Chapter 3

(Authors Note: Ok, just forget Nikolas and Emily's history here. Katherine and Nikolas never got together and Emily never walked in on them on her birthday. Also, that little crush Emily had on Nikolas did happen but no one ever knew her feelings for him. Plus there is no Juan in this fic. She's still a model but never went through the whole drug ordeal. Plus the timeline might be a little screwed up here because Nikolas is dating Sarah while Katherine is still around.. Well not really but I hope it works. :P)

Emily walked briskly into Kelly's the next day. Last night she had stayed with Lucky for about 3 hours while he cried and vented to her. She knew it would help him a lot and before she knew it he was asleep in her lap. After she was sure he was sleeping she went home and got ready for her date with Julian. It was their good-bye dinner. Julian had a modeling tour to go on and he would be traveling for the next month. The night was fun, she was sad to see him go but also relieved because lately she had felt like he was hovering over her constantly. Especially after that whole scene when they saw Nikolas on the docks. She told him that she would be here waiting for him when he got home.

She loved him. It had to be love. What else could this feeling be? Julian did have his flaws of course, but who didn't? He was always saying something that seemed like it was supposed to comfort her somehow. He was very, very overprotective of her and that drove her crazy sometimes. Although on the other hand, she found it sweet, like he wanted her all to himself.

She needed someone to care for her. She's felt like no one has even wanted her around. She understood that her family was busy with everything that's been going on but they don't even acknowledge her when she's in a room. Emily doesn't think herself to be selfish, but not even a hello? She deserves at least that, she reasoned. Her friends are the only constant in her life. Except right now, Elizabeth and Lucky are dealing with their break up and she understands how hard that is. She's never experienced the love they shared but she knows what it's like to lose someone you care for greatly and it's not fun.

Nikolas, she had missed him a lot. She barley ever saw him anymore and she was really glad that he asked her to lunch. It feels like they have a lifetime to catch up on. Nikolas has always been her best friend but she felt something different yesterday. She knew it was because of the crush she used to have on him, ever since the first moment she saw him, but she could have sworn that she saw something more in his eyes. The way he stared at her, the way he touched her when he hugged her, the way he insisted she go to lunch with him. She pushed the thoughts from her mind when she realized what she was thinking. This is Nikolas we're talking about. Her best friend. The same Nikolas that has always seen her as a little sister. Besides, she was with Julian now.

So be that as it may, everyone around her was too busy to include her in their lives. She has been keeping herself pretty busy anyway so she probably wouldn't have time to be in their lives if they weren't all preoccupied. Between Julian, school, being class president, and head charitable organizer she barley had a few moments to herself. With Julian leaving, she would have some time too herself, and maybe some time to reconnect with old friends.

She spotted Nikolas sitting at a booth and she quickly made her way over to him and sat across from him. He seemed so lost in thought; it took him a while to realize that she had arrived. He looked up and smiled when he saw her.

"Hey Em. Wow I didn't even see you come in." He blushed.

Wow, Nikolas Cassadine blushing. Emily never thought she would see the day. "It's ok. You seemed to be thinking pretty hard about something and I didn't want to disturb you." She smirked.

"No, no you didn't. I'm really glad you're here." She grinned, the grin that made his stomach do flip-flops.

He was quiet for a few moments so Emily decided to start the conversation. "So, Nikolas, What have you been up to lately?"

"Well, I've been pretty busy with school, plus I'm taking over Deception."

"Wow, really? Isn't Deception a perfume business?"

He put on his fake 'I'm hurt' expression but failed miserably when the corners of his lips perked up in a smile. "What? You don't think I can run a perfume business?"

She giggled. "No, Nikolas it's not that I don't think you could run it. I'm sure you will do an excellent job. It's just that I never thought I would see you selling perfume." She reassured.

"Ok, so I admit it's not really my kind of job but when Katherine died she left it to me in her will." He shrugged, "who was I to argue? Besides, I'll probably turn it over to Stefan when I graduate."

"Ahh, I see. Well aside from work, how's the love life? How are you and Sarah doing?" She liked Sarah Webber. They used to be friends and Emily never had a problem with the two of them being together. Well, at first she did because at that time she had that roaring crush on him, but she got past that when she realized that Sarah made Nikolas truly happy. Besides, she knew how much Nikolas loved her so she would try to be friends with her, like it or not. Lucky for her she and Sarah actually had a lot in common. They got along great. She noticed how he tensed up at her name and wondered if they weren't as great as she had thought they were.

"Actually, we broke up." He voiced the thought floating around in her head.

Wow. She was shocked. Emily never thought they would break up. They were great together and she was truly happy for them. "Oh, I'm sorry." She said in a sympathetic tone.

"Thanks, but I-um, I broke up with her."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Oh. What happened?" She asked. "If you don't mind me asking," She added.

"No, i don't mind. I just realized that I didn't love her. The attraction was gone, you know?" At her nod he continued hesitantly. "Besides, I've kinda had feelings for someone else."

Emily smirked. "Ohhh. Well I thought you and Sarah were great together, but i understand where you're coming from and I'll always support your decision."

Nikolas smiled. He knew she would say something like that. He also didn't need her to tell him that she would support his decision, he already knew that too. He wondered how she would react when she found out that she was the other one. Just then the waitress came over and took their orders.

"Thank you. So, who's the lucky lady?" He was caught of guard by the question and he knew she could tell. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry, just cuuuurious." She dragged out the word in a playful tone.

He was saved by answering the question when Elizabeth approached the table. She looked miserable. She wore sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt, her brown hair was pulled into tight bun behind her head, and her eyes were red and puffy. Nikolas immediately became concerned. He watched as Emily's face filled with sympathy and she voiced the concern in his head. "Hey Liz, how ya holding up?"

Elizabeth managed a small smile. "Um, I'll be fine... eventually."

Emily looked over at Nikolas with a pleading face and he spoke up. "Well you're welcome to join us for lunch."

Liz waved her hands to dismiss the offer. "Oh no, no I don't want to intrude. Besides I'm just here to pick up some food for me and grams. Thank you though."

"Ok, well just call me if you need anything ok?" Emily said

"Sure thing, thanks Em." She leaned down and hugged her friend, walked up to the counter, grabbed her food, and left the diner.

Nikolas turned his attention back to Emily. "What's going on?"

Emily lifted her gaze from the coffee in front of her to meet Nikolas' concerned brown eyes. "She and Lucky broke up last night."

Nikolas briefly closed his eyes. Lucky must be going through hell right now. He made a mental note to give him a call and check up on him later. "Oh."

"Yea," Emily breathed. "That's what that phone call was about yesterday on the docks."

"Oh i see. How's Lucky doing?"

"Not so good." She laughed lightly, "Wow, what an understatement. He's a wreck, Nikolas. I've honestly never seen him cry so much before."

Lucky cry? Nikolas never thought he would see the day. He could relate though. Even though Lucky and him weren't that close, Nikolas knew how much his brother loved Elizabeth. "I know how much they loved each other. I wonder if there's anything i can do."

Emily shook her head. "They just need some time. Hopefully, fate will bring them back together."

Nikolas smiled. She was so wise. She always knew exactly what to say. He figured now was a good time to bring up the question that's been bothering him since yesterday. "Speaking of relationships, who's Julian?"

Emily groaned inwardly. She knew this was coming. She knew he was bound to go into his overprotective mode and ask her sooner or later. She was trying to avoid it. "Julian is a… friend." 'Close enough' she thought.

"A friend?" Nikolas didn't buy it and she knew it. "He looked a little bit more than a friend yesterday."

"Fine, he's my boyfriend."

"Ok, why would you have a problem telling me about your boyfriend? And why have I not met him before?" He asked, a little hurt at the fact that she would have a problem telling him about something like that. Just goes to show how far apart they were.

"Nikolas, I know you, okay? I know how protective you get and I don't want you to worry about me. Julian is a great guy. So, if you want to inspect him or whatever it is you do, then you will have to wait until he gets back."

"Gets back?" Nikolas asked with a confused frown.

"Yes, he left to go on a modeling tour last night."

"Oh i see. How long will he be gone?" Nikolas couldn't help but ask.

"A month," She told him

"Wow."

"Yea. Maybe it's for the best you know? Lately, I feel like he's hovering over me. I'm actually kind of relieved that he'll be gone for a while. It will give me some time to put things into perspective."

"Well Em, if you feel that way then why don't you just end things with him?" Nikolas asked hopeful. He really was trying to put his feelings for her aside and be her friend, but when the opportunity came, he couldn't help but try to push Julian out of the picture.

Emily shrugged. "I can't break up with him Nikolas. I really care about him, and I want to be with him."

Nikolas shook his head, "I don't understand." He said, crossing his arms and leaning back in the booth.

"I don't expect you too. Listen, Julian is sweet, he's funny and smart and he loves me. He is just overprotective at times." She sighed. "It feels nice to be loved by… someone, anyone."

Nikolas stared at her incredulously. "How could you possibly believe that you're not loved?"

Emily sighed, "Nikolas, I don't mean loved, like how my family or you love me, I mean love. Like, in love."

Nikolas groaned inwardly. There was nothing he could really say to that, at least not without revealing his own feelings toward her. He would want nothing more that to tell her that the love he feels for her is much different than the little sister affection she thinks she has on him, so he says the only thing he knows what to say, "Oh I see." Nikolas sighed.

"Julian's good to me. He's good for me, I mean we have a lot of fun together, it's just- I don't know."

Nikolas knew she was confused. He knew the feeling. He's had a lot of experience in that department. He hated her talking about how great Julian was so, lucky for him, the waiter came by and placed their food on the table. He took the opportunity and changed the subject. "So, what have you been up to lately?"

She perked up at his question. She was just so glad for the change in subject. "Well I've been keeping myself busy with school."

"Oh yea?"

"Yea, right now I'm focusing all of my attention on the dance next week." She smiled.

"Ahh, yes. 'The Winter Ball', you organized the entire thing?" He asked, impressed.

"Yes i did. I don't think I'm going to go to it though."

"What? Why wouldn't you go?"

"Well, i can't go to the dance without a date, Nikolas. I would have gone with Julian but he's working."

"Emily, you have to go. Ok, how about you be my date?" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Emily was clearly taken aback by his request. "Nikolas, i couldn't ask you to do that. I'm sure you would want to ask you're new lady love to the dance." She reasoned.

Nikolas laughed softly. If she only knew. "Don't be silly. I would be honored to go with you."

Emily smiled. Leave it up to Nikolas to fix her problems. "Well... If you're sure." She said, still unsure herself.

"I insist."

"Ok, then. We'll go together." They locked eyes until the gaze got intense. Emily finally looked away and filled the silence. "Since the dance is almost over, I'm going to have to find a new project to keep myself busy with." She smiled.

"Well i have a proposal."

"Oh yea, and what would that be?" She asked, clearly interested.

"I'm moving out of Wyndemere and into a cottage, and I need some help decorating."

Emily frowned. "Since when are you moving out of Wyndemere?"

"Well, my uncle has been badgering me constantly about going to business school or private school so that I can take over the family business." He shrugged. "I'm not taking over the family business."

"Why not?" She asked. "I thought you were into all the business mumbo jumbo." She waved her hands in the air.

"I just don't have the desire to end up like him. I want to make something of my life, you know? I want to work for my career and not inherit it." She nodded, understanding exactly how he felt. "Besides, it will give us some time to hang out. It seems like forever since we've spent time together, not including today." He smiled.

"Of course, i would love to!" She exclaimed. "When can i see the place?"

"Anytime. Are you busy tomorrow after school?"

"Actually, i have to put some last minute touches on the dance after school, but I'm free after that." She answered.

"Ok, then how about i just pick you up when you're done?"

"That sounds good." They were interrupted at the sound of her cell phone ringing. She groaned as she reached into her purse and pulled her flip phone out. She lifted her index finger at Nikolas. "I hate this thing, I'll only be a sec." He nodded and she answered her phone. "Hello... When?... Ok... I'll be right there." She sighed and hung up her phone. "I'm sorry Nikolas, i have to go. Jason needs a last minute babysitter."

He nodded. "Don't worry about it. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yea, I'll see you after school tomorrow. Thanks for lunch." She smiled.

"No problem." Nikolas watched her get up and leave. After that, he threw some bills on the table and walked out.