CH 9

“Lucky, come on you’re making me nervous, what are you thinking?” Nik asked his brother as he sat across from him at Kelly’s. After telling his brother all about Gia, his dreams and how she continued to invade them often, although not often enough for Nikolas, his brother sat and said nothing. He watched him take a sip of his soda with a confused look on his face. “You say you’ve never seen her before, are you sure? You might have seen her in the market or at work or something and were attracted to her, and now you’re dreaming about her.” Lucky said. “I’ve never seen her before in my life, Lucky you don’t know what she looks like, you wouldn’t forget seeing her.” Nik answered shaking his head slightly. Lucky’s eyebrows knitted. “What are you asking me Nikolas? Are you saying you want to try and find this woman?” Lucky asked. “Yes.” Nik said nodded his head. “Nikolas, you have a girlfriend with whom you’re madly in love with, even if this woman does exist, why would it matter?” Lucky questioned. Nikolas looked down at the table, slowly lifting his eyes back up to his brother’s. “With whom I thought I was in love with until I started dreaming of Gia. I’m telling you Lucky; I’ve never felt this way about anyone. If she’s real, which I feel in my heart she is, I have to find her.” Nik said. Lucky looked into his brothers pleading eyes. “Then I’ll help you.” He said nodding.

Lucky sat in Nik’s office at Wyndemere that night at his brother’s computer, his brother hovering over his shoulder as he watched him work. “OK this is the list of Gia’s in the Port Charles aria, one.” Lucky laughed. Nik smiled, it was not a typical name but this woman’s exotic features, were in no way typical, so the name fit perfectly. Nik’s heart began to race. “There’s one, well how can we find her, what’s her last name?” Nik asked. “Her last name is Simons, all I know is that she lives in Port Charles. We can see if she’s listed in the phone book.” Lucky said reaching for the book. Lucky scanned for her name and he smiled up at his brother as the finger he was using as a guide down the page stopped at a name. “Gia Simons, right here.” He said smiling. Nikolas looked at the number on the page; he picked up the phone and quickly dialed before he lost his nerve. His heart was pounding as he listened to the phone ring. He heard the phone being picked up and almost fainted when he heard the sound a female voice answer. “Hello, this Gia.” She said softly into the phone. Nik’s heart sank, not caring about courtesy; he numbly hit the talk button and hung up. “What happened?” Lucky asked. “It wasn’t her.” Nik said simply. So simply that it confused his brother. “How do you know?” Lucky asked. “I just do.” Nik said. Nik and Lucky heard Mrs. Landsbury walk up to the door and greet someone; they could hear that it was Sarah. “Quick, go to something else.” Nik said to lucky. Lucky quickly closed his search while Nikolas put the phonebook away and opened up a game of solitaire. “Hey you two.” Sarah said walking in and giving Nikolas a kiss. “Hey.” He said smiling at her. Sarah looked at the computer that they were both looking at. “Are you helping him with his game?” She asked with an odd expression on her face. Nik laughed. “No we’re taking turns, we’re bored.” Nik said. Sarah looked confused once again but slowly shook her head and walked away from them. “I’ve had a long day at the hospital, will you come to bed with me?” She asked turning to Nikolas. He smiled at her. “Sure sweetie, just let me say goodbye to my brother.” He said. Sarah nodded her head and went upstairs. “Oh god that was close! Good thinking with the game.” Nik said quietly to his brother. “Thanks but solitaire, I have no idea what I was thinking there. Nice save though with the taking turns thing.” Luck said. Nik laughed. “Thanks. Hey I think we’ve done all we can for tonight, but I’m not giving up yet, will you come by tomorrow?” Nik asked. Lucky smiled. “Sure thing bro, the Internet is just one way to find someone, I’ll think of something, don’t worry. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Lucky said getting up and waving goodbye to Nikolas before leaving.

Nikolas had gotten ready for bed; he walked over to his bed, dressed in only a pair of pajama bottoms and slipped in next to a nude Sarah. She was asleep, with her face facing away from him, her shoulder exposed to his view. He hovered over her and kissed her shoulder, watching her face as her eyelashes fluttered slightly but she remained sleeping. He sighed as he laid his head back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Why couldn’t he just be in love with her, it would be so much easier. He ran his hand over his face as he shook his head. He didn’t care if it was easy to be with her, he needed more, he needed Gia.

The sound of her laughter filled his ears sweetly, so beautiful, so pure. She tickled his nose with the daisy that was in her hands. He was lying in the park looking up at the sky when the little girl ran up to him. She giggled as she continued to tickle his nose, causing him to laugh and sit up. He looked at her. She was beautiful. Her tight curly hair framed her sweet little face perfectly and her blue eyes remained locked to his, staring at him, his heart filled with an oddly familiar feeling of an instant connection to his soul. She tugged at the light material of her dress; it was white with a row of pink roses along her little chest. “What’s your name?” She asked shyly as she brought her hands up to cover her mouth coyly. “Nikolas Cassadine.” Nik said. The little girl laughed at his formality. “What’s your name?” Nik asked. This little girl for some reason enchanted him. “My name is Jordyn.” She said in a soft voice so sweet that tears misted Nik’s eyes. Nikolas looked around him, he saw that it was not a park he was laying in, but it was just a strip of grass, he looked over to see that he was right next to a parking lot. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?” Nik suddenly asked, aware that she was a child alone outside. “I’m picking flowers.” She said as she lifted the bouquet of daisy’s up to show him. “Where do you live?” Nik asked. He watched her point behind him. He turned around and looked at the building behind him. “Come on, I’ll take you back.” He said standing up and grabbing her hand.

Jory was soon leading Nikolas, instead of him leading her. “Come on, I want you to meet my friend.” Jordyn said pulling at his hand. Nikolas let her lead him inside the building and down a white hall covered in artwork; they walked until they reached a room. Jordyn opened the door and pulled him in behind her. Nikolas looked around to see a huge room with games and toys everywhere, things were all there were in the room, no people were in it besides the two of them. “Come on.” Rory said as he stopped in the center of the room. “Where are we going?” Nik asked. “Outside where Gia is.” Jory said. “Gia.” Nik whispered. He succumbed to the tugging that the little girl was struggling with at his hand and fallowed her. Jordyn reached the back of the room and dropped Nik’s hand so that she could pull open a huge sliding door that immediately drenched them in sunlight when opened. Nikolas shielded his eyes as he stepped outside, he slowly removed his arm and looked up, there before him was Gia, she was in the air, Nikolas looked down to see that she was on a huge trampoline. She bounced; it seemed like in slow motion, her braids bounced with her. It made her look breathtaking, like an exotic goddess. She had a little boy in her arms, his mass of curly black hair bounced with their every movement. They both had smiles on their faces and Nikolas felt numb as Gia’s eyes landed on him, the smile remaining on her face. The only thing he could feel was his heart, it pounded with excitement as he stood there, his hand now held Jordyn’s again. Gia stopped her bouncing and crouched down on the trampoline, placing the little boy to her side and holding him there. “Jory, who’s your friend here?” She asked, her eyes never leaving Nikolas. “Nikolas Cassadine, I brought him to play with us.” Jordyn said smiling brightly. “Do you want to play with us Nikolas Cassadine?” Gia asked. Nikolas smiled, his head nodding numbly. Gia smiled and reached her hand out to him. He took it and their eyes both closed for an instant, the powerful feeling that jolted through their bodies as their hands touched was so powerful they both gasped lightly. Gia opened her eyes and smiled at him, griping his hand firmly she pulled him up to her. Nikolas steadied himself on the bouncy surface of the trampoline. Gia then leaned forward and lifting Jordyn up as well. Nikolas looked around and noticed other children playing in the playground; they all stopped their playing to watch them. “Come on, bounce with us.” Noah said taking Jordyn’s hand and beginning to bounce. Nikolas took Gia’s hands in his and they joined the children. Laughter escaped Gia’s mouth and Nikolas found this contagious, he began to laugh as well. The two laughed and played, bouncing up and down like they were kids themselves. The kids were all laughing as they watched the grownups play. Gia suddenly playfully pushed Nikolas over; he laughed when he landed on the cushiony surface below him and looked up to see her bouncing away with an evil grin on her face. He got up and chased her, she screeched as she ran in a circle around the kids; Nikolas got an idea and changed directions. Gia bumped into him roughly and he wrapping his arms around her, time stood still as Gia looked up at him, Nikolas slowly leaned in, they were both panting from the exhilaration of their running. Gia’s eyelashes fluttered as Nikolas bent down and pressed his lips on hers. Reaching up to cup his face in her hands, Gia kissed him back, her heart racing as a kiss had never felt this way before. Suddenly they were being pulled apart, the kids were laughing as they tried to tackle them. Jordyn suddenly ran up to Nikolas and pounced on him, he lost his footing and came crashing down, in slow motion he fell backwards.

Nikolas shot up in bed, his hand clutching his chest as his heart pounded, his breathing was heavy as the feel of falling still lingered on. “Nikolas what’s wrong?” Sarah said with concern as she reached out to touch him. Nikolas shook his head as reality began to sink in. “Nothing I’m OK, it was just a dream.” Nikolas said, his heart aching at the reality of the statement. “Are you sure you’re OK? Do you want to talk about it?” Sarah asked. “I’m sure, go back to sleep I’m fine.” Nikolas said. Sarah nodded her head slowly and laid back down, Nikolas scooting closer to her. He felt hurt and alone as he lay in bed; the memories of Gia, the kiss they shared still so fresh in his mind. He needed to find her. This was killing him. Soon, he thought.