Chapter Four

"Oh, sweetie," Florence whispered as she moved to hug Gia. As her hands reached Gia's shoulders, Gia jerked away.

"Admit it, Mom. You're thrilled. You couldn't be happier," Gia snapped. Laura began rubbing Gia's back softly.

Florence stared at Gia in horror. "Honey, I am not happy about this at all." She couldn't believe Gia would even entertain the thought that Florence was happy about this.

"Oh no? You've hated Nikolas ever since I moved into his cottage. You didn't want me to marry him. You didn't even try to hide it. Well, you got your wish. I hope you're happy," Gia barked as she started sobbing. "You're the only one. Except for you, Marcus."

"Gia--," Taggert began, but he was interrupted by Alan.

"He's ready," Alan gently told Laura and Gia. Gia gathered up her dress and she and Laura stood and followed Alan down the hallway without giving Florence or Taggert a second thought.

"I'm sorry for saying that in front of you," Gia said meekly.

"Oh, honey, don't worry about it. You're welcome to stay at my house tonight if you want."

Gia forced a smile. "Thank you."

Gia and Laura entered the dark hospital room and thanked Alan. A pale blue sheet covered a ghostly white Nikolas up to his shoulders. Gia stopped dead in her tracks the moment she laid eyes on her fiancée. She clutched her stomach and turned away slightly. Laura stood up straight and headed over to her son. The tears were falling mercilessly as she cupped his chilled face in her hands and kissed his forehead. She cried openly over him for what felt like forever. Then, she turned to Gia expectantly.

Gia stared at Laura fearfully before taking a few hesitant steps forward. "I-I don't.. I don't think I can do this," she stammered.

"You can," Laura gently told her. She grabbed Gia's hand as Gia stepped up next to her.

Gia stared down at her fiancée and lost all control that she had gained in the last few minutes. As she stared down at him she burst into uncontrollable sobs. "Oh, God, no," she wailed. She bent over and put her hands on the bed, right next to Nikolas. Laura put her arms around Gia and they bawled together.

**********

Luke opened the door to Laura's house and smiled exhaustively when he saw Lesley and Amy on the couch reading a story to Lulu. He waited for Laura, Lucky, Emily, Elizabeth, and Gia to file in before he closed the door.

"Mommy, Daddy!" Lulu exclaimed, excited. Luke picked her up and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Daddy, why wasn't there a wedding? I was all ready to be the flower girl." Lesley and Amy stood up from the couch.

Luke looked startled for a second, forgetting that she would ask about the wedding that everyone had gotten her so excited about. She was still wearing her cute little dress. He covered quickly, not wanting her to catch on. "Well, sweetie, there wasn't a wedding because." Luke drifted off for a quick second to exchange a glance with Laura. "Nikolas couldn't make it today."

"So when will the wedding be?" Lulu asked innocently. Luke set her down and looked at Laura again. Lulu approached Gia. "Where's Nikolas?" Gia just stared back at her, not knowing what to say.

"Gia, let's go to the kitchen. I'll make you some tea," Amy offered. Emily and Elizabeth followed them into the kitchen.

"Lulu, come here sweetie," Laura sniffed. She picked up her daughter and sat down on the couch along with Lesley. Luke and Lucky sat on the coffee table. "Honey. do you remember when Lucky was with the angels?" Laura looked a Lucky cautiously. She figured that was the best way to start out. Lucky nodded. "Well," she continued, "Nikolas went to be with the angels. It was his turn."

"When is he coming back?" Lulu asked casually, not realizing anything was wrong.

"Lulu, listen to me," Lucky said as he grabbed his sister's hands gently. "Nikolas isn't coming back. Okay? He went to live with them."

Lulu's chin trembled. "But you came home, Lucky," she replied near a whisper. Lucky looked to his mother. She was too young to have to go through all of this.

*************

Alexis and Kristina followed Ned and Jax into the Gatehouse. "You girls must be hungry," Jax was saying. "It's been all day since any of us have eaten."

"Oh, I'm not hungry," Alexis replied half-heartedly. She had barely spoken a word for several hours.

"I have popcorn," Ned offered. "We can make some." Alexis managed a weak smile and nodded. Ned headed into the kitchen.

"Well, this has been a helluva day," Jax smiled forcefully. "Listen, I want you girls to know that you can come to me whenever you need to, day or night, rain or shine. That will never change."

"We know," Kristina smiled.

"I hate to leave, but I really must."

"Go ahead," Alexis assured him. "We'll be fine. I'll call you." Jax gave Alexis and Kristina hugs and then left.

"Is it too soon to talk about funeral arrangements?" Kristina asked as she sat down on the couch.

Alexis gave Kristina a look. "Definitely too early."

"All right, one bowl of popcorn," Ned announced as he came back into the room. He stopped short before he reached the couch. "Where did Jax go?"

"He had to leave," Alexis replied. "It's just us and the popcorn." Ned set the popcorn down and Alexis immediately reached for it. Ned and Kristina watched on in mild amusement.

"I didn't think I'd be hungry," Alexis told them. "But you know me and popcorn. And since I won't be sleeping tonight, what better to do? This whole nightmare is just beginning. There will be plenty of popcorn nights from here on out."

*************

Lucky and Elizabeth walked into Lucky's old room, both completely exhausted, but neither expecting to get much sleep. Laura was putting Gia up in the guest room and Emily had already gone home. Lucky looked around the room and finally collapsed on his old bed. He stretched his arms out and Elizabeth joined him on the bed. Lucky slid one arm underneath her and she leaned back into him. They clasped their hands together and both stared at the ceiling above them.

"Tell me that when I wake up tomorrow this will all have been a nightmare," Lucky requested.

"I wish I could," Elizabeth answered back. Lucky kissed her hand.

"Why did this happen?" Lucky wondered aloud. "Nikolas was as happy as I've ever seen him. Gia was even happy. There used to be a time when I thought neither of them would ever be happy, but they were. they were so happy together. And today was supposed to be the best day of their lives. I don't get it." There was a momentary pause. "Elizabeth? Do you think that Helena did set this up?" Lucky finally asked.

"No," Elizabeth replied. "I know I suggested it earlier, but. Well, for one thing, Luke was right. Helena would never hurt Nikolas."

"She faked my death," Lucky pointed out.

"Yeah, she did, but that was different. I mean, your 'body' was scorched beyond recognition. She did that so that when Luke and Laura went in to identify the body, they wouldn't know it wasn't really yours. But Laura and Gia saw him and it was definitely him." Elizabeth felt her throat catch. She took a ragged breath as Lucky moved his head into her hair.

"I know," he responded. "It's so much easier to believe that this was Helena. But I guess not everything bad that happens is because of Helena." Lucky sighed deeply. His heart hurt just thinking about his brother. He was in for a sleepless night.

***********

Gia sat on the bed in Laura's guest room, still in her wedding dress. Laura had brought in a T-shirt for Gia to sleep in. It sat folded neatly next to Gia. Gia looked down at her wedding dress. It was gorgeous. Or, at least, it used to be. It was white, of course, with spaghetti strap sleeves. Diamonds lined the v-shaped neck of the dress. Her hair was done up in her veil, and the train was fairly long. Dirt and blood were now splotched all over her dress. Yet another reminder of what had happened.

Gia sighed. She was supposed to be in a ritzy hotel with Nikolas tonight. Tomorrow morning they were supposed to head to Venice for their honeymoon. Gia took a jagged breath as the hot tears stung her eyes. Where was she supposed to go from here? Her entire life was in shambles. Did it even matter now? Her Nikolas was gone, forever. She could never look into his gorgeous chocolate brown eyes again. she would never see his monstrous smile plastered on his handsome face. she would never feel his arms around her again. Nikolas would never call her "Sparky" again. He wouldn't laugh, or cry, or be angry or ecstatic again. He would never tell her that he loved her again. Did he know how much she loved him? Gia's heart ached as she realized that she would never get the chance to let him know just how much he meant to her. And there were so many things he never got the chance to do. She laid back on the bed in defeat. And she wept.