Helena: Andreas!

Andreas: Yes, Madam?

Helena: Have those private detectives found any leads on Gia's whereabouts?

Andreas: No, Madam. They said that the longer she's gone, one of two things could happen. One, she could slip and blow her cover or the chances of ever finding her will disappear.

Helena: That can't happen. I have to make her pay.

Andreas: But don't you have what you wanted already? You wanted Gia away from Nikolas and she is, probably out of fear of you. This is what you wanted.

Helena: I wanted her away from Nikolas, yes, but it's not so much her I'm after anymore. That child poses more of a threat every day. If I allow that child to live, it could come back 20, 25 years from now spinning stories to Nikolas and want Cassadine money. And worse yet if that child is a boy...

Andreas: He would be the heir to the Cassadine dynasty.

Helena: Exactly. And I won't have my family contaminated by some hoodlum. The Cassadines are not hoodlums. Murderers, liars, blackmailers, and tormentors, yes, but hoodlums, no. Get back on the phone with the detectives, I want to know every development.

Andreas: As you wish. (leaves the room)

Helena(evil smirk): You can't run forever, eventually you're gonna get caught and you shall regret every time you defied me.

**********************
Luke's......

Luke: But I still don't see why we can't kidnap him? Can I at least drug him or knock him out or something?

Roy: No. Sorry, Luke, but we're not breaking the law this time. We don't have to tell him where we're taking him, but we are NOT going to kidnap him.

Luke: You're no fun. (sighing) Fine. We leave one week from today. Did you come up with a way to get us on a Cassadine jet?

Roy: Yeah, when we go to pick up Nikolas, he'll call for whoever to get the jet ready.

Luke: You're taking all of the fun out of this, you know that? First you tell me I can't kidnap him, and now EVERYTHING has to be legal? Where's your edge?

Roy: Why do you want to kidnap Nikolas in the first place? I thought you liked him.

Luke: No, I'm tolerant of him. The only Cassadine I truly like is Alexis. We have a very special kinda relationship, you know. But Nikky, nope, he's Laura's son and I can tolerate him for her. We did call some kinda truce where I'll leave him alone, but it's not like we'll be buddies in this lifetime.

Roy: There's just one problem and I need an idea from you.

Luke: What?

Roy: People are going to get suspicious when he's gone. What do we do about that?

Luke: We'll send everyone emails that will supposedly be from him saying that he needs space and time to think to get over his broken heart blah blah blah.

Roy: That would require using a computer, Luke. Do you know how to use one of those things?

Luke: Ha ha. (grows serious) I know how to break one.

Roy: I'll take care of it. I think this is a good thing, bringing them back together, right? I mean, we are going against Gia's wishes.

Luke: Please, Braids will forget all about her wishes as soon as she sees Nikky. Trust me.

*********************
Kelly's......

   Nikolas walks into Kelly's where he's supposed to be meeting Lucky. Since Lucky doesn't seem to be there yet, Nikolas sits at a corner table, waiting for Lucky to show. He looks around the diner, all the Christmas decorations all over. His mind drifts back to Christmas time a year ago. He and Gia weren't exactly dating yet, but their flirting was getting more serious and they did have some close moments between them, but of course there was always some interruption. Nikolas doesn't know what it was, but that day a year ago is when he got the courage to let Gia know what he was feeling.

Gia(looking around at the snow): You know, the snow stays white here much longer than it does in Brooklyn. With all the cars and traffic, the snow always turned brown or gray very quickly.

Nik: You miss it?

Gia: Miss what?

Nik: Brooklyn.

Gia: Some parts, I guess. Like friends and stuff, but other than that, I like Port Charles. I mean, with the exception that my mother followed me here, Elizabeth, Emily, and Helena all annoying me like nothing else, this town isn't so bad.

Nik: Hey, I'm supposed to be the one who annoys you to no end. (smiles)

Gia(returning his smile): Oh, you do. Trust me, you do.

   They continued their walk through the park in silence. The snow covered ground was an excellent disguise for some slippery patches of ice, which lay hidden where you least expect them. Nikolas found one of those patches. One minute, he was walking along side Gia, the next he was sitting in the snow, with Gia standing over him laughing.

Gia(hysterical): Very smooth, Prince.

Nik(trying not to smile): Ha ha. Could you help me here? (Gia can't stop laughing) Gia, come on it's cold.

Gia: Fine. Give me your hand. Hey!

   Instead of letting her help him up, Nikolas pulls Gia down in the snow right with him. The look of shock on her face is priceless.

Nik(chuckling): You should see the look on your face.

Gia(throwing snow at him): What did you do that for?

Nik(throwing snow back at her): I felt like it.

Gia(getting a snow fight): Oh yeah, well let's see how you feel about this.

   She shoves Nikolas onto his back and starts pelting him with snow balls. When she stops to gather some more snow, Nikolas takes advantage of her diverted attention. He sits up behind her and turns her around so she is now facing him. Without a word, Nikolas cups her face in his hands and places a gentle kiss on her lips.....

Lucky(slapping Nikolas on the shoulder): Hey. Sorry I'm late. I had to watch Lulu for Mom. Were you waiting long?

Nik(shrugs): I'm not sure. What did you want to meet me for?

Lucky: I'm worried about you. Everyone is.

Nik: Why? I'm fine. I've been fine for a while now.

Lucky: Really? You spend all your time baby-sitting Ned and Alexis's baby or working. You even bring work home with you to keep yourself busy.

Nik: And what's so wrong with keeping busy?

Lucky: Nothing, unless you're just using it as a shield to avoid your real feelings. Look, ever since Gia walked out on you, you haven't been the same.

Nik: Well, I do love her Lucky. It's not the kinda thing you get over overnight.

Lucky: Well, it's been six months.

Nik(surprised): It's been that long?

Lucky: Uh..yeah.

Nik: Time's just seemed to move much slower with Gia gone. I'm touched that you're worried, but really, I'm fine. (checks his watch) I've got to go, I told Ned I'd look over some of our profits form the recent concerts and their dropping Daniel off because Edward talked Ned into helping him with some ELQ work and Alexis has a meeting with a client. Lucky: You're doing it again. You have to stop this. You're just avoiding your feelings. I told Dr. Collins about what you're going through at my last appointment. And he would like to see you.

Nik(upset): You talked to Dr. Collins about me, without my permission?!

Lucky: Nikolas, you need help. You're obviously not working through your grief about Gia leaving by yourself, this would be good for you. Dr. Collins has helped me so much with this Helena/Faison brainwashing stuff.

Nik: If he's so good why are you still seeing him. It's been more than a year.

Lucky: It helps to have someone to talk to and understand your problems and help you through it. Just talk to him once.

Nik: No. I don't need to see some therapist. Just leave me alone. I'm fine!

   Nikolas storms out of Kelly's, nearly running over Emily and Elizabeth on his way out.

Liz: What's wrong with him?

Lucky(shaking his head): Same old stuff.

Em: You know, I saw this whole thing coming. She always claimed to love him so much, but she left, just like we knew she would, right Liz?

Elizabeth(sitting down next to Lucky): Yeah. She's scum, it's just too bad Nikolas didn't listen and had to learn the hard way.

Lucky: Will you guys just shut up? No one knows why Gia left.

Liz: Because she doesn't care about anyone but herself and she always has. I know she never loved Nikolas.

Lucky: That's where I think you're wrong. You guys never allowed yourself to really look at Nikolas and Gia when they were together. Trust me, they were in love. Gia must've had a reason for leaving and I think it's about time I did some investigating to find out what that reason was.

End of chapter Fifteen, Please e-mail any feedback by clicking on the mailbox below :)

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