| Part One Storm 11:21 PM CRACK! BOOM! Nikolas could saw the light flash outside his window. It had been a cold and dreary day; now it was what looked like one of the worst thunderstorms he had seen. BANG! CRASH! Gia: NIK!!! Nikolas looked up to see a very frightened Gia, clad in pajama pants and a tank top, come bounding into his room and take a flying leap onto him. She wrapped her arms around him hide her face Nik: Whoa Sparky! Settle down! It�s only a thunderstorm it will be okay. Hey, are you all right? Gia: Yeah, I guess. I�m sorry I didn�t mean to� I was just spooked. (Getting up to leave, god he look good in his boxers she thought) sorry prince didn�t mean to wake you. Nik: (now sitting on the edge of his bed grabs Gia�s waist pulls her to sit on his lap) You didn�t. Are you sure you are okay? Gia: Yeah, I have always been afraid of storms. Nik: Why don�t you stay in here tonight, it�s supposed to keep this up all night? Gia: Are you sure because I don�t want to impose on you, prince. Nik: There is nothing I want more. Besides I would rather have you safe within my care than have you come running in hear scaring me to death. Good save Nik if you aren�t careful she is gonna figure out how you feel. What if she doesn�t feel the same? You now what it doesn�t matter. I Love her and she needs to know� whoa were did that come from? Well I guess it is true. Gia: You mean you don�t like women just jumping into your arms, prince? Nik: Not usually, well, unless it�s my princess of course. You must be getting cold. (Nik pushed backed the covers and lays down pulling Gia to his chest and pulling the covers up over them. She shivers and he tightens his arms around her) Gia: Were you afraid of storms when you were little? I mean you grew up on the Mediterranean so I bet you saw some good ones. Nik: A little but I grew out of it. Stephan told me a Prince shouldn�t be afraid of some thing so petty as the weather. Gia: That�s how my mother was but it never made a difference I still am terrified of storms. Before Marcus left I used to sneak into his room and he would protect me from the storm but when he left I just stayed in my room and cried. I would get so scared� (Gia let out a small sob) no one ever stays with me�. Nik: It�s okay you can let it out. (Nik soothingly rubs her back as she cries) Don�t worry Princess, I am never gonna leave you. Gia: I am sorry I�(sob) you don�t need this�(sob) I can leave�. Nik: Hey, its okay I want to be here for you and I don�t want you to go through this alone. I meant what I said I�m not gonna leave you. You are too important too me. You can count on me and not just to night, forever. Good she loved this man. He was wonderful. She never wanted to leave his arms. Gia: (After a long silence) What was it like growing up in Greece? They chatted the evening away talking about their childhoods, families, likes, dislikes and anything else they could think of. Nikolas loved the way she giggled and how her fingers danced across her chest when she was deep in thought. Gia loved the pictures he created in her head of his childhood and how he tickled her when lightning would fill the sky to lighten her mood and tell her that he was there. Some time in the morning they both drifted of into the most peaceful sleep either of them had had in a long time. Part Two Being Happy Kelly�s 1:30 PM Nikolas was glad to see that the crew was all there. Nik: Hey guys (Hello�s Echo from Lucky, Liz, Em, and Zander) Lucky: What�s up Bro? Nik: Not much. I just stopped in to ask if you guys were busy tonight because its been a while since we all got together and had fun. God knows we could all use a little lately. Em: Sounds good. What did you have in mind? Nik: How about you guys come out to the cottage tonight; I�ll order pizzas and rent some movies and we can veg out all night. Liz: Sure. I suppose Gia�s going to be around though? Nik: Please don�t start, okay. Gia is a good person you just have to give her a chance besides she is important to me so please just cut her some slack okay. Liz: I�ll try for you Nik. Nik: Well, I have to go tell Gia now. See you all at 7:00. The Cottage 6:30 Gia was grateful to be home. She had to work hard all afternoon to make up for the time lost when she and Nik decided to sleep in. Now all she wanted to do was find something to distract her from work. Gia: Nikolas are you home! Nik: (coming down the stairs) Hey. How was your day? Gia: It was okay. What�s with all the movies are we having a slumber party or something? Nik: Something like that. I want you to promise me though that if I tell you that you won�t get mad. Please just here me out and try to be nice. Gia: It�s not like I�m an animal what could I do? Don�t answer that. Okay, so what are these big plans. Nik: Well it has been really stressful lately and I have not had much time to spend with my friends so I invited them to the cottage tonight. Gia: (walking toward the stairs) Great. Okay I get it I will call my mom and see if I can stay for the night. This is really gonna suck. Nik: (grabbing her arm) Hold on! I didn�t mean it like that. I want you to stay and spend time with me if that�s not asking too much. I like my friends but I would rather have you here than spend time with them. Please stay. I will even take you out for a night on the town of any thing you want. Gia: I will stay because you asked; but if you take me out on the town I will try really hard to be nice to Lizard. Oops! I mean Liz. Nik: This means a lot to me. (Placing a kiss on her forehead) Thank You. 7:00 The doorbell rang and Gia ran to answer it. (Might as well start the evening off right.) Gia: Hey guys, come on in. Nik will be down in a minuet. The group uncertainly comes in with scattered greetings. Gia: Liz could you please come and help me in the kitchen for a moment. Liz: (Looking uncertainly at Lucky follows Gia into the Kitchen) What do you want Gia. Gia: (you can do this Gia, for Nik) Okay Liz, lets cut the crap I know that you don�t like me any more than I like you but tonight I want to put that all aside for Nikolas. It really gets to him and I know how much he wants to have some fun. So tonight I am willing to hold back all slanderous comments if you can. Liz: (weird where is this coming from) I guess I can if you can. Gia: Thanks now would you mind helping me with these drinks. (With a laugh) I bet they are all waiting out there for us to kill each other. Liz: Yeah! (Smiling) Lets give them a shock. Both girls entered the living room with laughter growing as they saw the surprised looks on everyone�s faces. Lucky: Are you two all right. Liz: We are perfect. Gia set down the drinks she was carrying and walked up to Nik. She placed a hand on his chin and closed his open mouth. Gia: Why Prince Nikki, close your mouth, didn�t the Cassidine�s ever teach you not to drool? (Everyone in the room laughed.) I see the pizza is here so what are we waiting for. Lucky and Zander started to get pizza and Liz and Em followed their leads. They all settled to spots around the TV. Liz sat on the beanbag that no one ever could figure out why Nik had. Lucky sprawled on the floor next her and Zander and Em sat on the couch. When Gia went to get her pizza Nik came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her to get a piece of pizza. Nik: (whispering into Gia�s ear) Thank you Princess. (He placed a kiss on her cheek and headed over to the armchair. Gia followed suit.) Gia: (with mock attitude) If you think you are gonna sit in my chair Prince Nikki you have got something else coming to you. Nik: Really your chair? Gia: Yes its MY chair. Nik: Don�t let me deprive you of your throne Princess Sparky (Nik quickly sat in the chair and grabbed Gia by the waist planting her on his lap) is that better Your Grace? Gia: (Smiling) Much Nik: (Noticing the group watching them) What are we waiting for lets watch the movie. Lucky: (Smiling inwardly) Whatever Bro. Two hours later all the pizzas had been polished of and the film was just ending. They had watched �Save the Last Dance.� The movie was good but most of the time was spent making jokes about what everyone had done in the past and what they were doing now. Gia: Hey Nikolas, did you catch those moves. Nik: I invented those moves Sparky; you don�t know half of what I can do. Lucky: That I would pay to see! Zander: Me too! Nik: I could but I bet you too couldn�t. Lucky: Is that a challenge? (Nik nodding) Let�s dance! Em: Okay boys, why don�t you all show us your stuff and us girls will judge you and come up with the winner. Liz: I like that Idea! Boys get ready we will give you 10 minuets to work on your skills. But when the music starts we can call on you at any time to show us your moves so be ready. Liz, Em, and Gia walked into the kitchen giving the boys time to practice. Lucky: Okay boys we have 10 minuets to find a way out of this mess because I know that neither of you can dance. Zander: I hate to admit it but you are so right man. Nik: Hey I think I just got an idea. (Turning some music on to keep the girls from listening) How mean do you boys feel? In The Kitchen Em: Oh this is going to be good girls. Liz: I know it was a great idea, thank you very much. Gia: (sarcastically) My aren�t we feeling high and mighty. Just kidding! Would you girls like a glass of wine? (Gia gets out some glasses and pours some white wine in them) Em: Sure! So ah how are you and Nik doing Gia. I mean I think you are getting a little bit more than friendly. Gia: Whatever Em! So we like to have fun and yah he is totally hot and so sweet but it�s not like he is interested. Liz: What? Are you crazy girl? Have you ever seen the way he looks at you? Gia our dear friend Nikolas has been in love with you for a long time. And even though I don�t know you well I think you feel the same way. Gia: So what if I do. Em: So kiss him already! Gia: Okay! (Putting down her glass and heading towards the living room) Whatever. I think time is up for our dancing fools. As the girls enter the living room they are blindsided by the guys who are ready and waiting for them in there battle stances. Their weapons of choice: pillows Zander: Hello Ladies Lucky: Prepare for war Liz and Em: (Looking and each other) You�re on! (The girls all grab pillows) Gia: You boys are so gonna loose Nik: Bring it on Sparky (Nik throws the first pillow at Gia, beginning the battle.) They all gave a pretty good fit for quite some time every one laughed when Gia duck nik�s pillow and it knocked Lucky over the couch who pulled Liz with him. The fight went on for quite a while. Finally when everyone couldn�t move because they were laughing so much they all sat down on the floor in front of the couch. Gia: I told ya you were gonna loose, prince. Nik: Who said I lost? Gia: I did. So now you get to be my slave. Nik: Right! Your wish is my command Princess Sparky Lucky: Well guys, it�s been fun but it is getting late and some of us have to work for a living. Liz: Yah we should get going. Hey, Gia we will have to get together some time and discuss that issue. (Liz winked and gia laughed to herself knowing that their was no issue Liz just wanted to see the looks on everyone�s faces.) Gia: Okay bye There was a round of goodbyes as they left. Nik: (grabs Gia bye the waist and pulls her to him wrapping his arms around her) Thank you for being so wonderful tonight. Gia: It was my pleasure. Nik: (Seriously) Do you know how beautiful you are? Gia: (Laughing) Why yes I do. Did you just notice? Nik: (smiling) Lets go to bed Sparky. Gia: Why Prince Nikki is that an indecent proposal Nik: (wiggling his eyebrows) What do you think? With that Gia ran upstairs and changed into her Pj�s. When she walked into Niks room he was laying on the bed in his pajama pants only. Gia found herself staring at him. Nik: Are you just gonna stand there all night because I am gonna go to bed. That was all the invitation Gia needed she ran over and jumped onto Nikolas. Gia: Hi! Nik: Hi! You are crazy ya know that. Gia: (Coyly) Crazy like a fox. Nik: (Laughing) That you are. Its one of the things I love about you. (Turning Serious) One of the things that made me fall in Love with you. Gia, I love you. I don�t ever want to loose you. Please stay with me forever. Gia: (Smiling) I love you too, Nik, Forever. With that Nik pulled Gia down to him for a sweet kiss that grew into a passionate one. And they were happy. |