Part Twenty Three
Gia pushed open the double doors and sighed when the warm breeze hit her. "It's so pretty here."
Jason came to stand behind her. He too looked out at the ocean. "I thought you would like it."
Gia smiled at her husband. "I can't believe Sonny owns an island. I mean a whole island…" She shook her head. "It almost makes me think he is trying to compensate for something."
"What do you mean?" Jason asked not getting her joke.
"Don't worry about." Gia said with a laugh. She stepped outside into the night air and stretched her arms. She was exhausted after her wedding, and then the reception that followed. She still couldn't get over the people that were happy for her and Jason. Most knew that they had married because of the baby but they still acted like the whole wedding was based on love.
She would have to remember to thank her brother when she got back to Port Charles. He had behaved at the reception despite the fact that Sonny and Jason were in his face. A yawn appeared on her face and Gia looked back at Jason. "It's really late isn't it?"
He nodded. "Do you want to sleep?"
Gia walked past him into the beautiful room. "I think that would be a good idea. There's plenty of time for exploring tomorrow."
"The door on the left is to your bedroom, and the door on the right is mine. So please don't hesitate if you need anything." Jason told her.
Gia looked at the floor and then laughed a little. She met Jason's questioning look. "It's just…this is not how I pictured my wedding night to be. When I was a teenager, I dreamed of having my husband carry me over the threshold and take me in his arms all night. I certainly didn't see myself sleeping in a different bed than my husband."
Jason ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I could…stay with you if you wanted."
Gia realized that Jason would do just about anything for her. Her heart leaped at the idea of being in the arms of the man she loved but without his love in return, she knew she would just feel uncomfortable. "No, it's alright. We not like the conventional married couple. It just may take some time to get used to the idea." She leaned up, almost ready to give him a kiss on the cheek, but decided against it. Instead she took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "Goodnight Jason."
Jason watched Gia disappear into her room. "Goodnight Gia." He whispered. Sitting down in the couch, he watched the door. Was she already regretting marrying him? He hoped that he could love her like she deserved to be loved…but he didn't know how to start. Frustrated, he wanted to so badly to knock on the door and tell her what he thought she wanted to hear. But he couldn't…not if he didn't mean it. He would never lie to Gia, he promised himself that.
Standing up he went towards his bedroom, stopping only to rest his hand on the door where his pregnant wife was sleeping. Little did he know she was laying the large bed, staring that ceiling. Gia tried not to cry, but she couldn't help it. She should be happy. She was married to Jason…a man she now knew she was in love with. She looked over at the empty space beside her…where her husband belonged. Would she have to put up with this every night when they returned to her bungalow?
****
Jason squinted a little as the sun continued to stream into the bedroom. He reminded himself to close the curtains that night so he could sleep longer. Looking at the clock he saw that it was eight in the morning. Putting on a pair of shorts, he left the bedroom and walked past Gia's room. The door was still shut…she must be still fast asleep. Rounding the corner, he saw that there was breakfast on the table. Lifting up the sliver cover, he saw that over half of it was already eaten and he smiled. Gia was certainly eating for two. "Gia?" He didn't get any answer. Confused, he looked around but saw no signs of his wife.
His yes finally fell on the patio doors wide open letting the warm morning breeze in. He walked over and onto the deck expecting to see Gia there but she was no where to be found. He panicked for a moment. What if one of Sonny's enemies found out they were on the island and came after her? Then he finally caught sight of her.
She was swimming. In the distance he could see her floating around in the crystal clear water. Descending the steps of the deck, his bare feet sunk into the warm sound as he made his way down to the water. For a moment he just stood there, watching her floating on her back with her eyes closed. He made a face and almost laughed when he realized that she was wearing a dark blue sundress instead of a bathing suit.
"You should try it, Morgan." Gia said with her eyes still closed. "It's actually really warm." Finally she set her feet back down and sighed. "You know what I love most about the ocean?"
"What?" Jason asked.
"The fact that it can make things feel weightless. I can't tell you the wonders it is doing to my back right now. As much as I love you kiddo, you really are a pain in the back." She said looking at her stomach. "I think I'll get out know. I'm starting to turn into a prune."
"How long have you been in there?" Jason watched as she emerged from the water. The blue sundress clung to her every curve. Combined with the fact that she was completely soaked, Jason wanted to groan. Instead he composed himself and handed Gia her towel. "What's with the dress?"
Gia toweled her hair and feet and then through the huge towel in the shade and lay down on it. She looked up at Jason. "You can join me if you want." Her husband complied and she felt her heart leap. "Well, I got up this morning and had breakfast. As I consumed three servings of fruit salad and nearly half a loaf of bread, I could hear the waves crashing against the sand. I thought it would be nice to go for a swim. I tried on a swimsuit I bought before we came and let me tell you…pregnancy and bathing suits don't mix. So I threw this dress on to cover myself up. It was so nice to float around and get the weight off my back for awhile."
"Does it really bother you?" Jason asked as he continued to sit next to wife.
Gia gave him a look. "I have at least seven pounds of baby floating around in a fluid in front and nothing to balance it out in the back. It's uncomfortable. I think I should get you one of those pregnancy pads so you can experience it yourself."
"No thanks." Jason laughed. "How about I give you a backrub?"
"You know how to give backrubs?" Gia asked.
"I'm sure I can manage." Jason shot back. He motioned for Gia to sit up between his legs. She complied and he slowly became to rub the small of her back, moving his thumbs in a circular motion. She closed her eyes enjoying how it felt. After awhile his hands moved upwards finally resting on her neck and shoulders. His warm hands felt good to her cool wet skin. She let out a little moan of pleasure and moved her head to one side as he continued to work the muscles on her shoulder. She also gasped in shock when she felt his lips touch her skin.
"Jason." She breathed.
His lips trailed up her shoulder and the side of her neck. Finally, not able to stand it anymore, Gia twisted her body so she could pull his face to hers. Their lips connected in kiss filled with all the passion that had built up since their first night together. Her hands moved from his head to run down his bare chest. She had forgotten how good it felt to be kissed like that by him. Finally pulling away for air, she smiled at him. "Jason…"
"We shouldn't do this." Jason said simply. Gia felt her spirits fall. Jason saw the change in her. "I mean…is it safe for the baby?"
"The baby…right." Gia turned back around and tried to compose herself. Suddenly, she felt Jason's arms around her pulling her back to rest on his chest. His hands were on her stomach, and when he spoke his voice was teasing in her ear.
"You're so beautiful, Gia." Jason declared.
"Many people tell me that. I'm a model remember." Gia said staring out at the ocean, her hands resting lightly on Jason's.
"I don't just mean your looks." Jason told her. "I mean every part of you is beautiful. Your fiery spirit, your kindness to those you care about, your devotion to this baby…"
"My temper?" She asked teasing.
"Even your temper." Jason assured her. "Even when it is directed towards me."
"I think there'll be less of that when the baby comes." Gia told him. "I don't want my child to ever hear a raised voice. Nothing but lullabies and fairytales…"
"Fairytales?" Jason asked. "Those things are full of violence and sex."
"WHAT?" Gia cried, giving him a look. "What are you talking about?"
"Think about it Gia. Little Red Riding Hood…she gets eaten by a wolf and then some guy just wakes in and chops the wolf open." Jason shrugged. "Not exactly an ideal story for a kid."
"Okay, I get the violence…but sex?" Gia asked still very unsure.
"This is morbid, I know…but keep in mind you asked." Jason warned. She nodded, wanting to know what he was thinking. "Both the princes in Sleeping Beauty and Snow White were attracted to dead women. They had never seen them before and yet they thought the princesses were the most beautiful women in the world. Based on what? The fact that they weren't moving. That they appeared dead…"
"Good Lord!" Gia cried. "It makes sense in some sort of sick way. Great, now I'll never be able to read a fairytale again without thinking about what you just said. Did you think of this yourself?"
Jason shook his head. "Robin took a course in Children's Literature. She told me about it once. Then I read her book of fairytales and it made sense."
Gia just rolled her eyes. "I'm married to a hit man who analyzes fairytales. Alright, if they are out of the question what kind of books should we read to our child?"
"I don't know. I used to read travel books to Michael when he was a baby. I thought it was important that he learn about the different countries in the world."
Gia nodded. "That makes sense. And I'll read him or her fashion magazines so they will know about style." Jason made a face and Gia burst into laughter. "I'm kidding! Besides…I already tell the baby everything about fashion."
"You talk to the baby often?" Jason asked, his hands pressing a little harder on his wife's stomach.
"All the time." Gia said. "I promised you at Christmas that if you wanted to talk to him or her, you could do it. Go ahead." Gia said. "I'm sure the baby is all ears."
Jason thought for a moment. "Well, I guess I can start by telling you that we are very patiently waiting to meet you…."
"Patient?" Gia questioned and then fell silent again listening to the words he spoke.
"Okay, your mother is inpatient but I can wait." Jason corrected. "I imagine everyday what you'll look like. You'll be beautiful I know…I think you'll be a carbon copy of your mother. And you'll be smart like her too."
"It sounds like you think we are having a daughter." Gia said.
"I'm sure of it." Jason told him.
"Psychic Jason." Gia commented. "So she'll have my looks and my brains. What about her dad? I think she'll be smart like you. She won't care what anyone thinks of her. She'll be street smart too." She stroked her belly, her hands moving across Jason's every now and then. "You're daddy is a wonderful man, little one. He's not like any man I've ever known."
"You're mommy's pretty special too. You'll realize that when she comes to your school when you're ten to chase the kids who try and take your lunch money. She fights for those she loves and she loves you more than anything." Jason told his child. "I can't promise you that you're life will be perfect…it would be a lie. And I would never lie to you. But I am going to be there to make sure it is as perfect as it can be. You'll never want for anything and you'll never be alone. You'll always be loved."
Gia bit her lip. Just hearing him make those promises to their child made her want to burst into tears. She wanted to turn around and tell him everything. How much she loved him. How she never wanted to leave him. But something stopped her. She didn't want to pour her soul out to him knowing that he didn't love her back. So instead, she smiled. "I think I'm going back into the water. Want to come?"
He nodded and stood up pulling her to her feet. Hand and hand, they made their way into the cool ocean.