** DISCLAIMER I do not own any character appearing on "General Hospital".

*words* = thoughts "words" = talking/speaking ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHAPTER 2: Zander Debates Whether Or Not to Tell Emily

Zander enters Emily's hospital room, she stirs and finally opens her eyes. Zander looking at Emily can't believe that he found his best friend from his past right here at General Hospital. He wonders if he should tell Emily about Beth.

"Zander what's the matter?" asks Emily.

*Should I tell her that I met up with Beth? Emily's my wife now, I SHOULD tell her everything. Or should I wait until after I talk with my dad and Beth?*, thought Zander.

"Zander I thought I heard voices outside the door. Who were you talking to?"

"I was talking to my dad in the hall, he wants to meet with me in the cafeteria at 3:00 and talk."

"But I thought I heard a woman's voice as well as your dad's?"

"That was a doctor that I accidentally bumped into."

"Oh, well is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's okay. She's a new doctor here, she didn't really look where she was going."

"As long as you are both okay.." said Emily as she started to fall back to sleep.

It was 12:15, Zander still had two hours and forty-five minutes to tell Emily about Beth. But what should he tell her first? Should he tell her that his deceased brother's girlfriend (who was also Zander's best friend) is in his life again? Should he tell her that Beth was the reason that he left his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario (Canada)? Or should he tell her that he thought that Beth was his only one true soul mate and that if he hadn't have found Emily he would have never believed in love again?

*My life was starting to get on track here in Port Charles.* thought Zander, *Why did Beth come here to ruin it? Better yet, why did my dad come here? Arrgh.. Why does this always happen to me? Why can't the past just stay in the past?*

Zander sits down in a chair in Emily's room, he puts his face in his hands. He shakes his head and starts tugging at his hair. Frustrated he looks up at the window to see Lucky looking in from the hall. Lucky motions to Zander to come out to the hall. Zander gets up out of the chair and heads towards the door, he opens and closes the door as quietly as he can so he does not wake up Emily.

"Hey Zander, how's Emily?" asks Lucky.

"She's better. She's still a little weak though." replied Zander.

"Zander, are you okay? It looks like you've seen a ghost." said Lucky.

Zander nods his head. *If only he knew that Dr. Beth Smith is a ghost from my past.* thought Zander.

"Anyway Zander, I'm wondering if you have seen Nikolas around."

"No I haven't Lucky but if I see him do you want me to tell him that you are looking for him?"

"Sure. But Zander are you sure you're okay? I mean a lot has happened to you over the past few days, like your marriage to Emily. I am always here if you want to talk, you know that right?"

"Yeah I do Lucky, I appreciate it. Lucky I do have something I need to tell you, actually it something I NEED to tell Emily. Do you mind if we go to one of the sitting areas on the floor to talk?"

"Yeah Zander, I have time to listen."

What Zander didn't realize when he was walking with Lucky to the sitting area was that Emily could hear what Lucky and Zander were talking about outside the door.

*I wonder what he needs to tell me? Hopefully it's not too serious.* thought Emily.