Chapter One Hundred Fourty-Six:
Pennies

Trevi Fountain

Emily stands at the barrier at the edge of the fountain, her bags at her feet, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the water. It's providing a wonderful distraction. She's feeling oddly unsettled, like something is coming down that she's not going to like the looks of. Instead of giving his deep consideration, she's been staring at the water… so long that she's closed out all other sensory information, zeroing in on the sound and the visual of it. She is vaguely aware of someone coming to stand beside her.

Lucky: (joining her in staring at the fountain) Am I missing something? (Emily looks over at him, smiling weakly).

Em: I was trying to not think. It makes waiting easier. (Lucky winces slightly)

Lucky: Uh, right. What time is it?

Em: Look at your watch.

Lucky: Three-forty… Yeah, sorry, I got caught up in some stuff. (He exhales heavily and takes her in a moment) How'd your afternoon go? (Emily sighs and looks down at her bags).

Em: Pretty basic. I have to go back to the hotel and change before I meet Nikolas, but seeing as I'm meeting him half a block away, that shouldn't be a big deal. (Lucky nods, a little distracted)

Lucky: What about the shopping? (Emily sighs)

Em: Odd. Like… Shopping for someone else. But I was assured I looked good in what I bought.

Lucky: You'd have to.

Em: (smiling slightly) Flattery… The warning bells are already going off. (Lucky looks down at the bags)

Lucky: Get anything interesting? (Emily nods)

Em: In the "mysterious woman" vein. I've got it covered (she makes a face) I even bought a hat.

Lucky: A hat?

Em: You know. (She rolls her eyes) A sun hat. It looks very… Evil in the Sun.

Lucky: I don't know what you're talking about.

Em: Agatha Christie book. Continental. Elegant. Like some spoiled European girl doing Italy on her parent's money. I guess that's what I'm going for. (Lucky cocks his head, taking her in.)

Lucky: Whatever works. If you can avoid having anyone really see you clearly, that'll help.

Em: I can barely see clearly in the thing. (She laughs and turns to face him.) What's with you? You look like you've had bad news.

Lucky: No, no… Nothing like that, I just… (He stops, taking a deep breath) Look… Uh, I have to run something by you.

Em: (cautiously) What? Should I sit down? (Lucky shakes his head)

Lucky: Uh, no… It's just… I've been looking at everything and I figure, we've got two choices here. There's a bunch of stuff I want to make sure is… (He stops, looking around, then takes Emily's arm, leaning closer and dropping his voice) "In place". Before we leave. I don't want to get caught off guard in Greece. (Emily flinches slightly)

Em: Caught off guard how? (Lucky pulls back slightly, running his hands through his hair as he scans the square, quickly, habitually)

Lucky: Look. When Nikolas disappears Stefan is going on a rampage. We can guarantee that. Anything's possible, from that point on. We just have to make sure we can deal with whatever gets throw at us.

Em: You're making me nervous. (Lucky smiles apologetically)

Lucky: Yeah… I know. (Emily studies his face a moment, taking in the nervous energy he's trying to repress. She rubs her arms with her hands, feeling a little cold, even out in this sun of the mid-afternoon.)

Em: Did you talk to Jason?

Lucky: Yeah.

Em: (prodding) And? (Lucky meets her eyes and takes a deep breath).

Lucky: And… He had some contacts, specifically, this guy in Brindisi.

Em: (trying out the word) Brindisi. (She shakes her head) I've never heard of it.

Lucky: It's a port. They have ferries that head down to Corfu… Greece. I have to go there and make some arrangements. And there's two ways to do that. (Emily sees a look in Lucky's eyes that makes her immediately nervous. She can't help but think that he's already decided which choice he likes and that it's not going to be the one she likes).

Em: Which are…?

Lucky: Which are you and Nikolas ditch the goons when you meet today… (Emily blinks in surprise. Lucky shifts his weight) OR… You guys meet some place else tomorrow, and make your own way to Brindisi, and meet me there. (Emily stares at him a long moment, digesting this)

Em: (Slowly) You mean… You're leaving today, no matter what. (Lucky looks away, talking quickly).

Lucky: We don't have much time to waste, not if Helena is around. And… From what I get about this whole thing, Stefan has to think Nikolas is here to get away from Port Charles. For whatever reason, he's going to have his eyes open. Now, so far… Can you tell if Nikolas has done anything in Rome?

Em: (a bit numb) Far as I can tell, he hasn't done much of anything.

Lucky: Yeah, well… that changes today. I mean, you guys are meeting… for fifteen minutes, you said?

Em: Yeah. I guess. (She shakes her head) It can be more, I guess.

Lucky: No. Keep it short… What I'm saying is, it LOOKS like he was waiting for something… before we got here. Now, if suddenly he's gone, it's going to look planned. Now, if it looks like he's actually DOING something here… if he's met up with someone, and is actually seeing the city, all that stuff… that's gonna throw Stefan off a bit. (Emily furrows her brow.)

Em: Ok. I'm still not sure where you're going with this, Lucky…

Lucky: I'm going with… (He stops, then drops his voice again) Nikolas has to look like he's doing something. Ask him if knows anyone in Rome. He's got to. He should do something tonight… go out someplace, meet someone, anything. Just look like he's doing something.

Em: (warily) It really sounds like you've already made the choice here.

Lucky: I just think the more confusing this looks, the better. We have to give Count Vlad more than one direction to go in.

Em: Ok. Ok, I see what you mean. If Nikolas does nothing and then disappears, then it looks like he planned to do it all along. BUT if it looks like he's here to do something else besides meet us, then…

Lucky: Any number of things could have happened. (Emily nods, biting her lip)

Em: In other words, we're going to scare the hell out of Stefan Cassadine. (Lucky shrugs) And your mother. (Lucky stares off across the square a long moment, then looks back at her)

Lucky: There isn't any other way.

Em: (Shivering slightly) I guess not. (Lucky blinks and looks back at her, banishing any thoughts that were struggling to come to the surface).

Lucky: The other choice is… We give Stefan a lot less to work with and just leave now. (Emily puts a hand to her forehead)

Em: How likely do you think it is that he'd really be able to put all the pieces together? (Lucky shakes his head ruefully).

Lucky: It's a bad idea to underestimate him. Trust me.

Em: I do. (She turns to look at the fountain again, staring hard at the water) So… If we leave tomorrow, then…

Lucky: (watching her carefully) Then it's your game. You have to handle it alone.

Em: Oh, boy. (She puts a hand on her stomach and laughs suddenly, then looks over at him) You'd trust me with that?

Lucky: Yeah. I would. (They meet eyes a moment, each evaluating the other's reaction. Lucky slowly reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelop) Don't get me wrong, I'll call you first thing tomorrow morning, and make sure you're clear. And… I don't have time to tell you everything you should know… what you have to look into. So… I wrote it down. (Emily's gaze moves from his face to the envelope. She nods.)

Em: Ok. (After a moment she reaches out and takes it, running her fingertips along the seal. Lucky watches her)

Lucky: You… You feel up to this? (Emily nods, slowly)

Em: I have to be. (She looks up, smiling uncertainly) Right?

Lucky: No. It's your call.

Em: (shaking her head) No, you're right. One version just makes so much more sense than the other. (She stops, running her hands through her hair quickly) So… What should I tell Nikolas?

Lucky: (lightly) Just what I told you. He can't just hang around the hotel, he has to do something. He can't look like he doesn't want people to know what's going on, or like he's hiding or anything like that.

Em: Ok. And… When are you leaving?

Lucky: If you go with the second plan… Then I'm leaving now.

Em: RIGHT now?

Lucky: The next train is in an hour and a half. I should be on it. (Emily stares at him, like the wind has just been knocked out of her momentarily)

Em: Wow. That's fast.

Lucky: Yeah, well… When I talked to Jason, the pieces came together a little faster than anticipated. (Emily pulls a fortifying breath into her lungs).

Em: Ok. Then… I guess I know what I'm doing. (They stop and look at each other. Emily give him a crooked smile) So much for Rome. (Lucky smiles back)

Lucky: Well, for this time. (Emily starts suddenly)

Em: Give me a penny.

Lucky: A penny?

Em: Or a coin, just… Anything. (Lucky looks at her oddly, then reaches into his pocket and gives her a random coin. Emily takes the coin and kisses it lightly, then throws it in the fountain) Ok. There.

Lucky: What was that?

Em: If you throw a coin in the fountain it's supposed to mean you'll come back. So… I threw in your coin… I guess that means we come back together. WHICH means, whatever happens… Somehow we end up here again.

Lucky: That's good to know.

Em: Yup. (She rubs her arms again, hunching her shoulders, staring at the spot the coin disappeared) I think it's something I need to know. (She looks back at him) What time is it?

Lucky: You've got ten minutes.

Em: Oh, great. I have to change! (She looks over her shoulder) I should go get a cab. (She turns back to him) Are… We…

Lucky: I'll call tomorrow morning.

Em: So this is it.

Lucky: Yeah. (They stare at each other a moment)

Em: Boy, I didn't see that coming. (She forces a smile) But I'll deal with it. (She leans in and kisses him quickly) Bye. (Emily picks up her bags and turns, pushing herself away from him, and starts to walk away. Lucky watches her retreat, unable to put a name on what he's feeling. It hardly feels real. From his realization that this was going to have to happen to this moment, maybe an hour has passed. It's all so… Calm. He sees Emily stop, and feels his heart quicken. She turns on her heel and crosses back to him. Without a word she approaches him and drops her bags, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into an impossibly deep kiss. Lucky's mind goes completely blank, and he pulls her close to him, sinking into the kiss with her. Emily feels her legs go limp and clings to him, well aware that they are passing into the realm of public spectacle. The kiss finally comes to an end, with Emily brushing her lips against his softly, then pulling back. Lucky looks at her unsteadily.)

Lucky: Wh… ahhh… Wow. (Emily gives a small laugh, her eyes studying the top button of his shirt).

Em: Don't forget me or anything.

Lucky: Impossible. (She kisses him again, running her hands through his hair)

Em: And be careful.

Lucky: (leaning in to kiss her again) Always. (They sink into yet another kiss, holding each other close. Emily can feel her heart thundering in her ears, and is beginning to question is she's going to actually be able to pull away, when Lucky breaks the kiss) You have to leave.

Em: (nodding, her lips pressed together) I know. (Lucky kisses her forehead, then her temple, and lowers his lips to her ear)

Lucky: Twenty-four hours. I'll see you in Brindisi. I swear.

Em: (softly) I know, I know, I know. (He pulls back and looks at her)

Lucky: My parent did this a thousand times, it'll be ok.

Em: (nodding, pulling back a little to look at him) This isn't even the dangerous part. I know.

Lucky: You're handling the hard part. (He smiles ruefully) Are you sure you're ok with that?

Em: (rolling her eyes) You just go 'til they're gone, right? How hard can that be?

Lucky: (wincing) It's the train ride I don't think I could stomach.

Em: One step at a time. (She smiles at him, running her fingertips along his collar) No, I… It means a lot. (She looks up) That you trust me to do this. (Lucky doesn't answer her, unsure of what to say. She smiles) And I just want to make sure you know how much I love you.

Lucky: (Kissing her softly) I think I can handle that. (He takes a deep breath and forces himself to step back from her) I'll see you tomorrow.

Em: (determinedly) I'll be there. (She leans in and gives him one more kiss, then pulls away from him, extricating herself from his arms) Brindisi. (She steps back. Lucky takes her hand and squeezes it. Emily smiles sadly, then turns around determinedly, and walks away.)

Carly's Apartment.

Carly enters the darkened apartment, exhausted. She drops her keys and purse directly onto the floor, leaning against the door. She opens her eyes, and glances across to the window on the opposite side of the apartment and frowns at the curtains pulled across it. She has no recollection of doing it. She works night shifts as rarely as humanly possible, but when she does, she leaves the curtains open so the apartment won't be dark when she comes in. She stares at it hard.

Luke: Where'd you dump the kid? (Carly jumps, letting out a short scream before clamping her own hand down on her mouth. She spins to face her uncle, sitting in a chair on the far side of the room, and takes a moment to digest this before she straightens up, releasing her hand)

Carly: What the hell are you doing here?

Luke: Waiting.

Carly: Since When?

Luke: What time is it?

Carly: I don't know. Nine? Nine-thirty. (She shakes her head, realizing how insane this is, and then starts across the room towards him) What the hell does it matter? How did you get in here?

Luke: The only locked doors are the ones you don't try to open… (He frowns) Who said that?

Carly: I don't know. (She starts towards the window and pulls the curtains open) Sounds suspiciously Oprahish… and I KNOW my door was locked.

Luke: (withering) Caroline, please. (Carly turns around and looks at Luke, in the light, for the first time. She stops dead. He looks like unequivocal hell. His skin is pasty, eyes red. Worse than that, he looks drained. This is not the Luke Spencer she's used to. She stares at him a long moment, speechless. Finally she pulls in a deep breath.)

Carly: What are you… (She shakes her head) What are you doing here?

Luke: (voice dead) You gonna keep the curtain open? (Carly looks back at the window, and shrugs)

Carly: I guess not. (She turns back and pulls the curtains closed again. Luke gets up and struggles over to her couch, collapsing onto it. Carly turns and looks back at him, wondering just how to handle this) I'm… I'm going to call my mother, ok?

Luke: If I wanted to talk to Barbara then I'd be there, wouldn't I?

Carly: Are you drunk?

Luke: (laughing slightly) Drunk. Haven't been sober for a week… I don't think. (He closes his eyes) Not really, not for long… (Carly stares at him a moment, then heads for the kitchen)

Carly: Well, I'm dead on my feet so I'm making coffee, are you up to it? (Luke considers this a long moment while Carly moves to the kitchen, setting up the coffee machine.)

Luke: Might as well… (He sighs heavily, a vaguely philosophical expression on his face) You know, you can knock back enough liquor to drown a small rodent colony… But if your brain wants to go somewhere, it'll just keep going… You ever notice that? (He strains to look over at her. Carly meet his gaze, unsteady as it is, pressing her lips together. This is… Very strange. Stranger than that is this nagging tug that she should do something about this. Take care of him, or something. Ugh, she thinks. I've been spending too much time with my mother.)

Carly: (quietly) Yeah, you could say that. (She pours the water into the top of the machine and slides the pot into place.) What do you want from me Luke? (Luke settles back onto the couch and stares off into space a long moment)

Luke: Tell me about my son. (Carly sighs, and flips off the light in the kitchen, leaving the machine to its work)

Carly: God, haven't we done this?

Luke: (shaking his head, impatiently) No, no, no… Not about "the prince" and that… (He snarls, his lip curling) Cassadine mess. No. Tell me about HIM. (Carly stops at the end of the couch and looks down at him)

Carly: (confused) What can I tell you that you don't already know? (Luke chuckles softly)

Luke: You know, I keep thinking… Who's around who can actually say they know the kid? If I don't, then who does? Well, the most obvious answer left town with him… And then there's you.

Carly: God, you must be desperate. (Luke says nothing. Carly sits down on the arm of the sofa, uncertain) What do you mean, you don't know him?

Luke: I MEAN… (He struggles to sit up then gives up, sinking into the couch) I mean not one damn thing that kid has done lately has made sense to me. I thought I figured it out, but… No, it still doesn't… (He shakes his head helpless) Still doesn't come together.

Carly: (after a moment) What do you want to know?

Luke: Anything.

Carly: I… I don't know what to say.

Luke: Use your HEAD, Caroline! There's gotta be something. You seem pretty impressed with him.

Carly: I am. I mean… Look. I know you think I've got a lousy sense of family.

Luke: Dubious at best, yeah.

Carly: Well… Look. Before Bobbie, before you, before… All of it. Lucky was the first one of you who really tried to talk to me. And I know he got talked into it by his girlfriend, but… I got why you were always so nasty to me. (She makes a face) I mean, if Lucky inherited his sense of family from you, then MAN, I must have been a disappointment. (Luke stares off into space a long moment)

Luke: (quietly) My sense of family, huh? (He mulls this over a moment) Couldn't have done him any favors.

Carly: I… I'm not following you.

Luke: You ever… You ever want kids?

Carly: What?

Luke: Before the munchkin. Did you WANT kids? I mean, as something besides a way to rope the good doctor, or the…

Carly: (standing up) Ok, that's enough. God! You almost have me fooled there, Luke.

Luke: I didn't. (Carly stopped and looks down at him again)

Carly: What?

Luke: Ah, what did I need kids for? You know, bringing them into my world, that didn't exactly fill me with hope. (He shakes his head again, lost in memory, memories that make his gut twist).

Carly: I take it you changed you mind.

Luke: I changed a lot of things.

Carly: Right… (She flops down into a chair, heavily) Found love, right?

Luke: Caroline, nothing is ever that simple.

Carly: Yeah, I know.

Luke: No, see… Laura, she's got this way of making everything seem possible. She just doesn't take any other answer. She just… BELIEVES. I tell her she's crazy, but… When you got no hope of your own, you need someone to do it for you. (Carly looks over at him. Luke stays in silence a long moment. When he speaks again, his voice is thin and distant) When Lucky was born… No… No, you gotta understand (He struggles up onto an elbow) Laura told me she was pregnant… That was it! I was gonna have everything I'd been scared to want. To even hope for in some moment of sentimental suffering… Laura… (He falls back onto the couch, his eyes tearing, his face contorted in pain and nostalgia, both fighting it out for his full attention) So beautiful… A baby, a family. I was gonna have all of it. Then he was born… (Luke smiles uncontrollably, his voice swelling with pride) And I had a son. (Carly, caught up in her own wave of nostalgia, smiles herself). Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Jr. (He looks over at her) We were never going to call him that. No, that was Laura's idea. Can you imagine? Not only does the woman carry my child, but then she wants to name him after me. I swear, not one day of my life I didn't wonder, somehow… Why? (He sits up suddenly, his feet hitting the floor, and sits forward, his elbows resting on his knees) I'm sobering up.

Carly: No, I don't think you are.

Luke: Yeah, well I don't like this place.

Carly: Coffee's almost ready. (She stands up) I can make it Irish, if you want. Suddenly I think I could use a drink.

Luke: I'm not stoppin' ya.

Carly: (heading into the kitchen, a little disoriented) Was he a cute kid? He must have been.

Luke: He was… Exactly what we needed him to be. He was smart, he was loyal… He didn't question anything. He just did what we needed him to do. I started to think… You know, past the first five years, seeing the person he was growing into… I must actually be a good father. 'Cause no way a kid looks at you like that if you're hurting them, right? (He looks over at her)

Carly: Don't ask me. This parenting thing is a total crap shot as far as I can tell. (She pulls down a couple of mugs) I mean, Virginia never really did anything *wrong*. Well. She lied to me… And… (She shakes her head) What I mean is, she TRIED. And I totally rejected her. She was never enough. (She looks down at the mugs in her hand, then puts them on the counter shakily. Wherever this is going, it's not making her feel great. On the other hand, she's not pulling back from it either. She grabs the coffeepot).

Luke: I never looked at my Dad like that. No. You didn't… You didn't do that.

Carly: (flinching) Yeah, Bobbie told me about him. That he was… Pretty awful.

Luke: (face hardening) He was. He was. I was never like that. (Carly looks over at him, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end at his tone) I KNEW my kids. I knew what was in their heart. I could look them in the eye. How'd… Why didn't I see that go away?

Carly: I… (She swallows hard and puts down the coffee) I don't really know anything about this. I mean… (She puts her hands on the counter and turns to face his back) I know Lucky is… Just what you already said. Loyal, smart… He's still all those things. (Luke stares off again, his mind moving on)

Luke: (quietly) When your mother lied to you… Did you ever forgive her? (Carly freezes)

Carly: Uh… What?

Luke: Did you recover? Or did you just lose all your faith?

Carly: I don't know. I was never the same.

Luke: (nodding) You can't be. Things change. But… With a kid, you can see it. You can see them take that in, and just… You'll never shake them back to what they were. (He bows his head) I can't fix that for him. (Carly reaches up and pulls an indiscriminate bottle down from the cupboard)

Carly: At least you want to try… (He voice cracks slightly) At least you don't want to pretend like nothing changed.

Luke: (barely audible) Can't lie to myself that much. (He leans back and looks up at the ceiling as Carly pours the alcohol shakily into the mugs)

Carly: They think they're protecting you, you know? But it never feels that way when you find out. It feels like they were protecting themselves.

Luke: (making a face) He was protecting me. He couldn't have been protecting himself. (His jaw tightens) I keep looking back and trying to figure out what was better… Ignorance is bliss… But it's not worth it, when you find out it was all a lie. (Carly comes back into the living room and hands him a mug, thrusting it towards him, then moves quickly to her chair, sitting down on the edge)

Carly: I don't know what you're talking about.

Luke: Good, you're lucky. (He looks down at the mug) You forgot the coffee. (Carly takes a swig and looks up at him)

Carly: I don't think we need the caffeine. (She lifts her glass) Cheers.

Luke: (staring into the glass) I gotta see him. I… I just gotta see him.

Carly: (closing her eyes) Yeah, I get that.

Luke: He's the only thing that I know was real… And Lulu. The rest of it, it's… (He shakes his head, then downs the contents of the glass in one quick gulp. Carly's eyes widen)

Carly: Watch it. You're going to convince me we're related.

Luke: (a little hoarse) This consciousness thing isn't working for me. But if I close my eyes, I keep seeing them.

Carly: Who? (Luke doesn't answer)

Luke: The big cosmic slap in the face. (He looks at Carly blearily) Believe in karma?

Carly: God no.

Luke: Great. Neither do I. But I'll tell you this much… Don't even rely on someone else to hope for you. 'Cause when their gone… They take the dreams with them, and everything is black. And you don't have anywhere to go.

Carly: (draining her glass) Yeah, I know how that goes. (She puts down her own mug and looks at him) I can't do this anymore. I'm going to bed. Crash on the couch, leave, I don't care. But when you're sober… (She shakes her head. She can't really track down where this came from, or why it's affecting her the way it is. She wonders mildly is he knows his hitting most of her buttons. She sighs heavily, considering what Lucky would want her to do. The answer is just a little too ready. She stands up) If I can help you find Lucky, I will.

St. Peter's Square.

Nikolas paces in front of the steps of St. Peters, trying purposely not to look at his watch. This place is too public, it feels wrong. However, he's not going to question it. Not even to Emily. That's not going to get him anywhere. He stops, hands in pockets, and stares off across the square at the sea of people. After a moment he realizes that Emily is coming towards him. She is only slightly recognizable… her mouth, more than anything else, giving her away. She is wearing a hat and sunglasses, walking with a sort of breezy confidence that she doesn't usually exude. She smiles at him slightly before approaching.

Em: Hey.

Nik: Hi… You're here. (He frowns) You look… Different. (Emily takes his hand and pulls him away from the stairs.

Em: (quietly) Sorry if I made you nervous… I got thrown a curve ball I didn't expect. And… (She smiles at him apologetically, stopping and standing, quite purposely, in front of him so that his body blocks her from most eyes) Now I get to toss it at you.

Nik: Oh, great… (Emily glances around, resisting the urge to lower her glasses. She can't see either of the men from last night)

Em: It's not horrible… It just means you're going to have to trust me. (Nikolas looks at her oddly)

Nik: I think we covered that. (Emily looks back at him, setting her jaw).

Em: Lucky's leaving.

Nik: WHAT? (Emily grabs his arm tightly).

Em: (gritting her tell) Don't freak out.

Nik: (equally tense) Leaving for where?

Em: (lowering her voice) Brindisi. We're going to meet him there sometime… Tomorrow, I guess. (Nikolas shakes his head. He wasn't expecting that.)

Nik: God… (Emily reaches up to rub her forehead then brings her hand down. She's trying to minimize her mannerisms and she's beginning to feel like a human mannequin.)

Em: It's complicated, but there's… There's bunch of stuff you have to do between now and then.

Nik: Like what?

Em: Like… Do you know anyone in Rome?

Nik: A few people, why?

Em: Could you call them?

Nik: It's not exactly on my list of things to do, but…

Em: You have to have a social life. I mean, outside of me. I was followed after I left you… and I don't think it was just Stefan's men. (Nikolas stares at her a moment, digesting).

Nik: Oh.

Em: Helena's watching you too. And… Lucky wants to make sure that when you disappear, your father can't just… Draw a straight line. I mean, he has to question Helena, or Lucky, or… Just you're own initiative. There has to be choices. Otherwise, this is just going to be an exercise in futility.

Nik: I see.

Em: So… Lucky wants you to make sure you're doing other things besides waiting for the right time to leave.

Nik: Well, I spent my morning pretty much anywhere BUT the hotel, and I'm not anxious to get back there. (He cringes slightly) I have a curve ball for you too.

Em: You do?

Nik: Luke Spencer called me this morning.

Em: Oh… OH, man.

Nik: He's… Not making a lot of sense. I think he must have been drunk… There's a whole lot of stuff I didn't get into at the tea room, since Lucky seems to have an aversion to talking about his father with me.

Em: It's not you. He doesn't even want to think about Luke, much less talk about him.

Nik: Well, Luke… Luke seems to want to lay all his problems with his family on the Cassadine doorstep again. That was the reason I gave my father for leaving in the first place.

Em: Wow. (She stops, trying to think of what this means) Definitely avoid the hotel… I… (She halts again. Damn! Lucky would have an answer for this. Her only guess is to leave early as possible tomorrow) Ok. WE can't deal with this right now. Just… Was he in Port Charles?

Nik: I don't know. I think so. He's not going to think Lucky's with me.

Em: I don't know. If he got desperate enough… (She stops) I try not to think about Luke too much either. This must be driving him crazy.

Nik: My heart is bleeding.

Em: But it's a well controlled hemorrhage, I get it. (She sighs) Look. I'm just going to be honest, I don't know what to do about Luke except pray. And pretty soon, Lucky won't even BE in Rome. Let's just… Concentrate on the stuff we KNOW how to handle.

Nik: Right. My social life, or lack there of.

Em: You said you know people here?

Nik: (heavily) That circle of nobles and various dignitaries I told you about… I cold look some up.

Em: Would they meet with you on short notice? (Nikolas stares at her a moment)

Nik: I'm a prince, remember?

Em: Oh, right.

Nik: I know in Port Charles it's a bit of a joke, but here it actually means something.

Em: I'm sorry.

Nik: Don't be. The point is, yes… I can get out of the hotel. And if I'm followed my uncle will be more than pleased to hear I'm not in my room reading Withering Heights. (Emily makes a face)

Em: Doomed love affairs. Sounds healthy, Nikolas.

Nik: It was there.

Em: Yeah, I know. That's what I used to say when Lucky and I broke up and Monica kept catching me reading Sylvia Plath.

Nik: (laughing slightly) Now… THAT is destructive behavior.

Em: Yeah, well… I've done worse. But we won't go there. (She takes a deep breath) Ok. Lucky thinks we should keep this short. I guess we should meet somewhere really public tomorrow… I was thinking a museum or something? Is there one you like?

Nik: I like most of them.

Em: Nikolas…

Nik: Ok, ok. What location?

Em: I don't know. I don't think it matters… Far from the hotel. Yours, I mean.

Nik: Rome National Museum… does that work?

Em: Fine. I know where that is. I went with Monica.

Nik: Ok… (He looks vaguely confused) Is that it?

Em: No… Uh, Lucky told you to hang onto that money from the tea room, do you still have it?

Nik: Yeah.

Em: Ok. Keep it. Bring it with you tomorrow… You can only bring what you can carry… Or what you would carry.

Nik: In other words, nothing.

Em: Yeah.

Nik: I have to bring something. It's not negotiable.

Em: (wincing) Is it big?

Nik: No. (Emily looks at him, confused. His face is blank, his words blunt and without emotion. She doesn't want to know what this it.

Em: I guess you could bring a small bag… Like something you'd have a camera or a… Well, I don't know. But if you have to…

Nik: I can't leave it.

Em: Ok… (She bites her lip momentarily then forces herself to stop. She looks up at him, reverting to a brisk attitude) So I'll meet you at noon, then. At the museum. In the main entrance?

Nik: Ok.

Em: Just bring the money… That's it.

Nik: And then…

Em: You're going to disappear. Lucky put this all down on paper for me. Just leave the hotel as if you were coming back and leave. (She looks at him for a minute) I know that sucks. I mean, I had to do it to my family, but not this way.

Nik: I can handle it. (Emily feels uneasy at the dead quality of his voice, the sudden chill. She looks over her shoulder)

Em: Ok then. I have to go. Keep this short… I think… I think you should maybe even make plans for later in the week, just… Make it look like you were going to be here awhile. (Nikolas nods) Lucky knows what he's doing, Nikolas.

Nik: I know. This is exactly what I asked him to do. (He meets her eyes briefly) Noon, then. (Emily nods.) I'll be there. (Nikolas turns and walks away. Emily watches him with concern, then forces herself back to the moment and turns, walking into the crowd.)