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's nice that my first Ethina fic has been so well received. This is not the last chapter there will one more coming today or tomorrow.

Chapter 6:

Ethan walked the halls of GH alone for a while trying to sort out his thoughts. Johnny was right. He was in love with Kristina. That realization hit him hard and confused him. He wasn't sure when he fell in love her but somewhere along the way it happened. He spent so much time insisting that they were just friends he actually convinced himself it was true.

What to do now though? He wanted so badly to go to her and tell her? But was he too late? Maybe when he hurt her he ruined their chance?

There was a part of Ethan that believed she was better off without him. Alexis was right Kristina had a lot of potential. She could change the world. Ethan was a conman and wasn't sure he could change or wanted to change. Were their lives even compatible?

Before he knew he was back at the nurse's station. Sonny and Jason were standing there talking. Sonny looked up and saw Ethan. He motioned for Ethan to come over. "This can't be good." Ethan muttered but he walked over to them. "Hi." He said.

"We were just talking about you." Sonny said.

"Uh oh," Ethan chuckled. "I hate to ask…"

"No, I was just telling Jason what a good job you did and how grateful I was to you." Sonny explained.

"Thank you." Ethan replied. He looked at Jason, "I was glad you showed up when you did. I couldn't have gotten both Kristina and Johnny out. I hated to leave Johnny there especially since he didn't have to help but he did anyway risking his own life."

Jason nodded," Tony and Johnny's dad were easily subdued. Johnny was down but alert and able to walk out on his own with a little help from Max. It was clean and easy."

"It all worked out." Ethan said.

"But it could have been worse," Sonny told him. Sonny looked downtrodden. "I started this while mess. I hired that lunatic and Kristina could have been killed. I was worried about you hurting Kristina and it turned out I was the problem."

"You would never hurt Kristina on purpose," Ethan said. "She knows that."

"I go a little overboard sometimes." Sonny admitted. "I worry about Kristina because she is my only girl. But I take things too far. I need listen more. Alexis has told me that over and over again…" Sonny shrugged, "I'm going to try and do better."

"That's good." Ethan said.

"Have you seen her yet?" Sonny asked.

Ethan shook his head.

"Well, she is still awake." Sonny advised him. "You could step in for a minute. She was asking for you."

"That would be ok?" Ethan asked.

Sonny shrugged, "I'm done policing her personal life. I just want her to be happy." He said. "And I guess you're not so bad."

"Thanks," Ethan said with a grin. "I think I will go and see her." Sonny pointed Ethan in the direction of Kristina's room and then they said goodbye

Kristina held her phone in her hand trying to decide what to say in the text message she was trying to send to Ethan. She wanted to know why he saved her life and took off but that was a strange thing to ask in a text message. Maybe it was best to start more casually? Or maybe she needed a reason to contact him? She could ask about Johnny. Yeah, that was good. She would send him a message asking about Johnny. It was normal for her to be concerned about Johnny… he did help save her after all.

Kristina started typing but was she was pulled away from her task by a knock on her door. "Come in." she said.

The door opened and she saw Ethan poke his head in, "Up for some company?" he asked.

"Sure," Kristina said cheerfully. "I'm not tired at all."

Ethan came in and pulled a chair up by her bed,"You really should be resting." He told her.

"I know," Kristina sighed. "I'm glad you came to see me."

"I would have come sooner but I was worried about upsetting you. You weren't very happy with me before." Ethan explained.

"I was disappointed but you're still my friend and I still wanted you here," Kristina laughed. "Plus you're not allowed to be angry at people who save your life. It's like the law or something."

Ethan chuckled,"Right," he said. He cleared his throat," I have something I want to tell you. I don't know if I should tell you or not."

"What?" Kristina asked not sure if she wanted to hear it. Maybe he was going to tell her he was leaving town or that they shouldn't be friends anymore.

"I think I am in love with you." Ethan said.

Kristina smiled and felt her heart flutter in her chest. This what she wanted. She always wanted to hear Ethan say those exact words to her. "Really?" she asked. A tear slipped down her cheek.

"You're crying." Ethan said. "Why are you crying?" He reached out and touched her face.

"I am just really happy." Kristina said. "You're serious?"

"I am serious." Ethan told her. "I have tried to deny. I have tried to fight it. But I can't do that anymore."

"What does this mean? Where do we go from here?" Kristina asked wiping the tears from her face.

Ethan laughed,"I have no idea." He said. "I guess we just figure it as we go."

"That works for me," Kristina told him. "But I will have to work on my parents."

Ethan took her hand,"We will work on that together."

Kristina squeezed his hand. "That sounds perfect." They stared at one another for a moment. "Can I ask you to do something for me?"

"Anything."Ethan said. "Do you need water? A pillow? Food? Want me to turn on the TV?" Ethan started to pull away.

Kristina grabbed his hand and pulled him close to her, "Kiss me?" she asked.

Ethan grinned, "That I can do." He whispered. He leaned forward and lightly touched his lips to hers. The feeling it gave her made her light headed. She wanted more. She leaned into the kiss parting her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

Ethan pulled away from her chuckling. He freed himself from her grasp. "Ok calm down. You're still in the hospital hooked up to all of these machines and stuff. Why we save the rest for a more comfortable atmosphere. One where doctors and nurses and especially your parents can't walk in and ruin the moment."

Kristina pouted,"Fine," she grumbled. She crossed her arms and glared at him. "I have been waiting for this for so long." She whined.

"I know. All the more reason to wait and make it special. Don't you think?" Ethan winked at her.

"I guess," Kristina relented. "You're right. Sorry."

"Please never apologize for something like that. I welcome those kinds of impulses. "Ethan said with a smile. "In fact when you get out of here I will encourage them."

"Good." Kristina said.

"But I think now you should try and get some sleep or doctors will throw me out of here." Ethan told her. He started to stand.

"Don't go?" Kristina pleaded.

"You need rest." Ethan argued.

"If you stay I promise to rest. " Kristina assured him. "I just want be near you."

Ethan thought about it and then nodded, "Ok, I will stay but no more throwing yourself at me or I will go." Ethan teased.

Kristina narrowed her eyes and threw a pillow at him. "You sleep too." She said.

Ethan sat down and took Kristina's hand. They watched TV until Kristina fell asleep and then he watched her sleep for a long time before he finally fell asleep himself. The last thing he thought before dozing off was how happy and contented he felt for the first time in a long time.