I, Nikolas Mikhail Stavrosovich Cassadine take thee Elizabeth Imogene Webber, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death to us part.

The memory stung his brain as nimble fingers opened up the manila envelope. He had known they were coming today…but he hadn't anticipated the sense of loss that would come with them.

She had left months ago…and it didn't really hit him until that moment.

FINAL PETITION FOR DIVORCE

He placed is head in his hands and wondered how they had fallen apart.

"I can't live like this" she yelled as he made his way to walk out the door.

His head snapped around to look at her, "What would you propose I do?" he practically growled.

"Let me in Nikolas…like you use to…just let me in" she begged.

In the end it had driven a wedge between them…his inability to let her help. Maybe it was foolish Cassadine pride…but when his mind started to play tricks on him, when he started to see the ghost of the past…he had pushed her away. For awhile he was sure the tumor had come back, flashes of a love lost disappearing down hidden tunnels in the proverbial castle, riding the launch from Spoon Island, waving the bright smile of yesterday.

It was hell…and he rationalized that he was dying…that he wouldn't subject her to the pain…or make their boys watch him die...so he did everything he could to break her heart…he pushed her to the breaking point until finally she snapped in two. He hated himself for it…but it was for her own good…and that was exactly what Helena had anticipated.

The ghost of Emily had been a well paid actress…someone who looked enough like her to be her twin….Helena's plastic surgeon had assured that. By the time the truth was out she had already moved on…now life was one big series of awkward moments and weekend visits. The empty spaces of his life imprinted with her reflection.

"All she did was love me…and it was like I signed her death warrant…I kill the women I love" he said sitting in the empty church.

Elizabeth slid in next to him, "You didn't do anything Nikolas…no one could have anticipated what happened that night" she told him fighting back tears of her own.

Thirteen people had died that night at the Haunted Star. A hijacked tanker off course had rammed the boat without warning. Nadine was one of the ones who didn't make it out…Jason was another…and for both of them it felt like the world had stopped moving.

Her graveside service had been small, Leyla, Matt, Robin, Epiphany, Patrick, Robin, Lucky, Sam, and Alexis all standing on the sandy cliff as the Priest read the words and Nikolas let her ashes wash away in the ocean below.

For the months after they had clung to each other, filling up the part of them that had been left behind in the fire. Slowly they began to fill the cracks in each other…not noticing that I had become we….or when the hugs of friendship started to mean more. Or when he realized he didn't want to live without her by his side.

They lie on the pillows in front of the fire, a bottle of wine between them, the kids tucked in upstairs. The light flickered illuminating shadows on her face, and she looked like a painting…like an artists wide strokes on unmarred canvas, the peaches of her skin, the rose of her lips, a whole palette of blues just in her eyes. She was an exquisite masterpiece…a priceless jewel that he wanted for his own.

"What" she asked as he studied her, a nervous blush rising up to the apples of her cheeks.

He smiled back at her, "I was just wondering"

"Wondering what?"

"How it took me so long to notice how beautiful you are"

She rolled her eyes trying to ignore how the way he looked at her was making her body tingle all over.

Leaning up he came closer, "You don't even know" he asked putting a hand in her chestnut hair.

Her tongue darted out licking he lips in anticipation, "Nikolas" she whispered.

Dark brown eyes met hers, "I'm sorry" he apologized starting to pull away.

Grabbing his hand she crashed her lips upon his as her hands cupped his cheeks, his hands tangling in her hair. When they parted breathless she smiled, "Don't be sorry"

"Cameron, Jake, Spencer, come on guys…Aunt Bobbie is here" she yelled up the stairs.

She turned to the older lady, "You are a saint, you know this, right?"

Bobbie laughed, "It's kind of an impromptu Spencer/Drake barbeque…Noah, Matt, Patrick is bringing Aly, Carly is bringing Morgan…I figure maybe having a bunch of kids there will keep the three Drake men from at least a physical altercation" she said laughing.

Elizabeth smiled as the boys came down the stairs Cameron leading the way, Spencer and Jake following close behind.

"Bye Ma"

"Bye Mommy"

"Bye Mama"

"So guys, we have news" they said gathering the boys around them.

Three curious sets of eyes studied their faces and Nikolas smiled, "Elizabeth…Mommy…and I are getting married" he told them.

Cameron did a slow arm pump, "YESSS, does that mean we get to live here in the castle" he asked.

"Yes it does"

"That is so cool, Grandpa Luke told me he would teach me the ways around the tunnels" he rambled excitedly, "Oh let's go look at the map he drew us" he added running off Jake at his heels.

Spencer was quiet and Nikolas got up and sat next to him, "Spencer, what's the matter?" he asked.

Big brown eyes met his, "Does this mean I can call Elizabeth Mommy too?" he asked.

The words brought tears to her eyes and Nikolas searched her face for an answer. Coming over she sat on the other side of him, "Has that been bothering you Spence?"

He nodded sadly and she brought her lips down to his curly head, "I can't think of anything I would want more" she told him.

His head snapped up to look at her, "Really?" he asked.

She nodded before ruffling his hair, "Yeah, really"

Springing off the bed he stopped to kiss her on the cheek and then ran off to follow the other boys.

Nikolas scooted in close to her, "You're amazing" he whispered into her neck.

Chills ran down her spine, "No, this is amazing"

Memories stung her brain and her eyes found the envelope across the room. She hadn't been brave enough to open it yet…to accept the finality of it all. It had all been so right…she didn't even know how it went wrong.

It wasn't love at first sight…or just something that came out of nowhere…it was born out of grief…nurtured in friendship…and died, love suicide. io

"You did not just hit me with a snowball" he said incredulously.

She shrugged as Spencer came from behind him and hit him with another; "Oh and now you have my son doing it too?" he asked trying to feign annoyance.

"Oh I'm going to get you" he said turning around as Spencer ran as fast as his little legs could take him right behind his nanny's legs.

Then he turned around, "Don't think I've forgotten about you" he said smiling.

Turning she started to run across the icy ground the snow crunching under her boots. Even in regular shoes he caught up to her rather fast, "I've got you now" he said grabbing her from behind, his hot breath on her ear.

Slowly she turned in his arms, "Who's to say I didn't let you catch me" she said playfully.

"Oh did you" he asked bringing his nose to hers.

Her lips caught his in a quick kiss, "Maybe"

His eyes bore holes into hers, "Elizabeth" he whispered gently as the snowflakes started to gather in her hair.

"Yes" she said looking up at him the fan of her eyelashes framing her cobalt eyes.

"I love you"

The breath caught in her throat and she looked into those chocolate eyes, "I love you too"

He had given her everything after the separation…even when she told him she didn't want it. The house, the car, the monetary support…even when she said no and tore up the checks he went behind her back and paid her bills.

It was the way he knew to love her…even after he drove her away. It had taken her eight months to file the paperwork…and another two of Alexis asking if they were sure they wanted to do this. No she wasn't sure…but there was no other choice…Nikolas wasn't exactly asking her to come back home…and she didn't know if she could even if he did.

Helena…by the time it had all been revealed she was already gone…already making inroads to create a new life for her…for her and the boys. Spencer stayed with her half the week, with Nikolas the other half…Cameron and Jake shared time between her house, weekends at Lucky's and a couple days out of the month with Nikolas. It was one big dysfunctional mess...this wasn't how their life was suppose to be.

His hands tangled in her hair as he suckled at the side of her neck eliciting guttural moans from the recesses of her body.

Fingers played with piece of exposed flesh between her camisole and scrub pants, toying with the piece of string that kept them on her hips.

Slowly he pulled the knot the pants loosening and falling down the slim curves of her body. Underneath were lacy boy shorts, the stark contrast of her skin and the material causing a groan to escape his mouth.

She smiled a nervous flirty grin and he pulled her to him the pants pooling at her feet as he stripped the thin shirt off of her. His eyes worshiped the picture of her…alabaster skin encased in black silk…it fit…the good girl, with just enough naughty to drive him mad.

No longer was he able to hold back as he picked her up, slim legs wrapping around his muscular waist and carried her down the hall to his bed…gently he lie her down pulling off enough to look in her eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asked not wanting to rush her.

Her fingers came to the snap in the middle of her bra as she unhooked it, "Very sure" she whispered.

As she climbed on the launch she wondered what she was doing…she could blame it on the emotion of the day…getting the divorce papers…but the truth was all she wanted to do was see him…to look into his eyes one last time…one last kiss.

He fought going across town, knocking on her door, kissing her breathless. Instead he poured himself a brandy and sat at his desk chair, eyes closed.

They opened when he heard someone enter, and he opened his eyes to see the person he least expected…but the person he wanted the most.

"What are you doing here?" he asked his voice raspy with emotion.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, "This was stupid, I'm sorry" she said turning.

"Wait"

Slowly she pivoted and he came across the room, "Don't go…just don't go" he pleaded coming to her swiping the tears on her cheeks.

Their eyes locked…it was a slow dance of sorts, then searching each other…looking for the answer…for a map to the promise land. Instead they found the exact thing they had years ago…want, need, desire…and love.

His lips came to hers slowly at first, all the promises that had been broken like small whispers onto her mouth. They both knew what they were doing as they made their way up the long staircase, down the hall, onto the satin sheets, their bodies as one once more…they had given up forever…but they had this moment…the world was theirs again…forever in sight.


"Goodbye"

It was the last words they whispered before she went home to wait for their boys…goodbye…goodbye.