Title: Love Story

Author: h_weasley/acroley84/carlyquartermaine

Summary: Kristina fights for the right to choose.

Rating: PG-ish

Warnings:

AN: Thanks for all the reviews. It has been very encouraging. This chapter may not make you happy but bear with me and we will get to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow..

Chapter 4:

Ethan was on his way to pick up Kristina when Lulu called. "Hey," Ethan greeted. "How are you?"

"I'm good." Lulu said. "I wanted you to go to dinner with me. We need to talk about Luke."

"I don't know what's left to talk about but I can't do it tonight." Ethan said. "I'm hanging out with Kristina. We are celebrating the fact that Sonny and Alexis have backed off."

"Hmm. Ok." Lulu said. Ethan detected a tone.

"Just say whatever you are trying not to say." Ethan told her.

"Are you guys dating?" Lulu asked.

Ethan laughed, "I can't believe it. Why is it so hard to believe that she and I are just friends? I care for her and she is great girl. I want to spend time with her but that is as far is it goes."

"Well, it just seems like more and you know she wants it to be more. If what you say is true and you are just interested in being friends don't you think you are leading her on?" Lulu asked.

"Yeah she has a little crush on me but I have told her how I feel. She knows I'm not interested in anything else. I can't be friends with someone because they want more from me. How is that fair?" Ethan argued.

"You're right," lulu conceded but Ethan could tell she wasn't convinced.

"I have to pick Kristina up in about fifteen minutes." Ethan said. "Want to scold me later?"

"No need," Lulu said. "It's your business. I have other things on my mind. Just please be careful and don't do anything insane?"

"I will try," Ethan promised. "I will call you later."

"Ok, bye." Lulu said and hung up the phone.

Ethan wondered if Lulu had a point. Everyone kept telling him to back off and to leave Kristina alone. He always thought people were overacting. Was her being cruel to the one person he never wanted to be cruel to? She had been through so much was he adding to her pain? Ethan intended to shrug it off and enjoy himself tonight with his friend. He would worry about all of this later.

Ethan was a little nervous when he knocked on the door and he wasn't sure why. Alexis opened the door. She smiled at Ethan politely, "Hello Ethan." She said. "Come in. Kristina isn't ready to go yet. So have a seat."

"Alright."Ethan said and he sat on the couch beside Molly who was grinning from ear to ear. "Hi." He said to the preteen.

"Hi Ethan," Molly said. "You look nice."

Ethan looked down at his outfit which consisted of a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. The outfit was clean but not what one would call nice. "Uh-Thanks?" Ethan said not really what to say. No one said anything else but Ethan was acutely aware of Molly staring at him. Every so often he would look at her and she would break out in a huge grin. It made him nervous.

"Molly go and let Kristina know Ethan is waiting." Alexis told her youngest daughter.

"Ok," Molly said and she gave Ethan a knowing look as she skipped away.

Alexis cleared her throat and said, "I wanted to thank you Ethan for making sure Kristina got home safely the other night. The whole situation was regrettable and your help was appreciated."

"It's ok," Ethan said. "Kristina is my friend and she was in trouble and I did what I had to do."

Alexis nodded,"Well, you have my gratitude." She paused, "Also, I just wanted to touch base with you about the conversation Kristina had with her father."

"About Kristina and I being friends?" Ethan asked.

"I need you to know that I have no issue with you." Alexis said. "I am fond of Luke and I like your brother and sister also. I am not fond of your lifestyle mingling with Kristina's. Kristina is on the path we want her on…college. She is so smart and so capable."

"I know." Ethan agreed.

"Good. I'm glad you recognize it." Alexis said. "My daughter is beautiful and brilliant and amazing in every way."

"Am I sensing a but?" Ethan asked.

"But," Alexis started with a smile. "Kristina is also impetuous and rebellious and a myriad of other things that make me want to pull my hair out and makes Sonny start spewing his threats and what not."

"I understand," Ethan said. "But what are you trying to say to me?"

"Kristina keeps telling us she is an adult. Legally that is true she is an adult but she is also a kid. She is easily manipulated and I want you to be aware how easy it would be for her to get off track and lose everything she has worked for." Alexis explained. "I want Kristina to have you as friend but you and she are from different worlds. Anything other than friendship could be a disaster. And this, tonight, looks suspiciously like a date."

"For the record," Ethan told her. "This is not a date. I never said anything about a date to Kristina. This is just a celebration between friends. And I understand everything that you said and I promise I will never put Kristina's future in danger. I want nothing but the very best for her."

"I'm glad we are on the same page," Alexis said. "Would you care for something to drink while you wait?"

"No waiting necessary," Kristina said. "Here I am."

Ethan looked over and was floored by what he saw. Kristina was standing there in a beautiful red silk dress and heels. Her hair was pulled up and she looked breath taking. "Hi," Ethan said trying to regain his composure before Alexis noticed him leering at her barely legal daughter.

"Ready to go?" Kristina asked grabbing her purse.

"Uh, sure." Ethan said. He stood up and met Kristina at the door. Molly was giving him that look again. "Bye Molly."

"Bye Ethan." Molly replied. "I hope tonight is magical."

Ethan nodded,"Sure." He said. "Ok, thanks."

"Not too late," Alexis reminded Kristina.

"Got it." Kristina said.

"Good night Ethan," Alexis said.

"Good night." Ethan replied. He opened the door for Kristina and then followed her out into the night.

"Where are we going?" Kristina asked.

"It's a surprise." Ethan said. "Just trust me."

"I do." Kristina said. "Completely."

Ethan took Kristina to an arcade and she was little disappointed. "I wanted to do something fun and a little silly after all the drama we have had." Ethan told her. They played skeeball and pinball. Kristina enjoyed it… kind of. Her feet were hurting and she felt ridiculously overdressed.

They had pizza and ice cream for dinner. Kristina ate quietly trying to hide her disappointment. Ethan could obviously tell she was upset though. Finally he asked, "Is everything ok?"

Kristina nodded,"I feel a little overdressed. I wish I had known where we were going."

"Yeah but it was a surprise. " Ethan said.

"Yes it was," Kristina said.

"I'm sorry if this isn't what you wanted Kristina." Ethan said. "I thought it would be fun."

"It would be fun if I was twelve."Kristina retorted. "Just take me home, ok?"

Ethan sighed, "Ok." He said. They walked out and they were silent as Ethan walked her home. When they got to the lake house Ethan looked miserable and Kristina felt like a drama queen. "I'm sorry." Ethan said. "I screwed up."

"It's ok." Kristina said. "But why?"

Ethan shrugged," I don't know. I actually had a different evening planned."

"Really?" Kristina asked. "What?"

"I borrowed a movie projector from Tracey. I picked Casablanca…great movie. Have you seen it?" Ethan asked.

"I saw some of it on TV when I was up late one night studying." Kristina told him.

"I planned to do a picnic inside the haunted star while we watched the movie." Ethan said.

"Why didn't we do that?" Kristina demanded.

"I don't know," Ethan groaned. "I talked to Lulu and she said I might be leading you on. And then your mom was going on and on about your potential and telling me not screw your life up and then you came out dressed like that… You looked ready for a date…a real date ….and I freaked out."

"Would it be so bad to go on a date with me?" Kristina asked.

"No." Ethan said. "The next guy who dates you will be amazingly lucky. You're beautiful and smart and funny and talented. But…"

"But what?" Kristina asked softly.

"But I'm not that guy. I don't want to be that guy. I just want to be your friend" Ethan told her.

Kristina looked devastated and Ethan felt like a rat. Tears streaked down Kristina's beautiful face causing her mascara to run. "I have to go." Kristina said. "Thanks for a wonderful evening." She turned away from him and started walking towards the house.

Ethan wanted to stop her but he didn't. He walked away feeling like a jerk. She looked as though her heart was thoroughly broken and he would never forget the pain etched on her sweet face. If Sonny sent Max and Milo after him he would deserve it. He was pulled out of his thoughts by his phone ringing. " Yeah," he said absentmindedly without even looking at the caller I.D.

"Ethan!" Johnny said urgently.

"What?" Ethan asked feeling alarmed.

"I overheard my dad talking to the bodyguard Sonny fired."Johnny said." This Tony guy sounded a bit unhinged. He blames Kristina and you for getting fired. I didn't get specifics but my dad encouraged Tony to get revenge on Sonny and you and Kristina. I will call you if I hear…"

Ethan hung up his phone and turned around. He jogged back to Kristina's. He needed to warn her. He knocked on the door and waited impatiently for someone to answer. Alexis opened the door and looked at him quizzically, "Ethan?"

"I know it's late," Ethan said trying not to sound worried. "But I need to tell Kristina something. Can I talk to her?"

Alexis paled and gripped the door," She's not here. She hasn't come home yet. I thought she was with you." Alexis screeched.

Ethan pushed past Alexis and ran into the house. They checked every room and found no sign that Kristina had been back. Ethan ran back outside and took his cell phone out and called Kristina. Maybe she had gone on a walk after their unhappy celebration. It started to ring and then he heard something that made his blood run cold. He heard the ringtone Kristina set for him coming from the porch. He ran over and saw her cell phone laying there his number flashing on the color ID. Her purse was beside the cell phone. That's when he knew someone took her and she didn't go willingly.