Chapter 1

John F. Kennedy International Airport was bustling with pre-Thanksgiving travelers. Emily Quartermaine observed them all with a detached interest as she sat in the waiting area for arriving flights. She was extremely excited because Nikolas was coming back to Port Charles for good today. For the past three weeks he had been at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia rehabilitating his shoulder and taking care of his resignation from the FBI. Emily knew his superiors had tried to persuade him to stay in the Bureau, but Nikolas had been resolute. He was moving back to Port Charles to be with Emily. Mac Scorpio had offered him a job as a detective with the PCPD, which Nikolas had accepted, and Nikolas had leased an apartment just down the hall from Emily. She smiled as she remembered how Nikolas had refused to move in with her despite her insistence that it made more sense for them to live together.

Flashback

"I still say you should just move in with me," Emily told Nikolas as they sat in Kelly's drinking coffee and discussing the apartments Nikolas had seen earlier that morning. "It's not like we aren't going to be spending all our time together."

Nikolas just smiled and shook his head. "It'll be more fun to live apart," he insisted. "That way we can go on dates. I can pick you up at your front door with some flowers hidden behind my back and take you out to a fancy restaurant and make all the other guys jealous. You know, dates."

Emily's face broke out into a smile. "How am I supposed to argue with you when you're so wonderful all the time?" she questioned with a laugh, leaning towards him.

"I don't know," Nikolas replied with a shrug. He leaned forward and kissed her briefly. "Maybe you just shouldn't argue with me, because I know how to win," he added, grinning.

She smacked his arm playfully. "Don't count on it," she warned. "The next time we have this discussion, I fully plan on winning."

Nikolas shook his head and laughed. "I love you," he said, leaning in to kiss her again. "Come here."

End Flashback

Emily snapped out of her memories as she heard Nikolas's flight being called for arrival. Rising from her seat, she began to scan the crowd for Nikolas. After a few minutes, she saw him exit the terminal, his eyes searching the crowd for her. Like magnets, his eyes were drawn to hers, and their gazes locked. Emily broke out into a smiled as she began moving towards him, her pace quickening with each step.

Nikolas dropped his bags and caught her easily as she launched herself into his arms. Emily giggled as he swung her around, his face pressed to the crook of her neck. "I've missed you so much," he whispered, setting her down so he could look into her eyes.

"I've missed you, too," Emily replied in the same tone, leaning up to kiss him. She kissed him firmly, her fingers trailing lightly through his hair. Nikolas responded to her kiss, slipping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer, his lips sealing over hers.

"Mmm," he murmured, pulling back slightly. "It's so nice to be home."

Emily grinned. "You might not feel that way once I tell you where we're going tomorrow."

Nikolas winced. "Let me guess…to the Quartermaine Mansion for Thanksgiving dinner?"

She nodded. "Everyone is going to be there. Jason has really been making an effort to reconnect with the family, especially since Grandmother's death, so he comes to Thanksgiving dinner now. Dillon's coming home from college and bringing Georgie with him. Alexis will be there with Ned and Kristina, and Mom invited Lucky and Liz to bring Eric. Even Luke and Skye will be there with Lulu. I know it will probably be tense and uncomfortable, and I'm sorry, but…"

"Em, Em, Em…" Nikolas hushed her, putting his fingers to her lips. "You're really adorable when you apologize for things that haven't ever happened yet, you know that?" They both laughed before he continued. "Seriously, don't worry about it. The normal family members will balance out the crazy ones. Plus, both our families thrive on dysfunction, so maybe together they'll be functional." He kissed her. "Besides, as long as I'm with you, everything will be fine because I'll have you to be thankful for."

Emily smiled and wrapped her arms around him in an embrace. "I love you."

"Love you, too," Nikolas replied, slipping an arm around her waist as they headed towards the baggage claim area.

"How's your shoulder?" Emily inquired as they walked.

"Perfectly healed," Nikolas replied. "The doctor's were amazed. They said they had never seen anyone recover from a gunshot wound so quickly in their lives. They all asked me what my secret was."

"What did you tell them?" Emily asked curiously.

He looked down at her and smiled. "I just told them I had a strong motivation to get home."

Emily smiled and leaned into his body, holding him a little closer as they walked. After retrieving his bags, the couple walked to Emily's car and drove back to Port Charles. They arrived at their apartment building and Nikolas brought his bags to his apartment. Emily followed him inside, seeing the place for the first time. It was spacious yet also slightly empty, with sparse furniture and austere colors on the walls. "It's nice," Emily commented. "A little barren, maybe, but nice."

Nikolas smiled. "Yes, well, I do have some decorating to do, don't I? I was sort of hoping you would help."

"Of course I will," Emily agreed happily.

"Good, thank you," Nikolas replied, leaning over to give her a brief kiss. "Listen, I've got to swing by the PCPD to talk to Mac and officially accept my job."

She nodded. "That's fine. I actually have to stop by the hospital anyway. I'll meet you at Kelly's for dinner?"

"Ok." Nikolas kissed her again, running his hand lightly over her hair. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Bye."

"Bye."

When Nikolas entered Kelly's later that evening, he scanned the restaurant for Emily. He spotted her sitting at a table facing away from the door, her chin propped on her hand. He walked up behind her quietly and tilted her chin up with his hand as he leaned down to kiss her passionately. Emily responded to his kiss, her hand cupping his cheek as she moaned slightly in surprise.

"Hi," she greeted with a laugh as he sat down across from her. "How was your meeting with Mac?"

Nikolas nodded. "It went very well. I'm officially employed as a detective with the PCPD."

"Congratulations!" Emily exclaimed, leaning across the table to hug him. "That's wonderful."

"Thank you," Nikolas replied.

The waitress came to take their orders and their meal passed enjoyably with much conversation and playful teasing. After the waitress took their plates away and they paid for their meal, Emily leaned across the table again, taking Nikolas by surprise as she kissed him. When she pulled away, Nikolas looked at her curiously. "What was that for?"

"I just realized how much I missed you," Emily responded with a shrug.

Nikolas chuckled. "It wasn't like we didn't speak while I was gone. We talked almost every night on the phone."

"I know," Emily acknowledged. "But it was hard not being able to see you, to be close to you, not being able to lean over and kiss you when you say something adorable."

Nikolas grinned as he leaned over and planted a kiss on Emily's lips. "Like that?" he asked teasingly.

Emily smiled. "Yes. I love you, Nikolas."

"I love you, too," Nikolas replied, standing and taking her hand. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" Emily asked with interest as she allowed herself to be pulled to her feet and out of the restaurant.

Nikolas paused and stepped closer to her, sliding his arms around her and pulling her close. "Back to your apartment." He bent down so he could whisper in her ear, his voice making her knees weak. "I want to be alone with you." He gently brushed his mouth against her neck.

Emily sighed as his lips moved across her skin. "Okay," she agreed breathlessly. "But if you keep that up, you'll have to carry me home in a bowl because I'll be a puddle of Jell-O at your feet," she continued, referencing his lips continuing to trail a path along her neck.

Nikolas laughed and pulled back. "We can't have that," he said, scooping one arm under her knees as his other wrapped around her lower back, picking her up in his arms as Emily squealed in surprise.

"Nikolas, what are you doing?"

He shrugged. "Carrying you home before you turn into Jell-O," he replied, walking towards her apartment with her still in his arms.

"Nikolas, you can put me down now," Emily laughed as he came to a halt at the door of her apartment. "You didn't have to carry me all the way home, you know."

He grinned as he sat he down on her feet. "I know, but I wanted to," he told her as she rummaged through her purse for her keys.

"I must have looked ridiculous," she commented, finally finding the key and unlocking the door.

"You could never look ridiculous," Nikolas assured her, following her into the apartment. "I thought you looked beautiful." He leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss that started out gentle and innocent but very quickly became passionate.

Emily's fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, clinging to Nikolas as his tongue slipped inside her mouth to touch hers. They back-stepped clumsily to the bedroom; their lips locked the entire time. Nikolas paused at the foot of the bed, moving his hands from Emily's back and neck to her shoulders, sliding her jacket off her shoulders. Emily's movements mirrored his, and Nikolas shrugged out of his jacket, allowing it to fall to the floor at their feet.

Then, Nikolas proceeded to slowly unbutton Emily's blouse, his lips following the path of his hands, burning a path over her skin. Emily ran her fingers through his hair before trailing her hands downward to pull Nikolas's shirt over his head. He complied, straightening so that he freed himself from the fabric, his lips landing on Emily's the moment the shirt was gone.

Slowly, Nikolas leaned Emily's body backwards over the bed, his mouth never leaving her. He hovered over her, his hands stroking the sides of her body as hers moved restlessly over his back. Lifting her up with one arm, he reached behind her and unclasped her bra, pulling it off in one smooth motion and exposing her body from the waist up.

"I love you," he murmured against her lips before trailing kisses down her chest.

"I love you, too," Emily moaned in reply, her fingers moving to the button of his jeans. She deftly undid them, pushing his pants and underwear down his body.

Nikolas moved his hands to Emily's pants, quickly removing them along with her panties. Looking at Emily with a small smile, he lowered his head to hers, teasing her lips with his while keeping his body raised over hers.

Emily was having none of this. Arching her body into his, she wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him into her. "I need you, Nikolas," she whispered breathlessly into his ear.

Nikolas couldn't hold back any longer. He sank into her, causing Emily to cry out in pleasure and wrap her legs around him. Their tempo quickly increased and soon they reached their peak, climaxing together.

Afterwards, Emily lay snuggled securely in Nikolas's arms, her head resting on his shoulder, feeling both very satiated and very sleepy. Lifting her head up, she gently traced the scar on his shoulder from where the bullet had torn through his skin before leaning down and kissing it.

Nikolas's gaze slid sideways until it met hers. "Why did you do that?" he asked sleepily.

Emily just smiled as she shifted closer and burrowed into his warm, firm body. "It's part of the job description," she mumbled in reply. "Kiss it and make it better."