"Tell me you're joking."
Kristina's eyes grew wide the moment she walked into the penthouse. A plethora of cardboard boxes litter the front room, with most of the small items packed away. Sam stands by a stack level with her height, a hand on her hip.
"What?" she asks.
"You're moving?"
"Yes?"
"Why?"
"Well," Sam looks around, "this isn't exactly a lot of room for a family of five."
"I thought things were working out here?"
"They were."
"What changed?"
"Teenage independence," Sam sighs, picking up a small, empty box, "Rocco and Danny got into a fight."
"Over what?"
"I don't know; they wouldn't tell me or Dante."
"Is this recent?"
"Sort of, yeah, but it's something that's kind of been building."
"Where are you going to live?"
"Dante's old house."
"Then one he had with Lulu," Kristina gives her sister a look, her head ducked down, "And you're okay with that?"
"I am," Sam crosses her arms, "Dante and I are in a good place, and it's not like I'm getting rid of Lulu or anything. There's more room, and Rocco can be close to his mom while also still having a good relationship with me."
"Why didn't you guys move there in the first place, then?"
"Well, at the time, we thought it would be hard for Rocco. But now, he's more open to it."
"So…what, you're going to just sell this place?" Kristina proceeds to slowly walk around, "You're going to leave everything that's happened here behind? Everything with Jason, Danny, Scout-"
"Yeah, there are a lot of memories here…" Sam looks around, admiring the space, "but they're memories for a reason. I'll always cherish my time here in the penthouse, but my life then and my life now are completely different, and a change of venue is kind of…needed."
"I guess…"
"Krissy," Sam hugs her, "it's going to be fine."
"I know, but," the younger woman looks around again, "it doesn't feel right to let someone so disconnected from this place's history move in."
"I get that, but it's just a place at the end of the day."
"That's quite a nonchalant attitude you got there."
"...Okay, come here," Sam drags Kristina to the untouched couch, "You're way too defensive over this."
"I have a reason to be, Sam! This place has been a staple of our lives; you've lived here forever! You did your work here, you had kids here, you fell in love here! Why are you going to leave?"
Sam grabs her sister's hand, squeezing it, "Things change. I'm not going to forget everything that's happened here, but just because it's been part of my life for so long doesn't mean I have to keep it forever. I'm not the same woman I was all those years ago; I have a family to consider. And this place doesn't work for us anymore."
"But-"
"And when this baby is born," she points to Kristina's bump, "and grows up, Molly and TJ could look at other homes. Hell, even Mom could consider a move."
"You know she won't."
"...Yeah, she won't," the girls giggle simultaneously, Sam swiftly stopping herself, "but seriously, Kristina, moves like this are just…part of life. When you have your own kids someday, you'll get it."
Kristina sucks in her lips, that familiar pang of guilt biting at her. There's an impulse tugging at her, begging for her attention, and the confession that she is, in fact, having her own kid hangs off her lips.
"...I just don't want this place to go to someone who won't appreciate it," she ultimately says, her voice soft.
"Dante and I will find someone who'll take good care of it. We're going to try and rent it out before settling on a permanent buyer."
The offer takes a very familiar tumble out of her mouth: "Can the permanent buyer be family?"
Sam stares head-on at her sister, blinking a few times. She then raises an eyebrow at her, giving her a quizzical once-over, "Is that a serious offer?"
"Um…" Kristina processes exactly what she said, and she mentally kicks herself.
"Do you even have the money to buy the penthouse?"
"Well, no, but I'm sure I can get some help."
"So you're serious about buying it?"
"Well, maybe not buying. That's money I don't have, but maybe I could rent it? I just want this place to stay in the family, that's all."
"Well, if you're that dedicated to it, then yeah, why not move in? I'm fine with it, and I don't see any reason why Dante wouldn't be fine with it too."
"Well…then…yes!" Kristina claps her hands together, "I'd love to move in!"
"Great-" Sam's answer gets cut off by a knock at the door. She gets to her feet and opens it, smiling at the man on the other side, "Dex, hey. I'm glad you came."
"Dex?" Kristina slowly stands up, turning towards the door, "What are you doing here?"
"Sam called," he answers, approaching her and pulling her into a hug, planting a kiss on her forehead, "How are you?"
"I'm good," her response is soft, "and so is she."
"I asked Dex to help with moving," Sam cut in, "It's just a happy coincidence you came by."
"Well, any excuse to see my boyfriend is a good one."
"Boyfriend?" Sam raises a curious eyebrow, a smirk on her face. Kristina rolls her eyes with a smile on her face as Dex holds her close, an arm around her shoulders, "Is this new?"
"About two weeks old," Dex replies, looking at Sam, "You're…kind of the first to know."
"Lucky me. Are you going to tell anyone else?"
"...Eventually."
"So never."
"I mean, Molly and TJ can know. So can Mom-"
"Ooh, Mom? That's a twist. What about Sonny?"
Silence.
Sam nods her head in understanding, "Okay, well, why don't we get to work, hm?"
"Right, yes," Dex nods hastily, grabbing a box. Kristina took a seat on the leather couch, watching them stuff each and every trinket they could into the cardboard structures. Most of the items are packed when the front door opens up, Dante walking in.
"Sheesh," he hisses as he approaches Kristina, "I was gone for, what, half-an-hour?"
"Were you?" Kristina smirks, pointing her thumb to the back hallway arch, "They're in the kitchen."
"Oh good, they've got plenty to pack."
"You're not helping them?"
"I will, but I think I should check on my sister first," he takes a seat next to her, "How are you doing?"
"Good," she rests her hands on her stomach, "we're good."
"How far along are you?"
"I hit seven months a few days ago. I can barely see my feet," she laughs.
"That's fun," Dante chuckles, "How's everything else? Weren't you starting your own business?"
"I am. The building's ready, the paperwork went through, and as of last night, the board is complete. Now I just need some support staff and Corinthos-Davis House can finally open."
"Who's on your board?"
"Dr. Randolph," she counts on one hand, "Diane, Lucas, Ned, and Michael."
"How'd you manage that?"
"Well, Terry and Lucas pretty much said yes before I could explain all the details, Diane and Ned were recommended by my mom, and Michael took a bit of pestering, and begging, but he agreed."
"That's great," Dante playfully punches her shoulder, eliciting a giggle, "I'm happy for you."
"Thank you."
"What about employees?"
"There's some applicants I like so far, but I'm still looking."
"Looking for what?" Sam asks as she and Dex come back into the living room.
"Employees for her business," Dante responds as Sam sits on the arm of the sofa behind him.
"You haven't hired anyone yet?" Dex takes a seat next to Kristina, wrapping an arm around her, braced across her chest. Dante raises a curious eyebrow before looking up at Sam, smiling at her expression of affirmation.
"Not yet, but I'm getting there," she beams at him, "I know I'll find the right people: a staff full of empathy and acceptance."
Dex doesn't respond, gently kissing the side of her head. The couples sit in comfortable silence for a moment before the sound of something dropping upstairs startles them.
"What was that?" Sam asks, getting to her feet. Dante joins her.
"I don't know," he answers, nodding his head up. They walk off, rushing upstairs. Dex and Kristina separate but stay put on the couch.
"What do you think that was?" he asks.
"Not sure. I hope the kids are okay."
"Yeah," he settles against the furniture, Kristina draping her legs across his lap, "but, uh, with your employee search, who's stuck out to you?"
"Well, there's a girl who just graduated from PCU with a degree in psychology," she counts on her fingers, "a guy who just moved here from San Francisco, and someone I know from the Youth Center."
"Are you going to hire all of them?"
"Probably, and I have a bunch of applicants left to go through," she locks her fingers together, "Things are looking up for me: Corinthos-Davis House is coming together, I'm getting a new place to live-"
"Oh yeah? Where?"
"Where do you think?" she gestures around the room. Dex follows her turns, eyebrows raised upwards.
"Are they going to leave you anything?"
"I have no idea," she laughs.
"Is it just you? Or you and Amy-"
"Or you and me."
Dex blinks at her a few times, processing her words. Kristina bites her lip again, gazing up at him hopefully.
"What?" he asks softly.
"Move in with me," she says in the same tone, eyes sparkling bright. He matches her gaze as he pulls her closer, seating her squarely in his lap with his arms wrapped around her. Her head rests on his shoulder, the side of her bump against his torso. Her cheeks turn a brighter pink when she feels the baby kick against him.
"Is that a yes?" she asks curiously. Dex doesn't answer, smiling at her before he plants a kiss on her lips. She pulls away first, marveling at him.
"So," he clears his throat, "how are you breaking the news to Amy?"
"I'll tell her, and she'll wonder why we didn't move in together sooner."
"True," he laughs just as Dante and Sam walks down the stairs, "very true."
"Hey," Kristina backs off of Dex, looking at her siblings, "was everything okay?"
"Yeah," Dante sighs, Sam resting her hands on his shoulders, "A shelf broke and everything on it fell. No children or objects were harmed," he claps his hands, "Now, let's get back to it, shall we?"
The day progresses with a litany of cardboard boxes piling up in the living room, resting on furniture as well as the floor. Danny, Rocco, and Scout take their time as they bring down everything from their rooms, their boxes being the first in the moving truck. One by one, box by box, the penthouse is emptied out, save for a few furniture pieces. When Kristina and Dex re-enter the space, they take in its emptiness.
"Well," Kristina meanders around the living room, "this is our space now."
"It's nice," Dex looks around, nodding, "though I'm not sure how we can afford it."
"Don't worry about that," she winks, "Sam and I will work that out."
"Sure."
She steps closer to him, "You're sure you're okay with moving in here together?"
"I mean," he rests his hands on her waist, "you have been unofficially living with me for the past few months. Why not make it more official?"
"Fair point," she laughs, "Well, we got a lot to pack and move, huh?"
"Speak for yourself. I have the furniture."
"Well, you better get moving, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah," he rolls his eyes playfully as they leave the penthouse, Kristina locking the door behind her. Dex takes her back to her apartment, dropping her off before going back to his own. The day drags on as Kristina, grateful that Amy had a day off, packs away her belongings. The ride back feels slower than it should, but she's excited the entire way there.
"Oh, Krissy," Amy sighs as she sets the last of her boxes down, "you're really growing up."
Kristina laughs before pulling her into a hug. They smile wide at one another before the blonde makes her exit. She turns to look at her former roommate, "If you ever need anything, you let me know, okay?"
"I absolutely will. Thank you, Amy. Love you."
"Love you too," the door shuts behind her. Kristina meanders around the space, a hand on her stomach.
"Well, baby," she begins, "this is our new home; it's you and me and Daddy all together under one roof. I know you'll be here in a month or two, and I'll only get to hold you for a little bit before the doctors give you to Aunt Molly and Uncle TJ. Daddy and I will still be part of your life as Aunt Krissy and Uncle Dex, but…" she takes a breath, feeling herself choke up, "I'm sorry, baby girl. I'm so sorry."
She tries her best to compose herself, the baby's kick firm against her palm, "It's not fair to you or Daddy, it's not fair to Aunt Molly and Uncle TJ, it's not fair to anyone. I hate lying to everyone like this, and I hate that I've put us into this dilemma. Unfortunately, I'm in too deep to break the news, and…and…"
She takes a seat on the stairs, rubbing her bump. Her eyes are red as she sniffs, "God, if I could go back and fix this, I would. It would be you and me and Daddy as a happy family. But I can't fix this, and I have to live with what comes next. All I can hope for is that you're healthy and perfect, because if this blows up in my face, that's the only thing I can hold onto."
She tries to wipe her face clean, tears still streaming down her cheeks. The door opens and closes, the sound of it distant, and she wishes she could be anywhere else. Strong arms wrap around her, the ever-familiar warmth of the hug only breaking her down further. Dex's soft coos and gentle kisses to her forehead do little to ease her anguish.
"I'm sorry," she sobs into his chest, gripping his shirt tightly. He rubs her back, "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," he mutters, "Whatever it is, it's okay."
"No-" she pulls away, rubbing her face again. Her eyes burn as she looks at him, trying to stay strong, "it's not."
"What's wrong?"
"Do…" she clears his throat, holding his hands in hers, "Do you remember that var ride to my ultrasound, when you picked up on how I wanted to tell you something?"
"Yes? You told me I'd find out soon, when the time was right."
"And now's the right time," she squeezes his hands tighter, "I just…I hope, I pray, you don't hate me after what I'm about to say."
"What is it?"
Kristina's mouth clamps shut as she tries to find a way to spill her guts. Dex's worried expression makes it hard on her, and she thinks that no matter how she tells him, it won't make much of a difference. She thinks, she knows, he'll hate her, and the thought makes her sick.
Just as she opens her mouth, the words hanging off her lips, a series of rapid knocks catches his attention. He pulls his hands away and gets to his feet, stepping down the stairs and opening the door. The sight before him makes his blood run cold.
Josslyn stands firm, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. Her lips stick out in disapproval, eyebrows furrowed in bitterness. Dex gulps slightly just as the sound of footsteps echo behind him. Kristina stands to his left, a curious look on her face. She slightly glares at Josslyn when the scowl is thrown her way.
"Joss," she says, "what brings you by? Are you looking for Dante or Sam?"
"No, actually," she answers, "I'm here to see Dex."
"How did you know I was here?" he asks, his eyes dark.
"Well, I went to your apartment, only for a neighbor to say you were in the middle of moving out. I came here to ask Sonny what the hell's going on when, ironically, I ran into Dante, and he told me."
"Why do you need to talk to Dex?"
"Frankly, Kristina, it's none of your business. This is a conversation between me and him," she points a finger between her and Dex, "see your way out of it."
"...Okay," Kristina hisses in annoyance, looking up at Dex, "I'll give you two some space and head over to my dad's," she squeezes his shoulder, "If you need anything, let me know, okay?"
She slides past the blonde, giving her a parting scowl, and makes her way around the corner. Dex glares down at Josslyn, displeasure present on his face. The young woman rolls her eyes and walks past him, entering the penthouse. He reluctantly shuts the door behind him, turning to look at her.
"What do you want, Joss?" he asks.
"The truth," her answer is scathing, "We barely talk as it is, we don't spend a lot of time together anymore thanks to whatever BS excuse you give me. I'm sick of the distance, I'm sick of the crap, I'm sick of all of it. It's time to fess up to what's really going on with you, Dex. Start talking. Now."