New Year's Day, 2008, in Port Charles was very somber for most of its residents. There had been three murders and one attempted murder in the past few months. The killer was still running around free because no one had been able to catch him. There were grieving families and friends, and citizens living in fear. But there was also the prospect that things would get better. It was a new year, after all. A new year always meant new possibilities.

As she stood by her sister's grave, Georgie was trying to convince herself that Maxie's killer would be caught soon, before he claimed another victim. But all she kept seeing and hearing was the last morning they had spent together. Maxie had been her usual obnoxious self and Georgie had scolded her for not checking her messages. Someone had sent Georgie a text message asking if she'd seen Maxie. If Georgie had known then that it was Maxie's killer who had sent her the text, things could have been so different now.

A figure dressed all in black watched Georgie from the shadows. He had gotten back at Maxie. She had learned the hard way that you didn't betray him and get away with it. He had spent Thanksgiving with her, giving her a false sense of renewed security that they would end up together. But he had really just been biding his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity. When Maxie least expected it, he had gotten his revenge.

Lulu talked and laughed with Spinelli, as she helped him move his things into his new apartment. He had just left Jason's house, which he called Casa De Stone Cold to move into the apartment he would share with his child when he or she was born. She was struck again by how much her friend had matured since the day she'd met him. They had been grabbed by men who worked for Lorenzo Alcazar and had become friends very quickly since then. Lulu supposed being in danger together would do that to the most unlikely people under most circumstances.

What Spinelli and Lulu didn't know was that another figure was watching them. He didn't dress in black; he just kept himself hidden. This man was angry. He had killed before and would kill again if either of these two gave him cause. In fact, killing one of them would solve a big problem. He smiled, picturing the sounds as his victim's life was squeezed away. Maybe it wouldn't come to that, but the figure would be happy if it did. But he would only go that far if it became absolutely necessary.

Spinelli and Lulu looked at each other in surprise when there was a knock at his door. Who could be visiting already? The furniture had been delivered, so unless they had forgotten something, it wasn't another delivery.

Spinelli smiled when he opened the door to Stone Cold and Nurse Nadine.

"Warmest greetings!"

"Hi," Nadine said as Jason nodded with a smile. "I brought some refreshments and then ran into Jason in the hall."

She pulled a bag from behind her back, containing the food of the Gods and some other foods from Kelly's, including waffles and muffins.

"And I thought you could use some help moving the furniture," Jason said.

"Thank you both," Spinelli said, smiling and taking the bag from Nadine.

Spinelli and the girls talked while they moved and organized things. Jason's part of the conversation consisted mostly of questions about where Spinelli wanted to put a particular item of furniture and then Spinelli helped him put it where it belonged.

A few minutes later, there was another knock. This time it was Georgie. Spinelli could tell she had been crying.

"Rough day?" he asked, kissing her forehead.

"I just visited Maxie's grave," she said quietly. "My parents wanna go through her things today. I don't know if I can."

"I'm sure they'll understand if you can't. Come and eat something; you need to keep your strength up."

"Are you all moved in?"

"We have one more trip to make," Lulu said, coming out of the kitchen. "Nadine and I are organizing the kitchen while Jason and Spinelli are taking care of the bedroom."

Georgie and Spinelli made the last trip to and from Casa De Stone Cold. Spinelli grinned as he closed the door to his regrettably pink room for the last time. He had been grateful to have a place to stay, but he had often wished he could change the color. Georgie had told him once that most guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes in a pink room. Spinelli had lasted over a year. He might still have a pink room in his new place, but if he did, it would be for his daughter, not him. His new room reflected his personality only. For the first time since he'd left Tennessee, he had a place that belonged to him alone.

By the time everything was organized, it was dinner time and everyone was hungry again, so they ordered pizza. Later, Nadine had to leave for her shift at the hospital, Jason had to go take care of something for Sonny and Lulu left to meet Logan. Spinelli looked intently at his very new girlfriend.

"I have one very important goal for the very near future," he said seriously, "other than my parental goals."

"What's that?"

"When I told you that you were beautiful and when I complimented you at Kelly's the day we got the paternity test results, you gave me a certain look. It lit up your whole face, lighting up my entire day. My goal is to put that look back on your face."

"If anyone can do that, you can," she said, kissing him. "I wish I could have spent New Year's Eve with you, but I didn't feel right leaving my parents."

"I wouldn't have felt right if you'd left them for me either. You needed to be together last night."

She smiled slightly. A lot of guys wouldn't have understood. A lot of guys would have tried to convince her that being with them would make her feel better because she wouldn't be spending the New Year in the house where Maxie had been killed. That might have been true, but she had needed to be with her parents last night more than she had needed to be away from the house. Spinelli had just effectively told her that she owed him no explanations.

She thought of the prospect of going through Maxie's things and Spinelli saw her face fall again. He pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back. She sighed as her arms went around him. She held him tightly, thankful that he always seemed to know what she needed.

"This year is going to be better," he promised quietly. "We're gonna catch the killer, and I don't think anything worse can happen. I mean, last year was horrible in a lot of ways; the hostage crisis, the sabotage at the hospital, the black and white ball. Things can only get better."

"I hope you're right," she said against his shoulder.

She wasn't crying, but the despondency in her voice broke Spinelli's heart.

"We have a lot to look forward to. You're going to Ibiza in September. I'm gonna have a baby in June. Plus, we have a budding romance. I know none of that can replace your sister," he said quickly, "but Maxie would want you to be happy." He lifted her head gently and looked into her eyes. "I intend to make you happy."

"You do," she said, smiling again and giving him a passionate kiss.

Later, as she drove home, she decided he was right. This year could not possibly be worse than the last. Her dreams were being realized. She was going to spend her Junior year abroad and Spinelli had finally noticed her. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.

She smiled as she pulled into her driveway, thinking that everything had balance. The horror of losing Maxie had been balanced with the joy of having Spinelli love her back. She was still hurting over Maxie, but she was determined to prove Spinelli right. This year was going to be better for both of them.