Nikolas: no. I want to kiss some more.

Gia: {Walks over to a few girls} Hey. I would like you to meet my fiancee.

Woman: Oh, we don't know who he is.

Gia: This is Nikolas Cassadine.

Nikolas: Hi.

Woman: Are you really a prince?

Gia: Well, to me, he is.

Lucky: Oh, Nikolas just says that to meet girls.

Nikolas: You should try that sometime. Have you guys met my brother, Lucky Spencer?

Woman: The photographer?

Lucky: Yes. That would be me.

Nikolas: Yeah, well, he kind of -- you just say that to meet the girls, right?

Gia: This is Ashley, Brittany, and Caitlin.

Lucky: Well, it must be working. It's very nice to meet all of you.

Brittany: You, too.

Lucky: Can you believe Gia actually agreed to marry this guy?

Gia: Hey! Wait a minute!

Brittany: Are you going to live here?

Lucky: It's kind of creepy, isn't it?

Gia: No, not anymore.

Nikolas: Well, I've never seen this room more beautiful. {He brings Gia close to him and kisses her}

Lucky: {Hands everyone champagne}Hey, here you go. Yeah.

Gia: Thank you.

Lucky: To my brother, the prince.

Nikolas: Lighten up with the prince routine.

Lucky: And the woman who swears that she'll put up with him forever.

Nikolas: Thanks, I think.

Gia: To the love of my life.

Brittany: Oh.

Lucky: Oh, that's cute.

Stefan: Everyone, if I could have your attention, please.

Nikolas: {They turn around} Didn't we just do all of this?

Stefan: Just one more toast.

Nikolas: Another toast, uncle?

Lucky: He's perceptive, isn't he?

Gia: Very.

Lucky: That's why he's a prince.

Stefan: Well, we obviously all have a great deal to celebrate this evening. I never imagined that this room could be so full of laughter, so full of love. Speaking of which, I would like to introduce my sister, Kristina Cassadine. Welcome to the family.

Kristina: I have waited my whole life for this. Thank you all so much for making me feel at home. I just wish that my sister could have been here.

Stefan: Well, as you all know, we are also here to celebrate the engagement of Ms. Gia Campbell to my nephew, prince Nikolas Cassadine.

Lucky: Let's hear it for the prince, huh? {Everyone claps}

Stefan: Thank you, Mr. Spencer. Your sentiments are apt.

Lucky: What can I tell you?

Stefan: I have one more announcement. As other is evening, Nikolas will take his rightful place as head of the Cassadines. You are now in charge of the entire Cassadine empire.

Gia: {Looks at Nikolas} Where did that come from?

Alan: Well, that's going to be good for the hospital.

Monica: He's way too young to have that responsibility.

Florence: What's this about?

Taggert: I'm not sure, mom.

Stefan: Nikolas?

Nikolas: Uncle, I'm -- I'm not quite sure what to say.

Gia: Yes, you are. {Moves him forward}

Nikolas: Thank you. I appreciate the support. I'm honored. {Turns around to face everyone} And I would like too thank all of you for helping me celebrate the best night of my life. Thank you. {Everyone claps}

Gia: {Looks at Lucky} What's going on here?

Lucky: Does this mean you're going to be a princess?

Gia: Lucky, I'm serious.

Lucky: Maybe you can wear one of those little crowns. What do you say? {Goes over to Nikolas} Congratulations, buddy.

Nikolas: Thank you. Excuse me

Lucky: Oh, of course.

Nikolas: Uncle?

Stefan: Perhaps I should have forewarned you.

Nikolas: You can't do this.

~*~

Nikolas: Yeah. Why didn't you warn me about this?

Stefan: I thought it would be a nice surprise.

Nikolas: You know that I have reservations about this, uncle. You know that.

Stefan: Nikolas, the Cassadine estate is your birthright and you are ready to accept it.

Nikolas: but legally, I'm not even supposed to accept until I'm 25.

Stefan: The board has agreed to make an exception.

~*~

Gia: I have to get over there.

Lucky: No, no, no, no, no. I really think that you should let them work it out, ok?

Gia: Well, look at how upset Nikolas is.

Lucky: I understand, but it's our job to keep the party going, right?

Gia: Speak for yourself.

~*~

Stefan: We sign the papers this evening.

Nikolas: Don't be so sure.

Stefan: Nikolas, I apologize for catching you off guard, but I'm certain that once you think it over, you will --

Nikolas: Uncle, you assume a great deal.

Stefan: Have you seen your mother?

Nikolas: Does she know about this?

Stefan: She soon will. {He walks off}

Elton: Well, quite the prince these days, aren't we?

Nikolas: Yeah, I guess it appears that way, Elton.

Bobbie: Did you have any idea?

Nikolas: Stefan's full of surprises. We all know that, Bobbie.

~*~

Florence: Honey?

Gia: Yeah?

Florence: Is Nikolas all right?

Gia: I wish I knew.

Florence: Well, you know, honey, he lied to you once about how rich he is.

Gia: Don't worry, mom. We'll get it all straightened out, ok?

Florence: Ok.

Alan:Congratulations.

Nikolas: Thank you very much.

Ashley: What's up with Lucky?

Gia: Later, all right? Nikolas? {She goes looking for Nikolas}

~*~

Nikolas is looking at a photo album

Gia: {Opens the door} Nikolas?

Nikolas: I'm sorry I disappeared on you.

Gia: What are you doing?

Nikolas: Have you seen these pictures?

Gia: Oh, you were so cute.

Nikolas: My father looks happy, doesn't he?

Gia: How old were you?

Nikolas: 3 months, maybe 4.

Nikolas: What do we got?

Gia: Tell me you didn't actually wear those clothes to school.

Nikolas: I -- I had tutors.

Gia: Oh. So you never went to school?

Nikolas: Uncle Stefan thought it was a bad influence.

Gia: You didn't really have any friends until you moved here, did you?

Nikolas: Not even close. You ever wish you didn't know? About the money, I mean?

Gia: I understand why you lied to me at first.

Nikolas: I just wanted to be like everyone else, Gia. Even for a little while.

Gia: Well, that's impossible.

Nikolas: Yeah, it is now.

Gia: Did you have any idea Stefan was going to spring this on you?

Nikolas: {Gets up} Not at all.

Gia: Well, why are you so upset?

Nikolas: You know what? We should -- we should get back to our engagement party.

Gia: Nikolas, you are nothing like your father.

Nikolas: I buried my father, Gia.

Gia: Well, then let him go.

Nikolas: I have. I have.

Gia: Then what is wrong?

~*~

Gia: What is so terrible about being the Cassadine heir?

Nikolas: You're right. I should be grateful.

Gia: You don't really expect me to buy that, do you?

Nikolas: It's just -- Gia, it -- it will mean a lot of work.

Gia: And that's why you disappeared from your own engagement party? Tell me what's going on.

Nikolas: It's hard to explain.

Nikolas: I guess so, yeah.

Gia: The bright, young hope of the Cassadines -- something along those lines?

Nikolas: Yes. Something like that.

Gia: Well, is that the problem? Too many expectations?

Nikolas: Not really, no.

Gia: You know, when I first found out you were rich, I have to admit I was a little annoyed.

Nikolas: Believe me, I remember.

Gia: I thought that you were looking down on everyone and you were trying to be someone that you're not. And you're -- you're the best man that I know, Nikolas.

Nikolas: Gia, the whole time that we have known each other, I've been running away, hiding from what I was supposed to do. My uncle calls it my inheritance because it -- it makes it sound like the estate belongs to me. You know what the truth is? I will belong to this estate. You know, money changes things, no matter if you want it to or not.

Gia: What kind of money are we dealing with here?

Nikolas: I'll show you.

~*~

Nikolas: Everything is on-line, of course, but -- that'll give you some idea.

Gia: Your family owns shares in these companies?

Nikolas: My family owns the companies, founded most of them.

Gia: Well, that's some serious money.

Nikolas: These are the north American holdings, which are constantly changing. Central and south America are in these books here and they change about every 24 hours. This is Asia and Russia.

Gia: Your family owns companies in Russia?

Nikolas: They used to own most of Russia.

Gia: Oh.

Nikolas: Before the revolution.

Gia: Of course.

Nikolas: Most of the Cassadines escaped before the real trouble started. We invested in gold and silver and bought some land. Mostly we own the silver market worldwide. We have a fair part of gold, as well. The truth is the real estate holdings probably won't even fit in this room.

Gia: I had no idea.

Nikolas: {Gets up from the desk} You know, Gia, I have spent most of my life trying to hide from these numbers, pretending that they weren't a part of me at all when I was trying to pretend that I was someone else. And I've really -- I have hated the damage that this money has done. But I've also appreciated the good, as well.

Gia: And you'll take over all this?

Nikolas: Yeah. I've sat in board meetings since I was 11 years old. I've never had the opportunity to meet the people who will keep me -- or should I say us -- rich fore

Gia: "Rich" isn't quite the word, is it?

Nikolas: Not even close.

Gia: Well, I love you rich or poor or somewhere in between. I don't care about any of that.

Nikolas: You may not now, but -- money will always affect my life, and now yours.