Courtney had fallen asleep on the way home. Not wanting to wake her Nikolas quietly opened the door to her side of the car and carried his pregnant wife inside. He smiled at how peaceful she looked. Just like an angel in Heaven. If he had scared her earlier he hadn't meant to Jax had just made him so mad. Courtney began to stir a bit. "Nik-" "I'm right here...You fell asleep in the car." he explained as he laid her down softly and she cuddled up to a pillow. "Take a nap and when you wake up there will be a delicious meal waiting for you." "Sounds great..." she said as she trailed off to sleep again. There was a knock at the door as he slowly closed the door to their room so she could have a peaceful nap. Then another knock. "Hold on I'm coming!" he announced running for the door. "Emily..."
"Hi Nikolas..." "What are you doing here? Why did you come back Emily? You don't love me anymore remember?" He was cold. Not intentionally though it just came from the way he felt she had been leading up to the split and then the divorce. "Is Courtney here?" "She's asleep...the pregnancy makes her a little tired." he said as he cleared his throat and looked down. "why do we have to be like this Nikolas? Can't we atleast be friends." "I have to go Emily...I promised Courtney there would be a hot dinner waiting on her when she woke up...she doesn't sleep long. I'll see you around." he said as he closed the door. He wasn't doing it out of harshness or to be cold he did it because looking at Emily hurt. Looking at her made all of the hurtful memories seep back into his mind. He hated to be mean that wasn't his nature but there was no other way to avoid Emily then to push her away as she had done to him when they were together.
He went to the kitchen and cooked Courtneys favorite meal.Spaghetti and meatballs with tomato sauce and garlic bread. Courtney woke up and came into the kitchen smiling at her husband. "Aww Honey..." she smiled as she kissed him. She looked at all the hard work he had put in to preparing this meal. The candle lit table and the delicate manner in which it was set in. As they sat down and began eating the smile across Courtney's face seemed to be erasible. "You're the greatest husband in the world...in a week I'll be 9 months...Our baby's gonna be here soon." Nikolas looked up and smiled at his wife as he held her hand across from the table. "What about names?" he asked. "I thought of Ariana Jo or something but I love the name Ariana..." Nikolas smiled. "Ariana is a beautiful name sweetheart." "I don't know about Ariana Jo Cassadine however...how about when we're done eating we go lie in bed...candles at the bedside and think of a middle name for our babygirl." she smiled sweetly. "That sounds great." Courtney felt another kick. "She's gonna be a tough little girl huh?" Nikolas smiled back. "Oh yeah...Daddy's little fighter..."
That night they laid in bed together by candle light trying to think of names for their daughter. "What about Ariana Jada...AJ for short..." he suggested. "Um Honey...yeah...I don't think so...Ariana Jada is cute but our baby isn't going to be called AJ." "You're right that was a dumb suggestion I'm sorry." she smiled as she layed ehr head on his chest and he played with her hair. "Ariana Grace..." he said. Courtney looked up at him. "Say that again..." she urged. "Ariana Grace...Ariana Grace Cassadine." "That's it...that's our babys name. Ariana Grace." Courtney kissed Nikolas as she laid her head back down on his shoulder and fell asleep shortly. Her pregnancy meant alot of naps and alot of exhaustion for the mommy to be. Nikolas loved to watch her sleep. His angel...soon to be accompainied by another little angel. As he layed there his mind kept flashing back to the thought of how she was there two years ago when Emily left him. How she had always been there when things were rough. He loved her and would always care about her. The phone rang making him answer it before it woke up Courtney. "Nikolas Cassadine..." "Nikolas hi it's Alexis...Did you know Emily is back in town?" "Yes...I ran into her...literally...yesterday." "Oh...How's Courtney and the baby think of any names yet...you're procrastinating Nikolas that's always been like you..." "As a matter of fact miss know it all we have a name.." "Yeah right..." "Ariana Grace..." he spoke matter of factly.
That name seemed to take Alexis breath away. "Wow...Nikolas that's a beautiful name..." "How's Christopher?" Christopher Gage was Alexis' Son with Ric. Christopher Gage Lansing. "He...Speak of the baby..." Nikolas heard the child cry in teh background. "I gotta get going anyways I have to catch some sleep." he said as he smiled. "Ok...Call me if you need me. Love you. bye." she said as she hung up quickly. He snuggled next to Courtney and blew the candles out falling asleep in each others arms