Second Chances

Chapter 2

Max drove the car with Liz by his side. Emily sat beside Carlos in the back and watched the sights fly by. There were so many memories that were assailing her. She looked out over the docks and saw the water. In the distance was Spoon Island. The smile left for a moment replaced by sadness and regret then anger. She still missed Nikolas each day that he was gone.

"Jason was asking about you the other day Emily ?"

"Really ? How do you know my brother Max ?"

"Max works as his bodyguard. Jason left ELQ because of all the family squabbling."

"Grandfather must not be happy with that. So how is he doing ? He isn't still married to that..."

" Yes, he's still married to Carly. I can't understand what he sees in that screeching witch Carly. What he sees in her I'll never understand. She's such a snob."

Max looked at his fiancée and chuckled.

"I'm sorry but she is."

"Hey do you hear any disagreement from me ?"

Emily shook her head. Carly was such a two timing witch. Jason deserved so much better than her. He needed to know the truth but it would break his heart.

"AJ?"

He's gone again. Look I finally saw him for the weasel he was. I caught him with some cocktail waitress. I divorced him soon afterwards. We try to stay amicable for Cameron's sake. For better or worse he is Cameron's father."

The car stopped in front of the Harbour Side Towers. They all got out. Max took the bags and they all headed to the elevator. Carlos was fascinated with the buttons.

"Mama va para arriba."

"Yes. I know mi hijo." Emily stroked the curly hair." He said it goes up. He's never been in an elevator before. All sorts of new things today."

They all got out of the elevator.

"We live in the penthouse here. It has more room then the apartment that I had with AJ. Max's boss, Mr. Corinthos lives in the other one. He let us have this one for a reasonable rent. Carly refused to live in such a small place. Jason had to by her a penthouse over at the Port Charles Seascape. Top of the line condos with full service."

"Who would expect anything less?" Emily laughed.

They walked into the spacious apartment. There was a wraparound balcony that gave a beautiful view of the water and harbour. There were three huge rooms.

"Cameron is off on a play date right now. Maria should be bringing him home soon. Carlos do you want to see your room."

"Yeah."

Carlos took Elizabeth's hand as she led him to a huge bedroom. There was a small toddler bed with bright Spiderman themed bedding. There was an air mattress blown up with bedding from The Lion King. There were a huge trunk full of toys.

"May I tiíta?"

"Of course."

Emily watched her son from the door. He seemed content with the games.

"El mama viene ver todos los juguetes. Hay tan muchos"
(Mama come and see all the toys. There are so many.)

"Apenas por un momento mi hijo(Just for a moment my boy)Liz I hope it's o.k. I know we came all this way. He's just never seen so many toys."

"I know AJ spoils Cameron. He thinks he can buy his love. I try to tell him not to do it but it's like talking to a brick wall sometimes. It's fine. Relax. I'm just going to go and talk to Max for a moment. We'll be out in the living room."

Emily went over and sat beside her son. She kissed him lightly on the head. He started playing with some trucks and cars making little motoring sounds. Emily laughed. He was so much like his father. She missed him so much.

Liz watched and walked out into the kitchen. Max was standing there stirring a coffee. He put his arms around her and hugged her. He lightly kissed her on the lips.

"So is she married still? I noticed the wedding band."

"Not anymore. Emily's husband Nikolas died a couple of years ago. She went to Spain to rethink after he died. She met someone there. She never told me his name only that he died as well. She loved him very much. Carlos is their son."

"Nikolas? not as in Nikolas Cassadine? Wasn't he a friend of yours at one point?"

"He was. I only met him after he came back to the States with Emily. Emily met him in Europe when she went there to do some training. She felt she could learn more working out in the world then in a stuffy class room. He was living in Greece at the time. She was working for Doctors without Borders as a volunteer."
Liz and Max walked over to the couch holding hands. Liz sat down and crossed her legs. Max sat facing her drinking his coffee.

"Nikolas was a business major. He swept Emily off her feet with lavish gifts and romantic trips. He even charmed the Quartermaines which isn't an easy task. They had a lavish wedding at the Port Charles Hotel. He took over the Cassadine Empire here in the States for his Uncle Stephan. He agreed to stay in Port Charles so Emily could be close to her family. They lived out on Spoon Island. Everything was wonderful. They had an incredible life together. When the debts started piling up and the stocks for the company plummeted he couldn't take it. It seemed to come out of nowhere. There were rumours of insider trading and threats of inquiries but the SEC but nothing was proven. Emily stood by his side defending him to her family. He couldn't take it. You could see the guilt eat away at him. One night he...shot himself. Emily was the one that found him there. The speculation and rumours started soon afterwards. It came out that Nikolas had a secret girlfriend at the time. No one could prove who it was. Some people questioned if he was murdered but nothing came of that. People were vicious to Emily. She couldn't take the abuse so she fled to Europe where she felt at home. She stayed in Greece for a bit then moved to Spain to work at a clinic that desperately needed doctors."

"Wow that is horrible. Who's this new man that passed away? Carlos's father? " Max couldn't brush it aside that the boy reminded him of someone but there was no way. Emily's lover had passed away that is what Liz had said.

"He was a man that Emily met while working at her clinic. He came in and needed help."

"Much like you and I." Max laughed and kissed Liz lightly on the lips. "Best injury I have ever had. "Liz laughed and smacked Max on the arm.

"Well don't let it happen again. I couldn't lose you."

"That would never happen."

It was always a fear that Liz had to deal with after she learned what Max's job really was. She didn't ask about work that was one of the many rules. If she didn't know anything, she couldn't tell the police anything. It was safer that way. She knew it was a dangerous life but she loved Max.

"She doesn't talk much about him but I hear the love in her voice when she does. He died a little over 3 years ago now in some accident. Emily never forgot about him. I should go check on her. It's getting late."

Max sat there and watched Liz walk away. That was exactly the same time when Mr. Corinthos came to town and took over the family business from his brother Luis. He just push it aside. Liz said that he had died. There was no way. Just a weird coincidence nothing more.

Liz walked over the bedroom and what she saw was so sweet. Emily was lying on the air mattress asleep with Carlos beside her. The trip had tired them both out so much. Liz walked in quietly and placed a blanket over them. She turned out the light and closed the door. She walked back out to Max sitting on the couch.

"They are fast asleep. Hey is something wrong? "

"No. It's nothing. We can go out and have a late dinner with them in a bit or go out another night. I know you wanted to impress them with your cooking."

"That's o.k. I'll make my spaghetti parmigiana another night...You don't have to be at the hospital tonight right? " Max asked mischievously.

"No..."

"I don't have to work tonight. Milo is taking over for me. Cameron shouldn't be home for an hour." Max smiled and started whispering things in Liz's ear." We do have a couple of hours..."

Elizabeth blushed and grabbed Max's hand. They walked down the hallway to their bedroom that was at the end of the hall far away from the children's room. Max pulled his beautiful fiancée into his arms and kissed her. How did he end up so lucky? It seemed like a dream. Liz kissed him letting him know it wasn't a dream but as close to heaven as he could get. He locked the door and laughed.