enough sleep.

Em: What's on the agenda?

Lucky: Food. (Emily laughs, leaning back against him)

Em: Good start.

Lucky: Did you eat yesterday at all?

Em: (making a face) Uh… Airplane food.

Lucky: Doesn't count.

Em: I'll have a big breakfast, ok? I promise.

Lucky: I'm holding you to that.

Em: Fine with me, I'm starving. What's next? (Lucky stares at the wall behind her and sighs).

Lucky: I went over everything Nikolas said, what you wrote in the book… (Emily looks up at him at the mention of the "N" word. Lucky's expression is unreadable)

Em: Did it make sense? (Lucky cups the back of her head with his hand and kisses her again).

Lucky: I'm still putting it together… But I think I know what you need to do. (Emily pulls back a little, sliding her arms up his chest to rest on his shoulders.)

Em: I can handle that.

Lucky: I got a few errands to run, but I think that's it. What about you?

Em: Besides go see Nikolas? Not a thing.

Lucky: (slowly) I'm not sure you're going to have to do that… At least not until later. (Emily cringes, realizing there is still a whole lot that needs to be said. She and Lucky are getting way to skilled at minimal communication).

Em: No… I didn't get to tell you last night. (She smiles at him) I got… Kinda distracted.

Lucky: Yeah?

Em: Yeah. (She leans up to kiss him again) I said I'd meet Nikolas at St. Peter's Square at four. Today. (Lucky stares at her a long moment.)

Lucky: Why?

Em: Because I figured… Look, even if there's nothing to say, Lucky… He's stuck in that room all alone, I've already said I can't call him…

Lucky: He can call here.

Em: Yeah, but it'd be better if he didn't, right? And he has a right to know where things stand.

Lucky: He'll know when there's something to tell him!

Em: Lucky… Come on. (Lucky shakes his head, his brow furrowed)

Lucky: St. Peter's. That's right outside.

Em: I know… But… What rule is that? Always do the unexpected, or something?

Lucky: Rule number one.

Em: I just thought… Meeting him at the hotel again, you know? Doesn't give me any warm fuzzy feelings.

Lucky: When did you decide this?

Em: When I saw him yesterday… I didn't just want to leave. So I said I'd meet him again, and he thought it would probably be a good idea if he LEFT the hotel for once. (Lucky shakes his head, not looking impressed with this. Emily slides her arms from around his waist and step back from him) Look… Given yesterday, I'm glad I did. It'll probably be easier to deal with… it should split the focus, right? I mean… someone's going to want to know where HE goes, that leaves one less freak chasing me around town. And I'm sorry, I can't just leave Nikolas hanging a whole day without giving him some idea of what we're doing! (Lucky continues to stare at the opposite wall, not moving, not making the slightest effort to let her know what he's thinking of. Finally he looks back at her)

Lucky: What time are you meeting him?

Em: (confused) Four.

Lucky: Ok. (He leans over and kisses her again, then heads back into the hotel room. Emily frowns, then turns, watching him move to the phone. Lucky turns back to her, his expression still blank) What do you think… Room service? (Emily looks over her shoulder to where Lucky had been standing, feeling a little disoriented. She looks back at him)

Em: Uh, yeah. Sounds good to me.

Hotel Raphael

"There's a Tigress," exclaimed Mrs. Linton, setting her free and shaking her hand with pain. "Begone, for God's sake and hide your vixen face! How foolish to reveal those talons to HIM. Can't you fancy the conclusions he'll draw? Look, Heathcliff! they are instruments that will do execution… you must beware of your eyes."

Nikolas drops his copy of Wuthering Heights in frustration. That's it. Reading is doing nothing to distract him. Especially not THAT book. He'd read it several times before… it was the sort of book you could find anywhere, at any time. It wasn't so much about liking the story as it was about the familiarity of it. Now, however, it was too familiar. The whole thing reminded him too much of his present reality. The voices sounded too much like voices he'd heard in the past few weeks. He stands up and paces the length of the room, before checking the clock again. Barely past eight. This was going to be a long day. He supposed he could go out. Do something with his day.

That was where everything fell apart for him. There was noting… literally nothing… he could imagine doing with the hours he had to kill before meeting Emily. His purpose in choosing Rome for this sojourn were not about the city. He liked Rome, but there were lots of other places he liked as well. He was here because it was a Mediterranean Country, it was in the right part of the world. And it was a believable place for him to escape to without being too obviously close to the island. The fact that it was a major international city felt secondary.

Nikolas leans back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling, and finds his mind wandering, inevitably, back to the question of Lucky. This was beginning to grate on him. How much energy could one person reasonably be expected to devote to trying to figure another person out? Whatever it was, he was certain he was reaching a limit. He hasn't talked to Lucky in days. He didn't even want to think about the last time they talked. Every time he does, he begins to feel like there a wall between them that is unscalable, purposeful… No matter what Emily says. He wishes there were some way to make himself not care any longer. This isn't about Lucky. Not really. It's about Hannah, it's about Katherine, it's about refusing to accept this life a minute longer. The fact that Lucky is all wrapped up in it is an unfortunate fact of life. He refuses to let it influence his decisions too much. He just wishes there were some way he could stop trying to figure out what the hell is going through the guy's head.

Nikolas' thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of the phone. He stares at it in shock. There was really only one person it could be. His father. Again. He considers not answering, then decides to take the offered distraction. Anything is better than trying to figure out his brother. He gets up and crosses to the phone, answering it on its fifth ring.

Nik: Hello. (Nikolas sits down on the edge of the bed, awaiting a response. None comes.) Hello? (He hears a slight cough on the other end then a sigh. He feels his blood go cold). What do you want? (Luke leans back in his chair, downing the remaining bourbon in his glass).

Luke: What do I always want from you, Nikky?

Nik: I don't know. I've trying to figure that out for years. I thought it was distance, but apparently that's not it, 'cause you got that.

Luke: Yeah, I sure did. Not even a good-bye.

Nik: (heavily) I didn't know you cared.

Luke: Oh, I care. Any time I send my quarry running scared over few questions, I gotta ask myself why.

Nik: (tersely) What do you think I can give you? What is it… I'm out of information for you, Luke. I don't have anything else to say.

Luke: Yeah? 'Cause I'm suddenly hearing all KINDS of interesting stuff about you and my son. (Nikolas closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath).

Nik: I'm not talking to you about him.

Luke: And why's that?

Nik: Why should I?

Luke: 'Cause I need some answers from you, boy. (Nikolas tenses. Sure. And what he wants he gets, right? Always. From Laura, from Lucky…)

Nik: No, sorry. I'm not playing any more games with you.

Luke: I don't advise that. (Nikolas stands up, suddenly feeling a surge empowerment. What the hell is the guy going to do? For once he's not in shooting range. He's not standing close enough to wrap his hands around his throat)

Nik: I don't CARE what you advise! Go ahead. Threaten me… if that's what makes you feel better, go for it. So you can trace a credit card. I'm impressed. If I push you far enough, you'll probably even fly all the way over here, for WHAT? Why? You want to blame me for what Lucky did? Let me save you the airfare, Luke… because I didn't have anything to do with it.

Luke: What do you know about what Lucky did?

Nik: Nothing you don't. He doesn't confide in me, if that's what has you so scared.

Luke: You know what has me scared, kid? You wanna know what's keeping me up at night?

Nik: What makes you think I care?

Luke: Oh, I don't think you do. But you're going to… you're going to tell me anything you know about where Lucky went, because if you don't, your going to find yourself caring a whole hell of a lot.

Nik: You're drunk, aren't you? (Nikolas laughs bitterly) What is it there? Two o'clock in the morning? And you're drunk and alone and looking for someone to blame and here your favorite punching bag had the gall to get up and fly half way around the world. What do you think I can give you? You've already asked me about Lucky…

Luke: (hissing) And you lied to me! You wanted more than just to see him gone, Prince Valiant. No, you looking for something else. You were looking for sympathy, huh? Pulling some kind of con on the kid…

Nik: You are crossing into a new realm of delusion, Luke. (Nikolas stops, aware that his voice is starting to shake). SYMPATHY? From a SPENCER? You think I honestly believe Lucky's heart is that big? No. I know what's there. I know he's just like you. Mistakes, possessiveness and jealousy for love…

Luke: (low laugh) You're treading down a dangerous path, my boy. (Nikolas feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up on end. He stops, trying to shake off this creepy feeling he's suddenly possessed with. The one he gets every time he hears Luke's voice go this cold, and he remembers that he's talking to Luke Spencer: The Cassadine Slayer. He sinks down onto the bed)

Nik: (quietly) You… You can't stand my existence, can you? I can't get far enough away for you to stop looking at me as a threat. I'm six time zones away. You're in Port Charles. With my mother. With my sister. All you have to do is go home and forget I ever existed. If you don't want me back there… You're holding all the cards. You want to destroy me, then destroy me. I don't have anything left to loose. (He stops, hit hard by the truth in those words. He stares hard at the floor, listening to Luke's breathing on the other end of the phone. He wishes, mildly, that he could see the look on his face). Don't you have anything to say to that? Or have I finally left the Great Luke Spencer speechless?

Luke: I am not buying this. You want me to admit I underestimated you? I did. I let you into my house. I let you near my daughter. (Nikolas sits up, hearing the malice in Luke's voice. He furrows his brow)

Nik: What do you think I've done?

Luke: Nothing that can't be fixed.

Nik: What does that mean?

Luke: I'm giving you one last chance… To think.

Nik: About what?

Luke: If you know where my son is… You had better believe it's in your best interests to tell me. (Nikolas stares at the phone a long moment. What the hell does that mean? He puts it back to his ear hesitating a long moment before speaking.)

Nik: I've said everything I have to say to you. (Nikolas hangs the phone up, noticing that he's shaking slightly. Why? What is so threatening about any of that? Nikolas shakes his head as an answer begins to float to him, one he doesn't like the sounds of. He does know where Lucky is. He does have the option of telling him. And just what are his reasons for not doing it? Standing up quickly, Nikolas moves to the other side of the room, grabbing his keys and wallet off the dresser. Suddenly the streets of Rome feel a lot more inviting.)

Sant' Anna

Emily sits, leaning up against the headboard of the bed, the room service tray beside her. She is holding a blue and white bowl containing cafe au lait, and a croissant sits half eaten on a plate on the tray. She is looking over the items she's written in her journal, all the facts of the island, the things Lucky needed to know about what to expect, so that he could continue to plan. It all seems so cold and detached from her. Unimportant. Like it doesn't actually have anything to do with her life, or the life of anyone she knows. She sighs and looks up, catching Lucky smirking at her from across the room.

Em: What?

Lucky: This is your idea of a big breakfast? (Emily shrugs, blowing across the top of her cafe au lait)

Em: Continental. We're on the continent, right?

Lucky: "The" continent. Right.

Em: I'll eat, ok? I AM eating. Italy is a place that ENCOURAGES eating.

Lucky: And you still manage to avoid it.

Em: Quit picking on me, I'm still studying.

Lucky: Studying what? I'm on it.

Em: I just want to make sure I know exactly what's going on.

Lucky: Why? Just ask me, I'll tell you. (Emily looks up at him, unconvinced)

Em: Yeah? What about what just happened on the balcony?

Lucky: Nothing happened.

Em: Right. (She looks back down at the book. Lucky sighs and stands up, crossing the room. He sits down on the edge of the bed and takes the cup out of Emily's hands, and places it on the nightstand. Emily looks up at him, and rolls her eyes). What?

Lucky: What do you want to know?

Em: Are you mad at me? Do you think I made a mistake, saying I'd meet Nikolas? (Lucky shrugs)

Lucky: I think I'll leave the Nikolas stuff to you, you seem to have better instincts where he's concerned. (Emily makes a face)

Em: Right… THAT'S why I'm the one dealing with him, right?

Lucky: I told you why you're dealing with him.

Em: But that's just until we get out from under all these eyes, right? (Lucky nods, his gaze focuses on her legs rather than facing her. She pulls them up to her, distracting his gaze) Hi! Am I distracting you?

Lucky: (heavily) I said I'd deal with Rome when we got to Rome. I'll deal with Nikolas when I have to.

Em: Rome's a little easier to handle, Lucky. I mean, a map and a phrase book, you're all set.

Lucky: Nikolas will work something out. Either that or we'll kill each other. Que sera sera, I'm not worrying about it. (Emily looks at him, unsure of whether or not she should laugh at that. Lucky looks up at her, meeting her eyes) And yeah, you are distracting me. (Emily laughs, reddening a little.)

Em: Ok… Ok. I'll let you off the hook this time. (Lucky grins at her).

Lucky: Well… I will say this much… I'm looking at what we're going to have to do in the next week and this morning… We're not going to have much more time like this. (Emily smiles back, then the words begin to sink a little further in)

Em: God… You're right.

Lucky: (Leaning over) We'll work it out.

Em: Yeah?

Lucky: Yeah. (Lucky kisses her, grabbing her hips and pulling her closer so that she slides down the headboard, lying back onto the bed. He slides up the bed towards her, stretching his body over hers, still kissing her. Emily lets her eyes close, happy to lose herself here for a moment. In fact, she'd be happy to just stay here all day, if other matters weren't pressing on them. She wraps her arms around his neck, as she feels Lucky's hands move under the shirt she's still wearing and roam over her. He rolls over onto his back, pulling her with him. Emily laughs, and pulls back to look at him)

Em: How much time do we have?

Lucky: Uh…

Em: I just want to make sure we use it to our full advantage.

Lucky: I think we're off to a good start here.

Em: (glancing at the clock) What do you have to do?

Lucky: I'm not sure yet. I have… I have to talk to someone. (Emily looks at him)

Em: "Someone"?

Lucky: Yeah.

Em: (slowly) Ok… (Lucky sighs)

Lucky: We have so much time to talk about this stuff, Em… (He pulls her down into another kiss. Emily sinks into it with him, kissing him deeply)

Em: Ummm…

Lucky: (groaning ) Now what?

Em: Look… (She pulls back a bit) I gotta know a few things, then I promise, I'll be much more attentive.

Lucky: Can I point out how incredibly unfair this is? (Emily sighs and rolls off of him)

Em: We're just going to do this later, what does it matter if we do it now?

Lucky: I don't know… I might be thinking a little clearer.

Em: (leaning in to kiss him again) It's quick, it's just… I don't want any distractions. (Lucky nods, pulling her back towards him. He kisses her deeply. Emily melts against him, nearly forgetting that she was distracted in the first place, then pulls back, stubbornly) Ok. Two questions. Really quick. One… When are we leaving?

Lucky: I don't know. I have to look into some stuff, I'll know after that.

Em: Ok… Will that be before or after I talk to Nikolas?

Lucky: Well… Before, but…

Em: But?

Lucky: (heavily) You're right, we need to work this out.

Em: Ok… (Lucky reaches up, playing with a strand of her hair)

Lucky: How about this… You're going to meet Nikolas, you should… You have to play a part, right? I mean, that hasn't changed.

Em: Ok.

Lucky: If you show up in jeans, looking like… Emily Quartermaine…

Em: What are you saying?

Lucky: You have to do some shopping… Just… Get something less American.

Em: (laughing) I'm being ordered to shop? (Lucky looks confused, slightly injured).

Lucky: I'm not ordering you.

Em: I was joking. I'm sorry. (Lucky shakes his head)

Lucky: No, I want you to be clear on this… You are amazing. You know I think that, right? You're incredible. You're beautiful, you're tough, and you're smart. I know I don't have to order you, ok? My parents… (Lucky stops, aware that he has suddenly stumbled into what is, my his own insistence, restricted territory. Emily looks down at him, her heart in her throat. After a moment, she clears her throat)

Em: (softly) What about your parents. (Lucky takes a deep breath, forcing himself to continue).

Lucky: Look… When I was kid, before… This. (He looks back at Emily) They were partners. And I always knew that's what I wanted. When I fell in love, I wanted it to be with someone I could… Balance. (Emily stares at him, feeling her mouth go dry. She blinks)

Em: You think I balance you? (Lucky looks away momentarily, feeling a sudden surge of embarrassment).

Lucky: As much as anyone could. (Emily stares at him, searching for something to say. After several moments of silence, Lucky looks back at her, more than a little anxious. Emily shakes her head)

Em: God, Lucky… That's… (She smiles at him, tears coming to her eyes) That's the most amazing thing you've ever said to me.

Lucky: (uncertain) You get it, right? You know what I'm saying. (Emily nods, biting her lip)

Em: Yes. (She shakes her head, still feeling completely overwhelmed. She moves over to him, straddling his chest and lowering her head to kiss him) I feel the same way, Lucky. I swear I do. (She pulls him up to her, kissing him, winding her arms and legs around him. Lucky takes her face in his hands, returning the kiss with equal ardor. Emily pulls back slightly) I love you.

Lucky: (emotionally) I know. I know, I love you too.

Em: (pulling back more) I want you to know something too… (Lucky takes several steadying breaths before looking up at her) I trust you with my life. I trust you with everything I have in me, more than… Than ever. (She looks deep into his eyes) I've never trusted you more than I do right now, I swear to you. (Lucky looks back at her, speechless.) Do you believe me.

Lucky: I… I don't…

Em: You don't have to understand it, Lucky. Just believe it. (She takes his hands in hers, raising them to her lips.) Believe it. (Lucky's face clouds, but doesn't look away. He feels a monstrous lump forming in his throat, aware that he's entering dangerous emotional territory. Emily keeps his eyes glued to his, refusing to look away. After a long moment, Lucky pulls her down and into another kiss. He kisses her slowly, intensely, both of them losing themselves in the moment. Emily feels him rolling her over onto her back, and pulls him down with her, deciding the rest of it can wait.)