Nikolas went to the room that he and Lucky were sharing in order to
try and figure out everything that had happened. Lucky explained to those
who didn't already know the story the basics of the Spencer/Cassadine feud.
When he was done the group split up. Sly and Kelsey stayed in the living
room to talk about something. Emily went to her room to lie down. She
hadn't been feeling very well since the accident. Darcy disappeared
somewhere. Lucky and Liz went for a walk, and ended up sitting on a small
bench in the garden, talking about what had just happened with Nikolas.

        "I can't believe that this happened, Liz," Lucky said. "Nikolas is
my brother, my *full* brother, and Nadia, Nadia's alive and on her way to
Port Charles. I have an older sister that I've never met, never even knew
about. She's a complete stranger to me. I don't know anything about her!
And Nikolas...Everything that he's ever believed in has turned out to be a
lie. I know that feeling Liz. It's awful."

        Lizzie didn't know what to say. She put her arms around Lucky and
they held each other close. "I hate Stefan more than I ever thought that it
would be possible to hate anyone, except, maybe, that creep Murty. If he
had at least let Nikolas see his true feelings it wouldn't be so bad, but
to know that the man that had treated you like a son was actually plotting
to kill you...It must be a terrible thing to learn. I hope that he'll be
okay."

        Liz looked at him. "Lucky, Nikolas is strong. He'll get by this.
What Stefan did to him is horrible. It was inhuman and cruel. He'll be
upset for a long time, but he will come to a point where he can accept it
and get beyond it. He needs support now and help from people who care for
him. He'll find someone like I found you, that will help him through this.
I know that."

        "How did you get to be so wise?" Lucky asked her playfully.

        "Well there was this guy, and he helped me through the worst part
of my life, and he had these great inspirational speeches that helped a
lot. I learned a lot from him."

        "Really?" Lucky said. "Sounds like a pretty special guy."

        "Oh, he is. In fact, I'm totally in love with him."

        "Oh really?" Lucky said, smiling at the beautiful girl next to him.
"He's a lucky guy."

        "Yeah," Lizzie said, fighting the urge to laugh. "Well I guess you
could say that I'm a 'Lucky' girl, in more ways then one." They both
laughed, then Lucky's face grew serious.

        "You're *the* Lucky girl," he said, running his finger's down the
side of her face, and over her lips. They looked into each other's eyes.
Lucky grabbed Lizzie's hands. "You're the only girl that I want, the only
girl that I need. I love you, Elizabeth, and I'm so glad that I'm still
around to tell you that. Today could have turned out to be a lot worse than
it was. If I had lost you..." He let go of her hands and pulled her into
his arms.

        "Or if I had lost you," Lizzie said, tears coming to her eyes. She
held him close, her head resting on his chest. His heartbeat calmed her.
"But we didn't loose each other," she said. They pulled a little apart from
each other and looked into each other's eyes. "We have all the time in the
world in front of us. I believe that with everything in me. We'll be
together forever. Forever Lucky!"

        Lucky reached up and wiped her tears gently from her face with both
hands. She was so beautiful, tears shining in her eyes. "Forever Lizzie. I
promise!" He said with absolute conviction. He loved her more than he
thought it was possible to love another person. Nothing had ever felt so
right.

I've never been so sure about anything before
but this lovin' feeling's
gonna be a feeling
I feel forever more.
Looking in your eyes
tomorrow's all I see.
As long as there's forever, baby
I will always be....

        Lucky cupped Lizzie's face in his hands, and drew her face gently
to his for a kiss. They looked lovingly into each other's eyes until the
moment that their lips met. Their eyes fluttered shut as they gently
brushed their lips together.

Saving forever for you....baby
You are the only one
I'd ever give forever to.
Love for a lifetime won't do....baby.
Wanna always stay together
So I'm saving forever
for you

        Lucky reveled in the feeling of her lips on his. Their kiss
deepened, each wanting to be closer to the other.

You'll be my world as long as there's a world turning round.
And you'll be my heaven, baby
Till the heavens all come falling down.
Look inside my heart
Love is all you'll see
I'm loving you forever, baby
Leave it just to me

        They melted together, lost in the moment. Nothing was important
anymore, except for the way that they felt about each other, the way that
they would always feel about each other.

Saving forever for you....baby
You are the only one
I'd ever give forever to.
Love for a lifetime won't do....baby
Wanna always stay together
So I'm saving forever for you.

        Lucky ran his fingers through her hair, and then down over her
shoulders. He loved everything about this girl!

Forever I'll be loving you
I'll be there as long as time passes by
All through it all
I'll be standing by you.

        Lizzie buried her fingers in Lucky's hair, pulling him to her, as
close as possible. God, how she loved him!

Looking in your eyes
Tomorrow's all I see
Long as there's forever, baby
I will always be....
Needing you here with me

        They pulled apart reluctantly. They looked into each other's eyes
and saw the love the each felt for the other. They could see their entire
future's in the other's eyes.

Saving forever for you....baby
You are the only one
I'd ever give forever to.
Love for a lifetime won't do....baby
Wanna always stay together
So I'm saving forever for you

        Lucky held Lizzie close, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
They felt so close to each other at that moment. Nothing in the world could
come between them. They belonged to each other, mind, body and soul, and
they knew it. There was nothing that could change that. They held each
other, and felt a sense of complete contentment. The world and all their
worries melted away for a while, as they held each other close.

Chapter Sixty-One

*IN THE LIVING ROOM*

        "Kelse, are you sure that you don't mind all these people staying
here?" Sly asked her tentatively, a tension showing between them that
hadn't shown earlier.

        "It's fine, Sly. I like them a lot. I have no problem with them
staying here."

        "Just with me," Sly said with a sigh.

        "Sly..."

        "No, Kelse. I know that you only wanted me to come because they
needed a place to stay and you thought I should be with them. I know you
Kelse!"

        "Well, what do you expect, Sly! I can only go so far and then I get
stuck!"

        "Are you even trying? Does it even matter to you?"

        "Of course I'm trying Sly, but it's not that easy! And as for
whether it matter's to me, it does. Maybe too much!"

        "I just wish that you could try harder, that we could be the way we
were."

        "Why am I the one that has to try harder!"

        "Because you're the one that wants to break up! I want to work
things out! I want to be with you!"

        "AND YOU'RE THE ONE THAT CHEATED ON *ME*!!" Kelsey shouted. "Do you
know how that feels! Do you know how much it hurts! How can I be with you
when part of me *hates* you!?"

*BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS*

        Nikolas came down the stairs quietly and was surprised to hear
raised voices coming from the living room.

        "They've been fighting a lot more lately," he heard a voice say
from behind him. He jumped and swung around to find himself face-to-face
with Darcy. "You looked kind of surprised to hear them fighting. Ever since
Kelse found out why Sly ended up in Maine, they've been having problems."

        "He hid why he came here from her?" Nikolas asked.

        "I guess you could say that," Darcy said noncommittally. "She
didn't ask and he didn't offer. See Kelsey's the kind of person that will
ask a question once, and then wait until you're prepared to answer it,
whether it takes minutes or months. When Sly first got here, she asked him
why he came. There wasn't anyone with him and he didn't know anyone here.
He said that he couldn't answer that question, and being the person she is,
she wouldn't ask again. She figured that something awful had happened in
his past and that he had no family, or something along those lines. When it
finally came out that he had come here to hide from the Mob because they
wanted him dead, well she found that a little hard to grasp, and she
couldn't believe that he had hidden something that big from her, when at
any moment people with guns could come and kill him and maybe her as well.
She's found it kind of hard to trust him, ever since, so now they fight."

        Nikolas could hear a certain amount of hostility in her voice. "You
don't sound like you're too happy with Sly yourself."

        "He could get her killed! Don't get me wrong, I've always liked
Sly, but Kelsey's my best friend as well as being my cousin. I depend on
her. If I ever lost that support...I need her. She's been hurt so many
times before. She's lost so much, and put the blame on herself for it. Do
you know what it's like to watch someone you love, in a relationship with
someone that could get them killed? It's horrible. I hate it when people
hurt her, and Sly hurt her, badly. See, that lie was the first breach of
trust, but Kelsey would have gotten over it and they would have moved on,
but then..." She paused, thinking that maybe she was saying too much.

        "What?" Nikolas asked.

        "While she was away at school, he cheated on her. She can't forgive
him for that, and well, I'm having a hard time with that myself. I think
that it's finally over though."

        "What do you mean?" Nikolas asked, wondering how Sly could have
been so stupid.

        "Kelsey decided to give him another chance. She loves him, but I
think by the sound of things that it's really over this time. As you might
have noticed they were doing really well. I wonder what happened?" She
shrugged and turned to leave. "They'll be okay," she said as she left.
"They're strong, both of them."

        Nikolas turned and went back up the stairs. He was surprised at how
strong his feelings for Kelsey were so quickly. He hated the fact that she
was in pain. He couldn't help but worry about his feelings. He was with
Emily, and he really cared about her. The last thing that he wanted to do
was hurt her, but he had a feeling that that was the only way that this
would end. He hoped that Lucky would come in soon, because he really needed
to talk to his brother. How could he explain the way that he was feeling?
Would anyone understand?

*IN THE LIVING ROOM*

        "Kelse, I thought that we were doing so well. I thought that we
were happy again. Can't we keep trying? Kelsey, I love you!"

        "No Sly! I can't do this anymore. I loved you so much, I still love
you, but we can't go back. I tried! I tried *so hard*, but it just doesn't
work. It doesn't work. You lied to me from the moment you got here, about
so many things, Sly! So many things, even before... Even before Kassie. But
that, Sly, I just can't get by that. It ruined my friendship with her, and
it destroyed us as a couple. There's nothing left there. We can be friends,
but I can never trust your heart again." Sly looked devastated, Kelsey was
crying, but she managed to send a shaky grin in his direction. "Come on,
Sly, we both knew that this was coming. You know as well as I do that it's
just not working. I gave us a second chance, but we can't turn back time.
We were over the moment that you kissed Kassie for the first time."

        "But I don't love her, I love you!" Sly insisted.

        "Then why did you cheat on me with her!?" Kelsey asked. She let out
a deep sigh. "Sly, I'm not blaming you. I'm not saying that this entire
thing is your fault. Distance is hard. I was away at school, but that
doesn't change the fact that you slept with one of my best friends! It's
funny though, that both of you hate yourselves for it, and I can't get
beyond it. I'll never trust either of you again! Do you understand how hard
that is for me? Two of my *best* friends in the world and I can't trust
you. I can't believe in you. I can't be with you anymore, Sly. We gave it a
try and we failed."

        "We were doing so well!" Sly said.

        "Not really," Kelsey said. "Not in the way that you mean anyway. We
got to the point where we can be friends, but I just don't see anything
beyond that anymore. We were great friends, right from the beginning, and I
don't want that to end. I don't want you to leave and I don't want your
cousins and friends to leave. I just can't be your girlfriend anymore! All
I can be is your friend."

        "I guess that I can do that," Sly said. "I never thought that we
would even get this far again. I guess it was too much to wish for, that we
could go back to the way that we were."

        "You're a great guy, Sly. I just can't trust you anymore." She gave
him a small smile. "Some advice, bud. The next girlfriend that you have,
don't lie to her and don't cheat on her. It really puts a strain on the
relationship."

        Sly nodded, tears in his eyes. He pulled Kelsey into his arms for a
hug. She hugged him back tightly and then pulled away, giving him a small
kiss on the cheek. "I'll never forget what we had, or what you mean to me,"
she said quietly. There was a finality in that statement that cut Sly to
the bone. It was over.

        "Neither will I," Sly said. Kelsey turned to leave, she had things
that she needed to work out. She walked out of the room, feeling both sad
and free at the same time. It was over. She had known that for a long time.
It was time for both of them to move on. She just hoped that Sly realized
that.

        As soon as she was gone Sly collapsed onto the couch and buried his
face in his hands letting the pain overtake him. He had been so stupid and
he had paid for it with the person that mattered most to him. At least he
hadn't lost her completely. There was a time when he had thought that she
would never speak to him again. She had trusted him so much, and he had
done nothing to earn that trust. He had destroyed it. He would always
remember what they had, but he had to let her go. He didn't deserve her. He
had hurt her too much, to many times. She would move on, and someday, so
would he. 'I'll always love you, Kelse,' he thought to himself, his tears
beginning to fall. 'Always.'

        This romeo is bleeding
        But you can't see his blood
        It's nothing but some feelings
        That this old dog kicked up

        It's been raining since you left me
        Now I'm drowning in the flood
        You see I've always been a fighter
        But without you I give up

        Now I can't sing a love song
        Like the way it's meant to be
        Well, I guess I'm not that good anymore
        But baby, that's just me

        And I will love you, baby - Always
        And I'll be there forever and a day - Always
        I'll be there till the stars don't shine
        Till the heavens burst and
        The words don't rhyme
        And I know when I die, you'll be on my mind
        And I'll love you - Always

        Now your pictures that you left behind
        Are just memories of a different life
        Some that made us laugh, some that made us cry
        One that made you have to say goodbye
        What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair
        To touch your lips, to hold you near
        When you say your prayers try to understand
        I've made mistakes, I'm just a man

        When he holds you close, when he pulls you near
        When he says the words you've been needing to hear
        I'll wish I was him 'cause those words are mine
        To say to you till the end of time

        Yeah, I will love you baby - Always
        And I'll be there forever and a day - Always

        If you told me to cry for you
        I could
        If you told me to die for you
        I would
        Take a look at my face
        There's no price I won't pay
        To say these words to you

        Well, there ain't no luck
        In these loaded dice
        But baby if you give me just one more try
        We can pack up our old dreams
        And our old lives
        We'll find a place where the sun still shines

        And I will love you, baby - Always
        And I'll be there forever and a day - Always
        I'll be there till the stars don't shine
        Till the heavens burst and
        The words don't rhyme
        And I know when I die, you'll be on my mind
        And I'll love you - Always

        Lucky and Liz entered the house hand in hand, and went into the
living room. They were surprised to see Sly sitting on the couch crying.
Lucky looked at Liz, communicating with her silently. She nodded and left
Lucky alone to talk to his cousin.

        "Hey, Sly," Lucky said, putting his hand on his cousin's shoulder.
"What's up?"

        Sly looked up at his cousin. "I lost Kelsey," Sly said quietly.
"Actually if you get right down to it,  I shot myself in the foot!"

        "What happened?" Lucky asked surprised. Sly and Kelsey had seemed
close.

        "What happened, happened quite a while ago. I made the biggest
mistake of my life, and she can't see beyond it, not that I blame her. I
thought that things were going well. That there was a chance that we'd get
things back together. That hope is dead though."

        "She doesn't think that she can ever forgive you one mistake?"

        "It's a doozy Lucky. I cheated on her...with her best friend, while
she was away at school. I missed Kelsey so much, but I let myself get
talked into this party and Kassie was there, so we were hanging out and
well, we were drinking and one thing lead to another...We hated ourselves
for it. Neither of us had wanted anything like that to happen. The last
thing that either of us wanted to do was hurt Kelsey, but we did and
there's no going back. She tried, really hard. We're friends now, and
that's something that I never thought would happen again. She forgave me to
a point and I think that even she thought that maybe it would work again.
It's just like all of a sudden she realized that there would never be
anything there beyond friendship ever again and I have to live with that,
because it was my mistake. It was my betrayal, and if I want her in my life
I have to be content with being her friend."

        "Are you okay with that?"

        "I can't lose her, Lucky. I can't let her walk out of my life. If
friends is all we can be, then we'll be friends. As painful as that will
be, it won't be anywhere near as painful as losing her all together." Lucky
nodded. He could understand that.

        "Does she want us to leave?" Lucky asked.

        "No, she wants everyone, including me, to stay. She likes you guys.
You know what? I think I'm going to go for a little walk, to clear my head,
you know? I'll see you in a little while. I think Kelse is planning on
dinner at six, so let the gang know, okay?"

        "Are you sure you'll be all right?" Lucky asked, concerned for his
cousin.

        "Yeah, I'll be fine." Sly gave Lucky a small grin. "Just wait, I'll
be back to normal by supper!" He turned and left the room, holding back his
tears until he was outside.

        Lucky watched him go. Yeah, he'd be back to normal by supper, on
the outside, but Lucky knew that it would just be show. The pain that he
had seen in Sly's eyes, the self hatred, that would be there for a long
time.

        Lucky headed upstairs to check on Nikolas and to let everybody know
what was going on with dinner. What a day! He couldn't help but wonder what
would go wrong next. It ended up being a rather uneventful night though. He
found Nikolas in their room with the girls and they talked until dinner.
Lucky explained what was happening with Kelsey and Sly. They talked it over
and decided that they would stay. If Sly could deal with it then they could
to. They also knew that the best way for Sly and Kelsey to remain friends
would be for them to remain in contact with each other and get over that
first awkward time. When they went down to eat they were surprised at how
comfortable everyone still was with each other. Sly and Kelsey seemed to be
very good at hiding whatever tension was between them. After dinner they
all went into the living room together.

        "Hey, do you guys want to hear the legends about the house now?"
Kelsey asked. "Some of them are really quite..." She stopped as the sound
of a wailing child filled the house. A horrified look crossed her face.
There were no kids in the house to be making the sound. No terrified child
having a prank pulled on him. Who then, was making that noise, and why?

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