Author's Note: This story was written for Angelsinstead birthday. Happy Birthday!

Holding Out for a Hero
REVISED HISTORY
February 2016

"Could you show up any more last minute?" Johnny asked Ethan.

"Well, excuse me, were you under the impression I could sprout wings and fly? I had to wait for my flight! Maybe you should invest in some local back up?"

"For what? I'm not a gangster anymore."

"Sure. Let's just get this over with."

"I'm sorry in advance if this gets you killed."

"Gee, thanks."

Johnny passed Ethan a gun and they headed inside of the church. Johnny kicked down the door. Suddenly, they were in the middle of a stand off with armed gun men.

"Dodge, what the hell are you doing?" Luke called out to his son.

Johnny said "I told you, Jerome, you should just elope but no you don't want to listen to reason."

Anthony Zacchara was holding the wedding hostage. Johnny had a feeling his father would try to pull something like this. He had a bad grudge against the Jerome family.

Normally, Johnny wouldn't mind walking into the church without backup but now that he had a kid on the way he was trying to be less reckless with his life. At least with Ethan as backup he had a fighting chance to make it out of here alive.

Since Johnny knew the wedding was tonight he had asked Ethan to make sure he got here in time for the ceremony, in case anything went down, but Ethan ended up getting there ten minutes after everything started.

Anthony had already started to wave a gun around and rant about revenge.

Julian Jerome, the groom, yelled "Get your crazy ass father out of here, Zacchara!"

Anthony turned and fired a shot at Julian. Julian had to dive to the ground to avoid being shot.

Because Julian was near Kristina, Sam and Molly that was enough for Ethan to not wait any longer. He shot Anthony in the heart.

The guests were all screaming and throwing themselves on the ground because of the gunfire. Johnny hurried over to his father.

He crouched down. "Why did you have to go out this way, old man? Why did you make me do it?"

"How could you betray me like this?" were Anthony's last words. His head fell back and all the life left his eyes.

Dr. Lucas Jones hurried over to try to treat Anthony. "I need to get pressure on the wound and start CPR."

Johnny said "Good luck with that, doc, but I wouldn't bother if I was you," before he stood up and walked out.

Dante said to Ethan. "I'm gonna need you to put down the gun and then put up your hands."

Ethan put down the gun and put up his hands.

Kristina ran over and hugged Ethan. "Oh my God, you saved all our lives."

Dante let out a heavy sigh. "Kristina, get away from him. This is a police matter."

Ethan focused on Kristina. He smiled his crooked grin at her. "Hey, luv, long time no see."

"You don't call. You don't text. I'm surprised you even remember my name," Kristina said to him.

"Kristina Corinthos Davis. That was an easy one. Try something harder next time."

Dante said "Enough with the reunion. I have a report to write and I need to secure this scene."

Julian walked over. He shook Ethan's hand. "Thank you. I owe you one."

"I wasn't here for you," Ethan said, his eyes locked on Kristina. "But since I came all this way, are we having a wedding or what?"

Dante said "This is a crime scene now."

Ethan asked "So after the ambulance hauls the dead guy away then these good people- who have been nothing but patient with the untimely interruption from a mad man- can get married, right? What do you got against love?"

"What do you got against calling 911 instead of coming in guns blazing?" Dante asked.

Olivia said "Come on, don't be that way. He did save all our lives."

Dante said "He's lucky he didn't shoot an innocent bystander!"

Julian said "You are the only person in this room who security let bring a gun in cause you are a cop. When were you going to do something about the guy shooting at me?"

Dante said "My foremost concern are the innocent citizens here and you are not one of them, Jerome."

Julian let out a bitter laugh. "Well, that's some selective justice right there! I'm filing a complaint."

Dante said "File whatever you want."

XXXXXXXXXX

"You ruined my mother's wedding," Kristina said to Dante at the PCPD.

"No offense, but your mother is marrying a gangster so it really isn't surprising another gangster ruined the wedding. None of that is on me. I'm just doing my job."

"Why did you bring Ethan in? He didn't do anything wrong. He's a hero."

"That is for a court to decide," Dante said.

"Are you really going to charge him with a crime for saving my soon-to-be step father's life?"

"He is not licensed to carry a gun in New York state. That's a crime."

"You are being ridiculous! I want to talk to your boss."

"Kristina, just go home. You can bail out your friend in the morning."

"No. No way. He shouldn't have to spend the night in jail for being a hero."

Alexis walked in. She had changed out of her wedding dress. "I completely agree. I would like to see my client and then the Commissioner. I fully intend to stop a miscarriage of justice from taking place here tonight."

XXXXXXXX

"Oh, thank God!" Kristina cried, running over to hug Ethan when he was released from custody. "I was so worried that you would be arrested."

"Aw, that's sweet of you to still care."

She slipped from his arms. "I didn't say all that now."

He covered his heart with both hands. "Ow! That hurts." He smiled. "But I get it. It's been a long time since I was your crush."

"You are still too cute for your own good. Come on. I'm buying you dinner for your trouble."

"I haven't had a better offer in years."

XXXXXXXXXXX

They went to Kelly's to eat and catch up. Kristina got a text. "My mom is marrying Julian tonight. At midnight. At her house. You wanna come?"

"I'm dressed for a wedding so might as well."

She smiled at him.

He smiled back.

It was still so easy to talk to Ethan. The chemistry was off the charts between them. But Kristina was far from a school girl so she would just ignore the way her heart sped up around him.

It would only be asking for heart ache to go falling for Ethan Lovett again.

XXXXXXXX

Ethan and Kristina walked into the lake house.

Molly said "There's the man of the hour! Wow, Ethan, we haven't seen you in years and you show up to save the day. Kristina was right about you when she used to call you her hero."

Ethan blushed. "I'm nobody's hero. I just happen to be in the right place at the right time."

TJ asked "How did you happen to be at the wedding? You got invited?"

Ethan said "In a matter of speaking, yeah."

Julian walked over. "I meant what I said about owing you a favor. If you are sticking around town, how about working for me?"

Kristina said "Oh, he's not staying. He lives in Vegas."

Ethan said "Actually, I was thinking of sticking around for a little while. I couldn't promise for how long but if that don't bother you then I will take you up on that job offer."

Julian shook Ethan's hand. "You're hired. Any man who saves mine and my family's life, I want to get to know better."

"Yeah, well, I've been told that the more you get to know me the less you like me. I'm an acquired taste."

Julian chuckled. "Well then maybe I will be wishing you head back to Vegas before long. We'll have to wait and see."

"Sounds like a plan," Ethan said.

"I better go talk to the priest. He's still shaky from earlier. I think he needs another drink to steady his nerves."

Julian walked off.

Kristina looked at Ethan. "You're sticking around?"

"Were you hoping this was a one night stand?"

Molly said "Ohhhhhh. You do work fast, Kristina."

TJ pulled her away.

Kristina said to Ethan. "I would hardly call more than half a decade working fast. Besides, I'm taken."

Ethan's face fell. "Well, I expected as much. Of course, somebody loves you."

"Fine, I lied but you deserved that."

Ethan nearly passed out. "Don't do that to me, luv. That's just mean."

The clock chimed midnight.

"Time to get started!" Sam called out.

Soon the wedding was underway. It was a candlelight ceremony. Julian and Alexis were both teary as they said their vows and then shared a passionate kiss.

Ethan caught Kristina's eyes as the vows were being said. Maybe it was crazy to think but he wanted them to the ones saying vows to each other one day while the people in this room right now were watching them.

Yeah, that was a crazy thought after only being around Kristina for a few hours but she inspired him to want what he shouldn't want...and this time he was going to let himself go for it.

THE END