"Ethan, you have kept me in this loft for four days now. I'm going stir crazy!"
"Sorry, love, but you heard Epiphany. You need your rest." He told her as he sat a breakfast tray next to the bed.
She loved that Ethan had been taking care of her over the last few days, but honestly now it was starting to bug the crap out of her. "Ethan, honey," She grabbed hold of his hand. "I am fine. All I have left are some ugly looking bruises. I am in no pain. I haven't taken a pain pill since yesterday. And honestly if you don't let me leave this place today then you are going to be the one taking what's left of them."
They had been so lovey dovey lately that Kristina's tiny rant assured him that she was okay. He loved this feisty side of her, but truth was he was trying to keep her inside for as long as he could. He was still no closer to finding out who was behind all of this. Nothing had happened since the accident, which Ethan didn't seem to think was such a good thing. He wanted to have this all taken care of before Kristina was ready to leave. This didn't seem like it was going to be happening. "Come on, Krissy, just humor me for another day or two. I'm just not ready to release you back into the world. That accident really scared me."
"Babe, it hasn't snowed in days. The roads are clear and I'm sorry, but I already made plans with Maxie to go shopping."
"Shopping? What do you need to go shopping for? I can go and get you anything that you want. How about I go to the store, pick up some ice cream and…" He kissed softly on her lips and nibbled on her earlobe. "we make good use of the whip cream in the refrigerator."
With just the touch of Ethan, Kristina almost took the bait. "Ethan," His name moaned out of her mouth. "As wonderful and tasty as that sounds, it's going to have to wait. At least until I get back."
"Really, because Kristina, it's been like five days. I really need my fix of you."
"Hey, I seem to remember trying to get you to touch me yesterday and you were afraid that I was still too hurt." She pushed him out of the way and got out of the bed. "I'm meeting Maxie in an hour. I need a dress for tomorrow night."
"What's tomorrow night?" He asked.
Her eyes widened when she looked back at him. "Don't even think for one minute that we are staying in on our first New Years Eve together."
He knew he was going to get a rough go with this one, but thought it was worth a shot. "Baby, are you sure you want to go to the Haunted Star? We could still make it special…" He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "We can stay in, just the two of us. I could make you a special dinner and we can drink some champaign and watch the ball drop together."
"Ethan, what is going on with you? Don't get me wrong, I love spending time alone with you, but you're acting really strange right now."
"Nothing is going on. I was just hoping we could skip all the hoopla and enjoy a night in. Sometimes I just don't want to share you with anyone else." Ethan stumbled back and sat back on the bed.
Kristina loved Ethan and wanted to make him happy. As much as she was looking forward to a night out where everyone could see them together, she didn't want to make him do something that he didn't want to do. "I guess if it's what you really want. We can stay home."
Damn, why did this woman's feelings have to affect him so much? She was giving in to him and he was getting what he wanted, so why did he feel so guilty? Of course he knew why, he loved her. A feeling still new to him. "No, love, we'll go out. We'll go to the Star and have a great night."
She did her best to contain her excitement, but still offered him one last chance to back out. "Are you sure?"
"Definitely. I want everyone to see that this no good con man was able to snag the sexiest woman in Port Charles."
"Ethan, while I don't think I am the sexiest woman, I do know that I am the luckiest woman. You are not a no good con man. Quit comparing yourself to someone that you once were so many years ago. You're a good man. A great man. You have no idea how proud I am going to be walking into the Haunted Star on your arm."
Damn she made him feel good. "Alright, but you promise that you will be by my side all night?"
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
As long as he could keep her near him then everything should be okay. Security would always be close by. "So what do you plan on wearing?"
"Well I don't know exactly what the dress will look like, but I can guarantee you that what I have on underneath will have you wanting more than a kiss at midnight." She playfully teased as she walked out of the room and across to the bathroom where she began to run a shower.
Ethan fell back on the bed and covered his face with the palms of his hands. He never could've imagined how much he would want this girl. All he had to do was give in. Let the walls down. He just told himself that it all had to do with timing. This relationship wasn't possible years ago. The friendship needed to be there first. They needed to be apart for him to realize that no one else would ever care for him the way that she did and that she had indeed grown into a beautiful woman, both inside and out. It was perfect timing and nothing and no one was going to tear that apart.
Ethan had already put on his black dress pants and a plum purple, top of the line, button down shirt, tucked in nicely with a couple of buttons still open at the top. Much aligned to his personal style. He used the time waiting on Kristina to make a few phone calls to Johnny and the security team. "Alright, thanks Johnny. We'll see you soon." He hung up the phone just as Kristina made her entrance.
"Talking to Johnny? Isn't he going to be at the Star tonight?"
Ethan was prepared to answer, but was left speechless as Kristina approached him. The black dress was form fitting with tiny silver beading that was sewn into the fabric that covered the sweetheart bust line. Her hair had been swept up off of her neck where the dress came up to tie behind it. "You're gorgeous."
Kristina reveled in his approval and spun around, showing off her bare back. "You like it?"
"Like it?" He eliminated all the extra space between them. "Are you sure you want to go out tonight?"
"I'll make you a deal. We go to the Haunted Star, see our friends for just a little bit and then I promise you we will be home before midnight."
"You just want to show me off, don't you? I'm just a piece of candy to you, aren't I?" He joked.
"No, not just a piece of candy. I love you and I worked very hard over the last few years to get you to realize that you feel the same. So is it really so bad if I want to show off all that hard work?"
"I'm the lucky one, you know? I'm so thankful that you never gave up on me."
"There was a time that I really thought I was over you."
"I'll never disappoint you again."
"I know." She kissed him. "Now let's go. The sooner we get there the sooner we can leave."
The Star was already filled with people when they arrived. Far off in the corner Lucky stood with his hand placed gently around Elizabeth. The bond that they both once thought broken was beginning to slowly be rebuilt. Luke and Tracy were sharing laughs at the bar. Michael and Sabrina were getting to know each other for the first time as they sat with friends at a table. Kristina's mother was catching up with her ex-husband Rick who had just come back to town and her father was trying so hard to hang on to his love while getting to know all the new sides to her. Ethan and Kristina headed right over to Johnny who himself was busy flirty with a few of the single customers.
"Hey, mate. How's it going?" Ethan shook hands with Johnny.
"Going pretty good. Kristina, you look beautiful." He hugged and kissed her cheek.
"Johnny, the place looks great."
"Thanks, but I had nothing to do with it. Lulu did it all."
Ethan looked over the place, taking in all of its patrons. "The place seems pretty busy already."
"Nothing we can't handle." Johnny assured Ethan. "Come on, let's get you two a drink."
Johnny led the two over to the bar where Ethan remained standing as Kristina took a seat on a stool. "Sorry to hear about you and Carly, Johnny."
"Thanks, Kristina, but as much as I wanted things to work out with her, I have come to realize that I can't make myself be someone that I am not. I have to learn to be okay with who I am and the next person who comes into my life has got to be someone who can accept me as I am." Johnny handed out the drinks and they raised their glasses in preparation for a cheers. "To new begin…ings." Johnny's last word was trailed off because his attention was pulled toward the Haunted Star's entrance. Ethan and Kristina turned in the direction of where Johnny's eyes had fixated to.
The beautiful blonde walked in alone. Her hair was twisted up and pulled away from her flawless face. Her white flowing dress stopped several inches above the knee and was cinched in at the waist by a thick silver, sparkly belt. Her bare shoulders had been powdered with shimmer and her tiny hands clenched tightly onto her silver clutch. She looked anxious and nervous, something people who knew her were not used to seeing exude from her.
"Maxie!" Kristina jumped up and rushed over to her.
Maxie smiled as soon as she heard her name being called and seen Kristina rushing over to her. She had been a wreck deciding whether she was going to go out tonight or not. She could sit at home and pity herself for being alone on New Years or she could go out, alone, and ring in the new year with friends around her. Seeing Kristina reminded her that she had made the right decision. "Hey, girl." Now that she had connected with someone right away, it allowed for all the feelings of loneliness to instantly disappear.
"I'm so glad you decided to come out tonight."
Maxie saw the sincerity in Kristina and appreciated every word of it. There was a friendship here now that she had come to value so much over the last year. "Well you know me, I can't stay away from a great party."
"Ethan's at the bar with Johnny, come join us."
The two ladies made their way back to the bar, completely unaware of the attention their beauty was getting from the crowd.
Ethan greeted Maxie with a hug. "Hello, Maxie."
"Hey, Ethan." She then looked at Johnny who was still standing behind the bar. "Hi, Johnny. It's been awhile. How are you?"
"Well the night just got better. Maxie, you're stunning."
"Thanks, you have no idea how much I needed to hear that tonight." Her eyes were locked with Johnny's, letting the energy flow back and forth between the two of them. This wasn't a new thing Maxie was experiencing. All of her senses seemed to heighten whenever she was around Johnny.
Ethan and Kristina both noticed the intensity now in the air. "Hey, Krissy, why don't we go say hello to our parents before they start thinking we have something to hide by avoiding them."
"Yeah, I agree. Maxie, we'll be right back." Kristina locked her hand with Ethan's and they walked off. "What was that?"
Ethan grinned. "That, love, was Johnny finding his own Kristina."
She couldn't go into the Star as a guest. She would be recognized and her problem hadn't been solved yet. The timing of her reappearance had to be perfect. She waited outside for the opportunity that she knew would eventually come.
Back inside Kristina was glowing from a few times around the dance floor with Ethan. She excused herself from him to allow herself to freshen up in the restroom. Ethan glanced over at a gentleman in the corner of the room, but the man was already on it. He watched Kristina enter the bathroom alongside Maxie before beginning his conversation with Johnny.
"Maxie, I forgot my purse. I'll be right back."
Ethan and Johnny's backs were to her when she picked up her purse off of the table. She was about to turn back toward the restroom when she heard Ethan mutter her name.
"No, Kristina still has no idea. She'd freak out if she knew someone tampered with her breaks on purpose." Ethan told Johnny.
"I don't know, man, I don't think Kristina would be too happy about you keeping this from her."
"I'm protecting her, Johnny. I'm going to find out who is behind all of this and she'll never have to know."
Kristina's smile quickly faded away. Ethan had been lying to her. Whether he thought he was keeping her safe or not, he should've been honest with her. He promised he would never disappoint her again. She felt like that young naïve girl again that Ethan didn't think could take care of herself. She was hurt and angry. Kristina took two steps backwards before turning around and running out the doors of the Star. The cold winter air didn't stop Kristina until she was at Ethan's Jeep. She pulled the keys out from her purse, unlocked the door and got in and wasted no time in taking herself back home. Several minutes later she pulled into the lot of the Floating Rib. Wanting something stiffer than what their loft had in stock, Kristina let herself into the closed bar. She poured herself two fast shots of tequila before finally taking a deep breath and allowing herself to think about what had happened. Had she just acted foolish in taking off like she did? Sure she was angry with Ethan for lying to her, but to leave like she did without talking to him about it, was she proving to him that she couldn't handle any complex situation? The old, immature Kristina would handle things like this, not who she was now. She reached in her purse and grabbed her cell phone. She needed to call him.
Meanwhile at the Haunted Star, Maxie walked back up to Ethan and Johnny.
"Hey, are you ready to dance some more?" Johnny asked Maxie.
"Maybe in a minute."
"Maxie, where's Kristina?" Ethan asked as he glanced over the room.
"Isn't she out here?"
"No, she went to the restroom with you."
"Well she did, but she forgot her purse. She said she would be right back, but she never did, so I figured she must have gotten held up by someone."
Johnny could see Ethan's whole body tense up. "Victor!" Johnny hollered to the security guy standing in front of the restroom.
"What's going on?" Maxie asked, sensing something was wrong, but her question went unanswered.
Victor approached them and Ethan was quick to question him. "Where's Kristina?"
"What do you mean? She's in the restroom."
"She came right back out. Where did she go?" Ethan was inches away from the man's face, doing everything he could to keep his composure.
The man looked worriedly at Johnny. "I don't… I don't know. I figured the girls would be a minute so I went and got some water."
"You idiot!" Ethan grabbed roughly onto the front of Victor's suit.
"Ethan, not now. We have to find Kristina, it's only been a few minutes. She can't be far." Johnny turned to Victor. "Call all of your team on this boat, find out if they've seen her."
"She probably heard us talking, Johnny."
"I'm sure she did. Let's go. Maxie, stay here. Call me if she comes back. Please try to come up with something if anyone asks where we went."
Maxie just nodded. She knew there was no time to ask questions.
Ethan had already pulled out his phone and began to dial Kristina.
Just seconds earlier, Kristina had Ethan's name pulled up on her phone and was ready to hit send when she realized she was not alone.
"Hello Kristina."
Startled, Kristina dropped the phone down on the bar. She was surprised to see the person standing in front of her. It had been quite some time since the last time that she seen her.
"Maya, you scared me. What are you doing here?"
Maya slowly moved to the end of the counter, taking away Kristina's comfort of having the bar between them. "I got fired from my job."
Kristina's instincts told her that something was not right and the empty look in Maya's eyes confirmed it. "Maya, I'm sorry to hear that." Kristina allowed herself to briefly take her eyes off of Maya's and bring them down to the object that she was holding down at her side.
Maya looked down at the gun in her hand. "They said I couldn't stay focused." She laughed and then eerily looked back up at Kristina. "I had heard Ethan was back. I came back to surprise him. Tell him that I still loved him."
Kristina's phone started ringing on the counter, but she was no longer near it. Kristina had backed herself up against the wall. She was trapped behind the bar and Maya was slowly inching her way toward her. They both looked at the ringing phone. "That's probably Ethan, I should get that." Kristina tried to stay calm, but her voice was coming out shaky.
"I don't have much time." Maya pulled up on her arm and had the gun pointed straight at Kristina.
"Maya, I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"
Maya's voice stayed soft. "I never expected to come back and find you with Ethan, but then again you have always been in the way, Kristina."
"You were the one that left him, Maya."
"I was confused and not in a good place. I'm better now."
Clearly she wasn't any better. She needed help. Kristina thought she would try to make her see that. "Maya, this isn't the way to get Ethan back. Please, put down the gun. I'll leave Ethan, you can have him all to herself. I promise."
"You'll always be there. You were always there. Whenever I turned around you were there… trying to get Ethan to notice you. You preyed on his weakness for you. You knew that Ethan was the type of guy that didn't want to see a young girl hurting. You took him away from me every chance that you got."
"I'm sorry, Maya. Please don't do this." Fear had now overcome her and tears were beginning to stream down her face.
"I have too. Then I will give Ethan a day or two to grieve and then I will come in and be there for him. He will see that I love him and find his way back to me. It's perfect." She took two more steps toward Kristina.
There was nothing Kristina could do. Nowhere to go. She closed tightly on her eyes as she prepared to die. Ethan's face was the only thing in her mind. "Ethan, I love you." She whispered.
"Goodbye, Kristina. Just know that I will take care of him." Maya raised her other hand to join the one already holding the gun.
"Maya!" Ethan yelled as he burst into the Rib. Both women breathed out his name. "Maya, put down the gun!"
"Ethan, I can't do that."
"Yes, you can. Maya, put down the gun. This is not who you are. You are not a murderer."
For the first time since this all began, Maya started to show some emotion as she began to cry. "Ethan, I love you. I just want to be with you."
"Okay, Maya, but killing Kristina isn't going to do that."
"She's always in the way, Ethan!" She shouted. "She confuses you. If she's gone, you can give yourself to me completely without ever questioning how you feel for her!"
Ethan locked eyes for a quick second with Kristina. The fear coming through on her was gut wrenching for Ethan to see. He had to get her out of this. "I'm happy you're back, Maya. I've missed you. Kristina was only a substitute for you. Now that you're here, I don't need her. But Maya, I cannot be with a murderer. Put the gun down and come with me. We can go talk somewhere. We'll figure out where we go from here."
Maya was shaking. She looked back and forth between Ethan and Kristina. "Do you still love me?"
Ethan could see that he was breaking through to her. "Yes, Maya. I have always loved you and only you."
Slowly Maya lowered the gun and walked out from behind the bar. Gun still down at her side, she proceeded to move toward Ethan. She tossed her empty hand over Ethan's shoulder and almost collapsed in his arms as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Ethan's hand moved slowly down Maya's arm. "Give me the gun, baby." He looked to Kristina and they exchanged unspoken words.
Maya opened her eyes in time to see Kristina's reflection from the mirror in front of her. She was about to hand over the gun to Ethan when she seen Kristina mouth the words "I love you" to Ethan and she felt Ethan's head nod back to her. She gripped firmly back on the gun and pushed Ethan away from her. "Liar!" She screamed and pointed the gun back at Kristina who was now only several feet away from them.
"Maya, Maya, don't do this!" Ethan Pleaded.
"I hate you, you bitch!" Maya shouted before pulling the trigger.
Two shots were fired. Ethan fell to the floor in front of Kristina after he jumped in front of the bullet meant for her.
"Ethan!" Kristina shrieked and ran over to him. Pulling up on his head and placing it on her lap.
Johnny's one shot hit Maya in her chest and she laid motionless on the floor. He knelt down on the other side of Ethan and pulled out his phone where he dialed 911.
Ethan's eyes were wide as he stared up at Kristina. His breathing was erratic and he was losing a lot of blood. "Ethan, don't leave me. I love you, don't leave me!" Kristina sobbed and brushed back on Ethan's hair while she rubbed gently on his head. "Help is on the way."
Johnny put pressure on Ethan's wound. "Come on, buddy, stay with us."
Maya could feel the life slipping out of her. She watched as Johnny and Kristina tended to Ethan while she laid by herself dying. It wasn't fair. With every bit of strength she had left, she lifted her arm one last time and aimed her gun.
The piercing pain shot through Kristina's stomach. She was only able to let out a grunt as she looked into Ethan's knowing eyes. One more shot had been fired as Johnny sent one more bullet Maya's way, ending per life for good.
Kristina's tiny body slumped forward before collapsing completely next to Ethan. Their bodies laid opposite with Kristina's head down by Ethan's waist. Ethan did his best to call out to his friend. "Johnny." He stuttered. "Help her."
Ethan didn't even have to tell him. Johnny was already next to Kristina where he pulled off his shirt and held it firmly on Kristina's stomach. "You're going to be okay, Kristina, you hear me?"
Kristina could hear the sirens coming, but things were starting to blur. Johnny's face looking down on her was beginning to look distorted.
Their bodies laid still on the cold floor beneath them, but their hands slowly inched their way together. Once Ethan felt Kristina's tiny hand he used every ounce of strength he had left to intertwine his fingers with hers, only to be forced apart when the paramedics began to work on them.
Ethan was going in and out of consciousness the whole way to the hospital, but whether awake or not, his thoughts never left Kristina. He had finally found the love of his life and he couldn't lose her now. He knew she was a fighter and if anyone could pull through this, she could. Whether he made it or not, she had too. The world would lose so much without her in it.
Kristina kept herself fighting to stay awake by envisioning her future with Ethan. A future she had fought so hard to have the potential of getting. She seen a flash of a wedding and then flashed forward to picnic at a park with two young children dancing around them. She flashed years forward to them sitting on a porch old and gray and holding hands as they looked forward at a lawn full of grandchildren. This was the life meant for her and Ethan and she had to pull through to get it. She heard the machines beeping loudly around her and she knew that wasn't good, but she also knew that Ethan was fighting just as hard to stay with her.
They pulled into the hospital at the same time. Their gurney's side by side as they were rolled in. Johnny stayed with them until the staff wouldn't allow him to go any further. His heart ached for his friends. He collapsed to his knees when he realized that Ethan and Kristina's hands were connected to each other from across their rolling beds. He knew in that moment that he would never settle until he had that kind of love. It was the kind of love that made it through everything. Johnny prayed that it was enough.
Midnight came and Kristina and Ethan were not in each other's arms as they had planned. They laid in separate operating rooms fighting for their lives. Fighting for the life they wanted to have together.