Nathan tilts his head, eyes moving from Maxie's eyes to her lips—the only characteristics he can see of her masked face. He is clearly caught off guard by the masked woman, as she is by him. Just as his lips part to ask any number of questions, Nikolas bolts down the winding staircase. With carry-on bag in hand, he awkwardly throws on his coat.
"Spencer! Let's go!" he yells upstairs. Spencer runs down the stairs, tossing his backpack over his shoulders. Finally noticing the scene at the front door, Nikolas grabs Maxie by the arms and gives her a peck on the cheek. "Hey, Lulu! Come on in, it's freezing out there!" he says, pulling her inside the castle. "It's good to see you!" He gives her a once over and laughs, "Not sure what you're wearing there, but…good to see you. Sorry we can't stay and catch up, but Spencer and I have to catch the launch. But we'll see you when we get back, okay?"
Maxie plays along and simply shakes her head and turns to wave and watch them walk out into the night.
With that, they are out the door, and Maxie stands in the front room, alone with Nathan.
Maxie swallows the lump in her throat, unsure of what the evening will now hold. She turns to face Nathan, and they immediately make eye contact. A smile spreads over Nathan's face.
"So…Lulu…what brings you here…and, in such an extravagant costume?"
Maxie breaks eye contact, looking anywhere but directly at Nathan…searching for a solution to her current predicament.
Nathan takes a step forward, then another, until he is so close she is sure he can hear her heart beating.
"What's this? Maxie Jones…speechless?" he asks, putting a hand on each side of her mask and pulling it gently off.
"But—how did you…"
With his hands on her cheeks, thumbs gently tracing over the lines left by her mask, he answers, "Do you know how long I've spent looking into these beautiful eyes?"
She smiles broadly, then bites her bottom lip, trying to conceal a little of her excitement.
"And that every time I see you, I think about the one, amazing time I got to feel these lips on mine?" he says, running his thumb along her lips, and breaking her bottom lip free. "Believe me, he may not have noticed that it was you…but I have a hard time not noticing you, Maxie."
"So, I'm sorry, I must be kind of slow here, but…so…there is no masquerade ball, I take it?" Maxie asks.
"Masquerade ball?" Nathan asks, befuddled.
"Lulu said—" Maxie says, then stops, visibly pondering.
"Lulu huh? I'll have to be sure to thank her big time for this one," Nathan says, a smile creeping over his face.
"Oh my gosh…She did this! She set me up!" Maxie yells.
"Are you mad?" Nathan asks, his excitement wavering.
"That I am here in this ridiculous costume, while you…You're…" she stutters, giving his shirtless body another onceover.
"A sweaty mess? Sorry, I was just finishing up my workout. You know Nikolas has a weight room here? This place is…well, it's taking me a while to get used to all of its amenities."
"Okay, first, you are not a mess. You're…" Maxie says, raising her eyebrows, but then continues, "Second, what do you mean, getting used to this place? Why are you even here?"
"I'm sorry, are you upset I'm here? Did you not want to see me?" Nathan asks, his eyes saddening.
"No…no, I'm not upset. I'm incredibly grateful," she answers, her expression softening.
"Me too," Nathan says, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"And of course I wanted to see you. I'm ecstatic I get to see you!" she clarifies, putting her hands on Nathan's biceps.
"Me too," Nathan smiles.
"But…" Maxie begins, then stops.
"But what?" Nathan asks, releasing her from his grasp.
Maxie begins to pace around the room, "But, we can't be together. The judge said so. Diane said so. Nothing has changed."
"You're right," Nathan concedes.
"That isn't want I wanted you to say," Maxie nervously laughs.
"You're right, none of that has changed. But no one saw that it was you, right?"
"Right…" Maxie realizes, "That was why Lulu insisted I put the mask on before I even left their apartment. And why she thought it was such a wonderful idea for me to put in extensions again. A woman with long blond hair…Lulu…coming to Wyndemere…not that uncommon."
"Wow, she really did think of everything," Nathan says, impressed.
"She knew how much I missed you."
"I missed you too."
"So…now what?" Maxie asks, smiling coyly.
"So…now I go take a shower, put on something that is more fitting to your attire…"
"What? No…"
"No, listen," he says, taking her hands, "you came here for a masquerade ball. I don't think I have a mask lying around…"
"Imagine that," Maxie chuckles.
"Yeah, sorry, I wasn't prepared for quite ALL occasions. But…I can't let you go without you getting to take full advantage of that dress. I mean, you look amazing…as always."
Maxie smiles and her cheeks begin to flush.
"And it would be a shame to not see it on the dance floor, as you intended it to be."
"What dance floor?" Maxie asks, glancing around.
"Oh, I'm sure there's one around here somewhere," Nathan laughs.
"Oh, probably," Maxie says, "those Cassadines…Oh…I mean…YOU Cassadines…THAT'S why you're here."
"Yeah, after Nikolas found out Britt had lied to him again, he kicked her out. I still don't know what my sister was thinking. She has her own destructive way of showing people she cares. Anyway, Nikolas is taking some time away with Spencer. Away from Port Charles. Away from Wyndemere. He knew I wasn't going to be living at your place anymore, under the current circumstances, so he asked me to stay here while they're gone. He said I was just as welcome here as any other Cassadine. I'm not sure I'm quite used to being one…or even really know what it means to be one…but, if it means I get to be on a secluded island in a huge castle with you, I think I'm going to love it."