December 11th, 2001

"You'll be terrific."

Gia: Do you honestly want to give up your inheritance?

Nikolas: It's a huge responsibility.

Gia: Which you're entitled to.

Nikolas: Later, when I'm 25. I did not expect Stefan to offer it to me tonight.

Gia: Well, what difference does a few years make?

Nikolas: I guess none. I guess none. It's just that this empire is going to change my life.

Gia: You're ready. Look, everything Stefan said about you tonight was true. You are strong and brave, and you have the potential to change your family for the better. So why not take it over?

Lucky: {Walks in the room} It's because it's a bad idea. If you take over the Cassadine empire, it's going to chew you up and spit you out. Don't do it, big brother.

~*~

Gia: {Walks around Nikolas} Lucky, it's no surprise that you want Nikolas as far away from the Cassadines as you can get.

Nikolas: Lucky is just looking out for me.

Gia: Helena and Stavros are gone. I mean, what can be so terrible about running the estate?

Nikolas: Gia, it's not that simple. Stefan, ever since I was a little boy, groomed me to take on the title and responsibilities as a prince.

Gia: Which means you'd be good at it.

Lucky: No. It means that he was stifled.

Nikolas: Lucky's right. I wasn't allowed to have dreams of my own.

Kristina: That's awful. Everyone deserves to have dreams.

Nikolas: Yes, and I learned that when I met Lucky and my mother.

Lucky: Life with the peasants.

Nikolas: You were allowed to make the choices you wanted, and mom supported it. You know, both of you -- you taught me to want to be myself and follow my dreams. And for the first time, I realized that I didn't have to be tied down to the Cassadine legacy.

Lucky: So don't do it. You don't need this job.

Nikolas: There is such a thing as duty.

Lucky: Yeah? Duty to what? The money? 500 years of ancestors dumping all this onto you? I mean, you don't even get a vote, Nikolas.

Nikolas: Look, no one chooses to be born, Lucky. Right? It happens, and you have to deal with the life you get. Now, you can either play along or you run away.

Lucky: Or you can make it the life that you want. Reach inside yourself, Nikolas. Follow your heart. No matter what you choose, I'll back you. Now, I'm going to get out of here.

Kristina: I'll take off with you.

Nikolas: I appreciate your concern.

Lucky: Just don't let Stefan railroad you.

Nikolas: I won't. Whatever decision I make, it will be on my own, I promise.

Lucky: That's all I wanted to hear.

Nikolas: All right. Thank you.

Lucky: Yeah.

Nikolas: Get out of here.

Lucky: All right. {Him and Kristina leave and Stefan walks in}

Stefan: Oh, hello. Well, Nikolas. Are you ready to sign the papers?

~*~

Stefan: Are you still having doubts about taking control of the estate?

Nikolas: I don't want to rush my decision.

Gia: Tonight was a celebration with family and friends, and I think the business announcement just took Nikolas by surprise.

Stefan: I understand. But I thought it was fitting in light of the occasion. Nikolas, you're a man now. You're about to be married, and you are ready to take your place as head of the family.

Nikolas: I thought that I had more time.

Stefan: Time won't change who you are.

Nikolas: I need a few minutes. {He leaves the room}

Nikolas: {Sees Kristina} I thought you left with Lucky.

Kristina: Stefan invited me to spend the night here, so I agreed.

Nikolas: You couldn't resist a few more canapés, huh?

Kristina: Oh. I think I'm going to go waddle upstairs before I finish the whole platter. Ooh.

Nikolas: Well, actually, Kristina, before you do, I would like your opinion on something.

Kristina: Nikolas, if this is about the inheritance --

Nikolas: If you were in my position, would you take it?

Kristina: I would really like to help you, but I think I'm probably the least qualified person you could ask about this.

Nikolas: Well, you are a part of the family and you're intelligent and, most of all, you're sane.

Kristina: Most of the time.

Nikolas: So, what do you think?

Kristina: Well, the size of this estate is mind-boggling. And it is such a charged issue between you and Stefan. But I got to be honest -- until tonight, I was completely in the dark about the whole thing.

Nikolas: Well, that's why I value your opinion. You can be objective.

Kristina: All right. As long as you promise not to take my advice.

Nikolas: Well, how about you giving the advice, and then I'll decide?

Kristina: That is a fair deal.

Nikolas: Ok. {They go over to the sofa}

Kristina: Well, I like what your brother said about following your heart, but I think that that can be complicated.

Nikolas: How so?

Kristina: When I first came here, I was desperate to find my roots. But the Cassadines turned out to be a far cry from your typical happy family, you know?

Nikolas: And I'll bet Helena was a shock.

Kristina: Oh, she was terrifying. I could not believe what she did to my mother. And then Jax started telling me all these awful things about Stefan, and I didn't who to believe, what to believe.

Nikolas: But you had Alexis, right?

Kristina: Alexis is amazing. She's more than I could have ever imagined in a sister, but the rest was very confusing and difficult. Really, I mean, I was going to leave. There were moments when I had my bag packed and I was going to go back to Europe.

Nikolas: Believe me, I've been there. So, why didn't you?

Kristina: The Cassadines are our family. No matter who they are or what they are, we're a part of them. We can't run away from that. We shouldn't. We should never run away from that. I'm going to bed.

Nikolas: Ok.

Kristina: Good night.

Nikolas: All right. Good night. Thank you. {She hugs him}

Kristina: Congratulations again on your engagement.

Nikolas: Oh, thank you.

Kristina: You'll know what to do.

~*~

Gia: You know, Nikolas has a lot to think about. Why don't we table this until tomorrow.

Stefan: I think that's wise.

Nikolas: Don't put the papers away yet.

Stefan: Did you want to look them over?

Nikolas: I know what's in them, uncle. You have been preparing me all my life. Where's a pen?