Jonathan looked at Ruby sitting across from him and frowned.

“What’s wrong?” He asked her softly as his eyes darted to Nikola making a phone call in front of the diner. He found himself frowning inwardly. Three weeks and he had not once broken down in front of Nikolas or any member of that household. He sees Jason and he loses it in a manner of minutes. It won’t happen again. He won’t let it. He turns his attention back to his aunt.

Ruby shivered even though it was far from cold in the diner and she was wearing a jacket. It had been three weeks and she couldn’t get that image, that moment out of her mind. She had killed a woman. Her father said otherwise and her mother said what she did was heroic, but killing somebody didn’t feel heroic to Ruby. It felt sickening.

And lonely. She wanted to talk to somebody about what was going on in her head, but neither Luke nor Laura wanted to hear about it and Ruby was a little afraid to tell them the whole story because she didn’t want to get into more trouble and she wasn’t quite ready to give up on their plan to track Helena for themselves. She couldn’t talk to Michael because his father had dragged him off on a camping trip for the last two weeks. She’d contemplated calling Lu at college but had no clue what she would say. She supposed she could talk to Lucky, but with Emily’s illness and everything he had enough on his hands. And she knew she would never talk to Nikolas, how could she tell her brother she had killed his ex-lover and almost stepmother. It was too convoluted even for a Cassadine to believe.

Ruby looked at Jonathan for a moment. “Did you find any thing at Wyndemere?”

“You’re avoiding my question,” Jonathan replied. “But yes, I did actually. Found it two nights ago. Off the wine cellar there’s a small room that is kept locked. I’ve tried every key there is to find and none work.”

“So, it’s probably an old storage room.”

“Maybe,” Jonathan conceded. “But maybe it will contain some proof that will verify what we found on that disk.”

Ruby nodded vaguely.

Jonathan’s eyes narrowed. “What is wrong with you? We’ve been talking for five minutes and you haven’t once tried to insult me or call me kid. Something happened when you and Michael went to that warehouse. You told me that you didn’t find anything, but something must have happened.”

Ruby looks down and her hands are shaking, whether with remembered fear or the need to tell someone, she isn’t sure. “Promise me you won’t tell.”

Jonathan didn’t hesitate. “Promise.”

“We ran into Katherine Bell.” Ruby’s voice shakes. “She..she was going to kill Michael, so I killed her.”

“What? How?”

“I hit her in the head. Dad says I didn’t kill her because your uncle shot her after I hit her, but I know that she wouldn’t have lived either way.”

“That has you upset?” Jonathan says incredulously. “You feel bad about killing that bitch.”

Ruby looks at Jonathan in shock. “I thought you’d be a little more sympathetic.”

“Sympathetic? More like congratulatory. The woman was evil. She kidnapped me. She (Jonathan’s eyes darken) killed my dog. She ordered the death of Stephanie’s grandparents. You met them before. What kind of threat did two sweet old people pose to her? None. None at all. Yet she had them executed. She shot at me that day at the zoo. She shot at Stephanie. She would have killed Stephanie if it hadn’t been for that police detective sitting over there.” Jonathan looks at his aunt. “If you hadn’t killed her she wouldn’t have hesitated to kill Michael.”

“I still killed someone Jonathan. Do you know how that makes me feel?”

“Lousy. I know. Believe me I know. I was six when I killed that man in Mexico. He was one of Helena’s guards and he was going to take me to her and I couldn’t let that happen. So I forced the car off the road and it went down into a ravine. I survived and the guard didn’t. It took me a long time to get over that. Sometimes I still have nightmares about it.”

“So how did you cope?”

“Something my mom said. She told me that I needed to remember that I didn’t cause the situation. I simply reacted. If the guard hadn’t tried to kidnap me, the accident would never have happened. If Katherine Bell hadn’t threatened to kill Michael, you wouldn’t have hurt her, would you?”

Ruby shakes her head.

“So you only reacted to the situation, you didn’t cause it or control it.” Jonathan smiles. “Personally I’d much rather be sitting here talking to you than attending Michael’s funeral.”

Ruby looked at him. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I am, I’m a Spencer.”

“Only by marriage.”

“Please, don’t remind me. I was actually able to forget for all of five minutes.”

“Is it that bad?”

Jonathan pauses. Had it been that bad at Wyndemere? Yes he missed his mother and Lucky like crazy. But he had enjoyed spending time with Stephanie. And this morning’s fishing trip had actually been fun...

He shrugs. “The food is better than some I’ve tasted.”

Ruby nods accepting this statement. “Invite me to lunch tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“I never told you about half the things I’ve learned hanging out with my Uncle Sonny, have I? Like how to use a skeleton key to open just about any lock......”

“We’re having pizza want to come?”

“Love to,” Ruby smiled at Jonathan.

It's still gonna snow
it's still gonna rain
the wind's gonna blow
on a cold winter's day
and I promise you now
you won't ever be lonely


Here's a shoulder you can cry on
and a love you can rely on


For as long as I live
there will always be
a place you belong
here beside me
heart and soul
baby you own me
and I promise you now
you won't ever be lonely


Later that afternoon

Emily stood on the deck of the launch as it made its way to Wyndemere, Lucky at her side with his arm around her waist.

“I can’t believe he called,” Emily says still in disbelief from Nikolas’s phone call inviting her to spend the afternoon at Wyndemere with Jonathan.

Lucky wasn’t sure what to believe himself. The call from Nikolas out of the blue and the offer to let Emily spend the afternoon at Wyndemere with Jonathan had blown them both away. Lucky wasn’t sure of Nikolas’s motives. He wasn’t sure of anything concerning his brother anymore. He would never have believed Nikolas capable of keeping Emily from seeing her son for three weeks either.

Emily sighed. “You didn’t have to come with me,” she whispered.

“Of course I did,” Lucky pulled her tight. “Somebody has to be there to stop Nikolas from taking one long look at you and realizing what he never appreciated when we were kids.”

Emily turns to Lucky. “You don’t think I still have any feelings for Nikolas, do you?”

Lucky shook his head.

“Good,” Emily smiled. “Because all I feel for Nikolas is friendship and lately even that’s been hard to muster. Besides I was just a kid when I had my so called crush on Nikolas. I didn’t have a clue what real love is.”

“Oh,” Lucky smiled at his wife and decided not to say anything about her so called crush. “What is real love?”

Emily smiles at her husband. “Real love is what I feel every time our eyes meet or we touch or you say my name or you just walk into a room. What we have is real love and I don’t ever want to lose it. I love you Lucky Spencer.”

“I love you too.” He kisses her softly. “And you won’t lose me. Ever. I swear it.” He feels the lurch as the launch pulls up to the dock. “Come on.”

He helps her walk to to the end of the dock where Nikolas is waiting. They can see Jonathan standing at the front door of the house. He waves to both of them and they wave back.

Nikolas looks at his brother. “The invitation didn’t include you.”

Lucky smiled coldly. “But you knew I was on board. I didn’t hear you order the launch captain to turn around.”

“Jonathan was waiting for his mother. He is very excited about seeing her.”

“Of course he is.” Lucky responds smoothly. “A mother and child should never be separated.”

“A lesson that I learned the hard way.” Nikolas says.

“Enough!” Emily says as she steps between the two men. “Deja vu guys. I feel like I’m fifteen again.” She turns to Nikolas. “Lucky brought me on the launch because I’ve been having dizzy spells this last week or so and we weren’t sure how I’d take the boat ride.”

“You are well?” concern flares in Nikolas’s eyes and Lucky feels himself tense. “You should have said something when I called. I could have brought Jonathan to you.”

Emily smiles, well aware that Nikolas would never have brought Jonathan anywhere where Lucky’s influence could be felt. “It’s fine. I’m fine and I’m looking forward to spending a few hours with my son,” she pauses. “and with you.”

Emily turns to her husband and this time the smile is easier and more genuine. “As for you,” she reaches up and gives him a tender kiss. “go home and get some work done. I promise to call you as soon as I’m ready to leave.”

“There is no need for you to pick her up on the launch. I’m sure that Jonathan and I can escort Emily back to the mainland when her visit is done.” Nikolas says stiffly.

Emily tugs Lucky’s hand in warning. “That will be fine. Thank you Nikolas.” She looks up at her husband. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want you to work for the next two hours.”

“Then what do you want me to do?” Lucky grins at her and pulls her close, enjoying the feeling of her in his arms as much as he is Nikolas’s obvious discomfort.

“You mean besides miss me? Call your mom and have her come over and pick a color for the nursery. Just don’t tell her that I was desperate for her opinion, okay? I don’t want her to think her daughter in law can’t even pick out a color for the nursery without getting twenty different opinions.”

“You want me to lie to my mother for you?” Lucky teased.

“Why not? It won’t be the first time, will it?” Nikolas inserted.

Lucky moved towards Nikolas and Emily sighed as she grabbed him. “Let it go. I love you and let it go.” He tenses and then relaxes at her pleading.

“I love you too,” Lucky whispers loudly enough for Nikolas to hear. “Tell Jonathan his dad loves him.”

Emily considers reprimanding Lucky but thinks better of it when she looks at Nikolas. He is being cruel to insist that she visit Jonathan alone. She watches the launch leave the dock and waves, before turning back to Nikolas.

“How is Jonathan?” she asks.

“I don’t know. He doesn’t talk to me. He misses you. Emily, I never meant ....all I really wanted......”

“Whatever Nikolas meant to say, is lost as a loud explosion from behind them knocks both Emily and Nikolas to the ground.

A terrified Emily turns around and her worst fears are confirmed when she sees the launch completely engulfed in flames.

“Lucky!” Emily screams in grief and disbelief. “Oh my God. Lucky!.”

She moves to run towards the launch but is grabbed from behind by Nikolas.

“Let me go!” she struggles against his iron grip. “He’s my husband. I have to help him. Lucky!” Tears cascade down Emily’s face.

“It’s too late Em. You can’t help him.” Nikolas stares in shock at the still burning launch and the grief stricken Emily. “You’ve got to calm down for the baby. Emily. Sweetheart.” Nikolas can hear the sirens of the river patrol. “Think of the baby.”

“It’s my fault isn’t it? She did this because of me?”

“What? No. No! This isn’t your fault. None of this is your fault.” He repeats the words over and over again as Emily’s grief overtakes her and she collapses.

Up at the house, Jonathan has watched the entire episode grief stricken, silent, and still.

The only thought in his mind is that she will pay. If he has to kill her himself, then he will.

And in the harbor, the launch continues to burn.

And I promise you now
you won't ever be lonely
no no no no no
no you won't ever be lonely