Lucky was sitting in the passenger seat of his police car when Emily returned, his head lying against the headrest. She could see droplets of tears falling down his face, barely managing to escape from his clenched eyes. Emily opened the door quietly, not sure what kind of reaction she could expect. Sliding into the seat, she looked over at Lucky expectantly. Without opening his eyes, he handed her the keys and stated bluntly, "Drive."
"Where to?" she asked with a small voice, staring straight ahead at the steering wheel.
"Just drive," he repeated, turning his head away so that she couldn't see the tears that were still flowing so easily.
Emily hesitated for a moment before shoving the key into the ignition, closing her eyes in desperation. She wasn't sure where to go as the engine came to life, instantly setting awkward silence to ease. Backing out of the driveway, she turned in the opposite direction of town, electing instead to head toward the water. Flipping the radio onto the local blues station, she immediately recognized the song as one Luke had played a lot when they were kids. She would go visit Lucky at Luke's club where they would play pool during off hours and play upstairs in the office when it was open. "I remember this song," she murmured, drumming her fingers in rhythm to the sultry tune.
"It's one of my dad's favorites," Lucky acknowledged, his voice slightly strained from the silent sobs he had been suppressing. Emily reached over and brought one of his hands from his face, weaving her fingers in his. She didn't say anything else, just let him cry and stare out the window without completely pulling away from her. She knew if she could just hold on long enough, Lucky would come back to her.
A few minutes later, she pulled the car into an empty lot and shut off its engine. "We're here," she announced, reaching into the backseat for her parka. Pulling it around her body, she jumped out of the car and hurried around to meet Lucky.
He stepped out of the vehicle and looked around, a slow smile creeping across his face. "The pier," he mused, looking out across the water and toward the row of concession stands that lined the outer bank.
"I told you that I wanted a grape snow cone," she said softly, pulling him after her. They walked beside each other in silence until they reached the stand, where Emily promptly ordered two snow cones. It was the middle of winter, but as soon as she bit in, it filled her entire body of warmth. Of course, it made no sense logically, but in her heart, it was absolutely perfect.
"You brought me the only place that would have ever made this any better," he told her as they sat down on an empty bench just at the water's edge. Emily curled up next to him, huddling against him for warmth. He laughed to himself to see her with her feet underneath her body, noting how cute and innocent she looked sitting there. "Thank you for bringing me here. I just need to get outside of my head."
"You can't run away from this, Lucky," Emily replied. "It's not what I brought you here. I brought you here to let you have some room to breathe and to remind you of just how far we've come. Look at this place, look at us."
"What do you mean?" he asked, turning his gaze from the white crests of the waves to her soulful eyes.
"This is where our friendship began. My life in Port Charles started here with you and cone full of grape-flavored shaved ice," Emily said. He noticed the tears starting to come down from her eyes. "My father died last night. I lost the person who I looked up to most in this world. I can't lose the person I love most, Lucky, I can't lose you."
Lucky dropped his snow cone as he reached to bring her to him, not caring about anything else other than having her in his arms right then. "Emily, you're not going to lose me," he whispered into her hair as she buried her face into the collar of his leather coat. "I don't know where you think I'm going, but you're stuck with me. I'm not going to be able to make it through this without you."
She pulled away and pressed her forehead to his so that she could look directly into his eyes. "You can't fall back. I'm not going to let you. I am going to need your strength to help me get through this, just like you're going to need mine. I'll go with you to meetings, and I'll listen to you when you have those 2 a.m. cravings. I will do whatever I have to do to make sure I have you in my life."
"No drugs," he said resolutely. "If I can get through this without them, I know that I can get through anything. I'm not going to lie and tell you that I don't want them because we both know that I could really use a pill right now. But looking into your eyes reminds me just how much I have to live for Emily. And right now, that begins and ends with you."
"They hate me," Elizabeth said softly as she stood still, gazing out the window to where Lucky's police car had been minutes earlier. They had watched together as Emily slipped behind the steering wheel before navigating the vehicle away from the house. Neither of them had said anything since Emily's final words, the weight of her comment shaking them both to the very core.
"They hate us both," Nikolas pointed out as he watched her carefully. He could see her shoulders trembling as she slid to the floor, drawing her knees up to her chin. In less than a second, he was beside her, pulling her into his lap. He knew that he should be as angry as Emily was at the situation, but he couldn't be. If it was anyone else, he would be the first one to speak out, but this was Elizabeth. He knew her heart, and there wasn't an ounce of malicious intent in her. She had truly believed what she was doing was right at the time.
"How am I going to explain this to Cameron?" she asked. "I still have to tell Jason. He's probably going to be angry and threaten to take the baby. I could lose my child."
"He would never do that," Nikolas reassured her soothingly. "And even if he tried, I would never let him. I will do whatever I have to do to protect you, Elizabeth. I have money and power, as much as Jason, if not more. If it comes to it, I'll take you away where he can't find us. I won't let him take your child."
"I could never do that. Even if Jason tried to fight me, I would never be able to keep my baby from their father. And it's not fair to penalize Cameron for my mistakes. He loves Lucky, and Lucky loves him. I couldn't keep them apart."
"And that," he replied, kissing the top of her head, "is why you are such an amazing mother. It would be so easy to run away, but you are going to put the welfare of your children first. I am so proud of your strength."
"If I was stronger, I would have done this sooner."
"It doesn't matter when you say it, it only matters that it gets said," he proclaimed. "You're not going through this alone, you know? You have Cameron, and you are pretty much his entire life. And you have your grandmother, who is going to love you no matter what you do. And you have me, and I promise you that I will not walk away."
"You're risking a lot here, Nikolas," she pointed out remorsefully. "I mean, he's your brother, and I'm not even going to pretend that Lulu is going to be happy about this. We both know how much Emily means to you, too. Are you sure you want to lose that because of me?"
"I'm not going to lose them," he said, "and you won't either. I know they're angry right now, but deep down inside, Emily and Lucky still love both of us. Lulu is my sister, and she takes family very seriously. She is going to be disappointed in me, I know that; however, I also know that she would never push me out of her life."
"I wish that I didn't have to do this to you. I wish I didn't have to put you in the middle. I know that it's not fair. I know that it's my fault."
"No, it's not," he insisted firmly, tipping her chin so that her eyes met his. "You didn't make me feel this away about you, you didn't make me want to stay. I chose to want to be with you. I chose to put myself in the middle. You've made your own mistakes, just like I made my own choices."
"You won't let me take any of the blame for this, will you?"
He shook his head, brushing his eyelashes over her skin faintly. "I was taught to be responsible, chivalrous and graceful. In case you don't remember, I am a prince."
"Well, I am certainly not royalty."
"Maybe not," he mused, "but you're everything to me."
"You know what I want to do?" Lulu asked as they stepped out of Kelly's and into the frigid air. The blizzard had never come, but the snow had left Port Charles with piles of fresh white powder. Dillon pulled a stocking cap from his pocket and pulled it over her ears firmly, leaning in to kiss the tip of her nose.
"What's that?" he replied, reaching down to take her hand. They walked next to each other, snow crunching underfoot. Swinging their arms between them, he silently thanked God that she seemed to be doing so well.
"I want to go see my mom," she remarked, turning her face toward the sun. Warmth flooded her face as she smiled toward the sky. "I think I need to see her."
"Sure, I could drop you off for a visit and then come pick you up later."
She stopped walking and shook her head. "No, that's not what I meant. I want you to come visit her with me. If we're going to be together, I can't hide anything from you, and this is a big part of who I am. Maybe if you see how I am with my mother then you will understand what I want to tell you but can't say."
"You know how amazing you are?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist, trailing her hands on the cool skin beneath her sweater.
"I didn't do anything," she giggled, leaning against him as he squeezed her tightly.
"You did everything," he replied, picking her up and twirling her around in the air. Setting back on her feet, he leaned down and kissed her. Tracing her bottom lip with his tongue, they exchanged a series of short kisses before a longer, deeper one. "You are everything."
"How did I ever get so lucky to deserve you?"
"You let me fall in love with you," he answered honestly. "Lu, you are so incredible without even knowing it. You're funny and complicated in the best possible way. You're absolutely beautiful without being aware of it. You love with all your heart and fight fiercely for what matters to you. I don't admire very many people, but I admire you."
"After words like those, I'm not sure I am worthy of your admiration," she retorted, sliding her hands down to meet his.
"You are more worthy than anyone I have ever known."
She laughed inaudibly, her bright blue eyes sparkling. "You know what's crazy? I actually believe you. I've never believed anyone when they said nice things about me in the past, but when I look in your eyes, I know that you're telling me the truth. You really mean it."
"I do mean it," he avowed. "Now, what do you love about me?"
"I love that you've helped me find a home," she told him. "When I lost my mom, I never thought I could have one again, but you changed that. My home is in your eyes, where I can see love shining back at me. My home is in your arms, where I can feel your love protecting me. My home is in your voice, where I can hear your love reassuring me. My home is with you, Dillon, you are my home."
"By Robin and Patrick's request, this ceremony is not going to be long, nor is it going to be filled with empty traditions that have long lost their meaning," Father Coates said. "Instead, it is going to be as original and heartfelt as their relationship, existing simply on their own terms. As they start their new life together, who here gives them their blessing?"
"We do," Mac and Noah replied in unison, exchanging a paternal father before looking at their respective children.
"With this showing of support, Patrick and Robin will share their vows to each other."
"Hope is believing that something is possible even when there is evidence to the contrary," Patrick stated. "My entire life, I never believed that true love was possible until I met you, Robin. You changed that in me. You taught me that love, like hope, surpasses all reason. You opened my heart, changed my soul and gave me a life worth living."
"For a long time, I pushed anyone away who wanted to get close to me," Robin replied. "But then you came, and in your own stubborn way, forced yourself into my world. You wouldn't let go or give up easily, you were determined to make yourself at home in my heart. And like everything else you have ever tried, you succeeded and made me fall in love with you."
"With these words, Patrick and Robin have shown their commitment to each other in the eyes of God. An exchanging of rings will solidify their love with no beginning or end, much like the bands they will wear for the rest of their lives."
"We don't have any rings," Robin protested.
"Actually, you do," Noah said, retrieving a small velvet box from his lab coat and handing it to Patrick. "This was your mother's. I know that she would want you to have it."
Patrick flipped open the box and fingered the delicate platinum band. Taking it off its cushion, he smiled tearfully up at Robin. "I promise that I will love for the rest of my life," he avowed, sliding it easily down her finger. Neither of them seemed shocked when it fit perfectly, as everything about them did.
"And here's one for you," Mac whispered, pressing the band into her hand. "It was your father's ring when he was married to your mother. He gave it to me many years ago for this day, and I know that he would be happy for you to have it."
Momentarily forgetting they were in the midst of getting married, she threw her arms around her uncle and embraced him tightly. "Thank you," she whispered before looking back at her husband-to-be. "I promise that I will love you for the rest of my life." The ring was only slightly loose but it was close enough to make them both happy.
"What God has brought together may no one tear apart," Father Coates recited with a wide grin. "Robin and Patrick, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
The kiss was sweet and lasted for only a moment before Robin's body went limp in Patrick's arms. As they both fell heavily to the ground, Patrick knew immediately that something was wrong.