The change within

Chapter 2

Emily unlocked her loft and opened it, gliding in as if she was over air. She had such a blast tonight. She hadn't had that much fun since…..forever it felt like. Nikolas had held her back more than she had thought, but Emily quickly shook that thought away, remembering her promise. No more Nikolas, she was moving on.

She put down her purse on the kitchen counter and got herself some water out of the refrigerator and plopped down on the sofa in the living room, thinking of Julius. He made her feel so alive again, so young, so youthful, and so happy. She hadn't done happy in a long time.

Then a repeating red colored flash caught her eye, it was her answering machine. She stepped out of her boots and pushed play with her right big toe. Emily came on first, saying "This is Emily's answering machine, either I'm out or I'm just busy, leave a message at the end of the beep." Emily said, earlier recording that. She always thought if you get done things early and get them done, that your life is just that much easier.

Emily was studying her toe nails, wondering if she should paint them when the message played. "Emily, hey, it's Elizabeth." Emily rolled her eyes, oh now she cares! Let me guess, she thought, she's going to say something down the lines of: I heard about you and Nikolas and I know you're hurting and I want to help, so call me if you need anything, okay?

But Emily trained her thoughts and ears back just in time to hear Elizabeth's message. "I heard and you and Nikolas, and I'm so sorry." Pause, Emily rolled her eyes again, she can call them when she can, can't she? "If you need to talk or anything, I'm here okay?" Yeah, right, sure, Emily thought, like that will be the day. "You have my number, call me." The message ended there thankfully and Emily without regret pressed the delete button.

Then Emily stood up and got ready for bed. She had work tomorrow and had to be the best nice little princess she could and to do that she needed some rest. She smiled as a thought found itself in her head.

What if she dreamed of Julius? If so, what kind of dream would it be? She smiled, one way to find out.

The next morning, Emily was up and at work early, working as if it was natural and she was still married. She was at the desk, looking over a file and putting down some medication the patient was taking on the patient's medication page. They needed to be updated and she got the job.

The elevator sounded as it opened, but Emily only ignored it, as she was very much use to its sound and use. She was just finishing when she heard her name called.

"Emily, what are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked as she just arrived for her shift.

Emily looked at her. "I work here, remember?" She asked Elizabeth, no that wasn't the bad Emily talking, just the plain truth, so she was safe.

"I know that." Elizabeth said and leaned across from her. "But what are you doing here? After yesterday, I thought you'd sleep in and get some rest before facing the world." She reasoned. Elizabeth had obviously been worried. Emily doubted it was real. Elizabeth didn't care about her problems, she was too busy taking care of her own to care.

"And what good would that do Elizabeth?" Emily supposed. "My life would move on with or without Nikolas, I have to move on with my life eventually, I shouldn't tally on doing so." Emily explained to Liz.

Liz knew all about that so she couldn't say otherwise. It was the truth, life moved on with or without you. Emily continued with her updating the patient medical files and Elizabeth went to do her duties. The morning passed before she knew it and soon it was time for lunch.

Elizabeth went to Emily, they often ate lunch together. "Emily, you ready to go on lunch break?" She asked her, as Emily cleaned and organized her mess.

"In a minute, I have to put these files back correctly, so I'll meet you there shortly, okay?" She asked Elizabeth.

Liz nodded and agreed. "Okay, see you then." She turned and Emily went to the files and started placing the files in correctly.

Just as she finished and was leaving, her cell rang, so she quickly reached in her purse and answered it. "Hello?" She answered.

"Emily, hey, it's Julius." Julius said on the other end, slightly nervous.

Emily smiled for real this time. "Julius, hey, how's it going?" She asked him, happy to talk to him again.

"Actually my day is going off pretty well for once." He laughed nervously, that was because of her mostly. He couldn't wait to see her again. Even if they had such a great time yesterday didn't mean that she'd want to do it again though.

"That's good to hear." Emily said, remembering he was a businessman who often had to solve all the companies' problems. She also was reminded that it paid well but was a huge headache with all the bull some of the employees pulled.

"Yeah, it is. Listen, are you free tonight?" He asked her, hoping for a 'yes' desperately. He really wanted to see her, it was almost an addiction.

Emily thought about that. "Yeah, actually. Nothing planned for me. I'm probably just going to sit at home and read a book." She answered.

Julius finally took a deep breath of relief he didn't realize he'd been holding. "How about dinner and a movie instead?" He asked her, finally getting those words out. He had done it and that made him proud, now for her to say yes.

"Sounds like a plan." Emily smiled. "What time are you thinking? I get off work around five, and I will probably at least need an hour to get ready, so, around six, sound good to you?" She figured, doing the math.

"You don't need an hour to look beautiful Emily, but if you wish for it, six sounds good. I'll pick you up at your loft?" He asked he got gotten the address last night when he wanted to see her return home safely. Emily had found it sweet and very romantic and all on the same night in which she met the guy.

"Yeah, I'll be ready for you. See you then, bye." Emily and him said goodbye and sighed happily. A date with a cute guy who was very nice, already, what more can she ask for?

Her stomach answered for her. Then she remembered lunch, Elizabeth would probably be done by now, but she was fine about eating alone. As long as she had tonight, she would be fine.

Unknown to her knowledge, her conversation was overheard. While Emily was walking away, Nikolas, who stood in the corner was seething with jealousy. How dare she set up a date, if she was of course, he didn't know that for sure, but it sure sounded that way!

She should be miserable, barely getting through and she already met someone new? What kind of games was she playing? If she was trying to make him jealous, it wasn't working, he was just angry at her for moving on that quickly, that was all.

Grumbling he turned around and was going to leave before he remembered why he was here in the first place. He was meeting Lucky here, so he just turned around and went to where they were to meet, the lobby. He grabbed a magazine about cars that didn't particularly interest him, shuffling around only to find a magazine with the headline "How to survive marriage"

He pushed it away, only to find another headline screaming "is he cheating on you?" Nikolas just frowned at that, his conscience finally appearing.

He of all people knew if someone was a cheater, considering what he did. He wished he could blame in on the alcohol, but even he knew that was only an excuse. He had alcohol in his system as did Courtney, but not enough to hurt your judgment like that.

Nikolas and Emily had got an invitation to a party as did Courtney and Jax Jacks. Emily and Jax had gone on to conversation with other people, he and Courtney was invited, but they didn't really feel like conversation so they settled down at the bar and had a glass of champagne each, talking quietly about nothing and everything.

The night had gone on and when Nikolas wanted to go up to the room meant for him and Emily, well they didn't want to let go of each other and things led to another and well…two marriages failed.

They were busy in bed when both Jax and Emily opened the door, prepared to ask what happened to one of the other's spouses only to find the worst betrayal possible. Emily stifled a cry and Jax just grew angry, slamming the door, hoping to catch their attention.

They had looked at each other and realized they were busted. Nikolas and Courtney dressed quickly, racing after their spouses, only to find Jax comforting Emily who was crying in his shoulder while he was just furious. He should have known something like this would happen.

He really believed she loved him with all her heart; he had no reason to think otherwise, not even with Jason, but Nikolas? He shook his head and guided Emily away when the adulterers came racing down.

But it was too late both ways, Jax wouldn't even speak to Courtney and Emily couldn't even look at him without seeing him and Courtney in bed together. Courtney got served with divorce papers the next day, but Emily tallied, trying to get over it, coming to the decision, they could forgive and forget.

But then Courtney came to him broken heartedly and asked that he divorce Emily so that they could be together. Emily didn't even get the words out when he announced it and that leaves him in the present, though Courtney and him weren't really together, she was making goo goo eyes at a tall brown haired man in a business suit, so Nikolas didn't consider them dating.

It wasn't like he cared for her anyway. Not really.

The seat by him crunched down as some weight rested on it. "Thinking about Courtney?" He asked Nikolas. It was Lucky.

Nikolas shook his head. "No, Emily. I overheard a conversation she was having; apparently she already met someone new." He said bitterly.

"And why should you care Nikolas? Emily is single now, unless you're jealous of course." Lucky caught on.

Nikolas shot up and denied Lucky's accusation. "I'm not jealous; I just think it's a bit soon for her. We've only been divorced a day." He explained even though inside he was but he wouldn't admit it out loud.

"What do you expect Emily to do? Weep and hang on to you, begging to have you back? You're the one who wanted the divorce, not Emily, she just signed the papers. I thought this was what you wanted." Lucky supposed, noting Nikolas was indeed green with jealousy even if he didn't want to admit it.

"It is." Nikolas insisted. "I just think there should be a clause of how long you wait to see other people." Lucky laughed at this one. Nikolas didn't wait to move on and he was still married when he did. But he was happy for Emily; he knew she wouldn't wait around anymore; it was time to move on from her silly crush on Nikolas that never really went away.

Nikolas sat back down, changing the subject quickly. "What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked Lucky.

Lucky's response was stopped as the elevator doors opened, revealing Elizabeth. "Never mind." Lucky muttered and got up.

Elizabeth walked over to them. "Lucky, hey. Are you going to be home tonight?" She asked sweetly but Lucky gruffly passed her.

"No, I'm working a double shift." He answered her and walked away, pushing the button for down. He needed to get to work.

Elizabeth followed, frowning. "Again?" She asked.

"Yes, again." He responded coldly and stepped into the elevator. The doors closed on her and she looked to Nikolas in confusion and he just shrugged.

Nikolas turned the tables as Elizabeth went back to the desk. "Hey, Elizabeth, has Emily mentioned a new guy to you?" He asked her.

Elizabeth looked confused. "No, not to me, why?" She asked him.

Nikolas sighed in relief. It wasn't a boyfriend or a date, just one of her other friends that just happened to be a guy. She had tons of them. "Oh, just curious, thought I'd see how she was doing." He lied through his teeth. "I want Emily happy, you know?" He told her, what he hoped was convincingly.

Elizabeth just looked at him strangely but let is pass. "Yeah, me too. Well, I have to get back to work." She excused herself, leaving him be.

It was just a guy that happened to be a friend he told himself, but just in case he'd have to stop by around six and make sure everything was alright. Just because they were exes didn't mean they can't check up on that they were okay. He owed Emily that much and it wasn't because he was jealous and scared it was otherwise and she was moving on.

Lucky encountered Emily on the first floor, talking to a co worker. When the co worker skidded away on call, Lucky went up to her. "Emily, hey, how's it going?" He asked her, they were still good friends.

Emily smiled at Lucky, happy to see him well. "I'm good, hanging in there, you know? You?" She asked him back.

Lucky shook his head. "I know this is short notice, but do you think I can stay in your guest bedroom until I'm back on my feet?" He asked of her.

Emily's smile turned into a frown. "Sure, you know are always welcome to, but why?" Emily asked for an explanation, leading him to a couple comfortable chairs.

"Elizabeth and I were over. She obviously wants this nonexistent baby more than she wants me, so I decided to cut my losses, you know?" Lucky replied.

Emily managed a small smile. "Yeah, I know." She agreed and looked in her purse for a pen and notepad. She scribbled something down and tore the top piece off, handing it to him. "Here, give this to the person behind the front desk, they'll give you an extra key." She advised him.

He smiled and stood up. "Thanks Emily, I appreciate this." He told her as she stood up as well.

"It's nothing Lucky, you're free to stay there as long as you like." She invited him into her home, it needed another presence anyway.

Lucky smiled and turned to leave, but paused. "Hey, Emily, no matter what happens with you and Nikolas and this divorce, you're always going to be a sister to me." He told her and she smiled, waving him goodbye

It was really good to hear that, Lucky and their friendship really meant the world to her. Turning, she prepared to go back to work and looked forward to tonight.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! They were great to find in my email, waiting for me earlier today. Glad you are liking it. I hope that will continue.