a/n: I appreciate the feedback! This is a filler chapter...it's corny but needed in order to get this story rolling.

2

because there's something that you do to me that I just can't express….

Kristina Davis prided herself on getting over Ethan Lovett. She fell in love with him at the tender age of 16. She can still picture the first time she met him, at Maxie and Spinelli's reception. It had been so easy back then for them, he was so nice to her, almost flirtatious…until Sam got involved. When she lied and told everyone that Ethan had beat her she made his life a living hell for months. He was even shot because of his association with her by Mr. Bauer. Ethan had every right to hate her, and he yet didn't which made her fall for him even more.

Going to Yale opened her eyes to how one sided their relationship had become. She loved him, and yet she was absolutely nothing to him and after 2 years of chasing, she was finally done running the race. Kristina allowed herself to open up, surprising herself when she fell for Josh. So why, after 7 months away could she not breathe just because Ethan walked into the diner?

Her chest was heavy, her heart was beating rapidly, and her face was flushed. What the hell was happening to her? Was this what a panic attack felt like? She'd make it half way through the park when she decided to take a seat on a park bench before she keeled over.

So what? So she'd ran into Ethan Lovett for the first time in months, it didn't matter to her anymore because she was completely over him. Of course, he had been the one to hug her…and he seemed to have genuinely missed her. Not to mention he looked as handsome as ever…wait…no. It didn't matter if he was handsome or not!

"Get a grip Corinthos," She muttered to herself putting her head in between her legs attempting to breathe regularly.

"A grip on what?" The heavy Australian accent asked sending an unexpected fluttering to her heart. Shaking off the excitement she raised her head to meet his gaze, giving him an annoyed look as she spoke.

"Thanks for giving me a heart attack! So you're following me now? " She asked surprising herselfby how aggressive her words came out. Ethan sat down unperturbed by her sudden outburst as he pulled her iPhone out of his pocket waving it in front of her face.

"Actually you forgot something. You ran out of Kelly's so quickly you left a trail of dust behind you." Feeling foolish for snapping at him Kristina grabs her phone placing it in her purse.

"Sorry about that. Thank you." She says as she slides further away from where he is seated.

"Well, I should get going I'm supposed to be—"

"Going to Alexis's office…which is on the other side of town. I know you haven't been in Port Charles for a while but I assumed you living here your entire life you'd know where your mother's office was located."

"You know me I can be so forgetful." She replied lying through her teeth.

"Cut the crap Kristina, you're avoiding me." Her eyes seem to turn darker as she gave him an angry glare.

"Hell do you blame me Ethan? After the way you treated me you're lucky I'm even acknowledging your presence."

"Ouch," He responded jokingly holding his hand to his heart.

"I'm not joking. Do you know how difficult it was being away from home? Being away from my parents, and my siblings, and from you. I was home sick and you didn't even care enough to reply to one of my texts? Hell even Johnny bothered to check up on me a couple times despite what's been going on with him and my dad." Ethan sighed, he fought the overwhelming urge to let her know that he'd read every single one of her texts, saved every last one of her voicemails, desperate to hold onto a part of her without actually holding her back.

"You're right I am definitely in the wrong," Kristina blew out a breath of frustration.

"You just don't get it do you? I refuse to follow you around the rest of my life like some love sick puppy!"

"I'm not asking you to! Look I didn't come here to upset you. I followed you here to apologize. I shouldn't have ignored your calls. You have no idea how crazy my life has gotten since you left."

"Well that's a piss poor excuse."

"It's not an excuse. There is no excuse, I was wrong. You have no idea how badly I've wanted to call you, hear your voice. I can even lie to you I've missed you like crazy but I figured you'd be a bit upset with me."

"You figured right."

"Krissy, besides my family you're the only person that I trust completely in this town. In fact, I trust you more than my family. You not being here for the past 8 months made me realize a lot of things. One that I am much more attached to you than I've ever allowed myself to think I am. And two, you are truly one of the most important people in my life."

"I just really wish your actions spoke louder than your words." She said quietly picking at the chipped paint on the bench they shared. Kristina tried her hardest not to let it show, but his words had touched her heart.

"So what at Wyndemere has captured your attention?" She asked finally meeting his eyes.

"How'd you know about—"

"Molly keeps me well informed." She watched as Ethan sighed rubbing his hands through his hair.

"Promise me that you won't get upset, or judge me, or walk away until you've heard the entire story."

"Well that doesn't sound good."

"Please."

"I promise I'll hear you completely. What's been going on?" She asked giving him her full attention.

"There was a girl…this woman living in Wyndemere."

"What?"

"At first I thought I was just going mad. I mean you're Granny did warn me about what the castle could do to a person's mind."

"Wait, Helena was there too? And please refrain from ever calling her my Granny again." She requested getting an odd chill down her spine just thinking about Helena.

"Sorry. Well yes after she knocked me out cold I'd woke up to a knife being held to my throat. We had an incredibly cryptic conversation about Wyndemere and then she just left me there. I started lurking around because I felt like someone else was there, watching my every move. That's where I met her." Kristina didn't like the way his eyes glazed over when he said her.

"Cassandra was living there, in the tunnels; she wouldn't speak, most of the time she would hide from me. I found out later that she has amnesia and goes around from town to town looking for…well I'm not quite sure what she's looking for. Her memories I suppose." He said to her staring off into space. Kristina shifted on the bench uncomfortably.

"Okay…" She said trying to move the story along.

"About a month ago her doctor decided to she needed some in depth therapy at Shadybrook. It didn't go over well, she refused. He decided to have her forcibly committed and that's when she came to me for help. Begging me to hide her from him."

"What? And you did it?"

"Yes, she's been staying with me at the Star since then and…I'm starting to believe that I didn't make the right choice."

"Okay well the first thing you have to do is call her doctor. Explain your situation I'm sure he'll understand."

"I thought about that. I'm not quite sure how mentally unstable this girl is. The longer I'm around her and get to know her and understand the way she thinks the more afraid I become. I get the overwhelming feeling that if I try to get her back to Shadybrook where she belongs she may try to kill me."

"Wait, so let me get this straight. You've been blowing me off for months because you've been following who I can only assume is a fairly attractive woman who can't remember who she is around that may or may not be a murderous psycho?"

"That is correct."

"Hmph." She said looking down. He was doing absolutely nothing for her self-esteem at the moment. Yes, she was now in a healthy relationship with Josh but it still hurt her knowing that the reason Ethan hadn't made any attempt to check up on her was because of some other woman.

"I am a complete ass for the way I've treated you. I know that I don't deserve anything from you. But could you please find it in your heart to forgive me?"

"Do you love her?" The question caught him off guard.

"Come again?"

"The woman staying with you. Are you in love with her?"

"No, briefly I believed that I could fall in love with her. I see now that isn't a possibility."

"What changed your mind?"

"She could never live up to…my standards." Kristina snorted.

"Standards? Since when do you have those?"

"Kristina Corinthos-Davis!" Ethan said feigning surprise at her words.

"I'm just saying I remember that bimbo from Bernie's office and let's not forget about your…ahem…first wife." She said jokingly rolling her eyes.

"Okay so I don't have the best track record when it comes to women. I think you may have been my most successful relationship."

"Oh yes, our non-courtship."

"Who are we Maxie and Spinelli?"

"Apparently," Kristina agreed beaming at him.

"I've missed you Krissy," He said pulling her into another hug, this one well received she scooted closer so that she could comfortably rest her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and inhaled deeply. She still smelled the same, the vanilla almond shampoo he loved filled his nostrils.

"I've missed you too." They sat there in a comfortable silence. Ethan kept one arm wrapped around her waist while the other one began slowly caressing her hair. He could've stayed in that position for the rest of his life. What was it about Kristina that made him so comfortable? When he was with her, he could forget about all the problems in his life. It was remarkable what she could do to him.

"I hope I'm not breaking anything up." An unfamiliar voice said making them both jump. Kristina quickly pulled away from Ethan meeting as an attractive gentleman with blonde hair and warm brown eyes stepped forward to greet them.

"Dr. Keenan," Ethan stood giving the man and firm handshake.

"This is my good friend, Kristina Davis; she's on spring break from Yale." Kristina stood shaking Dr. Keenan's hand.

"Dr. Ewen Keenan, it's a pleasure. Are you any relation to Alexis Davis?" He asked.

"Yes, she's my mother."

"I've been renting your family's property at Wyndemere for the past couple months. She's a lovely woman. Ethan I'm glad I ran into you. Is there any way I could speak with you in private? It's in regards to that issue we're both involved in."

"Do you mind if we talk later? I promised Krissy I'd accompany her back to her mother's office. She's been gone for a while and we're just catching up."

"You have my number, it's very important that you call me as soon as possible."

"Got it," Ethan said leading Kristina out of the park. Once they were out of Dr. Keenan's earshot Kristina nudged him.

"So that's Cassandra's doctor?"

"The one and only."

"You should've let him know right then and there that she's been hiding at the casino."

"Ewen is one of the most irrational unethical psychiatrists in his field. Despite his appearance he's a little off his rocker himself. If he knew where I'd been keeping her he would've rushed off made a complete scene drawing a lot of unwanted attention to himself, Cassandra, and the haunted star."

"You can't keep her hidden forever. You aren't even making sense right now!"

"Believe me I've been questioning my own sanity for months now."

"I don't like what she's done to you. This isn't the man I fell in love with." The words escaped her lips for she could stop them. But why hide it? She had loved him, with all her heart, and he was changing right before her.

"Fix this Ethan." She demanded patting his cheek affectionately.

"You have to fix this before it really gets out of hand, promise me."

"I promise it's going to be taken care of. Don't worry you worry that pretty little head of yours." He said grabbing her face with both of his hands. The look of worry in her eyes broke his heart.

"I promise you this will be taken care of." He fought to put his lips over hers. She was beautiful.

"I should probably get back to the Star. I was only supposed to go get breakfast I don't like leaving her there unaccompanied for too long." His told her breaking away.

"That's understandable. Look, Ethan if you need anything, you know my number."

"I will, thank you Krissy, for everything." He said giving her another hug. They parted ways walking down opposite ends of the street before Kristina yelled after him.

"You forgot to mention how hot Dr. Keenan is."

"Hey hey, don't go falling for another Aussie." He joked. She laughed shaking her head.

"Nope I have my hands full with the Aussie I've already fallen for!" Kristina told him with a wink as she made her way back into town.