Chapter Two Hundred Nine:
Making Plans

The Chimera, Prison Room.

Lucky wants to do something rash, to draw blood, throw himself into a wall or something -- anything -- to distract himself from his current situation. It's an old habit, one he had down to a science in Port Charles. Guilt was pretty good at distracting him, but physical pain always worked really well. Got rid of the rising bile and emotion running around inside him. But Emily is lying against him, and that just isn't going to work. Lucky lets out a slow breath, trying to gingerly adjust his position, then stops, stifling a groan.

His foot's asleep.

Pain... Huh. Sometimes the Gods are listening. It's remarkable to feel something physical and external. And... human. He tries to move again, and winces slightly. The sharp feeling of pins and needles shoot up his leg. For some reason, this strikes him as unnaturally funny, and he tries hard not to laugh. It's a losing battle, however, and he cracks up slightly. Emily is jostled by his laughter, and makes a noise, rolling over in his arms.

Em: (mumbling) what....?

Lucky: (shaking his head, and pulling in a breath) Nothing. (he gathers her closer to him, pulling her further up against his chest) Go back to sleep. (Emily makes a vague noise of protest. Lucky gently pushing the curtain of hair hiding her face away, and lets his hand rest against her forehead. Time to get serious, he tells himself sternly. Emily's body is far too warm, like that night a few months ago when she stayed out in the rain after hearing the truth about Hannah. In addition to that, her sleep has been restless, like a child's. Constant sighs, and rearranging of herself, without ever really waking up. She continually seems to be dissatisfied with her position, and would shift, snuggling up closer to him. He was beginning to feel like she'd regressed and he was being treated like some kind of giant teddy bear.

Which was not, all things considered, such a bad feeling. Lucky blinks, and looks up at the lights beaming down on them from the ceiling. The lights he has no control over. He finds a smile slowly making it's way across his face again. What the hell is wrong with him? He shakes his head. He should feel like hell. He DID feel like hell! His body ached from the stress of having run so long on adrenaline. He was a bit lightheaded from lack of sleep, and the stale air in this room. He was also, he realized, completely out of it, his grip on time fading with no light or sound to give him any clue to how long he's been sitting here. Great. What may be his last moment on earth, and he'll never have any idea if they were minutes, hours or days.

Lucky fights the urge to laugh again. Damnit. If he didn't know better, he'd think he was actually enjoying this. He smiles, and buries his face in Emily's hair. Emily stirs again. She lets out a low moan, then suddenly jerks as a new consciousness grabs her. Lucky sits back.

Em: Lucky? (She sits up, pulling away from him, then stops, putting her hand to her head and sinking down against him) Oh God...

Lucky: Easy.... Go easy on yourself. (Emily turns her head, confused, as if she is just realizing it was Lucky she was lying against and not the wall. She frowns)

Em: There is a jackhammer in my head.

Lucky: (kissing her temple) Hey, at least you still have one. (Emily groans and turns in Lucky's arms towards him. She wraps her arms around his waist and hugs him as tightly as she's able. She buries her face against the soft material of his shirt and breathes deeply)

Em: (Muffled) I'd forgotten how funny you're not.

Lucky: Hey, if I don't start making jokes out of kidnapping, murder threats and physical illness, I'm never going to laugh again. (Emily says nothing, just relaxes and lies against him. Lucky resumes gently stroking her hair. Just as he thinks she's faded out again, she speaks)

Em: (dryly) So it's not just one big long nightmare, is it? (Lucky smirks)

Lucky: We could pretend it was.

Em: Oh.... (she lifts her head) Ohhhh, I like that. Let's do that.

Lucky: Ok. You got it.

Em: (frowning) When did it start?

Lucky: What?

Em: The nightmare. (she looks up at him, unsteadily. The expression on her face suggests she's still not entirely able to focus on the world around her)

Lucky: (after a moment) Good question. (he laughs slightly) I've spent a lot of time trying to figure that out. (Emily frowns, her eyes still shut against the swimming room)

Em: What did you come up with? (Lucky blinks, remembering his answer -- the one he'd come to in Eyio. "I never should have gone out of the club".)

Lucky: Too long ago to matter. (he puts his hand to the back of her head, encouraging her to lie back against him again. She shakes her head again)

Em: You know what would be really awful? If you're not really here. If this is all happening in my head, and you're really lying at the bottom of the sea some place. (Lucky feels a chill pass through him)

Lucky: Then it's a good thing that isn't what's happening. (He tips her chin up and kisses her lightly) This is. (Emily closes her eyes as Lucky kisses her, and keeps them closed after he pulls back. After a long moment, she gives a slow smile)

Em: I missed you. (She opens her eyes wide, and looks at him. Lucky looks back at her, trying to read what she's seeing.) Why are we acting this way?

Lucky: What way?

Em: Like nothing is wrong. (Lucky smiles slightly. Yeah, a part of him is demanding an answer to that question too)

Lucky: We've been acting like the roof was about to cave in on us for how long?

Em: Yeah, but.... Aren't we in the middle of the cave-in right now? I mean... isn't this ground zero? (Lucky thinks about that, moving his eyes to stare at the opposite wall. She has a point. But he finds himself shaking his head)

Lucky: No. Ground zero was last night.

Em: (lying back against him) What was last night?

Lucky: (exhaling) Last night was not knowing what was going on. Not knowing where you'd gone, or... (he pulls in his breath) Nikolas.

Em: Nikolas.

Lucky: Yeah.

Em: Nikolas... (Emily rolls the word around her mouth, her brain trying to grab onto something about him) Is he here?

Lucky: Well. There's a rumor that suggests he might be.

Em: Oh. (She frowns, then closes her eyes, as if trying to purposely banish a thought from her head) But last night you were free.

Lucky: No, I wasn't. (He takes a deep breath, trying not to think about how dark everything had seemed in the study. God... he'd called home. Christ, what the hell had he been thinking? He looks down at Emily. When he speaks, his voice is a little distant) You want to tell me what happened?

Em: Mmm?

Lucky: After you left me.

Em: I didn't leave you. Nightmare, remember? (Lucky kisses her hair. God she feels soft. Soft and warm against him. And somehow that matters more than anything else right now. But he presses anyway)

Lucky: I want to know. (Emily makes a strange strangled noise against him. Lucky looks down at her in concern. He is having trouble remembering, aside from the fact that she's a bit fuzzy, that she's probably not entirely in her right mind)

Em: (squeezing her eyes shut) She made you come and get me, didn't she?

Lucky: Forget what 'she' did. Ok?

Em: Mmm. (she seems to obey the command, falling into silence.)

Lucky: (after a long moment) Did he hurt you? (Emily makes another short and strange noise.) You hurt him. Did you know that?

Em: (sitting up suddenly) I can't.

Lucky: Em? (Emily's face is suddenly flushed, more than it was before, bordering on bright red. her breathing is suddenly strangled and desperate. Lucky is completely take-aback by her appearance) Em!

Em: No. No. (She shakes her head, trying desperately to pull in more air) I didn't... (She puts her hand to her throat, and Lucky moves quickly, to steady her. He holds her shoulders, and she shakes like a leaf under his hands, shaking her head, desperately) Lucky.

Lucky: I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. It's Ok. It's Ok, I'm here, right?

Em: (scared) No.

Lucky: Emily, don't disappear on me now. Don't. (Emily is struggling mightily against some sort of vision, or heavy flashback. She looks around the room in short jerks, unable to truly focus on anything. She seems only distantly aware of Lucky's voice, like it's a distraction to what is really happening around her. Lucky leans against her back, wrapping his arm around her waist) Stay with me. You can do it, don't go there. Wherever it is, don't go there. Stay with me. (Emily blinks, rapidly.)

Em: It feels like he's here again. (She puts her hand to the high collar on the white gown she's wearing) Why does it feel that way? Why can I still feel him? (Lucky looks at the collar. He pulls her back, and Emily lets herself be moved, staring blankly at the opposite wall. Damnit, Lucky thinks. Whatever the hell Helena has done to her, the effects are far-reaching. Just when he thought the worst might be over. He takes a breath, steeling himself, and brushes his fingers along the collar of Emily's gown. She doesn't react, and he pulls the material down. Lucky feels heat, strong and hot anger, start to bubble up from his core. God damn it. He might have gotten to throw Josef around a bit last night, but it wasn't enough. It hadn't been close to enough.)

Lucky: (tightly) He tried to... He tried to choke you.

Emily: (after a moment) He... what? (Lucky kisses the top of her head, pressing his lips against her hair, and closing his eyes. He can feel his heart pounding in his chest, his blood rushing through his veins. God, he didn't know he could feel this much hate. And that's saying something -- for the last two years, hate has been his stock and trade, even if he did direct most of it at himself. Lucky lifts his hand and moves it, observing that it's shaking violently. He grasps the pearl shaped buttons on the back of the very old-fashioned outfit Helena has put her in. He fumbles with the buttons, then finally loses patience, and brings his other hand up, ripping the material, sending the buttons flying. The back of the dress falls open, and Lucky sucks in his breath)

Lucky: Oh my God... (Her upper back is one big bruise, a deep and painful looking purple. The marks on her neck look mild in comparison, red that moves into purple, and sometimes yellow, around her neck. He leans forward, without thinking, and presses his face against the warm, smooth skin. He arms move back around her waist, holding her. Emily's breathing is strange and shallow, though she slowly seems to be coming back into the moment. She lets out a strange and high-pitched laugh)

Em: Ugly.

Lucky: No. No, alive, and warm, and beautiful. God, you've never looked better to me. Believe that.

Em: You thought I was dead.

Lucky: I didn't know. (Emily turns to look at him)

Em: She told me she killed you. (Lucky shakes his head resolutely, and turns her, pulling her against his chest again.)

Lucky: Baby, she's not going to get the chance.

Em: Isn't that what this is? Her chance?

Lucky: No. This is our chance.

Em: (pulling back) When did you become an optimist?

Lucky: The second I found out that the worst hadn't happened. Em... Through this whole damn thing, I've kept saying "hey, it could get worse.... It could still get worse." -- and then it would. Today is the first time it got better. Tide's turning. (He laughs slightly) God... I think I actually might believe that.

Em: Lucky...

Lucky: No -- I'm not being delusional. Something finally went my way. The psycho-bitch didn't kill you.

Em: But she's going to kill you! I mean... Isn't that what she does?

Lucky: She's going to try, Em. (Emily blanches) I'm not sugarcoating this, no matter what she's done to play with your brain.

Em: Drugs.

Lucky: I know.

Em: Bad drugs. (she shakes her head) God, they make me feel...

Lucky: What?

Em: (looking at him) You never like to talk about drugs.

Lucky: I'm turning over a new leaf. Look... If... Nikolas is here...

Em: He is.

Lucky: He... is?

Em: He is. (She frowns) I know he is. But ... I'm not sure why. I think... (She looks a bit confused) God, I think Helena told me, or... showed me. Something -- (She stops, a flicker of a memory coming back to her. She feels herself go cold as she remembers just why she knows that Nikolas is here. Just what Helena had explained to her. She looks away from Lucky, feeling sick to her stomach. She swallows hard against rising bile. When she speaks, her voice is thin.) Do you think Helena took him too?

Lucky: (Studying her expression) I don't think so.

Em: You're sure?

Lucky: Well, if she did, she's stupider than she looks. (Emily frowns) If he's here, he... (Lucky exhales. Damn logic. The answer IS staring him in the face, whether he likes it or not) She'd want him to come alone. But she wouldn't want to look like she was forcing his hand. That won't help her. No, if he's here, it was his choice. (Emily shakes her head, rejecting this)

Em: Why would he come here alone? And why wouldn't he tell us?

Lucky: (bitterly) Because he's an idiot.

Em: No he's not.

Lucky: About this stuff? He can be. (Emily sits back, exhaling. She doesn't like this. The pieces are beginning to come together in her muddled brain, and she doesn't like them at all)

Em: He'd only do that if he thought it was the best way to handle it. (Lucky snorts. Damn it. She's right, too)

Lucky: Well. Obviously he was really really wrong. (Emily looks over at him, her brow knit) Hey.... Emily, it's Ok. (His expression changes slightly, something new occurring to him) It... I guess it could be something else.

Em: Like what?

Lucky: I don't know...that's why I was asking about the drugs. Do you know --

Em: I don't know. I just... woke up fuzzy.

Lucky: So... (he takes a breath) You were out. (Emily frowns, then looks away, feeling herself begin to panic again.)

Em: I can't. I can't -- (She shakes her head) It's too much -- (Lucky cuts her off, pulling her to him again, this time gathering her up in his lap. She's shaking, and she's so much thinner, he realizes, than she was when this all started out. Emily's hand grip the material on his shirt, holding it tight) I don't know what's wrong with me.

Lucky: It's... It's Ok. (He exhales. Something is wrong here. But he knew that. He knew he was missing some pieces. Doesn't matter right now. Emily is still strung out, and calming her down seems like the only important thing he knows he can do at this moment. He presses his lips against her temple) Just give it some time, you'll be Ok. (The lights overhead, suddenly and unceremoniously go out. The room is plunged back into darkness. Lucky feels Emily stiffen in his arms)

Em: Ok. What does that mean?

Lucky: (looking upwards) I think... it means you should get some more rest.

The East Terrace

Josef walks through the doors to the terrace, and strides to the opposite barrier, pulling a cellular phone out of his pocket. He opens the phone and hits speed dial. He stares hard at the horizon while waiting for the phone to pick up. In due time, there is an answer.

Josef: (in Greek) Where are you? (there is a pause) There is a situation, Mrs. Cassadine assured me that I would not be handling this alone for much longer.... You are coming yourself, are you not? (another pause) I don't think that is advisable. (His jaw tightens as he listens to the patronizing response) Listen to me, Ari... I'm not playing games. And I am not some puppet for your mistress to control at whim. She is letting things play out in a very dangerous fashion, and if she wants my continued assistance, she had best do something, and quickly. (another pause) Well, I might decide it's advantageous for me to simply go to the Count with everything I know. Perhaps Mrs. Cassadine's side is not the right one for me, after all. (There is another pause. Josef smirks) Certainly. Put her on, if you think it's best. (he waits. The line is passed) Helena... (Josef drawls out the name, making it sound overly familiar and slimy) You have not returned my calls. (he chuckles slightly) Ari is mistaken, I am not panicking -- far from it. As I have just pointed out to him, I am not the one with the most to lose in this scenario. I know that the Spencers aren't coming back -- the ones you have your hands on... but I thought that perhaps you should be made aware that a helicopter just left the compound, with -- I suspect -- Mr. Spencer in it. (a long pause. Josef winces) I fail to see how this is, in any way, my fault. Particularly since I have attempted to keep you abreast of the situation. (his eyes darken as he listens to the voice on the other end berate him) You choose to see this your way, I always see things mine. I am not going to be ruined by anyone's incompetence -- From where I stand there are clearly two choices You send Ari to me now, and we put phase two of your plan into action... or I abandon the mission and jump sides. Something I am perfectly willing to do in a heartbeat if I think that you are... going down with the ship, so to speak. (another blast comes over the phone and Josef holds it slightly away from his ear) Well, that is what makes me your worst nightmare, Helena... I don't fear you. I have seen too many of your follies. Now do you want this to become another one? Spencer can't get far -- he's most likely taking off to the mainland on some wild goose chase. But in the meantime, the Count, Mrs. Spencer and Mikkos's bastard daughter are still here. I'm asking if you are going to give me the means to remove them from the equation. (He listens) I believed that would be the choice you'd make. I'll await Ari's arrival. (he listens again) Sharp tongue, my sweet. But that is something we've always appreciated about each other. Don't hold this against me too much. (He smirks and flips off the phone, muttering) Crazy old witch.

Laura: I always thought so. (Josef turns, suddenly, caught entirely off guard. Laura smiles at him, standing in the doorway) If you were talking about the person I think you were.

The Chimera, Prison Room.

Lucky lies with Emily -- sleeping it off, again -- on the bed in the pitch black room. He can see nothing, hear nothing, but a metronome sounds in his head.

Tick... Tick... Tick...

Time was passing. He knew that. He should feel more urgency. Helena was saying he was going to die. And what could he do, really -- if she just put fun to the back of his head and pulled the trigger? He'd be gone, snuffed out of existence in an instant. And he should really care about that.

There had been times in the last year when Lucky really hadn't cared much if he lived or died. It wasn't like he entertained thoughts of suicide. No juvenile "I'll slit my wrists, THEN they'll be sorry" moments. More it was just fatigue. Everything was so damned heavy, he just wanted it to end. And in his darkest moments, he really didn't care how that happened.

Right now he cares. He knows he does. He has to get out of this. He has to try with Emily again -- with things finally fixed. He had to see his baby sister again and let her know he was done letting her down. And, lest he forget, he had to kick Nikolas's ass for getting him into this.

Now just HOW he was going to get out of this, he wasn't sure. But it would come to him. He wasn't going to panic -- he had to have gotten out of tighter jams than this... Ok, at this moment Hess not sure what they were, but... they just had to be there.

And besides. He knew something about Cassadines. They didn't just shoot you in the back of the head. There would be a game or two left to play. Some pageantry to grit his teeth through.

"Here, Mr. Bond... my entire evil plan for world domination and a wide open chance to get away..."

That was how it worked.

Of course, Hannah had sworn up and down that none of this was real, would only happen in a Bond flick, and had opened her door into the barrel of a gun.

Lucky exhales unsteadily. Ok. So this wouldn't be easy. What was? But he'd get out of it. He'd get Emily out of it. They'd finish living their lives. He feels a surge of energy in his veins. Right. Ok -- That was the part he had to remember. He leans his head down and speaks her name close to her ear.

Lucky: (softly) Em. (nothing) Hey, Emily... ?

Em: (waking) Huh?

Lucky: You sleeping?

Em: Uh... (She shifts against him) Not anymore. Why? (a note of concern comes into her voice as she remembers their situation) What's going on?

Lucky: Nothing. Just had a question.

Em: Why are you whispering? (Lucky stops and thinks about that)

Lucky: I don't know. Because it's dark?

Em: Oh. Ok. (She relaxes back against him and stifles a yawn) What did you want to ask? (Lucky sucks on his bottom lip in thought, then leans his lips down to her ear)

Lucky: How much do you need to get married? (Emily blinks in the dark)

Em: What?

Lucky: How much do you need --

Em: I heard what you said.

Lucky: Ok, then answer the question.

Em: (as if this is related) We're locked in a room on the Cassadine yacht.

Lucky: Yeah. (pause) So?

Em: So... Didn't we talk about this? Didn't you say you don't --

Lucky: Yeah, well... That was then, this is now. I'm just realizing... We never really worked out the details about what comes next.

Em: You're serious.

Lucky: Yeah. I am.

Em: Lucky, the LAST thing you've wanted to do the last few weeks was talk about anything that wasn't sitting right in front of us --

Lucky: I had a lot to think about. (Emily stares into the blackness in front of her. She laughs suddenly)

Em: Ok, are you totally sure Helena didn't drug you too?

Lucky: Positive. Apparently, she likes me lucid. Why? (she feels him pull a strand of hair our of her face) You think this is crazy?

Em: I... I think... I don't know.

Lucky: The second we stop believing we have a future, she's won. (Emily thinks about this)

Em: I... I think maybe I thought you'd already... stopped thinking about it.

Lucky: (after a moment) Maybe I had. A lot changed on us.

Em: Yeah. (she exhales) I mean... it's not like the old plan would work, exactly.

Lucky: I admit, the school thing is going to be a headache. Berkeley usually likes their Frosh to have graduated.

Em: Berkeley? (She lets out another sharp laugh) Oh my GOD! Do you know the last time I thought about Berkeley?

Lucky: Time to start thinking again. (Emily sits up, and pulls away from him. She turns to look at him, though she can't see anything but dark)

Em: LUCKY! Look at where we are!

Lucky: I would, but it's dark and I don't think the scenery will have changed.

Em: But... you're... Why are you talking about this now? I mean... We are kinda up against a wall here. I don't even know if Helena is going to let me see daylight again, and you --

Lucky: We'll get out of this. (Emily stares into the darkness, her brow knit)

Em: I wish I could see your eyes.

Lucky: (reaching out and finding her hand) You don't have to see my eyes, Emily. You know me better than that. (Emily finds herself nodding, her throat closing up)

Em: You're right.

Lucky: We are going to get out of this. I swear to God, Emily. I'm not going to let anything else happen to you. I'm going to get you off this boat, or die trying.

Em: Don't say that.

Lucky: Come on. (He pulls her hand towards him, and Emily lets her body follow, lying back against him) Talk to me. Tell me what you want when we get out of here. (Emily closes her eyes. She tries to picture that. She used to have this crystal clear image of her future. "The Plan". Get accepted to Berkeley. Graduate. Get the hell out of Port Charles WITH Lucky, travel around -- just the two of them -- and eventually settle some place in northern California, just in time to start school. They'd talked about it. Lucky had always told her it could be done -- not to worry, they'd get out. And she'd still driven herself as hard as she could to pull her end of things together. Now she has no idea what to say. Going back to PC and finishing up school? That seems ludicrous. Impossible. Beyond crazy. And then, getting out of Port Charles after that... She's not sure if her family is even talking to her. She's not sure the school will let her come back. She's not sure Berkeley will have a damn thing to do with her. And she's not entirely sure she cares. One thing she knows for certain... the idea of being free and on the road isn't quite as appealing as it once was. And she KNOWS that Lucky doesn't want to go home. And then.... She pulls in another shaky breath. She knows something else. Something she didn't want to think about. She knows what Helena told her after she first woke up. It's foggy and distant... but she remembers. )

Em: I have to tell you something.

Lucky: Go for it. I'm listening.

Em: I ... I think I know what she's planning. (Lucky groans. The ever-present "she")

Lucky: Yeah, she kinda filled me in over breakfast.

Em: She told you she wanted to kill you over breakfast?

Lucky: Well, that was kinda a life-long given. A son for a son, blah blah blah.

Em: Lucky. (Lucky sighs)

Lucky: She said I was going to die. (Lucky kisses her cheek blindly) But she says a lot of things.

Em: Did she say anything about me? (Lucky pulls back slightly)

Lucky: I told you -- I'm not going to let her hurt you. No way in hell, Em. You've been through enough.

Em: I didn't mean... I don't think she wants to hurt me Lucky. I think I know why she took me... and getting you here is only part of it.

Lucky: Explain.

Em: (Swallows hard) She... said some things to me. After I woke up. It's not really clear, but... I think that's... that's why I think Nikolas is here. She was talking like he was. Like he was here... and something was wrong. (Emily feels Lucky tense.)

Lucky: (with a slight note of fear) With Nik?

Em: I'm not sure. Lucky -- I'm sorry, I wasn't exactly --

Lucky: No, don't. Don't beat yourself up for it. Just... tell me what you're thinking. Anything you can say will help. It's all we got right now.

Em: I think... She wants to repeat history. (Lucky makes a face)

Lucky: Repeat history. Doesn't that mean someone would have to KILL Nikolas? She doesn't want that.

Em: No. Not repeat -- kind of... redo it.

Lucky: What is this, Em?

Em: When Stavros was alive, she was in charge. That's what it sounded like. He revered her above anything else, and she... she plucked up this woman to ... give him. No emotional attachment, nothing. Just (she swallows hard) a breeding mare.

Lucky: My mother.

Em: Those aren't my words, Lucky --

Lucky: I know.

Em: I... Think--

Lucky: (cutting her off) No. (Lucky's voice is cold, revealing that he knows exactly what Emily is about to tell him)

Em: Lucky, I'm not sure --

Lucky: (Shaking his head) No. NO. That's not going to happen. She's not "giving" you to Nikolas to recreate a god damned dynasty. That's insane.

Em: (quietly) It is, isn't it? (Lucky closes his eyes. God damn it... how did he miss that? He should have known... he should have known from the beginning just how beautiful and poetic Helena would find this.)

Lucky: You're right. That's what she wants.

Em: I really don't think Nikolas would EVER --

Lucky: Don't be so sure.

Em: She's insane, Lucky! She can't even KNOW who Nikolas is if she thinks this is going to work! (Lucky shakes his head slowly. When he speaks, his voice is slow and disembodied)

Lucky: She thinks she's got the perfect revenge. She takes Nikolas away from Stefan and overthrows his power. Point one for her, doing the same thing to him that he did to her when he became Nik's regent. Then she zeros in on me as the next Luke Spencer. Takes the woman I love away, just like she did to my father. Puts me through some of the hell he went through. Baits me, pushes all the buttons she can find, and then does the one thing she could never do to him -- slits my throat. (Emily cringes with her whole body)

Em: Don't!

Lucky: (hollow) Which she figures is tenfold the effect of doing my father in, because she gets everything she wanted -- her little domestic nightmare family back in her control -- a new princess to produce allll kinds of little Cassadines -- and she gets to kill my father's son in his place. Probably figures that's the ultimate revenge -- worse than murdering him herself, she kills his image, and leaves him alive to suffer through it. Right? She probably figures she'd be killing him and making him live through it all at the same time. (Lucky laughs humorlessly. The sound chills Emily) I guess the joke's on her, because I beat her to punch on that one a long time ago. The Lucky Spencer she thinks she's going to kill doesn't exist.

Em: (shaky) You're wrong. Lucky, you are so wrong --

Lucky: No, Em -- it's Ok. It's really Ok. Because if she's wrong about that, then she can be wrong about the rest of it. She has no idea what she's dealing with. (Emily feels Lucky's lips against her hair. He presses them to her, his breathing a bit too quick. Emily can feel his heart racing in his chest. She feels a violent tremor travel through her like an electric current. Lucky pulls back) You still didn't answer my question.

Em: What question?

Lucky: How much do you need to get married?

Em: (shaking her head) I don't know what to say to that.

Lucky: Ok. How about this. When all this is over, and you get out of school, and we're free of all this garbage -- And that is going to happen, Em. That's a promise. When that does... (He takes a deep breath) When that does, will you marry me? (Emily feels the bed beneath her flip. In the dark, she's not entirely certain that she's not suddenly suspended from the ceiling. She shakes her head slightly)

Em: (thin) You don't believe in marriage.

Lucky: I don't believe in what my parents called marriage. But I believe in you. I believe we're going to make it out of here, and I believe we're going to keep driving each other crazy for a lot longer than this. (Emily starts to pull back a little) And -- HEY! (She stops. Lucky hears her breath rush out of her. Even in the dark, he knows exactly what she's doing. Biting her lip, and looking at him warily) I'm not just saying this because we're locked in a room and waiting for Helena to come and off me. Ok, so maybe that helps with my clarity -- but that's not why I said that. You have to know I 'm getting out of here. I'm taking you with me. And from then on -- to hell with all this Spencer/Cassadine crap. We are going to have a life. Together. You believe that, right? You know I can do this. (He listens. He hears Emily pull in a shuddering breath) Em?

Em: (choking) I know you can do this. (She turns towards him and reaches out to him. She grabs his arms, and pulls him towards her, hugging him tightly. Lucky closes his eyes and holds her just as tight against him. He feels her tremble against him, crying) I do trust you, and I do believe in you, and I ALWAYS have. And yes, I know I'm seventeen, and this is completely insane -- but if you say you really want to do it, I'll marry you in a heartbeat. (Emily threads her fingers through Lucky's hair, his head resting on her shoulder. He can feel him shake) Are you laughing or crying?

Lucky: (voice rich with some form of emotion) I don't even know anymore. (He pulls back and she feels his hands come up and cup her face. She closes her eyes, and lets Lucky guide her lips to his. Emily can feel the pulse in Lucky's lips as they move against hers. The kiss is full and promises things, communicates with her in it's own language. She responds to him, feeling her own heart swell. God... her mind, already unsteady, reels. This looks impossible, it sounds crazy, but it feels, in all ways, right. Lucky breaks the kiss gently, and she feels him pull her against him, laying her head on his shoulder. His lips gently brush against the skin on her neck. He speaks to her in a soft and intimate whisper) Thank-you. (Emily lets out a strangled laugh)

Em: Damnit, we never CAN do anything conventionally, can we?

Lucky: What the hell kind of fun would that be? (Emily pulls back and slides smoothly into Lucky's lap, her legs twinning around him. She copies his gesture of a few moments ago and takes his face in her hand. She looks into his eyes a moment, though she can't really see them, and he can't see hers. She lets out a long slow breath)

Em: I love you so much. (She smiles) You... are... the single most amazing being I've ever encountered in my life -- and I know, no matter how far I go, and how much I look around, I am never ever going to find your match. (she gives a small laugh) And how the hell you decided to love me the way you do, I'll never totally understand --

Lucky: Em...

Em: Hey. My turn. You made your speech, Ok? (he feels him nod) I don't really care what the 'why' is -- I love you. I know you love me. And... in the end, I know that you're not like everyone else. You're magic, Lucky Spencer. And maybe the odds are crazy, and we're looking to pull off the impossible.. But if anyone in the world can do it... I know it's you. (There is a long pause while Lucky struggles with what she just said. It takes a minute for him to get his voice to work)

Lucky: (forced) Hey. Someone up there likes toying with me. They aren't done with the show just yet. (Emily laughs softly)

Em: You have such a deeply twisted way of looking at things.

Lucky: I've had a lot of deeply twisted things to look at. (the words are barely out of Lucky's mouth when, without any more ceremony than they were extinguished with, the lights flip on again. Both Lucky and Emily jump, looking up at the lights overhead. Emily looks back down into Lucky's eyes. She smiles suddenly)

Em: Hey... I can see you -- (Lucky grins back, and is about to speak when the door suddenly slides open. Both turn to see a grim-faced Ari enter. He takes the couple in, Emily's legs wrapped around Lucky, and smirks)

Ari: I hope I am not interrupting. (Emily stares at him, her eyes wide)

Em: (gripping Lucky) NO.

Ari: Mr. Spencer... Mrs. Cassadine is requesting your presence. (Lucky exhales. Show time. He feels Emily's fingers sink into his shoulders)

Em: NO! NO, you're not taking him.

Lucky: Emily. (Emily looks at Lucky wildly. Two seconds ago she was feeling happy, and grounded and full of hope, but at this exact moment all she can feel is blind, unadulterated panic)

Em: Don't go.

Lucky: (softly) Em, I have to. (Emily feels tears threatening to choke her, steal her voice)

Em: Oh, God... (Lucky's hands are on her, gently pushing her off his lap. It takes ever bit of self-control she has to allow him. Something deep in her wants to fight this -- some basic small child part of her. No, a voice is screaming in her head. NO, no no no no no, you will not take him, you will not take HIM from me, you will not take Lucky, too. She can hear herself whimpering, a pathetic sound, and wants more than anything to just pull herself out of this. This isn't HER! She has to let him go. She has to. There is no other choice) No, Lucky.

Lucky: Emily. (Emily looks up at him, and he can see the terror in her eyes. God, this is awful. He swallows hard) You know this has to happen. (YES I know that! A voice in Emily's head screams. I understand. I love you. I believe in you. I know you'll be Ok. But she can't make the words come out of her mouth. She feels paralyzed in terror, in hot blooded emotions that are trying to grab her mind and control her. Everyone leaves me, they whine. Everyone goes away and they NEVER come back. She blinks rapidly.)

Em: (high-pitched) Be careful. (It's a bizarre thing to say. A part of her want to laugh. Be careful? Why not tell him to dress warmly lest he catch a cold?)

Lucky: (eyes locked on hers) I will. (Emily tries to smile, but the muscles don't seem to work. Her face convulses and she fights hard not to let them go where they want and pull her down into hysterical tears. She reaches out and grabs Lucky's hand, holding it tightly. It seems to be the only thing she can do. Her eyes are wide, and she knows Lucky can see her fear. She hopes he can see everything else, too. She feels Lucky squeeze her hand, and is then aware of him pulling her to her feet) I'll be Ok. (Emily reaches up quickly and pulls his mouth down onto hers, kissing him feverishly. Kissing him the way she imagines soldiers were kissed before they went off to war. It doesn't feel like enough. Not nearly. She pulse back suddenly, trying to catch her breath)

Em: (a breath) Please... (Lucky looks at her, pained. She can tell he doesn't want to leave her like this. Then suddenly, he thinks of something, and takes a step back, his hand digging into his pocket. Emily sits back down on the edge of the bed without making any decision to do so. The room around her dips and spins. Lucky looks up at her) Lucky: Here. (He holds out his hand. Emily looks at him blearily, then back at his closed fist. He opens his palm and she realizes what he's holding)

Em: My ring.

Lucky: (raw) Take it. (Emily reaches out, her hand shaking, and picks up the ring. She holds it in her hand and stares at it.)

Em: Ich bin dein. (Lucky nods)

Lucky: Du bist mein. (Emily stands up on his words, taking an unsteady step that closes the distance between them. She throws her arms around Lucky and hugs him for dear life. He does the same) Em: Come back to me.

Lucky: I always do. (Lucky feels a hand on his arm. Strong and none to gentle. He squeezes Emily tightly, then releases his grip.) Always. (Emily nods, and steps back, letting him go. She and Lucky don't break eye contact as Ari pulls him from the room. They continues to look at each other, communicating silently, until the door slides shut, locking Emily inside, and Lucky out in the world. Emily sinks onto the plush carpet and stares at the closed door. The overwhelming flood of emotions she was fighting a minute ago seem to run out of her, and she feels herself go limp. He's gone, and she can't even cry. She shakes her head slowly.)

Em: (to herself, a very small whisper) He'll come back. He's Lucky... he'll come back.