He walked out to the cliffs after Sam and Matthew left to pick up Jason. He wasn't done with their visit. Sometimes he just came out here to talk to her. This was one of those times; as he held the band in his hand.
"Mattie found your ring today. He brought it back to me; said he thought I was really pretty. It got me thinking about you, about us. I remember the first time I asked you to marry me; right there in that loft. You looked at me like I was crazy, but we both knew that we wanted it. I wish we would've married in the Dominican Republic that night; I wanted you so badly to be Mrs. Cassadine. But I knew it was what you wanted also; that night I asked you again when we were so sick in the hospital…the night you had our little angel…I knew that all I had to do was go home and pick up that ring…Court, you weren't supposed to go. We weren't supposed to end; you were supposed to be there with Matthew and me. I miss you so much, I love you…always…keep watching over angel" he said before walking back towards the mansion.
"LIZ!" Patrick yelled clutching the picture in his hand.
She ran out of the bathroom towards her husband, "is everything okay" she asked worried.
He was clutching the picture as he turned around, "who is this" he asked thrusting it towards her.
"A picture of Nikolas and Courtney" she told him.
The wheels started to spin in his head, "where was it taken at" he asked still practically shaking.
"At Lucky and my wedding, but don't be mad, I just saw it and it reminded me of Nikolas" she told him thinking he was upset.
"Courtney is Matthew's mother, right? She died in that virus…" he asked calming down.
"Yeah, she died after she gave birth to her son, Patrick what?" she started to say but he cut her off.
"Sit down Liz, we need to talk" he told her.
When he walked into the house he heard Matthew talking with Jason in the kitchen.
"And then we went to see my mommy and I found this pretty ring, and Auntie Lexis said that mommy was a Princess because my daddy is a Prince and he loved her. Were you friends with my mommy…I wish I could see her; daddy misses her a lot" he said popping grapes into his mouth.
"I was really good friends with your mommy, and I miss her too. But you know what she is up there in heaven watching over all of us. I am sure she wishes she could be down here with you and your daddy, but just think; you have your very own guardian angel" he said ruffling Matthew's hair.
Nikolas made his entrance then, "Jason" he said nodding towards the man.
"Hey" he said looking up.
The men didn't have a close relationship, but made due with the fact that they were now family. Plus Jason adored Matthew, and couldn't help seeing the person who opened up his heart in the little boys eyes.
"Daddy, is Maxie coming over for dinner…because Auntie Sam said we were going to have spaghetti and that is Maxie's favorite" he asked.
"Um sure buddy lemme call her and see if she can, okay? I think Krissy is putting on a video if you want to watch" he told him as the little boy ran off to another part of the house.
"You okay?" Jason asked noting the worn look on his face.
Nikolas gave a patented pained smile, "Yeah, you know, day by day Mattie is talking more and more about his mommy, and it just…" he said rubbing his forehead.
"Makes you miss her all over again?" Jason asked.
"I…I mean some days I am okay, but recently it has just been…I don't know maybe I am just being too emotional about it…" Nikolas said frustrated.
"You got to let her go man…she loved you so much…she would want you to be happy, you know that, right?" Jason asked the rhetorical question
Nikolas watched as he left and picked up the phone to dial.
"What is the matter and why are you acting so cryptic about this picture" Liz asked sitting down.
"I know her" is all he said.
"Please do not tell me you used to date her or something" she said annoyed.
"Liz, no…my patient…the memory loss case…it's her" is all he had to say before the reality struck Liz and her face when ghost white.
"Hey Maxie, it's me Nikolas, yeah I have been busy…you want to come over and have dinner tonight…Mattie and I would love it…yeah okay…see you then" he told her and hung up.
Jason was right, Courtney would want him happy; so he took the ring back upstairs and walked to his closet. He pulled out the wood box and opened it. There lie their pictures, bright happy smiles, notes she left for him, and he laid the ring on top…another memory he would never forget.
"What…what…do you mean?" she asked gravely hands shaking.
Patrick placed his steady hands over hers, "I don't know how it is…or what is going on…but that woman in the picture, she is in my clinic. She has no idea who she is, or why she woke up wandering on a beach in Greece" he told her.
"Greece, oh God, Patrick, if you are right…oh God if you are right…I am sure Helena is behind this" she told him.
He knew of Helena Cassadine, everyone did, but as the reality of it all stuck he moved on hand making small circles at his temple.
"You are sure, right Patrick" she asked.
"Yes, but come see for yourself if need be" he told her.
He walked out to the launch the moon shining brightly off the water, and he saw her walk off the boat.
He felt a pang of guilt as he saw her blonde hair. He thought about the first thing Alexis said when she found out about Maxie.
Flashback
"Wait, Maxie Jones, isn't she a bit young?" she asked.
"She is twenty two, hardly a child…and she is nice, funny and she makes me smile" he told his aunt.
Alexis seemed to think for a brief moment, "sounds like another blue eyed blond we both used to know…maybe a case of transference?" she told him walking away so he could infer the meaning by himself.
When he saw Maxie's blue eyes shining at him he couldn't help but know that there was an ounce of truth to Alexis' statement…
The forty five minute drive to the clinic only took twenty minutes due to the adrenalin rush that Patrick Drake had. He had to find out who this woman was, and he truly believed that Elizabeth was the key to unlocking the mystery.
Elizabeth sat in the passenger seat taking in all that was happening. If Courtney was alive, and that was a big if…then Matthew's mother was still alive, and that meant that Nikolas wasn't alone either.
As they opened up the clinic doors a nurse greeted them. Patrick told her something in rapid Spanish and she pointed them to another door.
They walked through the cafeteria doors and began to scan the room for her. Liz spotted the blond hair first and started to go off.
Patrick grabbed her before she could get very far.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Um, well you can't just go barge over to her…she has no memory Liz" he told her calming her down.
"Okay, okay, your right…just got a little ahead of myself" she said slowing down as Patrick gently led her across the floor.
He casually walked by Courtney's table and the blond raised her eyes at him, "Hey Dr. Drake, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I forgot something in my office, and figured my wife and I needed some time out of the house" he told her gesturing towards Liz and then talking again, "Liz this is the patient I was telling you about" he said as Liz stood there mute.
He gently tapped her back and she got flustered, "sorry, hi I am Liz" she said extending her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Patrick has said so little, and yet so much about you. Liz, that is a nice name…he calls me patient because I can't remember my name" she said her blue eyes twinkling as she attempted at a joke.
Liz couldn't believe her eyes…but it was her…the eyes, the face, the smile…the sadness was there in her fast…not like last time; when she looked so happy with Nikolas preparing to be a mother.
They had a quick chat and then Patrick ushered them out.
"So?" he asked when they finally got into the car.
Liz turned so he could see the tears coming down her cheeks, "it's her…oh God it's her" she said quivering.
"No daddy me want you AND Maxie to tuck me in" Matthew pouted jutting his little chin out.
"Okay, okay buddy" he said as the little boy grinned and jumped into his father's arms.
They walked him upstairs and tucked Matthew in his bed. They listened quietly while he said his prayers.
"And watch over Auntie Sam, Uncle Jason, Auntie Lexis, Molly, Krissy, Daddy, Maxie, and please tell my mommy I love her and so does daddy, amen" he finished as they both smiled and kissed him.
Nikolas walked her across the hall and she started to head down the stairs.
"Hey, where are you going?" he asked pulling her back to him.
"Isn't it late?" she asked.
"I don't want you to go"
"I don't want to go" she said as he led her to his room.
In the predawn light at another time and another place…it was another lying in his arms and dreaming of tomorrow. He didn't know how to let her go so he pulled the woman next to him closer and hoped the adage that time heals all wounds was true.
"Patrick, what are we going to do?" Liz asked later that night pacing.
"I don't know…I mean, what are we supposed to do?" he asked.
She sat down next to him and put her head on his shoulder, "I have to tell Nikolas" she told him.
"I know…I know…but not right now…let's see if she starts to remember, okay?" he asked.
"I can't wait long, Nik is my best friend"
"I know, just give me two weeks" he told her kissing her on the forehead.
In two weeks life can take such dramatic turns.
A/N: Sorry it was short, but I wanted to get you guys something. Mostly it is a setup, but I promise to work on this soon so I can get you guys another chapter…this one is in honor of Nikolas FINALLY finding out about his Cassababy! YAY! Thanks to all you Nico lovers who read and review, you all ROCK so much!