The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

CH 22

Sarah used her key to get in to Wyndemere; she stepped inside and looked around. “Nikolas?” she yelled. She had been trying to reach him all day and she couldn’t get a hold of him. She was starting to worry. “Nikolas are you here?” she yelled again. There was no answer. She walked up to the table in the entryway and that’s when she spotted the note. She huffed when she finished reading the scribble. “Went out of town, I’ll be back soon. Love Nikolas.” She said aloud. What the hell? She thought. The last she heard, he had something he wanted to tell her. She thought that she knew what that was. She had been waiting patiently for him to propose and was sure that that’s why he wanted to talk to her. She numbly sat down on the couch and looked at the note again. She didn’t understand it. He didn’t even tell her where he was going. Maybe he’s going to surprise me with something? She thought. The phone began to ring and she picked it up. “Hello?” she said, not having to move, as the phone was right beside her. “Hi Sarah, I’m sorry if I disturbed you two, I know that you need time alone right now but I wanted to know if my brothers there?” Lucky said. “No actually, he’s out of town.” She said. “Oh. Well we were supposed to pick out the tuxes today; I thought he would have called to tell me if he wasn’t coming. Where did he go?” he asked. “I have no clue, he just said he would be back soon.” Sarah said. “Well that’s weird.” Lucky said, getting an odd feeling. “Yeah I know.” Sarah said softly. “Well when he gets home, have him call me, will you?” Lucky said. “Yeah sure.” Sarah agreed, she said goodbye and hung up. “Where are you Nikolas?” she said aloud. She started to get up when she spotted something on the ground. She bent over and picked up the little black box and opened it. She gasped as her eyes landed on the ring. That must be it! He’s going to propose to me, she concluded.

Gia came into her brothers room, she had a vase of flowers in her hands and she sat them down on the desk in the room. He had his own private room now. “I thought this room could use a little cheering up.” Gia said as she walked around his bed and approached him. “Thank you Gia.” Taggert said softly. Gia smiled at him. She had barely left his side. Now that he was well enough to talk, she was anxious to reconnect with her brother. This was the first time that he was well enough to really talk much and she was excited to have the opportunity. Marcus smiled as she walked up to him. “God I just can’t believe you’re really here.” He reached for her hand. Gia smiled as she took it. “Marcus I… I want to tell you that I’m sorry I let so much time go by without talking to you. It’s just that my life is really busy.” Gia said, choking back tears. Taggert felt bad for his sister, he could see the obvious pain etched on her face. “Hey Gia you don’t have to apologize. You know I could have just as easily picked up the phone and called you. It’s just like you said, you get so busy and you forget. It’s not your fault. I’m just glad you’re here. I’ve missed you so much. So tell me, what have you been up to?” Taggert asked, his voice hoarse from so much talking. Gia smiled, inwardly grateful that he hadn’t heard all of the secrets she spewed to him while he was unconscious. “Well school is going great. I love all of my classes. I just have such a passion for it you know?” she said. Marcus smiled and nodded his head softly. “Yeah I can see it in your eyes when you talk about it, it’s really something to see.” He said. Gia smiled back at him. “My work is amazing. The kids are so special to me. I love all of them.” She said. “That’s great Gia. I’m happy for you.” He said. “Thank you.” Gia said softly. “So do you have a boyfriend?” Marcus asked with a playful grin. Gia tried to laugh at his lively expression, grateful to see him joking, but it came out as a quick breath. “No.” she shook her head softly. Marcus saw something he couldn’t read on her face, but he decided that it was definitely a sign to change the subject. “So tell me more about school.” He said as he smiled at her. Gia smiled before she opened her mouth to speak, but she turned around when the door opened. “Gia, I want you to get out for a while.” Florence immediately stated. Gia frowned. “Mother I’m a little old for you to be telling me what I can and can’t do.” She said. “Gia you haven’t left this hospital in two days. You’ve hardly eaten or slept. I want you to take a break. Go down to the little dinner down the street and get yourself something to eat.” Florence said. Gia turned back and smirked at her brother, raising her eyebrows and expressing her annoyance to him with using only facial expressions. He chuckled softly, but he looked at her and she did look worn out. “I think she’s right Gia. Go to Kelly’s and get yourself something to eat please. I’ll be here when you get back.” He said, squeezing her hand slightly. Gia sighed and then nodded her head. “Fine.” She surrendered.

Lucky swung the door to Kelly’s open and walked in, approaching the counter. “Hey.” Liz said and leaned in to kiss him. Lucky returned her kiss and sat down on one of the stools. “What’s wrong?” Liz asked, noticing his poor mood. “Well Nikolas never showed up at the tux shop today and when I called over at Wyndemere, Sarah said that he went out of town. I just think it’s weird that he wouldn’t tell me.” He said. Liz frowned. “Yeah that is weird. Maybe you should check with Stefan? He could be doing something for work.” Liz suggested. “Yeah that’s a good idea. I’m really starting to worry. I’ll be home later OK?” Lucky said. “Yeah I’ll see you later. I love you.” She said. Lucky smiled. “I love you too.” He answered. He turned and headed out and bumped into someone as they were walking in. “Oh I’m so sorry.” He said steadying the woman. “Oh my god I’m sorry, I was distracted and I wasn’t paying attention. I’m sorry.” Gia stammered as she stepped back. The two looked at each other. Her beauty immediately struck Lucky, and he had a strange feeling as he looked at the stranger. Gia’s reaction was different however. She gasped in shock as she looked up at him, fear filling her eyes. It was the blond guy from her dream. Her heart began to pound with fear as she began to back away. Lucky shook his head slowly, confused by her reaction. She quickly turned around and ran out. “Wait!” Lucky yelled, but it was too late, she was gone.

Nikolas’s chest was heaving rapidly; his heart was pounding as he moved. He had never experienced anything like this. It was like he was reliving his dream. The building he looked up at was the exact same as in his dream. He was almost scared. No, he knew he was petrified as he approached the building. He was fighting the urge to turn and leave, but after all of this, he had to know. He felt so close. So close to finding her. He walked up on unsteady legs and pulled open the door. The feeling of déjà vu was overwhelming. He looked around when he walked in. This was it. He couldn’t believe it. He walked with a new excitement up to the desk in the front, so sure that he was close to finding Gia. “Can I help you?” the young woman asked. “Yes can you tell me if someone named Gia works here?” he asked, smiling at the rather cute girl in front of him. He was nervous as hell, but he was trying to stay calm. Jenny looked at the man; she had no idea who he was. She couldn’t tell him if Gia was here. He could be anyone. She shook her head. “I’m sorry but no one with that name works here.” She said. She said the words but Nikolas had barely heard them, he was crushed, his heart felt heavy. “Oh…OK well thank you.” He stammered, his voice cracking slightly. Jenny frowned. She felt sorry for him but she had to go with her gut feelings, she had no idea who this man was. Nikolas didn’t know what to do, he was so sure. He felt on the verge of tears and felt a violently strong heaviness in his chest that made him want to scream. He started to turn around and leave but then he stopped and turned around again, he shook his head stubbornly. “I just have to see for myself.” He said quickly before he took off down the hall. It happened so quickly that Jenny didn’t even know what to do, she opened and closed her mouth a few times to say something but she didn’t know what to say. Nikolas ran down the hall, he was positive that this was the same building as in his dream. He began remember parts of his dream so clearly now and walking down the hall gave what he knew to be reality, a surreal feeling. He quickly ran to the door that he had opened before and pulled it open. There were kids everywhere. His heart was pounding, as he looked down at all of them. They all looked familiar. He searched for someone who could help him. Finally he spotted someone who looked to be in charge and walked up to him. “Hi, can you tell me if someone named Gia works here please?” he asked. Before he was able to get an answer, someone ran up to him. He felt a pair of little arms wrap around his legs. “Nikolas Cassadine!” Jory exclaimed, pronouncing his name perfectly. Nikolas looked down in shock; it was her, his little angel. He got down to her level and with his heart pounding, he reached out to touch her, to make sure that she was real. But before he could, she ran forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Nikolas was stunned; she was solid, real, not just some figment of his imagination. He hugged her back, at the same time feeling overwhelmed and a little scared. “Jordyn.” He breathed, her name coming to him so suddenly. “That’s amazing. She hasn’t spoken in two days. How do you know her?” Caleb asked. Nikolas pulled back and looked at her thoughtfully before turning to him, thinking of an appropriate answer to give him. “Through a friend. Please, can you tell me where Gia is?” he asked desperately. Caleb wasn’t sure about giving this man any information about one of his best friends. He didn’t completely trust him. “Gia went away Nikolas. She left me! She said she wouldn’t but she did!” Jory cried. Nikolas hugged her again, at the same time frowning, his forehead creasing with concern. “Where did she go?” he asked softly. “To a town called Port Charles. It was a family emergency.” Caleb spoke up. It was the only explanation he was comfortable with giving. Jordyn seemed so comfortable with him. “Oh my god.” Nik breathed, he couldn’t believe it. She was in Port Charles. “I uh… thank you for telling me. I have to go.” Nik said as he started to get up. “Don’t go!” Jory clung to him. “I have to Jordyn. I need to go find Gia.” He whispered. The little girls expression slowly began to change, and soon a beautiful grin spread across her face. “Will you tell her that I love her and to come back real soon?” she asked hopefully, her blue eyes opened wide. Nikolas smiled brightly at her, sighing slightly. “Yes Jordyn, I will tell her all of that, I promise.” He breathed. She smiled and he leaned in, kissing her cheek softly, still slightly shocked to feel the touch of her skin. He got up and ran out, moving more quickly than when he came in. Caleb turned to Jordyn. “Is that who I think it was?” he asked. Jory slowly nodded her head as she smiled brightly at him. “Nikolas is going to bring Gia back!” she said excitedly.

Sarah got into bed and rolled over, smelling Nikolas on his pillow and rubbing her face on it softly. She couldn’t believe that she would be his wife soon. She smiled softly and she sighed deeply at the thought of it. She knew that she should be asleep; she had a full day of work in the morning, but her mind was spinning with possibilities of a wedding. Would she be called a princess? She nodded her head and smiled. She always wanted to be a princess. Her hand dipped down and landed on something. She picked up the book and her eyebrows knitted slightly as her eyes scanned over it, she had never seen it before. She opened it up and began to read; scripture all about Nikolas’ dreams and his thoughts on them filled the pages. After the first couple of pages she laid her head back, her eyes were moving rapidly as she began to put it all together. Her braids, her mocha skin, her name Gia. It was her, she knew it was her, the woman at the hospital. At first she thought it was impossible, it couldn’t be. But she knew it was, it had to be, and everything fit. She slowly shook her head. She was not going to let this woman come between she and Nikolas. “I don’t think so.” She whispered, frowning and then continuing to read the book in her hands.