Jason woke that evening with a terrible pain in his neck. He was becoming accustomed to sleeping with Gia in his arms. It felt good and he didn't want to end. He knew she was damaged but so was he. They could build a life together.
After losing Carly, Sam, and Robin, and fighting his family for his independence he was distrustful of everyone. Then came Gia; this girl who really should have been his enemy. He had found her battered and broken. She could have simply just given up but she fought her way back from the edge of devastation. She had beaten Stavros; she just needed to see that.
Jason eased himself away from her. He shifted her down on the mattress. He watched as she muttered and rolled onto her stomach, fitting his pillow under her. She smiled in her sleep. He lived for her smiles. Grabbing her abandoned pillow he stripped to his boxers and lay down on his mattress.
He didn't want this, a marriage in name only. He didn't want to be like Sonny, who had been married four times already. Jason wanted one wife forever. Why not Gia? Despite what he had originally thought of her she proved she could be trusted. She saved Emily from jumping off the roof and convinced her to go to rehab. It had been proven that she was drugged, not drunk, when she hit Carly. She got Taggart off his back and she was smart. Smart and beautiful, it was a lethal combination for a man like Jason Morgan.
He would need to convince her they could last long term. With the looks she was gave him it would not be that difficult but he wanted her love and not her dependence on him. There was just one obstacle.
Stavros. It would be hard just to make him disappear. Jason would need to think this out and every step would need to be carefully planned. If Gia was pregnant that would complicate matters even more. He balled his fist. The only child Jason wanted her to carry was his.
He draped his hand over his eyes and relaxed. Maybe he should feel guilty about his plans but he didn't. Gia was going to be his wife. Sam would say it was destiny but it didn't matter to him. It was all or nothing with Gia. Either they would stay together or he would never marry again.
Sam watched her handsome husband sleep. She felt guilty about drugging him but he hadn't slept much since Jason called and it was affecting his judgment. It wasn't like she hadn't told him what she would do if he didn't stop pacing. If he had slept he would have smelt the sweet vanilla of the drug.
He had held up his end of the bargain. When Jason called and explained the plan Marcus threw a fit knowing Stavros's men were watching. Even if they didn't know what was happening by the time they figured t out Gia would be safe. For now.
They were almost to there. Sam had to trust that Jason would keep her little sister safe. Maybe Jason would discover a few surprises about Gia along the way.
Gia stood in front of the mirror in her white and gold Grecian style wedding dress. Her hair was twisted and knotted at the top of her head. She wore a plain golden grape leaf tiara. Her makeup was very simple.
She ignored Lucky who danced around her snapping the intimate photos for their album.
"Don't forget these." Carly Quatermaine handed her three boxes wrapped in gold. "It's from your fiancé"
Gingerly she opened the first one to the gasps from her brides' maids. Earrings that matched her tiara lay on top of the deep blue cushion. Carly handed her a note.
Something old,
These belonged to my grandmother. I think she would be proud that you have them.
J.
Her hands began to shake as she tried to put them on.
"Here," Sam put them on for her.
Opening the second box she found a beautiful marquee cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds. Carly handed her a second note.
Something new,
I'm sorry it's late.
Gia, will you marry me?
J
"Oh God, that is so romantic." Emily cried wiping tears from her eyes.
"Yeah." Gia agreed whispering almost to herself.
"O.K. no crying you'll ruin your make up." Carly admonished. "Here open the last one."
Gia peeled the paper back. It was a blue silk handkerchief.
Something borrowed and blue,
I expect this back tonight.
J.
Gia folded the handkerchief and tucked it into her bosom so only a tiny piece stuck out.
They all jumped at the knock at the door.
"Hey, it's time." Marcus said stepping into the room. "Wow."
He took a deep breath and smiled at her. For the first time he could see the woman she had become instead of the little girl who played dressed up.
"You are so beautiful." He smiled at her.
He was taking Sam's advice and pretending she was marrying for love and not for her protection. He could even pretend he liked the groom.
"Marcus, don't cry." Carly whispered. He looked at the woman who just a few years ago was drugging and setting up her husband to think he had fallen off the wagon. Now she and Junior were happily married with two small children. "If you go, we'll all fall like dominos."
The ladies laughed.
"Are you ready?" He held his arm out to her. Smiling the smile she reserved for her older brother she wrapped her arm around his.
The soft sounds of a violin and bagpipes drifted up the stairs. The melody for her favorite song "You raise me up" drifted over her. She closed her eyes.
"He said you loved this song." She couldn't tell her brother that this was how she saw Jason, instead she let her tears fall unabated. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." She whispered as she began to take the stairs that would lead her to her husband.
Jason looked up the stairs as she gracefully glided down.
"Wow, man." A.J. whispered to his brother.
She was perfection. A.J. placed a restraining hand on his arm as Jason took a step forward. Nodding he retook his place and waited for her to come to him.
When she stopped in front of him he saw her tears and her smile. Removing his handkerchief he dabbed them away.
Jason looked handsome in his deep blue suite. He slicked his hair back and wore the tie clip her mother had sent for the wedding. It had belonged to her father.
"Who gives this woman to this man?"
"I do." Marcus said loudly before placing her hand in Jason's and stepping away.
Gia looked into his gently eyes. She was safe and protected. She could read the messages that flowed from him and she accepted them.
They said their vows and kissed briefly before walking back down the aisle. They headed for the gardens where the reception would be held.
Holding his hand the minutes passed with a dream like quality. They greeted their guest and accepted their congratulations. When it was time for the first dance he took her into his arms and held her close. Gia frowned slightly when she heard the song.
Are those your eyes?
Is that your smile?
I been looking at you forever,
Yet I never saw you before.
Are these your hands? Holding mine?
Now I wonder how I could have been so blind.
"That first week I brought you home… this song played on every radio station. I kept changing it and it would still come on sooner or later. I started to think that this was maybe more than coincidence that I found you."
And for the first time, I am looking in your eyes.
For the first time, I'm seeing who you are.
I can't believe how much I see,
When you're looking back at me.
Now I understand what love is,
Love is...
For the first time...
"I was falling apart, slowly." He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know how to explain it."
She nodded understanding him.
Can this be real?
Can this be true?
Am I the person I was this morning?
And are you the same you?
Its all so strange.
How can it be?
All along this love was right in front of me!
And for the first time, I am looking in your eyes.
"Jason, thank you." Gia laid her head against his shoulder as they circled the dance floor.
"For what?" He breathed her hair inhaling her scent.
"For saving me."
"You make it easy to be with you." He took a breath. "My life was so lonely. People only called me when they need me. You needed me but then I began needing you. You make me want to come home. So, I guess I should thank you."
For the first time, I am seeing who you are.
I can't believe how much I see,
When you're looking back at me.
Now I understand what love is...
Love is...
For the first time.
"I want more than just a marriage of convince. I want to be the husband you can depend on and love every day." He pressed his lips to hers. "I want you to be happy to see me every time I walk through the door. I can wait forever for the physical part of it, but emotionally I want to be your everything. Can we try for that?"
She nodded.
Such a long time ago,
I had given up on finding this emotion,
Ever again.
But you're here with me now,
Yes I found you somehow,
And I've never been so sure.
Gia looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Jason bent his head and kissed her gently. For a moment they were lost in their world.
They stopped dancing. Jason took her head in his hands and deepened the kiss. The crowd around them burst into applause. Gia hid her face in Jason's chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
For the first time, I am looking in your eyes,
For the first time, I'm seeing who you are,
Can't believe how much I see,
When you're looking back at me.
Now I understand what love is…
Love is…
For the first time.
Else where
"The surprise wedding of Quatermaine heir, Jason Morgan, and deception super model, Gia Campbell rocked Port Charles, New York; finally answering the question the fashion world had been screaming "Where in the world is Gia Campbell?"
"Noooo!"