Nikolas, Emily and Stefan are standing in the General Hospital waiting room. Nikolas has an arm wrapped around Emily as they face Stefan. Nikolas makes his point to Stefan by using hand signals and gestures. Nikolas has his hand resting on Emily’s neck.
Nikolas: Emily and I have every intention of getting married.
Stefan: I'm urging you to reconsider.
Emily: Like you urged me to stay away from Nikolas?
Nikolas: Here are your choices. You either congratulate us or leave Port Charles immediately.
Stefan: You're willing to break your ties with the family for Emily Quartermaine?
Nikolas: I am the family. If you choose to break your ties with me, I’ll miss you, but I won't try to keep you.
Stefan: Well, then you've made your choice.
Nikolas: And I choose Emily.
Stefan: Welcome to the Cassadine family. I apologize for any confusion I may have created.
Emily: Apology accepted.
Nikolas: Thank you.
Stefan: Will you allow me to host an engagement party?
Nikolas and Emily look at each other, both a little shocked.
Gia and Zander are in his place, kissing hotly. Zander stops and pulls away.
Zander: Wait. This -- Gia, this isn't going to make us feel any better.
Gia: Are you out of your mind?
Zander: Okay, all right. Yeah, it will, but what about our friendship?
Gia: Oh. You're pulling the friendship thing. Okay.
Zander: Look, Gia, this happened with a friend and --
Gia: No, I can't believe you're pulling the friendship thing.
Zander: Gia, I lost her completely.
Gia: Okay, so let me get this straight. You're turning me down. The one chance we have to feel better, to have a little fun, and to get our mind off of everything else, and you're saying no to me?
Zander: I can't be with you, Gia, if I'm still in love with Emily.
Nikolas and Emily follow Stefan as they walk further through the hospital. Nikolas is guiding Emily with his hand on her back.
Nikolas: I appreciate the thought, but Emily and I are going to wait to have an engagement party.
Stefan: Well, I can understand your wanting to hide the engagement.
Emily: Nobody's hiding anything.
Stefan: Then why are you opposed to a party?
Emily: My family will -- will throw us a huge one at the end of the summer.
Nikolas: Uh -- it could get a little awkward with the Quartermaines, so, you know, maybe --
Stefan: Let's keep it within the Cassadines. Just ourselves and Alexis.
Nikolas: And Lucky.
Stefan: Are you sure that's appropriate?
Emily: Yeah. Lucky's one of my closest friends.
Nikolas: I'll agree to have the party as long as Lucky's invited.
Stefan: I understand. How's tomorrow night?
Nikolas and Emily look at each, shocked once again. They listen to Stefan and agree.
Emily: What's the rush?
Nikolas: Well, you know, there's something to be said for getting things over with. Tomorrow?
Emily: Yeah.
Nikolas: Sure it's okay?
Stefan: Excellent.
Nikolas: Tomorrow.
Stefan: I'll make all the arrangements.
Summer and Lucky on the docks discussing Luke. The camera pans over to see Nikolas and Emily walk down the stairs towards Lucky and Summer. Nikolas is holding a bottle of water. They are holding hands.
Nikolas: Hey. Sorry to interrupt. But, actually, I’m glad we ran into you.
Lucky: Hey, you feeling okay? You look kind of pale.
Emily: No, I'm -- I’m nervous, that's all. We've -- we've got some pretty big news.
Lucky: Well, you could tell us, or we could just stand around here all night.
Nikolas: Emily and I are engaged.
Emily looks up as Nikolas as he breaks the news. Lucky is stunned.
The foursome is still on the docks.
Lucky: It's kind of weird when you think about it. Elizabeth and I always thought we'd be together forever, and it turns out it's you two all along.
Summer: Yeah, crazy things happen.
Nikolas: The four musketeers was a long time ago.
Lucky: Yeah, it's a whole other life.
Emily: Can you stand an engagement party at Wyndemere?
Lucky: When?
Nikolas: Tomorrow.
Emily: Stefan's putting it together.
Lucky: That guy's a party animal.
Emily: But you'll be there, right?
Lucky: Sure. So will Summer.
Summer: Oh, I don't know about that. That might be a problem. I don't --
Lucky: And she will be treated with respect.
Emily: That's fine with me.
Nikolas: I'd be honored if you'd join us, Summer.
Summer: Thank you, Nikolas.
Emily: Great. We'll see you tomorrow, then.
Just then, Gia and Zander appear at the top of the stairs and they walk down to join them.
Lucky: Okay.
Emily: Okay.
Gia: Don't everyone speak all at once.
Nikolas: Oh, we were just --
Emily: Did Zander tell you that --
Nikolas: Did Zander tell you that -- that I’m getting married?
Gia: Yeah.
Nikolas: Look, it happened really fast, Gia. I should have told you first. I apologize.
Gia: No, I wish you all the best, you know? I guess it was Emily you were waiting for all this time.
Emily: Stefan's giving us a party tomorrow night.
Zander: Um -- congratulations.
Zander sticks his hand out and shakes Nikolas’ hand.
Nikolas: Thank you.
Zander: Well, Em, I guess everything turned out the way it was supposed to. Let's go.
Zander wraps his arm around Gia and she reciprocates and they walk off, leaving Emily staring after them.
Stefan looking at his watch in the drawing room. In comes Alexis.
Stefan: Where have you been? Alexis: I have a very busy life. I can't just run every time you call me. What's the crisis?
Stefan: Nikolas is engaged to Emily Quartermaine. Alexis: Oh. What's the crisis?
Stefan: I was opposed to the engagement. I fought with Nikolas. I'm afraid I’ve alienated him. Alexis: You're always alienating him. If he hasn't severed ties by now, I promise you he never will.
Stefan: Well, I want to find a way to make peace with him. Will you help me redeem myself? Alexis: You're going to have to be more specific.
Stefan: I'm hosting an engagement party here tomorrow night. Alexis: Oh, is that really necessary?
Stefan: Well, I'm trying to find a way to feel good about this, Alexis. Alexis: That isn't your strong suit.
Stefan: But I've always wanted what was best for Nikolas. Alexis: He's not going to do any better than Emily Quartermaine.
Stefan: But don't you think it's a bit sudden? Alexis: I suppose. Is that a problem?
Stefan: Well, in a way. I -- I’m afraid I have alienated Emily, as well. I just want you to help me with the party, try to find a way to smooth things over. Alexis: Here's how you smooth things over. You let Nikolas run his own life. You support his decision to marry Emily. Unless there's something else.
Emily and Nikolas are sitting on the bench on the docks. Nikolas is rubbing her arm and he offers her water. She rests her head on his shoulder under his chin. Gia approaches from the top of the stairs and stands there, spying on them. She overhears everything.
Emily: I don't think deep breathing helps.
Nikolas: Keep trying, keep trying.
Emily: Oh, my God, it's so much worse than before.
Nikolas: Will water help?
Emily: No, I think I would just barf it up all over you.
Nikolas: Okay, on second thought, no water.
Emily: Oh, it's like being seasick in a terrible storm and you can't stop the ocean.
Nikolas: Think still water. Everything's quiet and calm. There you go.
Emily: The surgery wasn't much fun and I’m not looking forward to losing my hair, but the worst part of breast cancer is wanting to throw up every five minutes.
Nikolas: You want a servant to follow you around?
Emily: Don't make me laugh.
Nikolas: Helena left some nice silver bowls laying around. We might as well put them to good use.
Emily: Oh. Ah. Okay. I think it's over.
Nikolas: You sure?
Nikolas turns around to face her and he brushes her hair back. They are laughing at each other.
Emily: Yeah. Think we have enough time to get home?
Nikolas: Yeah, but I can't have you barfing in the jag.
Emily: All right, well, then we better step on it.
Nikolas: I'm putting the top down just in case because --
Emily: You know, after everything we've been through, you still don't trust me not to hurl on your leather upholstery.
Nikolas: Oh, I'm just teasing.
Emily: Sure, that's what you say now. Thank you for helping me with everything.
Nikolas: No problem.
Emily: I'm so glad I don't have to drag Zander through breast cancer.
Zander opens his door and lets Gia in. He’s drinking a beer.
Zander: Look, you know, about before, I'm sorry.
Gia: Emily and Nikolas officially make sense now. I was on my way out to Wyndemere to go blast him and --
Zander: Okay whoa, whoa. What do you mean, they make sense?
Gia: Emily and Nikolas were still on the docks, so I listened. Yeah, that's right. I shamelessly eavesdropped, but I'm glad I did because it explained everything.
Zander: Okay, so what did you find out? Is Nikolas blackmailing her?
Gia: No, it's nothing like that, It's --
Zander: What?
Gia: What I overheard was about me. You know when Nikolas and I kept postponing the wedding? It wasn't about business, at least not for Nikolas. I was just trying to be nice when I was congratulating them, but it's the truth. Nikolas has been waiting for Emily to grow up. He's been in love with her all along.
Zander: I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to hear that. I know how hard that is.
Zander gives Gia a hug, she knows she should have told the truth.
Nikolas leading Emily inside the Quartermaines’ foyer. He guides her to the stairs and they sit down.
Emily: Oh, I didn't realize how far it is from the car to the door.
Nikolas: You want me to carry you up?
Emily: No, I think the family would probably get suspicious.
Nikolas: Why? You're the bride-to-be and I’m the dashing prince. They'd buy it.
Emily: Oh. Thank God I'm not in love with you.
Nikolas: Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking.
Emily: I'd have to lie and push you away.
Nikolas: Yeah, we can't have that.
Emily: Oh, my God. How did everything get so out of control? I mean, I only wanted to protect Zander, and now we're getting married.
Nikolas: There's a lot to be said for long engagements.
Emily: Yeah, we're already having a party to announce it.
Nikolas: Oh, my uncle was just calling our bluff, that's all. We'll get through it. And, you know, after the party, you can change your mind at the last minute and break off the engagement, stand me up at the altar, run back to Zander, that sort of thing.
Emily: Yeah, the plan's -- the plan's already working. Zander's starting to let go. He shook hands with you and everything.
Nikolas: He was lying.
Emily: No, did you see the way he put his arm around Gia?
Nikolas: Mm-hmm.
Emily: I'm sorry. I know this can't be easy for you.
Nikolas: No. Gia and I -- we were over long before any of this.
Emily: But still, you're the kindest person I know. And my plan really is starting to work, which is exactly what I want.
Nikolas: What's wrong? Why do you look like you're about to cry?
Emily: Because I still love Zander, and I always will.
Emily blinks back tears and Nikolas wraps his hand around her hand and pulls her close. They rest foreheads and then he kisses her forehead.
Stefan closes the door on the drawing room. Darius is there. Stefan is pouring himself a drink.
Stefan: I'm hosting a dinner tomorrow to celebrate my nephew's engagement. Everything will be lovely and tragic. Poor Emily will meet with a fatal accident.
Darius: At the party?
Stefan: You will follow my orders to the letter.