Chapter 28

Note- The Nem scene is for coffeegurl15 and all other Nem fans who like the love and friendship between these two.

Saturday 10 am

Pete knocked on Liz's door. He was feeling much more confident now because the night before he thought he figured out something about Liz.

He came to test his theory.

"Hello, Elizabeth" he said in his sexiest voice

She shivered, then smiled. "You know."

"Hmmm?"

"Don't hmmm me. You know!" She yanked him inside. "Be quiet because Cam is sleeping."

She stepped as close to Pete as she could and looked up. "Who told you?"

He grinned at her. "That my saying your name makes shivers go down your spine?"

"Yes," she said.

"You just did."

"You knew when you came here, Pete. I could see it in your eyes."

He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I suspected. I was thinking about you last night in bed.."

"You think of me in bed?" she asked softly

He continued, "And I started to realize that you get very docile when I say your name. Which is unlike you. At least around me. Around other people you seem to be all sweetness and sunshine."

"Hey! Stay on the subject, will you?"

"What?" He smiled. "Elizabeth..."

"Did you just come over here to say me name and watch me squirm?"

"No, I came over here to do this, Elizabeth." And then his lips came down on hers, and Liz melted.

Saturday 11 am

Emily sat in the living room at Wyndermere holding Spencer. Nikolas was behind his desk making small talk about the weather and sports, which Emily knew he didn't follow.

"Milo and I have plans to see the Yankees play on opening day," she told her ex-husband.

Her eyes stayed on the baby, so adorable, so much a reminder of his mother, even now. Yet she loved Spencer as her own.

What odd things a heart could do to a person. She could have never imagined loving the child of her ex-husband's mistress. But Spencer was part of Nikolas and that was all that mattered in the end.

"If you want to use my jet to fly to the city, just let me know." Nikolas said, though he hated the idea of Emily and Milo going to Kelly's together let alone hundreds of miles away from home. Even if him and Emily had never been in love, he would feel the same.

"That's very generous of you. But I know you didn't ask me here to talk about who I am dating or baseball. What's worrying you, Nikolas?"

He came over to the couch and sat next to them.

"I think, no I know... I know I hurt Kelly the other day. And it made me think of all the times I hurt you, unintentionally of course. But it still happened. I owe you a great apology, Emily."

"No, no, it's done," she murmured.

"Is it really?"

She finally looked at him. "If you forgive me, then I forgive you. You know that, Nikolas. There's more behind why you asked me here, isn't there?"

"Why don't you visit more often?"

"I would love to. But there are only so many hours in the day. I'm in the middle of moving.. and I guess you could say I am in the middle of making my life what I want it to be. Or trying to figure that out."

"So it is not about me dating Kelly? That's not what is keeping you away?"

Emily stroked Spencer's hair and didn't answer.

"I don't want to hurt you again, Emily, but you should know that I do plan on perusing a relationship with Kelly."

"Honest to a fault." Emily whispered.

When she looked at him, their lips both curved into sad identical smiles.

"I want you to be happy, Nikolas."

"You know I want the same for you. But do you really think Milo..."

Emily cut him off with a soft, "Don't."

"Fine."

"How did you hurt Kelly?"

Nikolas started to explain it to her, about how he called Robin when Spencer was sick.

Emily didn't ask why he didn't call her first. She knew. The wall of pain that he came up against when he thought of her made him not even go there.

Soon Emily found herself in the strange circumstance of telling him how to woo another woman. But for her friend, her confidant, her noble prince, Emily would put aside her past pain and let them move into this new place.

It was a different version of something they had been for years: best friends.

Saturday noon

Ned opened the door of the gate house to find his ex- wife standing there.

She kissed him, forcing him to move backwards back into his house.

Ned pulled his lips away and told Lois , "I can't. Not this time."

Lois laughed, making a yeah right sound, "Why? What makes this time different?"

He stared at her for a moment, looking for the words. She steps close and kisses his neck.

Lois whispers, "This is us, Ned. We help each other out sometimes. It doesn't matter who your with or I'm with. We are separate from that. This is like a dream. It doesn't exist in the morning."

Saturday 12:01 pm

At the hospital, Patrick walked into the locker room and saw Robin sitting on a bench. In her hands she held a ring, her eyes were fixed on it.

He cleared his throat and she startled. Shoving the ring in her pocket, she stood up and faced away from him. Her hand swiped at her eyes to wipe away a few tears.

Patrick watched her back for a moment, hearing in his mind the words they said on the day they broke up:

"Will you marry me?"

"No."

"I just need to change. Be out of your way in a minute," Patrick said

"I'm surprised you didn't send Kelly or one of your other spies in here to make sure the coast was clear," Robin told him. "Isn't that how you have been avoiding me lately?"

Even though they worked in the same hospital Patrick seemed to go out of his way not to see her ever since their conversation on the roof.

"I think you made yourself perfectly clear, Robin. What is there to talk about now?"

She sniffled, her hand went into her pocket, she squeezed the ring as hard as she could. For courage, but she wasn't sure if she needed to be brave enough to stay here and fight this out with him or brave enough to walk away and not look back.

When she didn't answer, Patrick said, "That's what I thought. Can you just do one last thing for me?"

"What?" her words were hollow. She finally turned to face him. He had his shirt off, his eyes connected with hers.

"Admit I was right. Love that lasts a lifetime is just a fantasy."

Robin shook her head, bitterly.

"Say it, Robin. You know it's true. If we couldn't work out then it is true. Can't you admit when you are wrong. Dr. Scorpio?"

"Fine! That is what you want so bad. To be right. Fine! Love is just a joke. You win, Patrick."

Those Robin knew her words were a lie, they were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

She stormed out and he sunk down to the floor, tears running down his cheeks. Liz found him that way a few minutes later. Without a word she took him in her arms and hugged him.

But the thing aching in him could only stop if Robin came back to him.

12:10 pm

Ned had ushered Lois inside and they started arguing. Now ten minutes later she still didn't seem to be hearing him.

Ned took a step back. " What can't you understand? Things have changed for me."

"Things?" Lois smiled, unbelieving. She reached out and grasped his hand. " I don't want to talk. I didn't come here to talk."

"It's not going to happen. Sorry," Ned said

For years they had these little one day flings, every couple months, or sometimes just once a year. Whenever the other person needed it. And then they went back to real life.

But Ned knew if he slept with Lois today, he wouldn't look at Lainey the same tomorrow. He would know he had done her wrong, and made dirty something that was beautiful between them.

Lois slid her body against his and started nibbling his ear. "You need this as much as me. No one makes you feel like I do. Don't make me beg, Eddie."

He jerked his head back and met her eyes. "This... has to end."

"Why?" Lois whispered "Why? Don't tell me... you went and fell in love?"

Ned said, "Don't make it sound like it can't happen."

Lois shook her head and stepped away, the mood destroyed for her. She rolled her eyes.

She said, "Oh, it can happen. It has happen for you. About 100 times already and none of them amount to more than a hill of beans. I thought you grew up finally? Oh, Ned..."

"Okay, now you feel sorry for me. That's nice, Lois. Classic. You always thought you knew more than me about how I should be living my life."

He went over and opened the door. "Tell Brooklyn I said hi."

Lois smiled. "All right, Ned. Have it your way. But when Eddie wants to come out and play again you know where to find me."

She sashayed out the door, running her nails down his chest as she passed.

Saturday 3 pm

Kelly followed Alfred into the living at Wyndermere. She loved this place, the old world vibe, the air of history and romance in the decor.

"Mr. Cassadine will be with you shortly," Alfred said.

She smiled as he left. Every moment since she asked Nikolas to the Ball seemed like a fairytale to her. He was so unlike any other man she ever met. There was not an ounce of crudeness in him, not a chance he would be rude or uncouth.

Every look he gave her made her heart race, every time his hands were on her she lost her breath.

If only he would be as enchanted by me, she thought.

"Kelly," Nikolas said causing her to turn and look at him in the doorway. "Are you ready for a surprise?"

Her eyes lit up. "What do you have in mind?"

"Do you trust me?"

He held out his hand. She crossed the room and took it. "Yes, I do, Nikolas."

He gave her a soft kiss. "Then come with me."

NOTE- Next chapter, things are put in motion that will affect the futures of Robin and Liz. Plus Lainey finds out about Ned and Lois.