A/N: I wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful support and all the great reviews. I know Nikolas and Liz aren't the typical couple...but I think it would be interesting if they fell in love. Anyway, I hope I did them some justice, and feedback is always appreciated!

I have found that with your mouth you can deny everything...feelings, hopes...but with your heart you can deny nothing...It is your heart that will end up deceiving you. And it is the heart that is usually right. The heart wants what it does and thinks nothing of ex loves, or well meaning friends...and sometimes you just need to let your heart spill from your mouth all the words you could never say...because only then can you really begin to live...

"What" Elizabeth asked confused.

Emily wished she wouldn't have asked...maybe it was just better not knowing, but there was no turning back now.

"When were you going to tell me that you and Nikolas were...were..." she asked a little less brave.

Liz felt confused, "Em...I don't know what you are talking about" she told her.

It was then Emily knew...she remembered the obvious signs...the denial so she feigned ignorance, "I came before and I saw you two together...and I just thought...I mean it just looked like"

"Nikolas and I are friends...we've become really close this past six months" she said the same starry eyed look Emily knew well playing on her face.

Emily let it go, "so let me see my little niece" she said peering over the bassinet at Aubrey.

"Liz, she is beautiful" she said scooping the little girl up.

"So, how is London...do you miss us here?" Liz asked.

Emily smiled; one of the smiles Liz hadn't seen in a long time, "I miss you all so much...but London...it's amazing"

"It's amazing, or he is amazing?" she asked teasing.

"Am I that transparent?"

"Spill the details!"

"His name is Wesley...and I don't know...I wasn't expecting it; I left Port Charles still loving Nikolas...but I knew it was over. Then I met Wesley, and we were just friends...and then one day I looked at him and realized...wow, I like him...and he liked me, and I'm happy"

Elizabeth smiled at her friend, "I'm happy for you" she told her.

An hour later Emily left to catch a plane back to London, and Elizabeth was left alone in her thoughts.

"Pssts" she heard in the dark waking her from sleep.

When she peered one eye open Nikolas stood with a smile, a bag, and two dozen pink roses.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"It is an ungodly hour...but I wanted to come before the kid's woke up...and before they tried to serve you that stuff they call breakfast" he said pulling out Tupperware.

She beamed at him, "what'd you bring" she asked excitedly.

He liked seeing her that way, the way the smile stretched from ear to ear...and the way her blue eyes sparkled at him, "well Alfred insisted on making us spinach and feta cheese omelets, whole wheat toast...and just for you I got him to throw in some cinnamon rolls"

While they were eating Aubrey began to fuss in her bassinet; Liz moved to get up but Nikolas motioned for her to continue eating. He grabbed the bottle from the bottom of the bassinet and scooped her up.

She watched as he walked around with the little girl in his arms...so comfortable singing in Greek to her...and suddenly Emily's words came back., "and then one day I realized" and suddenly she felt like she may throw up.

She was quiet the rest of the time he was there, and then he had to go...and he set Aubrey back to sleep, and kissed Liz on the forehead like he had done a million times before...and her skin tingled.

A couple hours later Jason walked in with balloons and flowers, "hey" he said shyly.

Liz smiled at him...he was one of her best friends, and now the father of her child, "hey yourself...I think someone wants to see her daddy" she said looking down at the little girl in her arms.

He picked up his daughter, "wow...she is so beautiful" he said his voice laced with admiration.

Liz watched him and smiled...but she couldn't help but be reminded the way her heart fluttered when Nikolas was doing the same exact thing. She pushed it to the back of her head.

Audrey brought Cameron by later, and as happy as she was to see her Grams...in her head she had been hoping it was Nikolas.

Nikolas sat in the den watching a video with the boys. Cameron had his head in his lap, and Spencer was sleeping curled up on his side.

"I miss mommy" Cameron said.

Nikolas rubbed his head and smiled sadly...the truth was; he missed Liz too. The house just seemed different when she wasn't there...darker.

"Mommy's coming home tomorrow...why don't we have a Welcome Home party...you, me, Spencer, mommy and your new little sister"

"YAY!" was the response he received.

The next afternoon he wheeled Miss Webber and Little Miss Webber-Morgan out to the car and when they arrived at Wyndamere Alfred and the boys were waiting with a sign and party hats.

After when the boys were down for a nap they sat alone in the family room Nikolas rocking the bassinet with his foot as they watched some cheesy movie.

She watched him, his jawline, the way his eyes focused intently, but she saw them shift to look over at her daughter...he amazed her more and more everyday. The prince, with a heart of gold...her best friend...the person she couldn't imagine life without...

He watched her from the corner of his eye...he loved to just look at her...the way she smiled at the romantic parts, and her eyes crinkled. She became more and more important to him everyday...his best friend, the person he couldn't imagine life without...

OoOoOoO

Their routine became comfortable...both dancing around the growing feelings, the lingering looks...but it couldn't be denied that they went out of their way to be around each other. It was almost as if they were no long single entities; instead referred to as Nikolas and Liz...as a whole. During a trip to Kelly's for dinner they finally realized just how deep it had become. Liz was waiting for Jason to drop Aubrey off from a weekend visit and for Nikolas to join them for dinner.

"What do you want to eat Mr. Cameron" Liz asked sitting down.

Spencer sat in his stroller babbling on and putting cheerios in his mouth. Nikolas walked in and so did Jason, and as they walked towards the table Liz didn't notice Spencer had taken off his seatbelt. She heard the crack and before she could even think she had the little boy in her arms. He was wailing as she checked his head; Nikolas came and crouched over them. She handed the boy to him as Nikolas tried to soothe him, but he kept wailing and then he turned to Liz and placed his arms out...

"Mama" he called his body still heaving from the sobs.

Nikolas eyes became wide but he handed the baby over to her. Their eyes caught each other and neither moved from the position until Mike scurried over with some ice, and Nikolas noticed the tears in Cameron's eyes. As he took him in his embrace he attempted to soothe him which worked to both of their benefits.

"Look buddy, Spencer is okay...see Mommy is taking good care of him" he said and the little boy nodded tucking his head into Nikolas' neck. After Liz decided a trip to the hospital wasn't necessary they had Mike pack up the food and they left with the three kids.

Neither spoke to each other much until they put the kids to bed...Nikolas walked downstairs to the veranda where Liz was gazing out at the water.

She sensed he was there, "I didn't...I mean, maybe I should go" she said the tears burning her eyes.

"Why" he asked letting his hands come around her arms.

She turned to him, "Spencer called me mom...I don't want things to be confusing for the kids...maybe it's just time for me to find a place of my own" she finished by breaking contact and walking towards the house.

He managed to grab her arm, "what if I don't want you to leave" he asked turning her to him.

"Spencer has heard Cameron call you mom...it just made sense for him...and plus, he loves you Elizabeth...and he, he isn't the only-" he started to say taking her hands in his.

For a moment her heart stopped beating and then a familiar voice made everything stop.

"Nikolas" came from the one person that made time seem to stand still.

OoOoOoO

When Lucky Spencer came back to Port Charles it seemed to change everything, and nothing between them all at the same time.

She pushed him away, especially for the first couple of weeks after...picking up every shift she could at the hospital. And then the Nurse's ball came around...and Nikolas was hoping to escort Liz, but she had other plans.

He had caught her walking out, "hey, I was wondering...if maybe you wanted to go to the Nurse's ball with me" he asked.

For a moment her heart fluttered, but she pushed that to the back of her head...she wanted to go with him, but she knew she shouldn't. With Lucky back everything was too complex.

"I actually already have a date" she said as she watched his face fall.

He nodded and watched her leave...he then tried to dismiss his feelings...telling himself that is was nothing more than an un reciprocated crush...nothing more he told himself again and again.

The night of the Nurse's ball she got ready at the hospital...but the night felt lackluster. She had asked Cruz Rodriguez two weeks ago, but it didn't feel right...she didn't want to be going with him...but she vowed to have fun tonight.

As he got ready he couldn't help but let his mind sway to what she would be wearing...he knew he couldn't do this...he would pick up Lainey Winter's and he would have fun...whatever that was.

Surprisingly he found himself having more fun than he expected. Lainey was smart, nice, and a great dancer...but he couldn't help but keep glancing over his shoulder at the short brown haired that made his pulse race. The way it hurt to see her held so close by another man.

She danced with Cruz...he made her laugh, and yet she couldn't explain the way her mind conjured up him instead...imagining what it was like to be swaying in his arms...and wishing he didn't hold that other woman so close.

Maybe it was too much champagne but she found herself upset...upset that he was standing there at the bar flirting with Lainey Winters...angry that she was with a great guy and she couldn't get him out of her head...so she excused herself... and walked out to go catch a cab.

He noticed her say goodbye and he excused himself from Lainey...he couldn't just let her leave by herself.

She felt him behind her as she walked down the street...she had planned to hail a cab but at that moment she wanted to be far away from him.

He caught up to her in heels easily enough, "Elizabeth where are you going" he asked grabbing her arm.

"I'm going home" she said angrily.

He was more confused than ever, "why? Are you okay?" he asked.

She fought back angry tears, the alcohol fueling her emotions, "no I'm not...I'm not okay...I couldn't stand there another moment and watch...ugh, I shouldn't be feeling this, I shouldn't...and there you were talking to her and touching her, and no I just want to go home"

"What are you talking about" he asked again lost in her ramblings.

She looked up at him, "I love you" she yelled.

Suddenly there was a dead silence as the fire burned in his eyes, he moved closer to her, "I love you too" he said before his hands were on her face, in her hair, and his lips crashed upon hers.

"I love you too...I love you too" sang a melody in her head...he loved her too.

OoOoOoO

It was two months after their revelation...a couple months spent together, kissing in the dark hallways, breathless good nights at the door, flower arrangements plaguing the nurse's station, night dates in Manhattan. But tonight she knew what he was doing...but when he came in the door with the black eye she couldn't help but wonder if maybe things would have been easier had they not fallen in love. She got him an ice pack as he laid down on the couch...all her worries were taken away when he grabbed her hand and led her upstairs. It was that night they made love...their bodies showing exactly what their hearts felt.

OoOoOoO

It wasn't exactly picture perfect but Lucky seemed to accept things for what they were, and by Christmas they were planning a family dinner. Christmas Eve Cameron had insisted they camp out under the tree. Liz stood in the entryway and watched the two boys wrapped up in sleeping bags with a baby monitor in her hand. Nikolas came behind and set his chin upon her shoulder, "full circle, huh?"

She turned around and looked in his soulful brown eyes, "I like to think of it as a full heart" she said before lightly brushing her lips against his.

"Dance" he asked holding out his hand as she noticed the music in the background.

She nodded taking his hand as they swayed gently to the music...

From the most simple thing...a friendship; came a love that would last a lifetime...


It started over coffee
We started out as friends
It's funny how from simple things
The best things begin

This time is different
And it's all because of you
It's better than it's ever been
'Cause we can talk it though
My favorite line was
"Can I call you sometime"
It's all you had to say
To take my breath away

This is it, oh I finally found someone
Someone to share my life
I finally found the one
To be with every night
'Cause whatever I do
It's just got to be you
My life has just begun
I finally found someone

"I Finally Found Someone" Bryan Adams/Barbara Streisand