Nikolas and Emily are still kissing on the bluffs. The camera is slowly zooming in on their kiss. Nikolas is tilting Emily's head to the side as he continues to hold her head hostage. Emily's hands are moving wantonly up and down his shoulders and around his back. As she tilts head back up, their kiss grows slightly deeper and then they abruptly break off. Both are slightly speechless.
Emily: I never thought that --
Nikolas: I know.
Emily: That was --
Nikolas: Yeah, for me, too.
The camera zooms out to see Nikolas' left hand dropping from Emily's waist, yet both of her hands are resting on his waist and his right hand is too. As the camera pans over to the right, Lydia is shown, hiding behind a rock with only her eye's watching Nikolas and Emily.
Lydia is still watching and Emily steps back abruptly from Nikolas. Their conversation seems a little stilted and awkward due to the kiss.
Emily: Thank you.
Nikolas: You're welcome. I --
Emily: No, I mean for the support group, for getting me there.
Nikolas: Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm glad I could help you.
Emily: Yeah -- no. No, no, no. It's more than that. I mean, for the first time, I feel like I'm going to live, Nikolas.
Nikolas: You will.
Emily: For years and years.
Nikolas: A lifetime.
Emily: Because of you. You -- you listened when I was terrified and hopeless. You never, ever said I was wrong or stupid. You always told me that I was -- that I was strong and capable. You knew I had it in me to fight, didn't you, and to survive. You gave me everything I needed.
Nikolas: Hope I always will.
The scene ends once again with Lydia spying.
Emily is pouring a glass of water in the Cassadine drawing room as Lydia comes in.
Emily: Hey.
Lydia: Emily. I didn't know you were here.
Emily: Oh, yeah. I came by to see Nikolas. He's just taking me home now. He's gone up to get his keys.
Lydia: Then we have a minute to chat?
Emily: About what?
Lydia: The truth -- which I know is very hard to believe coming from me. It's just that I'm so worried about Nikolas.
Emily: Why?
Lydia walks over to Stefan's desk and grabs the file of papers, she's explaining the Cassadine money problems.
Lydia: He won't face reality. I don't know how well you understand high finance, but the family is on the verge of total collapse. Stefan knows how bad it's gotten, but Nikolas refuses to face it.
Emily: Well, Nikolas is an intelligent man. I'm sure he's aware of the crisis.
Lydia: And I'm sure he thinks he will manage to turn it all around in time, but there isn't any time. If something isn't done now, the Cassadines will slide into bankruptcy.
Emily: Why are you telling me this?
Lydia: Because you and Nikolas have been defying Stefan, not listening to him. And Stefan's just been trying to prevent this collapse. Nikolas is in control of the family business now. It will be a terrible blow if it fell apart while he was responsible --
Emily: I'm still not sure how I play into this, Lydia.
Lydia: You don't. I'm the solution to Nikolas' problems.
Emily and Lydia are still in the drawing room. Lydia is doing her pitch about the "plan".
Lydia: If Nikolas and I get married, his family's future is secured.
Emily: How does that work?
Lydia: According to the terms of my grandfather's will, if Nikolas and I marry and stay married, my grandfather's fortune will be divided between us. We would have billions of dollars at our disposal -- provided we have a child within the first five years, but I don't foresee that as being a problem. The only obstacle is you. If Nikolas marries me, his family's fortune will be secure.
Emily: Uh-huh. If you were really that worried about Nikolas, you would just lend him the money.
Lydia: I don't have it to lend. If we don't get married, virtually all the money goes to charitable causes.
Emily: That might be the best use for it.
Lydia: Emily, this is serious.
Emily: Uh-huh. For you, maybe. But I don't think Nikolas would ever marry for money, no matter how badly the Cassadines need it.
Emily has gone over and sat on the couch and Lydia joins her to further her point.
Lydia: This isn't some schoolgirl game. We're talking about billions of dollars.
Emily: Which Nikolas is completely aware of.
Lydia: You know, it would be bad manners to break an engagement. Nikolas would sooner bankrupt his own family than break a promise to you.
Emily: If that's Nikolas' decision, I'll support it.
Lydia: And then you'll be the one he threw it all away for. How do you think Nikolas will feel about you when he's selling off assets and consolidating debts?
Emily: Nice try, Lydia, but I don't buy it for a second.
Just then, Nikolas comes down the stairs.
Nikolas: Ready?
Emily: Yeah. Let's go.
Nikolas opening the door to the Quartermaines and allowing Emily to pass.
Emily: Thanks for bringing me back to the house, but, you know, you really didn't have to.
Nikolas: I wanted to.
Emily: I've already taken up so much of your time. You must have better things to do.
Nikolas: Like solving the Cassadine financial problems? I'm sure that was the subject of your heart-to-heart with Lydia. She happen to mention that she's the answer to all my problems?
Emily: She made the situation sound pretty bad.
Nikolas: I'll work it out.
Emily: But if you can't?
Nikolas: I don't want you to worry about that, okay? Nothing's more important than your recovery right now, and I'm going to be with you to help you through it.
Emily: Even if it forces the Cassadines into bankruptcy?
Nikolas: You sound like my uncle.
Emily: Ouch.
Nikolas: If you start saying that marrying Lydia is the best solution to solving the Cassadines' business problems, I'll have to check you for brainwashing.
Emily: Okay, look, you can tease me all you want, but I know how important it is to you to do what your family needs.
Nikolas: I'll find a way that doesn't include a wedding to Lydia. When I get married, it'll be for love, not money. I'm going to go.
Emily smiles and nods her head in agreement.
Emily: Okay. Bye.
Nikolas turns and leaves, closing the door behind him. Emily's face falls and she sighs, rubbing her forehead.
Nikolas comes into the Cassadine drawing room and confronts Lydia.
Nikolas: As long as you're ready to propose marriage, why not do it to my face instead of using Emily as a go-between.
Lydia: She didn't waste any time telling you.
Nikolas: What happened to the "let's be friends, we have so much in common" approach? What -- what happened to that?
Lydia: It was taking too long. Nikolas, your family's on the verge of financial ruin.
Nikolas: And the only possible solution is marrying you?
Lydia: It would strictly be a financial transaction. I explained that to emily. It has nothing to do with love.
Nikolas: Oh, and you expected her to understand that. Is that --
Lydia: Well, no. Actually, she righteously proclaimed that she believed that you could solve any crisis that came your way. Oh, you should've seen the fire in her eyes. That girl loves you, Nikolas, and you're welcome to have her.
Nikolas: Well, if I marry you, then I --
Lydia: I told you, it's strictly business. I'm making you the offer of a lifetime here. Marry me and continue loving Emily.
Emily is once again writing in her journal. She is in her room at a chair at the desk. A voice over is going as she writes and reads. She gets up and walks around her room, settling onto the window seat. She ends with looking out the window.
Emily's voice: "I just kissed Nikolas for the second time in my life, not counting pecks on the cheek and brotherly embraces. It was almost the perfect opposite of that first time in the park when I was desperate and embarrassed and threw myself at him. I was happy tonight. For the first time in months, I felt alive and I realized I can go on feeling that way. I can beat the cancer. I can live for years and years. Nikolas made me see it. He got me to the support group, and afterward on the bluff, he was standing there smiling, and I kissed him for the last time. Now that I know I'm going to live, I can finally tell Zander everything."