Chapter 1
They walked into the dark, uninviting penthouse. Jason Morgan turned on the lights, allowing them to see the dark, rich colors in the room. Dust covers were draped over all of the furniture.
"Is this it?" Jason's female companion asked.
"Yeah, home-sweet-home."
~~~
Sonny downed the brandy in his hand as he stared at Mike with hatred and rage in his eyes.
"Leave, Mike."
"Micheal..."
"Don't make excuses."
Mike sighed in defeat and left the penthouse. Johnny opened the door a second later.
"Sonny, Jason and his friend have arrived." Sonny nodded.
~~~
Jason took her bags from her and showed her the rest of the penthouse before showing her her room. He set her bags on the bed and went back down stairs.
He was about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Jason opened it to reveal Sonny.
"Sonny."
"Jason." Sonny walked into the penthouse. "I'm sorry that I had to call you back here," he said.
Jason nodded. Just then the woman came downstairs and came to a stop next to Jason. He smiled at her.
"Riley Charles, Sonny Corinthos. Sonny, this is Riley."
"Nice to finally meet you Sonny," Riley said smiling.
"Likewise."
"Well, I'm sorry to cut this short, but I'm about to starve. I'll be back later," Riley said. She grabbed her jacket and was about to walk out of the penthouse when she stopped and threw something at Jason.
"I left you a few dollars," she said closing the door behind her. He looked at his wallet.
"Guess I'm going to have to find another pocket to hide my money," Jason said.
The door opened again. "That, Morgan, would be futile." She closed the door behind her. Jason laughed.
Sonny didn't know what to think about Riley, but she appearantly made Jason happy so he liked her.
~~~
Riley found Kelly's fairly easily. She walked inside and went to the counter. After ordering she began reading the latest edition of the PC Herald. She wasn't concentrating on the story, but she was thinking about another time when she heard that voice.
"Coffee, please."
Riley's body stiffened immediatly as she turned to look at him. She came face to face with Nikolas Cassadine.
~~~
"So what's up between you and Riley?" Sonny asked. "You're happier when she's around."
"I don't know about that, but I think that I'm in love with her," Jason replied. Sonny was taken aback.
"You sure?"
"Yeah." Sonny nodded. "Why did you need me here Sonny?"
~~~
"Nikolas," Riley said sadly.
"Riley." He gave her a sad smile.
~~~
Elizabeth Webber was walking downstairs to the resturant when she saw Nikolas talking to another woman. Still angry at Gia over ruining her relationship with Lucky, Elizabeth decided to listen in.
~~~
"It's been a while," Riley said after a moment.
"Yeah, it has. Why are you in Port Charles?"
"I'm with a friend. He has some...business to conduct."
"How long are you going to be in town?"
"A few days at least." There was a hint of sadness in her voice. "How's Stefan?"
"Okay."
"Alexis?"
"She's good. We found another 'lost' Cassadine, Alexis' sister that supposedly died."
Riley shook her head. "Doesn't surprise me much."
"How are you?"
"Surviving."
Tammy brought out Riley's order. She was about to pay for it when Nikolas stopped her.
"I'll take care of it." He gave Tammy the money.
"Thanks. With you around I'll have to find another reason to take Jason's money," she said laughing.
"Hey, what are ex-fiances for?" He smiled. "We should get together some time."
She smiled. "We should."
"Where are you staying?"
"Harborview Towers, penthouse three."
"Alexis lives right down the hall from you."
"Small world. I hafta go Nikky, bye." She left the resturant smiling. Nikolas was glad that he could make her smile. He sighed and went back to his coffee.
~~~
Liz had head the conversation perfectly. 'So they had been engaged.' She smiled. Her mind was filling with ideas of how to destroy Nikolas's relationship with Gia.
~~~
Riley walked along the docks thinking about her past with Nikolas and her possible future with Jason. She had so many ghosts from her past that he didn't know about. She heard a noise behind her and whipped around fast. She let out a sigh of relief to see that it was just another woman about her age. Riley recognized her from somewhere but couldn't place her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Liz said.
"It's quite all right." Riley sat down on a bench, Liz joined her.
"Are you new in town?"
"Yes," Riley replied.
"Oh, my name's Elizabeth Webber."
"Riley Charles." She shook Liz's extended hand.
"How long are you planning on staying in Port Charles?" Liz asked.
"I don't know. My boyfriend has some business to conduct and I'll stay as long as he does."
"Oh. I saw you speaking to Nikolas at Kelly's a while ago."
Riley smiled sadly. "Nikky and I are old friends."
"How so?"
"I don't think that concerns you."
"Sorry."
Riley swore under her breath before standing up.
"Riley?" Jason asked walking over to her. She smiled and turned towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionatly, completely unaware that Liz was just a few feet away.
When they parted they both turned towards her.
"Elizabeth," Jason said.
"Jason," she replied coldly. Riley wathced for a second before realizing who Elizabeth was.
"What'd Sonny want?" Riley asked.
"I have to go to Puerto Rico today, I should be back tomorrow night," Jason said turning towards her.
She smiled and mouthed "Let's go," to him. She took his hand in hers and together they walked away from Liz.
~~~
Jason and Riley entered the penthouse. Riley went to the kitchen while Jason went upstairs. A few minutes later he joined her in the kitchen. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned against him. She looked up at him as he brought his lips down to hers. He gave her a passionate kiss before spinning her around to face him.
"What are you going to do while I'm gone?"
"Well, I am in a new town..." She smiled mischeviously.
"Don't get into too much trouble."
"I won't." He stared into her eyes, he was about to lean down and kiss her again when someone cleared their throat. Jason and Riley looked to the doorway and saw Sonny and Carly standing there. Sonny was trying not to laugh and Carly's face held a look of indifference.
"Sonny, Carly," Jason said. He moved away, slightly, from Riley and, with one last look at her, he went over to Sonny and Carly. Riley smiled slightly before following him.
Introductions were made. Carly seemed to almost like Riley, which surprised Sonny and Jason. After talking about nothing for a few minutes, Sonny and Jason went to talk about business which left Carly and Riley in the kitchen.
"You make him happy," Carly observed.
Riley only smiled.
You wanna get out of here?" Carly asked.
"Yes."
"Let's go," Carly said, almost dragging Riley out of the penthouse.
~~~
Nikolas and Gia were in Wyndhams. He was watching her try on outfit after outfit and made a silent promise to never go shopping with her again. No woman he'd been shopping with was this indecisive.
He heard someone laughing behind him. It was a familar laugh, one that he hadn't heard in a long time. He turned around.
~
Carly had dragged Riley to Wyndhams to go shopping. THey were talking about different things and getting along pretty good for having just met. Carly had found a ridiculous, bright pink, pair of shorts. She started talking about buying them while Riley just laughed at her.
~
He saw Riley with Carly. His brow furrowed in confusion. Jason Morgan. He couldn't believe it. How had one of his best friends gotten hooked up with Jason Morgan? He was going to find out. He walked over to them.
"Riley."
She spun around. "Nikky."
"We need to talk."
She rolled her eyes and turned to look at Carly. "I'll meet you in a few minutes?"
"Yeah, sure," Carly said. She watched them walk away.
~
"Why are you with Morgan?"
"Aren't you quick?"
"Tell me. Riley, I want you to be safe..."
"Like I was safe six years ago?" She raised her voice a little bit for effect. Niether noticed that they were just a few feet awat from where Gia was changing.
~
Gia heard Nikolas' voice so she decided to listen to the conversation that he was having with some woman whom she didn't recognize.
~
"Riley."
She shook her head. "Don't, Nikolas. Do you even know what tomorrow is?"
"Yeah, I know. Six years."
"Six years since I died."
"Riley."
"Nikolas, I did die that day, nothing you or Stefan or Alexis can say or do will change that."
"But we can make it better."
"How?"
~~~
They walked into the dark, uninviting penthouse. Jason Morgan turned on the lights, allowing them to see the dark, rich colors in the room. Dust covers were draped over all of the furniture.
"Is this it?" Jason's female companion asked.
"Yeah, home-sweet-home."
~~~
Sonny downed the brandy in his hand as he stared at Mike with hatred and rage in his eyes.
"Leave, Mike."
"Micheal..."
"Don't make excuses."
Mike sighed in defeat and left the penthouse. Johnny opened the door a second later.
"Sonny, Jason and his friend have arrived." Sonny nodded.
~~~
Jason took her bags from her and showed her the rest of the penthouse before showing her her room. He set her bags on the bed and went back down stairs.
He was about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Jason opened it to reveal Sonny.
"Sonny."
"Jason." Sonny walked into the penthouse. "I'm sorry that I had to call you back here," he said.
Jason nodded. Just then the woman came downstairs and came to a stop next to Jason. He smiled at her.
"Riley Charles, Sonny Corinthos. Sonny, this is Riley."
"Nice to finally meet you Sonny," Riley said smiling.
"Likewise."
"Well, I'm sorry to cut this short, but I'm about to starve. I'll be back later," Riley said. She grabbed her jacket and was about to walk out of the penthouse when she stopped and threw something at Jason.
"I left you a few dollars," she said closing the door behind her. He looked at his wallet.
"Guess I'm going to have to find another pocket to hide my money," Jason said.
The door opened again. "That, Morgan, would be futile." She closed the door behind her. Jason laughed.
Sonny didn't know what to think about Riley, but she appearantly made Jason happy so he liked her.
~~~
Riley found Kelly's fairly easily. She walked inside and went to the counter. After ordering she began reading the latest edition of the PC Herald. She wasn't concentrating on the story, but she was thinking about another time when she heard that voice.
"Coffee, please."
Riley's body stiffened immediatly as she turned to look at him. She came face to face with Nikolas Cassadine.
~~~
"So what's up between you and Riley?" Sonny asked. "You're happier when she's around."
"I don't know about that, but I think that I'm in love with her," Jason replied. Sonny was taken aback.
"You sure?"
"Yeah." Sonny nodded. "Why did you need me here Sonny?"
~~~
"Nikolas," Riley said sadly.
"Riley." He gave her a sad smile.
~~~
Elizabeth Webber was walking downstairs to the resturant when she saw Nikolas talking to another woman. Still angry at Gia over ruining her relationship with Lucky, Elizabeth decided to listen in.
~~~
"It's been a while," Riley said after a moment.
"Yeah, it has. Why are you in Port Charles?"
"I'm with a friend. He has some...business to conduct."
"How long are you going to be in town?"
"A few days at least." There was a hint of sadness in her voice. "How's Stefan?"
"Okay."
"Alexis?"
"She's good. We found another 'lost' Cassadine, Alexis' sister that supposedly died."
Riley shook her head. "Doesn't surprise me much."
"How are you?"
"Surviving."
Tammy brought out Riley's order. She was about to pay for it when Nikolas stopped her.
"I'll take care of it." He gave Tammy the money.
"Thanks. With you around I'll have to find another reason to take Jason's money," she said laughing.
"Hey, what are ex-fiances for?" He smiled. "We should get together some time."
She smiled. "We should."
"Where are you staying?"
"Harborview Towers, penthouse three."
"Alexis lives right down the hall from you."
"Small world. I hafta go Nikky, bye." She left the resturant smiling. Nikolas was glad that he could make her smile. He sighed and went back to his coffee.
~~~
Liz had head the conversation perfectly. 'So they had been engaged.' She smiled. Her mind was filling with ideas of how to destroy Nikolas's relationship with Gia.
~~~
Riley walked along the docks thinking about her past with Nikolas and her possible future with Jason. She had so many ghosts from her past that he didn't know about. She heard a noise behind her and whipped around fast. She let out a sigh of relief to see that it was just another woman about her age. Riley recognized her from somewhere but couldn't place her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Liz said.
"It's quite all right." Riley sat down on a bench, Liz joined her.
"Are you new in town?"
"Yes," Riley replied.
"Oh, my name's Elizabeth Webber."
"Riley Charles." She shook Liz's extended hand.
"How long are you planning on staying in Port Charles?" Liz asked.
"I don't know. My boyfriend has some business to conduct and I'll stay as long as he does."
"Oh. I saw you speaking to Nikolas at Kelly's a while ago."
Riley smiled sadly. "Nikky and I are old friends."
"How so?"
"I don't think that concerns you."
"Sorry."
Riley swore under her breath before standing up.
"Riley?" Jason asked walking over to her. She smiled and turned towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionatly, completely unaware that Liz was just a few feet away.
When they parted they both turned towards her.
"Elizabeth," Jason said.
"Jason," she replied coldly. Riley wathced for a second before realizing who Elizabeth was.
"What'd Sonny want?" Riley asked.
"I have to go to Puerto Rico today, I should be back tomorrow night," Jason said turning towards her.
She smiled and mouthed "Let's go," to him. She took his hand in hers and together they walked away from Liz.
~~~
Jason and Riley entered the penthouse. Riley went to the kitchen while Jason went upstairs. A few minutes later he joined her in the kitchen. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned against him. She looked up at him as he brought his lips down to hers. He gave her a passionate kiss before spinning her around to face him.
"What are you going to do while I'm gone?"
"Well, I am in a new town..." She smiled mischeviously.
"Don't get into too much trouble."
"I won't." He stared into her eyes, he was about to lean down and kiss her again when someone cleared their throat. Jason and Riley looked to the doorway and saw Sonny and Carly standing there. Sonny was trying not to laugh and Carly's face held a look of indifference.
"Sonny, Carly," Jason said. He moved away, slightly, from Riley and, with one last look at her, he went over to Sonny and Carly. Riley smiled slightly before following him.
Introductions were made. Carly seemed to almost like Riley, which surprised Sonny and Jason. After talking about nothing for a few minutes, Sonny and Jason went to talk about business which left Carly and Riley in the kitchen.
"You make him happy," Carly observed.
Riley only smiled.
You wanna get out of here?" Carly asked.
"Yes."
"Let's go," Carly said, almost dragging Riley out of the penthouse.
~~~
Nikolas and Gia were in Wyndhams. He was watching her try on outfit after outfit and made a silent promise to never go shopping with her again. No woman he'd been shopping with was this indecisive.
He heard someone laughing behind him. It was a familar laugh, one that he hadn't heard in a long time. He turned around.
~
Carly had dragged Riley to Wyndhams to go shopping. THey were talking about different things and getting along pretty good for having just met. Carly had found a ridiculous, bright pink, pair of shorts. She started talking about buying them while Riley just laughed at her.
~
He saw Riley with Carly. His brow furrowed in confusion. Jason Morgan. He couldn't believe it. How had one of his best friends gotten hooked up with Jason Morgan? He was going to find out. He walked over to them.
"Riley."
She spun around. "Nikky."
"We need to talk."
She rolled her eyes and turned to look at Carly. "I'll meet you in a few minutes?"
"Yeah, sure," Carly said. She watched them walk away.
~
"Why are you with Morgan?"
"Aren't you quick?"
"Tell me. Riley, I want you to be safe..."
"Like I was safe six years ago?" She raised her voice a little bit for effect. Niether noticed that they were just a few feet awat from where Gia was changing.
~
Gia heard Nikolas' voice so she decided to listen to the conversation that he was having with some woman whom she didn't recognize.
~
"Riley."
She shook her head. "Don't, Nikolas. Do you even know what tomorrow is?"
"Yeah, I know. Six years."
"Six years since I died."
"Riley."
"Nikolas, I did die that day, nothing you or Stefan or Alexis can say or do will change that."
"But we can make it better."
"How?"
~~~