Later that morning

The Penthouse

Jason Morgan closed the door of the penthouse behind him, strangely grateful for the silence and emptiness that met him. Shrugging out of the leather jacket he wore, he moved to the small side bar to make himself a drink before heading up stairs to take a shower and change his clothes before his meeting with Sonny later on.

He'd been at the hospital waiting for word on Jessica most of the night and that morning, once the doctors had assured him that both Jessica and her baby were out of danger he had left his best men guarding both Jessie and Emily and came home to clean up and check on some business. His eyes narrowed dangerously, once Johnny reported in and he had solid proof to back up his suspicions he would take any step necessary to eliminate the threat to both girls.

He froze and his hand went to the gun still in his holster as he heard a noise in his living room and the light clicked on.

"You really need to do something about your security system Morgan."

Jason scowled at the figure reclining against his sofa. "I thought you were over that death wish of yours. Isn't the fact that you're about to become a father exciting enough for you." Jason relaxed and removed his gun. "What in the world possessed you to break into my place? I could have shot you you know."

"Let's see....why would I break into the home of a well known mobster?" Pause. "I don't know. Maybe because I could?" A shrug. "Besides you wouldn't dare shoot me, you're as afraid of Cassie's temper as I am."

"Only a madman or a complete idiot is not afraid of that Kramer temper." Jason remarked wryly as he moved to the sidebar and poured himself a shot of his best whiskey and reached into the small fridge attached to the sidebar for a beer. "So how is she?"

"She's fine although I myself have developed a strong dislike for pickles and peanut butter on vanilla ice cream with hot fudge."

Jason grinned. "And here I thought you thrived on the strange and bizarre."

"Hey a little respect please, you are talking to the person who managed to break us out of that Mexican jail." Kevin Buchanan leaned back as he accepted the beer Jason offered.

"I'm also talking to the person responsible for getting us thrown into that Mexican jail in the first place." Jason reminded him.

"You're just mad because I relented and let Asa and Edward out too."

"A sure sign that you're certifiably insane."

"Nah, just a sure sign that I know where my Christmas presents for the next twenty or so years are coming from. Besides," Kevin shrugged, "without Asa around I'd be spending all my time reporting on dog shows or baby contests." A familiar light gleamed in Kevin's eyes. "You ready to give me that exclusive interview yet? I can see it now: A Day In The Life of A Modern Day Mobster. It absolutely rings of a Pulitzer Prize. Maybe a book deal? A movie deal? I'm thinking we get Brad Pitt to play you, maybe DeNiro as Corinthos...."

Jason sighed as he sat down. "Shouldn't you be checking in on Jessica at the hospital?"

"Already called the hospital and checked in on her. She's going to be fine and I kind of thought she and Rappaport could use some alone time, so I decided to come and bug my favorite mobster." Kevin sighed dramatically. "Of course now that my mom is marrying Ben I can't say you're my only mobster although I guess technically Ben is an ex-mobster so it doesn't count still you know that no one can ever replace you in my affections....."

"Buchanan."

"Yeah."

"Shut up and drink."

A few minutes later.

Jason leaned back against the leather sofa and closed his eyes. "So, what's your opinion of Rappaport?"

"Will?" At Jason's nod Kevin continued. "He's a good guy. He loves my sister. And he's a hell of a lot more fun to talk to than the Neanderthal she was dating." He grinned. "Nice to see my sister's taste in men improved as she got older."

"I know what you mean. I swear I would have left Emily in that bordello in Mexico if I had known she was going to end up dating a roach like Juan Santiago. Hell, he may be Sonny's stepson and I really liked Lily, but the kid makes Fred Flintstone look enlightened." Jason shuddered. "I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually prefer Cassadine."

"Let's face it," Kevin leaned over to bang his beer can against Jason's shot glass. "If we both had our way our sisters would be locked away in a convent and only allowed to emerge after they hit 30." He thought for a moment longer. "Maybe 40."

"It sounds good to me." He exhaled slowly. "Still Jessie didn't turn out that badly. She's a pretty good kid."

"And Emily is a lovely young lady," Kevin drawled slowly. "I don't think we did that badly."

"Are you kidding? We're wonderful big brothers. I mean look at how many times I've rescued Emily from the Quartermaines."

"And I've definitely done my fair share of running interference between Jessica and Asa." Kevin nodded sagely.

"When you haven't been actively sucking up to the old man," Jason agreed.

"Hey! You know not all of us are lucky enough to inherit a Mafia boss's territory." Kevin relaxed. "Some of us had to work hard to get to where we are."

"Right- reporting for the newspaper your grandfather founded and your mother runs. I can definitely see how hard it's been for you to claw and scratch your way to the top."

"Damn right." Kevin grinned After a moment, he opened his eyes and stared at the Mafia kingpin closely. "So what's the plan?"

"The plan is you check in on your sister and then go back to Llanview."

"Try again."

Jason sighed. "This isn't a game of make believe Buchanan. My guess is whoever pushed Jessie in that river is somehow connected to a mall falling in on Emily and those blasted pictures Emily received. The explosion in the mall was bad and several bystanders were killed. My guess is that they meant to kill Jess last night and would have succeeded if Will hadn't been there." He looked at Kevin. "This might get messy. You have a family to think about."

"Jessica is my family. I talked to Cassie before I came, she knows how I feel and she's okay with it. Keeping Jessica and Emily safe is my priority at the moment." Kevin hesitated. "Both girls are too important to me to take chances with their safety. Whatever you're planning, I want in. And if you don't give in gracefully, I'll use my considerable reporting skills not to mention my unparalleled breaking and entering skills to trail along."

"You just can't go back to Llanview and trust me to handle this, can you?"

"Would you if it were Emily?"

"Not a chance." Jason picked up a manila folder from the coffee table. "Here, read this."

The room was silent for a moment before Kevin looked up. "Tell me you're kidding."

A worried frown crossed Jason's face. "I wish I could. I really wish I could."

Kelly's

Emily leaned in against Nikolas's shoulder and closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the summer afternoon drift into the distance. She smiled softly as she felt his arm come around her and he dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I should take you home."

Emily opened her eyes. "I'm not sleepy." The soft protest would have worked if she hadn't chosen that moment to yawn.

Nikolas grinned at her. "Oh no, not a bit." He teased.

"Okay maybe I'm a little tired." Emily acknowledged wryly. "It's just so great you know that Jess and the baby are both going to be okay. I was so scared that they wouldn't be."

"I know." He smiled as she yawned again. "I really think I need to take you home."

Emily shook her head. "Not yet, please." She snuggled closer to his warmth. "Home means dealing with Edward and Mom and Dad and all of their craziness. I just want to be here with you for a little while longer." Her eyes drifted shut. "I love you Nikolas."

"Keep saying things like that and I'm never going to let you out of my sight again."

"Sounds good to me."

"That's good because I'm counting on the two of us being together for the rest of our lives."

Emily's eyes flew open. "Really?" Her brown eyes looked into his, searchingly.

"God yes," Nikolas turned her gently so that they were face to face in the small booth. "I love you Emily Bowen Quartermaine. I love your smile. I love your gentleness. I love how much you care about your friends and your family. Most of all, I love the way being around you makes me feel. I can't imagine my life without you and there's no way in hell that I'm going to try to live it without you."

Emily drew a shaky breath. "Be careful Cassadine that sounds an awfully lot like a proposal."

"It isn't." He smiled at the look of disappointment that crossed her face. "It isn't because we're in the middle of Kelly's and we're both exhausted and you just finished highschool a few weeks ago and I don't want to rush you or anything." Nikolas ran out of breath and paused, a determined look on his face. "But it will be Emily. Someday when it's right and we're ready, it will be. You know that, don't you?"

Emily bit her lip to hold back the tears. "I know. And you know what my answer will be, don't you?"

"I know." He leaned forward and kissed her, a kiss meant to be gentle but which nonetheless took her breath away and left her shaky as she backed away.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" She whispered as she moved back into the crook of his shoulder "I just wish...." Her voice trailed off.

"Wish what?"

"I wish that I could remember."

Nikolas hoped she wouldn't feel the surge of tension in him. God he didn't want her to remember. Not now. He shuddered inwardly at the idea of seeing that look in her eyes again.

He would rather that she never remember the last year than remember those damned photographs.

"It's okay." His voice was gentle. "It's okay if you don't remember. As long as we're together again, everything else will take care of itself."

After a moment, he felt Emily nod and he relaxed.

"So what's on the agenda for tonight?"

He laughed. "Sleep I think."

"With you?"

Nikolas inhaled sharply, fighting the need to say yes. "If I said yes I don't think we'd get much sleeping done."

"And the problem with that would be..." Emily's voice trailed off sleepily.

Nikolas wanted to say nothing. He wanted to pick her up and take her someplace beautiful and private and make love to her until the rest of the world disappeared.

But he couldn't help the nagging voice within that said it would be wrong. Wrong because there was so much Emily didn't remember. As badly as he never wanted her to remember, there was a part of him that was screaming at him that she deserved to know the truth. That making love to her now would be the ultimate act of deceit.

Unconsciously, he pulled away from her. "You need to sleep," he struggled to keep the words and his tone light, even his confusion mounted. "Besides, I have a meeting with Stefan tonight about Cassadine Industries anyway." He kissed her cheek softly. "Get some sleep tonight and tomorrow I'll take you out for a night on the town."

Emily stared at him for a second before nodding.

When his cell phone chose that moment to ring, Nikolas answered it quickly. He listened for a few moments and then nodded. "All right. I'll be right there."

"Who was it?"

Nikolas sighed even as he kissed her gently and began to slide out of the booth. "It was Laura. She wants to see me about Lulu." He shrugged. "It's probably nothing, you know how overprotective she's been about Lulu since Lucky died but I should still..."

"Go see what she wants." Emily finished. "It's okay."

"I can take you home first."

"You don't need to."

"I want to."

"No it's okay," Emily said softly. "I don't feel quite up to the mansion now anyway. I think I'll hang out here for a while and then go check up on Jess."

"I don't like the idea of leaving you alone."

"You're not," Emily pointed to Jason's guards. "I can grab a ride home with Francis when I'm ready."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Just give Lulu my love will you?"

"Always." Nikolas bent forward and kissed her urgently for a minute or so before stepping back. "I love you."

"Nikolas!" Liz interrupted them and Emily wondered why her friend's voice sent shivers up her spine. The other girl had obviously just entered Kelly's for her shift. "I was hoping you would come by today." She paused as she saw his hand in Emily's. "Em. It's good to see you." She smiled. "I hope your friend is feeling better."

"She's going to be fine."

"Good."

Nikolas looked at Liz, something about her behavior was making him uncomfortable but the reality was that she wasn't doing anything other than being polite. She was almost like the old Liz. Almost. "I should be going."

Liz smiled again. "Don't let me keep you Nikolas. Emily and I will keep each other company until my shift starts. It will give us a chance to catch up on old times."

Nikolas hesitated. She wouldn't tell Emily the truth. God he didn't want to leave Emily there alone with her. But he couldn't drag Emily out with him without making her suspicious.

Finally, Nikolas relented. "I'll call you later." He smiled at Emily who smiled back.

After he had left, Emily let Liz guide her back to the booth. "Let me get us some iced teas and then we can gossip just like old times."

Emily watched her crossing Kelly's with a frown. Just like old times? What old times? She and Liz had drifted apart since Lucky's death, Liz's relationship with Nikolas had effectively ended that friendship before it had even began. Or had it? Maybe during the last year she and Liz had grown close again? It was possible. She knew how important Elizabeth was to Nikolas because of their shared connection to Lucky. If she and Nikolas had managed to somehow become a couple, wasn't it likely that she and Liz would have grown closer also. She sighed inwardly. God she was really sick of not remembering, of having to make guesses about her life. Maybe she'd sit Nikolas down tomorrow and make him tell her about the last year in minute detail.

Or maybe she really didn't want to know.

She frowned as she looked down at the table. What was wrong with her? Nikolas said he loved her. She could feel his love in his touch. See it in his eyes. So why the doubts? Why the hesitation?

Maybe because she had felt Nikolas pull away from her when she suggested that they spend the night together. Maybe because she couldn't get over the fact that Nikolas had practically ignored her for years while he went ga-ga over first Sarah and then Robin and then Katherine and finally Liz, all of whom were incredibly beautiful and sophisticated women. Okay maybe not Sarah but there was no denying that the other three had a polish that Emily definitely lacked.

Was Juan right? She refused to believe it. Refused to believe that all of this could be some kind of act on Nikolas's part.

Still.....

She sighed. Would it be easier to believe in Nikolas if she could remember everything that happened this last year? Surely if she remembered how they fell in love and all the times they had spent together, she would believe in them more easily.

It would seem less like a dream and more like reality.

Maybe that was the problem. She remembered quite clearly Nikolas and those other women. She remembered watching him falling in love. She remembered the hurt and the nights she had cried herself to sleep. She remembered what it was like when Nikolas didn't love her.

She didn't remember, except for the last 24 hours, what it was like when he did.

"Em?"

She looked up, almost startled to find Liz watching her.

"Here is your tea."

Emily looked at the drink in distraction. "Liz would you mind if I called it a day. I'm pretty tired."

"Come on Emily, I was really looking forward to getting the chance to catch up. It seems like it's been forever since we've talked and considering what I walked in on I think we have some major catching up to do."

Emily blushed. "I'm just tired."

"I know," Liz exclaimed enthusiastically. "I get off around 9 tonight, why don't you come by the house around ten or so. Grams is in Maine for the weekend with her fiancee so the house is all mine. We can watch old movies and eat popcorn."

"I don't know..." Emily hesitated.

"Please Em. You can go home and grab some sleep and then come over later." Liz lowered her face. "It would be really great to have some company. It seems like since Lucky died I've hardly....."

"Okay." Emily cut her off. The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of her late best friend. Still the reminder had been effective. Lucky would have wanted her to watch out for Liz. "I'll come. But right now I really need to get home before I collapse."

"I understand."

Liz watched the younger girl leave with a smile that turned slightly malicious as soon as Emily left Kelly's.

A maliciousness that made a watching Johnny think twice about following Francis and Emily to the Quartermaines and decide to watch someone else instead.

GH

Jessica opened her eyes slowly and immediately closed them again, the light in the room causing her head to throb.

"Jessica?"

The harsh whisper and the overwhelming worry in the beloved voice caused her to open her eyes regardless of the pain. "Will?"

"Oh Thank God. Thank God." Will's voice cracked as relief flooded him through him. Despite the doctor's assurance, despite....what had happened earlier, he had needed this moment, needed to look into her beautiful eyes himself, before he could even begin to believe that she was all right.

"What happened?" Jess tried to sit up and Will gently held her down "Take it easy Jess. Just relax, everything's going to be okay."

"I'm in the hospital?"

"You're at General Hospital. We're still in Port Charles. You remember coming to Port Charles to help out Emily right."

Jessica nodded as hazy memories began to crystallize. "The photos. We were following Liz to see if she knew anything about who sent the photos and it was dark and we were on the docks by the river and..." Her eyes flew wide open. "Someone pushed me in Will. Someone tried to kill me."

"Shhh. It's okay. I know. I was there. Believe me I know."

"I was so cold and I was going to die, I knew I was going to die but then...you saved me." She reached up and gently touched his cheek, he grabbed her hand and brought it to his mouth to gently kiss it. "You saved me."

"Out of purely selfish reasons." His eyes shimmered with tears and the love shining in them made her heart beat faster and her voice catch in her throat. "I had to rescue you. I don't ever want to be without you." He kissed the tips of her fingers. "I love you so damned much Jess. I don't want to lose you."

"You can't. You won't." Jessica's voice was hoarse from the near drowning and the pure emotion raging through her. "You are my heart Will. My soul. My sanity. My sanctuary. I can't leave you because you are a part of me just like I am a part of you."

Will shuddered. "I was so scared. Don't leave me Jess. Don't ever leave me.."

"Oh Will," gingerly Jess sat up and moved closer to him. "I won't leave you." She promised him as they stared into each other's eyes. "I won't leave you." She repeated as either she moved or he moved and somehow she was in his arms and he was sitting on the bed holding her and they were both crying.

Finally, after his shudders had gentled into tremors and the tears had quieted and they had held each other long enough to be reassured that the other was okay, Jessica looked up. "Are you okay?" She tried to pull back enough to check him for any bruises or signs of trauma, but he refused to loosen his hold.

"I will be now that you are."

She accepted that quietly. "She pushed me, didn't she?"

"I think so," Will sighed. "I don't know who else could have."

"Do you think she's behind the photos?"

"She's part of it." Will tightened his hold on Jess. "I think all of this is about more than just a woman scorned. I think that's part of it, but there's more."

"Emily is going to be so hurt." Jessica voice was quiet and reflective. "She and Elizabeth aren't close but still...."

"You'll be there for her. And so will I. Plus I forgot to mention that she and Nicky boy looked pretty comfortable together earlier."

Jessica smiled. "I'm glad. He loves her."

"Not half as much as I love you."

The room was silent as Jessica rewarded that statement in the only way she could reward it, with a kiss.

"How do we tell them?"

Will shook his head. "We don't. Not yet."

Jessica looked at him puzzled. He played with a tendril of her hair as he explained.

"You said Emily considers a friend. I know Nikolas has blinders on when it comes to her because of her relationship with his dead brother. It's like she's the only link Nik has to Lucky. I don't know if either of them would believe us without proof. And we don't have any. Not yet."

"So we find the proof." Jessica said firmly. "In the meantime, how do we keep Emily safe?"

"If the goons standing outside in the hallway are any indication, I think Jason has that one covered." Will sighed. "I don't suppose it would do me any good to try to get you to go back to Llanview and let me handle this?" Jessica shook her head no. "And pleading with you to stay in bed and let me handle this is pointless too, right?" Jessica nodded. "Okay, but we do this carefully. And we do it my way."

"My uncle is a police commissioner."

"I've watched more episodes of Scooby Doo."

Jessica smiled, his grin warming her. "Okay, you win."

She cuddled back up against him.

"Jess? There's something I need to tell you."

Jessica opened one eye. "Tell me it doesn't involve an ex-wife coming back from the dead." He shook his head. "And have not suddenly discovered that you are another of Asa Buchanan's long lost sons." Will smirked. "All right," Jessica closed her eyes and snuggled back against his warmth. "Tell me."

"I love you."

She smiled. "I know. I love you too."

"I think we should get married."

"You already asked me remember? See ring on finger?"

"No I mean soon. Like as soon as this mess is over. The two of us can fly to Las Vegas. We can even take Emily and Nik along."

Jessica frowned. "I thought you wanted Andrew to marry us in Llanview in the Spring."

"I don't think we can wait that long."

Jessica froze. "Will? Are you okay? You're not sick or anything are you?"

"No," Will murmured the words reassuringly. "Oh hell, Jess I didn't mean to scare you. I was justly don't know how to tell you...."

"Tell me what."

Will took a deep breath and then smiled a huge smile. "You're pregnant Jessica."

Jessica sat in shocked silence. "Pregnant? Pregnant? I'm pregnant."

"You didn't know?" Will rubbed her shoulders softly.

"I knew I was a little late but I thought that was stress because of Emily's accident and everything......." As it began to sink in, Jessica looked up at Will her eyes shining radiantly. "We're going to have a baby."

Will nodded.

"Oh my God." Jessica suddenly looked at Will in alarm. "The baby is okay, isn't it?"

"The baby is fine. You're both fine."

"Good." Jessica sat in silence for a few moments before she looked up. "We're going to have a baby." She repeated the words softly.

"I know."

"What if...." She started but Will cut her off. "Don't. Don't even think it. This baby is going to be okay. We're not going to lose this baby like we lost Megan."

"What if we do?"

Will flinched at the panic in her eyes. "We won't." He pulled her back into his arms, his confident strength chasing away her doubts as he held her in silence for a few moments. "This baby is going to have a wonderful life and we are going to be wonderful parents. Everything is going to be fine." He brushed back her hair as he settled her against him, her eyes slowly drifting closed. "I love you Jessica Buchanan. You and this baby are my world."

"Love you too Will." Jessica murmured.

Will sat with her in his arms and listened to the quiet beat of her heart and although he knew it was medically impossible, he could have sworn he heard a second, faint heartbeat, steady and strong.

"Thank you Megan," he whispered into the stillness of the room.

The only reply was a soft gentle breeze.