Title: Lost & Found
Author: addictedtofanfic / sprinkles
Email: G
Category: Angst / Romance / Drama
Summary:
Part One: Emily Quartermaine has lost herself, lost an understanding of who she is. Nikolas Cassadine tells her something she wasn't ready for, and it causes her to realize that small fact, so she moves away, not telling anyone where she is going or when she'll be back.
Part Two: Emily Quartermaine has finished her time in Australia and is moving back home, in time for her brother Jason Morgan's wedding. Everyone is curious to where she's been, but she's not giving answers. During the wedding she faints, and her family and her best friend, Lucky Spencer, find out one of her secrets.
Part Three: Since no one has told Emily that Nikolas is back from Greece, Emily thinks she is being visited by him in her dreams. When she finally 'awakens' to find out he really was by her side, will it have the ending they've all been waiting for?
NOTES: Forget everything that has happened on the show. Clear your mind of all plots, just remember what kind of relationships people had before. (friends, family, enemies)
Disclaimer: The characters depicted are the property of ABC-TV and ABC Daytime. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.

Lost and Found
Prologue: It's Hard For Me

It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I…

"Nikolas."

"Emily? Is that you? What's wrong?"

"I can't find anyone."

"Come to Wydemere, honey. I'll be waiting in the gardens."

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me

In the gardens of Wyndemere sat Nikolas Cassadine, silently waiting for his best friend, hoping that whatever had happened, she would be okay. Hearing someone coming behind him, he turned.

"Nik" Was all Emily had to say before she was in his arms, being held.

"It's okay. Just cry. Let it all out."

"Why do I do this to myself? I can't believe this."

"Is it the . . . the cancer?" Nikolas asked, scared out of his mind of what she was going to tell him next. "Did someone find out? Did your test results come back?"

"Nik, I won't loose you will I? Even if something were to happen…"

I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart
I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies… "No, your not going to loose me. Never. Just tell me what's wrong. What happened?"

"Everything and nothing. Jason went to find Courtney. A.J. and Grandfather are working out ELQ deals and wanting Michael to join the family. My blood cell count is low again. I got into a fight with Liz. I can't find Lucky anywhere…and I just thought…I don't know."

"It has to be more than that." Nikolas said simply, reading through her lies.

You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me
"Hey, Em." Nikolas smiled, backing away from the embrace. "It's fine you came to me, alright. I'm honored."

"No its not. I'm always coming to you…and I'm the strong one, depending on no one. And why should I?" Emily's head dropped.

Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I…
"Why do you think that? Do you think no one cares about you? You are so wrong." Nikolas took one hand to her cheek gently as the other lifted her chin to face him. "I've been so naive, so away from you, away from everyone, consumed in my family's problems, losing Gia, and taking my anger out on everyone…especially you. I'm sorry for that."

Emily's eyes locked on Nikolas' as he continued.

"Do you know how much I would miss you if you weren't here, bugging me for favors, asking me to take on the world? Do you know how many times I've wanted to thank you for being my friend…through everything?"

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me

"Don't you know…don't you know how much I love you?"

When I couldn't fly
Oh, you gave me wings
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me

Nikolas noticed Emily's eyes slowly darken.

(Bon Jovi / Thank You for Loving Me / 2000

Part One: Therapy in Australia

Chapter One

Note: Over the course of one year Emily Quartermaines stays in a physiatrist clinic in Australia. What is inside these chapters may not go in order; sometimes they may not quite make perfect sense.

"Welcome, Emily, to your first session. We're going to start with some questions, easy ones. You can ask me anything you like. We'll start with this one…have you ever been to Australia before?"

"No."

"Okay. While I can tell you that there are tour guides here that will take you out."

"Aren't they more like nurses?"

"I suppose. But they are here to help you get out into the community; get relaxed in a new place. I know you are far away from home. Where are you from, Emily?"

"Originally Arizona. But I got adopted and moved to Port Charles, New York."

"Which place do you consider home now?"

"Port Charles…"

"Why do you think that is?"

"Because the only person I had in Arizona was my mom, and she left me in New York with the Quartermaines."

"Do you hate her for that?"

"No. I guess I never really hated her for moving us, just for leaving me."

"You wrote that you went to Arizona with a friend not long after that. Would you like to tell me about it?"

"Okay. I guess. I went with my new friend, Lucky. He's my best friend now. He has the kookiest half-grin that makes anyone laugh. But while we were in Arizona he made me understand why my mom chose to leave me with the Quartermaines. She knew that Monica would take care of me."

"Is she your adoptive mother?"

"Yes. We met in one of those cancer-clinics in Arizona."

"I know that you also have cancer. Are you afraid?"

"Yes. But not so much. I was afraid of dying, but then I figured, who would miss me."

"You don't think your friends and family care about you?"

Emily ignored the question. "They lean on me. They tell me everything about their life, good and bad. They say I am a blessing to them, that they wouldn't want to lose me."

"You write that you've lost yourself, and that is why you're here. Does anyone know you're here?"

"No. I don't think so. I just disappeared after talking with a friend."

"Don't you think that friend would care to know where you are?"

"No. Because I don't want him to."

"Did you tell him that?"

"Of course. Nikolas and I got in a big fight."

"Is that his name, Nikolas?"

"Yes."

"And why did you get into a fight?"

"He told me…he told me he…you know what, I don't want to talk about it. Can we go on to something else."

"Okay. Our time is almost up, but I have to ask you a question. Would you be writing letters back home, receiving letters, or none all together? I ask this because you came here without telling anyone back home. Where do they think you are?"

"They think I'm in college at Stanford. I'd like to write to Jason every once in awhile, but for people to contact me…I don't think so. Maybe Jason, my older brother, though."

"Why Jason? Is he a big part of your life back home?"

"Jason wouldn't tell anyone where I was. If I asked him not to find me, he wouldn't. He doesn't get along with the family much, they mostly leave each other alone. I can trust him."

"Has he been like a protector to you?"

"Basically, yes."

"Do you trust anyone else?"

"I don't think so. I trust Nikolas and Lucky, but not as much as Jason. I want to be able to trust people more though."