Stephan looked out the window of the posh Hotel. It was one of the few chains in the country truly suited for royalty. The butler service, high tea, and women it was good. Nicholas was due to arrive in an hour. Stephan had one desire, protect his nephew. Here, in Port Charles, he would stop his brother.
Nicholas had to be protected at any cost, even if that meant sacrificing the girl. She was dispensable. Women like her were expendable. A pretty face. A great romp in the bed. She was weak. A lying tramp. A whore. A cheap imitation of the woman Nicholas should have loved. If he could end her, he would. She would be sacrificed to save his nephew.
A sudden shiver ran through him. He knew he was not alone. Sighing he turned to see Gia standing at the door. Once again, he lost his breath. She was beautiful. Her style was impeccable. He noted the open white over coat. Her black knit dress beneath it with black calf high boots. Her hair framed her face. For the first time since she came to town it was absent her trademark braids. Stephan thought the look suited her. As difficult as it was he could not hide his physical reaction.
"I expected your husband." He said casually. "I would like to apologize for what my brother did to you…"
"Why? According to you I'm nothing but trash." Gia stood in front of him her hands shook slightly. A familiar smell filled the room. "Let's not pretend we're friends."
"We had our differences but I never wanted you hurt." He calmly gestured to a round table. He held out a chair for her. She noticed the ever-present tea tray. "Shall I pour you a cup?"
"This obsession started because of you and the old lady. I wasn't even on your brother's radar until Helena forced Nicholas to break up with me. Then I became a game." Gia took a breath.
"I'm sorry, I can protect you." He promised.
"Jason is protecting me." She leaned back in her chair. Her gaze centered on the bedroom door. Stephan gave a subtle nod. "Where is the old bag?"
He smiled wryly. Finally. "Traveling in Europe."
"Does she know?" She glared at the man. She kept her voice low.
He frowned. "I don't understand." The model lifted an eyebrow.
"Nicholas didn't tell you?" Gia clapped her hands excitedly. Leaning forward she whispered. "Adain, Elizabeth's brand new son, is Nicholas' child."
"You lie." Stephan shook as he stared through her.
"What? The Prince didn't open himself to your loving confidence?" The woman gloated. The pain of the last years came bubbling back. "Ask them about the night Helena locked them in the tunnels, an affair that lasted more than a year. Don't you know no one can resist Elizabeth golden crotch."
"How may I help you?" Stephan sat back refusing to show how shaken he was. He tried to regain his composer.
"Jason has decided to relieve you of our Helena problem." Stephan quietly moved to the desk in the far corner of the room.
"My mother's itinerary." He placed it in her steady hand. "Stavros planned her trip. She will not deviate from this schedule."
Gia walked towards the door. The man watched as she opened her purse. "I almost forgot. I bought this for Nicholas before all of this happened. Give it to him, throw it away. I don't care."She dropped the gift in his hand. One more thing, tell the Nicholas I lied, I never forgave him for sleeping with Elizabeth. When this is over, I'm going to tell Lucky the truth. He deserves that much courtesy. Oh, Stephan?"
The woman leaned into the man. "Double cross Jason and you will discover how ruthless I can be."
The model walked through the wooden door, four guards surrounded her. Stephan closed it as another one opened. "She is delectable isn't she?"
"What are you going to do?" Stephan asked knowing the child was not safe. Did he hear? Does he know?
"I will let Jason Morgan kill mother. She has become a liability as of late and I will not allow her to interfere with my plans." The elder brother stroked his black beard. He gestured for the thin bundle. Stephan handed it to him.
"You are going to allow them to kill Helena?"
"I would have allowed you to if you had the spine, but you are weak brother." Stavros smiled as he took the gold wrapping from the long package. He nodded his approval at the diamond studded platinum Armani watch. "She is far braver then I knew."
Stephan watched his brother for any sign he heard what the girl said. There was nothing. Stavros was lost in his obsession. Nothing mattered but the girl. "Yes she is."
"I'll keep this." He said as he replaced the trinket with on his wrist. "It fits perfectly."
"Stavros was there. I could smell his cologne." Gia took Jason's hand. She gave him the folder. "She will be in Paris tomorrow. I'm coming with you Jason."
"I shouldn't have let you go in alone." He whispered.
"I wasn't alone. I wasn't scared." She tried to explain. "Stavros made me into someone I didn't recognize. I'm not a murder Jason but I want this over. If taking out granny is what we need to do then let's do it."
"I'll go to Paris; you stay with Taggart and Sam." Jason replied smoothly.
"No, where you go I go."
"Gia I can't do this if I'm worried about you."
"If Stavros knows you're gone what is he going to do? I'm going." She cocked her head daring him to disagree.
Jason nodded. Carly taught him arguing with a stubborn woman was useless. "We go together, but only if you tell me what you're hiding."
Stavros relaxed in the suite two floors above where his brother was meeting with Nicholas. The Prince snarled when he thought of the weak boy. His son was meant to be strong, ruthless, feared, but Stephan made him weak. If he had been strong, he would have taken Gia Campbell as his own instead of sniffing around that trollop Elizabeth Webber. The Cassadine bloodline needed to stay strong. Gia was the only woman worthy of doing that. Her meeting with Stephan proved that to him. If she allowed Jason Morgan to kill Helena, he would have his proof and Stavros would have what he wanted. The perfect Cassadine child.
Elizabeth Webber sat in her home feeding her third child. If she could, she would pass it off as Jason's but they were not together then. Still she had Jake. Only Lulu knew the truth of her son's heritage but soon everyone would know and she would have the love of her life. Soon Stavros would have Gia and Jason would be hers.
"There's something else I need to talk to you about and I need for you to wait until I finish before you say anything." She hesitated. "When this happened…when Stavros raped me, every nightmare came true. I thought Helena set this up…I can't explain how I felt."
Jason gripped her hand. "Just say it, whatever it is it's o.k."
"When Nicholas and I broke up, when Helena threatened to kill me. I left town. It wasn't because I was hurt. I was pregnant." Gia shuddered. "I did not show much because of the way the baby was positioned. It just looked like I gained a little weight, which wasn't bad because it was winter in the fashion world and you don't do a lot of swimsuit shots. Jamie's six months old. This is the longest we've been apart and I know it's dangerous but I need my son."
"Why did you come back here?" He pulled her to his chest.
"Helena was looking for me. She didn't believe I would just leave Nicholas. I left him with my cousin. Since most of my life is outside of Port Charles, I'm with him most of the time. Ciara knows if I don't contact her she needs to take Jamie and hide. After two months, she is to disappear for good. It's been six weeks. I need my son Jason. I can't lose him."
"Does Taggart know?" Jason stroked her hair.
"No one knows. If Helena found out I was pregnant she would take him and kill me. I'm sorry I didn't trust you but I had to be sure you wouldn't abandon me."
"You did what you had to do to protect your son. I get that." Jason picked up the phone. "Get the plane ready. We'll be there in an hour."
Gia watched her husband make arrangements. Her hands trembled in her lap. She was getting her son back. Tears fell down her face. Gia fell into her husband's leg. The weeks of worry crept upon her.
"It's alright." Jason whispered. "You did the right thing. We're going to find him and bring him home but you have to tell Taggart."
Gia giggled. "He's going to kick my ass."
Jason took her hand as he led her to the plan. "No he's not. You can do no wrong in his eyes. Where are they?"
"Athens, Georgie."
Gia looked out over the tarmac. It had been an hour since Jason left the plane. The woman sat speaking to her brother. Jason would not allow her to place a call until he knew Jamie was safe. Marcus was understanding as Jason said he would be. He was hurt that she did not trust him but he understood. "Bring him home Gia."
She cried. For more than a year, she felt alone. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that she had a son. She wanted to celebrate as new mothers did. For months, she wanted to tell Nicholas the truth. She wanted him to hold her hand as she gave birth to James. She wanted to watch as he held his child for the first time. Then she discovered his affair with Elizabeth. She stumbled on his lies. Everything was a lie. Her only concern became protecting her child. Keeping her son safe.
As the limousine stopped, she watched as her husband carried the smiling boy out the car. His dark curls bounced as he looked around. Jason whispered to him. The baby responded happily. She could see what she wanted the most. Her dark hair. Laura's eyes. She heard it in his voice that night. "Any child that comes from you is our child. Agreed?" This was her family.