An Angel Wronged

Chapter 20

"Are you sure I can't do anything to help?" Zander asked Emily. As awkward as it was between them and after numerous times of convincing himself that Emily was capable of handling this on her own, his conscience still came rolling in.

Emily laughed lightly knowing his fight between confidence and conscience. "Yes, I need to do this on my own, for as long as I can at least. The best thing you can do is be happy and live. I don't care how you go about it, with or without a girlfriend, with useless job or useful job; I just want you to find happiness and fulfillment." Emily told him, knowing she can't dictate what he did anymore but she really did hope he would find another girl who made him happy and would love him unconditionally. The life she would never have (she was still working on the accepting thing still).

"I can do that." Zander told her. "But Emily, seriously, thanks."

"For what?" For making him waits for answers all this time? For putting him into tight situations when they were dating? For giving him more trouble than it was worth? She couldn't think of anything great she did for him. Despite her best efforts she could never be a good girlfriend.

"For saving me, you believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. You taught me I'm a worthy of living even with all the bad stuff I have done. You taught me that the whole world isn't as bad as I think if you just stay open minded to the possibilities." Zander replied. Maybe that was why he had trouble leaving her in the condition she was. She had helped him when he was in need and now he wanted to repay her back by helping when she was in need.

"Oh, well, you're welcome then." Emily answered.

He looked at his watch. It would be best to leave before everyone started leaving for work. "I should leave. Take care Em." Zander responded.

"Yeah, same to you," Emily said and watched as he drove away. Looking down and winding her hands together she pushed away the few tears that she allowed fall from her eyes. Not quite ready to go back to the hotel, Emily glanced around and decided to go to the catacombs for old time sake.

She remembered when she had first visited it. Her mother was alive, Lucky was carefree and she was actually happy for the longest time. That happiness died quickly after Lois and Ned's wedding when her mom finally took the turn for the worst but still to know she was happy even for that one short time, was good. It showed happiness could be obtained it was just difficult to reach.

Entering the catacombs, she touched a wooden wall and let herself explore. If she got lost so be it, she'd find her way out eventually. That was the secret of the catacombs that never got out, it was a maze and it could take hours to get out but there was always an exit you could find. If you wanted to come out at least, there were times she got lost purposely just so she didn't have to face the real world yet.

Going around in every direction, Emily successfully got herself lost but as she was about to turn a corner, regretted it immediately. Leaning against one of the walls, Lucky stood. She should have known he might be here but swore he was working these hours usually. Then she remembered that he had quit so he could find his true place in life.

She considered her options. One she could hurry by and hope he wouldn't see her, or she could back track quickly and go back the way she came. She decided the latter proposition was better but as soon as she did her footstep echoed, waking Lucky from his deep thinking. Yeah, that was just her luck, wasn't it?

Lucky considered the backside of the person and knew it had to be Emily. "So you are in Port Charles." He said simply.

Emily could deny it was her, it was just another above average tall brunette with her form, but he would recognize her voice anyway. So, it was just best to tell the truth, she would be found out either way. She turned around. "Yeah, well, someone told me the truth and I took them up on it." She muttered.

"Obviously, didn't think you would come here though. Thought you left the past behind." Lucky replied even though it was good to see her. It showed his words had at least an affect somewhere.

"Yeah, well, you have tried to do the same thing and did you succeed in it?" Emily asked him even though she knew the answer.

"No." Lucky admitted. "I didn't." He was straight back to where he was previously and he was not happy about that. "How long are you staying?" Better to concentrate on Emily even if it was not going to help his problems.

"Not sure, there are still many things I need to do while I am here." Emily responded, making no commitments or promises.

"I'm sure there is, does my name have anything to deal with these things you need to do?" Lucky questioned her. He doubted it; he saw her trying her options of turning back.

"Indirectly yes," Emily answered him honestly. A little too honestly perhaps as she saw Lucky's face.

"Indirectly," Lucky commented. "You thought you would just skip over the direct stuff?" He finished coolly. That was just a bit hard to accept. He knew everyone would change as they grew up but that was just cold.

"Yeah, I thought it would save a lot of time and discomfort." For her anyway, the last thing she needed was a lot of stress. Lot of good that plan did though. And it did sound a bit cold coming from Lucky. It was already said though so she couldn't do anything about it.

"That sure didn't work with Elizabeth." Lucky said, showing the tight contacts he still had with Elizabeth.

"No, it didn't, but Elizabeth is also weak minded and living in a perfect fantasy she has in her head." She was just a player that wouldn't be played in it; she denied the role Elizabeth designed for her. But that didn't mean she could deny that her indirect plan had failed miserably.

"You could forgive her you know." Lucky recommended. He had a feeling Emily knew this though.

"On my deathbed, perhaps I will." He didn't have to know that may be sooner than later.

"I was thinking earlier if the town had changed, or just you. I think it's just you and I can't say the change is good." Lucky told her, changing the subject somewhat due to lack of what to say on the former issue.

"I can say the same thing about the whole town Lucky. This town has a habit of making lousy and irresponsible adults. Must be the water," She concluded, as she had not drunk the water for years.

"You are right there. Michael is more mature than Carly and he's not even ten yet." Lucky agreed partly with her.

"I know. With my luck I'll probably run into them, guaranteed if Carly has suddenly cared about raising him. When I was a teenager I saw him more with his nanny than either Sonny or his mother." Emily sincerely doubted that changed though. The kids were just not her priority, rather her social life that consisted of making other people's lives unpleasant.

"It's still a rare thing catching them together." Lucky verified for her. "You are right when you said some things never change." This town just resisted the natural law, he guessed.

"There are some things you don't want to be right about." Emily replied truthfully.

"I know" Silence fell between the two of them but neither of them moved from their spots, neither leaving nor moving on. "You know some people envied you about leaving". Maybe he was one of those people; Lucky considered but didn't say that out loud.

"Anyone can leave whenever they want. It's called free will. They just have families and other relationships holding them back." Emily determined using common sense and logic.

"And the Quartermaine's aren't much of one." Lucky guessed, but supposed that went without saying.

"Not in this town, remember? The water," Emily reminded him.

"Right, the water," Lucky echoed and paused for a few seconds. "Emily, have you ever considered that the people you think don't care just have a hard time showing it?" He could name quite a few people who had that trouble himself.

"Yes, I have considered it but I also considered that if they did they had plenty of time to figure out how to show it and if they haven't by now, they never will." Emily figured, again with logic and common sense.

Lucky had to admit her logic was sound there. "You can rarely make someone care Emily. They care or they don't." That was something no one could change.

"I know that but it is also nice to know who cares and who doesn't so I don't waste any time on being around them if they don't want me to be there." Emily justified.

"You're right." Lucky, feeling and sensing that this conversation was over, looked to Emily. "I should-Emily, are you okay?" He walked closer to her as she had one hand on the wall and the other on her head all of a sudden. She was fine a few minutes ago.

"Yeah, fine, just a bit dizzy. Everything is fine." Emily reassured him with some success. Lucky still didn't look that convinced though. She'd have to work on being more convincing but right now that would do no good.

"Okay, well, just in case you aren't maybe we should get through here together. If you faint or pass out for some reason, it isn't good for you to be alone." Lucky suggested. He wanted it to be more than a suggestion, maybe a strong recommendation, but Emily was resisting him and everyone else as it was.

Emily fought this. On one hand, he was right, and on the other hand if she had another sudden pain like last night, she wouldn't be able to handle it and Lucky would visibly see her discomfort, maybe even her pain. But somehow knowing Lucky, if she fought him he would become even more suspicious. She'd just have to risk it.

"If you insist," Emily replied and stood up. They walked in silence and Emily was doing pretty well she thought even though she was losing quite a bit of energy. That was until another sharp pain was sent through her. Like she thought, she couldn't control it and she ended up on her knees, wishing the pain would go away.

Lucky kneeled next down to her. "I thought something was wrong. You don't get dizzy that often." Emily didn't say anything to that though which worried him. She was usually quick to fight concern with strong words, especially these days. Was it that really that bad, whatever it was?

"Em? Come on, say something and don't say you are fine, obviously you aren't." His voice revealed a small tremor and apparent worry. Emily didn't answer right away again, which really worried him. He started considering his options, because this wasn't a good sign at this point.

Emily had heard him and he was right but as the pain dispatched she began to breathe normally again. "You are right I am not fine. I guess I just skipped one too many meals." She told him. It wasn't a total lie; she was too tired to have dinner and was under jet lag so she couldn't eat lunch the previous day but Lucky still bought it nonetheless.

"That isn't healthy Em and you know it." Lucky responded to her problem. Though there was something in his gut that said it was more complicated than that. He didn't want to push her too hard though, not now anyway. She had a habit of making more distance between her and others if you did that recently.

"I know. I'll get something as soon as I get back to my hotel." Emily promised him. Hoping he would forget all this was out of the question, Lucky didn't do that, but she could try blaming outside resources for as long as she could. She'd have to make a list later and memorize it for as long as she was here.

"All right, come on. I'll take you there myself just to make sure you get there safely." Lucky replied, and would not take no for an answer either so Emily gave in. She had a severe lack of energy as it was.

"I'm not some damsel in distress you know." She retorted, though her present circumstances somewhat discredited that remark.

"I do know that and if you were you would be bad at it considering you don't readily accept help. Come on, let's get out of here." Lucky held out his hand, helping her up to her feet. "What hotel are you staying at? I have a hard time imaging it is the one the Quartermaine's own."

Author's note: Been a long time, huh? Schools been SO busy, but I'm sure everyone knows that. In any case, I really shouldn't have finished this chapter much less posted it, but I did. Celebrate! This story is more important than my homework and studying… for now.