Writers note: My Luke’s has a small kitchen in the back and serves appetizer/bar type foods.

“Wasn’t that fun, Lucky? Gia asked as they were walking out of the mall. “My god Gia I don’t know how you do it!” “All these people, the noise, the packed stores!” “I would go nuts!” Lucky exclaimed. “Hey you know maybe they have private stores for royalty?” “Ones with no… commoners?” Gia joked. “Hey I’m just saying, if there weren’t so many people here I might come more often.” Lucky said. “Oh who am I kidding, I’m a guy OK?” Gia laughed at her friend. “So do you really think Nik will show up at your dads club?” Gia asked as they put the bags in her car. “Who knows!” Lucky said, getting into the car.

~~Luke’s~~

“Hot stuff!!” Luke yelled with a huge grin from behind the bar. Running over he picked her up and swung her around, Gia squealed with laughter. Luke looked her over, Lucky had tolled him what happened and he was so concerned when he heard. But looking her over now she looked great. The only signs that she had even been hurt were a bandage around her arm and a little bandage on her hand. “You look just as beautiful as ever darlin!” Luke said, he laughed when his friend blushed. “Thanks, Luke.” Gia said, with a bright smile. “I thought maybe you had died from your own cooking or something.” “How come you didn’t come and see me?” Gia asked. Luke looked uncomfortable. “Oh you know that’s not really my kind of place.” “I try to avoid hospitals as often as I can.” Luke said with a shy smile. “Hey I’m just teasing you pal.” “I know how you feel, I’ve always hated those places too.” Gia said, giving her friend a hug. “Hey come on Hot Stuff, I’ve got something to show you.” Luke said, practically dragging her off. Gia looked at Lucky with question, but got only a shrug in reply. “Right here!” Luke said, stopping in the corner of the room. “What?” Gia asked looking around, confusion evident on her face. “This right here baby girl, is your very own table at Luke’s!” He said, pointing at the table in the corner. “Luke?” Gia said with surprise. “Thank you so much!” Gia said, kissing his cheek. “Hey anything for my little Hot Stuff” Luke grind. “Hey I have to get back to running this hellhole, I’ll talk to you later.” Luke said. “Thanks dad! Lucky said with a smile. “Sure thing Cowboy!” Luke said before disappearing into the club.

Gia and Lucky had been waiting 30 minutes for Nikolas to arrive and were just about to go ahead and order their food when he finally showed up. “Oh god I am so sorry I’m late!” Nik said, sitting next to Gia. “Hey it’s OK sweetie I’m sure you were busy.” Gia leaned in and kissed him. Lucky was not at all pleased at his brother. “Man we’re starving!” Lucky said rudely. “I’ll go tell Crystal what we want.” Lucky said, walking toward the women behind the food counter to place his order. “Gia honey I hope you aren’t too hungry.” “I got caught up in something.” Nik said, brushing her cheek. “No really, we weren’t waiting that long.” “We were busy talking anyway.” Gia said, reassuringly. “OK good.” Nik said, smiling a warm smile at his wife.

When Lucky walked up with the food he found Nik and Gia busy in a heated kiss. “Hey, foods here guys!!” Lucky said loudly. Nik was becoming annoyed with his brother, so he focused on Gia instead. “So did you get all the things you’ll need for the room?” Nik asked, when everyone was sitting. “Pretty much.” Gia said. “You know, I like the idea of decorating the bedroom myself but what do you feel about the rest of the house?” “Stefan said when he left that I could decorate the place however I want.” “Do you think we could hire a decorator for the rest?” Gia asked. “Sure Sparky, whatever you want.” Nik said, pulling her in for a hug. “Really?” Gia asked. “Yep really” Nik nodded. “Thanks!” Gia said, leaning over to give him a kiss. Lucky cleared his throat just when their lips were about to touch. Nik glared at his brother, who challenged him with a glare of his own. “So, what was so important that you had to keep us waiting?” Lucky asked coldly. “I’m sure it must have been very important right?” Lucky asked. “Yes it was.” Nik said through gritted teeth. Gia could since the tension in the room. “ Look Lucky, I’m sure it was something he couldn’t get out of.” “Let’s just talk about something else.” Gia suggested. “All right how about we talk about why he didn’t want to talk about you with Kristina on the phone when you were hurt.” Lucky said, angrily. “Lucky!!” Gia exclaimed, with a hard look. “I’m sorry Gia.” Lucky said looking down. “Nikolas I really need to talk to Lucky alone for a minute.” Gia said. Nik slowly nodded his head and stood up and went to say hello to Alexis who had just walked in.

“Lucky what is wrong with you?” Gia asked when Nik left the table. “Gia, he was late!” “He said he would be here and he almost didn’t come!” Lucky said, raising his voice a little. He looked over and saw Nik eying him like a hawk, turning his full attention on Gia again. “Yes but he did come Lucky and he’s trying, but you aren’t.” “Could you just try a little harder please?” Gia asked. “I care so much about both of you and I want you to get along.” Gia said in a pleading tone. “Gia, it’s not going to be easy for me.” “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.” Lucky said, placing his hand over hers. “I know Lucky but we have to give him a chance to change, OK?” Gia said gently. “OK Gia, for you I’ll try.” Lucky agreed. “Thank you Lucky.” Gia said.

“Hey man, I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting.” Lucky said when Nik joined them again. “ I was very rude and I haven’t been trying very hard, I’m sorry.” Lucky said. “Hey it’s OK, I understand.” “You said you haven’t been sleeping well, it probably has something to do with that.” Nik said. “Are you alight?” Gia asked Lucky. This was the first time she had heard of this. “Yeah I’ve just been having some dreams lately that keep me up, it’s OK though.” Lucky said reassuringly. “Are you sure, what are they about?” Gia asked. “Oh it’s nothing important, just forget about it.” Lucky said.” Nik was concerned for his brother. “Lucky, maybe you should go see Kevin or something?” “If the dreams are bothering you so much, it might help to talk to someone about it.” Nik suggested. “That’s not a bad idea bro, thanks.” Luck said, smiling genuinely.

They all talked and had a great time at Luke’s. Nik felt better than he had in weeks. He loved being with his wife and his brother. But still in the back of his mind he couldn’t stop thinking about all the work he could be doing.

“Hey Luke, we’re heading off!” Gia said when she was passing the bar. “Hey not before giving me a hug.” Luke said. “Well, come over here and get one!” Gia laughed. “Thank you so much for the table Luke, it’s so great!” Gia said, hugging her friend. “Hey no problem Hot Stuff, you come and use it any time.” Luke said returning the hug. Nik was taken back by the way Luke and Gia were. Gia had tolled him how she was friends with Luke but he had never seen them together. He couldn’t see them as being friends, but witnessing the exchange between the two friends made him smile. Nodding politely to Luke before they headed out, Nik held the door open for Gia and Lucky. “Hey I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.” “We need to get started on that room.” Lucky said to Gia. “OK, bright and early” Gia rolled her eyes. She and Nik said goodbye to Lucky and drove home.

~~Windermere~~

“So you ready for bed?” Gia asked Nik. “Honey, I really shouldn’t have taken the time off that I did today.” Nik said. “If you want to wait I’ll be done pretty soon.” Nik said sitting behind his desk. “OK, I’ll wait.” Gia said, sitting down on the big chair in the corner of Nik’s office.

Nik looked up at the clock and it was 1:00 am, he looked over at Gia who had fallen asleep waiting for him to finish. Lifting her up, he carried her upstairs and put her to bed. Kissing her forehead, he whispered that he loved her. Then he went down to go back to work, never noticing the silent tears that streamed down Gia’s face when he left.