When the knocking started, Nikolas was confused. Opening his eyes didn’t help. His face was covered with something and it took him a second to realize what it was. Braids. Gia was still asleep.

Someone was at the door. Nikolas eased her head off of his chest and got up off the divan. When they had returned last night they sat up talking, and he guessed they’d just crashed. The fire had died down a little and it was rather chilly in the room. No surprise at Windemere. He picked his jacket up off the floor where he had dropped it and put it across Gia’s shoulders, being careful not to wake her.

“Nikolas…you in there?”

Alexis. Not good. He opened the door a crack and slipped through.

“Hey.”

“Hey yourself. Long night?”

“No…why would you say that?”

“Do you make a habit of sleeping in tuxedo shirts and suspenders?…and button that up by the way.”

He did so hurriedly. “So what can I do for you?”

“Helena is making another run on the estate. I need to get some copies of some documents from Stefan’s desk.”

She stepped toward the door, and he stepped to block her.

“Uh, no…I’ll get them for you. What do you need?”

“Nikolas, it’d be too hard to explain if I told you, I’ll just get them..” She made another attempt and he blocked her again.

“What are you doing, Nikolas?”

“You …can’t go in there.”

“Why not?”

“Why not…uh well….I’ve got your birthday present in there and I was wrapping it.”

“Isn’t it a little early for that?”

“No…no…I like to get my wrapping done early in the day…early bird gets the worm and all that.”

“No I mean a little early for presents. My birthday isn’t for 7 months yet.”

“Well, uh..” With that, she finally forced her way in.

“What kind of mess is this, Nikolas?”

“I can explain, really I can….” Nikolas stepped around her to see that Gia had left the room.

“I can really tell you’re a certified bachelor. I guess Stefan never taught you how to pick up your shoes and socks.”

“Uh no, he didn’t. He always said that was what servants were for.”

Alexis bent to the floor and picked something up." And for some reason, I don’t think he knew you wore these” she said, twirling a stiletto heel in her hand. “Then again, knowing Stefan, maybe it was his…”

Gia stepped from the next room, Nikolas’s coat around her shoulders, her legs bare. “It’s mine.”

“Oh….OH ….I’m sorry, Nikolas, I’ll come back later when she’s more..I mean when…I’ll be back.”

“Alexis wait. It’s alright. Actually it’s probably good you know she’s here. I was thinking of asking you to help her.”

“Help her what? I’m really not good at giving those sort of tips, you know, and just thinking about you and her and you doing THAT well, I just don’t think that’s my…..that’s really between the two of you…and what makes you think I’m some sort of expert on that?!...is it the internet pinup thing because that was only for Ned you know I..”

“Legal help, Alexis.”

“Oh, legal help….That’s good. Legal help, I’m a lawyer, I can do legal help….Why does she need legal help? She’s not married, is she? Nikolas tell me you didn’t because I’m not a divorce lawyer…tell me you signed a pre-nup.''”

“No, no…Alexis, this is Gia Campbell. Gia, this is my aunt Alexis Davis.”

“Nice to meet you .”

“Gia Campbell…as in Ted Wilson -murder- witness -Emily Quartermaine -blackmailing Gia Campbell? The one Mac Scorpio is combing the state for? The one with the wanted poster Gia Campbell?”

“Yeah, that’s me…I guess…They’ve got wanted posters of me? Cool..”

“No I was exaggerating. Nikolas what is she doing here?”

“She didn’t have anywhere to go. Her mom had a heart attack and she wasn’t going to leave town while she was still in the hospital. But she couldn’t go running around town for the cops to pick her up or for Zander to come back and kill her.”

“The cops do want to see you, but I’m sure I could get them to trade the blackmailing charge for testimony against Zander.”

“Then you’ll help her?”

“No, I’m helping you. You do realize harboring a fugitive is a crime. The best way to help you is to help Miss Campbell. What were you thinking hiding her here? From what I’ve heard of her she’s not..”

“Hey, I’m still in the room. And aren’t we forgetting something?”

“I’m sorry. What are we forgetting?”

“Zander’s still out there. What to prevent him from coming back to kill me? If I’m not there to place him at that motel, he’s home free.”

“The police will protect you, I assure you, besides he still kidnapped Emily and he will be charged for that and for his drug offenses.”

“But what if he’s not caught? Then they don’t have to go far to get me on the blackmailing charges, do they? From what I’ve seen of the cops in this town , they’d let the psycho killer go to get the petty blackmailer…”

“That is a consideration. You have two options. The first is turn yourself in and take your chances with the police. Nikolas how long have you been hiding her here?

“A month.”

“A month…you’ve kept her hidden out here a whole month…in Windemere? It’s a wonder she didn’t go crazy…”

“You must think I already am crazy if you think I’m going to trust the police. I’d been gone a long time ago if it wasn’t for my mom.”

“Yes, your mother. How is she?”

“Better. Nikolas looks in on her for me. He said she’s up and walking.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m surprised you haven’t tried to visit her.”

“Actually I did. She was so sick, I just didn’t care. I probably would have gotten caught if Nikolas hadn’t come after me.”

“Well, Nikolas, it seems like you’re taking pretty good care of Miss Campbell. Dare I ask about the tuxedo?”

“We went dancing.”

“Dancing…in Port Charles….WHAT were you thinking?”

“No one saw us, Miss Davis. Believe me. And your nephew can do a mean tango…”

Alexis smiles at Nikolas and blushes slightly. “It’s Alexis, and I’m sure he did….as for your situation, there is one other option.”

“What?”

“If you can get Emily to drop the blackmailing charges, there would be no possibility of charges against Nikolas, and your staying in police protection would be your best option.”

“Oh little miss silver spoon? No way she’ll drop the charges…”

“Wait, Gia….that might not be a bad idea…..I think I might be able to convince Em to do that…”

“How Nikolas? She hates me…I don’t know why this is even a problem, it was your money anyway..”

“It was your money? And you still want me to help her?…”

Nikolas is flustered, looking back and forth between the two women… “Yeah, it was my money…it’s a long story…”

“Nikolas, if you think you can convince Emily to drop the charges against Miss Campbell, that would be best for all concerned. I recommend that you try that, and in the meantime Miss Campbell stays here. Who knows she’s here?”

“Mrs. Landsburry, Jefferson, and…Lt. Taggert.”

“Marcus knows I’m here?”

“Explain this one to me, Nikolas, because from where I'm standing that's never a good thing for the police to know.”

“Taggert’s Gia’s brother. He asked me to keep her safe so I know he won’t turn her in.”

“Well, that’s convenient.”

“Oh, hey, what about the old lady?”

“What old lady?…you don’t mean….”

“Afraid she does. Helena. She saw her out here the first week she was here. She thought she was a hooker.”

“Well, Helena would think that. Probably doesn’t remember you if she did. Thinks you’re below the radar. Speaking of the Wicked Witch, I need to get those documents or she might sell Windemere out from under you, and then it won’t matter if anyone knows Miss Campbell’s here or not.” She opened the top drawer of the desk and picked the documents out. “ Try Emily and tell me how it goes…I’ll see you later, Nikolas…and oh, here’s your shoe,” handing her the stiletto, “….nice to meet you Miss Campbell.”

“Gia”

“Gia, then…stay here. And Nikolas, call me after you talk to Emily.”

With that she left, leaving Nikolas and Gia staring at each other.

“Emily won’t do it. You know that. I’m screwed. She hates me. I’m sorry I got you into this. I’ll just take the launch into town….the police never have to know I was here.”

“Hey…hold off on that. I haven’t even tried yet. And besides…I think she’s open to some negotiation.”

“Oh really.”

“Yeah…really.”

Chapter 8

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