"What, how, I don't understand" Courtney said her hand shaking and holding the picture. She couldn't help staring at it…at his face…they looked so happy…she ran her finger across the familiar tanned skin and looked back up at Liz her eyes filled with puddles.

Liz couldn't help the emotion she felt at the moment and wiped the lone tear that escaped her eye.

"His name is Nikolas and he is my best friend" she started out.

Courtney nodded in hopes that Elizabeth would continue. She told her the story before Nikolas. How Courtney had come to town, her failed marriages, the marred relationship with her brother, and then she came to Nikolas.

She didn't know how exactly to tell that part of the story, but she decided to try and be as honest as possible. She told her of Emily's rape and the surrogacy, and how Emily and Nikolas fell apart and so did she and Jax.

Jax…something about that name made her uneasy and she cringed at the story.

"So I broke up their marriage" she asked in a small little girl hurt voice.

"That's what I thought at first…heck everyone did…but no…Emily and Nikolas' marriage was broken when she was raped…it just all came to a head when Nikolas fell for you" she told her trying to let out a small smile.

"Nikolas and you fell in love…deeply…and that is when you found out you were pregnant" she told her.

"My baby" Courtney said touching the scar that lay under her shirt.

"How, why, why am I here and not with him and my baby" she asked.

Liz lowered her head not knowing how to explain it, "Courtney…what I am going to tell you right now, you may not understand…but I came here because you deserve to know…Courtney…you, you died"

"Maxie, Maxie, want some waffles?" Matthew asked holding up a forkful before shoving them into his mouth.

"Mattie, slow down and stop talking with your mouth full" Sam said smiling at the younger woman.

"Hey Maxie, where's Nikolas" she asked.

"Oh he had an early meeting, I didn't even wake up when he left" she said sitting down as Sam poured her a cup of coffee.

Sam wondered what had drawn her cousin to this particular woman. She hadn't really known Courtney too well; only as Jason's ex wife…but she remembered seeing Nik when she died, and she saw a man entrenched in his own grief. She knew then that what Nikolas and Courtney had was much more than the other's had thought…it was real, and everlasting. Maybe it was the physical similarities that had attracted him to Maxie…but Sam couldn't help feeling sorry for the young woman…because Nikolas' heart still belonged to another blond from another life, another time.

Nikolas walked along the docks, and sat at the bench. He remembered the night they had finally made love…he knew that it was probable that it was also the night of Matthew's conception. He remembered parting with her so she could tell Jax it was over….he knew that at that moment they were beginning their lives together. He remembered Emily having her fourth change of heart and coming to him…but his mind and his heart were already made up, she was his heart already; even back then. Now he had to let her go…Maxie wanted her to give her his heart, but how could you give your heart to someone when you never really got it back.

"Wait…what do you mean…I…I died" she sputtered out looking as confused as Elizabeth felt.

"There was this virus, and you were pregnant…7 months along…and the doctors told you if they didn't take the baby out via c-section he would definitely die…and there was not guarantee you would recover…This…this was your miracle baby, and you told them to take your baby…to make sure he lived" she said the tears falling down her cheeks.

"Did he…did my baby" Courtney asked not being able to finish the question.

Liz simply nodded and pulled out another picture and handed it to her.

"His name is Matthew" she told her.

"He is beautiful…he looks so much like…like…" she said holding her hand over her mouth.

"He looks just like his daddy except he had his mommy's blue eyes" Liz said looking up at her.

Courtney smiled sadly and Liz didn't know why she felt compelled to pull the woman into an embrace, "we are going to figure all this out, okay?" she told her knowing that Courtney needed someone, and this time she was going to do right by Nikolas.

He walked in to the big house hearing the television going in the living room. He walked in to see Matthew and Maxie cuddling together napping on the couch. He smiled a bittersweet smile looking at the dark hair meshing with the blond, and he thought of the one person he needed her more than anything…the one person who wasn't coming back…why couldn't he let her go?

Maxie awoke first and looked at him with her crystal clear blue eyes, "hey you" she said smiling at him.

"Hey yourself" he said kneeling over to kiss his son and then her on their foreheads.

"Have a good day" he asked.

"Yeah, we colored, we watched videos, you know the works" she said smiling up at him.

"I'm going to go change, be right back" he told her kissing his son again.

She watched him walk away and wondered how she had got so lucky. She remembered when Jesse had died…how she was spiraling out of control. Nikolas had grounded her in a way…sharing his own grief over the love of his life, Courtney. She developed a crush on him…but that was all it was until the day she found the paternity results for Matthew in Robin's box. She knew she had to tell Nikolas…and when she did it solidified a friendship between the two. While she was off at school that friendship helped her to strive for excellence because Nikolas made her feel like she could do anything. She never expected it to be anything more but the day she danced at Liz and Patrick's wedding she hoped it would become more…and here she lie on the couch at Wyndamere desperately in love with a Prince.

Liz walked her back to her room promising that she would come back tomorrow. After she left she was shaking, it had been such an emotional night, but she knew she did the right thing. She was a bit surprised when she saw Patrick at the end of the hall waiting; she had never told him she was coming.

"How'd she take it" he asked and when she looked at him in surprise he laughed, "You look like you didn't think I would know where you are" he said grinning.

"Oh you know me so well Dr. Hottie" she said trying to lighten the mood.

"So, are you okay" he asked rubbing his warm hands up and down her upper arms.

"I am now" she said embracing him as he kissed atop her head.

That night after they got into bed she told him the story. The tears came again and he pulled her into his chest. They fell asleep like that and when she awoke in the middle of the night she saw the moonlight glistening from his beautiful face she prayed that she would never have to know what it was like to be separated from him.

"Let's go on a trip" Nikolas asked her in bed that next morning.

"A trip?" she asked half asleep.

"Yeah, I have a business meeting down in Australia, and I want you to come with me" he told her smiling as he played with a lock of her hair.

"Of course, when?" she asked opening her eyes to look at his beautiful face.

"Three hours" he told her.

She laughed and when she saw he was serious she sat up, "well I better pack" she said excitedly jumping from the bed.

He watched her start to get ready and he smiled, maybe this was what they needed…a vacation from Port Charles.

Three hours later they were on a jet to paradise and he thought for maybe a second that things were going to be okay with them.

Liz picked up the phone that morning and dialed a number she knew by heart. After four rings Nikolas' voicemail picked up.

"Hey Nik, this is Liz…um, I need you to call me when you get this message" she said the first time. The next three subsequent times she started to get frustrated so she dialed Wyndamere number.

"Hello" a little voice answered the phone.

"Hi, is this Molly, this is Liz, Nikolas' friend" she said to the little girl.

"Hi Lizzie" Molly said happily.

"Is Nikolas there?"

"No…Nik in 'stralia with Maxie" the little girl said.

"Okay sweetie, can I talk to your mommy please" she asked before hearing Kristina in the background.

"Molly put down that phone, Mommy is going to be mad" and then she heard a click.

She blew a piece of her bang out of her eyes frustrated…and then the words Molly said hit her…Nikolas…in Australia…with Maxie…she couldn't help but feeling worried…this secret was going to cause a massive explosion to everyone involved…and it needed to be done as soon as possible.

She woke up the next morning happy…and sad. Nikolas and Matthew…the man with the eyes had a name, and the son with her eyes was alive and well. She wondered what could have been so traumatic that caused her to forget everything. She closed her eyes and saw his face, that beautiful smile…she would remember and everything would be okay.

They sat on the veranda of the suite overlooking the ocean. He came in front of her and pulled her up to him. They embraced for a long while looking at the sunset. It was then he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "move in to Wyndamere with me"

Liz walked into the kitchen with her husband and son.

"Patrick, I think we need to make a trip to Port Charles…soon"

A/N: Well hoped you liked…it's a little short, but my friend is getting married Saturday and I have been super busy…Anyway I would love to hear from you so leave a review!