Florio and Kristina's house

Taggert knocked on the door " Hello Ms. Cassadine is your niece here i just came from Jasper Jack's office it was ransacked and his secretary said it was a young woman fitting her description. And he said it wasn't but the way it looked it seems to be true to me and we need to talk to her" he says.

Kristina nods " sorry to say detective she isn't here you do know she just had a baby right so her flying all the way out here for no reason" she answers. Are you sure about that Ms. Cassadine" he asked inquisitive, yes detective i am if that is it i was in the middle of some baby yoga" she replies. As he shakes his head before leaving then turning to Garcia " i have a feeling she was definitely here" he says as they left.

Some where in Port Charles

After getting Sam back on the plane he stopped to get some food when he ran into Ned as he rolled his eyes. " You know you can fool Kristina but you don't fool me I know what your ex- wife said was true. And the worst part is you let your kids believe it i mean you are one cruel son of a bitch" Ned said.

That is when Florio grabbed him by his throat " Let's be real clear pendejo don't EVER TALK ILL OF MY MOTHER. THAT WOMAN WAS A REMARKABLY HONEST WITH THE HEART THE SIZE OF TEXAS SHE WAS A SAINT AMONG MAN. NOW YOU MAY DISLIKE ME FINE SO BE IT BUT LEAVE MY CHILDREN OUT OF THIS COME AT ME LIKE A MAN" he said letting go and dropping him on the floor.

Just then Nikolas stepped in " Hey Florio stop my aunt wouldn't want this" the young man said as the men glared at each other. " Don't push me Ashton you won't like when i push back " Florio said paying for his food, Is that a threat Ned replies. No that's a promise Papa and with that he turned to leave as Ned went to move Nikolas stepped in.

" Okay look Ned i don't what's your problem" Nikolas spoke, as Ned looked at him flabbergasted. " What's my problem are you kidding me how can you and your Uncle be okay with that man is 15 years older then she is. He has kids damn there her age and what i can't believe is that STEFAN FUCKING CASSADINE WOULD JUST BE OKAY WITH THAT" Ned ranted.

Nikolas shook his head " You have some nerve now i understand we all thought she died and you reunited with Lois. And she came back from the dead and you told her that you got back with Lois and it hurt her tremendously. But she let you go to be happy and she respected your decision even though it broke her heart she stepped aside.

Then now you and Lois are on the outs again but she isn't available she moved on now you want to come in take her happiness away. Why can't you respect her decision like she did your all those years ago" he says. " WHY BECAUSE HER AND I BELONG TOGETHER AND I KNOW THAT NOW! Ned replies.

But its to late now Ned and the more you push the more she isn't even going to work with you or even be your friend the young man says. " I love her Nikolas and i can't stand by and watch some man take advantage of he woman i love. While she falls deeper into his trap mark my words I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN" Ned says storming out.

Nikolas sighs and shakes his head " are you ready to talk now" Sarah says with her arms across her chest tapping her foot. Before taking a deep breathe sure let's talk about what' he asked he didn't have the energy to argue but he wanted to get it over with. So he followed her out and drove back to his cottage opening the door for her.

Pouring himself a glass of vodka that he took down really fast " what are we supposed to talk about Sarah" he said sitting down. She looks at him incredulously " we haven't been on the same page lately Nikolas and i don't like this at all you have changed. And i want to know what happened you use to be honest now your keeping secrets lying to everyone. Nikolas you knew how devastated your aunt was when she couldn't find her daughter and you let your little cousin convince you to lie for her.

I mean really who is older you or her Lizzy use to lie all the time and she would try to rope me into all the time. And you know what i did told the TRUTH she may hate me know but in the long run it she would regret it and feel badly Sarah said. Running his hands over his face he was just exhausted " Sarah Sam isn't Elizabeth she has been through far worse thing.

What don't you understand that i have failed her she knew what she saw that night and she tried to tell me and i wouldn't listen. I always did but i was to stuck in my own way that night everyone else may get past that BUT I CAN'T. As the tears start to slid down his face i missed her so much the way she looked up to me with this bright smile like i hung the moon.

As much as she drove me crazy i adored her and then when she disappeared it was just me and my uncle. No one to teach what i had learned from the tutors nobody to read stories to then when she came back. I was the only person she let in and then she told me what her adoptive father was like.

And how she felt as a kid she felt just as alone as i did but the only differences is she had the Tavares family looking out for her he says. Before getting up and pouring another glass " there was a time right before her disappearance that umm we were playing outside on the veranda and she fell she screamed bloody murder. My aunt picked her up and looked at it and she sat there and i go over and ask her if she was okay.

I remember the look on her face when she looked up at me and lit up and i took her hand a we ran off. That was the same day she set the table for tea she was so proud because she did it by herself. The point is Sarah i know her it doesn't matter how long we were separated i know her heart. And when she talks about Oliver she lights up just like she use to as a kid and i knew i would do anything to keep her smiling to make sure she was happy.

Looking her straight in the face I'm sorry for what my aunt went through i truly am but i don't regret protecting Sam at all. Because she was happy , loved and cherished like she deserve to be Nikolas finishes. " Wow so you can see that you can't say your sorry when you were apart what caused your aunt pain. I don't know what happened to you but call me when the real Nikolas comes back Sarah says as she walks out.

He watched as she left finishing the last of his drink and just stared for a moment looking over at a picture of them. Last year at the halloween party at PCU he got up and faced the picture down and went upstairs.

Wyndams

Several days later

June 13, 1998

" Kristina" Ned called from behind her,as she rolled her eyes and shook her head before turning around plastering a fake smile. Look I need to talk to you is your ball and chain around he said with a grin. " Edward Ashton i don't have a ball in chain Florio and i are not something heavy around each others ankles. And no he isn't with me right now because i told him to go do something for himself while I get a few last items for our daughter " She said.

As he nodded " its just every time i see you he is all up under you not letting you breathe its like he has to be there" he answered. Rolling her eyes " Ned anytime we are together its because i want him there now this maybe a foreign concept to for you. To understand but i made a conscious choice to be with him he didn't manipulate me into doing so Kristina says.

Sighing " Look Kristina i still love you and i want to be with you and i know that i can be the man you need now. When we thought you died it hurt like hell and Lois was there the only thing that made me happy was Brooklyn. Then she helped me through that and then we got remarried and then you came back and i couldn't just leave my family Brooklynn was so happy he says.

You love me now are you kidding me Screw you Ned Ashton you and Lois separated way before i started dating Florio so spare me this bullshit. I am with him Ned and you need to learn to live with that just like i did with you and Lois she said. When she bent over " OOOhhh" she said taking a deep breathe holding her stomach. " Hey, Hey Kristina are you okay" Ned said checking on her, Oooohh Kristina said grabbing the rack.

Trying to steady herself before going into her purse and took out her phone " darling come back" she said. As Ned's eyes widened " come on i will get you to the hospital my limo is here right outside please i will take you it's the least i can do"he says. She hesitated for a second as she braced herself for another contraction before allowing Ned to lead her out to the car.

General Hospital

After they got there Ned promised to call her family as they took her away leaving out Florio on purpose. " Ned where is my sister" Alexis asked with Stefan and Nikolas behind her as they came in. He smiled " well they rushed her to a cubicle to check her out i tell you she is one tough woman" he answered.

Alexis looked around " where is Florio i know he vowed to be here i can't believe he isn't" she said. Ned shrugged "she called him when we were in Wyndams" he replies, something in his demeanor gave Nikolas pause so he stepped away. While Stefan went to make sure his sister got the best care possible " I am going to call him" Alexis said.

" Don't bother i will call him while i go check on Kristina" Ned said walking off, just then Nikolas came back. " Where is he going " the young man asked, he is going to call Florio and check on Kristina she says to her nephew. Taking a deep breathe as he knocked " hey how we doing in here" he said with a grin.

Thinking god she looked beautiful her hair up in a bun and her hazel eyes " Fine is Florio here yet" she asked. " Umm not yet i did call him and no answers but i don't want you to worry about that right now. Just worry about bringing this little girl into the world" Ned said sitting next to her. When she grabbed the railing closing her eye as another contraction tore through her.

That is when Dr. Meadows came in " Hello Ms. Cassadine i am going to check you now" the doctor said. " Ned please call him again please" just then Florio rushed in " mi amor i here Ashton you can go now thank you. You can start now Dr. Meadows Florio says kissing Kristina on top her head as she took his hand.

As Ned walked out slamming his fist on the wall " who could have called him" he thought trying to think. He needed to get her back but how he was going to do everything possible to have her back in his life.