Nikolas: What are you thinking about?
Emily: How perfect tonight's been.
Nikolas: Mm-hmm. And we owe it all to Alfred, don't we?
Emily: Yeah. You know what? I think I should go back up to the house right now and tell him how much I appreciate his help.
Nikolas: No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no. Alfred can wait.
Nikolas leans in and kisses Emily.
Nikolas: Happy anniversary.
Music plays.
Emily: You know, it really was thoughtful of Alfred to pack all of my favorite foods. Most men wouldn't have put that much time or effort into something like that.
Nikolas: Mmm. He's quite a guy, that Alfred.
Emily: Mm-hmm. His boss isn't bad, either.
Nikolas: Huh.
Emily: You know, when I came over here tonight, I had no way of knowing that this evening would end like this.
Nikolas: It's just the beginning.
Emily: Hmm. I hope so.
Nikolas: Listen, I don't -- I don't have any idea what the future may hold. But the one thing I know for sure is that I want to spend it with you.
Emily: Me, too.
Colleen: Oh -- I'm -- I'm so sorry. I had no idea you'd still be down here.
Colleen: Uh -- I thought you'd be finished by now -- with the picnic. I -- I came to clean up so Alfred wouldn't have to walk all the way down here. I didn't mean to interrupt.
Nikolas: No, no. No, it's -- it's fine, it's fine. But if you don't mind, we could still use some privacy.
Colleen: Of course. I'm sorry, again, for the intrusion.
Emily: That was no accident.
Nikolas: Oh, I think she was just trying to be helpful.
Emily: Nikolas, that is always her excuse. What Colleen wants is to help me right out your life.
Nikolas: But I would never let that happen.
Emily: Wait I realize that -- that you want to give her the benefit of the doubt. But there is no way that Colleen just happened to walk in here.
Nikolas: No -- no, I -- I trust your instincts. I always have. That's why I did some checking of my own.
Emily: You did?
Nikolas: Mm-hmm.
Emily: Mm-hmm.
Nikolas: I would have told you about it before, but my -- my mother's situation took precedence. I have some interesting information about Colleen. It's in the study.
Nikolas: I know you have some concerns about Colleen, so I decided to dig a little deeper.
Emily: No, no, wait. Nikolas, we really don't have to do this right now.
Nikolas: I don't mind, it's fine, okay.
Emily: No.
Nikolas: It's right here.
Emily: Okay. All right. Well, let me just -- what do you -- what do you have? What is this?
Nikolas: It's information on Colleen's former employers. There was nothing in there that would indicate she had anything to do th either of their deaths.
Emily: Are you sure?
Nikolas: Well, the car accident victim had a history of alcohol abuse. Several D.U.I.S on his record. The other had extensive medical problems, any of which could have led to the weakening of his heart, and I just --
Emily: Wait, so, what about the one that -- that went missing?
Nikolas: He was an adrenaline freak. Hang-gliding was one of the safer activities he chose to participate in.
Emily: No. Not on this day. Nikolas, don't you find it the least bit suspicious that Colleen was the last person to see him alive?
Nikolas: Yes. I -- I know how it looks. But there's no proof. There's no proof in there that would indicate she was involved with his disappearance.
Emily: Okay. I -- I guess my instincts about her have been all wrong.
Nikolas: Well, not entirely.
Nikolas: I know you've had reservations about Colleen since the first day you met her, you know, and that's not something I can just ignore. If having her here is a problem for you, I'll just get another nanny.
Emily: You obviously trust Colleen.
Nikolas: Well, I don't think she would ever hurt Spencer or -- or me, for that matter, despite my grandmother's best efforts to convince me otherwise.
Emily: You think Helena's lying about Colleen?
Nikolas: I think she looked into Colleen's background and found a perfect scapegoat.
Emily: I just find it hard to believe that Helena would ever want you dead.
Nikolas: I'm not the heir anymore, Emily. Spencer is. I've become an impediment to my grandmother's plans to control my son.
Emily: If you honestly believe that Helena's responsible for everything that's happening in this house -- you know, Alfred, his collapse, the cinch on your saddle being cut -- then why consider letting Colleen go?
Nikolas: Because I've noticed how possessive she gets of Spencer and of me whenever you're around. If -- if we're going to have any kind of future together, I just think it's best that I find another nanny to take care of my son.
Emily: It's hard to believe that Christmas is only three weeks away.
Nikolas: It's even harder to believe that I haven't done a thing about it. Spencer's first Christmas, I'm yet to buy him a gift or even a tree, for that matter.
Emily: Okay, well, if you want, we can go pick out a tree together.
Nikolas: Okay. Only on one condition, though.
Emily: What's that -- I help you decorate it?
Nikolas: Help me enjoy it. Spend the holidays here.
Emily: With you?
Nikolas: Yeah, and Spencer. I'd like to ring in the New Year together, as a family? Oh, I'm not -- I'm not pushing you --
Emily: No, no, no, no.
Nikolas: Too hard or anything?
Emily: Uh-uh, no.
Nikolas: No?
Emily: It's the perfect way to spend the holidays.
Colleen: I trusted your daddy and he pushed me aside like I was nothing, just to please her. His precious Emily is jealous of what we have together. She wants to take away our family, and your daddy is letting her do it. But I don't want you to worry, Spencer. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure you're always with me.
Emily: Since this is Spencer's first Christmas, I just wanted to make it memorable.
Alfred: Hmm. How may I be of assistance?
Emily: I was hoping that you would help me decorate, huh?
Alfred: Mm-hmm.
Emily: A few wreaths, you know, maybe some garland.
Alfred: Hmm, consider it done. I'm pleased that you'll be joining us here for the holidays.
Emily: I wouldn't miss it.
Alfred: Hmm.
Emily: You know, Nikolas went to a lot of trouble tonight to convince me.
Alfred: I'm afraid you getting locked in the stables was my doing, not Master Nikolas.
Emily: You don't have to cover, Alfred. I know stranding us down here was all Nikolas' idea.
Alfred: About time, if you asked me.
Nikolas: Did Colleen mention where she was going?
Alfred: No, sir.
Emily: Hmm. What's wrong?
Nikolas: Spencer's not in his room. I can't find him or Colleen anywhere.
Alfred: Oh.