Emily sat in the hallway, back pressed against the wall beside NIkolas's doorway, her legs crossed Indian style as she fought back the latest round of tears. She'd give anything to be able to actually be in the room, helping Nikolas, but she feared the iciness in his eyes. Understandably so. He'd just lost his brother and she really wasn't able to do anything for him but hold his hand and offer a shoulder.

"Honestly, I would have thought you to have more of a drive than this. You say that you love him, yet in his moment of need, you're no where to be found." Stefan's clipped voice sparked an anger in Emily hadn't known she possessed.

"You're unbelievable!" She pushed herself to her feet. Emily stomped and balled her fists at her sides. "Even now… After all of this…" She shook her head. "I realize that you had no use for Lucky, but you could at least have some freaking sympathy! But, oh no. That would be too much like.. like… human! The great Stefan Cassadine couldn't possbily be human. Oh no, that would ruin the illusion of Cassadine masterpiece."

Emily took in a deep breath… and she ranted. "Go on, Stefan. Go on and tell me that I'm not strong enough for him. It gives you another reason to start this mess, doesn't it? I mean, come on." She gave a harsh, unamused laugh. A laugh that was filled with bitterness and angst. "Great chance to get rid of me, don't ya think? Tell Nikolas that I don't care enough to be with him when his brother just died. Well, guess what? I loved Lucky, too! He was the first friend I made in this town, and it hurts! It hurts that I couldn't do a damned thing but stand there and hold his hand while he died! That I couldn't help him, and that if Nikolas had died, I wouldn't have done anything for him, either.

"And what makes you think that I actually want to stand there and have Nikolas look at me just like you look at me, huh? I'll stand there and hold his hand. I'll tell him how sorry I am, that I'll do anything for him, but he'll know that I won't because I can't. I can't do anything, and when he looks at me like that…

"I can't stand it, do you hear me! I can't! I can't… have hm look at me like I'm nothing. I won't be able to stand it, and in the end, you win. So, it's a good thing, right? I mean, you get exactly what you want and I just get… I get the nothing that you probably think I deserve." Again, she laughed bitterly. Her arm flopped up and fell to her side, slapping her throat. "You'll get to take Nikolas home and have your perfect Cassadine prince, and I won't have anything because Liz has Luis and Lucky is dead! You get that? He's dead and I can't have Nikolas dead to me, too!"

Without much breath left, Emily fell in on herself, bending over at the waist. She gripped her ankles and tried to breathe. She was dizzy and her head ached. She needed sleep, she knew that. Maybe she wouldn't have gone off the way she did if she actually had gotten some sleep. Forcing herself to stay awake for over a day wasn't doing her any good. Without sleep, she couldn't suitably combat Stefan.

Emily didn't want him knowing her feelings. That was giving him something to use against her. Wasn't the entire reason that he was so successful in everything because he didn't show his feelings? And that's what got Jason through life. Not showing their emotions to the enemy was how one survived, and Stefan Cassadine was definitely the enemy. He was the enemy of her love life. He was the enemy of her future as the Cassadine princess. Her future of becoming Emily Bowen Cassadine.

"You do realize that you have effectively told Nikolas everything that you just told me?" Blinking rapidly, Emily stood up straight and stared at Stefan. "He's awake, and if you did not want him to hear your thoughts, you shouldn't yell them for an entire hospital to hear."

Emily gulped. "I didn't… I didn't know he was awake."

"He has been awake for hours, asking if I had finally… How did he put it? Ah yes, run you off." Stefan put his hands behind his back and set his jaw. For a moment, his eyes wavered to something softer. He must have realized it, though, because he quickly corrected his error. "This is unfortunately not something that I am suited to help my nephew survive. As you've already stated, my feelings towards Lucky Spencer have never strayed to the side of loving."

"That's a nice way of putting it," she grunted.

Stefan cleared his throat, and Emily jumped. How did that man manage to make everything file like a lecture? This was like being in school. But, she quieted down and let him continue. "As I was saying, I am not equipped to give Nikolas the support he needs. As you said in your emotional display, Elizabeth Webber is otherwise preoccupied. While I understand that you have your own grief for Spencer, and your brother is in this hospital…"

"And I've got other—" He glared at her and she gulped. "Sorry."

Stefan nodded. "You shared feelings for Spencer, and would therefore understand what Nikolas is feeling. This display of yours…" Stefan gave a curt shake of his head. "I have seen more strength and determination than I would have expected from you since this ordeal began. I find myself rather displeased and more than a little disappointed at this weakness that you're showing. I would have expected more from a future Cassadine princess."

Yeah, she was definitely sleep deprived, because Emily could have sworn… "Did you—" She shook her head. "Ya know what? You're confusing me. One minute, I'm not doing enough for Nikolas and the next… The next, I don't know what's going on."

"Alexis, Nikolas, and I have spoken and it has been made very clear to me that I have no say in Nikolas's choice of a bride. My young prince has grown into a man and does not need my permission to marry. Because of this, my choices in what to do are extremely limited. Out of those few choices, I have chosen to accept as much as I can."

"Still confusing me."

"I am telling you that I will accept the parts of you that seem acceptable, and ignore the others. We must all make sacrifices, and that is mine. Your sacrifice, then, is to gather your strength and go into that room. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find my wayward sister and coerce her into returning to her bed."

Stefan stepped to the side, and as he walked off, his hands came free from behind his back and swung at his sides. Emily watched him for a few minutes, thoroughly bewildered by the entire situation. Not only was Stefan going to lay off on the wedding, he was trying to accept her? He found some things worthy? This whole thing was just… confusing.

"Emily!" She jumped at Nikolas's voice. With his watcher gone, he could get from the bed. He could walk across the room and stand at the doorway. "Emily, please, look at me."

She turned slowly. He looked a lot better. He wasn't covered in thick sweat, anymore. His strength was returning, but the tire in his face and the bags under his eyes told her that there was still weakness there. "You should be laying down," she said with a sigh. "Cure or not, you still need to give your body time to heal."

"Emily, don't do this." He shook his head. "Don't shut me out."

"Nikolas, I'm not—"

"You are. I thought at first that you were resenting me. That you wouldn't come see me because you resented the fact that I lived and Lucky didn't."

"Nikolas, I would never—"

"But, I heard what you said to Uncle. You're shutting me out because you're afraid that I'll shut you out. I need you right now, Emily. I need you more than I've ever needed you, than I've ever needed anyone. I wouldn't shut you out, so please don't do that to me."

"I just… I know what grief can do to people. Some of us cry. Some of us shut down, and I remember what happened when Lucky died the first time in the fire. You shut down on me, on everybody. I had to force my way in, and I don't want to ever see that look on your face again."

"Those were different times, Emily, different circumstances. Everything's different now. And now—Now, I just need you to come in here with me. Please."

Nikolas extended his hand and Emily stared. To say that he wouldn't shut her out was one thing. To actually do it was another. But, he was so sincere, and there was such pleading in his eyes. She sighed and took his hand. "Let me put you back to bed, Nikolas," she said. Emily looped his arm around her shoulders and walked pressed against him to the bed.