All eyes were on her as she entered Tuscany. Gina walked up to the maitre d, "Reservation for Von Amburg." He recognized this woman as the woman the flyers talked about.
"Princess Gina, ah yes!" He held his arm out, "Right this way." She linked her arm in his and he escorted her to a secluded corner table. "And when shall we be expecting your partner?"
Gina beamed, "Soon." She settled into her chair. "Would you see to it to deliver the champagne now?"
"Yes, of course." He bowed and set off to get her the finest bottle.
There were a few dancing couples on the floor that she watched for a few seconds before looking down to rummage through her purse. Her fingers curled around the vial. At that moment, a waiter returned with two glasses and a bottle of champagne. Gina noticed that John just arrived. "I can take it from here." She waved the waiter away and quickly filled a glass. Gina glanced up to see John talking with the maitre d. She pulled out the vial, tapped a few drops into the drink and stuffed the vial back into her purse.
John approached the table while she was pouring her glass, "Starting without me, Gina?"
She looked up and burst into a full true smile. "I just timed it really well." She watched as he sat across from her and handed him his spiked drink. "A toast?"
"Shouldn't we wait for Greta?" John glanced around.
"She's not coming." Gina confidently revealed. John looked at her with a raised eyebrow. He hypothesized that this might happen, yet it still surprised him. Gina reached for her glass. "She didn't look well at all, so I advised her to stay in and rest up."
John nodded, buying into that lie. "A toast, then." He took his glass and softly clanked it against hers before each taking a sip. He then froze and stared at his drink. Oddly, it tasted just fine-but he still felt an unexplained sensation.
"Something wrong, John?" Gina leaned forward in concern.
When his eyes met hers, he felt a sudden ease and a rush of relief. "Gina…" He looked at her with a breathless, heated expression. And she knew that the serum was a success. In a brash move, John suddenly scooted his chair closer to her. Her surprise was more for the fact that he was HER John-and Marlena be damned. He took her hand and glanced around, "What happened to the Sub?"
"We are safe, John." She decided to further test things and she placed her palm on his cheek. He only turned to her and she wanted to cry at seeing the love in his eyes for her-the love that she waited so long to be returned to her.
He placed his hand over hers and brought it to his lips to kiss it as he stared at her for a moment. "If you say it is safe for us, then so be it, Gina." He reached out to her and pulled her into a passionate kiss, making her heart soar as she predicted.
"Oh, John." She clutched his hand in hers. "It is so wonderful to have you back."
"None of that now, my dear." He swept away the tears that formed in her eyes. John then became aware of the music, so he stood up and held his hand out to her, "Would the Princess care for a dance?"
"Yes." Eagerly she slipped her hand into his and rose from her chair. On the way to the dance floor, they both were aware of mutterings from other diners about a party for a Princess at the DiMera mansion.
As John began to dance with her, he decided to question her about what he heard. "What is this about a party for you at DiMera's?"
Gina batted her eyes, "It was Stefano's idea to hold a party in Salem in my honor."
John half grinned, "In your honor, indeed." She playfully swatted him and he chuckled. "But this makes me believe that you trust him again."
She glanced to the side, "Do you doubt my ability to make things right with the world again?"
"No." He chuckled again and pulled her to face him. "I never doubt you in anything." And again he pulled her into a kiss. "How about we eat now so we can get out of here quicker?"
"I like the way you think." Gina stepped back and he followed her to the table.
The waiter approached them, "Would you like to order now?"
"Yes." She gave the menu a quick glance and then placed her order. To her surprise, John ordered the same.
"Dad, Stefano is having a party for Princess Gina." Shawn-D revealed.
"Wha…a party?" Bo was unable to resist remembering the Duke and Duchess's party. He began to wonder if this was his second chance to save his Fancy Face.
"Are you gonna go?" Shawn-D asked.
"You bet I am." Bo was fully determined to not mess up this time.
"And of course, I'll be there." Greta added.
"Definitely." Sharply, Bo turned to Shawn-D, "I'm gonna need you there, too, Sailor Man."
Shawn-D squinted in confusion, "Me?"
"Yes." Bo went on to explain, "She may THINK she is Gina…but she is still Hope, your mother. I will need you to help me reach her again. And we'll have backup, being that she'll be surrounded by family and friends."
"But what about me?" Greta asked. "Aren't you concerned that my presence…and Father John's…will influence her Gina side?"
"I know you will do the right thing, Greta." He assured her. "Just trust me."
"Well, now, Rolf." Stefano stood in his living room, facing an apprehensive man. "By tomorrow, everyone in Salem will have heard and started preparing for this extravagant event for my dear Gina."
"You still plan to use this party to get her in your favor?" Rolf nodded in question.
Stefano chuckled, "Rolf, you know me too well." Rolf folded his arms, appearing to be thoughtful. "But yes…by the end of the night, I will be sure to have swept her off her feet."
"I seem to recall your infinite fondness for Marlena." Rolf countered.
Stefano waved it off, "Marlena will always hold a place in my heart. But Gina…" He seemed to lose himself with his thoughts and the twinkle in his eyes was noticeable. "…I had thought before…that she had made herself expendable. But then she handed me the Rennet." Stefano fell silent as he remembered that night.
"How courageous of you to show your face to me again, Gina." He spoke with a snarl in his tone. Earlier she had played games with him, boldly bargaining Bo's freedom for the Rennet.
She produced the painting, but pulled it away from him when he attempted to reach for it. "I am not to be made a fool, Stefano." In her eyes, he noticed the vibrant fire that attracted him to her in the first place. He wondered if she was fully back. "I know full well that you easily agreed to my earlier terms only still planning my demise." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, don't act so innocent, Steffy." She sauntered to him, still keeping the painting out of his reach. "I know you as well as you know me."
"What are you getting at, Gina?" He was growing impatient.
"I am back…for good." She was giddy in her reply.
"What makes you think I will believe you?" He countered.
Gina frowned, but then broke into a smile, "If you are worried about a certain Brady rearing his ugly mug again…better think twice." She finally let him have the painting and slunk behind him, leaning on him from behind. "The poor fool thought he had his precious Fancy Face again. However, he didn't account for the backlash of what he had done earlier."
"What do you mean?" Stefano was curious. He had known that Bo's meddling was breaking through the Gina persona he had implanted within Hope, but he kept quiet and distant.
"His little stunt with…Doug and Julie…bringing them here to reach their little Hopey-Dopey…was HIS downfall." Gina moved over and poured herself a drink from his mini-bar. "True it had weakened us both, allowing Hope to take over for a short time…until you tracked me down at the restaurant. But later, after the whole fiasco at the Duke's estate…the three of us struggled again, on the pier."
Stefano realized what happened next and he broke into a smile, "And you arose victorious."
She beamed in return, "Right before his eyes." Stefano reached for the glass she had poured for him.
Stefano tucked a finger under her chin, "I was wondering why he had left Paris alone." They toasted to the future and spent the rest of the time enjoying each others company.
"I just hope you know what you are getting into." Rolf broke him from his thoughts.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Stefano got offensive.
Rolf shook his head, "I am simply referring to her wild flirtatious ways, Stefano."
"I am well aware of her flirtations, Rolf." Stefano angrily turned away, and Rolf realized that this conversation was over.