Nikolas & Emily Edit #1  May 26th - August 18, 2003 - 8 hours

Emily paid Nikolas a visit and told him about her battle with cancer and that she doesn't want to tell Zander because she doesn't want him to be shattered if she loses the fight with cancer. Emily told Nikolas she wants them to pretend to be in love so that Zander will walk away. Emily explained to Nicholas how she doesn't want to lose her dignity in front of the man she loves while she's enduring the ravages of chemotherapy, and reasserted her plans for she and Nicholas to pretend they're in love. At first, Nicholas was against the plan, but when Summer suddenly popped in, Nicholas wrapped his arms around Emily and kissed her. After Emily left, Summer told Nicholas that she truly loves Lucky. Lucky dropped in on Nicholas and warned him that Luke's going after him, but Nicholas stated that if Luke makes a hostile move against him, he WILL defend himself.

Later, at the hospital, as Scott was browbeating Zander (he had been arrested for the murder of John Monroe a drug dealer), Emily arrived and stood up to Scott, telling him not to railroad Zander. At the Port Charles Police Department, Emily is shocked to learn that Zander's bail has been posted at $200,000! Zander is surprised when Emily rushes off to ask Nikolas to post pail for Zander. Emily is triumphant when Nikolas arrives in time and announces that he has paid Zander's bail. As Zander is being released, Emily promises Nikolas that Zander will not skip out and leave Nikolas holding the bag. Nikolas counsels Emily that Zander is never going to believe Emily's story that Emily has fallen for Nikolas if Emily rushes to the rescue every time Zander has a problem. Nikolas again urges Emily to just tell Zander the truth about her cancer, but Emily continues to refuse. Zander goes out into the squad room, just as Emily gives Nikolas a thank you hug.

Later, Emily catches up with Nikolas at the pier. She asks him to go along with her plan to make Zander think that they are a couple now. Nikolas tells her that the plan won't work since all Zander has to do is look into her eyes and know that she loves him. Emily pleads with Nikolas to go along with her plan. Nikolas realizes that Emily is pushing Zander away, not so much because she doesn't want him to know about the cancer, but because she thinks she is going to die. Nikolas explains to her that having cancer doesn't mean she is going to die from it and that she should tell Zander about the cancer and see what happens. Emily hugs him goodbye. Nikolas tells her he loves her and she tells him she loves him too. Zander witnesses the whole thing and gets the wrong idea about it. Emily leaves. Zander walks downstairs to the pier and confronts Nikolas. He thanks Nikolas for bailing him out and admits to hearing him talk to Emily. He asks Nikolas if he and Emily have something going on. Nikolas tells him that he will do whatever he can to make Emily happy and secure and that he loves her. Zander asks him if Emily feels that way about him and how long they have been seeing each other. Nikolas doesn't give him a straight answer and tells him to go find Emily and find out from her. Zander tells him he will do that. Soon after Gia finds Nikolas on the pier and angrily asks him if he has feelings for Emily and how long has he been seeing her. Nikolas tells her that he has always loved Emily and that it shouldn't concern her anymore since they aren't together. Gia tells him that Zander loves Emily and accuses him of getting close to Emily to get back at Zander for this imaginary affair he thinks he had with her a while ago. Nikolas tells her it isn't about her and that he truly has feelings for Emily and wants to be with her. Gia walks off in disgust.

Zander went to see Emily at the Quartermaine mansion and tried to make plans with her. Emily offered Zander a transparent excuse why she couldn't spend time with him that afternoon, hoping he would follow her to Wyndemere and see her with Nikolas. Emily went to Wyndemere in search of Nikolas. She instead found Stefan, who informed her that Nikolas was too busy to entertain the crush of a schoolgirl. He rudely tried to escort Emily out just as Nikolas arrived. Nikolas told Stefan that Emily was more important than both business and Stefan. Nikolas and Emily got a table outside at Kelly's. Zander interrupted Nikolas' and Emily's discussion. Nikolas pretended to leave them alone so Emily can tell Zander the "truth." Emily told Zander that her old feelings for Nikolas were rekindled and that she was torn between him and Zander. Zander refused to believe her and asked Emily to look in his eyes and tell him she didn't love him.

Stefan tries to convince Nikolas that Nikolas needs to pay attention to business and let a servant drive Emily home. But, when Emily confesses to feeling faint, Nikolas informs his irritated uncle that Emily is more important to Nikolas than business and announces that he is taking Emily home and the two leave together. Emily and Nikolas return to the Quartermaine Mansion and Nikolas once again warns Emily that her plan to keep Zander in the dark could backfire on her, but Emily expresses her confidence that she is doing the right thing where Zander is concerned! Later, Nikolas returns to Wyndemere and finds Lucky still arguing with Stefan. Stefan urges Nikolas to inform Lucky that Nikolas is loyal to the Cassadine family but Nikolas refuses to go along with Stefan's plan. Stefan argues that Luke is unbalanced and dangerous, but Nikolas and Lucky both declare that they have decided that the Spencer vs. Cassadine War will end with them! Zander visits Emily at the Quartermaine Mansion and asks for a chance to talk. Emily informs Zander that she is pretty tired at the moment, but promises that she will speak to Zander in the morning.

Zander comes to the mansion to see Emily and go somewhere special with her. Emily had just gotten done arguing with Monica about not telling Zander the truth. Monica tells her that she needs to stop keeping the truth from him and let him help support her. Emily had disagreed with letting Zander know the truth because she doesn't want him to go through the pain of possibly losing her. Zander tries to make plans for them but Emily tells him she can't today because she has a treatment session and she is always too tired after one to do anything. Emily takes off. Emily meets Nikolas at the hospital. He lends her moral support before her chemo session. Zander shows up and finds the two of them cozying up to each other. Emily takes off to her chemo session. Zander confronts Nikolas about his true feelings for Emily. Emily finishes her second round of chemotherapy and finds Zander and Nikolas fighting over her. Nikolas tells Zander that he is in love with her. He also lets it slip that Emily is going through hell right now and doesn't need him to be fighting over her. Stefan overhears Nikolas' declaration and is dismayed. Emily looks pale and weak and approaches the men. Nikolas holds her and tells Zander that they are together now and to leave it alone.

Luke shows up at Wyndemere and accuses Stefan of moving Laura to a different facility. Stefan denies he had anything to do with it. Nikolas shows up and informs Luke that he was the one who moved Laura to a secret mental facility and that Lucky agreed with him that it would be best if Luke and Stefan didn't know where she was so they couldn't use her in the war going on between them. Stefan tries to get Nikolas to tell him where she is but Nikolas refuses. Zander and Nikolas fight about Emily at GH. Stefan is dismayed to overhear Nikolas tell Zander that he and Emily are in love. Zander asks Nikolas about his love for Gia. Nikolas tells him that he and Gia didn't work out and that he has always loved Emily, starting as her friend and now into a romantic love. Zander doesn't want to believe it and starts to question a very pale and weak Emily about her feelings for Nikolas. Emily tells Zander that if he really loves her he would leave her alone and accept her decision. She starts to go into a faint but Stefan comes over and grabs her as well as Nikolas to keep her from falling on the floor. Zander asks her what happened in her therapy session that made her so weak. Nikolas tells Zander to back off from her and leave them alone. Emily asks Nikolas to bring her home. When she gets home Nikolas invites her to stay with him at Wyndemere so she doesn't have to deal with her family for a few days until she recuperates. She tells him she is fine but after he leaves, she comes her hair and finds clumps of it falling out into her hairbrush. She decides to go to Wyndemere and take Nikolas up on his offer to stay with him a few days. When she gets there, Stefan is there but not Nikolas. She tells him that she is staying with Nikolas a few days. Stefan tells her that he won't allow her to get romantically involved with his nephew and that there relationship isn't right for Nikolas right now. Emily argues with Stefan that this is Nikolas' life and he can't run it anymore.

Stefan badgered Emily about her relationship with Nikolas and accused her of manipulating him by faking her fainting spell. Emily informed Stefan that Nikolas made his own choices and would not be controlled by anyone. Nikolas walked in on their debate and rushed to Emily's defense. He warned Stefan that he would pack Stefan's bags if he continued to treat Emily rudely. Stefan apologized to Emily and left the room. Emily thanked Nikolas for his friendship, explaining that the day was especially hard being the anniversary of her mother's death. Nikolas took Emily to her room and stayed with her when she asked. Stefan greeted a young woman named Lydia who said she was there to marry Nikolas. Stefan informed Lydia that Nikolas had to be handled carefully, that now was not the right time. Lydia demanded that she be introduced to Nikolas right away, but Stefan reminded her that his plan needed to work smoothly in order for her to marry Nikolas and gain her inheritance. Stefan pressed Nikolas to end his "romance" with Emily, but Nikolas asserted his independence and refused to succumb to Stefan's demands. Stefan remarked that the Quartermaines would not appreciate Nikolas using Emily as a distraction. Nikolas pondered Stefan's words, wondering what he was up to. Nikolas comforted Emily, telling her that he would throw her a party when she beat the cancer.

At Wyndemere, Emily thanks Nikolas for staying the night with her, when she wakes up in his arms. Stefan later catches Nikolas and Emily kissing goodbye and, after Emily leaves, Stefan lets Nikolas know that Stefan does not approve of Nikolas' relationship with Emily. But Nikolas orders his uncle to show Emily some respect if Stefan wants to remain at Wyndemere. When Emily returns to the Quartermaine Mansion, she finds a worried Zander waiting there for her. When Zander guesses that Emily was with Nikolas, Emily lets Zander believe that she spent a romantic night with Nikolas. Lydia meets again with Stefan and confidently announces that she will have Nikolas wrapped around her little finger by the end of the week. But Stefan warns Lydia that she will need to use patience if she wants to win Nikolas' heart, because it is important that Nikolas not be able to detect any subterfuge in their relationship! Lydia reminds Stefan that she is the one with all the assets but Stefan counters by reminding Lydia that Lydia will have the assets only if her marriage brings the title her grandfather is expecting. When Lydia suggests that, perhaps, Stefan wants Lydia for himself, Stefan coldly informs Lydia that his only interest in her is her fortune. Stefan warns Lydia that the only way she will be able to get what she wants is by following Stefan's game plan! Nikolas is startled at Wyndemere when Lydia suddenly appears beside him in the library and announces that she is the woman Nikolas will marry!

Emily confides to her diary that she believes the right thing by allowing Zander to believe that she spent a romantic night with Nikolas in order to protect Zander from standing by and waiting Emily die! Lydia surprises Nikolas by approaching him in the study. She informs him that they are engaged to be married. Nikolas is polite but doesn't know who she is. She introduces herself. He barely remembers her since he was only a child when they last saw each other. She explains about her grandfather and how he had crashed his yacht on Cassadine soil. Stefan overhears her telling Nikolas that they should get married since his family needs the money that would be given to them if they married. Stefan pretends not to know who she is. Nikolas invites her to stay at Wyndemere if she wants. He waits until she leaves the room. He asks Stefan what is going on and tells him that her sudden visit smells like an obvious set-up. Stefan pretends innocence in knowing she was coming. He suggests that Nikolas be polite to her and show her around town. Nikolas tells him he doesn't have time for playing host to Lydia. After Nikolas leaves the room, Lydia comes back in the room. Stefan tells her that she should not have approached Nikolas like that. Lydia assures him that she can get Nikolas to marry her if he agrees to keep Emily Quartermaine away from him. Later, Lydia finds Nikolas doing business over the phone. After he gets off the phone, he notices she is wearing a sexy nightie and gown and is trying to seduce him. He tells her that she shouldn't try so hard and brushes off her come-on. Lydia decides to retire for the evening instead of joining him and Stefan for a late dinner.

Lydia is waiting for Nikolas with two glasses of champagne poured for them and a nice romantic dinner set up with candlelight. Nikolas tells her that she will have to have dinner with Stefan tonight because he has to a wedding to attend. Emily comes in the room and Nikolas introduces her to Lydia. Emily tells her that they are going to her brother Jason's wedding. Lydia asks if she can tag along with them to the wedding. Emily tells her politely that the wedding is very small and only family are invited. Lydia asks her why Nikolas is going if only family is allowed. Nikolas interrupts her and tells her that they need to get going. Lydia asks her to check out the flowers and tell her later what kind they were since she will need some good flower tips for her own wedding. Nikolas interrupts her before she tells Emily that she is marrying him when she isn't. They leave Lydia alone. Stefan watches the whole thing and tells Lydia that she looked desperate and embarrassed herself in front of Nikolas and Emily by acting like a fool. Lydia tells him that she has learned things over the years and not to count her out with Nikolas yet.

Later after running into Nikolas and Emily, Lydia remarked that a commoner named Lucky had come to her assistance. Nikolas informed Lydia that Lucky was his brother. Nikolas and Emily's dislike of Lydia grew as they realized she was a snob. Lydia told Stefan that Nikolas was love struck by Emily. Likewise, one of Stefan's hired spies reported that Nikolas had accompanied Emily to Jason's wedding and that they were outwardly affectionate toward one another. Nikolas told Stefan and Lydia that their plan was transparent and wouldn't work. Stefan ordered Lydia that she must get Nikolas to take her into town tonight if their plan was to work. Nikolas took Lydia to Kelley's, while Stefan forged an emergency message from Nikolas to Emily to being her to Wyndemere. Once there, he told Emily that the Cassadine fortune was at stake and to please let Nikolas go. Emily refused, insisting that Nikolas made his own choices. Stefan became stern and warned Emily that he would not ask her again. Emily told Nikolas about her encounter with Stefan.

Both Monica and Zander are stunned when Emily arrives and announces that she and Nikolas are planning on getting married. Lydia apologizes profusely to Nikolas for throwing herself at him. The heiress admits that it was all Stefan's idea to throw them together. After Nikolas leaves, Stefan informs Lydia that he does not appreciate Lydia's new approach, but Lydia reminds Stefan that the only thing that counts is for Nikolas to appreciate Lydia's efforts! Stefan assures Lydia that Nikolas will never marry Emily! Stefan tracks Nikolas down at the Hospital and forbids Nikolas to marry Emily, just as Emily returns from her chemotherapy treatment! Nikolas arrives at the Quartermaine Mansion just as Zander and Monica are trying to absorb the news of Emily's engagement. Although Nikolas is equally surprised by Emily's announcement, Nikolas nevertheless backs up Emily's story. Zander sadly tells Emily goodbye and leaves. As Monica watches the dejected Zander head for the door, Monica urges her daughter to go tell Zander the truth, but Emily refuses. Monica warns Emily that, by inflicting so much pain on someone she loves, Emily will end up making herself sicker and make it more difficult for Emily to conquer the cancer! Afterward, Nikolas assures Emily of his continued support as they talk about old times, and, after vowing to remain only friends, the two leave for Emily's chemotherapy treatment.

Emily and Nikolas run into Stefan in the hospital. He tells them that he will not permit Nikolas to marry her. Nikolas plays hardball with Stefan and threatens to have him sent away from the family and back to Greece if he doesn't stop interfering in his life. Stefan changes his tune quickly and congratulates them on their engagement. He offers to give them an engagement party. Nikolas and Emily are weary of having a party so soon. They agree to let him throw the engagement party for them on the condition that he can invite Lucky to his party. Stefan is against that idea at first but Nikolas refuses to go to the party if Lucky isn't invited so Stefan agrees to let him come. Nikolas and Emily run into Lucky and Summer. Summer had told Lucky that she didn't want to lose him because of his father's problems. Lucky believes her. Lucky is surprised when Nikolas and Emily announce their engagement. Nikolas invites him to their engagement party being thrown by Stefan. Lucky tells them he will go as long as Summer can come as his date. Nikolas agrees to let her come and is polite to her.

Gia and Zander run into Em and Nik on the docks and try to act polite to Emily and Nikolas and Zander congratulates Nikolas and shakes his hand. He makes a remark to Emily that everything seems to be working out the way it is supposed to be for her. Emily is sad when she sees Zander and Gia walk off together. Later, Gia overhears Nikolas and Emily talking. Emily feels pale and starts to feel nauseous and mentions the breast cancer to Nikolas. Gia also finds out that the engagement is not for real and that Nikolas is protecting her and helping her keep Zander away to keep him from finding out about the cancer. Gia goes back to Zander's place but instead of telling him the truth about Emily's condition she lies and tells him that she overheard Nikolas and realizes that he always loved Emily and was waiting for her to grow up a little so he could be with her someday. Zander feels bad for Gia and comforts her. Nikolas brings Emily back home. She thanks him for helping her out by pretending to be in love with her and going along with the engagement. He tells her he is happy to help her through this but notices how sad she is still and asks her what is wrong. She tells him that she still loves Zander and always will and how hard it is to hurt him like this.

Emily runs into Gia on the docks. Gia confronts her about her cancer secret and why she is engaged to Nikolas. Emily doesn't deny that she is using Nikolas to push Zander out of her life to keep him from being hurt by her cancer. Gia tells her she didn't tell Zander about her cancer and that the reason why is because she is falling for Zander and as soon as he found out about her cancer he would run to Emily and she wouldn't have a chance with him. Emily tells her she is all for a romance between Zander and her. Gia asks her why she didn't tell Zander and give him the choice of how to respond to the news. Zander comes over and asks about what "choice" they are referring to. Emily quickly comes up with something about the choice being whether he wants to come to her engagement party or not at Wyndemere. He tells her it would be hypocritical of him to go to her party and declines the invitation and walks off with Gia.

At Wyndemere, Stefan meets with his hitman and tells him that Emily's death must look like an accident and that no mistakes can be made and that the fog outside will help with the "accident." Lydia comes in the room later and complains about Nikolas' engagement ruining her chances at inheriting a fortune if she doesn't marry him. Stefan assures her that the marriage won't happen. Nikolas arrives home and Lydia makes a remark about him "breaking her heart." Nikolas just looks at them and wonders what they are up to. They meet the launch at the estate and greet Lucky, Summer, and Emily. Emily gets a call from Zander pretending to Jason. He tells her he needs to speak with her in private and she agrees to meet him at Wyndemere. She goes to the main entrance to wait for him and witnesses Luke grabbing Summer and threatening her. She interrupts them and asks Luke what he is doing here. Luke realizes Summer won't tell him anything and vows to find his wife. He storms off. Stefan's hitman waits behind the bushes for a chance to kill Emily but she talks to Summer about what happened. She advises Summer not to get in the middle of Luke and the Cassadine war. Summer thanks her for her advice. Emily wonders what is taking Zander so long to meet her and walks off to go look for him since the fog is very thick and it is hard to see in front of her. A few seconds later, the hitman strikes and pushes one of the woman over the bluff onto the rocks below.

Nikolas goes outside near the main entrance. Luke overhears him talking to Laura's new doctor and telling him that he is going to have her transferred to a hospital in Switzerland as soon as possible and makes arrangements. A security guard comes over and tells Nikolas that a woman fell down into the bluff. Nikolas goes to find out what happened. Stefan and everyone are informed about what happened and rush to the top of the bluff. Nikolas worries that it is Emily. Stefan is pleased that a woman fell into the bluff and that it is most likely Emily who had disappeared from the party. Zander shows up and finds out that Emily is missing and a woman was heard screaming and fell over the cliff. He tells everyone that he was supposed to meet with her to talk but he didn't see her. Nikolas tells Lucky he knows how to get to the bottom of the bluff and shows him the way. Emily shows up at the top of the cliff and a relieved Zander holds her close. Stefan is dismayed to see she is alive and wonders who really fell off the bluff. Lucky and Nikolas show up down at the bottom of the cliff and find Summer's unconscious body down near the rocks. Lucky goes over to try and wake her up. Nikolas checks her pulse and tells Lucky that she is dead. Lucky is devastated. Luke tries to leave Wyndemere but is stopped by Scott and the cops.

Distraught, Lucky realized that Summer was dead and held her in his arms. As the news spread to the other guests, Zander saw Emily and with much relief embraced her. Emily held back her emotions as Zander held her. Lydia overheard Stefan banishing his hired assassin for pushing the wrong woman. Stefan warned her that he would take her down with him as an accessory if she told anyone. Back in the mansion, Scott appeared with Luke. Lucky went at Luke and accused him of killing Summer. Scott presented Emily's story, and she admitted that she had seen Luke earlier rough-handling Summer. Luke escaped with a gunshot, taking out the lights. When they came back on he was nowhere to be found. Alexis expressed her belief in Luke's innocence, having seen genuine shock in his eyes when Lucky mentioned Summer's death. Alexis noticed that Emily and Summer's coats were similar and surmised that perhaps Emily was the intended victim. Alexis explained her theory that someone had pushed Summer thinking she was Emily because they were the same height and wore similar coats, and therefore would appear the same in the foggy night. Stefan attempted to distract Alexis by suggesting that Zander could be the killer if not Luke. Emily jumped to Zander's defense. Lucky warned Stefan that if the Cassadines had anything to do with Summer's death, he would retaliate. The police asked everyone to leave because the search dogs were being released. Stefan warned Alexis that the scandal would hurt the already wounded Cassadine finances and that she needed to be loyal to the family.

A rattled Lydia again reminds Stefan that she never expected to get mixed up in a murder when she agreed to go along with Stefan's plan for Lydia to marry Nikolas. Lydia warns Stefan that even Stefan's own sister, Alexis, suspects that Summer died because someone wanted to get rid of Emily. But Stefan confidently proclaims that Alexis would never take any action against a member of her own family and gloats that, besides, Stefan has provided the police with the perfect suspect, Luke! Stefan reminds Lydia that she has only until the end of the year to marry Nikolas, before the family financial empire begins to collapse, leaving both Lydia and Nikolas penniless! Lydia informs Stefan that she is through listening to Stefan's plans and that Lydia has a plan! Emily tells Nikolas that she believes the only way out of their increasing web of deceit is for Emily to leave town especially before Emily's falling hair becomes obvious to Zander and the others. Nikolas gently urges Emily to reconsider her decision.

As Zander and Gia share a tender kiss, Emily comes around the corner and witnesses the tender embrace. After Zander leaves to finish running, Emily speaks to Gia alone and confesses that she saw the kiss and that it was hard to witness, because Emily still loves Zander. However, Emily continues to pronounce that Zander's relationship with Gia is the perfect way to help Zander mend after Zander learns of Emily's impending death. Gia warns Emily that Gia will not allow Zander to be sawed back and forth and that Gia has now begun to care deeply for Zander! Gia urges Emily to tell Zander the truth about her breast cancer. But, when Emily stubbornly refuses, Gia admits that she is beginning to care deeply for Zander. Zander suddenly returns from his run and, overhearing part of the conversation, demands to know what the two women were talking about!

As Nikolas is about to enter the library, the prince overhears Stefan and Lydia arguing and interrupts as Stefan informs Lydia that everything has been decided for her and then Stefan slaps Lydia! Nikolas expresses his shock that his uncle would actually strike a woman and orders Stefan to take a walk to 'cool' off. After Stefan leaves, Lydia tearfully "confesses" to Nikolas that, when her grandfather was ill, Stefan visited to propose a marriage between Lydia and Nikolas as a way to solidify the two family fortunes. Lydia reports, when her grandfather delayed in giving an answer to Stefan, the family was suddenly plagued by all sorts of 'odd' occurrences, including a mysterious fire and various riding accidents! Lydia claims that she promised to consider marriage to Nikolas because she was afraid of what might happen to herself and her grandfather if she refused to go along with Stefan's plan. Lydia dissolves in tears and cries on Nikolas' shoulder as she enumerates her fears. Lydia flashes a hidden smile of triumph as Nikolas gently hugs her and assures her of his understanding and support.

Lucky defends Luke to Nikolas. He tells him that Luke cared for Summer and would never hurt her despite what his argument with Summer looked like to Emily. Nikolas agrees to help him investigate what happened and instructs one of the security guards at Wyndemere to talk to Lucky about what he may have seen that night. The guard tells Lucky that he was guarding the docks that night and didn't see anything happen. Lucky sees this as another dead end except that the guard mentions that he should ask Darius about that night. Lucky asks him who Darius is. The guard tells him that Darius is one of Stefan's men who came with him to Wyndemere. He asks him if Darius was working that night. The guard tells him he was there that night but hasn't seen him since. Lydia plays the sympathy card with Nikolas and almost kisses him. Nikolas feels bad for her after she tells him that she has never known true love and that love and money go hand in hand in her family. Nikolas heads out and later Stefan comes to talk to her. Lydia pretends that her face is still sore from when he hit her. Stefan apologizes if he hurt her but that he only hit her as an act for Nikolas' benefit so he wouldn't suspect she is working with him. Lydia laughs at him and is pleased that he fell for her little act of hurt. She tells him that she acted all sad and that Nikolas has a weakness for the wounded bird thing and that he almost kissed her. Stefan sees this as promising but that unfortunately Nikolas is still engaged to Emily. Lucky told Nikolas that Lydia and Stefan were working together to save the Cassadine fortune through a Nikolas/Lydia marriage. Nikolas scoffed at the idea. Lucky questioned him about his feelings for Emily and their sudden engagement. Nikolas just explained that sometimes love is sudden, like being struck by lightning.

Alan and Monica persuade a reluctant Emily to join a cancer support group. Emily doesn't feel comfortable talking about her cancer with a bunch of strangers. Monica offers to join her in the group but Emily says no to that idea. Emily walks into the room and overhears a woman telling another woman about one of their group members having a recurrence of cancer after being in remission for 4 years. Emily can't stand to hear that bit of news since her cancer was found in her lymph nodes too. She runs away from Alan and Monica and is visibly upset. Emily shows up at the park and doesn't notice Gia sitting on a bench. Gia sees she is visibly upset and asks her if she is okay? Gia talks to her about Zander's feelings for her and guesses that Emily is still in love with Zander. Gia tells her that it has been hard for her to keep the cancer a secret from Zander. Emily asks her not to tell him about it and that she will make sure that he never thinks Gia knew the truth if it he does find out later on. She asks her if she is okay with them seeing each other. Emily tells her that she wants Zander to be happy and if he can be happy with her she is supportive of it. Monica calls Nikolas to tell him that Emily took off upset before going into the support group session. Nikolas tells her he will find Emily and talk to her.

Nikolas finds Emily in the park and grabs her hand. He tells her they have no time to talk and that there is an important meeting for her to attend and leaves Nikolas takes Emily to the support group and tells her how he feels about her behavior. He tells her that if she doesn't go into the support group and give it a chance, he will go and tell Zander about her cancer. Emily accuses him of blackmailing her but Nikolas admits that is what it is and that she owes it to him at least to give the support group a try and to work on getting better and beating the cancer. Emily goes into the room. She sees all the women and starts to tell them that she doesn't feel she belongs in the group since they are all cancer survivors and she doesn't think she is going to make it. One of the women comes over and welcomes her and tells her that she use to feel the same way when she was diagnosed with cancer. Emily listens to the women tell their stories about cancer. Emily listened quietly while the other women told their stories. The women spoke about losing their hair and how their loved ones supported them through chemotherapy. Emily was touched when one of the woman gave her a copy of her journal. Monica thanks Nikolas for persuading her to give it a chance. Nikolas tells her that he loves Emily and wants her to get well. Monica remarks that he is starting to act like her fiancé. Monica thanked Nikolas for making sacrifices for Emily. Nikolas told Monica that it was no sacrifice, that Emily was the only person with whom he had a meaningful relationship. Monica told Nikolas he was starting to sound like a real fiancée. After the meeting, Emily was moved but angry with Nikolas for forcing her to attend. Alan and Monica were eager to hear how it went, but a feisty Emily pushed past them to go find Nikolas. When she found him, Emily began to yell at him but then realized how her anger made her feel alive again. Realizing that his plan had succeeded, Emily thanked Nikolas for keeping her on track. They shared a tender hug and wound up in a passionate kiss.

Nik and Lydia are at their ill fated wedding. Nikolas is not paying attention to the ceremony and is thinking about Emily. The judge tells him he needs to listen and say his vows now in order to proceed with the wedding. Nikolas doesn't know whether he wants to say his vows and has second thoughts about marrying Lydia. Lydia loses patience with him and tells him they had an agreement and he needs to abide by it. Nikolas asks her if she realizes that he doesn't love her and probably won't and that this marriage will only be for business reasons only and to eventually conceive a child for the rest of the inheritance. Stefan objects to Nikolas' attitude during the ceremony. Lucky is pleased when it looks like Nikolas may not go through with the wedding after all. Alexis also tries to hide her pleasure at Nikolas' outspokenness. Nikolas tells Lydia that if she can accept that this is a loveless marriage he will go ahead with the vows. Lydia tells him she is ok with it. Nikolas says his vows and they are married. Lucky and Alexis aren't too thrilled but Stefan is ecstatic and relieved about his nephew's decision. When the judge tells him he can kiss his bride, Nikolas doesn't kiss her but goes over to the desk and has Lydia sign the marriage papers and the other business end of the deal. He asks the judge to sign the marriage certificate before he leaves. He hands the papers over to Stefan and tells him it is his wedding gift to him. Stefan congratulates them on their marriage. He asks Alexis to act happy and give a toast to the bride and groom. Alexis makes a half-hearted toast to them. Nikolas makes a toast of his own to his family and when he gets to Stefan he tells him off for thinking about money instead of his own happiness. He thanks him for raising him but doubts his love for him and tells him that now that he married Lydia, he owes his uncle nothing now. Nikolas storms off, leaving Stefan in tears.

Later, Lydia finds Nikolas getting ready to leave Wyndemere and overhears him leaving a message on Emily's voice mail about how he is going to go look for her if she doesn't call him and let him know if she is ok. Lydia is still in her wedding gown and tells him this is their wedding night and they should be making love to conceive a child. Nikolas tells her that they have five years to have a child in order to get the rest of her inheritance and that right now he needs a reprieve from her right now. Lydia ends up crying up in her bedroom. Zander went to Wyndemere and told Nikolas to stay away from Emily. Nikolas resisted the urge to fight with Zander and just told him that he only wanted Emily to be happy. After Zander left, Emily emerged and thanked Nikolas for handling Zander so delicately. Nikolas and Emily expressed their mutual feelings, but agreed that they could no longer act on them. They shared a kiss, and Nikolas promised that it was their last. Emily left and went straight to Zander. They agreed to work things out, and Emily promised to be completely honest with Zander going forward. Stefan told an indifferent Nikolas that he had caught Lucky kissing Nikolas' new wife. Stefan reminded Nikolas that Lydia's grandfather's will required that they produce an heir. Nikolas dryly told Stefan not to worry, that Lucky might take care of that for him. Nikolas returned to the bedroom, where Lydia tried to convince him to make love to her. Nikolas pushed her away and demanded that she select another bedroom to sleep in. Lydia told Nikolas she hated him and stormed out.

Nikolas is writing out a check to donate to the breast cancer walk. Lydia finds him alone in the office and tries to come on to him. Nikolas ignores her and tells her that the donation is for a worthy cause and that he is doing it for Emily. Lydia tries to get him into bed before he goes to the park to hand it to Emily in person. Nikolas ignores her come-ons and rejects her politely. Stefan comes in and sees Lydia touching Nikolas intimately and apologizes for interrupting. Nikolas excuses himself and tells Stefan he has to go to the park. Lydia complains to Stefan about Nikolas' behavior toward her and that she needs to consummate her marriage to him and have a child by him so she can get the rest of her inheritance. She threatens Stefan that if Nikolas doesn't change his attitude soon she will have their marriage annulled and find some one else with a fortune to help her and he and Nikolas will be left without a penny.

Emily runs into Gia and apologizes for trying to set her up with Zander and letting her get hurt. Gia tells her that she and Zander are still friends. Lydia sees Emily talking privately with Nikolas and goes over to the podium to interrupt and announce the large donation she and Nikolas made for the breast cancer walk. She makes it clear that Nikolas is her husband to remind Emily of the situation. Lydia gets Emily alone and tells her that she will double the donation if she agrees to persuade Nikolas to consummate their marriage. Zander doesn't like seeing her talking to Nikolas but lets it go and shares a kiss with her when she thanks him for all he is done today for her. Nikolas sees them kiss. Lydia asks Emily if they have an agreement. Emily can't believe that Lydia wants her to persuade Nikolas to sleep with his wife and consummate the marriage and Lydia will double Nikolas' donation as a thank you. Emily tells Lydia that she is part of a family who knows how to manipulate. Lydia points out that the agreement benefits both of them and that no harm is being done. Nikolas comes over and asks what is going on. Emily tells him what agreement Lydia proposed to her and Nikolas apologizes to her and takes Lydia home abruptly. When they get back to Wyndemere, Lydia defends what she did to Nikolas but he isn't pleased with her interference and tells her that they have five years to conceive a child and that there is no rush. Lydia gets upset with him for focusing on Emily so much now that they are married. She throws a ceramic pitcher at him in anger. He tells her to leave the room and leave him alone.

Back at the park, Edward rants about Zander not returning from the breast cancer walk as soon as everyone expected and accuses him of being at some bar somewhere and how he isn't good enough for Emily. Emily has faith in Zander and tells Edward that she will live her own life regardless of what Edward thinks or wants from her. Zander runs back and tells Edward to pay up and hands a sheet to him showing he did the course twice. Edward accuses him of forging the signatures at the checkpoints but Monica looks at the sheet and tells Edward that those signatures are real and signed twice. Zander grabs Edward's handkerchief and wipes the sweat off of himself and tells Edward to get his checkbook out and pay up what he owes. Edward grumbles but gets his checkbook out and signs. Alan and Monica thank Zander for coming through for Emily big time. Emily hugs him and calls him her hero. She asks him if there is anything she can do for him and he tells her he needs water right now. They walk in the park hand in hand. Zander admits that he was bothered by Nikolas' big donation in her name even though he knows it is for a good cause. Emily tells him that what he did for her was far more meaningful to her than Nikolas signing a check. Nikolas overhears what she tells him when he spies on them from the bushes. Emily had run into Elizabeth and they talked about how complicated their love lives have been lately.

Monica tells Nikolas that Emily's latest test results show that her white blood cell count is dropping. Emily is going to have to stop this treatment. Monica tells Nikolas that Emily is going to need him for these next few weeks. Emily and Zander go to the carnival. Emily feels that the new round of chemo is working great for her. They both can't wait to start a long and wonderful life together. Nikolas takes Lulu to the carnival. Leslie asks Nikolas why he is not smiling. Emily and Zander run into them. Nikolas asks Emily how she is feeling. Lulu asks if Emily if she was sick. Lulu tells Emily her bear is cute and Emily tells her that Zander won it for her. Lulu wants Zander to win her one too. Nikolas offers to give it a try. Lulu says goodbye and Emily says that she is sure that Lulu will get the bear that she wants because Nikolas always keeps his promises. Nikolas and Emily turn to leave, but both look back as they walk away.

Nikolas takes Lulu to the carnival. Leslie asks Nikolas why he is not smiling. Emily and Zander run into them. Nikolas asks Emily how she is feeling. Lulu asks if Emily if she was sick. Lulu tells Emily her bear is cute and Emily tells her that Zander won it for her. Lulu wants Zander to win her one too. Nikolas offers to give it a try. Lulu says goodbye and Emily says that she is sure that Lulu will get the bear that she wants because Nikolas always keeps his promises. Nikolas and Emily turn to leave, but both look back as they walk away. Nikolas returns to Wyndemere and Lydia apologizes to Nikolas for her actions toward Emily. She tells Nikolas that Lucky told her about Emily's cancer. They both agreed that Emily needs all the support that she can get and that Nikolas will give it to her. Emily and Zander lay on the grass looking up at the stars while planning on their future as they share a kiss. Meanwhile the results of Emily's blood work is not good news, Monica decides to tell Emily herself. Monica reads the results and begins to cry.

Nikolas tracks Zander down at Kelly's and informs Zander that Monica is going to tell Emily that the new chemotherapy is too harsh for Emily and is destroying her immune system. As Zander and Nikolas head to the Hospital together, Monica gives the bad news to Emily. Although Monica tries to remain positive, Emily again reminds Monica that, so far, Emily's cancer has progressed in exactly the way that Emily's mother's cancer progressed and Paige did not survive no matter which treatment option Paige tried! Emily is happy to see both Zander and Nikolas when they arrive. Nikolas announces that he has had a specialist flown in to take over Emily's case. When the specialist arrives, he speaks to Monica and Emily alone, then leaves with Monica to check on Emily's case history. When Monica returns, Monica announces that Emily will have to stay in a protected, isolated room with limited visitors because her immune system has been so badly compromised. Emily insists she will not do that and rushes out of the room. But Emily collapses as Zander and Nikolas run to assist her. Emily tries to run out of the hospital after hearing news that her immune system is failing and that she will have to be admitted into the hospital in an isolated environment. Emily starts to fall on the floor with weakness and Zander and Nikolas pick her up and carry her to the hospital room. Zander tries to get her to calm down but she is in a panic. Monica comes in and has her hooked up to an I.V. to give her fluids. Emily gets upset and tells her she can't do this and wants to just go home. Monica wants to give her a sedative.

Elizabeth comes to visit her and give her support. Zander and Nikolas wait outside while they talk. Nikolas goes to leave but Zander asks him to stick around for Emily. Nikolas shows up at Wyndemere and asks Stefan point blank if he had tried to kill Emily that night but Summer died instead. Stefan denies he had anything to do with Summer's death and turns around and has a several bruises near his eye. He tells him that the creditors are after them now. Nikolas wonders what is going on with his uncle.

Monica makes everyone who visits Emily to wear special gowns so she won't be exposed to any outside infections and promises Zander and Nikolas that the hospital will have a better handle on preventing infection for her than if she was at home. Zander worries that she could have picked up a virus or bug from when they went to the amusement park yesterday. Monica tells him that they just have to hope that she didn't. Zander and Nikolas agree with each other that Emily needs them both around for support. Emily talks to Zander as if she is going to die and tells him that she has loved every moment they have spent together. Zander tells her not to give up. He tells her that he would like to take her away somewhere when she gets better. They discuss Mexico. Emily pretends to be optimistic that she will get better enough to go to Mexico with him and tells him to go to the library and find some travel books about Mexico. After he leaves, Monica talks to her and asks her why she is pushing Zander away again. Emily tells her that he is trying so hard to be optimistic and brave for her and she couldn't handle it so she asked him to go find some travel books on Mexico even though she knows she won't be going there with him. Monica tells her that this is just setback and that her immune system will get stronger. Emily isn't so hopeful and asks Monica to promise that if the doctors tell her that she is terminal that she will let her go home and die there with someone holding her hand and that she doesn't want to die in the hospital.

At Wyndemere Nikolas asks Stefan how he got that shiner. Stefan tells him that their creditors aren't happy that he and Lydia haven't received the rest of their inheritance and they want their money sooner. Stefan tells him that he needs to start paying more attention to his marriage and working on conceiving an heir soon. Lydia comes in and sees Stefan's bruises and asks what is going on. Nikolas explains that the creditors are after them again and that his uncle is paying for his mistakes by taking the abuse from them. Lydia wonders what Nikolas is up to. Nikolas tells Stefan that he doesn't believe that he had anything to do with Summer's death. He also tells him that he will try harder to work things out in his marriage. Stefan is pleased and leaves the room. Lucky comes out of one of the secret doors and asks Nikolas if he was lying when he told Stefan that he didn't believe he had Summer killed. Nikolas tells him that he needs to stop coming onto the grounds and let him handle his uncle from now on. Nikolas explains that it is important if Stefan thinks he is winning in order for them to find the evidence that is concrete enough to prove he had Summer killed by mistake when he wanted Emily dead instead. Lucky worries that Nikolas won't be able to be objective about his uncle since he raised him and he loves him. Nikolas explains that his uncle became someone he doesn't know when he tried to kill Emily. He tells Lucky and Lydia that he will stay away from Emily and spend more time with Lydia so that she won't be a threat to Stefan and she will be safe and that as long as they need an heir Lydia will be safe as well. Lydia tells Nikolas that she didn't know what his uncle was planning until after Summer was killed and she overheard him berating Darius for pushing the wrong girl off the bluff. Lucky and Nikolas believe her. She admits that she wanted her inheritance so she kept quiet. Nikolas had also admitted to Stefan that he pushed Lydia toward Lucky and that was a mistake and he wouldn't be doing that again. Later, Nikolas and Lydia talk about their plan. Lydia asks him if they will need to share the same bed since the servants may talk to Stefan if they don't look like they are sleeping together. Nikolas agrees that they will have to. Lydia asks him if that is going to be a problem for him. He tells her he is o.k. with it. She suggests that they kiss and at least look convincing. Nikolas tells her that they can act closer without having sex and not arouse Stefan's suspicions but he isn't worried since Stefan wants it to happen and so he will be convinced because of it. They share a kiss.

Nikolas and Lydia kiss, thinking that Stefan would walk in on them, instead Lucky walks in. Lydia tells Lucky that he should leave because the plan is for Nikolas and her to start acting like a married couple. Lucky thinks that Stefan would be suspicious of this idea and that they need to come up with a better plan. Lydia leaves the two brothers alone to talk it over and Nikolas asks Lucky if the problem is that he doesn't want Nikolas to sleep with Lydia. Lucky says that he doesn't care about Lydia and that all he wants is for her to testify against Stefan to save Luke. Lydia walks in just in time to hear Lucky tell Nikolas that Lydia is nothing more than a means to an end. They all agree that they understand one another and Lucky leaves. Lydia begins to kiss Nikolas, but Nikolas tells her that whatever is going on between her and Lucky, sleeping with Nikolas to get back at Lucky will only hurt her more.

At the hospital, Zander reads to Emily and gets up to leave when he sees that she is asleep. Emily's white blood cell count continues to drop and Monica hopes that Emily does not get an infection. She asks Zander to call Nikolas about the specialist that he brought in because Emily is not responding to the treatments. Monica gives Zander a piece of paper with Nikolas' number. Ned stops by to visit Emily. Emily asks how Grandmother is doing. He tells her that she is a lot like her Grandmother, always thinking of other people. She is the best person that the Quartermaine Family has ever produced. Outside Emily's room, Skye tells Monica how sorry she is that Emily is going through this and asks Monica is she could go in and visit Emily. Monica tells her not to stay very long. Skye tries to converse with Emily. Emily asks her that since they are not very close, what is it that Skye wants? Skye tells Emily that if she could take back one thing that she has done, it would be that night that Skye gave Emily and Zander money to run away. Skye took a year of Emily's life and if there was anything that she could do to get it back, she would do it. Emily tells Skye that it's okay and that she let that go a long time ago, but there is something that Skye could do for Emily. She asks Skye to help her to get Nikolas' attention by looking like a beautiful woman. Emily wants Nikolas to just once notice her and not be able to take his eyes off of her.

Zander goes to Coleman's bar for a few drinks and leaves Nikolas' number on the bar. Coleman picks it up and decides to call it to let him know that Zander was in pretty bad shape after having too much to drink.

**The End**