Chapter 15 (PG-13)

Back at the Bridal Suite… Jake had just got the edited version of that fight and make-up session.

"You named me after a bar?"

"Yeah, but technically speaking we didn't name you after the spot you were conceived, just the place. Like Cameron. I mean, we didn't name him sofa."

"Oh my God, Mother."

"Yes?"

"Whatever, I'm gonna destroy that mental picture. What happened next?"

"The point of sharing that with you was that was the first time your father said he loved me. Not about where you were conceived."

"It doesn't change the facts. Let me wrap my mind around it. You got into a fight about my future mother in law, because you thought she was a hoes beast, and you throwing beer bottles at some random chick at a bar led to my dad telling you he loved you for the first time. You guys are crazy."

"It wasn't some random woman in my altered state of conciousness. I was flinging empty beer bottles at that homewrecking slut Carly Jax." "Mom, again, future mother in law were talking about," Jake stated with a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head. "You know, when you do that, you look just like your father." Liz said with a smile. Spencer poked his head in.

"Time for the pictures, Cous," he said, followed into the room by Jason, Cameron, Dexter and Nikolas.

"Already?"

"Yeah, it's been hours, lady. Come on!"

Jake looks at her dad.

"You named me after a bar."

"Yes, but look at it this way. You're not alone. Cameron was named after the street your mother lived on, you were named after a bar, Dexter got his name from the nice desk clerk at the 40 Winks we had to stop at during the biggest storm in recent history. Only Nikolas got away unscathed."

"But we could make something up," Elizabeth put in, "So he doesn't feel left out."

"No, that's quite alright. I'm fine with being named after my uncle."

Cameron looked sad a moment.

"I still miss Aunt Emily every once in a while."

"We all do, hon," Liz said, wrapping her arms around her son.

"Picture time, Morgans. Let's go," Spencer said, pushing back his own feelings.

It was a week after conceiving their third child, Dexter. Though Liz and Jason didn't know that at the time.

All they knew is they had braved the storm of the year driving from Port Charles to the hospital Emily was currently admitted to. They'd been waylaid a night and a day, but made good time after that.

Nikolas had been cryptic when he called, just telling them where he and Emily were and stating that she wanted Liz and Jason there. There were no flights due to the oncoming storm so the couple chose to drive. After dropping Cameron and Jake, now six months old off with the Quartermaine's, they got on the road.

Now they were in Emily's hospital room. Confused and scared, they waited for the doctor. Nikolas hadn't left Emily's side for longer than a few minutes the whole time she had been there.

No one was answering questions, they were just told to wait for the doctor.

When he arrived, Jason and Liz were chomping at the bit.

"All the test results are back, Mrs. Cassadine. And the prognosis is not good."

"What prognosis?" Liz yelled, "You haven't-"

"Liz, listen to the doctor."

He continued, "I'm afraid the original tumor in your breast has metastasized to your lungs and is no longer operable."

Jason and Liz stood, shell shocked. Nikolas just looked grim, as if it was not news, but it still cut him to the quick.

"You have a chance if we begin Radiation and Chemo therapy immediately. The complication with that is-"

"I'm pregnant!" Emily yelped. "I'm sorry, Liz. I wanted to be the one to tell you I'm having a baby."

"Oh my God, Emmy. What… Sweetie…"

"Mrs. Cassadine is refusing the treatments."

"What?" Jason said, startled.

"I'm keeping my baby."

"Emily, this will kill you," Nikolas said desperately.

"You don't know that. I could…"

"What? Magically go into remission with out any treatment at all? It won't happen. You'll… And I'll be…"

Emily looked at her husband, his depth of love for her and fear open before her.

"I love you Nikolas. And our baby. I'm keeping our baby."

So far, Liz and Jason had been standing there like furniture. But Jason was growing frantic.

"Emily-"

"Jason, what else can I do?"

Nikolas shouted, "You could have an abortion! You could get treatment! You could try to live!"

"I am, Nikolas, I'm living for our baby. For you."

"If you gave a damn what I felt you'd do everything-"

"Nikolas I am not killing our baby."

"It's not-"

"Nikolas Cassadine! I don't let politics sway my views. What another woman chooses is up to her. But I will not give up this baby!"

"I can't stand here anymore. I'm… I'll come back when you see reason."

Nikolas stormed out, the door slamming behind him.

"Jason, will you go make sure Nikolas doesn't accidentally kill himself?" Emily said sadly.

"Yes, but I need to talk to you when we get back."

"I know, bro. I'll be here."

Elizabeth watched her man go and turned to her friend.

"I'm not going to shout or fight or freak out-" "That'll be a first," Emily laughed.

Liz tried to smile, but couldn't. She sat with her on the bed and took her hand.

"Are you out of your ever loving mind?"

"No, right now, I am still quite sound of mind, if not body."

"Please don't-"

"What? Joke about my impending doom?

"It's not funny."

Emily grew serious.

"No, it's not. It's a goddamn shame that I won't live to see my baby grow. That I'll never see the first steps, hear the words…" Liz's best friend dissolved into tears.

"Emmy, I'm here. It's okay, honey, I'm here."

Emily sucked in a breath.

"I'm just so fucking angry! Mom had cancer, Grandma, who knows how far back? It's a plague!"

"I… I don't know what to say, except… I love you. You're the sister I never had. We've been through everything together, and if this is our next adventure… So be it. I'm with you girl."

Emily seemed to lose some of her fire.

"Lizzie, I've been so tired. And Nikolas is so angry. I know it's not at me. He's most angry at himself. Like he could have stopped it…"

"You know those Cassadines," Liz said, finally managing a grin.

"They take so much looking after," she said weakly. She brightened though. "I have a dying wish, Sweetiekins."

"Emily, don't-"

"Shush, Elizabeth Webber! It is my dying wish to see you married to my brother."

Liz blinked.

"Emily Annabelle Quartermaine-Cassadine! That is… Wait, I can't even pretend to be shocked. Emotional blackmail is right up your alley."

"So true. And I will use it to my advantage as much as I can."

"Jason won't want to talk about getting married with… with you sick."

"Hello? Emotional blackmail. Very shortly, my brother will come in here and be all 'Jason Morgan' with me. I will defy and irritate him and then demand he marry you before I die."

Liz couldn't hold it back anymore, tears flowed from her eyes, clouding her vision. The two women just held each other, Liz laying by her side on the hospital bed.

"Love you, Lizzie."

"I love you too, Emmy."