CH 39

Nikolas and Gia lay in bed together, silently thinking, lost in their own thoughts, reliving their lovemaking in their heads. They stayed silent for a while, just holding each other. “Did he ever hit you back?” Nik said breaking the silence. Gia sat up and looked at him oddly. “What are you talking about?” She asked confused. “Your cousin, did he ever hit you back? Because if he did I’d have to hunt him down.” Nik said. Gia laughed. “Oh my hero.” Gia said sarcastically. “I mean it.” Nik said, seriously. “No he never hit me back OK? He knew that I would just hit him back even harder.” Gia said laughing, remembering the time she had thrown him to the ground when she was about 10 years old. “Tell me about your childhood Gia. We never talk about that.” Nik said, unconsciously playing with on of her braids. Gia got a little uneasy. “What do you want to know?” She asked timidly. “Gia relax, I just want to know what it was like for you growing up, that’s all.” Nik said.

Nik could see the change in her mood when he brought up her childhood. He wanted to know for so long. It took her so long to warm up to him in the beginning that they really didn’t get to know each other that well. But Gia fascinated him from the moment she came into his life, he wanted to know everything about her and now that they were together, he felt like he could finally ask. But as he looked over at her face when he brought it up, he wasn’t sure if she would tell him.

Gia knew he was waiting for an answer, she watched the inter struggle he was going through. She didn’t think he wanted to ask her. Maybe he was afraid? But what could she say to him that could possibly be worse then his family? Her past was something that she was reluctant to share with people, but Nikolas was different. She sighed, wondering what he would think of her if he knew what her life was like before she met him. Most of it she had blocked out, but some of it she unfortunately remembered vividly. She took a deep breath as began to tell him, not everything but some of her childhood.

“Well it was great. I would spend my summers living like a princess, royal functions, the whole bit and then I would come back to Brooklyn during the school year. I would spend a lot of time with Sonny; he kept me sane most of the time. I didn’t have many friends growing up and I didn’t really like to be at home very much because of my uncle James. He creeped me out, he was always looking at me and he would come up behind me, whispering things to me. He always made me feel disgusting. Anyway, after Taggert moved out..” Gia said. “Wait Gia, your uncle, did you ever tell your aunt about him?” Nik asked. “Well no, I always thought that it was so nice of her to let me live with her, that I shouldn’t complain.” Gia said. A little annoyed at his interruption. “Gia, if he made you uncomfortable, you should have said something to someone!” Nik said getting off of the bed and agitatedly pacing the room. “Nikolas calm down, it was nothing really OK? It’s not like he touched me. He just made me feel dirty that’s all.” Gia lied. “Gia! That’s all? God.” Nik said shaking his head. Gia was shocked at his reaction. “I had a good childhood Nikolas, I spent my summers in a palace and I grew up never needing anything!” Gia said getting up and retrieving the dress she had put on not more then an hour ago and putting it back on her. “Gia, you swear to me he never touched you?” Nik said stepping towards her. Gia couldn’t tell him the truth. “He never touched me Nikolas, now stop worrying about me and come and have something to eat.” Gia said moving to the door hoping that he had bought it. “Fine.” Nik said. He started to get dressed as she left.

“So the church is reserved?” Nik heard Gia asked as he entered the dining room. “Yes, it’s all set for next month.” He heard his uncle reply. The two were having breakfast as he approached. “What’s going on?” Nik asked as he sat beside Gia, noticing that she was finished with her omelet. “We’re just talking about the wedding. Oh that reminds me, I need to call Kristina because we’re supposed to go look for dresses today.” Gia said. “What?” Nik said disappointed. “Dresses Nikolas, you know this wedding is sneaking up on us and I need to find a dress.” Gia said getting up. Nik grabbed her hand. “Don’t go.” He said. “Nikolas come on, we can’t spend every moment of every day together.” Gia said laughing. “Why not?” Nik asked. Gia started to laugh again but stopped at his serious expression. “Because I’m getting sick of you.” Gia teased, Nikolas didn’t catch this however and frowned. Gia sighed. “Nikolas come on really, I’ll be back later, gosh.” Gia said shaking her head as she got up from the table. “I have to go.” Gia said giving him a kiss and then smiling at Stefan before she walked out the door. “Uncle.” Nik said across the table at him, leaning forward. “Yes Nikolas.” Stefan said looking up at him. “How much do you know about Gia’s childhood?” He asked. “Not much, just that she grew up in Brooklyn with her aunt and uncle. I would call and ask how she was about once a year and they always reported that she was doing fine. She got good grades in school and she grew up healthy, that all I really cared about. I knew she was perfect for you so I didn’t need to ask much. Why?” Stefan asked. “I want to know everything you can find out about James, Jasmines husband and I want to know today.” Nik said looking into his uncle’s eyes. Stefan nodded his head. “I will look into it Nikolas.” He said. Nik nodded back, he wasn’t buying what Gia told him and he needed to know the truth.

“I think that dress looked absolutely stunning on you Gia.” Kristina said as she and Gia walked the mall. They had just finished looking at dresses and were now on their way to grab a bite to eat. Gia’s hands were filled with bags as she walked through the slightly crowded mall. “Thank you, but I just didn’t feel like it was the one. I don’t know I have these dreams of the perfect dress and I think it’s just going to pop out at me when I see it or something, is that crazy?” Gia asked glancing over at Kristina, whose hands were filled with bags as well. “No Gia, it’s not crazy. I think you’ll know when you find the perfect dress.” Kristina said smiling. Gia nodded her head as she smiled over at her. “So where do you want to ea..hey!” Gia shrieked as her sentence was cut off when someone roughly bumped into her, causing her bags to drop to the floor. “Great that’s just great, hey why don’t you watch where you’re going buddy?” Gia said bending down to pick up her bags. She felt him bend down as well and start to help her. “Oh I’m so sorry. Here let me help you with that.” He said. Gia looked up at the familiar sound of his voice. Her face was inches from his as she was crouched down. “Zander.” She breathed.