Thank you all so much for your reviews. – Jaz

Chapter 5

As expected Kiefer contacted her again by unexpectedly showing up at her house on Thanksgiving of all days. So far not many people were aware of her condition, but it was only a matter of time before the news started to spread like wildfire through the Port Charles grapevine.

"Kristina, guess whose here?" Molly said.

Alexis, Sam, Jason, Mac, Kristina, and Ethan all turned to look at the new comer.

"Kiefer, what are you doing here?"

"I just thought I'd stop by and say hi to an old friend. How have you been Kay?"

Ethan held her hand under the table, giving it a small squeeze of assurance.

"Kiefer, what a surprise?" It was three weeks after the incident at the park. Did he really have to show up to a family dinner uninvited?

"Hello Ms. Davis, How have you been?"

"Good, good, um … care to join us." Kristina turned to glare at her mom.

"Mom, I don't think that's a good idea." Sam said.

"Yeah mom I'm sure Kiefer has to get back to his own family, it is the holiday season." Kristina added.

"Actually, I'd love to join you."

"Great. I'll go get you some silverware." Molly said.

After he was seated at the table silence ensued, Mac was the first to speak.

"So Kiefer is it?" at Kiefer's nod he continued "I hear you attend Harvard."

"Yes, sir. I'm a Political Science major."

"Got any plans after college."

"Yes sir. I want to work get a position at the governor's office, I plan to go into politics."

"So, Sam how have things been with you?" Kristina asked trying to take the focus from Kiefer; she didn't want to hear him gloat.

"Well actually, Spinelli and I are working on a case that may take us to Paris. Some sort of corporate espionage."

"How is Spinelli?" Kristina asked. After the Franco fiasco at the beginning of the year Maxie and Spinelli had been doing well, but he eventually broke up with her. Maxie was now with Lucky and Mac was happy because she with someone on the right side of the law. Kristina wasn't sure about all the details of the Maxie/Lucky hook-up and no one was willing to tell.

"He is better, after Maxie…he just… anyway he is back in Port Charles and is doing great."

"That's good what about you Jason anything new?"

"Um… the restaurant's been pretty business."

"And what about the coffee business?" Mac asked

"Mac, you promised."

"Sorry, Molly force of habit."

"So Ethan, what are you and Kay doing for the holidays?" Kiefer asked.

"Umm, well…"

"Actually we were talking about driving up to Time Square to see the ball drop"

"Really?" Alexis asked

"Yes, mom. I know you don't approve but Ethan has been a great boyfriend."

"Ms. Davis I promise to take very good car care of your daughter."

"So how long have you two been together?" Mac asked

"Three months" Kristina answered. She and Ethan had gone over some of the basics of their relationship.

"But I thought you were still with Kiefer in September" Sam said

"Not quite."

Wheels were turning in Sam's mind maybe Kiefer wasn't the father.

Kiefer was fuming. He couldn't believe his ears the moment he left town she went and fooled around with that Aussie bastard. He couldn't take it anymore so he lashed out.

"So Kay how's the baby?"

The entire table turned to Kiefer in shock.

"What baby?" Molly asked, "You're having a baby"

"Actually, we were going to make a formal announcement after dinner." Ethan said trying to save the day. Kristina faced him with thankful eyes.

"Yes, sorry Molly I was going to tell you I just wanted to wait for the right time"

"Mom, aren't you going to say something?" Molly said finding it hard to believe that her responsible and smart older sister could make such a huge mistake.

"Actually, Kristina told me few days ago."

"And you didn't tell me?" Mac asked Alexis.

"It's her news I wanted to wait until things were clearer."

Jason was the only one who didn't speak. He could tell by the look on Sam's face that she had known. Now he was worried about what Sonny would do. Ethan was at least 23 years old and up until 6 days ago Kristina hadn't been legal. This was too much.

"Ethan, Kristina, what are your plans?" Mac asked directing his questions at Kristina and Ethan.

"I'm looking for a place in my price range." Ethan answered remembering the lie they'd cultivated

"What about marriage?"

"We … um…" Kristina didn't realize how hard it would be to lie with audience judging her every word

"Well sir, I'm working on that." Ethan said then gulped. Marriage was permanent and he was just a drifter. This wasn't his kid, he needed to be careful play his cards right. Neither of them wanted to get into something they couldn't get out of. Just stick to the story.

"What he means to say is that I don't want to get married." Kristina said preparing to go into detail but her mom saved her.

"Okay anyone ready for desert?" Alexis said rising to get cake and pie.

"Do you all have any of those pumpkin cookies?" Ethan asked Kristina

"No, we didn't make any this year, but I can bake you some tomorrow."

"No, no, don't worry about it."

Kristina couldn't help but shake her head at the look of disappointment on his face so she made a mental note to bake him and assortment of cookies.

"Well, I should get going?" Kiefer said as he rose "walk me out Kay?"

"I'll show to the door, mate." Ethan said pushing back his chair.

Dinner went smoothly after that. They talked more about Kristina's pregnancy and her plans for the future. Jason pointed out that she needed to tell her father before he discovered the truth from someone else.

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"Is my dad in?" Kristina asked the maître d'

"Yeah"

Kristina knocked on the door to her father's office

"Come in" Sonny invited.

"Hey dad"

"Kristina this is a surprise." She knew that they were constantly at war. She blamed him for most of the things that went wrong in Port Charles, him and the mob. All he brought was pain; their relationship was anything but stable. She wanted a father but she didn't want a criminal even if he supposedly had a heart.

"Yeah, I just wanted to let you know what's been going on with my life." Sonny walked around his desk and hugged his daughter.

It was moments like this that were so rare in her life. She remembered wishing that her daddy would hold her, love her, keep her safe, but now all those dreams were pointless. The more she learned about the man she called father, the more she wished she could not care. He was her dad she hated him for what he did, but she also loved him.

Pulling out of her father's embrace she watched as he sat on the edge of his desk.

"Well I'm happy you want to share with me. I missed out on so much while you were growing up." And whose fault was that.

"Dad, I'm not here for your excuses. Everyone figured it would be better if you heard my news from me rather than someone else" The sooner she got this over with the sooner she could leave. She hated how conflicted his presence made her. She wasn't a little girl any more she didn't need him or his approval.

"What's going on?" Sonny asked concerned.

"I'm pregnant."

"But you're only…" Of all the things he'd expected her to say he never imagined those would be the words out his only daughter's mouth.

"I haven't been your little girl for a long while now. Ethan and I …"

"Ethan? Luke's son?" I'm gonna kill him.

"Yes, he and I are together now. We are happy. He wanted to get married but that's not what I want."

"He took advantage of you." Say yes just give me a reason.

"No, it wasn't like that he has been amazing. It is my fault I messed up."

"Ethan isn't he …"

"No, he isn't too old for me. I'm getting tired of everyone saying that. He and I are happy; I'd think you'd be happy for us. You hated Kiefer, do you hate Ethan too?"

"No. I don't hate Ethan if he's anything like his old man I'm sure… It's hard to believe you're going to have a baby."

"Who's having a baby?" Michael asked barging into his father's office unannounced.

"I am" Kristina said turning to face her brother.

"You and Kiefer? How could you let the jerk touch you?"

"It's not Kiefer's and it's none of your business"

"She said that Ethan's the father." Sonny said answering his son's unspoken question

"The Aussie? What were you thinking? He's too old…?"

"Dad, I have to go." She moved passed her father and left.

"You aren't going to do anything about that?" Michael asked his father.

"I'm going to call Alexis. I cant' believe she's… I'm going to be a grandfather." With that Sonny sat down behind his desk.

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Ethan was at Jake's hustling a couple of high schoolers a game of Texas Hold'em. He had a pair of Jacks – Spade and club, the flop: ten of hearts, ace of spades, ten of diamonds. He started to fold, noting the light in one of his opponent's eye, but he liked his chances, the turn: two of clubs, finally the river: Jack of diamonds. After the final betting, it was time for show and tell.

"Three of a kind. Jester takes the pot – full house" Out of four player two folded after the flop the remaining guy, Ryan had King of clubs and ten of clubs. Ethan finished collecting his pot and was about to deal another hand when he was knocked out his seat.

Michael flipped the table and charged Ethan, only to meet up with Ethan's fist. The fight turned into a struggle until Coleman broke them up.

"Keep you f**king hands off my sister."

"Excuse me, mate, but it's Krissy decision on who she wants to be with. Last I checked you weren't her father."

"Our father is Sonny Corinthos so if you really think he's going to let you get away with what you've done"

"Listen kid, I could care less who your father is. I appreciate you wanting look out for your sister but where were you when she actually needed you?" Looking toward the on lookers he said, "It's been fun maybe we can have another game some other time boys."

With that he left Michael in the care of Coleman.

Ethan read his messages and realized he'd missed one from earlier

Meet me the pier Kristina 9:04 pm

It was only 9:30 she shouldn't be waiting too long. It took him less than fifteen minutes to reach the pier, he fond her sitting on the bench looking out at the sea.

"Sorry, I just got your message."

"No problem" she said facing him, "What happened to your lip?"

"It's nothing some bloke just got in a cheap shot."

"It looks like it hurts." She said remembering her own busted lip.

"A bit but nothing I can't handle."

"Have a seat." Kristina said moving her purse aside

"You speak with your dad?"

"Yes, he called me a couple of hours ago and invited us to dinner tomorrow night."

"I'm not sure if I want to do that your father is a dangerous man."

"I know but it'll be at his restaurant my mom, Jason, and Sam will be there too."

"I guess I don't have much of a choice."

"Besides I'll be there to protect you." They shared a grin "Let's go to Kelly's for tea and peach cobbler."

"Peach cobbler?"

"Yes, with homemade vanilla ice cream."

"Anything for you love." He placed his arm around her and led her to the diner. Ethan wasn't sure of his intentions. Kristina was a pretty girl and this was just a job like any other. Two more holidays and he'd be $5000 richer. Something about her got under his skin, even when she was jailbait he'd thought about maybes. He figured it was the combination of sugar and spice. She was petite with a baby face, only her eyes seemed to be daring him to have his way with her. He knew he was reading too much into this. She wasn't his type. He liked his women older with a bit of edge like her sister Sam or Rebecca but there was no denying Kristina was something special.

While eating Kristina kept thinking about what if this was all real. What if it had always been Ethan? What if this was really his child she was carrying? She knew he'd make a terrific father. She remembered how great he'd been with her sister Molly and her brother Morgan at Maxie's non-wedding reception, how he was with Jake and Cameron, his nephews. It wasn't like he'd never been around children. He was so charming. He would never treat her the way Kiefer did. He'd never abandon his child like Sonny did. She just knew that if this baby was Ethan's, were she Ethan's, this would all be perfect, things would be so different.

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