Nikolas: So how did a reasonably friendly divorce between two people who've practically known each other forever end up in mediation in front of a judge?

Lucky: One word -- "lawyers."

Nikolas: Lucky, I told you that Alexis and Diane would try to outdo each other. So if you know that going in, ignore all the posturing and focus on what's best for your children.

Lucky: All I wanted to do was secure a place in Jake and Cameron’s lives. Instead, I could wind up losing them forever.

~

Elizabeth: Thank you. I cannot believe I am this nervous. The last thing I wanted was to be sitting across the table from Lucky, listening to lawyers rip our lives apart. Who knows what kind of hurtful things they'll dredge up?

~

Lucky: Well, I can't even see the boys until after the arbitration, if then.

Nikolas: Look, is there any way you can just back off a little?

Lucky: Elizabeth and I, we agreed on almost everything until she dragged Jason's lawyer into it.

Nikolas: Look, I seriously doubt that Elizabeth would allow Jason or his lawyer to influence any decision she makes about her children.

Lucky: Okay, so what about me? I am Jake’s father; I might as well be Cameron’s. Don't I deserve some influence?

Nikolas: Yes. I'm just saying don't go into the mediation expecting the worst. At least give Elizabeth the chance to be reasonable.

Lucky: Well, I wish I could trust Elizabeth to do the right thing. I guess I just lost almost all faith in her. I guess that's why we're getting a divorce.

~

Elizabeth: Alexis sees this whole thing as a competition and she'll do anything to win, even use the custody of Jake as a bargaining chip.

Emily: I'm sure Lucky regrets going along with that.

Elizabeth: Oh, no. He told me that if the judge had granted the petition for emergency guardianship, he would've taken Jake away from me.

Emily: Wow. See, Elizabeth, you've known for a while that your marriage was over, but Lucky didn’t. He was counting on a future with you and the boys, and now, that's not going to happen, and he's devastated.

Elizabeth: Lucky and I have invested so many years.

Emily: Try to remember that, okay, when you're in the mediation. Lucky might not be dealing with this in the best way, but he's still a really good person. Just hold on to that, Elizabeth. Try to remember all the times when you saved each other. Lucky believed in you, he encouraged your dreams.

Elizabeth: Until my dreams changed.

Emily: For all of the times that Lucky helped you, maybe you could try to help him now, too.

~

Elizabeth: Whew.

Diane: Hello, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth: Hi. I hope I'm not late.

Diane: Not at all. I'd like you to meet Mr. White. He's going to be supervising this meeting.

Elizabeth: Hi.

Mr. White: Are we ready to begin?

Diane: I think so.

Alexis: Have a seat right here.

Mr. White: Fine. Elizabeth and Lucky, I've reviewed the paperwork, and the most problematic issue seems to be the custody of the children.

Diane: Elizabeth's son Cameron is not only not Mr. Spencer's biological child, he has not adopted Cameron. So there is no question about custody or visitation in that case. As to the younger child, Jacob Martin -- ahem -- I'm sure you're aware that Mr. Spencer has already been banned from contact because of his history of substance abuse.

Alexis: My client has been clean and sober for almost two years now.

Diane: My client is asking for sole custody of Jacob Martin, but she's more than willing to grant Mr. Spencer a supervised visit one afternoon a month.

Alexis: We think that this arrangement is absurd. We think it's punitive and unfair to my client. He is the biological father of Jacob Martin, he loves Cameron as if he was his own son. We feel that if anyone poses a danger to the safety of these children, it's Elizabeth.

~

Emily: I had to get Elizabeth dressed -- that's how nervous she is about this mediation.

Nikolas: Lucky has more to worry about than Elizabeth does. He hasn't been very discreet about Sam. That affair will hurt him in the mediation.

Emily: Yeah, and so will filing for emergency guardianship of Jake. What was Lucky thinking? If he would just back off, then Elizabeth would, too.

Nikolas: I tried to tell him that, but it didn't register. At least I allowed him to vent without flying off into some rage.

Emily: Hey -- have you heard from Patrick?

Nikolas: Yeah -- inconclusive, so far. I have to go back to the hospital tomorrow, run some more tests. I'm so tired of this. How am I supposed to deal with the problem if I don't know what the problem is, and why can't out what it is?

Emily: Nikolas, you have never been known for being all that patient. You know that, right?

Nikolas: Yeah.

Emily: And whatever it is, I'm going to be here.

Nikolas: Okay. You know, the worst part of it is, is that when it happens, I don't have any control over it. Like I told you before, I'm just -- I'm afraid that eventually I'm going to hurt someone that I care about.

~

Alexis: Elizabeth poses a risk to her children because she allows them to spend time with a known criminal, Jason Morgan.

Diane: Who has never been convicted of any crime.

Alexis: Which doesn't mean that he didn't commit them. He can be directly linked to a well-known criminal enterprise, and Ms. Miller is acting as his general counsel.

Diane: Please do not hold Elizabeth responsible for the alleged actions of my other clients. Ms. Davis is simply trying to divert your attention from the fact that Mr. Spencer abused his wife while he was using drugs. He yelled at her frequently, shoved her at will. Accidentally almost shot her once -- accidentally, so he says, on the docks. And actually fired a gun in the house with Cameron sleeping in the next room.

Alexis: And yet Elizabeth has asked my client to marry her a second time.

Diane: Did she also agree to his affair with your daughter?

Alexis: She had an affair with Jason Morgan.

Diane: That was one night at the very end of their first marriage, and after she caught him in bed with Maxie Jones.

Alexis: She didn't disclose that information before she agreed to marry my client a second time.

Diane: Unlike your client, who flaunts his affair with Sam. Did you sleep with her last night? Well, of course you did. This man has absolutely no respect for my client. He is a disaster as a husband and a father --

Elizabeth: Okay, that's enough, both of you. This is not what we want at all.

~

Elizabeth: Lucky loves Cameron and Jake. They consider him their father, and they need him in their lives.

Diane: Mr. Spencer attempted to file for emergency guardianship of Jake --

Lucky: I was wrong. I don't want to hurt Elizabeth, and most of all, I don't want to hurt our boys. I know I've asked you to be my lawyer, and you've done the best you could. But I dot want to end my marriage this way. You and Ms. Miller, you'll come up with an agreement that you think is fair and I won't contest it.

Alexis: What about custody?

Elizabeth: I would still like to retain primary custody. But Lucky should have unlimited visitations -- he can see the boys whenever he wants.

Diane: All right, no -- you're setting a very dangerous precedent.

Elizabeth: I understand that you're both doing the job you were asked to do, but this is our marriage. We loved each other for a long time, and the only way to honor that is to be generous with each other.

Lucky: Then from this point on, that's what we're going to do.

~

Knock on door]

Lucky: Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: The boys are at Gram's.

Lucky: Well, it isn't that. I just -- I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for what you did earlier. And I'm sorry that I let things get so out of control.

Elizabeth: Come in. I guess we let our lawyers play on our worst fears.

Lucky: Yeah, I know now the rest of our divorce will go smoothly. But I do wish that you would accept some alimony or at least child support.

Elizabeth: Lucky, I don't want your money.

Lucky: Jake's my son, and I am responsible under the law.

Elizabeth: God, I'm so sick and tired of hearing about the law. I -- I just want to get through this. And then maybe we can find a way to trust each other again. Be friends?

Lucky: No matter what happens, I'll always be your friend.