Chapter 4

The next day…

Nikolas got off the launch brining back some breakfast for Emily and himself. 
Last night had been incredible. Holding her hand, having his arm around her as 
they walked along the docks. It was something he had fantasized about many times 
before. But it was also an eye opener. If Nikolas wanted Emily he had to tell 
her. He had to let her know he wanted her. He entered the living room of 
Wyndemere but stopped when he saw Emily sitting on the couch. He walked towards 
her slowly and found her with her legs pulled to her chest tightly. She hugged 
them tightly her head bowed and her forehead resting on her knees. His heart 
sank when he heard her soft sobs. "Emily?” He called out and she heard him. She 
placed her feet on the floor and wiped her face swiftly, “Nikolas, hi.” She said 
quickly.

He sat beside her on the couch and saw her tear stained cheeks, “Emily, what's 
wrong?” Nikolas questioned while she tried to wipe away her tears.

"I didn't think you were here. I thought…" Emily stopped herself and shook her 
head, “It doesn't really matter what I thought. I always think the wrong thing. 
I'm stupid."

"What?” Nikolas frowned, “Emily, you are one of the smartest women I've ever 
met."

Emily sighed, “You're just saying that."

Nikolas took one of her hands in his and used the other to turn her to him, 
“Emily," He paused, “You are the smartest woman I've ever know. Don't doubt 
that."

Emily smiled thankfully, “I feel like an idiot, Nikolas. I always find myself in 
love with the wrong guy. Now, E.J. is in Port Charles and I don't know what to 
do. He's not going to leave me alone, you know that?” She closed her eyes and 
stood.

Nikolas got up and walked up behind her as she stared into oblivion, “Emily, 
just because you fell for one jerk doesn't make you stupid.” He insisted resting 
his hands on her shoulders.

"Nikolas, I… I don't know what to do anymore. I came home to get some sort of 
peace.” She turned around to face him her tears falling rapidly, “I came back to 
you, and Liz, and Lucky because I knew I could be happy but now he's here!  He's 
going to ruin everything!” 

"No, Emily, he won't. I promise.” He vowed while Emily looked at him innocently, 
“Emily, everything's going to be fine, you'll see."

Emily nodded before turning to him and hug him tightly, “God, Nikolas, I'm 
thinking of swearing off men all together. They're all a pain in the neck, 
present company excluded.” She told him and closed her eyes while holding him 
tightly. Nikolas grinned to himself while wrapping his arms around her pulling 
her even closer. Emily laughed nervously pulling away a little so she could look 
into his eyes, “I'm sorry. I'm acting childish."

Nikolas lifted a hand to her face using his thumb to wipe away some of her 
tears, “No. You're not.” He stroked her cheek sweeping some of her behind her 
ear, “You're hurt that's all."

Emily looked down while still in Nikolas' arms, “I must look horrible after all 
the crying I've been doing.” She laughed looking up meeting his eyes again. 

His hand rested on her shoulder close to her neck as he whispered, “You're 
beautiful."

Emily smiled happily, “Thanks.” She said softly not knowing how to react to 
Nikolas. Nikolas continued to stroke her neck and cheek with his hand while 
Emily tried to figure out what was going on. She was terrified when Nikolas 
started leaning toward her but she didn't pull away instead she closed her eyes 
waiting for something to happen. She was a little shocked when she felt Nikolas 
lips on hers. Nikolas kissed her placing his hands on her shoulders then letting 
them fall to her waist feeling her responded very slowly. It took Emily a moment 
to realize what was going on but when she did the only thing she wanted to do 
was respond. She began to kiss him their lips parting letting their mouth 
explore each other's. But then the kiss ended. Abruptly. Both of them gasping 
for air. Emily looked at Nikolas shocked and Nikolas just looked away. She 
swallowed the lump in her throat before speaking, “Wha…"Or at least trying. 

Nikolas ran his hands through his hair before responding, “Emily, I'm sorry. I 
didn't mean to… I would… I never want things between us to change but…" Nikolas 
struggled to speak finding it hard to speak after that kiss, “That's a lie.” 
Nikolas said sadly, “I want everything to change between us." 

Emily shook her head with tears her eyes, “Nikolas, what are you trying to say?” 

"I'm… I'm sick of pretending that I love being just friends with you, Emily. I'm 
sick of not being able to… act on what I feel for you.” Nikolas told her.

"What are you talking about?!” Emily asked again her tears beginning to fall.

"Emily," He paused a long silent pause then looked deeply into her eyes, “I'm in 
love with you."

Emily's eyes widened, “You're what?!” 

"I'm in love with you.” Nikolas confessed again and tried not to panic under 
Emily's shocked look. She turned away from him and placed a hand on the table 
like she had lost her balance. Nikolas almost placed his hands on her again but 
decided against it. Instead he lifted them to his face and whispered, “I'm 
sorry, Emily. It's just… I can't pretend anymore."

Emily shook her head crossing her arms and turning back to him, “Why now?” She 
asked strongly but her look seemed purely painful. Nikolas began to speak but 
she continued, “Why after all this time? Why now? Why would you fall for me now? 
I haven't changed, Nikolas!  I am still the same Emily you have always known!” 

"No, it's different!” Nikolas insisted not knowing how to explain. 

"Nothing's different!  I'm still a model, I'm still you're silent friend, I'm 
still making mistakes, and the only difference is my age and I don't see that 
being a major factor!  So, why?!” Emily questioned angrily. This whole 
confession had gotten to her in a way she didn't want.

"You're right, Emily. You haven't changed," Nikolas paused and took her hand in 
his, “But I have.” He smiled reassuringly, “Emily, through everything… you've 
been there. I don't know how to explain it somewhere, somehow it happened. I'm 
not going to say I regret telling you either because I don't. I love you, 
Emily."

Emily smiled sadly, “Nikolas, you honestly have no idea what you're talking 
about."

Nikolas frowned in confusion, “What?”

"You don't love me. I'm not some interesting woman like Katherine or even Robin. 
I'm the same girl who got blackmailed, I'm still the same girl who walked in on… 
you, and I'm still the same girl who found my boyfriend having sex with my room 
mate in my dorm room!  I am not some complex person who's going to spice things 
up for you!  You don't love me, just like I don't love you!” Emily shouted 
trying to keep herself from getting hurt again.

Nikolas crossed her arms, “I'm not imagining things!  I don't care if you think 
that you're not my ideal woman because you are, Emily!  That's the whole reason 
I've been nervous around you the whole time you've been here!  That's the reason 
I've been jealous of that jerk, E.J.!  It's why I want you back in Port Charles 
with me, Lucky, and Liz!  That's the reason I didn't know what to do the night 
you told me to get in bed with you.” Emily's look softened slightly and he 
added, “I wanted so much more that night. More than you could ever imagine."

Emily's heart stopped and her look softened, “I can't believe you're saying this 
to me.” She thought aloud and took a few steps before she sat down on the couch, 
“I don't… I don't know what to say, Nikolas.” Emily placed her face in her 
hands, “What do you expect me to say?” 

Nikolas walked over to the couch and took a seat beside her, “You don't have to 
say anything. I don't expect you to say anything. I just… I want you to know."

Emily let out a small laugh, “Nikolas, you picked a really horrible time to tell 
me this.” Nikolas grinned at the comment knowing she believed him. She placed a 
hand on his face and sighed, “You're going to have to give me some time, ok? I 
can't… I don't know how to react."

Nikolas took her hand in his and kissed it softly, “We've got all the time in 
the world. Take as much as you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Emily kissed his cheek and inhaled deeply, “Thank you.” She told him before 
standing up and leaving the room to go to her room upstairs. Nikolas closed his 
eyes and shook his head. He knew this was probably the worst time to reveal the 
truth but… he couldn't hide it anymore. He didn't want to. Nikolas' only concern 
was that it might scare Emily.


Upstairs…

Emily picked up the phone and quickly dialed the number, “Kelsey? Yea, it's me. 
Listen, I gotta get back1 to L.A. Do you mind if I stayed with you? Yea?!  Thank 
you so much. I'll probably be there sometime tomorrow. Yea, see ya then.” She 
hung up the phone and took a deep breath before standing and looking around the 
room, “I'm outta here.” Emily told herself before beginning to pack.