Lucky hadn't said a word since he'd left the hospital with Lulu. Automatically steering his police cruiser toward his rural destination, he stared aimlessly at the cold black pavement in front of him. In the passenger seat, Lulu leaned against the door and watched her brother steadily. His silence worried her. He was usually the first one to convince everyone that everything would be okay, but today, he didn't care about anyone other than his wife, her baby and their son. She didn't envy the position he was in, and she secretly felt for Nikolas and Jason. The thought of Georgie being able to make a choice for Dillon would drive her crazy. It must be difficult to watch the life of the woman you love or the mother of your child become dependant on someone else.

"Where are we going?" she asked finally. Lucky didn't answer her, and she didn't ask again. Instead, he reached for the knob on the radio and cranked it up. An old jazz song filled the car as he rolled down the windows. Lulu rested her head against the back of her seat and led the music wash over her. Humming along to the smooth melody, she recognized it as one from the old days of her father's blues club. "Do you remember this song?"

A serene smile spread over his pursed lips. "Of course," he said. "Emily and I used to hang out there all the time, much to Edward's chagrin. We'd play pool and sneak cheese fries from the cook. Dad even kept cases of root beer for us since we were far too young to drink the real stuff. Anyhow, this was on the old jukebox in the B4 slot."

"I remember," she smiled. "I danced with Dad to it once. He let me stand on his feet. I could barely reach his desk then, but he would always let me sit on the edge and pretend to be his secretary. After work, before he opened the club, I'd sit at the bar and drink milk in a champagne glass. I felt like such a princess. Maybe that's why he calls me Princess."

Turning off the main road and onto a grassy path, Lucky knew that the sentimentality was going to hit him soon. An old wooden train car loomed ahead. Stopping abruptly, he was quickly out of the vehicle and on his feet. "We're here."

"You brought me to an old train car?" Lulu asked skeptically, unsure of why they had arrived at this remote location. She had no idea of the significance this place had for Lucky and Elizabeth. She didn't understand.

Raking his fingers through his hair, Lucky looked over at his little sister and smiled wryly. "This is the boxcar," he explained. "I lived here for awhile. You were too young to remember, but after I came back from the dead, so to speak, this is where I stayed."

"I do remember," she sighed as she trekked behind him over the hill. "You used to come and visit me from heaven. I was the first person who got to see you. I hadn't thought about that in years."

"You have always been the most important person in the world to me, Lu," he revealed as they came upon the boxcar. "I know I've said it, but I'll tell you again. Spencer and you are my life. Don't ever forget that."

"Lucky, why did you bring me here?"

"I needed to make a choice about what to do, and as soon as I saw this place, I knew what I was going to do. As much as it kills me, and as much as I think she's going to hate me, I can't let Elizabeth die – not even for her child. She can't leave Cameron alone for a baby that may or may not live. I wish I could give my life so that this didn't have to happen, but I can't."

"I understand," she assured him. "Given everything, I don't think that I could let Dillon die, even for the sake of our child. Even if it was what he wanted, I know that if we had other children, it would never be fair to them. Eventually, I have to hope that he would understand. Elizabeth will too."

"Well, at least Nikolas will like the news. Jason is going to hate me."

"Maybe not," she ventured. "I've gotten to know Jason pretty well, and he has a way of surprising you in the biggest ways. He's not the type to hold a grudge, especially if it is for the benefit of a child."

"Can you give me a minute?" he asked with hooded eyes. "I just…I just need a minute."

Nodding, Lulu padded back toward the car. Her hand bumped against a hard piece of plastic in her jeans pocket. Pulling the small electronic device from her pocket, she automatically dialed her favorite number and waited for a connection. "Hey, baby."

"Lu!" Dillon breathed, sounding relieved. "Everyone was worried about you two. Where are you?"

"On the outskirts of town," she answered. "He made his choice. We talked about it some, but he's going through a lot right now. I can look at him and know that he's working it out in his head. I'm worried about him, Dil."

"What did he decide?"

"He should tell them first. I'm sorry; this just isn't mine to tell."

"Lu, let's go," Lucky declared as he walked past and shoved himself into the car.

"You have to go," Dillon said knowingly for her. "I'll be waiting for you at the entrance. Even an hour has seemed like a lifetime without you. I love you."

She smiled to herself. "I love you, too."

Back at the hospital, Jason stood alone staring into the busy nursery of Port Charles. His forehead leaned against the cool glass, his eyes eagerly watching the tiny babies. Only there, standing alone, could he admit to himself how much he wanted to be a father to this child, and only there could he admit that it wasn't going to happen. Despite his own selfish wants, Cameron was a real child who had had his mother for the past three years. He could never ask Lucky to take Elizabeth away. He wasn't even sure that would ever be what he wanted. He had to trust that God would help Lucky make the right decision.

From the end of the hallway, Carly sat with her ankles crossed, silently giving her fiancée the time and distance he needed. Looking at him now, she could see that he was working something out in his head, and it wasn't easy for him to be dealing with all the tumultuous feelings at once. Still, he was dedicated to doing what was right for everyone, despite what he wanted. As he covered his ice blue eyes with his rough hands, she knew that he needed her.

"Hey," she whispered softly into his ear, pressing her face into his back. Inhaling deeply, she enjoyed the familiar smell of turpentine, soap and pine that was Jason to her. "This is harder than you thought it would be, isn't it?"

She felt his muscles tense at her question. Running her arms down his sculpted sides, his body just as easily relaxed. "Yeah," he sighed hesitantly. "He's making a choice that I never had to make. Given the options, I know that I could never choose the child over Elizabeth. I would never ask him to do the same, even if it is my baby."

"You have been there," she reminded him, slipping in front of him so that he would have to look into her eyes. "You had to make a choice between Michael and me. You weren't willing to let me go, and I didn't even have any other children."

"I loved you," he said simply. "I had no idea how much I would fall in love with Michael then, but I knew that I had already fallen in love with you. You were my best friend and one of the most important people in my life. Sonny, Emily and you were the only people I cared about. There was no way I was going to lose you. But I'll tell you this, it's still the hardest choice I have ever had to make."

"Oh, Jase," she whispered, bringing him close to her. Only with Carly could Jason let his walls down enough to become vulnerable. As much as he hated it sometimes, she could always break through the façade to get to the deepest part of his souls. In so many ways, she was that part of him. "You know that Lucky is going to…"

He nodded. "I don't blame him at all. I couldn't," he smiled. "I was watching Cam earlier. That's all I needed to see. As much as I already love this baby, I want that kid to have his mother more. I'm already a father, and maybe someday, I'll get my chance to be one again."

"Michael and Morgan have always wanted a little sister," she smiled, allowing him to wrap her in his arm. "I'm going to help you through this, Jase. We'll do this together – you, me, Michael and Morgan – as a family."

"Thank you," he whispered, holding onto her for dear life. "Thank you."

At Elizabeth's bed side, Nikolas sat alone, watching his beautiful girlfriend sleep. Reaching for her hand, he carefully wove their fingers together. He had prayed for her to wake up all day long, begging for the chance for her to make the choice herself. As soon as this was over, he planned to make sure she was finally divorced and marry her himself. He never wanted either of them to be placed in this situation again. More than anything, he wanted to share his life with Elizabeth, Cameron and Spencer.

"Lucky went somewhere to decide whether you are going to live or die. I shouldn't look at it that way, but that's how it feels. If you were here, you would be the first one to tell me to understand or the first one to offer some kind of hope or prayer, in your very typical Elizabeth way. Emily tells me to keep that thought in my mind, but I can't seem to see past my own pain. I know that's not fair, but you can't leave us. We all need you – Audrey, Emily, Lucky, Lulu, Spencer, Cameron and me. We love you, I love you."

"Nikolas?" Lucky called from behind him. The Cassadine prince turned to meet his brother's wavering gaze. Jason was visible in the background, leaning against the shockingly white wall with his eyes squeezed shut. "Come on. I made my choice."

Nikolas brought Elizabeth's hand to his lips and kissed it carefully. As he got up, he leaned over to whisper into her ear. "I love you," he promised, "and I won't lose you now."

Trudging into the hall, he felt heaviness weigh on his shoulders as he basically awaited his fate. Lucky looked at both men, trying to find the right words. Looking past Nikolas, he could see Elizabeth still sleeping peacefully in the bed. Talking to Patrick upon his arrival, he knew that he only had a few minutes. He had called Emily on the drive in just to hear Cam's voice. He wished his son was there. "I made my choice."

"It's okay," Jason said, suddenly finding strength from a place he'd almost forgotten he had. "Elizabeth should live. You made the right choice."

"But I haven't even said anything," he protested.

"You don't have to. You're a father," Jason smiled slightly. "I'm a father, too, and I had to make the same choice once upon a time. I understand. It's hard, but I understand."

Nikolas looked between them both, shocked at what he was hearing. "You mean?"

"Patrick already knows," Lucky replied. "They're taking her in now." Right then, Patrick and Kelly hurried past with a surgical team in toe. "I told Audrey first. Other than that, you were the first ones to know."

"Elizabeth is going to live," Nikolas whispered as Jason murmured, "my child is going to die."

Lucky looked at his feet, turned on his heel and started to walk away. At the last minute, he looked back at them both apologetically. "I did the best I could," he managed through the tears. "I did the best I could."