Part Seven
Marcus shot up faster than Gia had seen in her life. She couldn't make out any of the words as he sputtered. Finally she heard one word clearly. "PREGNANT?" He looked down at her hoping that she would say it was just a cruel joke.
"It's true." Gia admitted. "I found out today." The way her brother was looking at her…she felt so ashamed. "Marcus…"
"Gia, how could you be so irresponsible?" He cried, pacing back and forth in front of her. "You're life is about to change so fast. How could you do this to yourself?"
In her state of shock and despair, Gia managed to find some of her old fire. "I didn't exactly ask for this, Marcus. And I certainly didn't do this myself!"
Marcus grabbed her phone. "I can't believe this." He was dialing numbers and staring at his little sister. She had reverted back to her state of despair, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Who are you calling?" She asked, scrubbing her face with her shirt to get rid of the tears. She wanted to stop crying.
Marcus just shook his head and spoke into the phone. "Could you come over here please? I'm at Gia's. Yeah, I need you to stay until I get back." He hung up the phone. "Mom is on her way over."
"MARCUS!" Gia cried. Telling her brother was one thing…telling her mother was another.
"You are going to tell her what you just told me." Marcus instructed. "And if you don't then I will when I get back. I'm not going to be long!"
"Where are you going?" Gia's emotions were all over the place. She was still in shock over the baby. She was upset at her brother's reaction and angry with him for his lack of support. Suddenly she thought of the baby…the first time since had first told her brother. All this couldn't be good for the baby.
He sat down in Gia's chair and ran his hand over his head. "Oh baby…" He mumbled. "You're too young."
Gia bit her lip. She could tell that he was disappointed in her and upset for her at the same time.
"You had so much possibility." Marcus continued to speak softer. "But you're life is going to change."
Gia leaned back against the couch. How could she answer that? She knew he was right. Her life was in for some major changes. She needed his support though and right now she wasn't sure she was getting it.
The siblings sat in silence waiting for their mother to show up. Gia knew things were about to get worse. The knock came on the door and Gia felt a feeling of dread washing over her. Her brother may be bigger but her mother was scarier. She had a way of making Gia feel extremely bad about herself.
Marcus opened it and Florence walked in. She could tell by the way Marcus had sounded on the phone that something was wrong. She looked at the faces of her children and her suspicions were confirmed.
"Gia has something to tell you." Marcus said. "And I've got to be somewhere but I'll be back in a half an hour." He looked at Gia. "Remember what I said."
Gia numbly watched her brother leave. She looked at her mother who was standing there demanding an explanation. She gathered all the strength she had left. "Mom, sit down."
Florence shook her head. "If you're telling me to sit down then it must be something bad and I'll just stand up anyway. What have you gone and done this time?"
Gia felt her anger bubble over. "Oh yes, you daughter is a monumental screw up. You always assume that I've done something wrong. It's nice to know that I have my mother's support."
"Gia, I do support you and I love you." Florence's tone was softer. "I haven't always agreed with your choices. And to come over here and see you in tears and your brother angry I have to suspect the worst."
"Mom, I want you to know before I say this…that I never planned this and I never thought it was going to happen." She braced herself. "I'm pregnant."
She had successfully stunned her mother into silence. It was one of the few times she had ever done that in her life. Florence stood there for a moment before sinking into the chair that Taggert had minutes ago. "You know this for sure?"
Gia nodded. "I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon."
Florence just shook her head. Her daughter watched her closely and soon realized that her mother was crying.
"Mom…" Gia whispered, unsure of what else to say.
"Gia, I wanted so much for you." Florence said. "I wanted to give you and Marcus what I never had. I wanted you to be successful in life."
"And you can never seem to get it through you're head that I am happy in my life. I have everything I want. I'm a model…it's not a lawyer, but it makes me happy! Doesn't that count with you at all?" The pregnancy seemed forgotten for a moment as mother and daughter slipped into a familiar argument.
"And now this." Florence threw her hands up. "Where did I go wrong?"
"Mom!" Gia stood up. "You did nothing wrong in raising me. You're only mistake was thinking that you could plan my life out and expect me to follow it to the exact detail. I am not a puppet for which you can live your life through!"
Florence looked at her daughter standing before her, visibly shaking. Her face was tear stained and Florence could see that she was stressed to the maximum limit. She stood up as well, and placed her hands on Gia's arms. "Sit down. This isn't good for the baby."
Gia complied. She leaned against the couch and closed her eyes. How much more of this was she supposed to take?
Her mother sat next her and paused for a moment. She let her daughter catch her breath before continuing. "Think of your cousin Carrie."
"Not this story again."
"Yes this story again." Florence shot back. "Because it's very relevant now! Do you know how hard it is for Carrie to go to school, work on her job, and raise a five year old son?"
"I'm sure you're going to tell me." Gia said.
"She has no time for friends and every cent she makes goes towards buying Lance clothing, food and what ever else she needs. She hasn't got much money for herself. No fancy clothes, like the ones you're fond of…"
"Mom, there are so many differences between Carrie and I." Gia said, her frustration mounting again. "First of all, she was sixteen when she got pregnant with Lance. I'm twenty. Second off, she was still in high school and working towards college. I am done with school. I am not going to college anywhere in future. Thirdly, Carrie had to get a job when she found out so was pregnant. I already have a job and very healthy salary. I am not exactly hard up for money…"
Florence wanted to roll her eyes at her daughter's logic. "Next thing you'll be telling me is that unlike Carrie, the father of the baby is going to be there to help out. Even though he cheated on you and seems very happy with Ms. Webber."
Her mother's words cut through her. Then she shook her head. "Nikolas will having nothing to do with this baby…"
"Even though he should." Florence sighed.
"He'll have nothing to do with this baby because he's not the father." Gia stunned her mother for the second time in less than an hour.
"Nikolas Cassadine, the so called love of your life, is not the father of your baby?" Her mother asked evenly.
"No, mother he is not." Gia said matching her mother's tone.
"Well, then who is?" Florence demanded.
"You don't know him." Gia said determined to hold her secret for now.
"Did you know him?" Florence cried.
"Of course." Gia said not really lying. She didn't know him well but it wasn't like she had sex with some nameless guy. "I don't sleep around, Mom. It was right after I broke up with Nikolas and I was upset. It was a one time thing."
"What's his name?" Florence demanded.
"You don't know him and that's all I am going to tell you for now." Gia stood up. "I am tired and I am stressed. And believe you me; you're not helping one bit. I'm going to take a bath."
"GIA!"
She ignored her mother's cry and went into her bathroom. She turned both taps on full blast so the sound of the water would drown out her sobs. Her mother didn't seem to understand that she needed her more than ever.
****
Nikolas closed the folder. He had enough work for the evening. He had a special night planned for he and Elizabeth. A little riding…a little wine, and then the big question. He knew it was really soon after his engagement to Gia, but he truly loved Elizabeth and was hoping to make her his wife.
Right now she was finishing up at shift at Kelly's. He hoped after they became engaged that she would quit her job there. She wouldn't have to worry about money ever again. He had another surprise in store for her. He had one of the older bedrooms transformed into a studio so she could take up painting again. He had kept the project under lock and key in hopes of really surprising her.
He opened the desk drawer and pulled out the ring box. Popping it open, he admired the diamond he had selected for Elizabeth. It was so different from the ring he had given Gia…
He heard shouting and then the office door burst open. He stood up when Taggert entered with two of her servants on his tail. They both looked at Nikolas and he motioned for them to leave. He would take care of this. He put the ring box down on the desk, a movement that did not go unnoticed by Taggert.
"I can't believe you Cassadine." Marcus cried. "You are already proposing to Elizabeth Webber. It hasn't even been two months since you stomped on my sister's heart."
"We had this conversation already. I didn't want to hurt Gia, but I couldn't help my feelings. The heart wants what the heart wants…" Nikolas said. He didn't get to finish his sentence. Taggert's fist connected with his jaw sending the prince falling backwards to the floor. Momentarily stunned, Nikolas rubbed his face. He glared up at Marcus. "So that's how the PCPD work…maybe I should call up Mac about some assault charges…" He stood up and reached for the phone.
Marcus grabbed his wrist and hung the phone up. "No, what you are going to do is take some responsibility for your actions for once. You are not going to completely abandon Gia, especially not now."
Nikolas was confused. "Taggert, we broke up…"
"And now she's pregnant with you're child." Marcus shouted. "Don't think for one moment that I am going to let you get away with not helping my sister out of this mess."
"Taggert, I…"
"What is going on here?" Elizabeth declared from the door.
"You have some things to discuss with your girlfriend…or should I say fiancé." Taggert looked back at Elizabeth. "But I'll be back. And you want to believe that I am not going to give up until Gia gets what she deserves." As he passed Elizabeth, he muttered one last comment. "I just hope, for your sake, that he doesn't get your pregnant and then leave you for someone else."
When he was gone, Elizabeth looked at Nikolas. "Is this true?"
Nikolas shook his head. "I'm not the father." He had tried to tell Taggert that back the cop was too infuriated.
"How do you know?" Elizabeth asked.
"We always used condoms." Nikolas informed her.
"They aren't 100% full proof." Elizabeth reminded him. The thought Gia being pregnant with Nikolas' child scared her. A permanent tie would be formed and she couldn't help but not like it.
"I am betting this baby has a different father." He said remembering the day Gia taunted him about her night with Jason. He hadn't told anyone else, not even Elizabeth. He didn't want to have to admit that he was hurt by what she had done even though he loved Elizabeth. "It will all come out sooner or later." He pulled Elizabeth into his arms and kissed her forehead. His plans for the night felt like they were spoiled. Elizabeth was in no mood to be romanced, proposed to, or surprised with a studio. He sighed. He hoped the truth would come out soon.
****
Gia was drying herself off when she heard the door open. Now Marcus was back. "Great double team." She pulled on her purple fuzzy bathrobe and pressed her ear to the door. She may as well know what she was up against.
"She refuses to name the father of the baby." Her mother declared.
"Are we sure it's not Cassadine?" Marcus asked.
"She said so herself." Florence sighed. "My baby is in a mess."
"Maybe it's Lucky Spencer…"
Gia opened the door and stood with arms crossed. Her family looked at her and fell silent. "I can assure you it's not Lucky Spencer."
"Maybe you don't want to tell us because you are friends with Sarah and don't want to see her hurt. You've been spending a lot of time with Lucky." Marcus pointed out.
"Because he's my friend…he's like a brother to me." Gia cried. "And you think I would hurt Sarah like that. I know what it feels like…"
"What about Zander Smith?" Marcus asked.
"I barely know him." Gia cried. She barely knew Jason too…but that wasn't the point.
"Do I know him?" Marcus asked.
"Yes." Gia admitted. "But you're a cop, you know everyone in town."
"Tell me, Gia." Marcus demanded.
"Or what?" Gia asked. "You'll arrest me and take me that interrogation room so you can turn up the heat?"
"Please." Florence pleaded.
"No." Gia was resolved. She wasn't telling her family anything given the mood they were in. If Marcus knew Jason was the father she was sure that he would boil him in a vat of oil.
Florence just shook her head again. "While I was alone I was thinking…and I think it's time we sent Gia back to Brooklyn."