“The jet’s fueled and ready for us,” Alex Masters broke the silence as he strode back over to the others after speaking with the WSB pilot. “Whenever you guys are ready.”

Frisco gave his friend a distracted look. “Thanks Alex.” He paused, somehow aware of how inadequate that sounded. “And thanks for agreeing to come with us.”

“No problem. You should know that anytime you need to me to watch your back I’ll be there I just wish...” He hesitated, feeling the awkwardness of the situation come down on them again. “Hell, you know what I wish Robin. It should be you heading out on that plane today. This is your case.”

Robin shook her head heavily, her large eyes dark and shadowed. The last 12 hours since Frisco had told her about her suspension had been among the darkest in her life, rivaled only by the hours after she discovered she was HIV positive, the hours after Stone died, and the hours after she had fled from Port Charles after her break up with Jason. She had never realized before just exactly how much being an agent was connected to her identity, to her sense of self. If she wasn’t a WSB agent, then who was she?

“My fiancée.” Frisco’s fierce reminder startled Robin who had not realized that she had spoken that last thought out loud. “Remember that. Always. Besides the suspension isn’t permanent. Six months will be over before you know it.”

Robin nodded, trying hard to control her emotion. Frisco was going off to face a showdown with a man who would kill him without giving it a second thought. He would need every bit of skill and energy he had to bring himself, Lucky, and Lulu back home alive. She didn’t want him getting careless because he was worried about her. “I’ll be fine. Honest. At the very least some down time will give me a chance to work on our wedding plans uninterrupted for a bit.”

“Considering the number of times Felicia has called asking if you had decided on a color scheme so she could order Maxie and Georgie’s dresses, that might not be a bad idea. Maybe we’ll even end up thanking Sean for this suspension some day. Hell when this is over I’ll take a few months off and we’ll take a real honeymoon. One of those long cruises around the world or something like that.”

Robin mustered up a grin. “No cruises. The last friend I knew who took off on a cruise around the world disappeared off the face of the earth.”

Frisco’s smile faltered a bit as he stared into the depth of Robin’s doe like eyes. He loved her. She would probably never quite realize how much or how desperately he loved her. At the risk of indulging in cliches, something he tried to avoid like the plague, he loved her more than his own life. It was that simple. That complex. “I hate this...” He breathed deeply and expelled it in a sudden rush. “I hate all of this. Going off on a mission without you. Sean suspending you. If I could....”

“Shhh. I know.” Gently Robin touched her fingertip to his lips. “It’s okay. We’re okay.”

“When we get back,” Frisco murmured his voice curiously both harsh and gentle at the same time, “I’m thinking some tropical island, you, me, and a hotel suite with unlimited room service. It’s been too long since its been about you and me without worrying about the WSB or Faison or saving the world. I think we’re entitled to some down time.”

Robin nodded, her own eyes glistening with tears. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Don’t worry about me.” Frisco whispered lightly. “I’m the proverbial cat with nine lives. I’ll be okay.”

Robin stared at him, trying to appear as confident as he did. He could handle this. There was no one better at what they did, not her, not Lucky. When it came to this kind of a mission, Frisco was simply the best. But God how she wished she was going along to watch his back. To make sure he was safe.

She shivered inwardly. She’d lost so much so many different times in her life. Her parents. Stone. Then Jason. Sonny. Herself. Now she faced the possibility of losing Frisco. Frisco who had helped her to heal her shattered life all those years ago. Frisco who had given her a career and a love that had made life worth living again.

She really didn’t think she could handle losing him.

“We’ll get him Robin. This time we’ll make sure he’s taken care of. As much as I hate to say it, thanks to Corinthos we know where Faison is. That means we have the element of surprise on our side. We control the game. Faison is as good as finished.”

Robin shook her head. “Please don’t underestimate him.”

Frisco nodded grimly. “I won’t. I can’t. But this game is going to end in Italy. I can feel it.”

“If my mother is alive...” She began, just forming the words seemed like such an incredibly alien act that she stopped, uncertain of how to go on.

“I’ll bring her back. Back where she belongs.” He moved to pull her closer. “Stay safe.” His eyes darted to the WSB agents guarding her discreetly stationed a few feet away.

“You too.” Please God keep him safe since I can’t this time. “I love you Frisco Jones.”

“I hope so because I’m kind of head over heals in love with you Robin Scorpio.” He brushed a couple of strands of dark brown hair out of her face. “I have plans for a future that include the two of us dancing at our golden anniversary together.”

“Frisco.....”

“No. I mean it. I love you. You’ve brought life and love and laughter into my life when all I thought I had that was of any meaning was my job. Thanks to you not only do I have someone to love who loves me, but I’m slowly finding a place in my daughters’ lives again. You’ve given me so much and I refuse to give you up. I refuse to lose you. I refuse to lose what we have together. I won’t let Faison steal our future. And I won’t let AIDS steal it either. I’m not giving up hope. I believe that we’ll have that golden anniversary dance. All I need to make it happen is to know that you believe it too.”

Robin made no attempt to hold back her tears as she tried to submerge herself into his strength. Her voice when it came was shaky with emotion but strong with conviction. “I believe.”

Wordlessly she reached up and he claimed her lips in a kiss that was both deeply passionate and tinged with desperation. There was no further need of words between them.

After a long moment, Frisco managed to pull gently away. After one long look, he he dropped a gentle kiss on Robin’s forehead before picking up his leather duffel bag and turning to Alex. “I’m ready.”

“That’s good,” Alex Masters said casually before turning and pointing in the opposite direction. “But somehow I don’t think he is.”

Following the direction of his fingers, Frisco turned to see Lucky standing off to the side with Emily in a tight embrace, the younger couple oblivious to everything as they said their own good-byes. .

There were hard times
I know I survived
Just because you stayed by my side
With all I have, with all I am
I promise you all my life

Lucky lifted his lips from Emily’s and pulled her tighter into his embrace, if that was humanly possible. His hand caressed her back gently. “Shhh. Emily it’s okay. Don’t cry, okay? God Em I can’t stand it when you cry.”

“I’m not crying,” her voice was muffled against his sweater. “I don’t cry.” The words were said fiercely and full of pride.

He almost laughed. But it was hard to laugh when his heart was breaking at the thought of leaving her. “I know. You’re strong Emily. The strongest person I know.”

“Only because you love me Lucky. Only because of that.”

Lucky wanted to refute that statement, wanted to point out to her all that she had accomplished before he had reentered her life, but they had precious few minutes left and he refused to spend them in a pointless argument. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be back before you know it with Lulu and all of this will be over.” He saw the doubt and fear mingled in her eyes and shook his head. “We’ve come to far Emily, been through too much to let anything stop us now.”

Looking into his eyes, Emily believed him and nodded, holding at bay the dark thoughts triggered when she remembered that cold madness in Faison’s eyes. She tried not to think about all the things Faison had implied about the time he had held Lucky captive.

“I love you Lucky.” Emily said the words quietly but he heard the vow in them nonetheless. “Whatever happens, don’t forget that for a moment. I expect you to come back to me.”

He nodded, understanding the hidden meaning behind her words. He was about to face head on his worst nightmare, but he wasn’t going to be alone. That was the incredibly wonderful thing about being in love, you could be a million miles away from the person you loved and still never ever really be alone. “I couldn’t do this if I didn’t have you to come back to.” He lowered his head and kissed her hard, both of them breathless when he finally lifted his head again. “When this is over, we’ll go somewhere quiet where we won’t be disturbed and we’ll talk. I promise you that Em.” He shuddered with the effort it took to say the next words, even though he knew that the time for honesty had come. “There won’t be any secrets between us again.”

Emily blinked back her tears, knowing how much it had cost him to make that promise. Revealing the truth about Faison’s torture and imprisonment of him was not something Lucky wanted to do, but he would for her. A part of her wanted to tell him to forget it, that she didn’t need to know the truth if it was going to cost him any pain. The larger part of her knew that if they were going to make it as a couple than even the darkest part of their pasts had to be shared. No secrets.

Still right now at this moment she didn’t care about his past, just their future. “Just be careful Lucky. Please.”

“He won’t win this time Em.” Lucky swore softly as his thumb wiped the tears from her cheek. “Nothing is going to keep me from coming back.” He closed his eyes as he inhaled the scent of her and committed to member the feel of her. “Not when you love me even half as much as I love you.”

She said nothing just pressed her cheek against his chest and listened quietly to his heartbeat, knowing without a doubt that there was no more beautiful sound in the world.

“We are okay, aren’t we?” Lucky’s voice betrayed just the tiniest doubt as he contemplated again the stupidity of some of his recent actions.

She looked up, surprised to see the doubt in his eyes flare up again. She sighed inwardly, if growing up a Quartermaine had made her insecure about some things, than she knew that Lucky’s victimization by Faison had made him insecure about some things too. She smiled at him, letting him read the love shining from her eyes. “We’re more than okay, Lucky. I love you and I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you no matter what.” She found herself blushing a little as she realized what she had said.

This time Lucky did laugh a little. “Hey, you’re not getting any argument from me. I realized that you were my fate when I found myself chasing you halfway across the country.”

“But you found me.”

“I found you.” He agreed smiling. “And I’m not letting you go.” He bent down and kissed her again.

This time when he stopped, Emily glanced around for the first time. “I think you’re going to have to,” She whispered teasingly. “Or Frisco and Alex aren’t going to let you have the window seat.”

Lucky blushed but continued to hold onto her. “Take care of yourself.”

“I’m not the one going off into danger.”

“No, you’re the one who almost died just a few weeks ago, who still can’t walk up the stairs to her loft without stopping to catch your breath, and who could stand to gain about ten more pounds.” He stopped her protests with his fingers as he gently laid them across her lips. “You know I’m right. I need to know that you are taking care of yourself Emily. No work. Nothing but sleep and relaxation.”

She nodded.

He shook his head. “I mean it. I’ve already called AJ and told him to send you home if you dare show up at ELQ. I also told Lark not to send over any files or papers you request.”

He silenced her protest this time with another kiss, this one full of unspoken good-byes. “I love you Em. More than I ever thought possible.”

Lucky picked up his duffel bag and turned to the others, but he didn’t loosen his grip on Emily’s hand. His gaze caught Robin’s and he looked right at her.

“I’m trusting you to take care of the most important person in my life.” His voice was solemn and intense.

Robin nodded . “I’m trusting you to take care of the most important person in my life.” Her tone was equally serious. After a moment, she smiled at him and they hugged each other.

“I wish you were coming,” Lucky whispered softly.

“Me too.” Robin replied before Frisco spoke up.

“It’s time.”

Lucky turned back to Emily. “Tell my mom I’ll bring our princess back home.”

Emily nodded, afraid to speak as she understand the unspoken message. Lucky would bring back his sister or die trying.

“I know you will.” She reached up and kissed him gently on the cheek. “I don’t regret one moment between us Lucky. Not one.”

He nodded. “Hope you can say that in fifty years Emily.”

“I will. Just come back.” He didn’t say anything, just tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear before dropping her hand.

Reluctantly, he pulled away from her and she stood and watched as he joined Alex and Frisco on the long walk to the plane that would take them into the final battle with a mad man who could kill them all.

Whenever the road is too long
Whenever the wind is too strong
Wherever the journey may lead to
I will be there for you
I will be there for you

The two young women, one tall and one petite but both strong in their own right, stood and watched as the men they loved walked up the steps into the WSB jet and disappeared from view.

“It isn’t right.” Emily’s words were so soft, Robin would not have heard them if they were not a direct echo of her own thoughts. “He’s going to need me and I won’t be there.”

“He’s tougher than you think. He can handle this.” Robin replied, not sure if she was talking about Frisco or Lucky and not sure that it even mattered.

“That’s not the point. Facing Faison,” Emily’s gaze was locked on the plane as it made its way down the runway so she didn’t see Robin flinch as she continued. “it’s not something he should go through alone. I should be there. I need to be there. He needs me to be there.”

Robin nodded, her own thoughts racing furiously. She was on a six month suspension that could be permanent if she did what she wanted more than anything to do. Suddenly, she knew exactly what she had to do. Being a WSB agent was important, but Frisco was the most important thing in her life. And Faison, Faison was her problem. Almost her inheritance in a strange and twisted way. It was her job to finish what her parents had started all those years ago.

Her eyes glinting with a renewed sense of purpose, Robin turned to Emily. “Does ELQ have any business interest in Italy?”

The change of topic threw Emily off, but she figured it was Robin’s way of distracting her. “Not much because of the foothold Cassadine Industries has in the Mediterranean region. Although we do have controlling interest in this software design firm in Sicily. It’s not very profitable at the moment which is why Nik and Stefan overlooked it, but my sources, mostly acquaintances of Sonny’s, all think the guy heading it is a genius and he’ll revolutionize the...”

“Emily.” Robin interrupted impatiently. “Does this company require your personal attention?”

“Not really. I mean I was just there in early November and everything was ...” Emily stopped and a smile crossed her face as she finally caught on. “Now that you mention it, I think there might be one or two small problems that I should probably check out in person. You know now that I think about it, I think a trip to Italy on the ELQ jet is required for this particular situation.” She paused. “Want to hitchhike a ride?”

Robin grinned. “I was afraid you would never ask.” Through sorrow
Or the darkest night
When there's heartache
Deep down inside
Just like a prayer, you will be there
And I promise you all my life

Over the Atlantic.

Frisco leaned back against the leather chair, casually leafing through the latest Sports Illustrated. “Sixty minutes.” He murmured without looking up.

“Too long. I say thirty minutes,” Lucky replied without looking up from his lap top where he was downloading from the WSB computers all the known information they had on the area of Italy they were going to. “Forty five at the most.”

“I don’t know. Emily might be hard to convince.”

Lucky laughed outright. “Em? You’ve got to be kidding?”

“What are you to talking about?” Alex removed the headphones from the DVD player he was watching.

“Robin,” Frisco replied calmly. “Who will probably be there at the airport in Rome to meet us.”

“What? But how? She’s suspended.”

“The how is easy,” Lucky replied as calm as Frisco. “Emily.”

“Emily?”

“Emily.” He looked up to see that Alex was still looking confused. “One of the things about dating one of the richest women in the world not to mention one who is destined to be the CEO of one of the biggest international conglomerates ever, besides trying to figure out what to buy her for her birthday, is that she has this little toy she likes to call a jet at her disposal.”

Frisco snorted. “Jet? Hell the thing is a rocket. Makes this thing look like a model- T.”

“Let’s just say that the ELQ jet is strictly state of the art. Probably twice as fast as this one.”

“And you think Emily and Robin are going to take the ELQ jet to Italy.”

“Don’t think it, know it.” Frisco said with a yawn.

“Are you crazy man? Faison’s there.”

An intense look entered Frisco’s face as he lost all pretense of casualness. “I know that. And I know what he is capable of. But this is Robin’s fight more than it’s mine or the WSB’s. Next to Junior over there Robin has more of a right to be in on this than anyone. Suspension or no suspension.” He paused. “Besides, I’m not exactly crazy about the idea but I have to trust her. Trust her abilities and her skill. God knows she’s pulled me out of the fire more often than I’d care to admit.”

Alex turned to Lucky in disbelief. “What about you? Robin’’s a trained agent, but Emily’s not. You can’t be okay with this.”

Lucky’s jaw tightened. “I’m not. But I trust Robin to keep Emily safe.”

“You’re both nuts.” Alex threw up his hands in defeat. “I hope you know what you’re doing letting Emily and Robin head into this nightmare alone.”

“We didn’t say anything about them being alone.” Lucky replied easily. “Let’s just say that with the help of one overprotective big brother we were able to make sure that the ELQ jet is equipped with a little additional security.” The ELQ jet

Sitting in the navigator’s seat of the luxuriously appointed cockpit, the tall dark man watched with a half smile as the pilot and copilot began their maneuvers for take off.

“Showtime,” Marcus Taggert whispered softly as he leaned back and wondered where the next 72 hours would lead.

Whenever the road is too long
Whenever the wind is too strong
Wherever the journey may lead to
I will be there for you
I will be there for you

Whenever the road is too long
Whenever the wind is too strong
Wherever the journey may lead to
I will be there for you
I will be there for you
I'll always be there