inthenikoftime

In the �Nik� of Time

by Charla M.

�This is the last time!!!,� Gia thought to herself as she walked hastily back to the cottage. � I refuse to deal with the sociopaths in this town any more.� She was fed up. She was tired of her Mom implying that her life was on the fast track to nowhere. She was tired of Laura Spencer giving her false hope about the FOD job. She was tired of Nikolas� psychotic family trying to scare her off. Her brother was no support. The brat pack was really getting under her skin, especially Queen Eliza-b@!#*. And then there was Nikolas. The one person she thought was her side. He was the most disappointing to her because she had let him in. Gia trusted him, supported him when he was in a crisis with his family, and even let him see her without make-up. And what does he do in return? He offers Liz and Lucky a place to stay while Kelly�s is being remodeled - at the cottage no less!!!! And of course they accepted. Probably just to tick her off. Laura has that big empty house with just her and Lu-Lu and they wanted to stay in the cottage.

�Bull crap, � she thought as she arrived at the front door. �Well, I�ve got something for them.�

She walked in and Nikolas was sitting on the couch reading some reports from L & B.

�Gia,� he said, �I�m glad you�re here. There�s something I need to tell you.�

�Well, if it�s about the wicked witch and your brother moving in here, I already know.� Gia was hot with anger.

�I told them not to say anything until I got a chance to speak to you.� Nikolas was annoyed. He knew she would not take the news well, especially if it came from anyone else. He could see that she was not pleased. �Look, it�s only temporary..�

�Well, � Gia cut in, �it can be permanent for all I care.� She was fed up and determined not to let herself get anymore upset. �I�m outta here!�

�What...w-w-wait a minute, calm down,� She had taken this alot worse than Nikolas thought she would. Her feelings were really hurt.

� No, Nikolas, � she said. Her heart was broken and she could feel it. Her eyes began to tear up. Why was she crying? She was stronger than this and she knew it, but she couldn�t help it this time. �This was the only place in this psychotic town where I felt like I could be me. No one was here to judge me or to get in my business orput me down. Now, I have to share it with two people who can�t stand me. And you didn�t even ask me about it. So since I�m so dispensable, I�ll move out.�

�Gia, no, I�m sorry that this upsets you so much.� Nikolas had never seen her like this and his heart hurt to. The last thing he wanted was her to think that he didn�t care about her feelings. In fact, he knew he cared too much.

�Don�t worry Prince,� Gia said in her most sarcastic voice, �I�ll be out of here before you can say Port Charles.� She turned and walked up the stairs. She went to her room and slammed the door. She sat on her bed and stared at the walls. She was going to miss this place. She liked living here. Scratch that, she loved living here. It was such a nice place and Nikolas had been a great roommate. Even though he was a slacker when it came to the bathroom. She wished that she didn�t have to leave. She didn�t want to leave Nikolas. They had become so close and he was so sexy. She thought back to the night after Liz�s test shoot when her and Nikolas danced. His touch had made her tingle and when she looked in his eyes, she saw his soul. And she knew then that she did love him.

�Oh my God, what am I thinking?� she said under her breath. None of that mattered now. It was time for her to move on.

Nikolas was still in shock at how Gia had reacted. Maybe she needed time to cool down. She always overreacted. That was part of her personality. And what a sparkling personality it was. All of that tough exterior hid the sensitive. beautiful, wholesome person that was inside of her. He just wished others could she her as he did. �Yeah, she�ll calm down,� he thought to himself. Just then her remembered that he had to meet Ned at Kelly�s. He grabbed his coat and headed to the door.

�Was that Nikolas� car?� Gia knew the sound of the car and that same sound was heading down the driveway. �I can�t believe he left without saying anything!� Gia was mad all over again. This is exactly what she was talking about. She never came first. How could he not care that she was so upset. Gia began packing her things. She already had it planned. She had talked to her Aunt about staying with her in NYC while she looked for work. Maybe she would even enroll at Columbia like her mom wanted so desperately for her to do. Whatever she does, it would not include Port Charles.

~~~~~~

After his meeting with Ned, Nikolas was getting his things together to leave Kelly�s when Lucky walks in.

�What�s up Bro? What are you doing here?�

�I had a meeting with Ned. Did you guys tell Gia that I was letting you move in for a while?� Nik tried to ask without sounding mad about it, but he was still irritated by the whole thing.

�Here, sit, bro,� Lucky said to Nikolas. �The girls were going at it, as usual and Liz said to me �How are we ever going to live with this girl?� I had to tell Gia what was up. I�m sorry because I know you wanted to tell her first. She was pretty mad when she left.�

�Well she was irate by the time she got home.� Nikolas thought back to Gia crying. He should have just grabbed her and hugged her.

�We can stay somewhere else Nikolas. I don�t want to get in the way of you two.� Lucky�s offer was sincere. He knew that something was going on with Gia and Nikolas, but he wasn�t sure what. He had noticed the way that Nikolas would smile when Gia was around, and Nikolas was about the only person he knew that understood her crazy little attitude.

�In the way of what?� Nikolas knew where this was heading. He and Lucky had had this conversation before. �Gia and I are...�

�In denial,� Lucky interrupted. �Anyway, what did she say?�

�That she was moving out.� Lucky looked surprised. Nikolas added �I think she was just trying to get my attention. I�m sure she�s not going anywhere.� Nikolas hoped she wasn�t. He would miss her eating her fruit in the morning and talking incessantly while he tried to read the newspaper. He would miss the way the bathroom smelled after she showered. He would miss her coming into his room for any made up reason just so that she wouldn�t be alone. He would miss sitting close with her on the couch while they watch television. He would miss her.

�Earth to Nikolas Cassidine, � Lucky interrupted Nikolas� thoughts. �Where are you?� Lucky knew that Nikolas was thinking (or fantasizing) about Gia.�So how long has it been?� Lucky asked.

�How long has what been?� Nikolas hated to answer questions with questions, but he had no idea what Lucky was talking about.

�Since you�ve been in love with Gia?� Lucky watched as Nikolas� complexion turned from a golden tan to a deep peach.

He was blushing and had a smirk to match. �I�m not in love with Gia.� Nikolas couldn�t believe Lucky had went there. �If I was in love with her, then..., then I would know it. We are just friends.� Lucky was not falling for it.

�You don�t have to expalin anything to me, but if you love her, then don�t let her leave. Not even for Elizabeth and me.�

~~~~~~

When Nikolas got to the house. It was dark inside. Gia was not there. �Maybe she went for a walk,� Nikolas thought to himself. He prayed that was all that it was. Then he saw a note with his name on it on the table by the couch. He walked slowly over to it. He opened it:

Hey Prince,

I don�t want you to think that I�m too mad at you. I�ve calmed down and realized that I was mad at myself. I�ve let too many people put me down and not given myself any credit for who I am. I know I owe you rent and I promise I�m good for it. I�ll miss having you to talk to. Thank you for all you�ve done for me.

Love Gia

Nikolas couldn�t believe it. She had actually left. �How could I be so stupid?� he thought to himself. He knew that if Gia said she was going to do something, it was as good as done. But how could she leave like that? Not even a good-bye in person. He sat on the couch, thinking about all the things he had done wrong since he�d known her.

If he would have put her first, maybe just once, she might still be there. If he had defended her in front of his friends or his family, she might have trusted his judgement. If he had told her that the kisses they shared did matter, she wouldn�t have felt so unimportant. If he had told her that he loved her.... Nilkolas interrupted his own thoughts and got up off the couch.

�It doesn�t do much good to sulk.�

He hung his coat up on coat rack and went into the kitchen to get a glass if wine. All he could do now was pray that she would take of herself and call him soon.

~~~~~~

�I can�t believe I left my wallet. I hope I never plan on robbing a bank because I�d probably leave all kinds of evidence lying around.� Gia mumbled to herself as she walked back up to the front door. At least she had kept the key, and hopefully Nikolas hadn�t returned from his meeting. She knew that the note was cheesy but she knew that it would be so hard for her to say good-bye in person. She walked in the door and walked over to the couch. Her wallet was on the end table next to the couch. She reach to grab it and just as she turn to walk out of the kitchen, Nikolas emerged from the kitchen.

�Gia...,� Nikolas was relieved that she had come back, even for a second.

�Oh, I left my wallet. I was just on my way back out so don�t worry.� Gia wanted to make this as painless as possible.

�Will you stop. I never said I wanted you to leave. That was your decision.� Nikolas was not going to let her turn this around on him.

�But it wasn�t my choice. You know the four of us can�t live in the same place. It�ll be too much. Besides, I need to work on somethings for myself. I�ve gotten a little lost here in Port Charles.� Just like she was getting lost in his eyes. He was so fine and when he looked at her she wanted to melt.

�Lost in what Gia?� Nikolas walked over to her. He reached down and grabbed both of her hands. He wanted to kiss her. Her lips were beautiful. He wasn�t going to let her go this time.

What was Gia lost in? �Love,� she thought to herself. He was making this so hard. �I let myself get caught in a whole lot of drama. Besides, why stay somewhere where everyone seems to hate me.� Gia needed a good reason to stay. A real good reason.

�Gia..., � Nikolas knew this was his last chance to convince her to stay.

�Nikolas, my bus leaves in 30 minutes, I have to go.� She didn�t want to cry, but she felt it coming on again. Nikolas let go of her hands, only to take hold her waist. He came in closer to her, never ceasing to look her in her eyes.

�If you leave, we�ll never know...� Nikolas said in almost a whisper. His voice was so sexy and Gia could feel herself getting warm.

�Never know what?� Gia asked this question hoping he would say the one thing that would make her stay. She looked into his eyes and saw the same soul she�d fallen in love with.

�We�ll never know what it would be like in the morning after we make love for the first time. I�ll never get to see the sunlight fall on you while your sleeping next to me. You�ll never get to hear me sing the love song that I wrote just for you. We�ll never know how many children we�ll have, where we�ll live, or at what age we�ll be to old to sit up at night and watch movies. You�ll never know how I decided a long time ago that I loved you more than I could have ever imagined and that if you left me, my heart break into a million pieces.�

Gia�s tears of sadness had turned to tears of elation. She never thought she would ever hear those words from �the Prince.� She pressed her lips against his and kissed him with all she had. She had found true love and hadn�t even looked for it. And nothing else mattered.

�I guess this means I�m staying.�

�I guess this means I�ll be glad.� Nikolas smiled at her. �If you want me to ask Lucky and Elizabeth to stay somewhere else, I will.�

�No, I�ll make it work. Besides, how hard could it be?� She still resented them, but she would do anything for Nikolas. He�d do the same thing for her if she needed him. Gia finally realized that Nikolas was on her side and would always be. �I love you, too.�