Author's Notes: Yeah, another new one from me LoL I promise, though, that I will finish the others. There are a few necessary notes here. As my regular readers know, it's pretty rare these days that I write a story without Luis Alcazar, and this is no exception. Luis is alive and, as you'll see, in Port Charles. Luis's life isn't an actual story plot as much as a peripheral. Any cast changes that may arise as necessary will be mentioned in an author note, either edited into this one, or placed just above the necessary part.

"I have to tell you something."

"Can't it wait, Diego?" Georgie Jones ducked down. She looked to him with frantic eyes, wild and afraid. "We're kinda in the middle of something. I dont' think it's the best time to have a heart to heart."

"I have to..." Diego Alcazar knew that this could be the last chance he had to tell her everything that he felt. They could very well die, and she would go on forever thinking that he was merely grateful to have her as a friend. Truth was, he absolutely hated it. He couldn't stand watching her and Dillon, knowing that he could treat her better. Knowing that he could give her more. Sure, he had a record, but he was an Alcazar. What could anyone give any woman that an Alcazar couldn't? His father had proven it over and over again with Carly Corinthos. It wasn't Lorenzo's fault that Carly didn't see what was in front of her. His uncle had proven it with Elizabeth Webber, a woman definitely smart enough to grab up the prize that was being offered her.

Luis was right. He couldn't just let her go on thinking that he didn't love her. She couldn't live out what could be the last few minutes of her life thinking that Dillon Quartermaine was the man for her. There was no one that could love her the way Diego could. There was no one who would give as much for her as he would. She had saved his life in prison. He had to tell her. It was just too bad that this was the time that was chosen.

They were pinned down in a warehouse at the docks. Whoever was after Diego had been following them for blocks. It was Georgie's idea to make it to Luis's yacht, or at least the docks. From there, they could get to the launch and make it somewhere. There was always the possibility that the yacht wasn't there, but if nothing else, there was a launch that could take them to Wyndemere. Her sister said that Nikolas Cassadine was a nice enough guy. He and the Alcazars may have had disagreements, but Nikolas wouldn't just turn them away. Besides, he was Elizabeth's best friend. "If nothing else," Georgie told him, "we can use that. He wouldn't want you telling her that he wouldn't help you. You're basically her nephew, now, right?"

She had a point, and it was off to the docks they went. Unfortunately, they couldn't make it to the launch. The yacht was there, and hopefully Luis was on board. Hopefully he heard the gunshots. Hopefully he'd show up with a way to get them out of there. That was a lot of hopefully, but it was the only chance they had. Otherwise, they'd both be dead.

But at least she could know before they died.

"I'm gonna make a run for it," Diego said, taking in a deep breath. "I dropped my cell outside the door and maybe I can get it. Obviously, Tio Luis isn't on the yacht. He doesn't hear it. But, in case I don't make it--"

"Would you shut up with that already? We're getting out of here, Diego!"

"We might not and if I die, I can't just..." He shook his head. "I have to tell you, Georgie. I can't just let it end like this. I can't--"

"Would you just say it already? The suspense will kill me before the bullets. What is it, Diego?"

He took in a deep breath. "I love you, Georgie." She blinked at him in surprise. Slowly, without thinking, she started to stand. Bullets came through the windows and Diego grabbed her, jerking her back to the floor. "What are you doing!"

"I don't... I don't know! I... What do you mean you..."

Diego swallowed hard. "I love you. I've loved you since you first stood up for me. My own father was sending me to prison, but you were there for me. And then all the letters... The only one I heard from other than you was my uncle. My father was preoccupied with his life, but you-- You got me through the days in prison, Georgie. I could have survived inside. I didn't have to do what I did, but I had to see you, and I knew that you would never come out to see me. Ten years-- it's too long."

"Diego-- You don't know what you're saying. It's the bullets and the death and stuff. You don't know what you're saying."

"Yeah, I do. I love you. And with the reasons I did what I did, I should hate you. You're the one that locked Sage in that freezer--"

"And I'm sorry about that," she interrupted him. "I'm so sorry about that, and if I could take it back I would. I've apologized to your father, your uncle, to everybody. If I could go back and do it all over again, I wouldn't have left her alone in there. I may not have liked her, but I didn't want her to die."

"I know that. And I'm sorry that I hurt you and your family. I'm sorry that I'm hurting you, now."

"Diego--"

"You're in this because of me," he told her. "You're in trouble because of me, and I need to make that up to you. If I die in the process, then I guess I've finally paid my price."

"Diego, no."

Tears fell from her eyes, streaked her cheeks. Diego reached out and wiped the tears away with his thumbs. "Don't cry, Georgie. I just.. I had to tell you.. I love you." He gripped her face and pulled her to him. He kissed her with every bit of Latin passion that he possessed. Everything that his uncle tried to teach him that drove American women wild. He kissed her with what they called wicked abandon in those books that his mother used to read. And when he pulled back from her, he whispered, "Te amo."

He turned quickly from her and spotted his phone. Near the door, underneath the window that the last round of shots had come from. Georgie was silent behind him, and Diego wanted to turn and look at her, but he was afraid. Either she would have a look of disgust on her face, angry that he would dare to kiss her. Or else, she would have eyes filled with the same love he felt for her and he wouldn't be able to put himself at risk. He wouldn't be able to risk his own death, leaving her alone inside the warehouse to fend for herself.

So, Diego took a deep breath, rose up enough to get his feet underneath him, and started quickly across the floor.

And Georgie screamed, "Diego, no!"