CH 35

Nikolas looked up, with his heart pounding as he looked at his father’s furious face and searched his mind for an excuse. “I was going out to my car to find a CD. I can’t sleep, and listening to music helps me sometimes.” He said. Stovros looked at his son, he knew he was lying, he could almost always tell. “It’s funny you should mention the car, because you won’t be driving it for a week.” He said. “Why?” Nik asked, but feared he knew the answer. “I know that this has to do with Gia. That girl has brought nothing but drama and chaos to your life, just let her go Nikolas. I don’t think you want to know what will happen if you push me.” Stovros said. Nikolas shook his head slowly. “No you’re wrong, and despite of what you think, Gia is the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I won’t let her go. I won’t!” Nikolas turned around and ran out of his house.

Taggert knocked again, after three unsuccessful tries, he knocked a little harder. The door finally swung open. “Taggert?” Alexis asked groggily. “I need your help.” Taggert said. “What time is it?” Alexis asked. “I don’t know, after midnight.” Taggert answered. “Then why the hell are you at my door?” Alexis asked, her personality beginning to kick in. “I want my sister to be happy.” He answered. “What? Gia? Taggert what are you talking about?” Alexis asked. “Please, I need for Gia to be with her baby brother again. I’ll do anything. Will you help me?” Taggert said desperately. Alexis looked at him for a long time. “Come in.,” she finally said.

Gia’s eyes were wide open and she gazed up at the ceiling, she turned her head and looked over at Zander who was deeply sleeping and got up. She made her way to her brother’s living room and walked over to his window seat and sat down on it. She looked out the window, and the view of the quaint little courtyard in front of her was quickly becoming unnoticed as her mind drifted. It had suddenly hit her, as she lay in bed next to Zander, that she had no parents. She had never really felt like she did before, and had felt like she had been on her own for years now, but now, she really had no parents. Tears slipped down her cheeks, she felt so alone. She hugged her bent knees to her and wept, as softly as she could. After a while, she topped, taking a deep breath and then looked outside again. But her thoughts soon wandered to her little brother. She wondered if he was fast asleep, or wide-awake and crying to be with her. Fresh tears poured out of her eyes at this thought. Her heart ached to be holding him, with her cheek against his little head of soft blond hair, his head on her chest, close to her heart. Gia sobbed until she felt nauseous, and forced herself to sit silently, she didn’t want to wake Zander up. She suddenly turned her head when she heard the faint sound of someone knocking on the door. She looked at the door for a few moments and her heart began to pound as she wondered who would be knocking at this late hour. She hesitantly stood up and approached the door. Suddenly it occured to her that it was probably her brother and he had forgotten his key and she quickly went to open it. She gasped when she swung it open.

“Hey beautiful.” Nik smiled brightly at her. Gia immediately burst into tears. “Hey, hey what happened?” Nik asked with concern as he stepped up to her. “I want… I want my Jacob!” She sobbed. Nikolas rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her, Gia cried as she clung to him. “Shh Gia please don’t cry. You’ll be with him again. You have to believe that.” He said in her ear. “I just want to be with him.” Gia pulled back and looked up at him. “I know.” Nik touched her face. Her lip began to quiver and Nikolas suddenly placed his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her to him, pressing his lips to hers in a firm kiss. Gia’s heart began to pound as his sudden touch took her by surprise; her eyes blinked rapidly as she recovered from her shock and kissed him back. Nikolas pulled her closer to him and Gia opened her mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Nikolas immediately accepted her invitation and thrust his tongue into her mouth. Gia moaned as she tasted his tongue in her mouth and twirled her tongue around his. It was almost too much for Nikolas. He had ached to be here, with his arms wrapped around her and her tongue in his mouth for so long, that now that he finally was, his body was hot with need for her. When he felt her body begin to press firmly against his, he suddenly pulled back, urging himself to let her go, before he lost control. His feelings for her were so intense, and now was definitely not the time to make love to her. She was way too vulnerable, and they had never discussed sex. He wasn’t even sure if she was ready for it. She had told him that she was a virgin, and he didn’t want to do anything that she wasn’t ready for. “What’s wrong?” Gia asked, her eyes were filled with uncertainty. Nikolas quickly walked closer to her again to reassure her. “Nothing, I just think we should cool off a little.” He said. Gia nodded her head softly. “Wait, what are you doing here?” Gia suddenly asked. “Zander called me, he said that you needed me.” he said. Gia glanced back towards the room that her best friend was in, so grateful that he knew her so well. She faced Nikolas again. “My mother stopped by. She wanted to make sure that I know that I’ll never be happy. Oh and also that she wishes I was never born. Isn’t that sweet?” she tried to laugh. “Gia.” Nik whispered as he reached out to touch her face. Gia leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as dropped her head as her lower lip turned into a slight pout. “Come here.” Nik said softly. Gia leaned into him, and he quickly picked her up, and carried her over to the window seat. He sat down and put her in front of him, sitting behind her and wrapping his arms around her. Gia lay on top of him, and Nikolas quickly found a comfortable position to hold her in. “You know she’s wrong right?” he whispered in her ear. Gia shrugged and Nikolas looked down at the sound of her faint crying. “Shhh Gia she’s wrong. You will be happy, I promise.” He said. “Don’t make promises Nikolas, people always break promises.” Gia said in a raspy voice. She had stopped crying now and she was aimlessly staring forward as she rested her head on his chest. Nikolas frowned. “I’m sorry that so many people have broken their promises to you Gia. But I know that you will be happy someday. I just know it.” He said. Gia looked up at him and smiled softly. Nikolas let out a quick breath; she looked so beautiful, and she was so close to his face. He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. “I love you Gia.” He said softly as he rested his forehead against hers. Gia closed her eyes. “I love you too Nikolas.” She spoke so softly, that he almost didn’t hear her. Gia kept her eyes closed as she rested her head against his chest again, and she sighed deeply as she let herself relax in his arm, she slowly fell asleep. Nikolas watched her sleep, looking down at her, festinated by her beauty and feeling a shiver of excitement rush through his body every time her warm breath hit his neck. He began to remember the look on his father’s face and memories of what he had done played over in his head. He had run away from home. Nikolas wrapped his arms around Gia a little tighter, possessively hugging her to him, causing her to stir slightly. “I won’t let you go Gia.” He whispered to her softly.

When Gia woke up, she was confused; she sat up and looked around. She was in the bed that her brother had set up for her. She was not in the arms of Nikolas, like she remembered falling asleep to. Zander was gone. She was all alone. Her heart sunk, last night must have been a dream. Nikolas had come and taken care of her, and held as she fell asleep, she could have sworn that that happened. Her throat became tight and she felt tears start to rise. Gia let out a quick sob as she got out of bed; she wiped her sleepy face with her hands as she struggled to stay calm. She opened the door to her room and slowly stepped out. She was still in her boxer shorts and tank top, but she didn’t care. She looked around in a panic. There was no one home. Just as she was about to start crying, she heard voices coming from the kitchen. She walked up and pushed the door open. She gasped as she looked around. Nikolas and Zander had been talking, but they both stopped when she came in. Taggert was at the stove cooking, and Alexis was standing with her back to her. Marcus turned around when he heard her. “Hey sleepy head.” He said. Gia was shocked; she couldn’t even talk for a few moments. “What’s going on? I’m not sure if I’m up for pancakes.” She tried to joke. “They’re not for you, they’re for him.” Marcus pointed to Alexis. Gia made a face until Alexis turned around and she finally was able to see that she was holding Jacob. Gia gasped when she saw him. Jacob had been smiling but he began to cry when he spotted his sister. “Gia!” he cried as he held his hand out to her. “I think someone wants to see you Gia.” Alexis said as she walked up to her. Tears rolled down Gia’s cheeks as Alexis put Jake in her arms and she felt him cling to her. “Oh my baby, my Jacob, I love you so much.” Gia sobbed as she held him close to her. “I love you Gia.” Jake sniffled; Gia chuckled slightly at the sound of his voice. Gia glanced up, and her eyes connected with Nik’s, there were tears in his eyes as well as he watched them. They stayed in a lock for an unknown length of time, lost in each other’s gaze. Jacob suddenly grabbed her face with both of his little hands and leaned up with puckered lips. Gia tore her gaze away from Nikolas and she smiled as she looked down at Jacob. She kissed him, and began to laugh as he continued to press kisses to her lips. He finally stopped, laughing with her and then hugging her again. Gia was so elated to be holding him, playing with him and cuddling with him. She finally turned to look at her older brother and Alexis. “How?” she shook her head, still baffled and thinking that she might be dreaming. Alexis smiled at her, wiping away the tears that were in her eyes. “Well Taggert is a pretty reputable candidate for a foster parent. He’s a respected resident in Port Charles, and plus, being a lieutenant he’s already been fingerprinted and his records were easy to transfer over to the Child Welfare office for them to check. I convinced them to let Jake stay with him on a trial basis for the time being, he will have an officer come in once a week to evaluate the case, and if all goes well, they’ll like what they see and he will be able to be placed here.” She explained. Gia barely heard her, but she got the idea of what she was saying. Her brother was going to live here with her under observation, and if they could prove that being here was the best for his well being, he could stay with her. Gia was thrilled. “Thank you, all of you. I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am.” she smiled at everyone. Everyone smiled back at her, truly happy to see Jacob and she together.

Gia finally was able to put Jacob down by enticing him with pancakes. Taggert sat him on his lap and helped him eat. Gia’s heart warmed as she watched them interact together. She felt like Jacob somehow knew that he and Taggert were family now, and he was quickly becoming comfortable with him. Gia turned around and finally noticed that Nikolas was not there anymore. “He had to make a phone call.” Zander explained. Gia smiled at him. She loved that he knew her so well. She walked up to him and Zander immediately pulled her in for a hug. “I’m so happy for you Gia. I never thought this day would come. You have no idea how hopeless I felt when you made me promise not to just kill your stepdad. I hated seeing you in pain and I’m so happy that you can finally be free from your parents and finally have the life you deserve. You’re my best friend Gia, I love you so much.” Zander said. Gia had tears in her eyes as she pulled back and looked up at him. “I love you too Zander. Honestly, you were the one light in all that darkness in my life. You got me through that with your love and support. You will always be my best friend and I will always be grateful to you for helping me get my brother back. Thank you so much.” Gia said. She kissed him, lightly on the lips. Nikolas walked in just in time to see the kiss. If it were anyone else he would have been mad with jealousy, but instead he was just slightly envy, wanting to be in his place. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked Gia softly. Gia was startled by his sudden presence and her breath caught in her throat. She nodded her head softly before fallowing his lead outside.

Somehow as they walked, their hands found one another’s and Nikolas guided her to a bench in the courtyard of the Brownstone and the two sat down on it. They looked at each other for quite a long time, until Nikolas broke the intensity of their gaze by smiling at her. He toyed with one of her thin braids as he leaned in slightly. “I have to go soon.” He whispered. Gia was caught off guard by his statement. She wasn’t sure what she expected him to say but the fact that he had to leave was not it. She unconsciously frowned as she looked away from him slightly. “Hey, but I want you to know that I’ll be back tomorrow.” He turned her face towards him. Gia nodded her head, her forehead creasing slightly, she was confused by his behavior, and he was making her feel uneasy. “Why are you acting like I might never see you again?” She asked frankly. “I’m not… you will I just… it’s my father. I kind of ran away from home.” He confessed. “You what?” Gia stood up. “Gia its OK.” He took her hands and pulled her back down. Gia shook her head. “No Nikolas you can’t ruin your life for me. I won’t let you do that.” Gia said. Nikolas suddenly pulled her face to his and kissed her passionately, pulling her tongue into a smoldering kiss that left them both panting for air when they finally pulled out of the kiss. “Don’t you see that I don’t care?” He whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek and then her neck. “Nikolas.” Gia said softly. “Shh… don’t worry OK? Everything’s going to work out, you’ll see.” Nikolas pulled her in for a hug. Gia inched her face closer to his neck, smelling the scent of his skin, Nikolas gasped as she suddenly pressed her lips to his skin and began to suck lightly. Gia pulled back and touched the mark of her passion. Nikolas’ heart ached, he wanted so desperately to stay here with her. “I have to go.” Nik closed her eyes as he forced the words out. Gia nodded her head and then looked into his eyes. “Nikolas I don’t know how to say this… I uh, want to thank so much for everything you’ve done for me. I’ve never had someone in my life who’s cared for me the way that you do. I tried to push you away but you wouldn’t back down, and not only that but you saved me from my family and gave me my brother back. I can never thank you enough. I can’t even…” Gia began to cry. “Shh Gia don’t cry. I know that you feel like you have to thank me but you don’t and you might find this hard to believe but you have given me more than I could ever give to you. Before I met you I thought I was so tough and untouchable. I was cold and cocky and just an all around jerk, I know you that thought that too when you first met me.” He paused to laugh. Gia smiled back at him. Nikolas became serious again as he ran his thumb over the contour of her cheekbone. “But now I just, I’ve changed and I’ve grown so much because of you. I never knew that I could feel like this about a person. It’s a little scary because we’re both so young but I know in my heart that we are soul mates. I love you Gia.” Nik breathed, and then leaned in to kiss her. Gia kissed him back gently but then parted her lips to invite his tongue in. Nikolas moaned as he plunged his tongue into her mouth, and his heart raced as Gia twirled her tongue around his as her fingers played with his hair. Nikolas pulled back, again scared that his body would be too eager to not take things too far. “I’ll see you soon Gia. I love you.” Nik got up. He looked down at her as she stared at him with wide eyes, and slightly swollen lower lip, he leaned down and kissed her again. But forced himself to pull back and stand up and walk away. Gia watched him go, too overwhelmed to even say goodbye.

Nikolas got in his car, and fear instantly began to sink in, as he knew he was about to approach the unknown, his father’s unpredictable mood when he got home. He tried to reach his brother on his cell phone but got no answer. He feared the worst as he drove towards his home.