The bright lights of the New York sparkled before them as the car exited the Lincoln Tunnel. For much of the trip from Port Charles, Sam and Lucky had been wrapped up in conversation, covering everything from relationships past to their scattered childhoods to Cameron. However, at first glance of the world's most famous skyline, they both became silent. There was something so breathtaking about the city at night. The glittering gold of the lights surrounded all its inhabitants with an aura of romanticism and unexpected joy.

Sam leaned across Lucky to peer out the window. She had always had a love affair with New York, ever since visiting it with her class in kindergarten. For her eighth birthday, she had convinced her father to bring her back. It was rare that he had ever made anything about his daughter, but for that one shining day, he had devoted his time to Sam. They had hung out in Central Park, had a tea party in the Russian Tea Room and played with the dolls at FAO Schwartz. It was the perfect day and definitely something Sam would never forget.

"So, where are we going?" Lucky asked. He had probably inquired about the night's schedule a half dozen times since leaving Port Charles, but she hadn't revealed a single thing. Even now, she simply shook her head, a mischievous smile playing across her lips. "I can't believe you are so set on keeping this a surprise. I have to admit that I kind of like it. It's been a long time since anyone planned anything for me."

"Well, then sit back and enjoy the night, Spencer," she replied. "I want to show you the New York I know. You have to take it in a little bit at a time because I don't think you could handle it all at once. It's pretty amazing."

You're pretty amazing, Lucky thought. He wanted to voice his sentiment but feared that it would create an air of awkwardness neither needed. Instead, he opted to follow her gaze outside toward the lights. "When I was a kid, we came to New York with school for all our field trips," he told her. "My favorite was when we went to the top of the Empire State Building in sixth grade. Emily was so scared in the elevator on the way up, so she kept clinging to my arm. I had an imprint from her fingernails in my shoulder when we finally got up there. But when we stepped out to look out over the city, she was the most excited out of everybody. She kept running back and forth from one side of the observation deck to the other. It was a really great day."

Sam admired that he had such a history with the people in his life. Of the people she had left, she hadn't known anyone for more than a few years. Both her father and her brother were gone. For years, they had been all that she had. While it was nice to have more people to call family now, she couldn't help but wish they had known her as long. She would never have anyone to share those childhood memories with. "It sounds like a really great memory," she smiled. "I'm not sure that tonight is going to live up to that day, but I think it might be equally as memorable. It'll be something else entirely."

Lucky felt his stomach turn over and growl from hunger. Lunch had been early in the station as a staff meeting had taken up much of the afternoon. "Sorry about that," he laughed sheepishly. "I know that you're not going to tell me anything, but can you at least tell me if we are going to eat soon? If you can't tell, I'm a little hungry."

As if on cue, the card slowed next to a curb. "Actually, yes," she answered. "This is one of my favorite places in New York. I found it one afternoon when I was just walking around. I couldn't afford to actually come in and eat, so I went down the street and bought a pretzel. I would sit on a bench outside and dream about a day that someone would be able to bring me inside. One evening, the head hostess saw me sitting there when she came outside for a break. We got to talking, and she snuck me out a portion of their chocolate soufflé."

"One if by Land, Two if by Sea," Lucky read the sign aloud. He admired the dim lighting and exposed brick, taking in the breathtaking ambiance. They were definitely underdressed for the place, but Sam didn't care. This was her New York. "Well, shall we?"

"We shall," Sam agreed, allowing the driver to open the door and guide her onto the sidewalk. Lucky stepped out of the car behind her and led her inside the former carriage house. Candlelight danced around the room as they were seated at their corner table. A small roar went over the room as diners looked up from their supper. Sam was a recognizable figure now, thanks to the show. As she turned to Lucky, she tried to ignore the obvious stares coming their way. "What do you think?"

"I love the piano music," he smiled, looking around the room. "And there is obviously nothing better than a fireplace. We should come back in the winter again. It'd be perfect on a cold, snowy night."

"The West Village is one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York," she added. "Did you know that this building was once owned by Aaron Burr? I don't know why that impresses me, but it always does. Pretty much everything about this place impresses me. It's the antithesis of everything I knew growing up. Coming back here reminds me of who I am and where I'm from. Even if I can afford a night of fine dining at this place, I'm still that scamp of a girl on the outside looking in. I thought that I would want be someone who fit in here, but I'm glad that I'm not. I never want to get used to the good life. Maybe then I'd quit working for what I've got."

The rest of dinner flew by quicker than either of them could have anticipated. They enjoyed the prix fixe meal with the Cacao Noel Chocolate Soufflé to finish. Afterward, they were back in the limo and on their way to the next destination. Bright yellow taxis and standard white delivery vans mixed with sleek sedans and racy convertibles along Broadway. Lucky didn't even bother to ask where they were going. He honestly didn't care anymore. He was having the best night he had had in quite some time.

"This is it!" Sam called to the driver, who cut across two lanes of traffic to pull up in front of the curb. Columbia University seemed like an odd place to spend an evening, but the girl in charge had a plan in mind. She didn't even wait for the chauffer to let her out of the car as she leaped from the limo. Pulling Lucky out after her, she glanced at him expectantly. "What do you think?"

"You brought me to school? I'm confused."

"Pupin Hall is another one of my favorite places in New York," she told him as they disappeared inside the tall building. "When things get really tense, I like to come into the city on a Friday night and hideout here. When I was poor, it was one of the few things I could afford since it was free. And when I was with Jason, it was still a place that was mine and only mine. There is this incredible observatory on the top floor."

Lucky listened intently as Sam explained her love for the Columbia University Observatory. However, he noted, it was the thing she was not saying that rang the loudest. She hadn't shared this place with Jason, but she was sharing it with him. That had to mean something. The clouds had disappeared completely from the sky, making it the perfect night for star gazing. As they made their way up to the roof, he felt himself getting more excited with every minute.

On the roof, Sam led Lucky to an unoccupied telescope and peered through the lens. She quickly glanced across the glittering sky, reacquainting herself with her childhood best friends. "When we would be on a salvage mission, I used to spend so much time looking up at the stars," she professed. "I'd lie on my back on the deck of the boat and try to make out all the different constellations. I loved the stars because they looked the same anywhere we went. Sure, I saw different constellations depending on where we were, but the sky…it was pretty much the same in any continent, in any hemisphere, in any language."

He had never really put that much thought into the stars. "So, why don't you show me some of your favorite constellations?" he asked. "I don't really know much about astronomy. My dad showed me a few of the major ones for navigation purposes as part of my survival training. Much past the North Star and the Big Dipper, I'm a very inept novice."

Sam looked into the telescope. "If you look low in the sky toward the west, that bright star is Venus. Saturn is nearby, right by Leo," she explained. "You can see Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, which you call the Big and Little Dippers. The Milky Way is toward the northeast. In the middle of the galaxy is one of my favorite constellations, Cassiopeia. There is also supposed to be a meteor shower going on tonight, according to the paper this morning."

Lucky looked at the different patterns that Sam had pointed out. Panning the telescope toward the south, he saw an entirely different view of stars unfold in front of him. "Which ones are over here?" he asked.

She told him about the different astrological constellations he could see – Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius and more. He took each fact in, taking time to appreciate what appeared to be an unexpected passion for his companion. "Tell me a story about one of them. I know they're all tied to folklore."

"Look toward the southeast," she ordered. "If you look in one of the curves of the Milky Way, you will see Cygnus. This constellation is called the Swan, or the Northern Cross, depending on who you ask. Cycnus, Poseidon's son, was saved by a swan after he was left at shore to die upon birth. He went on to become king, but his wife fell in love with one of his sons. After he killed her, he was killed by Achilles in a battle near Troy. Poseidon grieved for his son and turned him into a swan in the sky for all eternity."

Lucky took in the story, nothing how many of life's themes it encompassed. While the world had changed drastically in the years since the Romans dominated, it was actually still quite the same. Love, war, birth, death – life was life. "I have to say, it would be something to be immortalized in the stars, or at least through a story like that," he told her. Sam shivered as a breeze whipped across the rooftop. Without even thinking, Lucky slipped his arms around her from behind to warm her body. Sam leaned back against him automatically. "You cold?"

"Kind of," she admitted. "Speaking of which, that brings us to our third location. We've had dinner and entertainment, so it's time for an evening drink. Since my near bout with alcoholism, I've been staying away from liquor. Instead, I have something arranged that will bring you back to being a kid."

Nestled in the heart of the Upper East Side, Sam was like a little kid as she dragged Lucky into Serendipity 3. Everyone knew about the little place as it boasted the city's most famous dessert. She was surprised when Lucky admitted that he had never been there. When they were seated at a table in the midst of a child's birthday party, she ordered the bliss that was the Serendipity frozen hot chocolate. When they were served, Sam's eyes lit up at the sight of the fishbowl-shaped goblet. "This is the best thing in the world," she bubbled. "Icy chocolate, whipped cream and chocolate shavings."

Lucky lifted the single spoon from the dessert and deposited a bite into Sam's parted lips. She closed her eyes in a deep appreciation. "Good?"

"You have no idea," she told him. She pointed toward one of the two straws, indicating that it was his turn to try it. His eyes went wide as the frozen concoction slid down his throat. "There are like 14 kinds of chocolate in this thing. I told you that it was amazing."

"Definitely," he agreed.

Over the next half-hour, they joined the crowd in singing happy birthday to a curly-haired five-year-old girl, danced to the child-like songs pouring over the speakers and took turns eating their frosty treat. When their frozen hot chocolate was long gone, they headed back down to the gift shop. Lucky picked up a box of chocolate bars to split between Cameron and Kristina. Sam got a few of the bath products to make a pampering basket for her mom.

Outside the restaurant, Sam slipped her hand into Lucky's. It wasn't planned or noteworthy, it was just natural. She pulled him back toward the car, pushing him into the backseat so she could have a minute to talk to the chauffer. After giving him the address of their final destination, she slid in next to Lucky. "One last stop," she told him as the car started to pull away. Reaching forward, she handed him the paper sack she had hid away until now. "This is for you."

"What is it?"

"Open it, and I'm pretty sure you will understand," she smiled. She watched as Lucky tour away the tissue paper and lifted the lid from the paper box.

He glanced up at her confusedly. "Roller skates?"

"There is one thing I've never gotten to do in New York," she revealed. "I saw a movie when I was a kid where a couple went ice skating at Rockefeller Center. Since then, I've always wanted to go. Well, it's not winter and we're not a couple, but we can still skate there. Thus, the roller skates."

Lucky started to chuckle heartily as he pulled the skates out of the box. "I'm horrible at skating," he confessed, running his fingers over the black boot of the skate. "Still, I suddenly can't think of anything else I'd rather do."

Roller skating filled the hours until the clock struck midnight. Exhausted from roller skating (and falling), Sam and Lucky collapsed in the backseat in a fit of giggles. They were both still breathless when the car pulled on the highway on its way back toward Port Charles. Discarded skates and gift bags littered the floorboard as Sam splayed across the seat. Lucky brought her feet into his lap, massaging her arches and toes. "What do you think of my New York?" she asked sleepily, nestling her head into the crook of her arm.

"I think I'm in love," he responded, unsure of whether he meant the city or the girl.