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Gia and Nikolas Headquarters
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Chapter 16
The pounding on the door kept getting louder…. “Hold your cotton-pickin’ horses I’m coming…” Luke opened the door to the last person he expected to see at 3 in the morning. “Well, hello, Vlad…what the hell do you want…?” “We must speak, Spencer…” “Oh we must, must we?” “Yes..” “Then by all means, go right ahead Chuckles….speak and let me get the hell back to sleep….” “I have a proposition for you….” “Well that’s interesting and all but business hours aren’t until noonish for me, so goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the …what am I saying, let ‘em bite…” “It is a proposition that I think you’ll want to hear…” “Oh really….now why the hell do you think that…” “It will get you everything your little plebeian heart desires…” “Well, now you’ve got this plebe’s attention…start talkin’….” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Two weeks later…. “Nikolas, I’m not sure about this….” “Why?….We have to tell them sometime…” “After what happened to Chloe…isn’t it a little soon?” “Gia, it’s not like it’s some kind of bad thing…besides…they’ll find out pretty soon anyway…it’ll be hard to hide…” “Can’t we just wait until your birthday or some other occasion like that…some excuse for a family gathering instead of calling a meeting…” “My birthday was four months ago…so no…it won’t work…” “Oh, why didn’t you tell me?” “You were still hiding out at Windemere…what were you going to do anyway…?” “I don’t know….bake a cake….spank you…”, she said coyly, and gave a wry wink. “Gia isn’t that what caused our current problem in the first place…?.” “Yes, it is…but it would have been fun.” “I won’t argue with you on that…they’re all waiting downstairs…you ready?” “As ready as I’ll ever be….” They walked out of the master bedroom and stopped at the top of the stairs. Looking down to the living room, they could hear them speculating in muffled whispers. Lucky, Elizabeth, Emily, Stefan, Laura, Lulu, Taggert, and Florence were all sitting around, all trying to act like no one was wondering what was going on… Nikolas zeroed in on his Uncle’s conversation with his mother…. “So she hasn’t said anything?…” “Not a word…not since I told her what happened…” “But didn’t Tony say her sight was coming back…” “Yes…I can tell she’s starting to see things now…but she doesn’t speak….she just stands at the large window overlooking the lake and stares all day. At night she sits and stares into the fire…...I’m not sure…” “I’m sorry, Stefan…I didn’t know Chloe very well, but I’m…” “You speak of her in the past tense….she’s not dead…” “Yes I know…I’m sorry Stefan…I don’t know what else to say…” Gia’s attention was focused squarely on her mother and her brother… “Why are we here Marcus….she’s not doing what I think she’s doing is she?” “What’s that mother…..?” “Marrying him…tell me she isn’t getting married. She’s too young Marcus….” “I agree, Mom…” “I mean you’re not even married yet..” “I know that, mom…. “Now why is that again…?” “Mom we’ve gone into this…..” Gia smiled…Nikolas looked at her and squeezed her hand. “You ready?” “Yeah….let’s do this…” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* They walked down the stairs and found themselves the center of attention. Nikolas began to speak…. “Thank you all for coming tonight….we’ll be having dinner in about 30 minutes…I hope everyone’s hungry…” Laura looked up…. “Nikolas….I’m sure we’re all looking forward to dinner…but that’s not why we’re here is it…?” Nikolas looked down at his shoes…Gia took over. “No, Mrs. Spencer. It’s not….” “Well it’s not anything bad is it?” asked Emily…. “No, no…” answered Nikolas… “ in fact, it’s a good thing….a very good thing…” Liz blurted “You’re not getting married, are you?” Gia looked at her, wondering at her tone…. “No…Nikolas hasn’t asked me to marry him…” Nikolas squeezed her hand, and mouthed “yet”. Florence exclaimed “Thank God!”. Stefan and Laura quickly turned to look at her…she was somewhat embarrassed. Lucky stepped forward… “So then…what’s the big secret…you two decide to go steady?” Nikolas smiled… “No, no…bigger than that….” Emily couldn’t take it…. “Okay spill…” Gia stepped toward her mother and Nikolas toward Stefan and Laura, Gia taking her mother’s hand and Nikolas his mother’s. Their other hands were wrapped around each other. Gia looked at Nikolas and nodded… Nikolas took a deep breath and said “Mrs. Campbell, Mom, Uncle…we’re having a baby….” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Florence fainted dead away, while Lucky laughed. Stefan turned his face away and started to cry…Laura stood there speechless. “Mom…you going to say something….?” “You’re sure….I mean…you’re sure…I’m going to be a grandmother…” Lucky slapped Nikolas on the back…“And I’m going to be an uncle….way to go, big brother.” As Gia and Taggert got their mother to the couch, they were relieved to see she hadn’t had another heart attack. Laura approached Gia… “Well…” “Well…” “I guess congratulations are in order…” “Thank you, Mrs. Spencer…that means a lot….” “I think under the circumstances you can call me Laura…heck, call me Mom if you want to….” “I’d like that….” Emily hugged Nikolas while Liz stood in the corner whispering to Lucky. She finally walked up to Nikolas. “You’re happy?” “Yes, Elizabeth…I am…” “Then I’m happy for you…” .She hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek… “Hey…watch it now…he’s spoken for…” “He’s all yours, Gia…I got a son of Laura Spencer for myself….” “Too bad there’s not a third for Em….” Emily smiled and said… “Oh that’s all right. I think two are just about as many as one planet can handle…” They laughed, but Nikolas noticed that Stefan had walked out into the yard. Gia went to go help her brother with Florence, and he walked outside to follow Stefan. “Uncle…” “Nikolas…this is a great day…” “I understand if you’re hurting…” “This doesn’t hurt me…no…far from it….this makes me happy…” “Really?…I mean you’re not upset…” “That you’ve created a life with someone you care about…? Never….tell me Nikolas….you do love her don’t you?” “I think so…yeah….yeah I do…” “Then tell her. Tonight. Days like today are few and far between in any man’s life. Revel in them. And look forward to the day that your son or daughter tells you what you told your mother today. You must never waste your happiness worrying about the sadness of others. Especially not mine. It is my greatest happiness to see you happy. You know that don’t you…?” “Yes, Uncle…” “And Gia makes you happy, doesn’t she…?” “Yes…more than I thought possible…” “Then treasure her…treat her well…and tell her Nikolas…life is too short to waste time hesitating…you must never hesitate when it’s something this important…Look at me…is this the same little boy I had to scold for putting marmalade in his socks?” “That was a long time ago…” “Yes…but you have many things like that to look forward to….I was so fortunate to get that opportunity Nikolas...don't squander it…” “I won’t, I won’t.” “See that you don’t. Now there is another consideration. Your grandmother…” “I’m already on that….” He made a short call on his cell phone and a man got out of a car Stefan hadn’t noticed that was sitting at the end of the drive. Making his way to the house, Stefan could see he was a well-built man of around Nikolas’ age, with a shaven head and a goatee. He was also obviously carrying a weapon beneath his jacket. “Uncle, this is Darius….Darius, this is my uncle Stefan.” “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cassadine.” “So Darius…I take it you’re to guard Miss Campbell.” “That’s what I’ve been spending the last two months training to do.” Stefan looked at Nikolas…. “He’s fresh out of training…and you’re trusting him with the mother of your child?” “I trust Darius…” “And you say you were trained especially to guard Miss Campbell…?” “Yes, sir, I was informed of my client when I began training at the Cassadine Compound.” “Nikolas?” “I knew I wanted her guarded even then….” “Good instincts…” “Or just dumb luck she stuck with me…” Stefan smiled at his nephew…. “A little good fortune never hurts.” “So….Darius…I think it’s time we introduced you to Gia…” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* They walked into the cottage, to find Florence staring at them. She and Taggert walked toward Nikolas. Taggert shook his hand. “You know what you’re getting yourself in for with her?” “I’ve got a pretty good idea….” “Well I’m sure you’re about to find out…but I trust you….” “Thanks…that means a lot…” “Just don’t prove me wrong…” “I won’t. I promise.” “Well, I’ve got to go back to the station….make sure my sister eats enough. She’s eating for two now.” He cast a sidelong look at Darius as he walked out, registering the concealed weapon. Looking back at Nikolas, he said “Already looking after it, I see.” Nikolas looked back to Florence…tears were barely dry on her face. She walked toward him and planted a finger in his chest. “You….” “Yes, Mrs. Campbell…” “You had better take care of my baby….” “I plan on it, Mrs. Campbell…”…. “Now come here..” she said, reaching up and hugging him… “And call me Mom…” After dinner they all filed out, and Lucky, Elizabeth, and Emily helped them clean up… Elizabeth was upstairs talking to Gia about which room would be best for a nursery, while Lucky and Nikolas stood outside looking at the sky. Emily was finishing up in the kitchen. “So…” “So…” “How’s it feel to be Uncle Lucky?” “Tell me how it feels to be a Dad?” “I don’t know…I’ll tell you in about 7 months….” “You sure you’re ready for this….” “No….but I know I want it….” “This isn’t like the last time, is it?” “Katherine….no….no way….this is something ….different….I can’t explain it…it’s like it’s something that would seem wrong if it didn’t happen….you know what I mean…?” Lucky looked back at the cottage, spying Elizabeth and Gia through the upstairs window... “Yeah…yeah… I think I do….” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Emily had only one plate left to dry….she was just putting it back in the cupboard when a hand touched her from behind. She turned and was shocked to see Gia’s new bodyguard, Darius, staring very intently at her. She knew those eyes from somewhere… He reached into his coat. For a second, she panicked thinking he was going for his gun…instead he reached in his pocket…. “I don’t know if I should give you these….” “What….” “Ah what the heck…..close your eyes…” “I don’t know…Nikolas trusts you, ...but I just met you…” “Just close your eyes….” “Okay….but don’t get any ideas just cause you work for my friend, doesn’t mean..” “Open them.” She opened her eyes to see ten grape pixie sticks in his hand. She then looked up into his eyes, and recognition dawned…. “Zander?” “Darius is my middle name.” Three hours later, Gia and Nikolas were laying on the floor by the fire, when Gia was amused to see Emily come from the kitchen with a mile wide grin on her face…. Nikolas walked her to the door. “Thanks for coming, Em…” “Thank you, Nikolas…” “No problem…I promised you, and you know I keep my promises…” “and if I haven’t told you yet….Congratulations Nikolas….” “Thanks, Em….” He walked back to the fire. Zander walked out of the kitchen and stood staring at the flames. Gia looked up at him and chuckled as Nikolas settled in beside her… “So….I gather Emily liked our little surprise for her….” “Yeah…she did…thank you again, Nikolas…I can’t thank you enough…” “All the thanks I need is for you to do your job….and keep Gia safe…” “Will do….”…The big grandfather clock against the far wall began to strike eleven… “it’s late…I’m gonna hit the sack…Good night….” “Good night…” Gia and Nikolas sat in silence for they didn’t know how long…Gia could tell that Nikolas had something on his mind….finally he spoke…. “So…” “So…” “How do you think your mom reacted to her new title as grandmother?” “About as well as could be expected. She was more worried about us getting married, she never expected something worse.” “Oh it’s worse, huh…” “To my mom, maybe…not to me…. Nothing’s bad about it to me..” “So she’s okay with being called Grandmother, huh….” “Grandmother…? Our kid’s not gonna be so formal… she’s going to be Nana…” “That’s okay with me. He might have to get used to being called Prince, though. I did.” “Who said it’s going to be a he? Maybe we’ll have a little Princess…” “Maybe…but tell me…how’d you like to be called Princess…” “What do you mean?….Princess Sparky? I don’t think it goes…as lovey dovey nicknames go, that’s pretty clunky…I think you’ll have to go back to the drawing board on that one…” “No….I mean officially…” “What are you saying, Nikolas….” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a very large but tasteful diamond ring. “What I’m saying, Gia Marie Campbell….is I’d like you to be Princess Gia Marie Cassadine…I love you Gia…tell me you’ll think about it….” Tears started to come down her cheeks… “Okay….I’ve thought about it….and it’s a very definite possibility…” “It is…” “Yes, I’d say it’s 100% possible…come here…” She kissed him gently on the lips and traced her fingers around his eyebrows… “So is that a yes…?” “Oh I don’t know….the rich handsome prince just asked me to marry him…what does Cinderella do?” The clock began to toll the hour….Nikolas smiled… “It’s midnight…you better decide quick before your prince turns into a pumpkin…” “Guess I’d better say yes, then…” “Guess you’d better…” “Kiss me.” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Luke Spencer stood on the docks, staring at Helena Cassadine’s yacht. Stefan walked down the stairs behind him…. “You’re late…” “I’ve had family business to attend to…” “Yeah, I heard….my son told me…another Cassadine spawn…that’s all this world needs…” “You know as well as I that you would never harm Laura’s grandchild…” “Well, Count, you’re right about that….so did you get the goods or not…” “Right here,” he said, handing Spencer a syringe… “Oooooh…..spooky stuff….how much did this set you back….” “Is that really of any import…” “Hey, don’t get your panties in a twist…you always struck me as one of those Speedo types…you do don’t you… I bet you even got the zebra stripes…” Stefan stared at him blankly…. “Well I guess that doesn’t matter….you ready to do this?….” “I am just an idle spectator, and you are the performer…” “Then let’s go perform, baby….” They walked toward the yacht. Back to the: Library
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