Pain That Built the Bridge

So this takes place the night that Zander comes to the Kelly's. Em, Z. and Nik just left. Liz is giving Gia a hard time.

"Gia do you even realize what Nik has done for you? Or are you really that selfish!?" Liz couldn't believe this girl.

"Well not that it is any of your business Elizabeth but YES I do realize what Nik has done for me! What you think that I don't see how he has to put up with you two constantly saying what a jerk I am? Or that he put a roof over my head and puts up with my little quirks? Or how about the threats from his Grandmother?! So yes I do realize EVERYTHING that he has done for me! So before you start throwing accusation out maybe you should know the FACTS! So now get off my back!" God when would these people stop?

Nik stood at the door listening to everything that Gia had just said. He couldn't believe it...well he could but he never thought she would admit it to Liz.

"You know what Lucky just tell Nik that I walked home. Of course if that is too much to ask I can always leave a note!" She turned and left. She truly hated those two.

"Gia..." He was so impressed by her tonight.

"Oh...So I guess you are gonna get mad at me for yelling at your precious Liz. I mean who cares about the fact that a you never even HEARD the conversation. But knowing your past record you will tell me that I should be nicer and that I constantly fail right? Well you know what Prince I am not in the mood right now. I would tell you what REALLY happened but I know you would just go in there and they would tell you that I went off and you wouldn't believe me. I mean why believe the blackmailer right?!" She knew that was a little harsh but that is how it always was. Other then they were never quite blunt when they said it.

"Gia! Come on don't be like this." He wanted to tell her that he heard what she said and was impressed by it all. But he couldn't, instead he watched her speed walk from him.

She was so tired of this town. All of sudden she walked into some lady. "Damnit can you watch were you are going?!" As she said this she saw that the old lady was he mother.

"GIA!! I can't believe you just said that! I thought I raised you better! You..."

"Mom save it! I am not in the mood for you ranting!" Could this night really get any worse?

"Gia! Now listen...wait you were never really good at that either! You know if you would have listened to me rather then going to PCU you might have learned how to be a better person. I mean Columbia was all set up for you. If you would just listen. I only do it cause I want to make you the best person ever. I mean...look at you...if you actually put your mind to it you could really do something with your life!"

"Good bye mother!" She hated this night. SHe truly wished she could DIE! I mean first Liz getting on her back and then defending Nik and him getting all...ARGH!!

~~~~~~~~~~
Gia is sitting at home in the arm chair watching the fire all the lights are out.

He really hoped that she would be there and they could talk. They needed to talk. As he opened the door he saw Gia sitting there. She looked so beautiful. He wished he could just hug her. "Hey Gia. We need to talk"

"Yah we do." She needed to apologize for getting on his back again.

"Listen, I heard what you said to Liz. About me I mean Gia...I don't know what to say. I really do apologize for all the times I defended Liz to you. I never should have just assumed that you were in the wrong. Do you forgive me?" oh please Gia forgive me. Please.

"Of course. I mean a lot of times I did start it. And I am sorry for the way I jumped on your back instantly assuming that you thought I was in the wrong. I mean I guess it comes from having my mom as a mother. No matter what I ever did I always failed in her eyes. So rather then disappointing her images of me being a failor I just continued. I would make it a point to be...ME!" She laughed at that thought. "I became hard..."

The phone rang. She went to get it but Nik got to it first.

"Hello...yeah she is here...hold. Gia it is for you." Why was the hospital calling her?

"Hellol? Yes, this is the Gia Campbell...Yeah...Florence Campbelll...that is my mother...WHAT?! Are you sure...Oh god...is she...I will be right over." She couldn't believe this.

"Gia, who was it? Are you alright?" He was worried the look on her face was almost like she was dying.

"Nikolas, my mother...she...oh..."She started to get teary eyed. She refused to cry. It was nothing. She would make it.l

"Gia you are scaring me. What happened? Who was on the phone?"

"Nik, that was Dr. Stevens. My mom was mugged and she had another server heart attack. They don't think she will make it. She may..die" She began to shake her hands.

"Come on I will drive you there."


~~~~~~~~~
It is 8:00am. Gia and Nik are sitting in the waiting area. Gia is shaking. Nik is rubbing her back and her head is on his chest.

"Gia she will be fine. The Dr. will be here with the details of the surgery. SHe is a fighter." He wanted to be there for her.

"She is a fighter. sHe will be fine. I mean she wouldn't die on me...she would live just to tell me how to live my life. You know I would miss that..." Damn! She saw the Dr. coming, she got up and Nik put his arm around her.

"Gia. I have the news for you."

"What happened? She is okay right? She will be back on her feet in a couple of weeks right?" Please say yes. Oh god please.

"Gia, when your mother was mugged she had another heart attack. No one find her fast enough. We did our best but...I am sorry she didn't make it."

No no this had to be a mistake. Her mother wasn't dead! She leaned up against the wall. The room was spinning. She couldn't stand. Everything looked hazy. Her mother was dead?

"Gia...come here." The pain in her eyes were so horrible. She looked like a little kid who...He put his arm around her waist and slowly brought her close to him.

She just stood there with Nik's arms around her. She couldn't even move her arms she tried but nothing happened she stood their frozen.

He had been holding her for five minutes he was about to pull away and suggest they go phone Taggart and find out where he was.

She could feel him leaving. "Nik! Please don't go. Please I don't want you to leave. Just stay here with me." With that she began to cry. She hadn't remembered the last time she cried. It hadn't been since she was a young girl. It felt so good.

"I won't Gia. I will never leave you. I just thought that you might wanna talk to Taggart." He would never leave her. He cared to much. Last night when he heard what she said he let his wall come down. He cared, he knew that for sure.

~~~~~~~~
Gia and Nik are outside of Florence's room. Gia is trying to work the nerve to go in.

"Kay I am going to do this Nik. But..." she wanted to know that he would be there when she got back.

"I promise Gia I will be here for you." He would never leave her.

"Nik if you need to go to work..." She didn't wanna sound like a leech.

He took her face in his hands "Gia I will never leave you. I told you, this is where I wanna be. Here with you. No go." He was like a little child that need to reassurance. He was more then glad to be the one to give it to her. He loved knowing that she relied on him so much. He loved knowing that she trusted him enough too. As she left he turned and rubbed his head. to his surprise he saw Liz heading his way.

"Hey Liz." He tried to smile

"Hey Nikolas what are you doing here? I thought I just saw Gia? Where is she?" Liz looked behind him.

"Oh..umm..." what should he say.

"Listen Nik, I wanted to say that I am sorry I have been so hard on Gia. I will REALLY try to be nicer. Me and Lucky. I really shouldn't be so rude. I mean I was exactly like her when I was younger so..." She smiled

"Thanks so much Liz that means a lot trust me." That was a relief. The last thing Gia needed was Liz and her fighting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gia is sitting beside her mom.

"I don't know what to say. You looks so cold. God...I love you mommy. I tried to be the girl you wanted...I just..." She started to cry. She needed to get out of here. She began to leave. As she left the room she made out of the figure of Nik. She began to run to him. She needed him so badly. She never quite realized how strong her feelings run for him until last night when she told Liz and Lucky how important he was. "Nikolas...Oh god she is dead and she is soo cold..."She fell in his arms. She couldn't stop crying. Her mother died! And the last thing she said to her was "Gia! Now listen...wait you were never really good at that either! You know if you would have listened to me rather then going to PCU you might have learned how to be a better person. I mean Columbia was all set up for you. If you would just listen. I only do it cause I want to make you the best person ever. I mean...look at you...if you actually put your mind to it you could really do something with your life!" He mother thought she was a failure.

"Gia? Are you alright?" Liz couldn't believe what she just heard.

"Why are you here? To find out why Nik wasn't at Kelly's?! Gee sorry greedy little me! Sorry Elizabeth my mother dies but HEY that just interferes with your breakfast and serving Nikolas his food does it? WE SORRY!" SHe was so mad. And Liz just happened to be her punching bag. She didn't wanna be mean. But her mother was dead and Liz was there. After everything Liz had said to her and now she was here? She didn't even know her mother! "All I ever do is SCREW up isn't?!" She was yelling now

"Gia don't say that." Why was she so harsh on herself? Couldn't she see what a great person she was?

"Why not Nik?! That is what my mother thought! Do you know the last thing that she said to me was that I was a failure and that I never added up to what she wanted in a daughter! Do you know what that is like?! That is what she said the LAST THING!! To her ONLY daughter was REGRET!" She couldn't hold herself anymore. She fell. She couldn't get up. Oh god someone help me! She was in a slouched position. She felt Nik sitting beside her. Why was he so sweet to her? She never wanted him to leave.

"Gia, I am really sorry. I mean that for everything...."She looked at Nik who was waving his hand in a motion that meant leave. She quickly walked off. SHe felt so sorry for Gia. she never knew she was so soft and gentle and scared. she had always thought she was a jerk.