Uninvited CH 26

“Gia? You in here?” Nik asked as he walked into the den early one morning. Ever since the incident with Zander, Gia had been quiet and distant. She spent a lot of her time alone. She would either sit by herself in the den or she would go to the stables to visit Sheba. Nik wanted to give her time to get through this on her own but it was becoming apparent to him that she couldn’t. “Yeah I’m in here.” Gia said softly. Nik made his way over to her and sat down on the window seat she was sitting gazing out of, he sat facing her. “Gia will you talk to me? Please?” Nik said as he brushed her cheek with the palm of his hand.

Gia knew she was shutting him out, and she didn’t want to. But she felt so lost. Everything she thought she knew she doubted now. Zander, she never thought he would be so mean to her. She thought that she loved him when she came here, and that she would hate Nikolas. But everything was so messed up now. It was like her whole life was turned upside down. She turned around to face the man who once filled her with hate. She looked up at him; his eyes were so filled with concern. God she loved him, more then anything. His words were desperate; he wanted so badly to help her. She reached up and gave his cheek the same treatment he was giving hers, touch, light and sweet. “How could I have been so wrong about him Nikolas?” Gia asked with tears in her eyes. “Oh Sparky, how could you have known? He must have changed since you’ve known him.” Nik said as he pulled her in for a hug. Gia sighed, letting out a breath of air she didn’t realize she was holding in. “Gia, will you let me help you? I don’t want you to think about Zander anymore.” Nik said. Gia looked up at him and smiled. “How come you’re so good to me? You don’t have to take care of me Nikolas.” Gia said. Nik shook his head. “I want to Gia, I love you and I want to show you that life is not as bad as you think, will you let me?” Nik asked. Gia grinned brightly and nodded her head yes. “I would love that.” Gia said leaning in and kissing him.

~A short while later~

“See, don’t you feel better?” Nik said loudly from his spot behind her. He had convinced her to let him take her for a ride; they were now sitting astride Sheba. Nik was riding to their favorite spot, the hilltop under his favorite pepper tree. “Yeah I feel much better.” Gia shouted back. She couldn’t help but smile as she thought back on the day when they got caught in the rain. Where they had connected as they talked on the very hilltop they were headed to now. They dismounted when they reached the tree and Nik grabbed Gia’s hand, guiding her to sit down in the grass. He sat behind her and wrapped his arms around her. They sat silently for a while, just being together.

“Nikolas, I’m sorry I’ve been so distant lately.” Gia said, breaking the silence. “That’s OK.” Nik said kissing down on her shoulder. “It just really scared me to see..” Gia’s words were silenced when Nik spun her around and captured her lips in a powerful kiss. “I said no Zander talk.” Nik whispered when he pulled away, his forehead lingering against hers. Gia nodded her head. “Hey Gia, I want to ask you something.” Nik said pulling back slightly. Gia nodded her head. Nik reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. “I know that you didn’t want to marry me at first, that your parents forced you into this. But I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, and even thought you were hard to get along with at first. I knew that underneath all that attitude was the women I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I love you Gia and I want to protect you and make you happy. Will you marry me?” Nik asked as he opened up the box and showed her what was inside.

Gia was numb as Nik spoke; every word he was saying was like heaven to her ears. All the pain and hurt she had been feeling inside the last few weeks were slowly melting away. She looked into his eyes as he spoke; emotion filled her as his sweet words entered her brain. Tears filled her eyes as he opened the box that was in his hands. She blinked through the tears so that her eyes could focus on the ring it held. The beautiful emerald sparkled in the center of tons of small diamonds. It was so beautiful, so unique, so Nikolas. She looked up and met his gaze again. He was waiting for her to say something, anything. “Gia.” He said softly. Gia nodded her head vigorously as tears flowed freely down her face. “Yes!” She cried out happily. They wrapped their arms around each other. “I love you Nikolas.” Gia said looking up at him. “I love you too Sparky.” Nik said, leaning in and kissing her passionately.

Two days later Nik watched Gia smiling down at her ring, she looked so happy. They were getting ready to go out. Nikolas had finally talked her into going somewhere. They were going to meet his brother and Elizabeth and all of his friends. Nikolas wanted to show her off. He called Alexis too, who was planning on stopping by to see them for a while. She would also be bringing his other aunt Kristina with her. The family had only recently been reunited with the new member of the family and Nik was looking forward to getting to know her.

Gia had on a small blue dress; the thin straps in a crisscross design, clearly exposing her back, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her hair was intricately braided, lifted off of her bare shoulders. She stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom she and Nikolas now shared and she wasn't admiring herself in it like one would normally be doing, she was looking down at her ring. She smiled and looked over at Nikolas, he looked so sexy in his charcoal gray suit, his hair slicked back nicely. He smiled back at her, she blushed slightly, he had caught her staring at the ring again. She just couldn’t take her eyes off of it, it meant so much to her. She walked over to Nik and leaned in for a kiss. “You ready to go?” Gia asked looking up at him. He smiled. “You look beautiful Gia.” Nik said as he caressed her cheek. “Thank you.” She said softly. They joined hands and walked out the door.

Nik and Gia sat at a table at the Port Charles Grill and had a wonderful time. Gia and Kristina really hit it off and were dancing on the dance floor as Nik sat at a table with Alexis. “She’s great Nikolas.” Alexis said as she smiled over at her nephew. “She is Alexis, I love her so much.” Nik said. “I know you do Nikolas, I can tell, and I’m so happy for you.” Alexis said as she nodded her head.

“Isn’t Nikolas great?” Gia asked Kristina as they danced to the music. “He’s a prince.” Kristina laughed. “Trust me, not all princes are like Nikolas.” Gia said sarcastically. “You really love him don’t you?” Kristina asked. A bright smiled lit Gia’s face as she nodded her head. “I love him so much.” Gia said. Gia looked around at all of Nik’s friends. She wished she could get along with everyone else. The only person besides Lucky and Kristina that Gia thought she could get along with was Emily. But she wouldn’t pry herself away from her boyfriend. Gia didn’t want to have to come between Shane and Emily and ruin their night so she continued to dance with Kristina. “This song is great!” Kristina said as they danced to a song she had never heard before, assuming it was a local band. “Yeah I know I have their CD, want to borrow it?” Gia asked. “Sure!” Kristina said excitedly, eager to hear more of the awesome band. “I have it in the car let me go get it.” Gia said walking past her.

Nik watched Gia walk across the room and walk out the door, he started to go after her, concerned something was wrong when Kristina came up to the table. “Gia went to go get a CD out of the car for me.” Kristina said sitting down. Nik nodded his head and sat back down, smiling over at his aunts. “So, tell me about Gia.” Kristina said excitedly to her nephew.

The night had gotten cooler then when they had arrived and Gia felt the cold air hit her body. She rubbed her arms vigorously trying to get warmer as she made her way over to the car. She rushed to the door and unlocked it, peering into the dark green Jag. She shuffled through the many CD’s she and Nik had in the car and finally found the one she was looking for. She stood up and stepped back and bumped into something solid behind her. Before she could turn around she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and a hand clamped over her mouth. She felt a soft material against her face and tried hard not to inhale. She struggled against the strong hold she was in, wearing herself out with her efforts. Exhausted she finally let her nose inhale and her mind slowly blurred, falling into darkness.