Part Twelve

            Gia took a long sip of her water and then recapped the bottle.  She looked over at Sarah who was doing the exact same thing.  "That felt good." She said referring to their job along the docks that morning.

            Sarah smiled.  "Yeah it did, didn't it?  Exercise is good for your pregnancy."

            "I know." Gia said.  "It was in the book Carly let me borrow.  That's why I suggested the run…that and I wanted to see you."

            "Lucky told me that Jason found out." Sarah said edging towards the subject.  "Are you okay with everything?"

            "Not really." Gia sighed.  "It's not that I don't like the support Jason is offering I just don't like what is happening with my family.  After Nikolas and I broke up, I worked hard to repair my relationship with Marcus and my mother.  We were actually a family again but then this happens.  I am officially on the bottom of the ladder again and it looks like I am in for a long climb.  I hate how my family only is on my side when I haven't done something they don't approve of."

            Sarah felt bad for her friend. "I am sure that they will come around."

            "Hopefully the baby won't be ten years old when that happens." Gia said sarcastically.

            "So you decided to keep it?"

            "I don't think there was ever really a choice.  I just can't give the baby up for adoption. I love him or her already." Gia said.  "And now that I know Jason will help out…"  She trailed off.

            Sarah looked at her watch.  "I have to go.  My shift is in an hour.  We'll do this again sometime?"

            Gia nodded.  "I'm just going to sit here and relax for awhile."  And try to calm her nerves.  She had set up an appointment with Laura for later on in the day.  She told her that she was going to explain the family emergency.  She hoped that she wouldn't lose her job.  She pulled her knees up so she could rest her chin on them and closed her eyes.  She had read almost the entire book the night before.  Now she was excited and a little frightened for her baby to grow. 

            She heard footsteps and opened her eyes.  Immediately she felt her defenses go up.  Coming off the launch was Elizabeth Webber.  She stood up, deciding that she would rather ignore her than get into it with her.  Stress and tension wasn't good for the baby, the book had said.  Gia was pretty sure that she had enough of both over the last few days.

            "Gia!" Elizabeth cried.  She couldn't believe her luck, running into the pregnant model. She could easily give her the message.  She held up her hand.  The diamond ring sparkled on her finger.  "See this…Nikolas proposed last night."

            Gia felt a little hurt knowing Nikolas' ring was now around someone else's finger.  "What do you want me to say? Congratulations?"

            "I just wanted to show you that we are a couple.  We are going to be together forever.  So, whatever you have planned, just drop it." Elizabeth spat out.

            "What are you talking about?" Gia was confused.

            "The baby."

            At Elizabeth's words, Gia's hands went automatically to her stomach.  "What about my baby?"

            "Clever, Gia." Elizabeth said.  "I would have never suspected you to be this desperate.  I doubt there isn't even a baby."

            "What the hell are you talking about?" Gia repeated.

            "You want Nikolas back, so you created a child to lure him in." Elizabeth said.  "It is something you would do.  You are that low."

            Gia's eyes flashed with anger.  "Elizabeth, I can tell you that this baby has nothing to do with you or Nikolas…"

            "Sending Taggert over…that's was smart.  You got Nikolas thinking that he was having a child with you.  Then you'll start in on how he needs to be a part of the baby's life."

            "SHUT UP!" Gia cried.

            "You're pathetic." Liz said.

            "That's enough." A new voice joined the conversation.

            Gia looked over her shoulder and saw Jason standing there.  Elizabeth noticed his presence to.  He moved closer to Gia and put his hand on her shoulder.

            Elizabeth's eyes grew wide.  "I can't believe you're going to stand here and defend her.  She's pretending to be pregnant to get Nikolas back."

            "You know nothing about my life." Gia shot back.

            "I know you're a liar and a bitch." Elizabeth put her hands on her hips, and smiled.

            Jason stepped forward.  "I am telling you once…don't talk to the mother of my child that way EVER again."

            Elizabeth was taken aback.  Confusion crossed over her face.  "Your child?!"

            "That's right." Jason said stepping between the two women.  "The baby is mine.  Taggert acted on his own the other day.  Gia did not tell him to go there."

            Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing.  "Gia is pregnant with your child?  Well, I can see that Gia didn't waste time moving on to manipulating someone else.  Did she pull a Carly and drug you so you wouldn't know what happened?"

            "I guess you new fiancé hasn't been quite honest with you." Jason started holding back his anger at the implication that Gia tricked him into anything.  "I guess he never told you that the night Gia discovered you two on Spoon Island she slept with me.   No, let me rephrase that…we slept together…mutual, consensual.  No one was tricked or hurt by it."

            Something seemed to click in Elizabeth.  She remembered coming home the morning that Jason broke it off with her.  Gia was just getting in the elevator.  "It just confirms my point…Gia is nothing but a tramp!"
            Jason was ready to explode.  "Really…two adults not lying to one another, both knowing that their partner didn't want them anymore.  That makes someone a tramp as opposed to someone who lies and sleeps with someone else behind everyone's back." He wanted Elizabeth gone right now before he really lost it.  "And I told you…don't talk to the mother of my child like that every again."

            Liz knew she was pushing Jason too far.  She started to back away.  "Heaven help the kid with you for parents." She said leaving.  She didn't want to admit that she was hurt by the fact that Jason slept with Gia…so she lashed out. 

            Jason turned to see Gia standing there with her hand on her stomach looking at the ground. "Gia…"

            She looked up and wiped away a tear.  "I know her opinion doesn't count but…"

            Jason realized that Elizabeth's last comment had cut Gia deeply.  He reached out and touched her face, wiping away one of the tears.  "Gia, just ignore her.  You'll be a great mother."

            Gia sat back down on the bench.  "I could have handled her, you know." Gia said.  She never was one to hide behind someone else.

            "But you shouldn't have to." Jason said sitting beside her.  "I know you can fight…I've seen you in action." He grinned. 

            Gia grinned back despite her mood.

            "But you have a baby to worry about now." Jason told her gently.  "Let other's fight for you."

            "You're right." Gia sighed.  "Thanks for jumping in."

            "I had to." Jason said.  "She had no idea what she was talking about.  She should know all the facts before she starts flying off at the mouth.  She had no right to call you names."

            Gia started to gather her things.

            "Wait." Jason said, touching her hand. She looked over at him.  "I owe you an apology…for last night.  Carly really let me have it last night when we got home from the police station.  But I already knew.  I listen to you say the other night that all you wanted was support from you family.  You were sick of all the yelling.  And all I did was let Taggert provoke me.  I should have kept my head on.  I'm sorry."

            "Thank you." Gia said.  "I have an appointment with Laura to talk about Deception in awhile.  I have to go home and get ready."

            Jason stood with her and watched her climb the stairs on the docks.  When she was halfway up she looked back down at him. 

            "I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon at three.  Dr. Meadows is going to tell me how far along I am and give me some advice on diets and stuff." She began.  "If you want to come…you're more than welcome."

            "I'll be there." Jason promised.

            "Great." Gia smiled and then continued on her way home.

            ****

            Two hours later, a very nervous Gia stepped off the elevator at Deception.  She had no idea how Laura would react to the news she was about to give her.  A huge poster greeted her.  It was the one she had taken a few days ago in the field.  Deception was starting it's fall campaign already.  She sighed…Laura would probably replace her.  What good was a pregnant model?

            Elton was at his post, busy talking on the phone a mile a minute.  He looked up, smiled and indicated that she could go right in. 

            Gia opened the door and saw Laura going over some paperwork.  The older woman looked up and smiled when she saw her model.  "Gia, the photo is fabulous.  I think it really looks fantastic."

            Gia managed to smile as she sat across from Laura.  "Thanks.  Your son is great with a camera."

            Laura beamed proudly.  "It helps that he has such a great model to work with." She closed her folder.  "I am surprised to see you back in town so early.  You told me the other day that you had a family emergency and would be gone for a few weeks.

            "To be truthful, it was sort of a lie." Gia admitted.  "It was a family emergency but it had more to do with me than any other people in my family.  I decided I can't hide from this one.  Laura, as my employer, you deserve to know what is going on."

            Laura felt a little nervous.  She liked Gia, not because she was Lucky's friend or Nikolas' ex, but because she was a good person most of the time.  But she had pulled some wild stunts. "Go on…"

            "Laura, I'm pregnant." Gia said.  She was finding that it was easier to say every time.

            Laura sat back in chair taking the news in.

            "And before you say anything, it's not Nikolas'." She said.  She knew most people would think that and soon it would be corrected.  The gossip circle would get the truth around.

            "Oh." Laura knew that she didn't have to the right to ask who the father was but her curiosity was overwhelming.

            "I came here to today to tell you that I am pregnant.  And I wanted to know what state my job was in." Gia said bracing herself for the news.

            Laura could tell this was worrying Gia very much.  "Honey, I am not going to dump you just because you are pregnant."

            "You're not?" Gia asked, sounding a little surprised.

            "No." Laura said.  She held up one of the posters for the new ad campaign.  "You're stunning, Gia and you are making Deception lots of money.  There are ways to work around this.  Why do you think designers made big purses?" She asked suggesting they could hide the pregnancy in upcoming ads.  She did have one worry though, and she worked up the courage to speak it.  "The only problem might be the press.  We'll have to make a statement sooner or later announcing your pregnancy.  Since you are single there will be lots of gossip over who the father is or if you even know.  For some reason, the press just loves a nice stable family as opposed to a independent pregnant woman."

            "Well, then they don't have to worry." Gia said.  "Because Jason and I plan to work together to raise the baby."

            Laura was pretty sure her face wasn't showing any of the surprise she felt inside.  "We'll cross the press bridge when we get there."

            Gia smiled and stood up.  "Thank you so much Laura.  You're support means so much to me." She began to leave. 

            "Gia…" Laura called.  When Gia looked back at her, she smiled and then said: "Congratulations."

            Gia smiled wider.  "You're the first person to say so."