Chapter 11
Emily and Sly pulled up to Chris and Eve's small house. Emily fiddled with her
purse before looking at Sly. "Can we get through this night without a fight?"
Sly frowned. "Who said we're going to fight?"
Emily sighed. "Sly, all we do lately *is* fight and I'm sick of it. I don't know
what your problem is."
"My problem is Nikolas Cassadine."
"Nikolas! What does he have to do with anything?" Emily exploded.
"He has a lot to do with it." Sly stated. "I don't like how he keeps hanging
around you."
Emily threw her hands up in the air. "You are impossible! I have no idea what's
going on in that head of yours anymore. Nikolas is my friend who's going through
a tough time with Elizabeth, who is also my friend. Jeez, Nikolas is your friend
too.
Sly shook his head. "Nikolas was never my friend. I never liked the guy."
"Why? Even Lucky likes him and they hated each other the first time they met."
Emily was confused.
"I don't know, he just rubs me the wrong way, I…"
"Okay, that must be the stupidest reasoning to not like someone." Emily rolled
her eyes. "Sly, you keep on feeling whatever you want to feel about Nikolas but
you aren't going to change my mind, he's my friend who needs my help. Now, I'm
going to get out of this car and try to have a nice evening with friends. I'll
meet you inside." Emily got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind her.
A few seconds later Sly got out of the car and followed her in.
~*~
Minutes later Nikolas and Elizabeth arrived. Nikolas got out of the car and
walked around the hood to open the door for her. She smiled up at him as he
helped her get out. "Thanks."
"No problem." Nikolas smiled back. He had no idea why Elizabeth had asked him to
come with her, what with all their problems at the moment but he was glad she
did. "Elizabeth, I…does this mean things are okay with us? That you…I don't
know…understand why I wanted you to marry me? But I'm not going to rush you into
anything that you aren't ready for." He hurriedly added.
Elizabeth smiled sadly at Nikolas. "Nikolas, um…"
Before Elizabeth could finish what she was saying, Eve threw open the door. "Hey
you guys get on in here! Everyone's here but you two." She waved them in.
Elizabeth looked at Nikolas and shrugged. "We better go in." She moved past him
and started up the walk.
Nikolas reached out and took a hold of her arm. "Wait, what were you going to
say."
Elizabeth shook her head. "We'll talk about it later."
"No, let's talk about it now.” Nikolas insisted.
"We can talk later, okay?” Elizabeth stared up at him and he gave up.
"Fine, we'll talk after dinner.” He sighed and escorted her in.
~*~*~
Later
Eve fiddled with her silverware as she looked around the dinner table. What
should have been a happy, festive occasion was sober and moody. She wished
Victor and Kevin were there. However ever since Lucy's marriage to Scott
Baldwin, Kevin had moved down to the Hamptons. She never saw him much anymore
but Victor, who still lived in Port Charles with his girlfriend Mary Scanlon,
kept her updated on how Kevin was doing. According to Victor, Kevin had a
fiancée and they were expecting a child very soon, so Kevin couldn't travel
upstate for a dinner party and leave the pregnant woman alone. Victor and Mary
had gone down to Hamptons to visit.
Eve sighed as she looked from one unhappy couple to the next. Actually there was
one happy couple, Joe and Karen, but they were always happy so they didn't
count.
Eve assessed her dinner party companions. Emily and Sly must have had a fight
before coming over because Eve could feel bad vibes radiating off of them. It
probably had to do with Nikolas because Sly was giving him the old evil eye.
Nikolas was oblivious to it because he was trying to establish eye contact with
Elizabeth who was looking everywhere but at him. She was engaged in conversation
with Carly, who seemed to ignoring Alex completely. Chris, however, was glaring
at Alex.
Eve cleared her throat to get Chris' attention. He looked up and she gave him a
look that clearly said 'knock it off!' Chris arched his eyebrow to show her it
was all in fun but did what she wanted anyway. He turned to talked to Karen.
Eve took a big gulp of her wine. Maybe things will get better? I doubt it; she
thought to herself and took another big drink. It's going to be a long night.
~*~*~
After Dinner (sorry to FF so much but I didn't feel like getting into the boring
conversation)
Carly stopped to hug Eve on her way out. “I'm sorry tonight was so horrible but
congratulations anyway.”
Eve hugged her back. “It's okay, not everything can go right. At least the food
was good.”
"Barely.” Chris piped up from behind them. “The chicken could have used a little
more rosemary and…”
"Everything was delicious and you know it.” Carly cut him off before he could
ramble away.
Chris grinned. “I know, I just wanted to hear you say it.”
"Do you believe this guy?” Eve laughed.
Carly pretended to punch him in the arm. “He'd do anything for a compliment. I
wish you could teach me how cook like you, Michael would be grateful and so
would I.”
"I'll think about it but it's hard to teach something that just comes
naturally.” Chris joked.
"Oh, well you just try, okay?” Carly laughed. Alex walked up behind her.
"What's so funny?”
"Nothing much.” Chris said dryly.
Alex ignored him and concentrated on Carly. “You ready to go?”
"Yeah, sure. Night all.” Carly smiled at Eve and Chris.
"Goodnight, Carly. Garcia.” Chris said coldly.
"Ramsey.” Alex answered just as coldly.
"Bye Alex, bye Carly.” Eve tried to put a cheerful smile on her face. She pushed
Chris into the house. “Give me a call, okay?”
"Will do.” Carly nodded. “Let's go Alex.”
~*~*~
Emily moved around her bedroom getting ready for bed while Sly sat on the bed
watching her. Finally she threw her hands up in the air. “What is it?”
Sly sat back. “What is what?”
"Why are you watching me?” She demanded to know.
"Emily, I…I was just trying to come up with the best way to apologize to you.”
That surprised Emily. “Apologize to me? For what?”
Sly stood up and reached out to her. “For the juvenile way I've been acting
lately. I thought about it a lot tonight and I realize that I've been a jerk and
I'm sorry. Whatever relationship you want to have with Nikolas is okay with me.
I just don't want to fight about this anymore.”
Emily touched his face lightly. “I accept your apology, though why you even
thought that…”
Sly shook his head. “Even though we've been together for like forever, I am
still a bit insecure about our relationship.”
“What?”
Sly shrugged. “I remember you used to have a thing for Nikolas, a major thing.”
“What, my crush? Sly, that was years ago. It was just a kid thing. If I had
feelings for Nikolas, why would I be with you? Why would I be marrying you? I
love you, you knucklehead, and don't you forget it.”
~*~*~
Nikolas stood next to Elizabeth as she opened her door. He started to follow her
but she stopped him by placing her hand against his chest. “Um, Nikolas, it's
late and…”
“But I thought you wanted to talk? I want to talk, we *need* to talk.”
Elizabeth shook her head. She wasn't up for it tonight. “I'm too tired and it's
late and…”
Nikolas knew she was just making up excuses. “Okay, all right, we will talk
tomorrow. Actually, I have a surprise for you, that I was going to give you
later but I can do it tomorrow. I'll pick you up at eight and wear your best
dress.”
“My best dress? Oh, Nikolas, what did you do?” Elizabeth didn't want to play
guessing games.
“You will just have to wait and see, okay?” Nikolas smiled to himself before
bidding her goodnight and walking away.
~*~*~
Alex carried a sleeping Michael into his bedroom. There were nights when Carly
was overly protective of Michael and couldn't bear the thought of not having him
sleeping in her own house just a few feet away from her. So that's why she had
asked Alex to help bring him from Bobbie and Jerry's.
Carly pulled back the covers and Alex laid him down. Carly tucked him and
pressed a soft kiss on his forehead. She watched him sleep for a few minutes
before going into her bedroom. Alex was already there, sitting on her bed,
getting undressed.
Carly arched an eyebrow. “I didn't know you were going to be staying over.”
Alex paused in unbuttoning his shirt. “I'm sorry, I should have asked. May I
spend the night, Carly?”
Carly shrugged. “Do whatever the hell you want. You always do.”
Alex stood up and strode over to Carly. He framed her face in his hands. “Look,
I'm sorry okay? I know it doesn't mean a thing to you no matter how many times I
say it but I am sorry. I messed up, big time, but you know that if I had been
thinking straight it would have never happened. Now, you have to forgive. You're
the one who's big on wanting to be forgiven. How about forgiving me for a little
slip-up?”
Carly squeezed her eyes shut. “I know how I am. I can see that this is a case of
the pot calling the kettle black but Alex, if it had been any other day but
Jason's day…” and if I hadn't almost given into Sonny.
Alex hugged her to him. “Baby, I know, I wish I could make it up to you even
though I know I can't.”
Carly shook her head. “You can't but you know it's…it's okay, all right?”
Alex could tell that it wasn't but if she wanted to pretend, he would go along.
Carly pulled back away from him. "You can stay tonight.”
~*~*~
Sunday Morning
Maxie was almost through her window when her sister caught her. "Maxie? Where
are you going? Aren't you *grounded*?” The fourteen-year-old demanded to know.
“So what if I am?” Maxie hissed. “And keep your voice down or Mom and Mac will
here us.”
Georgie leaned against the wall. “Well, you aren't supposed to sneaking out.
They aren't going to like this at all.”
“Quit being such a suck-up.” Maxie shot back.
"Why are you sneaking out on a Sunday morning anyway?” Georgie asked, ignoring
the insult.
Maxie shrugged. “This place is driving me crazy and I want to see if I can find
Dad. He hasn't come back since Mom kicked him out. I think I'll check Kelly's.”
Georgie smirked. “Oh, yeah Dad's hanging out at Kelly's. But we both know why
you're going there. Doesn't Lucky Spencer work behind the counters on Sundays?”
Maxie fought down her blush. “Maybe. Listen don't you dare squeal a word about
this to Mom or Mac.”
“They'll find out easily enough. I won't have to say a word.” Georgie lied.
“If they catch me, then I'll let you're best friend Serena know all about what
happened between you and Neil Kanelos the other day.” Maxie threatened.
“N… nothing happened.” Georgie stammered. She stomped her foot down. “You
wouldn't dare!”
“Try me.” Maxie swore. She swung her leg out of the window and grinned. “See ya
later.”
~*~*~
Layla and Frisco were on their way to Taggert's place. Frisco was still feeling
a bit down after Friday. Layla nudged him in the side. “Cheer up Blondie. Things
can't be that bad.”
Frisco rubbed his temples, Layla were driving again. “Yes, they can. Felicia
won't talk to me. I can't find my brother anywhere. I only got to see one of my
kids and she looks like a freak! And other than a few maybes dropped by Spencer
and Cassadine, we have no clue where Victor is or if he is even in the city.”
Layla shrugged. “Don't worry about it. Victor's here. I can feel him.”
"Right.”
Layla pulled up at red light and happened to notice a men's shop. Most
importantly she noticed the man walking out of it. She knew who that was. She'd
recognized the scurrying little walk and rat like features anywhere. Higgins was
in town and where Higgins was; his boss just had to be.
Layla turned to Frisco with a triumphant smile. “We just got proof that Victor's
here.”
Frisco looked up. “What? How?”
Layla pointed out the window. “Check it out. Higgins' here and you know what
that means…”
“Victor's here.” Frisco breathed.
“You got it.” Layla laughed. “This is getting too easy.”
~*~*~
Elizabeth walked into Kelly's in time for her brunch with Samantha. Friends had
commented on how weird it was that Lucky, Samantha and Elizabeth were all
friends even though Lucky used to date Elizabeth and he now was dating Samantha.
Things were bound to be a little strange. Elizabeth shrugged off all their
concerns. She and Lucky may have been an item but that was years ago and she had
long since been over him. Elizabeth was happy to see Lucky move one with his
life the way she had with hers. And besides Elizabeth really liked Samantha,
she was a cool girl and she was happy that they all could be friends.
The tiny redhead waved to Elizabeth from the corner table she had been waiting
at. “Elizabeth, hi!”
Elizabeth managed to produce a small smile. “Hey, Samantha.”
“I all ready ordered for you. I told Lucky you'd probably want your usual.”
Samantha bubbled. “Was that okay?”
Elizabeth sat down. “Sure, whatever.”
Samantha frowned at her. “Hey, are you feeling okay?”
Lucky arrived with their food just as she asked this. He placed a quick kiss on
Samantha's cheek and their plates on the table. “Something the matter,
Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth quickly shook her head. “Nothing's wrong, I just didn't get a lot of
sleep last night and I'm very tired right now.”
Lucky looked at her worriedly. “You sure?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Lucky, I think I would know how much sleep I got,
okay?”
Samantha touched Lucky lightly on the arm. “Hon, everything's cool. I was just
teasing her a little.”
Lucky looked from Elizabeth to Samantha and back again. Something was up but if
they wanted to keep their secrets then he wouldn't pry. He nodded. “I have to
get back to work but I'll stop by again later.”
“Bye.” Samantha said cheerfully. Lucky walked away to take care of another
order. “He's such a great guy even though he worries so much.”
Elizabeth pushed her fork through the food on her plate. “Yeah but I wish he
wouldn't.”
“So tell me what's wrong.”
Elizabeth sighed. “You are probably the only one I *can* talk to about this.
Everyone else is too involved. I can't talk to Lucky because Nikolas is his
brother and best friend. I can't talk to Emily because she's in the tough spot
of trying to be both Nikolas and my friend. So you are the only one.”
Samantha nodded. “All right, what is it?”
“It's Nikolas and me. I'm thinking about breaking up with him.”
~*~*~
Maxie stood outside of Kelly's and scowled at the two girls inside. What is
wrong with those two? You don't become friends with your boyfriend's ex. And why
on earth does Elizabeth still hang out with Lucky? Get away from him, she wanted
to scream. You two are broken up!
And that twit he's dating now… she's not right for him at all. Maxie pushed back
her black hair and thought, I am but I just have to convince him of that. Maxie
quickly searched the room with her eyes, looking for Lucky. She found him
standing behind the counter wiping it down.
Maxie sighed to herself. It must be illegal for a guy to look that cute. She
sighed again. Just at that moment someone bumped into her. “Hey, watch it!” She
snapped.
Lark Madison stepped back away from the enraged girl dressed all in black. “I'm
sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going.”
“Well try to next time!” Maxie spit out before marching into Kelly's.
Lark watched her go with angry eyes. “Bitch.” She muttered before walking in.
She went over to where Samantha and Elizabeth sat.
“Hey Sami.” She greeted her best friend. She smiled at Elizabeth. “What's up?”
Samantha looked at Elizabeth before answering. “Uh, nothing. What's up with
you?”
Lark sat down at the table. “Nothing much just about ready to punch someone.”
“Who?” Elizabeth asked, gratefully to get her mind off her troubles.
Lark looked around before pointing at Maxie who sat at the counter waiting for
Lucky to come over to her. “That chick right there.”
Elizabeth turned around and frowned. “Maxie Jones?”
“That's her name?”
“Yeah, she's the commissioner's step-daughter. I used to baby-sit her and her
sister. She's a good kid just a little confused nowadays.” Elizabeth shrugged.
Just then Maxie realized that she was being stared at. She turned around and
caught Samantha, Elizabeth, and Lark looking at her. Of course she would be
friends with those two, Maxie thought. She shot them a dirty look before smiling
up at Lucky who finally noticed her.
“Hey Maxie.” He smiled at her and Maxie almost melted right there. He had to
have the sexiest smile ever.
Maxie beamed back. “Hi Lucky!” she gushed.
“So what do you want today?”
You, she thought silently. Out loud she said. “Oh, nothing much. I just needed
to get out of the house.”
“Things a little hectic at home what with your mother being pregnant and all?”
Maxie shook her head. “Naw, it's not that. My dad came back and my mom kicked
him out like he was nobody but he's my dad, you know?”
Lucky nodded. “I understand. So you just had to get out, huh?”
“Yeah but if like Mom or Mac come around looking for me, you didn't see me.”
Lucky leaned against the counter. “What did you do now?”
“I snuck out. I got grounded a few days ago.” She boasted.
Lucky groaned. “Maxie, why were you grounded?”
Maxie shrugged. “My principle is such a freak! You get caught skipping a few
classes, smoking a few cigarettes, get in one measly fight and they suspend you!
And then Mom and Mac freaked out also and grounded me.”
Lucky shook his head. “Maxie, Maxie, Maxie. What am I going to do with you?”
Maxie laughed. “What ever you like.” She flirted.
Lucky shook his head again. “You're too cute but you need to get home before
they figure out you're not there.”
Maxie pouted. “But I'm so bored there. Mom took away everything!”
Lucky looked at Maxie. “Go home.”
“But…” Maxie protested.
“Now.” He insisted. Willing to do whatever Lucky asked, Maxie reluctantly stood.
“See you later, Lucky.” She walked out of the restaurant, practically floating
on air.
~*~*~
Taggert was lounging on his sofa reading the Sunday newspaper when Keesha
flopped down next to him. “Morning.” She smiled and greeted him with a kiss.
“Good morning. I thought you were going to sleep all day.” He smiled back.
Keesha stretched and Taggert watched appreciatively. “I was *so* tired. I think
it had to do with a certain person keeping me up all night.”
“Now who could that have been?” Taggert teased as he leaned in for another kiss.
Taggert and Keesha's relationship had surprised them. After Keesha had returned
from Philadelphia, she had discovered that she didn't like the changes in AJ.
The way he had begun to kiss up to Edward and the way they schemed to take
Michael away from Carly had turned her off. They ended up breaking up even
though AJ still had a thing for her.
Keesha ended up doing a lot of work at the police station. At the time she was
trying to figure out if she wanted to be a cop, a career that she had never
really giving up hope of having. She had begun to hang out a lot with Taggert
who was still hurting over his break up with Dara Jensen. Then one night after
work she and Taggert ended up getting drunk and Taggert blurted out his new
found feelings for her. Hoping that it was just nonsense, Keesha dismissed it
until a few days later Taggert began to chase her. After a few short months, he
caught her and Keesha let herself realize that she did feel something for the
guy. So here they are, a few years later, living together and thinking about
marriage.
Keesha reached over and snagged the funny papers out of his hands. “Hey, I was
reading that.” He protested.
“Too bad.” She laughed. “You always hog the paper.” Just then there was knock at
the door.
“I'll get it.” Taggert started to get up but Keesha stopped him.
“No, I'll do it. I want to get some OJ also.” Keesha stood. She grabbed the
funnies also. “I'm taking this with me.”
Keesha padded over to the door and opened it. Layla stood in the doorway with
Frisco hovering behind her.
“What's up? Can Marcus come out and play?”
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