"You're a sight for sore eyes," Dex smiled wide, seeing Kristina in the doorway. Her presence filled him with comfort and relief; it was as if last night never happened.

"Hello to you too," Kristina smirked, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. She walked past him and took a seat on the couch as he shut the door, "and for the record, I wasn't followed this time."

"Thank God."

"Yeah," she scooted closer, cuddling against him. She laid both hands on top of one another, covering his shoulder, her chin over her knuckles, "How are you? And don't say you're fine just to make me feel better."

"Can't get anything past you, can I?"

Kristina cocked her head, "Talk to me."

Dex sighed, pulling back to wrap an arm around her, "I stepped away from Diane for a minute or two at most, just to bring my car around. I come back and see her injured and I try to save her life. Next thing I know, I'm being grilled over something I didn't do."

"I'm sorry."

"And I get that Detective Scorpio is just doing his job, but…it doesn't make things any easier. I was the guy who found and saved Ava Cassadine; now I'm the guy who might've tried to kill Diane Miller."

"I know that immense public pressure is hard to deal with, but Dex, you tried to save Diane's life. You know what you did that night. If not for you, Diane wouldn't be here," Kristina turned Dex's head, looking into his eyes, "and even then, it's only been a day, if that. More evidence and information will come out, and all of this will be in the rearview."

"I wish I could have an ounce of your optimism over this," Dex smiled sadly. Kristina mirrored his expression before pulling him into a kiss. Their lips moved in sync with one another, Kristina's hands cupping his neck. He pulled away first.

"Let's not talk about it anymore," his voice was a sharp whisper. She nodded and pulled back further, laying her slightly-balled-up fists against his open palms, "It's better to talk about something that isn't so…melancholic."

"Like what? Got any ideas?"

"Well," Dex sucked in his lips for a moment as he thought his words over, "uh, you told me about wanting to own a bar. How's that going?"

"The Floating Rib?" Kristina raised an eyebrow as she asked. It dropped swiftly afterward, "It hasn't gone past the idea stage."

"Don't tell me you gave up on it."

"Mm, more like back-burned."

"And how can it be front-burner again?"

"When I have enough managerial experience under my belt."

"Kristina…" Dex frowned.

"No, really," Kristina pulled her hands away, "you were right; I don't have enough experience. Yeah, I've worked at Charlie's for a long time, but as the manager, not so much."

"But that doesn't mean you can't run a business at all."

"I dropped out of business school and I've only been a bar manager for a few months. That doesn't exactly scream 'qualified business owner.'"

"It's better than nothing at all."

"I…" Kristina blinked, "Weren't you the one being the realist on this? Now you're backtracking?"

"I'm not backtracking," Dex shook his head, "I still stand by what I said. I just don't want you to treat your idea like it's unachievable. It absolutely is, and I'm sorry I had you think otherwise."

"Don't apologize," a small smile formed on Kristina's face, "What you said was right. I'm not as qualified as I should be, and even then, I don't have the money to buy the place to begin with. Owning The Floating Rib is just…not in my future. Owning a business at all, though, is," she reached over to grab his hand, "and hopefully, so are you."

"Hopefully?"

"Well, everything's still new for us, so I don't want to jump the gun."

"Right…"

"Though, um," she ducked her head down, "speaking of jumping the gun."

"What?"

"I know that we agreed to keep us a secret, and I know it hasn't been that long, but-"

"You want to go public."

"Please," Kristina shut her eyes tight, her request coming out as a slight whine, "I don't want to hide anything from my family, and even then, I don't want to hide you."

"Krissy," Dex sighed, "you know us being public would mean my body in the pine barrens."

"No, it won't," Kristina scooted closed to him, the words rushing out of her mouth, "Okay, okay, look, my dad loves me. He'd do pretty much anything for me and would never hurt me. At least, not intentionally."

"I don't see how that's going to protect me from Sonny-"

"Listen," she grabbed both of his hands and held them tight, "you're important to me. I want to see where things go, and if my dad really loves me, and I know he does, he won't do anything to upset me. That means he won't do anything to you, even if he doesn't like that he can't."

"I don't know," Dex made a face, as if he tasted something a bit too sour, "I don't think Sonny would back off just like that. Even then, I do not want you and him fighting, especially over me."

"Trust me, Dex," Kristina's eyes sparkled with determination, "it'll be fine," she got to her feet and started walking towards the door.

"Wait," Dex turned her way, "where are you going?"

"We are going to see my dad."

"We?"

"Yes, we."

"Kristina, I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Sonny would kill me on the spot!"

"Not while I'm around," Kristina's scowl was small yet sharp, "I've lived my life putting up with my dad's opinions and, in some cases, meddling. I love him, but he doesn't get authority here. I do."

"Krissy-"

"I know you're scared," she holds his hands in hers, "and I know that you're thinking the worst."

"I have a good reason to-"

"And I don't deny that, but Dex, please, just trust me on this, okay? My dad won't lay a finger on you, I promise."

Dex wasn't sure how much time had passed between leaving his apartment and arriving at Pozzulo's. He also wasn't sure how he agreed to show up at his boss's covert business anyway. Dread and fear swallowed him whole as he stood in front of Sonny's office door. Kristina was next to him, her fingers gently grazing his knuckles in an attempt to relax him.

"It'll be okay," she whispered sharply, her fingers laced with his. She leaned forward to knock on the door. The words replayed in his head as they stepped inside.

It'll be okay. It'll be okay. It'll be-

Sonny's eyes were dark and sharp as he looked the pair over, his eyes hyper-focused on their intertwined hands. Dex gulped, doing his best to keep his composure. Kristina's grip tightened in response.

"Dad," her voice was firm and clear.

"Kristina," he replied, standing up and walking around his desk. Dex avoided his gaze, "Dex."

"There's something you should know-"

"Clearly," the kingpin pointed to their hands, "I'm sure you're going to explain that."

"Yes, and you're going to not only listen, but respect it."

"Oh, of course, let me 'respect' the fact that my employee is pursuing my daughter," Sonny walked up to Dex, getting in his face. His whispers came out as growls, "We had an agreement and you broke that. I told you to stay away and you just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

"Dad, back off," Kristina snapped, "seriously."

"Back off?! Kristina, I know what's going on here! You two are together!"

The young woman froze in her tracks, shock coloring her facial features. Dex felt himself slipping, the calmness he forced himself to don tearing at the seams.

"H-How do you know?"

"An eyewitness," Sonny stared at Dex, who mentally cursed Nina in response, "In fact, it's not just me and them who know. Your mother knows too."

Damnit, Kristina thought, slowly letting go of Dex's hand. She rubbed the sweat from it onto her pants.

"I thought I made it very clear that you two weren't going to do or be anything together," Sonny pointed at them with each hand, "and you turn around and defy me."

"You can't stop me from living my life," Kristina countered, crossing her arms, "I'm allowed to see who I want when I want."

"Do we have to do this every time, Kristina?"

"Until you finally accept that I am an adult, yes."

"Dex is no good! He's certainly not good enough for you!"

"And what if I think he is?"

"Well, I think you'd want better. I think that you don't want a criminal, that you don't want someone who could hurt you the way your past partners did. Do you even know Dex?" he gestured to the young man, "Are you even aware of the man he is outside of his association with me?"

"I know enough about him to know that I want to be with him. Yes, he works for you, but that doesn't mean he's suddenly undesirable. And yes, I've been with people that didn't love me the way I loved them, but Dex…it's not like that with him."

Sonny stopped in his tracks, his eyebrows raised up as he looked at his daughter, "What?"

"Dex…" Kristina looked at him, holding his hand once more. She gazed into his bright eyes, "likes me for me. He isn't using me, he isn't conflicted about his feelings for me, he isn't doing any of that. For once, I found someone that actually wants Kristina Corinthos-Davis. Can't you just be happy for me, just this once?"

"You know," Sonny's voice dropped to a cool yet vocal mutter, "your mother said the same thing."

"She did?"

"She likes that you," his eyes land on Dex again, "like our daughter for who she is."

"I do," he said, his voice cracking.

"What do you like about her?"

Dex felt his hands shake at his sides, but he stood firm, "I…like her feistiness, her big heart, her open mind, her beauty. I trust her and feel comfortable with her, and it's…it's something I've never really had."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, boss."

"He's been nothing but good to me," Kristina chimed in.

"Well, lucky for you, there's evidence to support that."

"Nina saw us at Noodle Buddha," Dex remarked, which caused Kristina to rapidly glance between him and her father.

"That she did, and she told me about how much of a gentleman you were, how you both were having a good time."

"And that's true."

Sonny looked between the couple, taking in his daughter's firm, protective determination and his employee's reserved nervousness. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, sighing as he began to speak.

"Look, I'm never going to be a fan of this," he said, "I still think my employer has no business dating my daughter, and vice versa. And for the record, your mother isn't really okay with this either."

"But…?" Kristina asked.

"She doesn't want to fight with you anymore than she already has…and neither do I. Kristina, if you're truly happy being with Dex, then all I can do is let you be happy. You're my little girl, and I'm always going to want what I think is best, but as you say, you're an adult, and I just…need to accept that."

"So…you're not going to kill Dex."

"Should he continue to be a gentleman and care for you the way you deserve, I won't even consider it. However, the second he steps out of line, all bets are off."

"I wouldn't dare hurt her, boss. Never."

"I just hope you stick to that," Sonny stared him down, "for your sake."

"I will; I swear on my life."

"Good," the older man walked around the corner of his desk and took his seat, "and for what it's worth, I appreciate that you came to tell me."

"O-Of course," Kristina ran a thumb across Dex's skin as he spoke, "Your daughter means a lot to me…and…"

"And?"

"Uh," Dex glanced between his girlfriend and her father, "if I may, there's something I want to ask you."

"...What?" there was a tense apprehension in Sonny's voice.

"I…was wondering if you'd…consider…buying The Floating Rib."

"Dex," Kristina's whisper was sharp as Sonny raised an eyebrow.

"Why would I do that?" he asked.

"Because there's someone who deserves to own it," he turned to the young woman, squeezing her hand.

"...You want to own The Floating Rib?" Sonny looked at Kristina with surprise.

"I…" she took a deep breath before continuing, "Mom told me it was on the market awhile back, and it just…came to me on a whim. I mean, I'd like to own and run my own bar someday, but I know that owning and running The Floating Rib is just…not gonna happen."

"And I disagree," Dex's voice possessed a firmness he otherwise didn't have since he stepped foot in the office, "Like I said, boss, I care about Kristina. I want the best for her too, and she deserves the chance to do something she wants to do, but otherwise can't."

"Are you okay with this?" Sonny asked his daughter. She remained quiet, looking between the men, "Kristina."

She eventually nodded. Sonny quietly looked between the pair, and Dex did his best to come up with what to say in the (likely) case he'd be rejected.

Yes, I care about Kristina that much to ask. I don't just want to prove my feelings are real, I want to support the woman I deeply care for. Use my paycheck and the one after it to cover the cost; whatever it takes for her to achieve her dream.

"I'll do it."

"What…?" Kristina's voice cracked in response.

"I'll buy The Floating Rib for you," Sonny replied, "Dex cares enough to ask me, and I, too, want you to get what you want. And for the record," he looked at Dex, "this is coming out of your paycheck: every single penny."

"Take as much as you need."

"Thank you, Dad," Kristina raced over to hug him tight, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Anything for you, sweetheart," the mob don grinned as he held her, "I love you."

"I love you too," she pulled away, "Well, it looks like I've got some work to do."

"Thank you," Dex's voice was soft as he spoke. He and Kristina walked out of the office soon afterward. She donned a massive grin, her body glowing with delight as she pulled Dex into her arms.

"Thank you," she cooed, planting a strong, deep kiss on his lips, "You have no idea how much I appreciate this."

"I want you to be happy, and even if this is a long-shot, it's worth the investment."

"I couldn't be more grateful for you," she stepped back, holding one of his hands between both of her own, "and I think we should celebrate. How does a Haven Bistro brunch sound?"