Stefan- Where in the hell were you?
Nikolas- [slowly shaking his head] That does not matter…
Liz- [hands on hips] You were with her…
Natalia- [softly as she stared at Elizabeth] Stay out of this…
Liz- [shaking her head] No… someone has to tell the truth around here…
Natalia- Not you…
Liz- I’m the only one who seems ready to do so…
Natalia- This does not even concern you…
Liz- Nikolas is my brother-in-law as well as a good friend…
Natalia- That matters little…
Liz- It matters to me…
Stefan- [yelling] Enough! Nikolas I expect the truth from you…
Nikolas- What do you wish to know?
Stefan- Who is this young woman?
Nikolas- [softly] Uncle…
Stefan- [slowly shaking his head] I will not have this young woman destroying all that has been planned.
Nikolas- The things that have been planned… [slowly shaking his head] I can’t go through with them…
Stefan- Meaning?
Nikolas- I can’t marry Natalia…
Stefan- You can and you will…
Nikolas- [firmly] No…
Stefan- Who is this young woman?
Lucky- She works at Goldmine… she’s a dancer and…
Nikolas- [slowly shaking his head] She’s more than that…
Liz- Yeah she’s a two-bit tramp who got her hooks in you…
Nikolas- Believe what you like…
Liz- [looking intently at Natalia] Are you going to just stand there and let him tear down everything you have together?
Natalia- What we have does not concern you… this does not concern you…
Stefan- Nikolas…
Nikolas- Uncle I have always done what you have wished of me… never once questioning your direction… all I ask is that you do the same with this…
Stefan- No…
Nikolas- Uncle…
Stefan- Again I ask you… who is this young woman?
Nikolas- It doesn’t matter… I can’t marry Natalia…
Lucky- Nikolas… you’re letting her destroy everything…
Nikolas- Whether I am or not this is my business… what you and your wife think and have to say has no bearing on my decisions…
Lucky- I’m trying to keep you from throwing everything away…
Nikolas- By running to my Uncle? What did you think he was going to do? Ground me and force me to go through with this wedding?
Lucky- I don’t know but…
Nikolas- Before you concern yourself in my business worry about your own…
Lucky- I’m married with a child…
Nikolas- Then worry about your wife and child and not what is and is not happening in my life…
Stefan- What are you saying?
Nikolas- I’m saying that I am a grown man capable of making my own decisions. It is my decision to end this farce of a engagement that Natalia and myself have been going through…
Stefan- Nikolas…
Nikolas- Nothing you say will change my mind. I am not marrying Natalia…
Natalia- Nor I Nikolas…
Stefan- I won’t allow this!
Nikolas- [slowly shaking his head] You have no choice but to…
Snatching away from Lucky, still trying to keep his anger in check, Nikolas confronted his brother who seemed determined to interfere in his life.
Nikolas- Don’t ever grab me again…
Lucky- She’s using you Nikolas… don’t let her…
Nikolas- You have no idea what you are talking about.
Lucky- I’ve seen her kind before… I’ve seen all the tricks the
y go through when they try to get something from you that you don’t want to give.
Nikolas- What occurred between you and Candy…
Liz- Candy?
Lucky- Don’t let her lies destroy everything you have…
Nikolas- Don’t you get it? Without Gia I have nothing… without Gia…
Stefan- I won’t allow this Gia to derail your wedding plans…
Natalia- Have any of you listened to what Nikolas has been saying?
Stefan- Natalia this in not the time…
Natalia- There is no other time Stefan… Nikolas has stated over and over that he does not wish to marry me and I accept that because I do not want to marry him. And yet all of you are continually trying to force this marriage on us. If this is something we do not wish to go through with then who are any of you to question our decisions?
Stefan- What of you father and family Natalia? This marriage would give to your family riches they never thought possible.
Natalia- I am not swayed with the promise of riches… it is true my family is in dire need but I will not marry just to escape a life of less privilege…
Liz- Are you crazy?
Natalia- What I am is tired of you… get out!
Liz- You can’t put me out…
Nikolas- I can… I want you gone and if need be I will call security to have you removed…
Liz- You can’t be serious…
Nikolas- I’m very serious…
Liz- You’re putting me out because I don’t agree with your choice of tramps…
Nikolas- [looking at Lucky] Get her and get out before I am forced to call security…
Lucky- We’re trying to help you…
Nikolas- You’re trying to control my life and I will not allow that… this time I am making my own decisions…
Lucky- Nikolas…
Nikolas- Leave Lucky… you have nothing to say that I wish to hear…
Natalia- And take your meddling wife with you…
Liz- I can’t believe you are standing by him and accepting this…
Natalia- What I am accepting or not accepting is really none of your concern…
Liz- [hands on her hips] It should be yours…
As she continued on her tangent Nikolas shook his head turning and calling security. Watching in disbelief as Nikolas ordered the guards to remove Lucky and Elizabeth from Wyndemere Stefan turned to his nephew ready to voice his opinions. Shaking his head as began to speak Nikolas offered Stefan a warning before he and Natalia turned to leave.
Nikolas- Fight me on this and you will be the next to escorted off of this island…
Stefan- Nikolas…
Nikolas- There will be no marriage between Natalia and I and nothing you say will change that…
Nodding in Stefan’s direction one last time Nikolas gathered Natalia’s hand in his as he turned and walked away from his uncle. Retiring to his wing of Wyndemere collapsed in a nearby chair as visions of Gia and their daughter came to him once again. Tenderly touching his shoulder Natalia smiled down on Nikolas she whispered to him.
Natalia- [softly smiling] She came to you…
Nikolas- [slowly nodding] They came to me…
Their smiles broadening Nikolas and Natalia spoke of Gia, Amaya, and his love for both that he finally will be able to share with them.
Slowly rocking Amaya to sleep after her feeding Gia stared at the walls trying her best to keep all that happened that night get to her. Her mother held her in her arms again telling her over and over that she loved her. And the look on Marcus’ face as he slowly approached her she had dreamed of for the last fifteen years. But who could she believe? William who promised to protect her over and over or the words of some woman she knew little about… Marcus’ wife who would say and do anything for him. Shaking her head her heart breaking with each thought Gia looked down at Amaya softly smiling as her thoughts went to Nikolas’ reaction to her. The love clearly shown on his face Gia was momentarily relieved knowing that despite all that was going on his life he would accept their daughter. Needing the one person that would tell her the truth and who would help her through her thoughts Gia slowly dialed Alma’s phone number.
Alma- [softly after a few rings] Hello…
Gia- [softly] Hey Alma…
Alma- Baby what’s wrong?
Gia- Nothing… I just wanted to hear your voice…
Alma- Did Harvey find you? Did he figure out where you are?
Gia- No… I haven’t heard from Harvey since that night…
Alma- [slowly nodding] I have someone watching him…
Gia- You had someone last time…
Alma- Yeah… but it’s someone I can trust this time. Dina was never my choice… she offered her services and I was foolish enough to trust her.
Gia- [softly] Yeah…
Alma- Gia what is it? I can tell something is wrong…
Gia- I don’t know if it’s really wrong but…
Alma- But?
Gia- Umm… I saw my mother and brother…
Alma- How? I mean…
Gia- Can you believe they actually live in Port Charles?
Alma- Are you serious?
Gia- Yeah… all that time they were so close and…
Alma- Baby what’s wrong?
Gia- My mother held me in her arms and cried while she was telling me over and over how much she loved and missed me…
Alma- That’s good isn’t it?
Gia- And my brother… Marcus looks exactly I imagined him… strong and handsome and…
Alma- [softly] Gia…
Gia- He’s married… his wife is beautiful… she seems really really nice and…
Alma- What aren’t you telling me?
Gia- Umm…[sighing] apparently they thought I died fifteen years ago…
Alma- What?
Gia- That’s what they said and…
Alma- Do you believe them?
Gia- If I believe them that means everything William told me were lies…
Alma- What do you mean?
Gia- He told me over and over how Marcus and mama didn’t want me. He told me that didn’t love me…
Alma- [softly] Gia…
Gia- I believe William but…
Alma- What?
Gia- [softly] I want my brother and mother to love me. I want to believe they missed me and wanted me with them…
Alma- Talk to them… go to them and you’ll find the truth eventually…
Gia- But why would William lie to me all my life? Why would he…
Alma- Baby I don’t know… maybe when you talk to them you’ll find the answers you’re looking for…
Gia- But I don’t know if I can just go and talk to them and believe everything they’re saying…
Alma- That’s not what I’m telling you to do. Gia you have to find out the truth… have dinner with them or something… sit down talk and really listen to them. It might hurt but you have to do it…
Gia- I’ll call… I’ll call Carmen and…
Alma- Who’s Carmen?
Gia- My brother’s wife… [softly] my sister-in-law…
Alma- Call her… call her and have her set it up…
Gia- Umm… that’s not the only thing that happened…
Alma- What are you talking about?
Gia- I think Port Charles is the last place I should have stopped…
Alma- Baby I don’t understand…
Gia- Nik… Nikolas lives here too… Nikolas and his fiancé…
Alma- Baby…
Gia- I went to get Maya some juice and not only did I run into my brother and mother but I also ran into Nikolas and his fiancé…
Alma- Gia…
Gia- I wanted to run and hide but…
Alma- What about Maya? Does he know about Amaya?
Gia- [softly] He knows…
Alma- [softly] Gia…
Gia- It was amazing… he held her in his arms and… [slowly shaking her head] he had tears in his eyes… he said she was beautiful…
Alma- Where is he now?
Gia- He had to leave…
Alma- Gia…
Gia- His fiancé came in my room saying something about his uncle and…
Alma- Did she see Amaya too?
Gia- [gently stroking her daughter’s hair] Yes…
Alma- And her reaction?
Gia- She said she was beautiful…
Alma- That’s it?
Gia- Yes…
Alma- What did Nikolas do when his fiancé came to your door?
Gia- He didn’t want to leave but she convinced him and…
Alma- And?
Gia- He asked me to stay…
Alma- Are you going to?
Gia- I want to…
Alma- Then stay and listen to what he has to say…
Gia- What about his fiancé?
Alma- Baby I don’t know the answer to that…
Gia- She said that their engagement didn’t matter… nothing mattered but Nikolas and me…
Alma- Baby…
Gia- [softly] Am I setting myself up for heartbreak?
Alma- I don’t know…
Gia- [sighing] Maybe I should just leave…
Alma- And run for the rest of your life…
Gia- Alma…
Alma- Baby you’re family is there… Nikolas is there… don’t run before you have a chance at the life you deserve…
Gia- Yeah…
Alma- Baby I hate to end this call but I have to go…
Gia- It’s ok…
Alma- Call me whenever… I’ll be here for you… you know that right…
Gia- Yeah I know… I love you Alma…
Alma- I love you too sweetie… kiss Maya for me and tell her that her godmother is thinking about her…
Gia- [softly] I will…
Alma- Whenever you need me…
Gia- [softly] I know…
Alma- Be careful…
Gia- I will…
Saying goodbye once more Gia ended her call to Alma thinking of the things she said. Taking a deep breath Gia slowly walked to a nearby desk retrieving Carmen’s number. Sitting on the bed again with number in hand Gia lovingly looked at Amaya before slowly calling the number praying silently that she was doing the right thing.
Laughing at her husband as he attempted to assemble their baby’s crib Carmen slowly shook her head as she spoke to him.
Carmen- [smiling] You might as well give it up…
Marcus- I can do this…
Carmen- Marcus you’ve been doing it for the past two hours and it’s still not together…
Marcus- Well if the cheering section read the directions correctly the first time…
Carmen- [smiling] So it not being together is my fault?
Marcus- You said it… I didn’t…
Carmen- [laughing as she threw to manual at him] Whatever…
Marcus- [tenderly kissing her cheek] It’s not your fault you can’t figure out the directions…
Carmen- Whatever… if my stomach wasn’t in the way… I’d put it together myself…
Marcus- [laughing] Yeah tell me anything…
As she attempted to throw something else at him her cell phone suddenly rang. Slowly raising an eyebrow Marcus looked as his wife questioning her.
Marcus- Who’s calling you this late?
Carmen- [smiling] My other boyfriend…
Marcus- [slowly shaking his head] Your nephew’s sleep by now…
Carmen- [laughing] Shut up…
Her phone ringing once again Carmen hushed Marcus as she answered her phone.
Carmen- [softly] Hello… [after no response] hello is anyone there?
Gia- Umm… can… can I speak with Carmen please…
Carmen- This is she…
Gia- This… this is Gia…
Carmen- [softly] Gia…
Hearing his sister’s name Marcus turned to his wife both confusion and elation clearly seen on his face. Watching as Marcus moved closer and hearing the hesitation in her voice Carmen softly spoke to Gia.
Carmen- Gia is everything ok?
Gia- Yeah… I uhh…
Carmen- Do you need something?
Gia- No… [slowly shaking her head] yes…
Carmen- What is it? Whatever you need…
Gia- I umm… I want to see them…
Carmen- Them?
Gia- Marcus and mama…
Carmen- [slowly nodding] When do you want me to tell them to come over…
Gia- Not here… can we go somewhere…
Carmen- [nodding] When do you want to meet them at the Grille?
Gia- The Grille?
Carmen- The Port Charles Grille… it’s a restaurant close to where you are… you can meet them there…
Gia- Yeah… that’ll be good…
Carmen- Tomorrow or…
Gia- Not tomorrow… I’m… I’m not ready to face them tomorrow…
Carmen- Whenever you’re ready…
Gia- [softly] Will you come with them?
Carmen- If you want me to…
Gia- I want you there…
Carmen- Then I’ll be there…
Gia- Thank you…
Carmen- You don’t have to thank me… we’re family remember…
Gia- I… I have another favor to ask you…
Carmen- What is it?
Gia- It sounds foolish considering everything but…
Carmen- What do you want?
Slowly explaining her situation as best she could Carmen agreed to meet Gia the following day. Telling Marcus of Gia’s desire to meet with both he and Florence Carmen gently held her husband in her arms soothing him as he cried.
Chapter 24
Nervously adjusting the bow on Amaya’s head one last time Gia slowly entered the P.C. Grille unsure if she could go through with this dinner. To meet her mother and brother and tell them exactly how she felt was much harder than she ever imagined it to be. Could it be possible that William lied to her all these years and her mother and brother actually wanted her? Or were they just trying to cover their leaving her all those years ago? After learning that they were seated in a secluded Gia attempted to walk in their direction, however before taking more than a few steps Gia turned and rushed back into the lobby of the hotel, suddenly terrified of the prospect of facing Marcus and her mother.
Having met with Carmen the day before, she and Gia spoke of her nervousness as they shopped for something for Gia and Amaya to wear. Carmen’s words almost identical to Alma’s Gia knew she had to face her fears and go through with this dinner. Whispering her needs to the matre’d Gia stood waiting patiently for Carmen to appear. Smiling softly as she saw her sister-in-law and niece waiting in the lobby Carmen approached them speaking softly to Gia.
Carmen- [softly] Are you ok?
Gia- [slowly shaking her head] I don’t think I can do this…
Carmen- [softly] Gia…
Gia- I can’t… I don’t want to hear what they have to say… I don’t…
Carmen- If you didn’t want to hear what they have to say you wouldn’t be here…
Gia- [sighing] What if they say something that…
Carmen- Look I know that this is hard but go in there and face them. Even if don’t believe a word they say you still have to face them… even if it’s just to tell the to go to hell…
Gia- You want me to tell them that?
Carmen- It doesn’t matter what I want… what matters is you and your family either coming together again or ending all ties…
Gia- [slowly nodding] You’re right…
Carmen- [softly smiling] Amaya looks adorable…
Gia- [softly] Thank you…
Carmen- [gently touching her cheek] She’s a beautiful baby…
Gia- Can you… I don’t want them to know I have a daughter yet…
Carmen- [softly] Gia…
Gia- I want… I have to face them alone first…
Carmen- What are you going to do with Amaya then?
Gia- Can you stay with her for a few minutes…
Carmen- [slowly shaking her head] Gia…
Gia- You can bring her in in a few minutes. I just… the first few minutes is going to be hard and I know she’s just a baby but I don’t want her seeing me like that…
Carmen- [slowly nodding] I’ll wait a few minutes and then I’ll come in there with her…
Gia- [softly] Thank you…
Carmen- [nodding] Listen to them… listen to what they have to say… tell them how you feel…
Gently kissing Amaya softly Gia slowly nodded at Carmen. Taking a deep breath Gia smoothed down her dress before slowly walking in her mother and brother’s direction once again. A silent prayer said Gia slowly approached the table where her mother and brother sat. Watching as she approached Marcus stood wanting desperately to hold her in his arms to prove to himself that she was indeed real.
Marcus- [softly] Peanut…
Her brother before her Gia fought the urge to run to him flinging her arms around him. Strengthening her resolve Gia continued to him stopping only when she reached their table.
Gia- [softly] Marcus…
Florence- [softly as she stood] You look nice baby…
Gia- Thank… thank you…
Marcus- [pulling out her chair] Sit… sit down… we were waiting to order until you got her…
Gia- [slowly nodding] Ok…
Florence- How… how have you been?
Gia- I’m ok… I’ve been ok…
Florence- I wanted to come and see you but I wasn’t sure…
Gia- [slowly nodding as she looked down] Yeah…
Florence- [softly] Baby I know this is hard and we’re not trying to pressure you or…
Gia- [whispering] I don’t know what to say…
Marcus- We’re all confused… and nervous… and…
Gia- I just want to know the truth… I was told one thing but…
Florence- [softly] We missed you so much baby… there was not a day that passed that we did not think about you and wish that you were there…
Gia- [softly as she looked up at her mother] But William said…
Florence- I don’t know what he told you but there was never a day that I… that we did not wish that you were there with us. Whatever happened fifteen years ago doesn’t matter… what matters is you’re with us now…
Gia- [softly as she again looked down] What happened was you didn’t want me anymore… you didn’t want me around and…
Marcus- [softly] We always wanted you…
Gia- But you just left me… I came back and you were gone…
Marcus- [softly] Gia…
Gia- William said…
Florence- [gently touching her son’s hand] Baby what did he say? What do you think happened?
Gia- That day… I felt so special because Marcus took me to the park… I know he didn’t want to but…
Marcus- I did…
Gia- [looking at Marcus] Then why did you leave me? Why did you throw me away like I didn’t matter?
Florence- Baby…
Gia- All these years… despite everything I went through I still wanted to be with you… but I know it couldn’t happen because you didn’t want me…
Marcus- Peanut… Gia if I could go back to that day I wouldn’t have let you out of my sight… I would’ve went over and watched you skate… I would’ve…
Gia- Why didn’t you?
Marcus- I don’t know… all I know is that day never leaves me… I wake up wishing I had done things differently… I go to sleep trying to imagine the life we would have had if I paid more attention. I blame myself because…
Seeing the pain etched on his face Gia slowly shook her head as she slowly reached out and gently touched his hand. The feel of her hand on his Marcus gently covered her hand lowering his head as his tears once again came. His voice clouded with regret Marcus softly apologized needing and wanting her to understand all that he felt.
Marcus- [softly] Gia I’m so sorry… I should’ve watched you more closely… I should have…
Gia- [softly] It’s not your fault…
Marcus- If I had paid more attention you would have been with us. You would have known how much we loved you… how much we wanted you…
Gia- I wanted to be with you too… I wanted you to love me and want me…
Florence- We did… we do…
Gia- I want to believe that but…
Florence- What is it baby?
Gia- I’m not just worried about myself…
Before she could explain further Carmen slowly approached their table carrying a sleeping Amaya. Marcus and Florence watching her approach confusion clouded their faces neither knowing the child Carmen lovingly held. A slight nod from Gia Carmen continued towards her gently depositing Amaya in her arms. Watching as Gia placed a tender kiss on her forehead Florence attempted to question her shock however keeping her from continuing.
Florence- [softly] Gia… baby who…
Gia- [softly] This… this is my daughter…
Florence- [whispering] Oh my God…
Gia- She’s… she’s six months old…
Marcus- She’s beautiful…
Florence- What is her name?
Gia- [looking up at her mother] Amaya Nicole…
Florence- My mother’s name was Nicole…
Gia- [slowly nodding] I know…
Florence- That’s… that’s my middle name as well…
Gia- That’s why I named her Nicole…
Florence- [softly] Peanut…
Gia- I wanted to be with you… [slowly shaking her head] I wanted you with me somehow and…
Florence- Babygirl…
Gia- [whispering as a tear slowly fell] Mama what happened?
Florence- Baby I don’t know… I was home ready to make peanut butter cookies when Marcus came in and told me you were gone. He searched for you everywhere but it was too late… you were gone and I thought… we thought we would never see you again.
Carmen- [gently caressing her husband’s back] Gia tell them what happened to you… tell them where you were…
Wiping quickly at her tear stained face Gia gazed down at her daughter as she began to tell them all that she had been through.
Florence- [softly] Baby what happened?
Gia- I umm… after I changed my skates me and the other kids started playing hide and seek. I was hiding behind this huge tree and William came up behind me…
Florence- [whispering] William…
Gia- He uhh… he said he was there to take me to the toy store so I could pick out my birthday present. When we started to leave I asked him if Marcus could come with us and he said no. [looking quickly at her brother] I wanted you to come Marcus… I looked at you praying that you would look over at me and see how much I wanted you to come…
Marcus- Baby I’m sorry…
Gia- [nodding] When we got back to the park it was dark and you were gone. I told Daddy that Mama would be upset because we got back so late but he said… he said that it didn’t matter. I told him I was supposed to stay with Marcus and I had to go home and explain so he wouldn’t get trouble with Mama for leaving me but he said it didn’t matter because… [slowly shaking her head] because…
Florence- [softly] Because?
Gia- [whispering] Because you didn’t want me anymore…
Florence- Gia…
Gia- He said you were tired and didn’t love me anymore…
Florence- Baby I have and will always love you…
Gia- He told me you gave me to him because you didn’t want me anyone…
Florence- [softly] No…
Gia- And I tried to tell him that even if you didn’t want me Marcus would… but he told me that Marcus didn’t want me either… he told me that Marcus was too concerned about going to UCLA to be interested about me…
Marcus- [softly] That’s not true…
Gia- He told me that he was all that I had left… that he was my only family… he was the only one that loved me and wanted me…
Florence- Baby…
Gia- [softly] Why would he lie to me? Why would he…
Florence- [gently taking her hand] Baby I don’t know… all I know is that we have always loved you and when you were taken from us our lives fell apart…
Gia- But I called you… I came back and you were gone…
Florence- What are you talking about?
Gia- We left… after William took me he told me we were going on a big adventure…
Carmen- Where did you go?
Gia- We went from city to city… sometimes staying with friends of his other times… whatever little hotel he could find… [sighing] we never stayed anywhere longer than a few months…
Florence- When did you call me baby?
Gia- William left me in some rundown hotel… I don’t know where he went but I didn’t really care… I was going to call you and beg you to come and get me but…
Florence- But?
Gia- I called you and the phone just rang and rang and no one answered…
Florence- [softly] Baby…
Gia- When we finally came home I begged him to take me to see you… I was going to promise to be good so you would take me back but you were gone… everything was gone…
Florence- What do you mean?
Gia- William found a way to get into the house and everything was gone… everything but my room… my room was exactly how I left it… if you wanted me so much how could you just leave? Why did you take everything but my things?
Florence- You were everywhere we looked baby… we couldn’t stay in the house because it hurt so bad… not having you there was slowly killing us…
Gia- But…
Florence- Marcus looked for you everyday… from sun up to sun down… he was out there trying to bring you home until…
Gia- [softly] Until?
Florence- A police officer came to our door and told us they found you… [softly] they found your body and you were gone from us…
Gia- How…
Florence- [slowly shaking her head] Baby I don’t know… all I know is that a part of me died that day and I didn’t think I could go on…
Gia- Why’d you leave? Why’d you leave my things?
Florence- We could still feel you when I went into your room. Marcus would spend all day just staring at your things and when he left I’d go and lay in your bed just so I could be close to you again. We were losing ourselves… [slowly shaking her head] after your funeral I knew we had to leave… there was nothing left but heartache…
Gia- [softly] Funeral…
Florence- Butter didn’t go to UCLA and I couldn’t stay in Brooklyn so we just packed up and left. We left your room the way it was because that’s the last thing we had left of you and we couldn’t destroy that too…
Gia- Why Port Charles?
Florence- Because it was far away enough to let go of some of the pain but it was close enough where we could visit you and talk to you and…
Gia- [whispering] Visit me?
Florence- [slowly nodding] We umm… we would visit your grave baby…
Gia- [softly] Oh my God…
Marcus- That’s how we stayed close to you… I’d go and tell you everything that was happening in my life… I told you about Carmen… our baby… everything…
Gia- [whispering as tears began to fall again] Butter…
Marcus- [tenderly smiling] It’s ok Peanut…
Gia- [softly] I wish I could have been with you…
Marcus- You were… you were in our hearts…
Gia- [looking down] Why did William lie to me?
Florence- Where is William now?
Gia- He’s in the hospital…
Florence- Hospital?
Gia- He had a massive stroke about three years ago and he had to be hospitalized…
Florence- Then who’s been taking care of you for the last three years? Where have you been?
Gia- I live… I lived in Brooklyn but I’m never going back… I thought I had a life there but I was wrong…
Florence- [softly] You’ve been in Brooklyn…
Gia- [slowly nodding] Yeah… about thirty minutes from where we used to live…
Florence- Baby… I wish we would have stayed in Brooklyn a little longer. I wish…
Gia- I wish you would have stayed too…
Marcus- Gia I’m sorry…
Gia- For what?
Marcus- For not looking when you wanted me to…
Gia- [slowly shaking her head] Then I’m sorry too…
Marcus- You have nothing to apologize for…
Gia- Mama…
Florence- Yes baby?
Gia- How did you know it was me?
Florence- My heart knew… I saw you and my heart started beating so fast and I just knew… [slowly shaking her head] you were wearing my mother’s necklace and…
Gia- [gently touching the locket] I never take it off…
Florence- [gently touching her cheek] I know you might not be ready for this but…
Gia- But?
Florence- [softly] Can I hold you in my arms again? Can I hold my baby girl one more time?
Gia- [quietly] You’re not mad at me?
Florence- Why would I be mad?
Gia- Because I didn’t believe in you… because I believed what William said…
Florence- [slowly shaking her head] I’m not mad at you…
Gia- But I believed him…
Florence- You were a child… what William did and told you was wrong… it was horrible but whether you believed him or not I could never stop loving you or be mad at you…
Gia- [softly] Marcus…
Marcus- Peanut you came back you us… and all I feel… all I could ever for you is love… [softly] I missed you…
Gia- [whispering] I missed you too…
Florence- [softly] Can I hold you baby?
Looking down as her tears slowly fell Gia nodded needing and wanting her mother’s arms around her. Slowly standing giving a still sleeping Amaya to Carmen Gia went into Florence’s arms breaking down as her she held her tightly. Whispering softly to ease her saddened heart Florence assured Gia that all would be all right.
Florence- [softly] Baby it’s ok…
Gia- [holding her tightly] Mama… I just missed you so much…
Florence- [softly] I missed you too baby…
Wiping quickly at the tears that fell Marcus stood walking slowly towards his mother and sister. Standing before them Marcus softly said Gia’s name opening his arms to her. Hearing her brother’s call Gia went willingly into his arms hugging him tightly. Wiping the tears that fell Florence turned to her daughter-in-law taking Amaya into her arms. Kissing tenderly her newfound granddaughter Florence returned to her daughter and son. The four coming together for a group hug Carmen stood to the side tenderly smiling as she rubbed her growing stomach. Extending her hand Gia welcomed Carmen into the family hug breathing deeply as she finally felt home.
Reluctantly breaking away from the group hug Gia gathered Amaya in her arms before gently placing her in her brother’s embrace. His tears beginning again Marcus lovingly held his niece tenderly touching her cheek before looking up at his sister. Slowly taking their seats Gia’s hand held tightly in her mothers, Florence softly questioned Gia bringing fresh tears to her eyes again.
Florence- What made you come here baby? Why after all this time did you come to Port Charles?
Gia- [softly] I didn’t have a choice…
Marcus- What do you mean?
Gia- I was running from something and…
Florence- Running from what?
Gia- I uhh… it’s a long story…
Florence- Baby what is it?
Gia- [softly as she looked down] You’re not going to be happy with me…
Florence- Gia what is it?
Taking a deep breath Gia slowly told Florence, Marcus, and Carmen of her life for the past three plus years. Excluding Amaya’s birth Gia told them of Harvey, his unwanted advances, to the money owed. Explaining William’s part in her working for Harvey Gia fell into her mother’s arms as she embraced her. Promising to end and protect her from the pains in her life Marcus tenderly caressed his sister’s cheek as he fought to keep his emotions in check. A collective deep breath taken the remainder of the dinner was spent speaking of Amaya and Marcus’ coming child. After many hugs Gia slowly made her way up the stairs to the tiny room over Kelly’s. Stopping suddenly as she spotted Nikolas sitting outside her door Gia softly whispered to him.
Gia- [whispering] What are you doing here?
Nikolas- [softly] Waiting for you…
