Nikolas stood in the door way, watching his brother slowly work his way into falling in love with Samantha McCall. Earlier, as he stood next to Lucky staring out the window, he had known that it was already happening. After a decade of the Four Musketeers, it was hard to imagine Lucky without Elizabeth and Elizabeth without him. As Emily came up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist, he realized that it didn't really matter who was together. The four of them would always be friends, and nothing could ever break that apart.
"They really do look happy together," Nikolas whispered into her ear, sending a shiver up Emily's spine. "I know that this isn't easy for you. You might feel like you are in the middle because of Elizabeth and Jason, but know that I don't want to put you there. Lucky is my brother just as Jason is yours."
"I don't feel like I'm in the middle, at least not in a bad way," she replied. "I am lucky because I get to have all these people love me. I'm kind of like Cameron in that respect. Jason is my big brother, and he would do anything for me. Lucky is my oldest and my best friend, and I know that he would do anything for us. The same thing can be said for Liz. Even Sam and I don't have any problems. She is your cousin, and it looks like she is going to be part of Lucky's life."
Nikolas pressed a kiss against her temple, once again amazed at how she could remove herself from any situation for the better of those that she loved. Looking over her shoulder, he raised his eyebrow at his brother in regard. "I think it's time for dinner," he announced, clearing his throat to make his presence known. Lucky turned away from Sam quickly, looking slightly guilty at being caught. Nikolas grinned at his brother genuinely. "Sam, may I escort you in?"
Sam glanced at the man beside her and then nodded toward her cousin. Reluctantly leaving Lucky behind, she took Nikolas' arm and followed him into the kitchen. "Thanks, it was getting kind of intense," she admitted in a hoarse whisper. "I don't know exactly what is going on between Lucky and me, but I don't think this is the best time or place for us to be figuring it out."
"I kind of picked up on that," Nikolas replied. "You know, Lucky and I were talking about you before you got here. I don't know what is going on between you and my brother, but I want you to know that I'm happy for you. Emily and I would give you our blessing, no matter what you decide. I know you are cautious of the situation, but I want you to know just that much."
Back in the living room, Emily stayed behind to talk to her best friend briefly. It seemed like months since they had been alone together. Torn between her loyalty to Elizabeth and to Lucky, Emily had done her best to stay out of everything. The former Spencer couple had made a concerted effort to not drag her in the middle. Nikolas didn't have that same opportunity because of his relationship with Lucky. They wanted to spear at least one person from the fallout that was their marriage.
"Hey, you look beautiful," Lucky complimented her. "I'm sorry I haven't told you that before now. It's funny, I thought it as soon as I saw you, but my mind instantly drifted somewhere else. It's doing it a lot these days."
"Oh, it is?" Emily asked. "Do you want to tell me what has you so wrapped up in your thoughts? I can read it pretty easily, Lucky. It's written all over your face. Why don't you just tell me what's going on?"
"You just saw what is going on," he countered. "It's clear that I have feelings for Sam, and I hate to admit it but that scares the hell out of me. There is so much at stake here. I feel like I am juggling so many balls, so to speak. There is the potential for a lot of people to be hurt here, Em. I have to think about how it is going to affect my son and Sam. There are you, Nikolas and Lulu. I even have to keep Elizabeth's feelings in mind."
Emily cocked her head and looked up at her oldest friend. "There are only three people you need to think about here, Lucky," she insisted. "Nikolas and I will support you in whatever you do. I know that you would never put me in the middle of anything, neither would Jason. What has happened has already happened. That never had anything to do with me. I think if we could get through that without our friendships falling apart, we can make it through anything."
"That said," she continued, "you don't need to worry about your sister either. She knows that your marriage to Elizabeth is over. I think she actually likes Sam. Given the chance, they might even become close eventually. Lulu just wants you to be happy. I'd like to say the same thing for Liz. The truth is that you guys are divorced. Any say she had in your relationships ended the day you two decided to get divorced. You can't keep living your life in fear that a choice could hurt Liz. Chances are, you are going to make a decision that hurts her."
"The three you people need to worry about," Emily told him, "are Sam, Cameron and you. I know that you are an amazing father. Cameron has always been your first priority, even before he was born and you were in an actual relationship with Liz. Your son is incredible, and I love how much you love him. It makes me admire you all that much more. If you want to have Sam in your life, it is going to affect Cam to some degree. I know that you will make the best choice for your family."
Lucky was getting ready to say something in response when his son came barreling through the door. "Daddy, it's time for dinner!" he exclaimed, toddling across the floor in bare feet. His dark hair was ruffled as he went flying into Lucky's arms. "Uncle Nikolas told me to come get you and Auntie Emily."
Emily and Lucky followed the little boy back into the dining room. Alexis said in the middle on one side, flanked by her youngest daughters on either side. Nikolas sat at his customary place at the head of the table while Emily sat across from him with Spencer. Lucky and Cameron took the other side of the table next to Sam. A mutual smile passed between them as he helped his son climb into his chair. Lulu was the lat to come in, sliding next to Cameron with a flushed smile.
"Sorry, that was a call from California," she apologized vaguely before slipping her phone back into her handbag. Lucky raised his eyebrow in his sister's direction, but she shook him off dismissively. "This looks great, Nikolas."
"Emily planned the meeting," he declared. "In fact, she pretty much planned everything."
"What would my nephew do without you?" Alexis asked warmly as she scooped potatoes onto Molly's plate. On her other side, Kristina happily bit into her roasted chicken. "I can't imagine this family without you actually, Em."
"She's happily in the middle of it," Nikolas replied, smiling across the table at his fiancée. Spencer giggled involuntarily, casting a humorous air around the table.
The rest of dinner went on without a hitch. Lulu asked permission to watch Cameron for the night, dying for anything that would take her mind off having to deal with the Quartermaines. Nikolas sent Alexis and the girls home early in his limo as Molly started to drift to sleep immediately following the evening meal. Emily soon disappeared upstairs to put Spencer to bed, and before he knew it, Nikolas was walking Lucky and Sam to the door.
"Well, do you need a ride?" Lucky asked as they stood outside in the pale moonlight. The air was comfortable and breezy, setting the scene for all things to come. "I can take you anywhere."
Sam turned her eyes toward the sky and tightened her wrap around her bare shoulders. "I don't know, I don't really feel like going home," she remarked. "Why don't we just go for a drive? It's been a long time since I've driven along the coast. I miss the ocean."
Lucky raked his fingers through his hair before slipping his hand down. Never one afraid to make a move, he couldn't believe how anxious she made him feel. It'd been ages since a girl made him nervous. Reaching down, he finally slipped his hand into hers. Swinging it between them, he was surprised to feel her trembling. "I'm glad you're nervous, too."
"We're not two teenagers with a crush," she giggled. "I don't know why I feel like this."
"Because you know it means something." Even as the words came out of his mouth, he was astounded by his own brave audacity. He had been thinking about it all night, but to actually say it aloud, it made his stomach drop.
Sam could read the awkwardness in the moment, but she was tired of having things be so heavy between them. "It does mean something," she emphasized. "Lucky, can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Can you finish the moment we started earlier?" Lucky smiled in the dark as he threaded his arms around her waist. Pulling her toward he leaned down and captured her mouth easily. As her body melted into his, Sam started to explore the kiss. At first, it was soft and unsure, but soon, it became intense. Lucky traced his tongue across her bottom lip while she played with the downy hairs at the nape of his neck. After a few moments, Sam pulled away, completely breathless. "Wow."
"Our first real kiss is outside my brother's house, a place my family refers to as a mausoleum," Lucky chuckled. Neither of them made a move to pull apart. Sam leaned in, resting her head against his chest. "Still, we had the moonlight and the stars, a family dinner and a beautiful girl. I don't know that it gets much better than this."
"Lucky, I know that we have a lot of stuff to work out, but for tonight, can we just enjoy this?" Sam implored. "Life will still happen tomorrow, but for tonight, I just want to pretend that we could be together without anyone coming between us."
"Emily told me earlier that the only thing I need to worry about here is you, me and Cam," he revealed. "Whatever happens from here on out, you two are my priority. I really want to find a way to make this work. And if we find out that it can't, I know that we will still be in each other's life. I'm just asking for the chance to get to know you…and maybe kiss you once in awhile."
Grinning widely, Sam turned around in his arms. "I'm not sure," she sighed, "but I'm pretty sure that can be arranged."s