Babble: Thanks to all of those who take the time to reply it means a lot.
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Betrayal, Loyalty, and Love
Chapter 7
~Yacht~
"Of course, I'm sorry my darling," Helena backtracked quickly. "I will handle Elizabeth Webber, she's been on my to do list for quite awhile now."
Nikolas stayed where he was for a full minute after Helena, hung up the phone and moved to refill her glass. He'd been about to enter the Salon when her words had stalled him in his tracks. Now he was grateful that he had waited. Helena was going after Elizabeth and that wasn't good. He'd always known that Helena didn't like Elizabeth. That dislike had hardened when Elizabeth had helped to break Helena's control over Lucky during the first round of brainwashing.
Still he had let himself believe that Helena wouldn't do anything to harm Elizabeth because he had ordered her not too, on more then one occasion. He should have realized how stupid an assumption that was. Flashing briefly on her final words, he couldn't help but wonder who she had been speaking too. Helena almost sounded subservient, and that was something she never was. Deciding to banish the thought until he could deal with it later, Nikolas knew it was time to leave.
Moving slowly he backed down the narrow hallway, waiting until he turned the corner before turning around. He needed to find Elizabeth right away, and they needed to come up with a plan to keep her safe from Helena. If he had too, he'd send her away whether she wanted to go or not. He wasn't about to let Helena hurt her.
~Pier 52~
"How could you do this to me?" Carly demanded holding up the divorce papers. "How could you quit on me? On Michael? On us?"
"You can't be surprised Carly. I told you last night that I was moving ahead with things." Sonny stated calmly.
"Moving ahead with things?" Carly repeated numbly. "Is that what you call ending a marriage Sonny? Moving ahead with things?"
"You know what I mean. We've been separated for months now, don't tell me you're surprised that I've finally decided to end it."
"Don't try to dismiss me," she hissed shock making her face paler than usual. "You love me, you know you do. God Sonny you kissed me last night. So how can you talk about ending things today?"
Sighing wearily Sonny shook his head. "I don't trust you. You've proven to me time and time again that I will never be able to trust you. You can't have a marriage without trust."
Moving quickly she caught him off guard and managed to catch his hand. "I was wrong Sonny. I made a mistake, a horrible mistake. Don't make an even bigger one by giving up on us. I got scared I screwed up I admit that," she argued desperately. She couldn't lose him he was her world. "You know how I get when I get scared."
"Don't," he tugged his hand free. "I told you last night, that I'm not Jason and I meant that. I won't let you wreck my life again and again, and keep taking you back every time you do. I've already given you more chances then I've given anybone else in my life, and I can't do that anymore."
"So that's it? I mess up and you go running to Princess Purity?" Carly sniped. "What the hell do men see in the sanctimonious Elizabeth Webber?"
"I'm not going to argue with you Carly," Sonny turned away.
"Don't walk away from me," she ordered moving around him quickly to block his path. "What about our family? What about Michael? Are you going to punish him because I messed up?"
"Don't bring Michael into this, you know I love him."
"Then why are you throwing him out?" Carly pushed. A part of her hated using her son like this, but another part was screaming at her to use him. She had to use anything and anyone she could to keep her family together.
"I'm not throwing him out," Sonny snapped angrily. "I want to keep Michael in my life that's why I filed the visitation papers."
"So you still want to see my son, you just don't want to see me anymore is that it?" Incredibly hurt her dark eyes filled with tears of rejection. Rejection it seemed to be the story of her life. First it was Bobbie, who gave her away immediately. Then it was her adoptive father. She'd only been a few months old when he had rejected her and walked out on her and Virginia, neither one had ever seen him again.
That rejection seemed to start a pattern when it came to men, a pattern that continued to this day. Her boyfriends growing up had always tired of her before she was ready to let them go. Once she arrived in Port Charles it was the same when Jason ended things before she wanted. Even Tony had wanted out, and now it was Sonny who wanted to be gone. His decision to leave hurt worse than all the others. Why couldn't a man love her for longer than a few months or years at a time? What was so wrong with her that they couldn't or wouldn't stay around?
"We're not good together, not for the long haul." Sonny was speaking again pulling her from her reverie. "We don't trust each other, all we do is fight, it's not healthy. We're not healthy."
"You're just saying that because I messed up. I promise I won't do it again. Sonny I love you," Carly pleaded tears falling from her eyes. "I know you love me."
Sonny stepped closer, taking her face in his hands. Her eyes searched his and she could see the love and hurt mixed in the dark eyes reflected back at her. "Son…"
Leaning forward he placed his lips on hers stilling her words. The kiss was bittersweet and quite chaste, and when he stepped back she felt like she was drowning in the wake of the loss.
"It's because I love you that I'm letting you go." Sonny whispered before moving away. "Goodbye Carly."
"Sonny," she choked on his name and stared after him until the tears blurred her view. That final goodbye was so quiet, so strong, so unlike them. It hadn't been said in anger or in the middle of a fight. He'd just said goodbye and walked away, taking a part of her soul when he did.
Feeling nauseous she wrapped her arms around her waist and made no effort to stop the tears from falling. He really meant it. He really wanted a divorce. She'd lost him, she'd lost her husband, and she only had herself to blame. Moaning her knees gave way and she slumped down on the unforgiving wood planks of the docks. Burying her face in her knees she felt her heart dissolve.
So intense was the pain she was feeling that she wasn't aware of the hands on her shoulders. Dimly the noise of someone speaking came through her tears, but the words themselves didn't register. Nothing registered to her because her world was over.
She didn't struggle when someone picked her up, she barely even felt it. The next thing she knew she was sitting on the bench, sobbing uncontrollably in a man's arms. She knew it wasn't Sonny holding her, but at that moment she didn't care who it was. They had offered her a lifeline when she was drowning and that was the most important thing.
~West Coast~
Jason had already paced the dingy waiting room outside of the O.R. enough times that a section of the threadbare carpet was covered with the black, coming off the soles of his boots.
Emily had been in surgery for 53 minutes now and he still knew next to nothing about her condition. He didn't like to be kept waiting, especially when it was something as important as his sister. Catching the eye of the duty nurse she shrugged in his direction and went back to her charts. He'd tried to get information out of her but she'd been very tight-lipped. It wasn't very often that people withstood his questioning. If she had worked for Sorel, he would still be hunting people.
Sorel.
His features hardened into a sneer. Sorel was to blame. He was the reason that Emily was in the hospital. He was the reason she couldn't walk. He was the reason that she was now in surgery. He should have killed Sorel years ago. He should have done it the night Moreno had died. Or the night he placed the bomb in Elizabeth's studio. Or the day he accosted her on the docks. Or when Sorel had arranged for Emily to be drugged and placed next to a dead cop. Or maybe when he'd sent the gunmen after Emily and Zander. Or even when he sent the bomb to Sonny.
Those were just a few of instances in which he should have killed Sorel. There were so many more missed chances. He hated to think of all the suffering he could have saved his sister, he could have saved everyone if he had just killed Sorel one of those other times. He should have taken him out the same night that he took care of Carlos and Rick. Instead he'd left him tied up on the dock like a gift for the P.C.P.D.
That was stupid on his part. By leaving him there, he'd only been doing what Sonny had wanted him to do. But even then he knew that was a mistake, he'd known it but he hadn't confronted Sonny about it. He should have, he knew that now, but the realization had come too late to help Emily.
"Mr. Morgan?"
Jason's head whipped up and he was next to the doctor in the blood stained scrubs instantly. "How is she?"
"She's stable," the surgeon answered quickly. "We managed to relieve the pressure and the swelling is going down."
"What happened to her?" He wouldn't let himself bend until he knew all the details.
"She had a blood clot. It caused swelling, convulsions and eventually unconsciousness. We got her in surgery just in time, a few minutes longer and she could have died." The doctor patted Jason on the arm. "She's going to be in post-op for a few hours. It will be even longer than that before the anesthesia wears off."
"When can I see her?"
"You can see her when she's out of recovery. Again she won't be conscious for hours. Excuse me."
Nodding Jason stepped back and let the doctor pass. A simple blood clot had almost killed his sister. Anger and determination mixed inside of him until he knew what he had to do. Moving swiftly he headed for the stairwell only to come up short on the stairs. He needed to let them know.
Before he could change his mind Jason pulled out his cell and dialed a number as he continued down the stairs.
"General Hospital 4th Floor Nurse's Station."
"I need to speak to Dr. Monica Quartermaine," Jason barked out.
"Just a minute please."
Jason moved out into the sunshine that was the signature weather of Northern California afternoons and headed for his bike.
"This is Dr. Quartermaine."
"Monica its Jason."
"Jason?" She repeated in shock. "It's great to hear from you. Are you in town?"
He could hear the surprise and love in her voice and a small part of him felt guilty for what he was about to say. "No I'm with Emily. She had a setback today, I thought you should know."
"What happened?"
"She had a blood clot and needed surgery to relieve the pressure." He heard her sharp inhalation of breath and hurried on. "The doctor said they caught it in time, so she'll be fine. But I wanted you to know."
"Thank you," Monica whispered. "I didn't know you were with her."
"I came as soon as I heard, and been here ever since. I didn't want her to be alone."
"I'm glad, that's been the hardest part, thinking of her in the hospital all alone. Will you call me if there's any change?"
"Yes," he could hear the pain in her voice and remembered the last time he'd seen her and what he had said to her. "I'll keep in touch mom. Goodbye." He hung up quickly without giving her a chance to speak.
Climbing on his bike his next call was even quicker. "Benny I need you to arrange some flights for me. I have to be in Port Charles tonight. There's something I need to take care of."
~General Hospital~
"Monica what's wrong?" Dr. Alan Quartermaine questioned his distraught wife when he came upon her in ICU.
"Alan," throwing herself in his embrace Monica let his shirt dry her tears.
"What happened? Is there something wrong with a patient?" Alan asked.
"I heard from Jason," Monica admitted finally.
Stunned Alan drew back to look at his wife. His heart leapt, as it always did, at the mention of his youngest son. Then it crashed, again, like it always did, with the bitter reminder that the golden son he so fondly remembered didn't exist anymore. Yet even with that knowledge he couldn't help but be concerned. "Is he hurt?"
"No."
Breathing a little easier he tried again. "Is he in jail?"
"No," Monica shook her head. "Alan he's with Emily he's been with her for weeks."
Alan was surprised even though he knew he shouldn't be. Jason had always made time for Emily, it was the rest of the family he could barely tolerate.
Monica moved out of the middle of the hallway pulling Alan with her. "Emily had a setback."
"Is she okay?"
"She had a blood clot and the doctors had to operate to relieve the pressure. Jason said she will be fine, but he wanted us to know right away. I'm sure Dr. Clement will call later to give us a full update, but I wanted to tell you now."
"Damn that bastard."
"Alan!"
"Not Jason," he shot back before gesturing across the hall. "Sorel. Why the hell won't that bastard just die? We never should have worked so hard to save his life."
"We're doctors Alan saving lives is what were supposed to do."
"We save human lives not monsters. And that's what Sorel is, he's a monster. He sucks the life out of everyone around him." Alan sniped belligerently.
"Calm down Alan remember your blood pressure."
"To hell with my blood pressure, that man almost killed my daughter. As it is he's paralyzed her for months now, and she just had to have surgery because a blood clot nearly killed her." His voice was rising but he could care less. He hadn't felt this sort of hatred for anyone since Pierce Dorman. Someone else had killed Dorman, but he'd dearly love to be the one to kill Sorel. "He deserves to die."
Monica tugged on his hands until he focused on her. "I agree with you, however I don't think it's something we should talk about when there's a police officer standing five feet away from us listening to every word we say."
At her words he focused on the young looking officer who seemed to be very interested in them. Counting to 10 in his head he tried to let the worst of his anger go.
"What I want to know is if we should tell Zander? He's been adamant about not letting Emily know that he's hurt. Should we tell him about her?" Monica wondered aloud.
Shifting his focus to the young man asleep in the bed in the room next to where they were standing, Alan gave it some thought. He was never going to be Zander's biggest supporter, nor would he ever believe that Zander was good enough for his daughter. But in the last several weeks he couldn't help but be struck at how much Zander really seemed to love Emily.
It had been Zander that had gotten through to Emily and convinced her to go to rehab when no one else could. It was also Zander who had requested not to know where she was so he wouldn't put her in danger. And when he had been hurt it was Zander who said that Emily didn't need to know because she needed to concentrate on getting well not worrying about him.
No he was never going to be a Zander fan, but that didn't mean he couldn't see what the boy was going through. "I think we need to take a page from Zander's book and not tell him. He needs to concentrate on getting well. If something else happens with Emily then we'll tell him."
Monica nodded in agreement. "When Jason called, he called me mom."
Jealousy whipped through him so suddenly that he was caught unprepared for it. There were days that he'd gladly sell his soul to hear Jason call him dad again. Even though it was petty and mean spirited on his part, sometimes he hated the fact that Monica had somehow managed to forge a bond with this Jason, while all he did was fight with him.
Swallowing the bitter mixture of jealousy and anger Alan took a final look at Sorel's room before following his wife down the hall. So intent on his own thoughts he never noticed Zander's now open eyes focused on the same room.
~Kelly's~
Sonny paused a long time in the small courtyard in front of the diner. Johnny seemed to sense his need to be alone, because he made himself scarce in the shadows of the building, watching everything yet focusing on nothing. It had taken a lot of his willpower not to turn around and walk back to Carly when he'd heard her tears. He hadn't lied to her, he did still love her, he probably always would.
But what he told her was the truth. There was no way they could live together, stay together in a marriage and be healthy. If they stayed together eventually they would destroy each other. He didn't want that. He didn't want it for himself, and he didn't want it for her. So he had to end it while there was still a chance they could be friends.
Still doing that to her had broken his heart.
The door opened in front of him, and a couple left the diner. Sucking up the memory of his conversation with Carly he pushed his feelings aside and moved toward the diner door. "Johnny, come inside and talk to Francis while I'm in here."
Johnny appeared at his side and held the door open for his boss.
His eyes swept the diner and he found Francis at once. His sometime bodyguard was parked at the counter glowering at an oblivious Lucky Spencer. He next found Elizabeth standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Her focus was on someone in the kitchen, and even from across the room he could see how uncomfortable she looked. Not only uncomfortable he realized after a longer study. She was afraid.
The door closing behind him got her attention and Elizabeth turned to look. Their eyes met and for an instant he thought he saw relief in them, before she blinked it away. Nodding at her he took a seat at a table, while Johnny moved on to the counter. Studying her approach through veiled lashes he could see the deep breath she took, in order to brace herself before she reached his table.
"Hi Sonny what can I get you?" Elizabeth asked brightly.
"I'll take some coffee and a number 2," he flipped his cup over and noticed her jolt when Luke called out sharply from the kitchen.
"Elizabeth get in here."
"Excuse me a minute."
Sonny nodded and waited until she disappeared in the kitchen before motioning to Francis who immediately came over. "Anything else happen?"
"Just Luke yelling at her every 2 minutes,"" Francis snapped. "He keeps her in the kitchen unless she's on the floor. I can't hear what he's saying, all I can see is her face when he talks and I don't like it."
"Calm down Francis, I don't want you losing it."
"Something's not right with Luke. Something hasn't been right with Lucky for months, and now they both seem to be taking it out on Elizabeth." Francis continued on angrily.
"Keep watching her and don't let her know," Sonny ordered. "Talk to Johnny until you calm down, I'll talk to Elizabeth."
Nodding Francis headed back to the counter the same time Elizabeth reappeared in the dining room even paler then she had been before. She paused long enough to grab the coffeepot before heading for his table.
"There you go."
"Do you have a minute?" Sonny asked.
Hesitating she glanced back at the kitchen before shaking her head. "I don't think I better."
"Please Elizabeth give an old friend a minute," Sonny asked with a smile.
"I guess it will be okay for a minute," she sat down across from him. "What happened?"
"What makes you think something happened?"
"I may be tired but I still have my eyes. You look like you've been run over," Elizabeth answered softly.
"That's an apt description," Sonny replied, a little surprised that even with everything she was going through she still cared enough to be concerned about him. "I just saw Carly."
"I take it things didn't go well?"
"I had her served with divorce papers today. She wasn't pleased." Sonny tried to shrug off his lingering feelings. "She knew it was coming, but I still hurt her."
"And yourself," Elizabeth observed quietly. "Are you sure a divorce is what you want? Is there a chance you two can work things out?"
Smirking slightly Sonny could only shake his head. "I can't believe you're encouraging me to stay with Carly. I know you two don't get along."
"That's true, I'm hardly her biggest fan. But I care about you, and you deserve to be happy. And you were happy with Carly. Maybe it's foolish on my part, but I think you should do whatever you have too to be happy."
~Kitchen~
"What's up Cowboy? You look like someone ran over skillethead." Luke offered from his perch under the back sink. "What did she do now?"
"She's talking to Sonny," Lucky grumbled. "She's barely said a word to me, but she's out there talking to Sonny."
"Lucky welcome to the world of females and all the heartache they bring to the male race," Luke explained with a sneer. "She's know your watching, she knows you kicked her out of your life, she's trying to make you jealous. The Borg isn't in town anymore so she's relying on Don Corleone out there to do it. Don't fall for it."
"You really think so?" Lucky shifted to look out the window into the dining room.
"I know so," Luke loomed up over Lucky's shoulder to look at the girl in question. "She'll use sex as a weapon, every time. You just need to be strong."
"Sex? You think she's sleeping with Sonny?" Lucky asked.
Luke smiled at his son's horrified expression. "If she isn't yet she soon will be. Girls like that don't like to be alone for very long. When you died, how long do you think she waited before she moved on to Cassadine, then on to Morgan? A week, a month," he leaned closer, "a day?"
"She didn't either," Lucky shook his head in denial.
"If you want to believe that go ahead. All I know is you rarely saw Elizabeth in those months without either the Cassapup or Morgan with her. It made me sick the lack of respect she showed for you." For Christ sakes just shut the fuck up. Elizabeth doesn't deserve this, neither does Lucky.
"Now she's doing it all over again, only this time you'll get to see it." He noticed Lucky's clenched fists from the corner of his eyes and smiled widely.
~Table~
"We'd destroy each other if we stayed together," Sonny admitted. "But it hurts admitting you made a mistake."
"I know what you mean," she agreed on a sigh.
Noting the wistfulness in her eyes he decided to press her. "Elizabeth will you tell me what's going on?"
"Nothing's going on."
"That's not true," he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I know your planning something with Nikolas to help Lucky and I know it's costing you. I want to help, but I can't until you talk to me."
"There's nothing you can do," she picked up her coffeepot and began to get to her feet. "I need to get back to work."
"What about helping you with Luke?" He took a shot, hoping his gut was right. From the way her hand began to shake he knew he was right. "Talk to me."
"Something isn't right with…"
"Elizabeth," Luke's voice coming from right behind her stopped her mid-word. "I don't pay you to talk with the customers. I pay you to work. There's dishes in the kitchen so get going."
"Right. Goodbye Sonny." Elizabeth turned to leave but Luke refused to move from her path. She backed up and walked around him giving him a wide-berth.
"Get a move on," Luke ordered, smacking her butt to get her moving quicker.
Even from his place at the table he could hear Elizabeth's gasp of surprise and he could see the way she took off for the kitchen. Focusing on Luke again his dark eyes were cold. "What the hell game are you playing Luke?"
Luke pulled a chair from the table and turned it around so he could straddle it. "I'm playing whatever game I want to play, just like I always do."
"Why are you treating Elizabeth like that?"
"Like what? A whore?" Luke drawled pulling a cigar from his pocket. "You'd know all about whores wouldn't you Sonny? After all you ran a strip club for years. You run the prostitution on the street. Hell you even married my niece. I figure you must be an expert on the subject."
It took a considerable amount of strength not to haul off and deck Luke right then and there, but somehow he managed not too. "I think you better be careful what you say Luke."
"Or what little man you going to kill me?" Luke blew a smoke ring in Sonny's face. "I've taken out bugs that are bigger than you."
"I don't know what your problem is Luke, but if you want to take it out on me, fine I'm here and ready. But you don't attack Elizabeth, or Carly to get to me."
"Ever the defender," Luke looked pointedly at Sonny's bare hand. "I notice your not wearing your leash anymore. Did my psycho niece get wise and dump you, or did you get tired of sloppy seconds, with her calling out Jason's name every time you were in bed together."
"Here's your sandwich," Elizabeth chose that minute to make her presence known. "Luke, Don needs your help in the kitchen."
"Don can wait," Luke snapped not even glancing in her direction.
"He said it was important." Elizabeth tried again.
Shooting quickly to his feet Luke put an arm around Elizabeth's waist and drew her close before she had a chance to back away. "I think I've had just about enough of you telling me what to do Elizabeth." Keeping his arm around her waist he turned back to Sonny. "I hear your back in the strip club business. You own that nasty little club called Oasis over on Front St. don't you? I might have found you a new act. Sweet thing here may be a little on the small side, but let me tell you she's got some moves professionals could only dream about."
"That's it," Elizabeth wrenched free of Luke. "You want me gone, fine I'm gone. To think I loved you like a father. You're just a sick, dirty old man, and I don't want you in my life anymore."
"I'll send you your last check. But for now I think you should get out." Luke ordered coldly.
Moving quickly she headed for the counter and grabbed her purse only to pause in front of Lucky. "You need to get away from him too. Before his poison destroys you."
"You're the poison here Elizabeth," Lucky whispered.
Nodding stiffly, Elizabeth turned and headed for the door. She didn't even look in Luke's or his direction. But Sonny noticed that even though her face was white, her eyes were dry.
"What the hell was that?" He exploded as soon as she disappeared out the door. His voice was louder then normal both because he was angry, and because he wanted to distract the attention from Francis who followed Elizabeth out the door.
Luke smirked. "Father? The girl is kinky isn't she?"
Without even thinking about it, Sonny punched Luke soundly in the face. Catching the older man off-guard he staggered back, Johnny moved out of the way quickly so Luke crashed heavily into the counter.
"Elizabeth is under my protection. If either of you come near her you will answer to me." Sonny informed the Spencer's coldly. "And if you even breathe in Carly or Michael's direction I will hunt you down." With that final threat he turned and left.
In following Johnny tripped and fell heavily into Luke sending the already dazed man onto the floor headfirst. "Oops." Stepping hard on Luke's hand, Johnny followed Sonny out the door.
"Dad are you okay?" Lucky cried racing to his father's side.
Reaching for his still lit cigar, Luke put it in his mouth and took a deep hit from it. "See that's the talent of a woman. She can get friends to turn on each other with a mere batting of an eyelash."
~Docks~
"Nikolas."
Recognizing her voice Nikolas came to an abrupt stop, and his heart jumped when he saw he standing on the steps watching him. "Gia I didn't see you."
"Obviously."
He watched her saunter down the steps and move closer to him. He had missed her so much, that even her angry stalk walk was a sight for sore eyes. "I hear you moved."
"Yes."
"You didn't have too. I hoped you would stay at the cottage, that's why I signed it over to you."
"I didn't want the token parting gift that you Cassadines seem to give to your women who've worn out their welcome," she replied caustically.
Stung at her casual dismissal of herself he moved closer. "You know that's not what happened Gia."
"Then what did happen Nikolas?" Gia demanded. "One minute you said you loved me and needed me, and the next you told me it was over. What the hell am I supposed to think?" Moving closer her dark eyes pleaded with him. "You love me I know you do. So why are you doing this?"
The temptation to confide in her was strong. After his discussion with Elizabeth earlier in the day he had almost decided that he would. But now after overhearing Helena, he knew that the safest place for Gia was as far from him as she could get. But it still hurt. The hurt he could see in her eyes was nearly his undoing.
"You can't deny it can you?" Gia moved closer. "You do still love me, you still want me."
"You're a beautiful woman Gia, a man would have to be dead not to want you," his answer slipped out before he could think it through.
Gia cocked her head and studied him coolly. "So what your saying is that all I ever was to you was a beautiful bed partner?"
"That's not what you were." In spite of his intentions to the contrary there was no way he could let her think that she was just a mistress to him.
"Sure feels like it. You dumped me real quick once you thought Elizabeth was available. What the hell you see in her I'll never get." Crossing her arms over her chest she shifted away slightly. "It was my mistake for ever thinking you were over her in the first place."
In that moment he could see past her defenses to the hurt that was surrounding her and his heart broke. He instinctively moved closer wanting to comfort her. The distant sound of voices caught his attention and he shifted his focus to look past the woman he loved. Helena and her lackey were coming towards them.
Stepping back quickly he lowered the hand that had reached for her. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, that was never my intention. But I won't apologize for going after someone I want."
Stunned Gia turned to look at him. "Nikolas?"
Hardening his heart to the hurt in her voice and her eyes, he turned away from her and saw Elizabeth moving towards them her head down, her focus was on her feet so he doubted that she'd seen them yet. An idea came to him suddenly and without giving it an instants thought he put it in action. Crossing over to her quickly he had a hold of her arms in seconds. Startled Elizabeth looked up, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
Never hesitating Nikolas lowered his head and kissed her. Elizabeth immediately tried to draw away but he kept a hold of her arms and shielded her struggles with his body. Breaking the kiss, but keeping his lips close to hers he took a chance and whispered a warning. "Play along."
This time when he kissed her she didn't try to back away. She didn't respond either, but with him shielding her no one could tell that she wasn't exactly into the kiss.
"You really are a bastard Nikolas." Gia cried loudly from behind him.
His heart breaking he broke the kiss and turned to face her. "I'm sorry if that hurt but I knew of no other way to get my point across. We're over for good Gia."
"You don't know how I relieved I am to hear you say that. I've moved on as well Nikolas," Gia said through her tears. "I've met a man who listens to me, and more then that respects me."
Feeling his gut twist in jealousy Nikolas worked hard at keeping his expression bland. He took a small comfort from the show of support Elizabeth gave him by squeezing his hand. "Good then we shouldn't have anymore of these awkward meetings now will we?"
"Goodbye Nikolas," Gia paused in front of Elizabeth. "You have no idea the misery you're in for." Smiling wryly she went on. "You two deserve each other. You've both taken lying and betrayal and made it an artwork." With that she flounced away.
Nikolas kept his focus on the dock. He saw Helena still there no doubt enjoying the show. He nodded at her, then gripped Elizabeth's arm to propel her in motion. "Come on."
Elizabeth kept quiet and let him lead her until they got clear of the docks, then she pulled her arm free and stopped in her tracks. "What the hell is going on?"
"I'm sorry I had no choice. I had to think fast and this was the only plan I could come up with."
"How does kissing me and hurting Gia fall under a plan?" Elizabeth demanded.
Looking around carefully he didn't see anyone yet he kept his voice low. "I overheard Helena on the phone. What she said made me believe she plans on killing you."
Expecting shock, or maybe tears Nikolas was baffled when Elizabeth began to laugh.
"Did you hear me?" Concerned he reached out for her.
"This is just the perfect end to the day from hell. First Lucky being weird, then Luke freaking me out, finding out Jason wants absolutely nothing to do with me, Luke making a pass, me getting fired," her voice rose as she spit the words out over her laughter. "And now I find out that the Queen of the Damned is going to kill me. I tell you what all in all it's been one hell of a day."
