{Nikolas has a nightmare about Stavros}

Stavros' voice: Nikolas, help me.

Nikolas: I can't.

Stavros: Nikolas, I let you and Gia go. Why else would you come back except to save me?

Nikolas: You're right.

Stavros: I will never let you go, Nikolas, ever.

Nikolas: Stop it. Stop it.

Stavros: I will never let you go, Nikolas, ever.

Nikolas: Father, no!

Stavros: I will never let you go, Nikolas!

{Nikolas' nightmare ends}

Nikolas: {Yells as he wakes up} No! Stop! Stop!

Gia: {Comes back into the room} Nikolas? What happened? Are you ok? {He hugs her}

~*~

Nikolas: {Putting on her necklace} I'm fine. It was just a -- a dream. I guess that's what I get for napping.

Gia: Well, you need your rest. I mean, you hardly slept at all last night. You kept kicking the covers off.

Nikolas: I know I kept you up. I'm sorry.

Gia: What were you dreaming about?

Nikolas: All I remember is that I was -- I was falling. My father was there. I don't --

Gia: Well, dreaming about your father is no big surprise. I mean, after everything that's happened -- look, maybe this will take your mind off of it. {She gives him a massage}

Nikolas: That feels good.

Gia: Just relax. I have that photo shoot in a little while, but maybe when I'm done we could do a little Christmas shopping together or -- or you can help me pick out a fabulous outfit for the engagement party that Stefan is throwing for us.

Nikolas: Sure.

Gia: Nikolas, what is it?

Nikolas: I just -- I can't -- I can't stop thinking about my father, Gia. I mean, there was so much more I wanted to ask. There was so much more I needed to know. I just --

Gia: Why?

Nikolas: Because he was my father. {He gets up from the couch} My whole life, I've remembered him as a shadow. You know -- but he made me. And I'm a part of him, whether big or small. And that means that he's a part of me. And no matter how much I try to forget it or want to ignore it, I -- I can't.

Gia: {She gets up and goes over to him} Well, I can. I'd like to forget Stavros "Lucien Cain" Cassadine ever existed. I'm sorry. I guess -- I guess I shouldn't say that.

Nikolas: Oh, well, you knew him.

Gia: Not too well.

Nikolas: Tell me -- Gia, tell me what he was like.

~*~

Gia: I met your father right before you broke up with me. He was charming and attentive, and he wanted to be my friend. And, well, after you dumped me --

Nikolas: {Walks closer to her} Pretended to dump you. Don't forget that.

Gia: It seemed real. I was hurting, and I was angry and confused, and my self-esteem was practically at zero. And Lucien -- he made it easy, you know? He was considerate and fun and even romantic at times.

Nikolas: So, you were attracted to him?

Gia: He's dead, Nikolas.

Nikolas: Gia, please. I need to know. Did he frighten you?

Gia: No. But that's because the man I knew wasn't really who he said he was. Lucien Cain -- he was making himself out to be this likeable and considerate person who seemed interested in me. I mean, he let me go on about you nonstop, and I thought that he was concerned about me. But he wasn't. He only wanted to know about you.

Nikolas: Can you think of anything he ever said, anything about himself that was honest?

Gia: Well, there -- there was this one time where I actually felt sorry for him. He was in so much pain. I could tell. He said that because of Stefan and Helena, he was afraid he was going to lose the most important thing to him in his life. And now I know that he was talking about you. Nikolas, can we just stop this? I mean, your father is gone.

Nikolas: I need you -- I need you to be honest with me, Gia.

Gia: I'll try.

Nikolas: Did you like him?

Gia: Yes.

Nikolas: How much are my father and I really alike?

~*~

Nikolas: This is not a trick question. There is no right or wrong answer. Just tell me the truth. Do I remind you of my father? Did he remind you of me?

Gia: I can't answer that. {She steps away from him}

Nikolas: What do you -- why not? Gia, you know him. You know me.

Gia: Look, I only met Stavros at the very end. Up until then, he was pretending to be Lucien Cain -- a made-up person, an act just to try to get me to trust him. Look, I only saw the side of your father that he wanted me to see.

Nikolas: But you just said standing right -- {Frustrated, he turns his back to her} you know what? Just forget it, ok? It's not important. Forget it. It's not a big deal.

Gia: You're afraid, aren't you? You think that you will turn into your father. But you won't. It is not in you.

Nikolas: {He hugs her} Go get ready for your shoot, ok?

Gia: Look, I know how awful this must have been for you -- having your father here and then suddenly he's gone. But that's just it, ok? He's gone. So whatever good things you were able to get while Stavros was here, then hang on to those and just -- just let the bad things go.

Nikolas: I'm sorry about all this. I love you.

Gia: Well, you better. I'm marrying you.

Nikolas: {He kisses her} Go. Get ready. Go. I'm fine. {Gia leaves the room and then he leaves}

~*~

Nikolas stands over the hole where his father fell down.

~*~

Stefan: {Walks onto the yacht} Nikolas?

Gia: {Comes into the room} Stefan.

Stefan: Hello, Gia. Where's Nikolas?

Gia: He's not here?

Stefan: Well, he wasn't here when I boarded. Is something wrong?

Gia: No, nothing. Is there something I can do for you?

Stefan: {He walks over to her} Well, actually, yes. I had the chef prepare a tentative menu for the engagement party, and I thought you would like to approve it.

Gia: Me?

Stefan: Well, the party is for both you and Nikolas. You're as much a part of it as anyone.

Gia: I know. I'm just surprised to hear it coming from you, I guess.

Stefan: Well, obviously you didn't hear me the first time when I told you that I know you make Nikolas happy.

Gia: Well, thanks for that. Listen, the truth is I'm actually a little worried about Nikolas.

Stefan: Why?

Gia: He's afraid that he's going to turn out to be just like his father, and it's all he's thinking about.

Stefan: I know. And, frankly, I'm glad he's concerned.

Gia: What do you mean?

Stefan: Well, it's natural for any young man to see himself in his father's image. I did. And like Nikolas, I was afraid I would turn out like my father or my brother. But after a time, I discounted that fear. Then I lost it. I did what I had to do to survive my family, to protect Nikolas. Along the way, I lost a part of myself that I'm now trying to regain. But, Gia, Nikolas' concern is a good thing. By virtue of the fact that he is concerned, it means that he's facing his fears. He's making conscious effort not to be like his father. Now, with that kind of vigilance, he won't fall prey to Stavros legacy. And he won't especially because there's too much good in him. I should know. I raised him. He'll get through this. He'll be fine.

~*~

Nikolas: My father. What a joke. I am tired of grandmother telling me that I am just like you when I am nothing like you and I never will be. You're gone. And this time, you will stay gone. {A hand comes out of the hole} Oh, my god. {He moves back}