An/ Hey! so the last chapter was the last of the flashback Nikolas was having but i'll revisit the trip in future flashbacks! Just know that we are back in real time for this chapter until i say otherwise.

Tysm for reviewing and reading, means a ton! really enjoyed writing the last 2 chapters even if i had to do it twice. The flashbacks were fun! Hope you agree and hope you like the flashbacks too! Hope you like normal time of course as well!

Also this is chapter 30! How Crazy is that?

Review and make my day! :)

"Nikolas." Liz says slightly raising her voice to draw him back to earth.

Nik is pulled out of his day-dreaming by this but still seems to be in a different place, time even.

Liz remembers the trip well of course, she was there. Not for all of it, she and Franco spent time alone and away from them when they had time off from sister-hunting. She didn't know what moment or moments he was thinking on. Maybe she had no knowledge of any of it. How much happened on that trip that she didn't know about?

"I'm sorry I didn't realize you cared for her so much, I mean I was on that trip and," Liz struggled to find the words. "You don't really show it, not to other's at least."

This was true. Nikolas knew this, it wasn't offensive by any means. Any moments between him and Ava that showed care, friendliness, and even lust were strictly between the two. He knew you couldn't tell, and for the longest time he preferred it that way. He was starting to not though, and after this he didn't care who knew.

It wasn't a matter of being embarrassed by being with Ava for real. No, she was gorgeous and her confidence and strength only made her more so. She was vibrant and mysterious too, he still didn't know everything about her. He knew he wanted to know more, she had captivated him.

She was also a mom despite what the Corinthos family would lead you to believe. He saw her with Avery and every second he watched her be a mom to that girl brought the biggest smile to his face. It helps Avery is cute and that he was kinda sorta maybe falling for her. She treasured that little girl.

Despite telling Liz things he wasn't ready to tell Liz about just how much he cares for her. He wasn't sure before but almost loosing her, both due to Hayden coming back and because she'd been stabbed showed him how he felt. He had been denying it and pushing it away but he had no power over it now. He'd let Liz know eventually, if she didn't already. But he wouldn't volunteer it himself, he wanted to save that to tell her when she woke up.

Nikolas didn't know how to respond and some time had passed so he changed the subject.

"How's the baby?" he asked.

"She's good." Liz said, a smiling forming on her face automatically.

"I really am happy for you Elizabeth." He told her, looking her in the eyes.

"I believe that." She told him. "Even though I know you aren't sold on her father."

"I-"

"Save it," She says. "You don't have to love Franco."

Nik just shrugged giving up on whatever sort of cover up he was going to offer her. No, she was right he didn't care for Franco and vice versa was the same. They could act civil though as they had two women in common. He also trusted Liz. If she thought Franco was gonna be a good dad then he did too. He wasn't really able to talk about being a good dad anyway, his own son still not speaking to him.

Suddenly the door opens up. Both Franco and Liz look to the door to see who was standing there.

"Speak of the devil." Nik mutters.

"How's Ava?" He asks closing the door behind him.

"Not really different." Liz offers a sympathetic smile.

Franco just nods.

"I need to talk to you if you don't mind Liz." Franco says as he watched Liz finish up with what she was doing.

She could tell something was off. He looked like whatever he had to say was important. He was effected by it for sure, looking caught off guard and even upset with it.

She looked between Nikolas- who was know looking at her curiously- and Franco. Whatever he ha to say he wanted to say alone. While Nik and him weren't close and it could be many things she had a feeling it was something Nik shouldn't be hearing.

"Yeah." She said quickly following him out of the room and into the hallway.

The pair turned the corner and Liz leaned up against the wall to listen to her husband.

Nikolas, himself sensing the situation decided he needed to hear whatever it was. Good or bad he knew it was something to do with this all. And if it wasn't? Then at least he knew.

He took Ava's limp hand and gave it a kiss. "I'll be back soon." He whispered to her before getting up and walking out the door. He went to turn the corner and figure out where they were when he noticed he could here them from where he stood. He stood still and stayed silent and he listened in.

"I went down to the station today, to confront Valentin." He starts to tell her. "I wanted him to confess, but he's adamant he didn't do it."

"You don't believe that do you?" Liz asks.

"I don't know, I mean we saw him just standing over her! He's got the means and the motive. How could it not be him?"

"What aren't you telling me?" She pushed knowing there's more to this if he's not even a hundred percent sure himself.

"They found the weapon...and another body." Franco told her.

"Oh my god!" Liz exclaimed.

This was enough for Nikolas to get angry. He'd avoided it, thinking his place was here with Ava but now as his anger bubbled up he knew it was time to visit the police station. He knew there might be more to the conversation but he got enough information as far as he was concerned.

Nikolas steps away angrily and heads for the elevator pushing the down button repeatedly clearing impatient. It eventually gets there and he steps inside ready to face his uncle and give him his piece of mind. And he had so much to say to that man.

"It was that guy, Dustin, Lulu's boyfriend." Franco shared.

"Poor Lulu," Liz sympathizes. "Dustin? The guy we saw who called the ambulance, right?"

"Yeah." He confirms.

"But we had already been-wait, what?" Liz said overwhelmingly confused at the situation.

"I don't know." Franco shrugs, knowing he frustration.

"Maybe whoever killed Dustin was different?" Liz suggests.

"They found the dagger in him and while they didn't test it to see if it's what was used on Ava, I saw it. It seems fitting."

"What if there was two daggers? It's a Cassadine estate, there's so many things like that all over."

"Yeah, you are right but even if there's two, Valentin was being held in a room full of people who can confirm he wasn't with Dustin."

"Well maybe someone found the Dagger Valentin and used it on Dustin? Or Maybe Dustin saw something he wasn't supposed to, or-"

"Yeah, there's a lot of possibilities." Franco stops her knowing the what-if game could go on forever.

"Valentin could have still done this, we know what he can do, he could have even hired someone to help him."

"Yeah," Franco agrees. "We will figure it out and make him pay."

Franco opens his arms and Liz falls into his embrace. Things were so crazy and complicated everywhere around them but them? They found a moment's peace in each other's arms.