so very thankful for the reviews and comments... this one is a little longer than the others... :D enjoy!

PART TEN

- Formal Gardens on Spoon Island -

Stefan was confused. "It's a simple thing, Elizabeth. I want the two of you to have a beautiful ceremony to start your lives together."

She stopped short of answering. She knew that Stefan was supporting the marriage, but she wasn't quite sure how much he knew. "We're very happy to do things... simply." She gave him a hesitant smile. "And I'm not sure how much you and Nikolas have... talked about this," she let out a sigh, "but it is very important that Nikolas and I... that we do these things... start our marriage on our own feet. With the baby-"

Stefan touched her arm softly. "I can hear Alexis' counsel in your words and I understand. The court could be adversely affected by money." He shook his head. "I'm sorry if I offended you or if you thought I was trying to be too heavy handed in this."

"No... no..." Elizabeth gave him another unexpected hug, squeezing him tightly before stepping back, "I think you're trying to help... but this is something we have to do... together... on our own. We have to prove that the two of us can handle things." The rapid tattoo of hooves on grass drew their collective attentions. Rounding a copse of trees, Nikolas rode his favorite horse as though he was born to the activity. "Wow."

Beside her, Stefan chuckled. "His riding masters have always encouraged him to compete and show off his skill."

"And that," Elizabeth giggled, "is probably the very reason why he doesn't compete."

When Stefan didn't answer her she looked up at Nikolas' father.

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

Stefan shook his head, a soft smile lightening his features. "Actually," he sighed, "you understand him better than most... that's exactly why he never competed." Leaning over, he brushed a kiss on Elizabeth's forehead. "You, my dear Elizabeth, are turning into quite a lovely surprise in my world." He pointed toward a bench at the edge of the small clearing. "There is a box on the far side of the bench. You'll find a selection of art supplies in it. I hope they will be of some use."

Elizabeth went straight for the box with a little gleeful laugh. By the time she had opened the box and touched all of the things inside of it, Stefan had disappeared from sight.

- The Clearing -

Nikolas felt the thunder of blood through his veins and enjoyed riding back and forth across the clearing as he exercised not only his horse, but the tension from his body. When he'd made the decision to walk away from his relationship with Katherine, he had done so with a clear head. Yes, he had used Katherine as a way to get back at Stefan, but he had truly felt that there was something good between them.

To find out that Katherine had been using him to hurt Elizabeth... to learn that she had orchestrated their meetings so that Elizabeth would see them... together... it hurt him deep down inside where he hadn't thought there was anything to hurt.

The look in Elizabeth's eyes had cut him to the quick and there, as he stood, reeling from the knowledge that he'd hurt his best friend, he also realized something deeper. Something he hadn't wanted to name.

Then, when Katherine had told him about the baby... when he'd learned that she was again trying to use him. He'd made the decision to make sure Katherine could never use him again... or his child.

And there was Elizabeth. Kind, wonderful, beautiful Elizabeth who would help him just because they were friends. She would put her life on hold for him... just as he would for her.

Turning his mount in a circle he caught sight of Elizabeth in the garden. With a grin he turned his mount in that direction and easily guided the horse to jog over to her.

-The Garden-

Elizabeth heard the sound of the horse and looked up from her drawing, hoping that Nikolas wouldn't see the blush on her cheeks. Setting the pad of paper to the side along with her pencil she stood up and walked toward the hedge. "Hey."

Nikolas slid down from the saddle, keeping a restraining hand on the reins. "How are you enjoying yourself?"

"Wonderfully!" Elizabeth vaguely waved toward the bench. "Your father showed me the garden and then left me to do some sketching."

"Oh?" Nikolas leaned over a bit. "Will you let me see it?"

"Um... not just now," she laughed as the horse swung her head around and took a sniff of Elizabeth's hair, "but it looks like your friend is getting a good look at me."

True to her words, the horse turned slightly, brushed its lips against Elizabeth's shoulder.

"Hey," Nikolas nudged his mount with his elbow, "back off." He gave Elizabeth a grin. "A few feet to your left, you can walk through a gap in the hedge and come closer. I think she'd like to get a better look at you."

Shaking her head with laughter, Elizabeth found her way through the hedge and gently held out her hand to the mare. Eager to make her acquaintance, the horse moved closer, nearly pinning Elizabeth against the hedge. So, taking the horse's face in her hands she nudged her back a step. "She's lovely, Nikolas."

"I helped to train her as part of my studies in horsemanship. Her father is a champion, from the best stock we could find."

"And her mother?" Elizabeth leaned her cheek on the long nose of the horse.

"My father's favorite mount." His voice was muffled for a moment. "Like me, he had the training of the horse from her youth."

"Ah..." Elizabeth touched her forehead to the horse's head and the two enjoyed a breath or two of silence, "I see."

"Maybe when your hand heals you'll come back out to the island with me and we can get you up on a horse."

"Well, I'm willing, but I don't know how good I'll be and-" She stopped short when she caught sight of Nikolas. Bare to his waist, he was using his balled up shirt to wipe sweat from his face, neck, and shoulders. When he drew the cotton shirt down his chest and over his abs Elizabeth swallowed... hard.

He looked up and smiled. "And?"

Struggling to put a smile on her face, fighting the confusing feelings rolling around inside of her, Elizabeth blinked at him. "What?"

"You said you don't know how good you would be and... then you didn't say anything."

"Well," she put her hand to her forehead, struggling to find any words that would make her sound like she wasn't an idiot, "it's hot out here and that makes it hard to think."

"Hot?" Nikolas looked up at the sun. "Sure... well, why don't I show you inside. We can have the staff bring you something to drink while I change clothes."

Change clothes... the thought was enough to distract her, but she followed Nikolas back to the stable to return the horse.

- Wyndemere-

Seated at the table in the kitchen sipping her lemonade, Elizabeth was just as surprised as the kitchen staff when Stefan Cassadine sat down at the table beside her and poured himself a glass.

Open mouthed stares were suddenly wiped away as the master of Wyndemere asked for a few minutes alone. The kitchen staff disappeared in a heartbeat, leaving Elizabeth alone with Stefan. He quietly set her sketchbook down in front of her, opening the pad to the page that Elizabeth had been working on.

"I'm quite impressed, Elizabeth."

She wondered if he could see the heated blush on her cheeks as she realized that she'd left the sketchbook out in the garden where anyone could find it.

Drawn on the page of her sketchbook was Nikolas riding across the field. Even though he rode with the proper posture that his riding master had taught him, there was a freedom in his posture that, blended in with the pride that he felt, gave him the carriage of a true prince.

Even with the quick strokes that she had managed with the pencil she'd found in the artist's kit, Elizabeth had captured Nikolas at his best.

"Even from this sketch of yours, Elizabeth, I can almost see him smiling. And that," Stefan raised his glass to her, "I can attribute to you, my dear."

There were no words for the pride that Elizabeth felt at Stefan's tribute. She was truly humbled and happy by his praise.

"And I believe I've found a way to help you two and still satisfy your need to stand on your own feet."

Elizabeth took a sip. "Okay, I'm listening."

"With Nikolas living away from me for the first time since he was born, I've missed having something of him here." He touched the sketch pad. "I was hoping that you would allow me to commission a portrait from you. Something to hang above the fireplace."

"I would paint Nikolas for you as a present, Mr. Cassadine. You don't have to pay me for it."

"True," he smiled at her, "but if it was a commissioned portrait, then I could contribute to your earnings and help pay for the wedding without making the money a gift."

The words rang true in her ears. The idea had merit. She could make things easier on Nikolas, since he hadn't found a job yet, and painting him would be easy. The subject was someone she was familiar with and felt she could do a good job. "I think it work... like a part-time job."

"Like a professional artist would... and you have the talent, my dear." He nodded. "I think you just need the opportunity."

"Okay." She flattened her hands on the tabletop, trying to remember how to breathe. "Okay... yes."

"And if possible. I would like to keep this between the two of us... I don't think Nikolas would like to 'sit' for a portrait."

"No," Elizabeth agreed, "he would hate doing it."

"We agree," he stood and refilled her glass, "and I think it would be wonderful to have a party here, to unveil the painting and celebrate your engagement."

Nikolas walked into the kitchen, drying off his hair. "A party?" He looked from Elizabeth to Stefan and back again. "What party?"

Stefan grinned at his son. "I want to host an engagement party here at house to celebrate your good judgment."

Reaching his arm around Elizabeth's body, Nikolas gently set his hand on her hip and drew her closer to his side. Before he realized what he was doing he leaned down to kiss her cheek. Elizabeth turned at the same time and he barely missed the corner of her mouth a moment before they both drew back and away from each other. "We will," Nikolas took in a breath to calm his nerves, "we will be happy to attend your party."

As the young couple set about gathering their things to leave, Stefan enjoyed watching them step around each other as though the room was a foot too small for any movement. He knew his son was too stubborn to admit it, and Elizabeth was too wrapped up in the favor she thought she was doing for her friend to see what was building between them.

As the young couple boarded the launch to return to Port Charles, Stefan picked up the phone and was rewarded with a quick answer. "Alexis? Yes... we should talk."