Chapter 27

Laughter filling the air Gia stood to the side, her mother’s arms around her waist, as they listened to Carmen’s account of Marcus not quite putting the baby’s furniture together. Shaking her head Gia joined Carmen on the floor lending her help with the crib and baby furniture. Somehow becoming a part of her daily routine Gia found herself at her brother’s home laughing, living, loving, and most importantly learning how to become a family once again. Heartbroken after learning of William’s deception Gia was unsure if her heart could face the pain and guilt of what her mother and brother endured in her absence. Despite their pleas of her not to blame herself Gia could not help but feel somewhat responsible for all that occurred. Carmen’s tales of Marcus’ latest exploits pulling her from her thoughts Gia laughed as heard her brother’s excuses.

Carmen- [laughing] How is my stomach going to keep him from putting it together correctly?
Gia- [laughing] It’s not…
Florence- You know Marcus will not be able to live this one down…
Carmen- Exactly… his baby sister put the baby’s furniture together on her first try…
Gia- [laughing] I do try…
Florence- Why do you think he volunteered to take care of Maya… he didn’t want to be embarrassed…
Gia- I won’t rub it in too much…
Carmen- [laughing] Hell I will…
Florence- That is so bad…
Carmen- I know…
Gia- Did you want to know what you were having?
Carmen- Yes.. I had a lot of shopping planned and I wanted to know who I was buying it for…
Gia- Maya was a surprise until I had her… I didn’t want to know…
Florence- Why?
Gia- She wasn’t planned so when I found out I was pregnant I didn’t know what to do… then she became this little miracle I couldn’t imagine my life without. After I found out I was pregnant I spent the rest of my pregnancy wondering if I was going to have a little boy the spitting image of his father or a little girl that was all me.
Carmen- What did her father want? Did he say he wanted a girl or a boy or…
Gia- [softly] He… he didn’t know…
Carmen- What do you mean…
Gia- I um… Amaya wasn’t planned and she came from a night that… [slowly shaking her head] I didn’t tell him and when I really started to show I went to Florida so there was no way for him to know I was pregnant…
Florence- [softly] Does he know now?
Gia- Yes… and he’s amazing with her…
Carmen- He lives here in Port Charles?
Gia- Yes…
Carmen- How? I mean if you lived in Brooklyn how…

Noticing Florence slowly shaking her head Carmen ended her questions about Amaya’s father trying to change the topic of the conversation. However also noticing her mother’s actions Gia spoke up trying to explain how Amaya came to be.

Gia- [slowly shaking her head] I’m not ashamed of how Amaya came to be… I slept with someone… I won’t say it was a one night stand because it meant… it means so much more to me than that. Nikolas… Nikolas is the only person I’ve felt like this before and the only person I had ever been with. We used protection and…
Florence- That means my granddaughter was meant to be…
Gia- I don’t want you to think I was out there sleeping around…
Florence- I don’t…
Carmen- I don’t either… it just surprised me that Maya’s father was from Port Charles that’s all…
Gia- [softly] Nikolas is the only person I’ve ever been with and…
Florence- It’s ok baby…
Gia- It was only that one time and…
Carmen- You haven’t been with him since?
Gia- I didn’t know he lived in Port Charles… the day I saw Mama and Marcus is the day I learned Nikolas lived here…
Florence- How do you feel about it him baby?
Gia- I… I want to say I love him but…
Carmen- But?
Gia- How can I love somebody I only spent one night with?
Florence- Has he been around Amaya and you since you’ve been here?
Gia- Yes…
Carmen- How do you feel when he’s around?
Gia- [softly] I don’t want him to leave… he makes me feel…
Florence- Feel what?
Gia- [sighing] I love him but…
Carmen- Does he love you?
Gia- It feels like it…
Carmen- Then there you go…
Gia- It’s not that easy…
Florence- Why not?
Gia- It’s so complicated?
Carmen- How…
Gia- I couldn’t begin to explain it…
Florence- When you figure out how to I’m here baby…
Carmen- And despite my nosiness so am I…
Gia- [softly] Good… it’s nice to know…
Florence- Ok my granddaughter is just too quiet…
Carmen- Yeah… Marcus won’t let me hear the end of it if he makes her rotten before I do…
Gia- [softly as they turned to walk out of the room] Mama…
Florence- Yes baby?
Gia- You don’t think less of me because of how Amaya was conceived do you?
Florence- Of course not…
Gia- But…
Florence- There are no buts…
Gia- That’s what Nikolas said…
Florence- [softly smiling] Then believe it…

Slowly nodding Gia quickly rose to her mother hugging her tightly. Her arms still wrapped around her waist Gia, Carmen, and Florence slowly walked into the living room listening as Marcus softly spoke to a sleeping Amaya.

Marcus - [whispering softly to Amaya] I know a lot of things are changing around you sweetie and you probably don’t understand yet all that’s happened. But you and your Mommy mean so much to me. You’re my niece and even though I’ve just met you I know that I love you. [softly smiling] You look so much like your Mommy when she was a little baby. You have the same beautiful eyes… and like her when you smile… [slowly shaking his head] my heart stops. I made a promise a long time ago to your Mommy and I’m going to make the same promise to you… [gently caressing her cheek as she drifted off to sleep] I will love you and protect you forever. You’re in my heart and I will never let you go. You never have to worry or feel sad or feel alone. I’ll always be with you and I’ll be there before you even have to call. [gently smiling] Pretty soon you’re going to have a little baby cousin and you two will grow up together… healthy and happy. You’re a part of growing family now and whatever you need… whenever you need it… wherever you need me I’ll be there… [softly laughing] even if it’s to chase some over zealous school boy away…

Gia- [softy smiling as entered the room] Over zealous school boy… Marcus she’s only seven months old…
Marcus- I know but if she’s anything like you she’ll have “admirers” in pre-school…
Gia- [smiling] “Admirers”?
Marcus- Timmy Johnson… he followed you home for a week straight until I had a talk with him…
Gia- [laughing] Timmy Johnson?
Marcus- Yeah… the little big-headed boy in the kindergarten class next to your preschool class. He used to make goo-goo eyes at you…
Gia- [laughing] He did not…
Florence- Yes he did… Marcus had to chase him off a few times… that is until they had their talk…
Carmen- [smiling] Talk?
Marcus- Yeah… I explained that Gia was not ready for a serious relationship yet so he had to back off or else…
Gia- [laughing] You did not…
Marcus- Yeah I did… for a second there he wouldn’t take no for an answer… he was so sure you and he were meant to be…
Gia- [laughing] Whatever…
Carmen- [reaching for Amaya] Ok Marcus… you have to give her up…it’s my turn to hold her…
Marcus- She’s sleeping…
Carmen- So…
Marcus- How’s the baby furniture coming?
Carmen- [broadly smiling] It’s done…
Marcus- What…
Carmen- Yeah… it seems like Gia didn’t have much of a problem putting it together…
Marcus- Yeah right…
Gia- [smiling] It’s together…
Marcus- How… I mean…
Florence- Marcus it looks like your fix-it days are just about over…
Marcus- But…
Gia- I had practice putting together Maya’s so…
Marcus- Still…
Carmen- [laughing as she took Amaya from his arms] Give it up Marcus… applaud our new fixer queen… Marcus- [slowly shaking his head as he stood] Peanut… how could you do that to a brother…
Gia- I guess I’m just good…
Marcus- [laughing as he quickly hugged her] I guess you are…
Florence- [smiling as she watched her children] What are your plans for the rest of the day?
Gia- Well after I leave here I’m going back to the cottage and finish trying to make it mine…
Marcus- How safe is this cottage? I don’t want you out in the middle of nowhere…
Gia- The cottage is amazing… Nikolas made sure that everything was perfect…
Marcus- Nikolas?
Gia- Amaya’s… Maya’s father…
Marcus- He lives here?
Gia- Yes…
Marcus- [going into police mode] Nikolas who? What’s his last name and…
Carmen- [slowly shaking her head] Don’t answer him…
Marcus- I need to know what this boys intentions are… this is my sister and my niece…
Carmen- She not still in preschool Marcus… she’s a grown woman capable of making her own decisions and choices…
Marcus- I know… it’s just… I… I didn’t… [shaking his head] never mind…
Gia- What is it?
Marcus- I didn’t get the chance to do this when you were growing up and I just… I’m sorry…

Going to Marcus Gia quickly hugged him kissing his cheek tenderly. Her head resting on his shoulder Gia softly spoke to him.

Gia- Whenever you’re ready you can question him all you want…
Marcus- I’m not trying to overstep my bounds it’s just… we just got you back… I don’t want to lose you to someone else already…
Gia- You’re never going to lose me again… I won’t let you…
Marcus- Good…

Watching as her children continued to bond Florence slowly wiped away her tears as Carmen gently touched her shoulder. Their night continuing on until after dinner Gia bid each a goodbye promising Carmen a day of shopping and sister-in-law time tomorrow. Slowly walking up the walk to the cottage Gia suddenly stopped as Nikolas stood to greet her.

Chapter 28

Watching as she approached Nikolas slowly walked towards Gia and Amaya taking them instantly in is arms. Crushing her against him Nikolas silent unsure of how this night would end. Breaking apart losing himself as she stared up at him Nikolas leaned forward tenderly covering her mouth with a kiss. Their time together normally talking and spending time together Gia could not help but respond to his surprising display of affection. Their kiss finally ending Nikolas and Gia broke apart as he tenderly touched her face. Taking Amaya into his arms Nikolas moved to the side as Gia unlocked the door allowing entrance into the cottage. Taking her bottles into the kitchen Gia stilled as she watched Nikolas quietly talking to their daughter.

Nikolas- How was your time with your Grandma baby? And your aunt and uncle? Could they possibly love you as much as I love you? You know your mother is an amazing amazing woman. I was looking at the book she gave me about you and wow… there is no way I could have done all of that alone. You’re so lucky to have her as your mother and…
Gia- She’s lucky to have you as her father too…
Nikolas- I’m not too sure…
Gia- Is something wrong Nikolas?
Nikolas- No… I’ve been thinking about some things and…
Gia- Should I be concerned?
Nikolas- No…

Gently taking his hand Gia momentarily distracted Nikolas as she headed towards the steps. Silence surrounding them the tenderly washed the day off of Amaya as the readied her for bed. Placing Amaya tenderly in his arms as he washed her Gia left the bathroom gathering her pajamas, lotion, powder, and diaper. Watching as he bathed her Gia wondered what occurred that had Nikolas in such a mood. Not that minded the kiss Gia was surprised that he showed her some affection. Though she didn’t admit it to her mother and Carmen she knew that she loved Nikolas and in the time they spent together her feelings for him only seemed to strengthen. And if given the chance she would accept whatever he had to offer her. Taking Amaya from Nikolas as she finished her bath Gia carried her into the room preparing her for bed. Watching as she gently diapered her daughter Nikolas too thought about the kiss shared earlier. From the moment she came back into his life Nikolas wanted to shower her with kiss after kiss. She was his heart and before the end of the night he would tell her all and he could only pray that she felt a the same. Watching as she slowly drifted off the sleep Nikolas took Gia’s hand in his leading her down the stairs to the couch. Sitting on the couch Nikolas continued to hold her hand unsure of how to start his confessions. Sensing he had something important to say Gia softly spoke up apprehensive to what he was to tell her.

Gia- [softly] Nikolas is something wrong?
Nikolas- Yes… [slowly shaking his head] no…
Gia- What is it?
Nikolas- I don’t know…
Gia- Why were you sitting on the porch when we came home? You have a key and…
Nikolas- I know but…
Gia- But…
Nikolas- This is your home and…
Gia- I see…
Nikolas- Gia I don’t know how to do this…
Gia- [softly] Do what?

Burying his face his in hands Nikolas took a deep breath before turning towards Gia. Lost again in her eyes Nikolas reached out gently touching her cheek. Leaning forward Nikolas tenderly kissed her once again. Feeling as she deepened the kiss Nikolas broke away looking back at Gia. Her hand on his cheek Nikolas closed his eyes as she spoke to him.

Gia- [softly] What is it Nikolas?
Nikolas- [softly] Everything…
Gia- What do you mean?
Nikolas- I have to… I want to tell you everything…
Gia- Everything?
Nikolas- About Goldmine… about me… about my life.. about Natalia… about my engagement…
Gia- It’s ok Nikolas…
Nikolas- No… I want to tell you everything before anything else happens…
Gia- [softly] But what if I don’t want to hear it…
Nikolas- [gently taking her hand] Please…
Gia- I know I can’t ask you this but…
Nikolas- But…
Gia- [softly as she looked down] I’m afraid…
Nikolas- Of what?
Gia- Nikolas for the first time in a long time I feel like I belong somewhere… I have my mother and brother, my beautiful baby daughter… you…
Nikolas- But…
Gia- I know I can’t ask you not to marry her or to turn your back on your fiancé but…
Nikolas- [softly] She isn’t my fiancé…
Gia- I’m not asking you to walk away from your family or…
Nikolas- Gia I’ve thought long and hard about how to explain and tell you everything that’s happened since I first met you…
Gia- [softly] You don’t have to…
Nikolas- I do because you deserve to know…
Gia- Nikolas…
Nikolas- [taking a deep breath] From the moment I met you you have been on my mind. I never wanted to go to Goldmine but it was my brother’s bachelor party so I went with him. I saw you and nothing else mattered. The night we shared…
Gia- [softly as she slowly shook her head] Nikolas…
Nikolas- I’ve relived that night so many times because that was all I had of you. I came back for you but you were gone and I didn’t know what to do. I paid everyone and anyone I could think of trying to find you and I couldn’t. My uncle thought he was helping me when he brought Natalia to me but he wasn’t. I’ve accepted many things with being the prince but…
Gia- Prince… what are you talking about?
Nikolas- He found Natalia thinking she would pull me out of whatever I was in but the truth of the matter is only you could. Natalia was a means to an end. I only agreed to marry her because I saw how desperate she was to escape her father’s dominance. I didn’t want to marry her… I don’t want to marry her…
Gia- What are you saying?
Nikolas- Our marriage would have been in name only… there is and have never been any feelings involved with Natalia and I…
Gia- [softly] She loves you… I saw it when she looked at you… she loves you and…
Nikolas- And I her… but only as a friend loves another…
Gia- Why are you telling me this?
Nikolas- Because I want… Gia I… I think… [slowly shaking his head] Gia I love you… I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you and I want… I pray that we can…
Gia- [softly as tears fell] Can what…
Nikolas- I don’t know how you feel about me… but from the moment I learned of Amaya I’ve wanted us to be a family.
Gia- A family?
Nikolas- The only time I feel half alive is when I’m with you and our daughter. I want that feeling all of the time…
Gia- I…
Nikolas- I’ve ended my engagement with Natalia… [slowly shaking his head] it was never really an engagement… all we ever did was talk about you…
Gia- What about me?
Nikolas- How much I cared… how much I wanted to be with you…
Gia- [softly] I want to be with you too…
Nikolas- [tendering cradling her face] Gia I love you… I love our daughter and…
Gia- [slowly shaking her head] What… what about your family? Your sister-in-law and brother already have an opinion about me… what if they don’t accept this…
Nikolas- I don’t care…
Gia- I can’t… I don’t want Amaya hurt… I can take whatever they come at me with but my daughter… Nikolas- [slowly shaking his head] Our daughter… I will not let anyone hurt her. She… you… you’re my life and whatever I have… whatever I have to do I will protect you. [as Gia slowly nodded her head Nikolas continued to talk] I want you to meet my family…
Gia- [breaking away] Nikolas I can’t…
Nikolas- Gia please…
Gia- But…
Nikolas- I want everyone to know that I’m finally happy and in love…
Gia- [softly] What if they don’t accept me?
Nikolas- I don’t want to hide what we have… I don’t want to do that… I want everyone to know that I have not only found love but I’ve found a family…
Gia- [softly] A family…
Nikolas- Just think about it…
Gia- Will you meet my family?
Nikolas- If that’s what you want…
Gia- I told… I told them how Amaya was created and…
Nikolas- Whatever you want to do…
Gia- I want… I want you to meet them…

Slowly nodding Gia watched as Nikolas took a deep breath her heart near exploding by all that she learned. Seeing uncertainty still on his handsome face Gia softly spoke to unsure of what he was thinking and/or feeling.

Gia- [softly] What is it Nikolas?
Nikolas- [softly looking down] Do you want this? I’ve spoke over and over about what I want… [slowly looking up at her] what do you want?
Gia- [breathing deeply] You… I uh… I love you too Nikolas…

Taking her quickly in his arms Nikolas pulled Gia into him kissing her deeply. To hear Gia say that she loved him Nikolas was all that he ever hoped for. And now to hold her in his arms kissing her and feeling her respond in kind Nikolas knew what heaven felt like. Though it hurt him to do so Nikolas reluctantly pulled away from Gia not wanting to rush her into something she may not have been ready for. Seeing the look on her face Nikolas tenderly touched her face as he spoke to her.

Nikolas- I don’t want to rush you into something you’re not ready for…
Gia- [softly] You’re not…
Nikolas- We can go as slow as you need to go and…

Slowly standing Gia extended her hand to Nikolas offering all to him.

Gia- [whispering as she held out her hand] Stay with me Nikolas…
Nikolas- [softly] Gia…
Gia- [softly] Will you stay with me?
Nikolas- [whispering as he took her hand] Forever…

A single tear escaping down her face Gia took Nikolas’ hand in her own turning and going slowly towards the stairs. Stopping her as she took the first step Nikolas softly whispered to Gia wanting and needing to be sure before he gave his soul to her.

Nikolas- Are you sure?
Gia- I love you Nikolas and I want you to stay...

Nodding once again Nikolas followed Gia upstairs stilling her as they stood outside her bedroom door. Leaning into her Nikolas covered her mouth with a tender kiss as he pulled her into him. Her arms around his neck Nikolas opened her door as they entered her room. Moving slowly towards the bed Nikolas and Gia ended their kiss staring back at each other. Her hands trembling Gia attempted to reach out to Nikolas only to be stopped. Her hands clasped in his Nikolas tenderly kissed each before placing them again at her sides. Removing quickly his clothes Nikolas laid across Gia’s bed his turn to offer his hand to her. Taking a deep breath Gia slowly began to remove her clothing wanting and needing Nikolas to be buried deeply within her. Going to him on the bed Nikolas sighed content just to hold Gia close to him. Hovering over him Gia stared down at Nikolas as he filled her. Moving as one Gia softly cried out as euphoria claimed her. Watching as Gia climaxed above him Nikolas quickly joined her calling out softly her name. Pulling her again to him Nikolas held Gia tightly as he regained his strength. Whispering words of love softly to one another Nikolas reversed their positions his turn to slowly move over her. Welcoming him again and again Nikolas and Gia slowly loved throughout the night promising each other to remain beside each other no matter what they might face.

Slamming things angrily around his office Harvey barked orders into the phone unsatisfied with his lack of results. After his little incident with Gia he gave a week or two before he came after her. Believing that in those to weeks she would have come to her senses Harvey was now beyond angry having no leads on Gia, and beyond not knowing where Gia was he also could not seem to locate Alma. All of his leads turning up empty Harvey threw his glass across the room screaming out…

Harvey- I’ll find you bitch and when I do you’ll be sorry!