Stefan is in the sitting room, in front of an array of scones. Nikolas comes downstairs, his face wearing a look that tells he's a thousand miles away. He has a laptop computer under his arm.

Stefan asks, "Would you like some breakfast, Nikolas? Mrs. Landsbury has outdone herself with the scones..."

Nikolas puts up his hand and shakes his head no. He sits down at the table and opens the laptop. He seems engrossed in whatever he's doing, apparently he was not going to attempt a conversation.

Stefan putting down his paper, stares at Nikolas for quite some time. Nikolas feels his uncle's stare and looks up from his computer. He gives Stefan a 'what do you want' look.

Stefan smiles at his nephew. "Why do you look at me that way. I was just admiring my nephew, is that a crime?" Nikolas now gives him a 'fine with me' look and goes back to his work.

Stefan continues his attempt at conversation. "So, Nikolas, do you have any plans for this evening?" Nikolas gets a look of confusion, Stefan continues. "Valentine's Day, I believe it's called? I hear it's supposed to be a 'Day Of Romance' for lovers all around the world." Nikolas gives Stefan a shrug, as if not interested. Stefan sees Nikolas' mood swing from glum to worse so he wisely decides to shrug it off also. "Anyway, I'm sure it's a very asinine ritual these Americans have invented." He goes back to reading his paper, Nikolas continues his brooding.

Katherine enters, feigning cheer. She's heard the last comment Stefan made on Valentine's Day. She figured this would be another American custom she would have to introduce to him, if he allowed it.

"Good morning, all!" She announces as she comes in and helps herself to tea and scones. Stefan realized for the first time how her intrusion on his and Nikolas' privacy was starting to vex him. He continued reading his paper as if she hadn't entered the room. Nikolas notices this but doesn't bother to think on it. He had a lot on his mind today, a lot he had to figure out. Trying to analyze anyone else's problems would be futile. He closes the computer and stands to leave.

Stefan, not wanting to be trapped alone with Katherine, asks, "Nikolas, where are you off to?"

Nikolas turns and gives him a look that states he doesn't really want to grant him that information. Stefan also noticed that Katherine stopped and turned at his questioning. Stefan tried his best not to let her get under his skin.

Stefan addresses Nikolas. "Very well, then...enjoy your day."

Nikolas heads for the door, still not understanding the weird rapport between Katherine and Stefan.

"Oh, Nikolas!" Katherine calls after him. Nikolas turns to her and, as a child with a secret, he pats the laptop under his arm and smiles at her. Katherine gives him a broad smile.

"Great!" Katherine says. " I'll see you later?"

Nikolas nods yes with a smile and leaves. Katherine takes her breakfast and sits on the sofa, close to Stefan's chair. Katherine makes an attempt at conversation.

"Well, today's Valentine's Day...and what a beautiful day it is. It has to be at least 40 degrees out...". Stefan continues reading his paper as if she weren't in the room. Katherine decides that this childish game has gone on long enough.

"Okay, Stefan...I'm taking the bait. What is wrong? Are you still angry from last night? Or is it something new?" Stefan doesn't respond. "If you don't tell me what's wrong, Stefan, how are we going to figure out how to solve it?"

Stefan looks up from his paper. "Why do you put such importance on your existence? What makes you feels that my entire morning would be altered by your presence? I have other, more pressing issues on my mind, ones that concern more important things. Really, Katherine, you mustn't be so full of yourself." Stefan rises on his last words and heads for the nearest exit.

"Don't you walk away from me, Stefan!" Katherine yells. Stefan turns to look at her, an incredulous look on his face.

"Are you speaking to me, Katherine?" Stefan's tone changed to anger.

"In case you have taken leave of your senses, let me refresh your memory. You are in my home, a guest in my presence. If you ever raise your voice to me again...that arrangement will be null and void. Am I making myself quite clear, Ms. Bell?"

Katherine knew that, at him calling her 'Ms. Bell' that something was very wrong. She didn't back down. "Well, maybe my being in your presence is the cause of this sickening feeling I've been having in the pit of my stomach!" Katherine puts down her tea and storms out of the room.

Stefan looks after her, wanting to call out to her, but thinking better of it. He stands there, wondering where he...they...went wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lizzy, coming downstairs, sees Sarah sitting in their living room, flipping through a magazine. Lizzy can't believe she actually feels sorry for her sister, the pain on Sarah's face making Lizzy's heart go out to her.

"Oh Sarah," Lizzy asks, innocently, has the doorbell rang lately?"

Sarah looks up at Lizzy, forcing a smile. "No, why? Are you expecting someone?"

"Well, let's just say I'm expecting the doorbell phone to ring..." Lizzy replies, coming over to sit on the sofa next to Sarah.

Lizzy struggles to make light-hearted conversation. "So, what are your plans for tonight, Sarah?"

Sarah looks up from her magazine, traces of tears forming. "Are you trying to purposely make me more miserable than I already am, Lizzy?" Sarah slams the magazine down on the sofa. She stands and makes her way to the stairs.

"Sarah, wait!" Lizzy called after her. "I really wasn't trying to make you feel bad. I'm sorry for what's happened between you and Nikolas, I...I was just hoping that, well...maybe he'd come around after awhile." Lizzy looks at Sarah, with actual sincerity. "Sarah, don't worry. Everything will work out in it's own time, just be patient with him."

Sarah looks at her sister in shock. "Since when do you care, Lizzy?"

Lizzy looks at her sister, with a cocky grin. "Since I know that sometimes, things do change..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emily is scurrying around in her bedroom, all the while trying to will her heart to stop racing. There's a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Emily yells as she sits in front of her mirror.

Monica peeks her head in hesitantly. "Are you sure it's okay? I don't want to get in the line of fire."

"Oh Mom, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to yell. I'm just...preoccupied." Emily turns back to the mirror in frustration. "Why is it that when you need your hair to behave, it decides to do its own thing?

Monica comes in and, standing behind Emily, puts her hands on Emily's shoulders. "Are you by any chance nervous about tonight, Emily?"

Emily looks at her mother, in exasperation. "No, I just always run around like a chicken with no head." She laughs. "I'm a wreck, Mom...and I don't know why. It's just...we're just going out for Valentine's Day, that's it...it's really no big deal." The last part she added on, trying to convince herself.

"Well", Monica hesitates. I came up to see if you need me for...anything." Monica watches her daughter's expression, knowing that with all the emotional close calls lately with the family, she didn't want to invade Emily's privacy.

Emily puts down her brush and turns to Monica. "Mom, I'm so nervous, I'm all thumbs, I can't think straight...I've never been on a date before, I don't even know what to do..."

Monica smiles. "Well, the first thing you have to do is calm down. You'll be in hysterics by the time Lucky gets here..."

"Oh, no...", Emily interrupts, standing, "is he going to be here soon?" I'm not half-way ready yet!!"

Monica gently eases Emily back into her chair. "Emily, Lucky is not here, yet. It's only 3:00 in the afternoon!"

Just then, there's a knock on the door. "Come in." Monica calls.

Reginald sticks his head in. "Um, excuse me, there's a delivery for Ms. Quartermaine downstairs."

Monica moves to go downstairs. "Alright, Reginald I'm coming..."

"Oh, I'm sorry "Mrs." Quartermaine, but the delivery is for "Ms." Quartermaine." Reginald says as he motions to Emily.

Emily looks shocked. "For me? I wonder what it could be?"

"Well, you won't have to wonder once you see the..." Reginald cuts himself off, smiling. "I think you should just go down, Ms. Quartermaine.

Emily bounces out of the room, heading downstairs. Monica looks at Reginald's mischievous grin.

"Reginald, what are you up to?"

"Well, Mrs. Quartermaine, I'm not up to anything...but it looks like someone else is." With that, Reginald excuses himself . "If you need me, I'll be downstairs."

"Well, I'm going with you...," Monica says. Reginald looks back at her. Monica, knowing her cover's blown, decides not to defend herself. "And...yes, I'm being nosey! Hurry up, let's go!" They both laugh as they head downstairs. As they get to the foot of the stairs, Emily is just letting the postman out the door. She sees Monica.

"Mom! Look!" She shows Monica the beautiful pink roses, arranged in a long white box tied with a beautiful soft pink ribbon. "Aren't they beautiful!"

"Well," Monica teases. "I wonder who these flowers are from?"

Emily turns to her mother, smiling. "Lucky sent them, Mom! Can you believe it? That was so sweet of him!"

Monica peeks in the box at the roses. "Why Emily, they're very beautiful. Oh, and there's a card in here."

Emily pulls the card out of the box and opens it. She reads it to herself and breaks out into a grin. She turns to share the contents of the card with Monica but she notices that Reginald is still standing there.

Reginald gets the feeling he's intruding. Before he vacates the premises, he adds; "I've been told that every rose color has a meaning. I believe pink stands for...'love'." With that he exits.

Emily blushes as she, after making sure Reginald is out of ear shot, hands the card to Monica.

Monica holds up the card and reads. "It says, 'To Emily, Happy Valentine's Day. Just a little something to let you know how I'm looking forward to our get-together tonight. Lucky.' " Monica looks at Emily, who is apparently flattered and embarrassed by the card. "Well," Monica says, "looks like you've got yourself somewhat of an admirer."

Emily, finally deciding to share her secret, turns to Monica. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, Em." Monica motions to the sofa and they walk over and sit. "Okay, honey, what's on your mind? I know something has been eating at you all week. What is it?

Emily looks at Monica, eyes full of desperation and confusion. "Mom, it's Lucky. I really like him a lot, but I'm not sure how he feels. I don't know what to do. I know we're just friends, and that's what we call each other, but that's not what I feel anymore. At least I don't think that's what I feel anymore. I'm so confused." Emily waits for Monica to give her any glimmer of hope that this can all make sense.

Monica starts in. "Well, Emily, dear, the diagnosis for this situation is very simple but can also be very complex. " She sees the confusion in Emily's eyes growing by the minute, Monica smiles. "What you have dear is a advanced case of the 'crush'."

Emily says, in exasperation. "Well Mom, I already know that much. I just don't know what to do about it."

Monica looks surprised at Emily's forwardness. "Okay, then I guess you have the handle on that. Now about tonight...do you know where he's taking you?"

Emily looks puzzled. "You know, I have no idea, but I hope it's not some real ritzy place where he has to spend a lot of money or anything. Guys think that I'm some little rich brat that has to be treated like royalty. I don't want the royal treatment, Mom, I just want to be treated like any other teenager. I want...a hotdog at the pier, to share a popcorn at the movies, to eat fast food...I just want to be treated normal."

Monica reaches up to brush away a wisp of Emily's hair. " You know, you are such a mature young lady, I can understand what Lucky sees in you." Emily looks embarrassed.

"Oh, Mom..." Emily looks at Monica with complete fear, "I just thought of something..."

"What is it, honey?" Monica asks, concerned.

"What if Lucky tries to kiss me?" Emily asked, face stricken with sheer horror.

Monica is uncertain of how to answer. "Well, Emily, from the look on your face, you're hoping and praying that he won't."

"No, no, that's not what I meant," Emily corrects. "I mean, I wouldn't mind if he tried. I mean..." Emily is floored by embarrassment.

"Well, Emily, could I ask you something?"

Emily says, "Anything"

Monica is a little hesitant. "Well, ...have you ever been kissed before?

Emily is surprised at Monica's bluntness. "MOM!!" Emily turns four shades of red. "Hey, I was just going along with your honest and point blank approach!" Monica smiles. "It's okay if you don't want to answer me, Em. I won't pry."

"No, Mom, I don't mind." Emily says. "I have been...well, rather I have kissed a boy." Monica looks confused, Emily goes on to explain. "A few months ago, I was going through all my different traumas and Nikolas was always there for me. One night, I think I was a little drunk or something, I just grabbed him and kissed him. Out of nowhere."

"So, what did Nikolas do?" Monica asks.

Emily smiles. "Nikolas is such a good friend, and a gentleman. He politely put me in my place. But he's never mentioned it again, and it hasn't effected our friendship at all. But I've never BEEN kissed. You know, when you're kissed by someone who really wants to kiss you. Anyway," Emily stands, "Lucky and I are just friends."

Emily stands with her roses. Monica asks, "Emily don't you think you should have Reginald put those in water for you?"

Emily looks at the roses again, feeling their softness. "Yeah, but...could I just hold on to them like this, just for a little while?" Monica agrees and Emily heads for the stairs with her box of roses.

She turns back to Monica. "Aren't you going to help me with my hair?"

Monica, glad for the invitation, walks over to Emily. "Of course, I will. But we must hurry, you only have three more hours left before he gets here!" They both laugh as they ascend the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucky is in the Spencer kitchen, attempting to cook an actual meal. He's on the phone with Laura.

"Okay, Mom...yes, everything is under control here. Yes, I'm fine." Lucky picks up a spice jar and throws a pinch into the pot. He's trying not to allow his Mother to irritate him but he figured this was coming when he told her about his 'date' with Emily.

"Mom, really...you're the one who taught me how to cook! Yes and you taught me well. Of course I can handle a car...I know I just got my license Mom, but I've been driving since I was twelve...no, NO Mom, don't put Dad on the phone, ple..Yeah, Hi Dad. Yeah, everything's cool. What? Dad, we're just friends, okay? You don't have to give me the 'talk'...Dad I know...I..." there is a long, long pause.

Lucky, who has had as much as he can take, attempts to speak calmly. "No I'm not planning to...DAD!...she's only fourteen! What is wrong with everybody around here...you know what, that's all, Dad, I'm hanging up now! Yes, yes I am, goodbye, Dad, love you! No, this is an expensive call and I think something's burning! Bye!"

Lucky hangs up the phone, aggravated. "I swear Dad's nuts!" The doorbell rings. "Thank goodness!" He turns down the pot and runs to get the bell. Mike Corbin walks in, grocery bags in hand.

"Mike, thanks a lot for helping me out at the last minute. You're a lifesaver." Lucky takes one of the bags from Mike.

"Well, " Mike says. "smells like everything is under control here."

"I don't know, smells can be deceiving." Lucky warns.

Mike chides in, "Well, I don't know...seems like you're going through a lot of trouble for just a 'friend'..."

Lucky cuts him off. "Don't you start in on me too, Mike."

Mike laughs. "Hey, look...what's wrong with liking someone? Emily's a beautiful girl, you have great taste if that's any consolation."

Lucky, being totally aggravated by now, defends himself. "Mike, look..." Lucky can tell Mike can see right through his facade. Lucky, for a change, decides to let his guard down. Lucky stumbles for the words. "Okay. Mike...how do you...I mean, how am I supposed to...."

"...to let her know that you're crazy about her?" Mike laughs out loud as Lucky blushes ten shades of red. Lucky gives him the 'don't laugh at me' glare and Mike laughs harder.

"Okay, look Lucky," Mike tells him, "the first step in telling her how you feel is to actually admit it out loud to yourself first." Lucky is hesitant, not exactly ready to spill the beans on his feelings he's kept under wraps pretty well until now. He decides he has to talk to someone about it, and since Luke's not around, Mike would be the next best thing. He decides to give it a shot.

"I'm crazy about her, Mike." Lucky sees that Mike is actually listening to him, he gets the nerve to continue. "I mean, she's from this big, stuffy family that's all rich and everything, but she's still so down to earth. She's funny, she's smart, pretty..." Lucky's voice trails off.

Mike interjects. "Sounds like she's a winner, kid."

Lucky shakes his head in agreement. "She's my best friend, man."

Mike puts his hand on Lucky's shoulder. "Then you do the best for your best friend, Lucky. Looks like you're on the right track." Mike's thought is interrupted as he sniffs around. "Is something burning?"

Lucky sniffs, confused. Reality dawns on him. "Oh no, my chicken!" They both bolt into the kitchen.

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