A/N: I officially love Naudia. This is the start of a story inspired by David Gray's This Years Love. It starts in June 2008 (hence me repeating some of what has happened on the show with tweaks) and will span a year…hope you enjoy!
Claudia Zacchara couldn't tell you how many men sexual partners she had…where, why, their last names She couldn't tell you how many men she had let touch her body, how many times she had faked it, how many times she scrubbed her body afterwards, or how many drinks it took to drown out the pain. . Sex was usually used as a way to a means for her…nameless, faceless partners mutually benefiting something.
However, what she could tell you was the first time she made love it was in a castle with a Prince.
June 2008
Weight on my shoulders
But I'm walking so tall
Out into the new horizon
Wonder in everything
No matter how great or small
Howlin' like the midnight
Howlin' like the midnight sun
And this ain't no pale reflection
This is the real thing
New horizon
New horizon within
"Welcome to the home of the Emily Bowen-Quartermaine Free Clinic" he said smiling as she followed him in.
Claudia walked through the buildings doors and twirled, "wow, you're really doing it," she said smiling.
He liked to watch her; he felt a pang of guilt about it…but he couldn't help it; watching her, being around her made some of that pain in his soul seem bearable.
"Yes, well, there is obviously a lot of work to be done but I think it is something Emily had wanted to do for a long time"
And your heart ain't yours to control
No matter how tight the reigns
Love will find it's own direction
A time to reap, a time to sow
And many a time to cry in vain
But now the time to celebrate
The glory of this imperfection
Same thing that's scrawled across the stars
Is written under our skin
New horizon
New horizon within
She turned to him her dark eyes softened, "you're a real stand up guy Nikolas Cassadine"
Smiling at her and shaking his head, "and you Miss Zacchara are the perpetual charmer"
Instead of a response she cocked an eyebrow and changed the subject, "so…I'm guessing a setup like this is costing you a pretty penny"
"Money well spent"
"Well…are you accepting charitable contributions?" she asked.
He shook his head "I don't need-"
"I know you don't need…I want, please" she asked looking at him with that glint in her eye.
Nikolas Cassadine had liked pretty much perpetually good girls…flawed, but usually good in nature. Even Gia with all her spunk and fire was never actually labeled a bad girl. Claudia Zacchara was a whole different story…everyone in town had warned him away from her…and yet he couldn't seem to hear them.
"It is a very generous offer but I cannot accept your money"
The softness in her eyes left, "if you think I am offering you blood money and that I want to use your clinic as a front you couldn't be more wrong" she said before turning on her heel to walk away.
His hand caught her arm and he spoke soft but firm, "the thought never crossed my mind;"
A smile started to curl on her lips, "good"
"This is my last gift to Emily, because of that I must insist on doing it on my own"
"I respect that Mr. Cassadine…until we meet again" she said before flashing him one last smile and bouncing off.
Shaking his head he wandered back into the warehouse.
OOoOoOoOoOo
Her Penthouse doors opened to Lulu sitting on her couch flipping through a magazine. She started to push the closed button in an effort to avoid the young blond but Lulu was already standing up and approaching.
"Good you are here, I want to talk to you about staying away from my brother" she said hands perched on hips.
Nikolas walked around the warehouse making mental notes and bouncing ideas off an unusually quiet Nadine.
"Are you sleeping with Claudia Zacchara?" she finally spoke making his breath catch in
His throat.
OOoOoOoOoOo
Claudia rolled her eyes, "and if I don't, what are you going to do about it, little girl?"
When no response came Claudia walked out of the elevator and stalked around her like she was prey, "if I decide to straddle Nikolas in the middle of Downtown Port Charles, it will be OUR decision…not yours…so run along Little LooLoo and go play with Barbie's or something"
The younger woman smirked, "Nikolas is a Prince and once he realizes the skank you are, the sooner he will put you on the curb with the other trash"
As much false bravado as Claudia Zacchara had she couldn't deny the prickles she felt pierce her skin from the comment. Instead of putting her emotions on display she offered a patronizing smile and responded, "kind of like when Johnny realizes that a piece of ass isn't worth all the drama"
Walking into the elevator she waved at the girl, "have a nice day LooLoo"
OOoOoOoOoOo
Nikolas didn't respond; instead decided to take a walk around the property. When he came back Nadine was there.
"I'm sorry, it's none of my business if you are sleeping with Claudia"
"That's right…it's not" came from the doorway Claudia had just entered.
His cell phone started to buzz and he looked down noting the contractor's number was illuminated on the LCD screen.
"I will be right back," he told both the women before turning and flipping the phone open.
Claudia looked at the younger woman, "you really shouldn't ask a man if he is sleeping with another woman…it makes you look, desperate"
"Whatever" Nadine answered before rolling her eyes.
"You think you're fooling anyone blondie? Like everyone doesn't see the goo-goo eyes you are making at him? Too bad he is so out of your league" she told her widening her eyes at the end of the statement.
Nadine felt the blood begin to boil under her skin and she shot back, "yeah and you are? Women like you don't get men like Nikolas, sure, maybe for a night or two…until he realizes that trash belongs on the curb"
Through gritted teeth she practically growled, "you don't know me sweetie, and if Nikolas and I want each other…there's nothing Nurse Nadine could do to stop it"
The younger woman turned hands on his ready to strike back when Nikolas came back in, "did I miss something?" he asked looking at them.
When neither answered he clapped his hands, "very well then…there is a lot of work to be done"
Claudia smiled, "I was going to ask you to come to the Haunted Star with me tonight…but I can see you are busy…another time" she finished smiling at him.
He couldn't explain the way his breath caught whenever she flashed that smile at him…not the one that she used to manipulate…sure she gave him that a couple of times…but he liked the real one…the one where for a second she forgot that she was Claudia Zacchara.
OOoOoOoOoOo
She knew the venture to the Haunted Star was a mistake. Johnny was there with LooLoo, Sonny was throwing back shots at the bar and then there was Jerry who had spotted her and was now glaring. Instead of staying for the fireworks show she threw back the glass of champagne and left.
Part of her expected him to follow her.
"Now darling…did you really think it was a good idea of wander on the docks alone at night, did you?" he asked lurking out of the shadows.
Turning to him she sneered.
"Oh why the frown, the last time we were here we had such a smashing time"
"Stay away from me…and Johnny"
He laughed at her request then spoke, "Oh love…but I can't do that. You see, we share this little secret…and I know that you want me dead. However, I must be honest…I have documents that go straight to my attorney upon my death…and darling you see they tell every little sordid detail of your connection with the shooting of little Michael Corinthos. So if you value your life, you will do as I say"
When he finished he was merely inches away and his hands grasped her arms tightly pulling her torso to his. Slowly he leaned towards her ear and hoarsely whispered, "Do you understand?"
Things come too easy, I get suspicious
Things come too slow, I get bored
If it don't work out I get superstitious
But if it does, oh my word
Before she could respond Jerry was thrown to the ground with Nikolas hovering over him, "if I ever see you lay your hands on her again, you will regret it" he said.
Jerry didn't speak as he got up and dusted his suit off and walked away. There would be plenty of time to deal with Miss Zacchara.
Nikolas walked over to her slowly, "are you okay…did he hurt you?"
Instead of an answer she smiled, "this seems to be a theme with us…us saving each other"
That garnered a smile and she finished, "you better watch out…I may start to like it too much"
For a couple moments he watched as she walked away into the night; then he turned back to the launch wondering what was it about Claudia Zacchara that had him like this.
Claudia walked to the building and took the elevator to the new Penthouse…as a child she never had fantasies about Princes and castle; yet somehow that changed when she met Nikolas Cassadine…suddenly fairy tales didn't seem so unreal.
Same thing that's scrawled across the stars
is written under our skin
new horizon
new horizon within
(New Horizon – David Gray)