Summer hit Port Charles as it had finally returned to a sense of normalcy after the Metro Court incident in February.

After Elizabeth told Jason the truth about the baby, she got his word to remain silent regarding the baby's true paternity before she reconciled with Lucky. A daughter was born on May 4, named Laura Audrey Spencer, Andi for short. Shortly after birth, a defect in the baby's heart forced Elizabeth to confess everything to Lucky. A routine blood test, however, showed that Lucky was Andi's father, but the damage was already done. Lucky told his wife he could forgive the one night stand, but the constant lying hurt him too much. After the baby's defect was corrected, Lucky moved out of their house and in with Nikolas.

Emily was overwhelmed with grief and guilt when she wasn't attempting to comfort the other members of her family. After inheriting her father's entire estate, she tried to come up with the perfect projects for her to use the money for the most good. Nikolas stayed by her side as a friend, comforting her when she had a moment of remembering her father or making her laugh when she needed it the most. Over the spring and summer, their feelings were reignited. Emily was hesitant as was Nikolas, but Lucky and Monica reminded them that not everyone got a second chance and it should not be squandered. After a proposal witnessed by their families, the couple were to be remarried September 15th in a small ceremony in Lila's rose garden.

Jason and Sam were slowly picking up the pieces. Losing Alan made Jason reach out to Monica. He still held Edward at arm's length, but he was more receptive to the Quartermaines. It also led him to compel Carly to let his mother be more of a part of Michael's life.

Monica's life was a whirlwind the last several months as she held her ground when Dr. Russell Ford challenged her for the COS position, winning by one vote. She missed cardiology and the rush of surgery, but being COS was a way of keeping Alan's memory alive.

In April, after challenging Tracy as to the existence of Alan's ghost, she realized that the memories of the mansion were too painful. With a heavy heart, she moved out and into a penthouse ironically in the same building as Sonny Corinthos. She kept busy with assisting Emily in the planning of her wedding. In public, she kept herself together, but in private, she cried every night.


Emily was at her mother's penthouse rifling through a bridal magazine in yet another attempt to find a gown. She stopped at a design, but looked unsure so she turned to ask her mother's opinion. "Mom?"

Monica was standing by the fireplace, holding a picture. She was focused on the image, not paying attention to her daughter. Emily looked over to see what her mother was holding. It is a picture of Alan. "Mom, are you okay?"

Monica was finally knocked out of her reverie. "Hmm? I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Emily gave her mother a knowing look. "Because I've been yelling your name and you haven't heard me. Mom, if helping me is too much for you righ-"

Monica hugged her daughter, still holding the picture. "Emily, sweetheart, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Helping my daughter plan her wedding is not too much for me. It's a joy"

Emily pulled out of the hug. "Mom, I know your wedding anniversary is in two weeks. It is why you're so sad. You've been sad ever since Dad died"

"I'm not sad, Emily. Your father's gone. I have to accept that" Monica inhaled heavily to hold back tears. "It's been six months"

Emily looked at her mother. "It's okay to still be sad, Mom. It's okay to cry or to scream at the heavens. Dad was the love of your life" She hesitated before she continued. "You don't always have to be the strong one, you know"

At that moment, a cat walked up to Monica's leg and rubbed up against it and purred. Monica picked the cat up and gently stroked her to avoid the moment with her daughter. The cat, a short haired orange tabby named Persephone, was a recent member of Monica's new household.

"Come here Persephone. Good girl" Monica said. Seeing her daughter's concern, Monica put the cat down and smiled as she patted the arm of her daughter. "Emily darling, I'm fine. I have my moments, but your father wouldn't want me to wallow in self pity. Now, let's get back to finding you the perfect wedding gown"


A hour later, Emily was going through more bridal magazines in frustration and finally reached her limit. She chucked the magazine at the wall, scaring Persephone away from the couch arm where she was napping. "That's it! I give up! Mom, none of these are right!" Emily yelled in frustration.

Monica looked up from the magazine she was looking at and chuckled. "Em, come on. Don't worry. We will find the right design. The wedding will be perfect. Now, sit, take five, and RELAX"

Emily walked over to her mother and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Mom. It's just that this is a new beginning for Nikolas and myself. I just want it –"

"Perfect. I understand, Em, trust me. However, in the end, it's a reflection of the love you and Nikolas share. Nothing else matters. You'll be beautiful if you wear...your lab coat and scrubs" Both began to laugh at Monica's final comment.

Emily stopped after a moment. "That's what Dad said about you. He said when you got married the first time that you could have been in scrubs after surgery, or a gunny sack. When he saw you walk down the aisle, you lit up the room"

Monica felt a shadow of sadness overwhelm her. She remembered that day. As she walked down that aisle, she felt fear, anguish, love, all at the same time. She didn't realize it then, but her feelings for Rick were not of true love. It was a yearning of the familiar. Alan was like no one else she had ever known. Never had someone shared themselves with her or wanted her to be a part of them. It felt as she was going on a roller coaster. Little did she know at the time that the roller coaster she boarded would last over three decades and getting off left a void that would never heal.

Emily saw her mother's expression change. She inwardly kicked herself, afraid she upset her with memories of her father. Her parents bickered and fought, but they held on with a love so strong and true that not even death could break it. She felt that if she and Nikolas had half of what Alan and Monica Quartermaine shared, their love would last forever. Suddenly struck with inspiration, Emily walked over to a glass cabinet that held books, unseen by Monica. When she found what she was looking for, she returned to her mother.

Monica was so engrossed in her thoughts of her first wedding with Alan that she didn't hear her daughter calling her name.

"Mom...Mom...Mom!"

Monica turned to the source of her disruption with a start. "What? Oh, I'm sorry, Em. I was distracted"

"Dad, wasn't it?"

Monica gave a knowing smile. "I can't help it. I have days that proceed accordingly, but also have days where a movement, a noise, or a comment brings it all back. God, I miss my Big Guy" Monica finished as a tear shed down her cheek.

Emily dropped her thought for the moment to comfort Monica. She walked over to her mother, but it seemed as if Monica was reading her mind as she quickly composed herself and wiped the tear away. "I'm okay, Emily"

Emily remained concerned. "Are you sure, Mom?"

Monica took her daughter's hand. "Yes, I am. Emily, Alan is everywhere. At GH, in my dreams, in your eyes. I know you are not our biological daughter, but you have Alan's kind soul in your eyes. You are a part of the love Alan and I shared for over 30 years. So don't worry about me, okay? I've had loss before and I will deal with it. Now, I notice that you have a particular album out. Care to share?"

Emily smiled. "Yes, Mom. I know what I want for my wedding dress. She opened the album to her chosen page and showed it to Monica. "That is, if it's okay with you"

Monica beamed from ear to ear, a rare showing of happiness lately. "Of course it is. I would be proud for you to wear my wedding dress in your wedding. It will look much lovelier on your than it did on that witch Nikki Langton" Monica hugged her daughter.

At that moment, Emily saw the time. "Oh no, I have to go. I'm meeting Nikolas tonight. We're going out to dinner and a movie courtesy of Uncle Lucky volunteering to baby-sit Spencer"

Monica laughed. "Okay, you go and have fun"

Emily hugged her mom again. "If you need anything, call me please" She released her mother. "Oh, Mom, thanks again for letting me have your wedding dress"

"No problem. Now go!" As Monica closed her door, she walked back into her living room. Monica came back to the mantle and took down the picture of Alan that had so captured her attention earlier. She took it down and with her as she walked to the couch. It was one of her favorites, one of when he was older. The same one she was gazing upon on the day of his memorial service. She touched it gently with her left hand. Her engagement ring glistened slightly while she was doing this. The tears began to fall as she hugged the picture for dear life.

"Oh Alan, I need you so much"


Emily exited the penthouse building to the parking garage. She hit the remote to unlock the SUV door and turn off the alarm. Just as she grabbed the handle, a hand came to her face. She struggled, but soon went limp. The person put her in the back seat, covered her with a blanket, then got into Emily's car and drove away. As they passed the gate, the driver saluted the attendant, who nodded.


A short time later, Emily was carried aboard a private jet and placed in a spacious room with a bed, nightstand, and a television. Her cell phone was removed from her belt buckle. After a careful examination, the kidnapper walked to the door, and tossed the phone. After making sure Emily was secured, the person walked to a phone in the main area and pushed one button. "Ready to take off" the person stated.

When the plane completed takeoff a short time later, the kidnapper made another call. "It's Craig. Ms. Quartermaine is aboard. It's time to implement the next phase of our Queen's plan" He hung up the phone with a smirk.

"Spencers...Quartermaines...you never should have induced the wrath of the Cassadines"