Part One
Author's Note: This was started right after Carly's accident, so this is my version of what the outcome would be. Not based on spoilers or what really does happen! Just my imagination!
Gia took a deep breath before opening the door. She never knew what to expect. Would a smiling Nikolas be waiting of her on the other side or would a gloomy face meet her? She hoped for the former as she walked into their bedroom at Wyndermere. Her hopes were dashed when she caught sight of him sitting in a chair near the fire. He was staring intently at a picture of Stavros. Gia wanted to scream. It had been years since Stavros had fell to his death in the maze yet his presence still ruled in the large house. Everywhere Gia turned, she seemed to be faced with the ghost of Stavros. And it was all because of Nikolas…he just wouldn't let him go.
"Nikolas, please." Gia didn't even have to explain anymore. He knew what she meant.
"Gia, I really don't want to talk about it." Nikolas said, his eyes never moving from the photo. He always wondered. He wondered what could have happened if Stavros would have lived. Would he and Nikolas have formed a relationship? Would Stavros have made up for his wrongs? Or would have he continued to hurt people so he could gain what he wanted? But most of all, Nikolas wondered just how like his father he was. People told him time and time again that he had a kind heart…Gia most of all. But Nikolas thought otherwise. He knew there was a dark corner that was a part of him. Was that because of Stavros?
The picture was snatched from his hand. Nikolas looked up in time to see Gia toss it into the fire.
"GIA!"
"This has gone on long enough." Gia declared.
"Look, Gia, you don't understand." Nikolas stood up.
Gia just shook her head. "I have been trying to understand for so long now. I have watched you shut out everyone. Your mother, your brother, you baby sister, your friends…Thank God Stefan is not here. You would have shut him out as well. I am starting to wonder if you are shutting me out too."
Nikolas shrugged. "You're supposed to understand."
"I thought so too." Gia's voice fell to a quiet hush. "I thought people in love were supposed to understand each other. But I can't understand why you let Stavros consume you like this…The man is dead but he has won."
"The man is my father." Nikolas declared.
"I know." Gia said. "But you are stuck. You are stuck in a world of what ifs. You wonder ever day what it could have been like if he had lived. You wonder how much of you comes from Stavros. Nikolas, it's okay to wonder as long as it isn't the only thing you do. When is the last time you saw your mother for more than five minutes? Took Lesley Lu to the park?" Gia bit her lip. "When was the last time you kissed me?"
Nikolas' face was unreadable. "Is that what this is about? Are you feeling ignored?" He moved closer. "I forgot that this world revolves around you Gia." His lips descended on hers before she could say anything else.
Gia pulled away seconds later. "God Nikolas, on top of everything else do you have to mock me too!" She willed herself not to cry just yet. "Nikolas, this has to stop. All this sitting around staring at pictures of Stavros. All the time spent locked in your office. It has to stop, Nikolas. I want our life back. I want us to be happy like we were before…" She hesitated.
"Before what? Gia?" Nikolas asked. "Just say it!"
"Before Stavros showed up." Gia spat out. "Before all the lies began, and before you decided that you would much rather think than talk to anyone."
"I am sorry that you haven't realized this by now but people change Gia. And relationships change too. I guess you don't like the change." Nikolas said.
"No I don't." Gia said. "I guess there is only one thing left for me to say."
"And what is that?" Nikolas asked.
"It's over."
Nikolas didn't even appear stunned. "If that is the way you want it."
"That's not the way I want it." Gia protested. "But I can't go on like this Nikolas. I can't stand by and watch you self destruct anymore. I just want to be happy. I wish it could be with you…"
Nikolas appeared angry. "So that is how it is? You are the only one that I felt I could still talk to about this…and now you are throwing in the towel. When I need you, when our relationship needs you, you decide to quit because you can't take it." Nikolas brushed past her.
"Nikolas, wait!" Gia cried.
He turned at the door. "No, you're right, Gia! It's over. I'm leaving. Have a HAPPY life."
Gia jumped when the door slammed. Then she burst into tears. She had been holding them in during the argument because she was too proud to show him how much this was hurting her. The tears flowed down her face and she felt sick to her stomach. What just happened? Did she just break it off with the first man she ever really loved? What had she done? Pulling herself together, she rushed to door. Within moments she was downstairs calling his name.
Mrs. Landsberry finally came forward. "He is gone, Ms. Campbell."
"Did he say where?" Gia asked frantically.
The older women shook her head. "No. Only that he would call me when he got there to leave instructions on what is to be done with the house."
Gia sank against the stairs. She no longer cared that she was crying in front of the housekeeper. He was really gone…she had pushed him away. Mrs. Landsberry finally left her to cry in peace. Gia never imagined that this day would come. She and Nikolas were supposed to last forever.
"How could I be so stupid?" Gia asked out loud, launching herself to her feet. She headed back towards her room. She knew what she wanted now. She wanted to numb the pain. She wanted to get rid of the sick feeling in her stomach and the tears that flowed down her face. She opened her closest and began looking for something to wear.
Gia just wanted to have fun. She just wanted to be happy.
****
Johnny was on door duty. He liked being on door duty. It was safer then going out with Sonny. Plus, Carly poked out her head every once and awhile to ask something. "Do you want a cup of coffee?"
"I made extra lasagna…want a plate?"
Johnny had always liked Carly. Her big smile always cheered him up. He could hear her laughter bouncing off the walls of the penthouse every once and awhile. He was glad that she was back in the penthouse. For awhile there, he would have sworn that Sonny and Carly were broken up for good. He was preparing for the day that Sonny would tell him that Alexis was his new assignment. He had nothing against Alexis, but she wasn't Carly. She didn't make Sonny's face light up the way the blonde did. She couldn't even begin to hold the same amount of power over Sonny that Carly did.
He remembered the day Sonny had told him Carly might be dead. He had a sinking feeling. He knew then and there that if it was true, he would miss Carly greatly. He volunteered to be one of the people looking for her. It had been a long two days and everyone was ready to give up when he caught wind of it.
One of the police searchers had found Carly. Johnny didn't hear if she was dead or alive, only that she was found. He felt relief and at the same time fear. Carly had done the impossible by getting out of the car, and swimming to the surface. Could she pull off a miracle and still be alive?
Sonny thought so. He never left her side at General Hospital. The doctors worried that Carly would never wake up but Sonny was sure of it. So sure that he told Michael his mother was coming home any day now. He remembered the day Carly finally woke up. She had come back.
Of course Sonny couldn't leave her then. The two had a lot to work out but Johnny knew that they would make it. And now over two years later, they were happily married with a baby girl.
The door opened for the second time that day. Carly appeared, holding Adella Barbara Corinthos in her arms. The miniature version on her father grinned when she saw the bodyguard. Johnny smiled back the dimpled child. Then he smiled at her mother. Of course, Carly was in a good mood.
"Johnny, can you do me a favor?" She asked, as her daughter was content on playing with her mother's necklace.
"Anything, Mrs. C." Johnny answered, using his nickname for her.
"When Jason gets back, knock on the door or something." Carly said. "I need to talk to him about something."
"Sure." Johnny said. He glanced over at the other penthouse were Sonny and Carly's friend now lived. Alexis had moved out at Carly's request. The lawyer had recently married Ned Ashton. Johnny remembered Jason leaving earlier that afternoon.
"Thanks!" Carly smiled and then closed the door.
Johnny smiled. He loved door duty.
****
Gia had decided on Jake's. Luke's was too close to home. She might run into Luke or Lucky there. After the evening she had, she wasn't prepared to meet up with any of them. Club 101 was the hottest club in town. There would be too many people there. She didn't want to be around too many people. Jake's was perfect. The place had what she needed: alcohol, loud music and few people.
She had carefully selected her outfit. She couldn't remember the last time she got all dressed up to go out. Her shoots with Deception really didn't count since she was told what to wear. That night, she had chosen black leather pants, and a black tank top. Simple but stunning all the same. Her hair and makeup were simple as well, but Gia knew that she looked good.
"Damn good." She told herself, looking into the mirror. Nikolas had been gone for two hours now and she had tried her best to forget about what had happened. She wasn't succeeding very well but she knew her mission would be accomplished once she hit Jake's.
Slipping into a red jacket, and grabbing her purse, Gia headed downstairs. She crossed paths with Mrs. Landsberry. The housekeeper knew better than to ask. She watched the hurt young woman exit the house.
As she crossed on the launch and went to the place where she stored her car, Gia smiled a little. She was going to make sure that she had fun. Right now, that was all that mattered to her.