It was an unseasonably warm Christmas day. Coats were needed, but the light cool breeze felt nice against their faces. So after spending a few nice, uneventful, hours at the lake house, Ethan and Kristina decided to park the Jeep back at the Floating Rib and walk over to the Haunted Star.
Kristina's arm was hooked onto Ethan's as they walked. "Do they know that I'm coming?" She asked.
"I sent Lulu a text and she said she would love to have you."
"Oh." Kristina hung down her head. "Did you say anything else?"
"Love," He realized her concern and stopped. "I'm going to tell them about us as soon as we get there. I just figured we would do it all at once, while everyone is there."
Her eyes beamed against the moonlight. "How do you think Luke is going to react?"
Ethan laughed as they began their walk again. "Luke can be quite the pessimist when it comes to someone claiming true love, but no matter what he tries to sell, I know he's a believer deep down in that old heart of his."
They were passing through the heart of the park when Kristina turned her attention toward the swings and very quickly got lost in thought.
Ethan tugged gently at her arm. "What are you doing?"
Kristina pressed her lips and grinned. "You know it seems so long ago now, but this is where I really realized how amazing you are."
"You know it was the same for me." Ethan added.
"No it wasn't." She laughed.
Ethan remembered their first unplanned meetings there. She was so young and had already been through so much. Too much. He should've hated her for all she had put him through, but as he still does now, he felt he needed to be there for her. "Well, no, I didn't have any inappropriate feelings for a sixteen year old girl, but it's where I got to know you and understand you. And the way you always made me feel like I was a better man than I gave myself credit for sometimes made me believe it. So for me this is where you became my friend."
"Awwwe." Kristina looked up at Ethan.
He shook his head. "All right, knock it off."
She giggled at his embarrassment. "You are so sweet."
Ethan kept a smile, but rolled his eyes. "Girl, you're going to ruin my street cred."
They continued the next few minutes of their stroll in silence. Each one of them lost in their own thoughts until Ethan stopped suddenly and turned around.
"What is it?" Kristina turned back to try and see what had grabbed Ethan's attention.
"I don't know. I just thought I heard something."
Kristina looked all around, but there was no one out but the two of them. "Well it's a little breezy out. I'm sure it was just the wind blowing through the trees."
If there was one thing that Ethan had learned at a young age and valued most about himself, it was to trust his instincts. But not wanting to worry Kristina, he gave the park one last look around. "Yeah, you're probably right. Come on, I'm sure everyone is wondering where we are." Ethan gripped firmer when he intertwined his fingers with Kristina's and picked up their pace.
Kristina really felt like she needed to take one last deep breath before they entered the Star, but Ethan didn't give her a second as he practically pushed her in by placing his hand on her back.
"Hey…" Lulu gushed as she ran up to greet them at the steps. "It's about time you got here." She wrapped her arms around Ethan for a hug and then did the same to Kristina. "I was so happy when Ethan said that you were coming."
"Thanks for having me." Kristina said as her nerves had her stomach doing inner somersaults. Any moment now Ethan would be telling his family about the two of them.
"Of course, I need another woman around here. Elizabeth was here for a moment when she dropped off the boys to Lucky, but she had to work a shift at the hospital."
Both Ethan and Kristina looked over at Lucky who was sitting on the floor of the stage playing with the boys. Lucky gave a nod to acknowledge their presence.
"Hello, Dodge." Luke walked up and joined the trio. "Good evening, Kristina, nice to see you here." He smiled, but raised an eyebrow at Ethan when he turned his head from Kristina.
"Hey, Luke, I need to talk to you for a second." Ethan stepped off the stairs. "Give me a second, love?"
Kristina couldn't believe he was going to rush away so soon after they got there. She thought he was going to announce to everyone at once that they were together. She felt a little hurt, but thought that Ethan must've figured Luke wasn't going to understand like he told her he would and wanted to pull him aside first. "Sure." Kristina watched Ethan and Luke walk over to the bar and she headed over with Lulu to join Dante.
"You know, Dodge, I knew this friendship thing of yours and Kristina's had picked back up full force since you've been back especially after learning that she has been staying with you, but I have to say that I am a bit surprised that it has turned into holiday travels together." He handed Ethan a scotch. "You want to tell me what's going on?"
"I'll get to that in a minute. First I have a question. Is Helena back in Port Charles?"
"Helena?"
"Has she made contact with you? Do you know where she is?"
Luke could see the seriousness in Ethan's face and hear it in his voice. "No, I haven't heard from her, but you know I have always kept my tabs on her, especially since she has decided to include you in her games. As of a couple of days ago she was still searching for her "stolen diamonds". It took me some time to put that wild goose chase together. I would hate to think that she has figured it out so quickly." Luke stopped to study Ethan's face. "What's going on, Dodge?"
Ethan looked back at Kristina to make sure she wasn't around them. "I think someone was following us as we walked over here tonight."
"Did you see someone?"
"No, but I heard something and when I turned around no one was there."
"Ever think that maybe it was a squirrel or somebody's lost dog?"
Ethan was starting to get annoyed at Luke's disbelief in him. "It was no dog, Luke. There was someone there and if you don't want to help me then just forget I even said anything to you." He placed both hands firmly against the bar and pushed off.
"Hey, hey, wait just a minute." Luke called out to him and Ethan stayed, but crossed his arms across his chest. "I never said that I didn't believe you, I just want to eliminate all of the possibilities before we call in the army."
Ethan had heard all of the stories about Helena from so many residents of Port Charles, most of them coming from his family. Luke had been very firm in letting Ethan know all of what she was capable of. There had always been a twisted game of cat and mouse whenever Helena or Luke got bored with everyday life. Ethan found it almost disturbing, but Luke was anything but a conventional man. But this last visit from Helena had her taking her turn in the game to a new level. One that ended with Ethan having to take off for a year living on the run. "I don't want an army if Helena is back. I'll deal with her myself."
"Dodge, I admire your enthusiasm in wanting to take Helena out, but that old bat is better than a cat when it comes to extra lives. You're gonna need something stronger than a dagger to the chest to bring her down. And no offense, but even I haven't been able to locate a heart in her yet. I'm actually beginning to think that the witch is immortal."
Ethan shook his head. "Everyone has a weak spot, Luke. I'll find hers. I am not going to let her take away anymore years of my life."
Luke looked over Ethan's shoulder at Kristina who was now playing with Lucky and the boys. "If Helena is back in town, it won't take her long to find your weakness, son."
Luke was right, Kristina was his heart now. He had always wanted to protect her in the past, but now there wasn't even a question about it. He would die for her. And the moment that someone knew that, they would surely use that against him.
"You might want to rethink this Romeo and Juliet thing you got going on here." Luke advised.
For one second only did Ethan think that he should separate himself from Kristina. He could keep her safe if he left her. It would break her heart, but it would keep her alive. Then Kristina looked up at him and with her bright beautiful smile, he was once again flooded with the love he had for her. He, himself, couldn't live without her. He looked back at Luke. "We're no Romeo and Juliet. We're our own story." He turned away and headed on his way to Kristina, starting his announcement before he got to her. "Hey everyone, I have something to tell you."
Lulu and Dante stopped eating their dessert and looked over to Ethan who took Kristina by the hand and pulled her up beside him. Luke stayed behind at the bar, but listened carefully.
"After years of having the best friend a guy could ever ask for, I have finally given in to Kristina's constant advancements." Ethan announced and Kristina giggled and jabbed her elbow playfully into his side. "Okay, I mean, I have finally realized that she is not only my best friend, but my soul mate." He gazed down into her captivating brown eyes. "I'm in love with her and I won't waste one more moment denying it." He leaned down and kissed her.
Lulu's jaw dropped happily with a smile and she rubbed onto Dante's hand before jetting over to the couple and congratulating them both with hugs. "Ethan, I always knew this day would come when you would fall in love."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh did you now?"
"Just a stubborn Spencer. Don't worry, Kristina, it's not just Ethan. It seems to run in the family." Dante said, wrapping his arm around Lulu.
"Ha ha." Lulu responded, but laid her head down on Dante's shoulder.
Ethan placed Kristina's face in his hands and kissed her. "Are you hungry?"
"We just came from my mother's house where she did the cooking, what do you think?"
"Come on, Lulu had the food brought in." He took her hand and led her to the food table.
Kristina was beyond happiness that everything was official now. Everything that she had ever gone through in her life had led her to this day. The day that she had always prayed for. She had woken up this morning and Ethan was hers. He had declared his love for her to everyone that mattered.
"Hey, everyone. Sorry we're late." Nicholas announced as he and Spencer came strolling in.
Lulu was so excited to see her brother. "Nick, you made it! You made it sound like you were going to be too tied up with business to come home this year."
He kissed her cheek. "Yeah, well, I thought a lot about it and I think it's important that Spencer knows how great it is to be around family on the holidays."
"Hey, Nick, glad to have you back." Lucky reached out his hand to his brother. Though he had forgiven him for his affair with Elizabeth, he still found it difficult to extend anything more than a handshake.
"Listen, we have so much food over on the table. You and Spencer go get something to eat." Lulu offered as she took their coats.
"Thanks, Lulu that sounds great. It was a long trip. Spencer, go see your cousins. I'll be there in a minute." Nicholas was surprised to see his own cousin standing with Ethan by the food. "Kristina, it's great to see you, but what are you doing here?" He looked curiously back and forth between her and Ethan.
"Nicholas, Ethan and I are together."
"Together?"
"Yes as in we are in love and we're also living together."
Nicholas huffed out laughter and began to get a plate together for Spencer.
"Do you have something to say, Nicholas?" Ethan didn't take nicely to Nick's response to them being a couple.
Nicholas turned back to address them. "Look, no disrespect to either of you. You're both my family and I wish you well."
"But?" Ethan pushed forward.
"But, come on, A Spencer and a Cassadine? There's too much potential for disaster."
Kristina had never been extremely close to Nicholas, but there was definitely love there between the two of them, so when Nicholas was already having her and Ethan failing before they really even got started, it infuriated her. "Thanks a lot, Nicholas! Merry Christmas to you too!" She angrily stomped past him.
Ethan never focused much on the fact that Kristina was part Cassadine. The fact that she was a Corinthos was more than enough. "You know a simple, I'm happy for you, would have sufficed."
"Listen, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset her. I was just stating the obvious."
"Not all Cassadines are evil, Nick. But speaking of evil, have you heard from your grandmother lately?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just making sure she's not going to be causing me anymore trouble."
"Well I left her in Greece."
"She's in Greece?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean she's not causing trouble. Now please excuse me. I need to go apologize to Kristina."
Well with Helena out of the country it would make it hard for her to be the one that was following them. Although she could have had someone else do it. But it wouldn't be her style not to be here to witness his murder. Maybe Luke and Kristina were right. Maybe it was just some animal that he heard.
Ethan did his best to put what he thought he heard behind him and enjoy the rest of his first real Christmas with Kristina.
A few hours later Dante and Lulu dropped them back off at their apartment. "See you guys later. Don't forget I'm expecting to see you two at the Star on New Year's Eve." Lulu said as Kristina and Ethan walked up to the apartment door.
"We'll be there." Ethan answered. "Goodnight."
Kristina was giggling all the way up the stairs because Ethan was having a hard time keeping his hands off of her. They entered their loft and Kristina didn't even have her coat off before Ethan attacked her with his mouth. "I want you so bad right now." He whispered as his lips kissed down her neck.
"Let's move to the bedroom." Kristina suggested.
The bedroom was too far away for Ethan. He needed Kristina right now. "No, right here." He had her clothes off in ten seconds and her body mounted up on the counter right after.
Kristina couldn't get Ethan's pants down fast enough. This man unleashed a want in her that no other man ever came close to doing. Ethan kept her pressed close against him, pulling back on her hair so that he could touch every inch of her neck and chest with his lips. She moaned loudly when she reached her breaking point and Ethan followed soon after. They both collapsed into each other's arms from exhaustion.
"A hot bath sounds nice." Ethan said as he helped Kristina off of the counter.
"I'll get the water going." Kristina smiled and pranced off to the bathroom.
"I'll be right there." Ethan said as he watched the flawless body of Kristina head off. He smiled to himself while he was thinking of what a lucky guy he was. He reached for his pants when his cell phone started ringing. No number came over the caller ID. "Hello." There was no answer on the other end. "Hello?" Still nothing, but Ethan could hear someone breathing. "Who is this?" He demanded, but the caller remained silent. "Whoever this is, I will find out and when I do you're going to wish you never started this little game."
"Ethan?" Kristina stepped out of the bathroom when she heard him begin to shout.
Ethan ended the call. "Just a wrong number. I'll be there in a minute." He showed a smile until Kristina was back in the bathroom. He then immediately went to the door and dead bolted it shut. Whether it was Helena or not somebody was coming to get him.