Crazy Love

Nina sits heartbroken at the thought of Franco not believing her. I didn't take Avery, she cries to herself. Alone in the beautiful Metro Court suite, she glances at the door wanting to run and fling it open hoping Franco is still outside. But she doesn't. After quarreling over the missing baby and finding him going through her purse, she had thrown him out. She wipes her eyes and slowly rises, picking up the contents of her purse. Picking up the pillows that she had tossed about pretending to look for Avery.

She was feeling that pain again, the pain one feels when someone you care about turns their back on you. She had loved Silas for so long and his rejection of her turned her into an angry obsessed with revenge woman. She realizes now that all she had done to hurt others was wrong and sick, but Silas didn't love her and it hurt. But with the help she had needed so long she knew her efforts to win Silas' affections were a waste of time. How could she take that precious baby and believe that she and Silas were it's parents, how? Yes she did fall in total love with baby Jamie, but she was never hers and she never would be. What would I have done if not for Franco?, she thinks to herself. Franco. He befriended her and she him at a time when both were being deceived by the ones they loved. They understood one another and a connection was formed. When her life with Silas was a realization that would never be and Franco's disastrous non Halloween wedding to Carly happened, there was more need for support from one another. But Nina's mental state was fragile and she descended further down a dangerous spiral. Forcing Ava Jerome, the woman she loathed with every fiber of her being into premature labor. Giving birth, Nina with the help of her mother Madeline, spirited the baby away, leaving Ava to scream and crawl for her baby. Finding that her mother was only in it to get control of her millions, Nina struck her down and then to her surprise, Franco was there. Seeing her state of disconnect and hearing her pleas to help her and the baby disappear, he fled with her and into Canada.

After weeks, they were discovered and returned to Port Charles. Both sent to Pentonville and Nina eventually committed to Shadybrook sanitarium. Befriending Francos deranged mother Heather not knowing her true identity at the time, Nina put her trust in her even letting her speak with Franco on the phone. Thank goodness she did, or Franco would have never come to her and to save her. Injecting himself with the LSD Heather had intended for Nina, she watched in terror as his trip began. Kissing her deeply, then being horrified, then laughing hysterically, Francos high was in full swing. He had done this to stay with her, to protect her. Nina was feeling something within her again, a feeling she had not felt so deeply since before her coma. Was it love? She didn't know, but she was sure that she cared for Franco very much and it was her turn now to take care of him as he lay in his sometime catatonic state. Nina thinks back at Francos first lie to her. He had kept the fact that he was lucid and coherent from her. She was angry and slapped him hard across his face. He reassured her and apologized and she forgave, but much more would happen before they would end up in court. A brief alliance with Luke Spencer, Olivia spilling her guts to a faking Franco. But finally freedom came for both and Franco shared a secret with her. A secret that would set both up in a swanky hotel. Living the good life for a while until Francos laughing at an innocent baby's falling angered her. Again apologies and again forgiveness. Then precious Avery vanishes and all eyes focus on her and Michael Corinthos. Nina stands on the terrace of the suite overlooking the city. He said he believes me but he doesn't, he's lying again, she thinks to herself. She shuts her eyes and thinks how she and Franco never made love, she hadn't been ready and he never pressured. But now the thought of him hurt her to her soul. Yes, she cares and she did want him in that most intimate way, but the trust is broken. "I have to get a lawyer," she says aloud, "not because I took Avery but to get my money back. I don't want Francos ELQ shares and I don't want to be here in this suite." Walking back inside, she enters the bedroom. She lays down hugging a pillow to herself. She and Franco had both slept here but nothing more. As she is closing her eyes, her cell phone rings. Looking at it she sees his name, Franco. It continues to ring as Nina turns it off and turns around, closing her eyes, crying herself softly to sleep.

Down below, standing on the street, Franco stands with his cell to his ear. It rings as he looks up. He can see the terrace to their suite, but Nina isn't answering. He hears her voice, asking to leave a message at the beep. "Hey, it's me. I'm so sorry and I just want to say that I miss you so much already.I hope we can talk and I.. I... Goodnight Nina." Still looking up, he utters, "you are such a dumb fuck, Franco. How could you believe Obrecht over her? That video proves nothing, you dumb shit." He clenches his teeth and hits the street lamp post with his fist. He grimaces with pain and cradles his hurt fist in his other hand. Standing there, he watches as limos pull up to the hotel and folks step onto a red carpet. Cameras are everywhere and Franco remembers. The Nurses Ball. He had purchased tickets for he and Nina. He had wanted to surprise her and eventually everyone else as they walked in arm in arm and dressed to the nines. He thinks how the tickets sit in his back pocket. Maybe I should go anyway, he thinks to himself. Nah, who wants to watch a bunch of this towns criminals and hypocrites dance and sing. Frankly I'd rather be on LSD again. He smiles to himself as he pulls the tickets from his pocket and he rips them to pieces. He lets them snow down onto the pavement and he notices his knuckles are now black and blue. Walking off, he finds himself heading for the docks. Walking to the pier, he sits and looks out at the water. All thoughts are of Nina. He aches at the thought of hurting her. How could he doubt her?, why did his mind even go there? He swore to her that he would protect her and they had promised that they would keep no secrets from one another. But he did keep the fact that he wasn't tripping on LSD any longer from her. And would she lie to him?, she hadn't before, not even at her worst mentally. Franco drops his head. "I'll make this up to you Nina, I promise. I believe you but I need to make you believe that I do. If I have to find that baby myself, I'll prove everyone wrong, including myself."