AN: This is a Nikolas & Elizabeth fic, stick with it and see. Based on spoilers (which have played out) and wishful thinking on my part.


Thunder – Just Noise

Thunder crashes through the thick forest, lightening thrusting into the ground by the mare's hooves. The horse whinnies and cries out in fear. The dark rider digs his heels deep into the her sides, pulling the reigns until the bit pulls at her lips, her eyes roll back in her head, foam drips from her mouth as thunder rolls through the night sky.

"Damn it Sheba, you're going to kill us both," Nikolas curses as he attempts to regain control. "It's passing quickly, settle down."

He gets off the saddle and comes around to pet and sooth the mare. "There, there girl. All is well. We've been through a lot you and I. We'll get through this too."

He walks her to the stables, an hostler runs out in the biting rain to take Sheba from him, Nikolas thanks him before heading to the house. The front door opens as if it was waiting for its master's return.

"Master Nikolas the young lady, Miss Brook Lynn Ashton is here, I put her in the East reception room."

"The East room, not my study, now why would you do that Alfred? The East room is cold and unwelcoming."

"Quit right sir, it hasn't been dusted in months."

"So why did you? Never mind. I will escort her to my study, where you will have a warm fire and some brandy waiting."

"Yes Master Nikolas, as you wish."

"Insufferable old bat," Nikolas says affectionately under his breath as he stalks towards the East room.

He enters the room to find it dark and empty. The French doors were open, rain was pouring into the room. A lightening strike frames Brook standing outside leaning on the patio railing looking up into the stormy night sky.

"I don't think Alfred likes me, but that's not unusual. I've pretty much made an enemy of everyone here in Port Charles. Story of my life."

"Feeling sorry for yourself again?"

She turns to look at him, "Oh my God, what's happened to you? You look like shit."

"Thank you," Nikolas replies abashed. "Sheba and I had a bit of a disagreement this afternoon. Come in out of the rain, I've asked Alfred to start a fire in my study."

Seated comfortably by the fire Nikolas again asks why she is feeling sorry for herself.

"Dante hates me. Really hates me, not just temporarily mad at his old friend Brook but real hate. I ran into him at Kelly's. He told me off, politely. It's the politeness that told me our friendship is over. He was my best friend, my only friend in Benson Hurst. Lulu hates me, Maxie is cold to me, even Mike kicked my out of Kelly's. You would think I was a murderer or something."

"You did drug him."

"I know. It was my idea. Stupid of course, I was drugged once, it was horrible and embarrassing. That's why I couldn't go through with it, I saw what I was becoming. Carly's too good at telling lies. Lulu believed everything she said."

"Carly's had a lot of practice and Lulu's blindly loyal to certain family members. Stubborn too."

"Certain family members? Is she that loyal to you?"

"Not always. If she has to choose between loyalty to me or Lucky and Luke, I lose. To be fair, I haven't always deserved blind loyalty, nor do I expect it."

"Will she hate you for being nice to me?"

"Lulu doesn't get to decide who I am friends with, besides you are Emily's family and she would want me to help you."

"A huh, I am a charity case."

"Not charity. You are doing me a favor. Your problems are a wonderful distraction."

"From what? Or should I say whom?"

Nikolas get's up to look out the window at the falling rain. "From missing Elizabeth, Aiden, and even Cameron and Jake. Aiden is my son with Elizabeth. They were here such a short time. I knew I would miss them, I didn't know how much. Spence cried himself to sleep in Cameron & Jake's room the first night. He's too young to understand."

"I didn't know. Congratulations on the baby," Brook replied uncertainly. "Do you think she'll move back here when she returns?"

"I hope so. I want to give her everything I have and she doesn't want it. She never has. All she wants is to be loved, to love, and be a good mother to her boys. In the end I just want her to be happy."

"Your a good guy. She's probably realizing how much she's missing you now and will be back ready to claim you and this place. You might want to let her redecorate."

"She can do whatever she wants to make this place home, I won't mind. Actually, I would enjoy it. She helped decorate this room. It was her idea for the lighter colors. She and I discussed ideas as we took down the old things. We used to have lots of fun together," he said wistfully. "The only thing I regret about my decisions last year are the ones that hurt her."

"I feel that way about Dante."

"If your friendship is meant to be, he'll forgive you. It may take time. Is that why you can't go to Olivia for help, because you hurt Dante?"

"Nah, that's cause I want Johnny. Benson Hurst girls are vicious when it comes to protecting their men."

Nikolas laughs as he returns to his chair by the fire, "I can imagine. I'm seeing the two of you pulling out the other's hair."

"You mean like on 'Mean Girls' or 'Jersey Shore'? Yeah, it could happen. She's old though, like my Ma old, so I need to respect her age. But if she starts it, I'm all over that. I'll kick her ass."

"I'm sure you would."

"Since the storm has passed, I should be going," she says as thunder crashes. "Looks like I spoke to soon."

"Will you go to the Quartermaines?"

"Great-grandpa Edward would love it but Grandma Tracy and I don't get along. I think we're too much alike."

"You can stay here, at least for the night. That storm is too strong for the launch."

"Are you sure? Would Elizabeth mind?"

"She's a nurse, she wouldn't like it if I let you go out in this weather, that and I don't believe she thinks she has the right to an opinion about who stays here. In fact, I wonder if Emily's ghost is one reason she is uncomfortable here. I'll have Alfred get a guest room ready. Scratch that, you can have Helena's room. I know that one is clean. Just check under the pillows for knives."

"I will," she laughs as lightening strikes just outside the window. "And thanks."