~*~Chapter 55~*~

“Hey, look at this, another good review,” Emily says, bouncing into the kitchen. She drops a magazine onto the table in front of Nikolas, then lowers herself into a chair.

Nikolas picks up the magazine and scans it. “You even got a mention this time, that’s pretty cool,” he says proudly, leaning over to kiss her. “I’m glad Lucky’s record is doing well already. He deserves this.”

“Yeah, he does. I’m just a little surprised it hasn’t broken over here yet. I mean, it’s great that he’s so popular already overseas, but you’d think being an American and all, he’d be popular here, too.”

“I know, but V said this kind of thing happens a lot. American bands will become hits over in Europe long before anyone here picks up on them. It’s just a matter of time. Lucky’s good, he’s just got a lot of competition here, that’s all,” Nikolas says.

She nods and reaches for the magazine again. “I just can’t get over this guy saying I have the ‘voice of an angel!’ It’s so weird to see that in print.”

“Well, you do,” he says softly, leaning across the table again. He brushes his lips over hers, then smiles. “So, what do you want to do today, or are you too famous now to hang around with your lowly husband?”

Emily chuckles and slaps him playfully. “Yeah, right. I’m not that famous yet!”

“Oh, so you’re saying once you do get that famous, you’re going to ditch me?’ he asks, acting hurt.

“No, I never said that. I wouldn’t leave you for anyone. Well, maybe for David Boreanz,” she jokes.

“Who?” Nikolas asks, narrowing his eyes in jealousy.

Emily laughs. “He’s on Buffy, well, he’s got his own show now, but he’s a real hottie. Kind of reminds me of you, actually.”

“Oh, well, I guess that’s okay, then. Just don’t be getting too many ideas. I plan on being with you for a long time yet.”

Emily grins and kisses him. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.” She sits back for a moment, a confused look on her face. “Um, actually, that’s a lie. I think I need to go to the hospital. My water just broke.”

Nikolas jumps up from the table. “What? I mean, oh God, where’s your bag? I have to call my parents, I have to get the car!” He rushes out of the room, leaving Emily behind. She sits there, waiting patiently for him to come back.

“I guess I should bring you too,” he says sheepishly as he hurries back into the room. He helps her to her feet and they leave the house, piling into the car.

“Here, give me your cell phone, I’ll call Luke and Laura,” she says, holding out her hand. Nikolas hands the phone to her, intent on the road.

“Hello?”

“Laura, it’s Emily. The baby’s coming, we’re on our way to GH,” she says hurriedly as a contraction hits.

“You’re in labor?” Laura asks excitedly. “When did it start?”

“Just a few minutes ago.”

“Okay, we’ll be there. Tell Nikolas to drive safely, okay?”

“I will. Bye, Laura.” Emily hangs up and smiles at her husband. “She says to drive safely. Should I call Lucky, too?”

“I’m sure my parents will call him. Anyway, we’re here, come on, I’ll help you out.” He stops the car and helps her into the emergency room. A few minutes later, Luke and Laura rush in, with Lucky right behind them.

“Hey man, how does it feel? You’re about to be a father!” Lucky teases, slapping his brother on the back.

Nikolas rolls his eyes. “I’ve had nine months to prepare for this, it’s not like it’s a big shock.”

“How’s the little lady?” Luke asks, looking around the waiting room.

“They just brought her to her room. It will be a while before she’s ready to deliver. I’m glad you guys are here.”

They all hug, then head down the hall to find Emily’s room.

~*~

“Nikolas, if you ever touch me again, I swear, I’ll kill you with my bare hands!” Emily shouts, pulling him down to her level by his collar as another contraction hits.

“Don’t worry, they all say that. She’ll be back to her usual self once the baby is born,” the doctor reassures him with a soft chuckle. “Okay, Emily, let’s have another push, you’re almost there.”

“I don’t want to push anymore!” she says angrily. “The baby is just going to have to stay there, because I’m done!”

“Honey, come on, just one more push,” Nikolas says softly, trying to untangle her fingers from his shirt. He takes her hand and smoothes some hair off of her forehead. “It’ll all be over soon, just push again.”

Emily sighs, then squeezes his hand as she pushes. His face contorts in pain, and he begins to wish he had left her hand gripping his shirt. At least then, the only thing he had to worry about were wrinkles.

“There’s the head!” the doctor announces. “Keep pushing, Emily, this is it!”

Emily screams as the baby finally makes its way into the world. A moment later, it lets out a shrill cry, and Emily sighs, falling back to the bed, loosening her grip on Nikolas’s hand. He grins down at her, and she reaches up to hug him.

“Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, it’s a girl!” the doctor says, laying the newly-wrapped baby on Emily’s chest.

Nikolas looks up at the doctor. “Can someone please send my family in here? We need to talk to them for a minute before we name her.”

“Sure,” he says, going to the door and motioning for them to come inside. A minute later, the doors open and Luke, Laura and Lucky all file into the room.

“It’s a girl,” Emily says proudly as Laura approaches the bed to admire her new granddaughter.

“Oh, she’s so beautiful,” she gushes. “Have you picked a name yet?”

“That’s why we asked you to come in here,” Nikolas says, looking at Lucky. “We’d like to name her Elizabeth. Elizabeth Paige Spencer.”

~*~Chapter 56~*~

Elizabeth stands over the crib, watching as her son falls asleep.

“Elisha, are you okay?” Sergei asks from the doorway.

“Shh,” she whispers, hurrying him out into the hallway. “I was just watching him sleep. I didn’t want to leave until I was sure he wasn’t going to wake up again.”

“Oh, well, he looked okay to me. Why don’t you go get some sleep. You look tired,” he says gently, looking into her bloodshot eyes.

She nods, looking past him down the hallway. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I haven’t slept much lately. I guess it’s all part of being a mom now.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, you’re a great one so far,” he says, touching her shoulder.

Liz instinctively backs away from his touch, then smiles nervously. “Sorry, um, I better go to my room. I’m going to see if I can get a full night’s sleep for once. Good night.” Before he can say anything else, she turns and rushes off to her room, locking the door behind her. She stand with her back against the door for a moment, looking around the room, then walks over to her desk. She slides open the top drawer and pulls out a clean sheet of paper.

Dear Lucky,

Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve written one of these. Then again, I’ve been pretty busy lately. I had the baby last month. He’s beautiful, and I’m as sure as I am of anything that he’s yours. All I can figure is that he was conceived that last night we were together, even though I was too drunk to really remember it!

I wish you were her to see him. I wish he was able to know you, to know what an amazing father you would have been. Sure, Sergei’s kind to him, and he seems to genuinely care about him, but he doesn’t know he’s yours. I’m worried about what will happen when Helena finds out. I’m sure she’s going to do a paternity test someday. I just hope she doesn’t hurt our son. He’s all I have left to hold onto, now that you’re gone.

I think I’ve finally accepted the fact that this island is going to be my home forever. Or, at least for as long as Helena lives. Lucky for me, she’s pretty old, so she can’t have that many more years left, right? (I can just imagine the sarcastic comment Luke would have for that question!)

I miss you all so much. I think about Luke and Laura all the time. I hope they’re dealing with your death, and not shutting each other out like they did last time. Maybe Emily and Nikolas can help them through it, since I can’t be there as well.

Wherever you are, Lucky, I miss you, and I love you. I promise to raise our son with all the love and devotion that I know you would give to him. I won’t let a day go by that I don’t tell him about you. He will know who his father was, and that he was the most wonderful, most perfect man in the entire world. I won’t let Helena hurt him, or poison him against our family. I like to think you are watching over us, and that we won’t ever be alone.

Love always,
Elizabeth

Liz folds up the letter and brings it over to her bed, sliding it under the floorboard, and then heading for the bathroom to take a hot shower before finally going to bed.

~*~

“I thought they would never leave,” Helena whispers, peering into the crib. She motions for someone to enter the room, then stands aside while the man quickly draws some blood from the baby. Once he’s gone, she picks him up and walks around the room with him, trying to soothe him back to sleep before he screams and draws any attention from Liz or Sergei.

“Shh, it’s okay little Mikkos. It’s all over, you can go back to sleep. He just had to take some blood so I can make sure who your daddy is. If my hunch is correct, you’re Lucky’s child, not Sergei’s. Now, I haven’t figured out what I’ll do if that’s the case. Should I tell Sergei the truth? oh, but it will just break his heart, he’s grown quite fond of you. No, I think I’ll just keep the news to myself. it may come in handy later.” She smiles at him and places him gently into the crib, smoothing a blanket over him before sneaking quietly out of the room.

~*~

Liz comes downstairs the following morning, refreshed from her first full night of sleep since Mikkos was born. “Where’s Sergei?” she asks, seeing that his usual place at the table was empty.

“I had to send him on a last-minute errand to the mainland, so it’s just the two of us for a few days,” Helena answers, smiling as Liz takes her seat.

Trying to his her distaste for the news, Liz smiles and picks up her fork. “Oh, well, I’ll probably be outside most of the afternoon. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.”

“That’s fine, dear,” Helena says, happy to have her out of her hair. “The fresh air will do you good. You’ve been looking sort of pale lately. Are you getting enough sleep?”

“Not really, but I did manage to sleep most of the night last night. I think once I get used to having a baby around, things will go back to normal.”

“Yes, I’m sure they will,” Helena says, opening the morning’s paper, signaling the end of their conversation.

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