Author's Note

Warning of images. Emily has a flashback.

Second Chances

Chapter 5

Emily straightened her peach dress in front of the mirror. It was a simple satin dress that highlighted the fairness of her skin. She grabbed the lace shawl that she had bought from Valencia off the back of the chair. She walked into the bathroom and grabbed the brush and brushed her hair one last time. She picked up the simple diamond cross.

"I want you to have this. It belonged to my mother Adella."

"But Michael we've only known each other for a couple of months."

"I feel like I've known you all my life Emily. You're who I've been searching for so long. You are the reason that I came to Spain. My mother's spirit was leading me here to you. I feel it now. I feel as though..." Michael turned away from her and shook his head.

"What?" Emily lightly touched his face. She looked into his dark brown eyes and saw such conflict. She knew that he kept secrets. They had been together for a couple of months and she could see how nervous he was. She knew that he was keeping something from her. She saw him arguing with a man a couple of nights before at the club. It was right after she found that weird ring at the clinic. Michael had freaked when she had told him about it. Then came the argument with the man. She had gone to the restaurant to talk to him. Sofia had warned her not to go into the kitchen. Emily could hear yelling and cursing in Spanish." Michael you are worrying me. Please tell me what is wrong? Is this about the ring?"

"Nothing more happened right. Emily I couldn't live if something happened. It'd kill me."

"No, I'm fine. Michael you need to tell me what is wrong? You're scaring me."

"I can't. I want to Emily. I wish things could be different Emily but they can't. I can never..."

"What?"

"I can't do this Emily. I'm sorry."

Michael got up and grabbed his jacket.

"Michael I don't understand. I need to know what's the matter. You can't leave like this."

"I have to. I have no choice. Don't you see that? The last thing I ever want to do is leave you but I have no choice."

That was the last time that Emily saw of Michael until...

"Em...Earth to Em." Elizabeth said touching her shoulder. Emily jumped up and looked around. Elizabeth was sitting there watching her. She was wearing a simple midnight blue strapless cocktail dress and black heels.

"Hey what's wrong?"

"What? Oh, sorry."

"Where were you? You seemed so far away."

"I was just remembering a long time ago." Emily said fingering the necklace.

"That's a beautiful necklace. Did you get it from your parents?"

"No It was a gift from someone."

"Em are you sure that you still want to go out. You've had a long night."

"No dinner sounds wonderful. What could go wrong? I'm starving anyway."

Emily and Elizabeth left the apartment after saying goodbye to the boys. Emily noticed a scent in the air. It was faint but it was there. It was so distinctive. She brushed it aside as they got into the elevator. They walked down to the car service that Max had called for them. They both got in and sat down. The drove down the road towards downtown as Emily looked out the window.

Emily had gone to the restaurant afterwards to talk to Michael. He had seen her walk in.

"Em what are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you and know that you are alright." She went to touch his face.

"You can't be here. It's not safe. You need to go back to the clinic. It's safer there."

"Michael you are scaring me."

"Em please just do it. " Michael left the restaurant.

That was usually where the memories stopped. She had blocked out the rest of the accident. That's what they had told her in the hospital. But tonight it was different. The new memories started hitting Emily. For some reason she could see it as it was happening in slow motion. She had rushed outside after Michael. She saw him get into a car. She yelled out to him but he never heard her. That's when the explosion happened knocking her off her feet. Car alarms triggered by the blast started blaring. People rushed out of neighbouring businesses. She was thrown back into the grass by the force of the blast. The fire felt like it was burning her skin it was so hot. She was stunned. People rushed around her. She stood up and tried to rush over to the car but someone held her back.

" Michael ! No I can't lose you...I have to get to him. I need to get to him and know that he is alright. Michael... I can't breathe. I need air." Emily said tearing at the door handle trying to get it to open. She was banging on the window. She was panting as if she couldn't get enough breathe in her lungs.

"Emily what's wrong? Jack stop the car." Elizabeth tried to calm Emily down.

"I'm not supposed to till we get to the restaurant Ms. Webber."

"Stop the car now."

The car stopped and Emily got out. She dropped to the ground and started hyperventilating. The tears started falling down her face.

"Em, what is it? Honey it's o.k. you can tell me."

"I...didn't know what happened until...now. They told me in the hospital afterwards that he had died but I didn't realize..."

"Oh God Em you were there when he died?"

"Yeah I was there. Michael and I were arguing. He was pushing me away. I couldn't understand why he was doing that. I wanted to understand. He pushed me away. He was so worried."

"Do you know why?"

"No. I was taken to the hospital afterward. They needed to treat me for a concussion and scrapes. I found out that day that I was pregnant. The had taken blood to make sure that my labs were o.k. I was so stunned. I had just lost Michael but found out that I was carrying his child. The police came and questioned me. I couldn't remember anything."

"Do you know why you remembered now?"

"No...but it started after we left the apartment. There's something about being back in this town. The memories are so strong for me. I miss him so much Liz. I loved him so much. He was my whole life. I didn't think I couldn't trust myself to fall in love again after Nikolas but I did. He was so wonderful and so tender with me. I can't believe that he is gone." Emily broke out in fresh tears.

"I am so sorry Emily. We should just head back to the apartment. Max will understand."

"No."

"Are you sure?"

Emily nodded her head yes. She stood up and brushed off her dress. Emily and Elizabeth got back into the car. The car service dropped them off in front of the restaurant.

Sonny looked around the restaurant. Everything was as he wanted. He saw Sam with her second glass of champagne.

"I think that's enough for you. I don't want you to screw up this deal tonight Sam."

"Yes, sir." Sam saluted and giggled.

"Max make sure that she cleans up and get a cup of coffee in her."

"Sure."

Just then Jason and Carly entered the restaurant. Carly was wearing an expensive designer Dior pantsuit.

"How much money did you spend again today? " Jason said looking at his wife.

"Not that much. Like you actually care. It was just $2,000 that's all. You make a lot more with your business and you know that."

"$2,000 how can you spend that much money? "

"A couple of dresses and suits and I saw this really nice pair of shoes I had to have."

Jason shook his head.

"I don't have to deal with this. I'm going to freshen up. Order me a bottle of Cristal."

"Fine."

Jason shook his head as his wife walked away. He saw Sonny looking at him.

"Carly being her usual? "

"Yeah. She spent $ 2000 today. How can someone spend that much money?"

Sonny whistled and laughed. Carly did have a sweet tooth. She loved to spend money as much as Sam did. Sonny would hate to look at the sales receipt for her last purchases including that hideous orange shirt. Sonny shook his head.

"So is everything ready for Manuel? "

"Yeah. I'm going to do a private meeting. I want you to watch each of his men that come in. I don't want to get surprised. Tell me if Luis shows up. I'm not sure if he'll show up tonight to supervise."

"Sure."

Jason went over to the window and sat down. Carly came back over. Carly's bottle of Cristal was there. They ordered their dinner.

Just then a tall man wearing a grey suit entered.

"Sonny, es tan bueno verle otra vez."(Sonny it's good to see you again my friend.) Manuel Rodriguez said as he shook Sonny's hand.

"Manuel. Es bueno verle también. ¿Cómo era el vuelo ascendente de la isla?"( Manuel it's good to see you as well. How was your flight up from the island?) Sonny said.

"Bueno. Un poco desigual pero el tiempo era hermosos. Hicimos buen tiempo."( Good. A little bumpy but the weather was beautiful. We made good time.)

"Bueno mi amigo. Nuestra tabla es lista. Tengo el chef el hacer de algunos tapas como aperitivo."(Good my friend. Our table is read. I have the chef making some tapas for an appetizer.)

"Eso suena maravilloso. Le dije una vez antes de mi amigo joven. Usted habría hecho un buen cocinero."( That sounds wonderful. I told you once before my young friend you would make a good chef.)

Sonny looked at him and laughingly said,"Nunca realmente pensé de él."(I never really thought about it.)

"Gocemos de la cena entonces que podemos hablar negocio."( Let's have dinner then we can talk business.) Manuel said as he sat down at the table.
"Senorita. McCall que usted parece hermoso esta noche."( Miss McCall you look very beautiful tonight.) Manuel said as he offered a hand to Sam so she could sit down.

"Mucho Gracias."( Thank you very much.)Sam said as she touched Manuel's hand.

"Mrs. Quartermaine, how wonderful to see you again?" The host remarked as he saw Elizabeth and Emily enter the restaurant.

"It's Ms. Webber soon to be Mrs. Giambatti. My fiancee Mr. Giambatti reserved a table for us." Elizabeth said to Max who was standing over by the table where Mr. Corinthos and his guests were laughing and talking.

"Of course. Pardon me for my error. Congratulations on your engagement.Mrs. Cassadine, it's been a long time since we saw you. I see you are back in our fair town." The host said looking at Emily.

"It's just Ms. Quartermaine now. I've just come back for a short visit." Emily remarked.

"Let me show you your table."

Emily and Liz walked over to their table. They could hear the whispers as people saw Emily. Jason looked over and was surprised to see his younger sister. She seemed to have grown up since the last time he saw her. Carly looked over and almost lost the champagne that was in her mouth.

"Your tables ladies. Would you like anything to drink?"

"A glass of white wine please." Elizabeth remarked.

"A glass of sangria if possible please." Emily questioned.

"Look if you want to leave." Elizabeth whispered to Emily.

"No, It's fine. I knew people wouldn't forget in this town. Let them whisper. I'm not going to let them ruin my night."

"How are you?"

"Better."

The drinks arrived.

"I think that we should make a toast. To your wonderful wedding to Max. May you have all the happiness that you deserve and more. "

Elizabeth laughed and so did Emily.

"Sonny es usted todo derecho. Mira como si usted haya oído un fantasma mi amigo joven." ( Sonny are you alright? You look as if you've heard a ghost my young friend) Manuel said as Sonny heard the laugh.

He touched Sonny's hand.

It wasn't possible. She was in Spain. She was far away from Port Charles. There was no way. Sonny then heard the laugh again.

"Emily?" Sonny whispered

Emily heard her voice. She couldn't turn around. He was dead. There was no way she had seen him die. She had felt the explosion. There was no way that he was alive.

"Emily?" Sonny whispered again.

"What is it Emily? "

"That voice? I've heard it before?"

It was as if time stood still. There was no past, no future just the present. The whole restaurant faded away. Emily turned and looked in the direction of the voice calling her name.

"Michael? " The stress had been too much that was all this was. She was just too tired.

Sonny got up and walked over to Emily. She looked at him with tears streaming down her face. Tears were forming at the corner of his eyes. Emily's hand shook. It wasn't possible. This was just another dream. He couldn't be. Then she felt Sonny touch her hand and bring it to his face. She felt skin.

" But how my love, I saw you die. This can't be real."

" It is Emily. I'm here. I'm alive. I'm so sorry I lied to you. I thought I would never see you again. I thought you were gone forever. How is this possible? You are supposed to be in Spain? "

Emily then pulled back and wiped away the tears. Sonny say the anger and hurt in her eyes. She slapped him across the face.

Everyone in the room gasped. Sonny's bodyguards came close, "Ningún está bien."( No everything is fine.)

Emily looked around as everyone gasped. She rushed outside just as the thunder and rain started. Sonny rushed off after her. Sonny grabbed her shoulder.

"Emily I can explain. I promise. I wanted to tell you. I had to keep you safe. I thought I did the right thing."

"The right thing? I grieved for you Michael. I ached for you. I belived that you had died. I saw you die in that explosion."

"I'm sorry Emily. I had no choice."

"Choice you always say that Michael. You said it that night when you rushed out of our apartment. What do you mean? I never knew you did I."

"You knew me better than anyone."

Emily shook her head. Sonny the grabbed Emily and pulled her into a passionate kiss. She fought against him but she couldn't for long. She loved him more than hated him. She still ached to be with him. He'd come back into her life. Tongues duelled each other and they both moaned. Sonny held Emily close as the rain poured down on them.

"Sonny, Who the hell is she? And what are you doing kissing her?" came Sam's shrill voice.

Sonny turned back and saw Sam looking at him. She had her hands on her hips. Jason was behind her with Carly by his side looking at Emily and Sonny. Elizabeth and Max were off to the far side.

"Sonny? As in Sonny Corinthos? " Emily looked at Sonny stunned