No Beta this chapter. Ethan/Kristina as per request of SeviLuv. I'm going to have her still be in high school, so that it makes their relationship more ridiculous.


"Yes! That's my baby!" Alexis pumped her fist as Kristina spiked the volleyball for a point. Molly screamed very loudly in joy. Ethan groaned. He was the only one sitting down in the whole bloody gym of over-excited parents and students.

What he wouldn't do for some whiskey right now. He had been forced to come to this stupid high school volleyball tournament; apparently it was for a trophy. Except the trophy was bigger than Kristina.

"Isn't this exciting? I didn't know my sister was talented!" Molly giggled, looking at Ethan expectantly.

"What? Oh, yep." he nodded, before scooting further away from the ball of energy.

"Molly, come now. You're sister is not just talented, she's gifted." Alexis explained. "She gets it from her mother."

"How are we alike, mom?" Molly asked. Alexis pretended to ignore her.

"I do not understand the concept of volleyball." Ethan finally admitted.

"Silly Ethan!" Molly sat down next to him. "All you do is hit the ball over the net!"

"I'm sure there's more to it than that."

"Well, who cares? Kristina's in spandex, doesn't that just make you all bubbly inside?"

"I am bored with this conversation."

"Oh, all right, party pooper." Molly sighed and reached into her bag. "Here, you can read my book." Ethan looked down at a very old copy of The Mill on the Floss by G. Eliot.

"I'll pass, thanks."

"How about this?" Molly pulled out a dog-eared Highlights magazine.

"You read Highlights? That's a bit of a difference from classical fiction."

"No, this is Kristina's!" Molly exploded into a fit of laughter. "I don't read Highlights!"

"Oh, right." Ethan cleared his throat. "Er, thanks." He flipped to a random page. It was full of jokes sent in by kids just like Kristina. Except younger. Way younger. In fact, Kristina was eighteen so legally she was an adult.

"Kristina likes to read them because she says they're 'jam-packed with creative and engaging fun.'" Molly explained.

"What do cows play at birthday parties?" Ethan read. "Moo-sical chairs?"

Molly fell down she was laughing so hard. "Stop it! Stop it, Ethan, stop being so funny! I'm trying to watch the game!" She clutched her sides. "Wow, who knew that magazine was so much fun?"

"Yeah, baby, go!" Alexis roared.

"What happened, mommy?" Molly stood on the bleachers to see.

"Nothing, yet, Kristina just got a drink of water." Alexis pointed to wear Kristina was giving her a dirty look. Alexis and Molly both waved at her.

Ethan pulled out The Mill on the Floss and flipped to a page. "If a man means to be hard, let him keep in his saddle and speak from that height, above the level of pleading eyes, and with the command of a distant horizon." He read.

"Oh, that is very true." Molly was suddenly right next to him, nodding sympathetically. "That is very true. That's so sad. So true. So honest. Wow."

"I think you read too much." Ethan put the book down.

"Oh, no, Ethan, reading is good for the soul!" Molly protested. "It's stimulating, calming, and…and jam-packed with creative and engaging fun!"

Ethan was beginning to look a little sick.

"Oh, no." Alexis's voice suddenly became serious. "Molly, grab your coat. We're leaving."


Turns out Sonny Corinthos was a fan of volleyball. Ethan stood outside of the girl's locker room—where Molly told him to find Kristina—and tried to act as nonchalant as possible.

Sonny had walked into the gym with his guards at his heels and gun clearly visible. He blew a kiss to his daughter, and then, when she wasn't looking, had slipped some money to the score monitor.

"Sonny, you look like a pimp." Alexis had snapped. Sonny looked down at the cane he was using.

"I just got shot by an old enemy." Sonny had shrugged. "But, I knew that Kristina had a game and that she would be devastated if I didn't come. So, instead of going to the hospital and getting the proper care I needed, I came here, because I love my kids. I'd do anything for my kids."

"Can you even stand?" Ethan looked at him skeptically.

"I suggest you keep your mouth shut before I make it shut, you stupid kid."

So, now, Ethan was standing outside of the girl's locker room, waiting for Kristina because Alexis was making her leave early.

"Erm, Kristina?" He knocked on the door awkwardly. "I don't really feel comfortable being here."

"Here I am." Kristina stood facing him, still in her spandex and tank from Volleyball, except this time she was wearing stilettos.

"Can you play in those?" Ethan asked. Kristina began to strut towards him. Ethan backed up until he was pressed against the door.

"I don't really-"

"Did you watch me play?" She asked, her voice oddly husky. "Did I look like a woman?"

"Why are you wearing those shoes?" Ethan changed the subject.

"Do they make me look older?" She batted her eyelashes.

"Actually-"

"Kiss me."

"Kristina, I'm just trying to take you to your mum!" Ethan threw up his hands. "C'mon, let's just go."

"Wow. That's really funny. You trying to hide your feelings for me." Kristina moved closer. "You don't have to hide anything anymore, Ethan."

"Erm, when do kangaroos celebrate their birthdays?"

"What?"

"Yeah, when do kangaroos celebrate their birthdays?"

"Ethan, that's a stupid question."

"During a leap year."

"Ha!" Molly fell down from where she was hiding behind some gym equipment, giggling like crazy. "Oh, Ethan! I read that in the magazine, too! It's even funnier when you say it, though!"

"You were looking through my stuff?" Kristina looked flustered.

"Well, I was pretty bore—er, incredibly interested in the game and-"

"It's okay, Ethan, you don't have to lie to me." Kristina tried to reach up and touch his cheek, but she wasn't tall enough so instead she just patted his chest.

"Come, our chariot awaits."


"Tell us another joke, Ethan! Oh, please do!" Molly begged, tugging on his arm as they walked through the parking lot. Ethan pried the child off of him, although getting Kristina off proved much more difficult.

"I don't know any jokes. I just want to get to my car." Ethan grumbled.

"I know a joke." Kristina put in. "Do you want to hear it, Ethan? Huh? Do you?"

"Sure."

"But, do you really? Do you really want to? Is it something you want?"

"I said yes, Kristina."

"What is yellow, has wheels, and lies on its back?"

The three were silent. Molly was hunched over in concentration, and Kristina was staring at Ethan expectantly. It took him a while to realize she was waiting for him to answer.

"A school bus."

"But it's on its back."

"A school bus after a horrible accident."

"That's sad." Molly looked glum. "That's oh so sad."

"Girls!" Alexis called from further away. "Time to go!"

"Hey, Lovett! Why don't you get your slimy hands off of my daughters before I cut them off?" Sonny yelled from his car, which was coincidentally right next to where Ethan and the girls were standing.

"But, Uncle Sonny, I'm not your daughter." Molly laughed. "I'm not your daughter, right?"