Zander and Monica are walking into the living room at the Quartermaines. Monica is stalling and Zander is upset.
Zander: Every time I ask you what is going on with Emily, you tell me to believe in her, to have patience.
Monica: I know that you love Emily, Zander.
Zander: Yeah, but so does Nikolas, obviously.
Monica: And we all know they're friends.
Zander: But you can't see them in love?
Monica: She needs room right now.
Zander: Why?
Monica: Oh, if it were my choice, I would tell you, Zander.
Over Monica’s shoulder we see Emily come into the room.
Zander: Just say it.
Emily: You want to know what's going on? I'll tell you.
Zander: All right. The truth this time. Not some excuse that sounds like a lie.
Emily: Um -- Nikolas and I are getting married.
Nikolas walks into the drawing room drinking from a small cup of coffee. As he walks across the room, Lydia walks in holding a large bouquet of flowers.
Lydia: Leaving so early?
Nikolas: Yes, I have a very long day. So enjoy your morning.
Lydia: Well, would you accept an apology?
Nikolas: Accepted. Thank you.
Lydia: I have been unspeakably rude.
Nikolas: No problem.
Lydia: But for the record, the idea of pushing us together -- that was Stefan.
Nikolas: Well, then you should discuss it with him.
Lydia: Well, he seems to think that we would be a brilliant match. Can ou imagine? Anyway, I never should have allowed him into bullying me into throwing myself at you, and I just --
Nikolas: Yeah, well, the trip hasn't been a complete waste of time. You seem to enjoy the locals.
Lydia: How was I supposed to know some guy named Lucky would turn out to be your brother?
Nikolas: Enjoy the rest of your visit, Lydia.
Lydia: You know, you think for yourself, and I really admire that, even if Stefan doesn’t.
Nikolas leans over and grabs folders from the table.
Nikolas: Yeah, well, my uncle and I will sort out our differences. We always do.
Lydia: And I will try to stay out of your way, no matter how hard he shoves me at you.
Nikolas: That sounds fine.
Lydia: So would you take these to Emily? Just consider them a peace offering?
Lydia offers Nikolas the flowers and he takes them to give to Emily.
Nikolas: Of course. Thank you.
Nikolas leaves as the camera pans to see Stefan standing on the stairs and then coming into the room.
Stefan: I don't appreciate your new approach.
Lydia: Well, of course you don’t. But maybe Nikolas will.
The three of them are still in the living room. Monica and Zander are quite stunned. Emily has tears in her eyes.
Emily: I shouldn't have -- I shouldn't have told you this way. I'm sorry. I didn't expect to see you.
Emily moves around Zander and is shooting glances at Monica to get her to agree and play along with her.
Zander: And now you want to make sure I don't come back, is that it?You didn't have any idea about this either, did you?
Monica: No. No, I didn't.
Emily: But you understand, right?
Monica: To some extent.
The doorbell rings.
Emily: Nikolas and I have -- have loved each other for a long time, and it took us a while to realize how close we really are. But now --
We hear the door close and the Nikolas appears in the threshold of the living room, holding the flowers.
Emily: Nothing else makes sense.
Nikolas: I apologize for barging in, but no one answered the door.
Monica: Yeah, we're having a little problem with the butler.
Emily: Yeah, I didn't expect to see you.
Zander: So Emily just told me the big news.
Nikolas looks around Zander to meet Emily’s eyes, questioningly.
Nikolas is surprised but covers well, Emily makes a gesture behind Zander’s back to get Nikolas to agree.
Emily: I just told them about our engagement.
Monica: You seem almost as surprised as I was.
Nikolas walks over to stand beside Emily.
Nikolas: You know, I knew you wouldn't be able to keep it a secret until the formal announcement.
Zander: You're marrying Emily and all you care about is a formal announcement?
Emily: I promised him that I would wait to tell. I'm so sorry.
Nikolas and Emily have looks meeting between them to try and cover.
Nikolas: No, no, don't be. I understand perfectly why you had to say something. Look, things have moved along quickly. I'm sorry you had to find out this way.
Zander: I can tell you're all torn up about it. Bye, Em. Have a great life.
Zander is sad and Emily has tears in her eyes. Zander leaves and Monica tries to get Emily to go after him.
Monica: Go after him. Emily --
Door opens and slams.
Emily: Zander has to let go. Now it'll be easier.
Emily is crying and Monica is pissed. She is mad at Emily and Nikolas.
Monica: By hurting him, you're just hurting yourself. How did you let her talk you into this?
Emily: Look, Nikolas is trying to help, Mom.
Monica: What, by helping Emily perpetrate a lie?
Nikolas: Emily asked for my support and I’m happy to give her whatever she needs.
Emily: Why won't you understand this, Mom? I have to deal with this in my own way.
Monica: And your own way is to undercut your treatment and only cause yourself stress? What is going on, Emily? You've decided that your cancer allows you to lie, to inflict pain? Are you that desperate? Are you that frightened?
Emily: Look, you had breast cancer. You know how hard this is.
Monica: Yes, I do. I do. And that's why I said I would go along with it for just so long, but not this kind of charade. I'm not going to be the mother to the bride. You're going to make yourself sicker, and I will not be a part of it, Emily.
Monica makes a big deal and leaves. Emily tilts her head back and blinks back tears. Then, she looks at Nikolas.
Emily: Oh. Do you want out?
Nikolas: If it's hurting you, yes.
Emily: You aren't. I can't do this without you. And I wish I could.
Nikolas walks forward and cups her head in his palms. She has tears in her eyes as they talk.
Nikolas: Come here. Look, helping you helps me, okay? So if you need us to get married, then that's what we'll do.
Emily and Nikolas walking around the living room, Emily has a glass of water.
Emily: You still think I should tell Zander the truth?
Nikolas: Look, I understand that you're trying to spare Zander pain. I mean --
Emily: Maybe I'm being selfish.
Nikolas: My uncle devoted his entire life to sparing me pain.
Emily: And did horrible things in the process. Is that your point?
Nikolas: No. People don't always think clearly when they're in love, Emily. You know, they -- they tell lies, they make mistakes.
Emily: Strand themselves in blizzards?
Nikolas: Oh. You thinking about Elizabeth and Lucky?
They have a nice laugh as Nikolas leads Emily to sit in a chair. He takes a perch on the end of the chaise across of her, propping his leg up on his knee and balancing off of it.
Emily: Yeah.
Nikolas: Yeah.
Emily: Thanks. Saying their vows in an empty church.
Nikolas: Yeah. There you go.
Emily: Thanks. In the middle of the biggest snowstorm in 10 years. And then asking us to drive over and pick them up.
Nikolas: In an S.U.V. that you wrangled from the staff at your family's hotel.
Emily: Because I finally convinced you that your Jag would never make it through the snow.
Nikolas: Hey, it might have.
Emily: We'd still be stuck in a ditch somewhere.
Nikolas: Would that be so wrong?
Emily: God. I had such a crush on you.
Nikolas: I had no idea what to do when you told me that.
Emily: That you were perfect -- as always. You know, maybe getting married is kind of like driving through the snow in that S.U.V. We'll be warm like we were that night, safe, together.
Nikolas: But we both know what the rules are, right?
The looks in their eyes say it all…they know something is happening between each other. She has tears in her eyes and he is trying to stay calm.
Emily: And that we're friends, nothing more, nothing less?
Nikolas: Yeah, just -- you know, just driving through the snow.
Emily: Yeah, trying not to run anybody over.
Nikolas: Hoping for the best.
Zander comes into Kelly’s and sees Gia sitting there. He goes to sit with her and Lydia is there too, eavesdropping on them.
Zander: Hey.
Gia: You heard about my brother?
Zander: No.
Gia: He's in Portland.
Zander: Why?
Gia: Scott Baldwin. Who else? Basically ran my brother out of town.
Zander: Ahem.
Gia: What did Emily do this time?
Zander: Might not need to hear this.
Gia: Try me.
Zander: I was -- I was pretty shocked.
Gia: I can take it, Zander.
Zander: Emily and Nikolas are getting married.
Lydia hears this and runs out of Kelly’s.
Gia: That can't be right.
Zander: Was pretty surprised, too.
Gia: Who told you that?
Zander: Emily.
Gia: What?
Zander: And Nikolas, in front of her mother.
Gia sighs and makes a big noise.
Zander: You know, let's get out of here.
They leave.
Lydia comes storming into the Cassadine drawing room, as Stefan is on the phone. She goes over to the bar and pours herself a drink while she waits for Stefan to finish his call.
Stefan: That won't be a problem. No, no, the European markets have been volatile for some time. That's right. We'll get back to you.
Lydia: My plan didn't work.
Stefan: Oh. Why am I not surprised?
Lydia: No, Nikolas and Emily are getting married.
Stefan: Don't be ridiculous.
Lydia: Mm-hmm. I heard about it in a diner. A diner.
Stefan: You can hear anything in this town.
Lydia: No, it was some heartbroken gas station attendant who used to date Emily. He was going on and on about it.
Stefan: Don't worry. That marriage will never happen.
Nikolas and Emily are coming off the elevator at General Hospital, he has his hand on her back as they walk around the desk.
Emily: You know you're not obligated to escort me to every chemo session I have to go to.
Nikolas: Yeah, I know, but see, since we're getting married now, we have to do everything together.
Emily: I can't believe we're doing this.
Nikolas: Yeah, I know. You're going to be all right. I'll wait right here?
Emily: Yeah, thanks.
Nikolas: I'll be right here.
Nikolas holds her waist lightly as he leans forward and kisses her cheek.
Emily: All right.
She leaves for her chemo treatment.
Nikolas is walking around thoughtfully, when Stefan approaches from behind him.
Stefan: Nikolas? I know you know better than this.
Nikolas: Hello, Uncle.
Stefan: The rumors are flying. That alone may affect the Cassadine holdings.
Nikolas: I'm sure you mean to say "congratulations."
Just then, Emily comes out and Nikolas wraps his arm around her.
Emily: Thanks for waiting.
Nikolas: Hey. You okay?
Emily: Yeah.
Stefan: Just so we're clear, I forbid you to marry Emily Quartermaine.
Gia and Zander are in his room, drinking beer and sitting on the bed. They are passing the beer back and forth.
Gia: So the rejects unite?
Zander: Looks that way.
Gia: Why didn't I keep blackmailing that little twit?
Zander: Why didn't I shove the prince off the docks when I had the chance?
Gia: At least I’m not in Portland, wherever that is.
Zander sighs.
Zander: Well, we could order a pizza.
Gia: I just ate. We can go into the city.
Zander: I'm broke.
Gia: We're a couple of losers, right?
Zander: Yeah.
Gia: Well, at least we got each other.
They look at each other and then Gia leans in and initiates a kiss.