Someone Like You (1/?)
Title: Someone Like You (1/?)
Author: sarahbell05/sarahbell86
Fandom: General Hospital
Characters/Pairing: Ethan Lovett/Kristina Davis
Rating: PG for now
Genre: Angst/Romance
Word Count: 3008
Warnings: Character death
Summary: Five years ago, Kristina left Port Charles and Ethan Lovett behind. When tragedy brings her home, will they get a second chance, or will fate and history conspire to keep them apart?
Notes: I have no idea why, with all the Ethina loveliness going on, my brain will write nothing but angst. But, here we are. I've been itching to write a series since I finished Near To You and I hope you guys enjoy!
Kristina Davis watched from the expansive window of her office as the union jack blew in the wind of Buckingham Palace. The queen was in, and Kristina smiled as she always did when she realized her office was mere blocks from the home of the royal family. It was the early afternoon, and she was taking a break in between meetings, shoveling a salad as fast as she possibly could. She supposed she should just be happy that she had time to eat lunch at all, a rare luxury.
"Miss Davis?" her intercom came to life, the voice of her assistant filling the office. "You have a call from the Port Charles office."
"Send it through, please." It was probably Nikolas, Kristina mused, pressing the speakerphone button when the call came through.
"Forget something Nikolas?" she joked.
"Miss Davis, this is Carrie Blackbourne, Mr. Cassadine's assistant." There was something in the woman's voice that made Kristina bring the phone to her ear, setting her salad aside.
"How can I help you Miss Blackbourne?"
"It's...It's Mr. Cassadine, Miss Davis."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Five years.
Five years since she had left everything - everyone - behind. She had sworn that nothing short of the apocalypse would bring her back to this town, a place which held nothing but painful memories for her. But, here she was. Pulled home because the one person she was sure would never leave her, never abandon her, was gone. The one who had allowed her to escape, a chance to start over and make a new life for herself. She had received the first call, boarded the jet, and received the dreaded second call before she had even crossed the ocean.
Nikolas Cassadine was dead.
When the plane finally landed, it was nearly two in the morning. Her family didn't know she was here, after five years it was the last thing they would expect. Knowing her mom, she had already taken charge of affairs at the hospital. All she wanted to do was sleep and begin to sort out in her head everything that had happened. As the driver took her toward the dock for Wyndemere, she thought about the last conversation she had had with Nikolas. It had been earlier in the day after a video conference between them and the head of the Moscow office. Nikolas had looked pale and complained of a headache. He had chalked it up to stress and told Kristina not to worry. One hour later, she'd gotten the call that Nikolas had collapsed in his office. Without even thinking, she had ordered her assistant arrange for a flight to Port Charles. Now, though, she was a bundle of nerves at the thought of being in her hometown. Before stepping off the plane, she had considered turning it around and having it take her back to London. No one would ever know she had been there. Almost immediately, though, her better judgment kicked in. Aside from person connections, she was Nikolas's second in command, for lack of a better term, and it was her job to ensure that everything with the company was taken care of.
So, here she was, back in Port Charles and about to face everyone she had left behind all those years ago. She still received the annual birthday cards and Christmas presents from Molly, Sam, and her mom. They had even made the trip to London a few times over the years, but she had steadfastly refused any invitations to return to the States.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize how close she was until the boat dropped her off at Spoon Island. The house was silent, but Alfred was there to greet her.
"Miss Kristina." he greeted, and Kristina laid a hand on the older man's shoulder, in greeting and sympathy.
"How is Spencer?" she asked as the butler removed her coat.
"As well as can be expected, Miss Kristina. Mrs. Spencer brought the young master's cousins this evening and they have been a great comfort."
"Elizabeth is here?" Kristina asked, panic rising. She told herself the Spencer wife was in bed, but no sooner she heard a voice behind her.
"Kristina?"
Kristina turn to face the older woman, and was immediately shocked at the sight. While the years had done little to mar the graceful beauty of Elizabeth Spencer, she looked worse for wear at the moment, her hair pulled back in a haphazard ponytail and her face splotchy and red from crying.
"I...I came as soon as I heard." Kristina replied, dropping her gaze down to her feet. She had never been particularly close to Elizabeth, which is why she was surprised when the older woman pulled her inot a tight hug.
"I know how close you and Nikolas were." Elizabeth said, still hugging the smaller girl. "Thank you."
"Of-of course." Kristina replied. "What happened? I spoke to Nikolas this morning and he was fine."
At this, Elizabeth visibly tenses and Kristina can tell she's hit on something.
"Elizabeth? What happened?"
"Kristina, he didn't want anyone to know until...after. It was...it was the tumor. It grew back a few months ago, but it was in an inoperable place. So, Nikolas...made the decision to let things run its course."
"But why didn't he say anything?"
"He didn't want anyone to treat him differently. Lucky and I were the only ones who knew. And Spencer, of course. He did his best to prepare him. It's been a long night, Kristina. I'm sure Alfred will get you set up in a room."
"Thanks, Elizabeth." Kristina replied, still running what she knew now through her mind as Alfred took her bags and led her up the staircase.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time Kristina awoke the next day, the sun was high in the sky. Habit kicked in, and before she had even fully sat up in bed her blackberry was in her hands. It was well into the afternoon in London, and already her inbox was flooded with e-mails. An hour later, she had answered everything that was an emergency. Dressed down in a pair of dark skinny jeans and simple black blouse, she pulled her shoulder-length curls into a low ponytail before leaving her room.
As she descended the main staircase she could hear muffled voices coming from one of the living areas. Quieted as it was in the expansive old house, the sound of her mother's voice was unmistakable. She must not have known that Kristina was in Port Charles, let alone at Wyndemere, or she would have come storming into her room long before now. Taking a deep breath, her thoughts drifted back to her family's last visit to London.
It was Christmas, and her mother and sisters had managed a two whole days without pushing her to move back to Port Charles. It probably helped that everyone spent most of their time fussing over Annie, Sam's two year old daughter. It was the first time Kristina had seen her niece outside of pictures and she was immediately taken by the toddler. She looked just like a Davis, with the typical dark brown hair and tan complexion, save for the piercing blue eyes that were all Jason.
There had also been the added presence of Simon, her boyfriend that was currently in the process of making her mom and sisters fall in love with him. He was the first guy she'd ever brought around her family and they had been living together for a few months. For the first time in years, the thought of a relationship that lasted didn't terrify her. She loved him, even if he wasn't the most spontaneous or passionate person - or perhaps because of it. She was brought out of her reverie as she felt an arm slip around her waist, Simon dropping a kiss on her forehead, an empty wine bottle in his other hand.
"Why are you hiding in here, love?"
"I just needed a minute." Kristina replied, shrugging off the nostalgia brought on by being near family. She followed him back out into the living area of their expansive flat, where her mom and sisters were arguing over what movie to watch.
"Before we get into that," Simon said, pulling Kristina in front of her family. "There's something I'd like to do."
Turning to face Kristina, his smile was wide but nervous. "I know it's not Christmas yet, but I have something I want to give you." he said, and Kristina couldn't stop the gasp of shock that escaped her mouth as she watched Simon sink to his knee. She vaguely recognized a squeal of glee from Molly, but became completely focused on the ring box Simon now held in his hands.
"Kristina, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
She opened her mouth to reply when, unbidden, an image of Ethan Lovett popped into her head. Thrown by the thought of the man from her past, Kristina froze.
"Well?" Simon asked after several moments, and Kristina shook her head in attempt to right herself again.
"I'm sorry," she said, her smile growing. "Yes, of course I will!"
Kristina's eyes slipped down to the ring on her left hand. They had yet to set a date, not that Simon hadn't been pushing her to. Kristina just didn't see what the rush was. What was the harm in being engaged for a year...or five?
Steeling herself against the inevitable onslaught, Kristina pushed open the door and four heads turned to greet her. She immediately recognized her mother, Lucky, and Elizabeth, talking with a woman she didn't recognize. She looked around Kristina's age, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed head to toe in designer clothes and Kristina was fairly sure the Manolos on her feet weren't even in the stores yet (she should know, she'd been on the hunt for them since London Fashion Week).
"Kristina." her mom's voice is a whisper, but a second later she's enveloped in a hug and, for the first time since getting the news, she gets the urge to cry. It's still amazing to her now, at 24, she's still affected by the warmth of being near her mother.
"What's going on?" Kristina asked, turning her mind to other things.
"Oh," Lucky said, gesturing toward the blonde stranger. "Kristina, this is Serena Baldwin, Nikolas's attorney. Serena, this is Kristina Davis, Alexis's daughter."
"Yes, I've heard of you from Nikolas. You're the President of the London office of Cassadine Industries, correct?"
"That's right. What happened to Jacob Meisner?" Kristina replied, alluding to Nikolas's regular lawyer.
"Mr. Meisner is handling everything on the corporate side, I'm handling the estate. But we don't need to deal with that right now. I know I'm still in shock over all of this."
Kristina was struck by Serena's statement. After all, how close could they have been if Nikolas had never mentioned the blonde to Kristina? Still, she brushed it off, chalking it up to jet lag and grieving. "I just wanted to come and offer my condolences and my services if you need anything."
Kristina stood silently as Alexis and Liz thanked Serena and led her out of the room. Their exit left her alone with Lucky Spencer.
"How have you been, Kristina?" Lucky asked, but Kristina knew he was simply trying to distract himself from the fact that his brother and oldest friend is dead. "How do you like London?"
"London's great." Kristina replied, managing a hint of a smile. "How are the boys?"
All of a sudden, Lucky's expression changed. There's still sadness there, but also an undeniable parental pride. "Good, great. Cameron's at Madison now, actually."
The mention of her alma mater made Kristina's stomach tighten in knots. She could only hope that the eldest Spencer son had a better experience than she did. "Wow, I can't believe Cameron's already in high school."
"You and me both." Lucky said with a laugh, and it seemed to break the awkwardness between them. By the time Liz and Alexis returned, they were sitting on the couch sharing one of Lucky's favorite memories of Nikolas. Lucky and Elizabeth disappeared upstairs to spend time with Spencer, their last remaining link to their childhood friends Nikolas and Emily. It pained Kristina to admit that she had no such connections. The closest thing she had to a best friend was Michael, but they only talked once or twice a month and had drifted in and out of each other's lives as they had gone off in different directions. She didn't have anyone to feel that way about anymore.
She begged off going with her mom back to the lakehouse, claiming she had a conference call for work. In truth, she needed some time to clear her head. Being back in Port Charles was seriously messing with her head and the thought of an onslaught of Davis and Corinthos family members was more than she could take. She left the driver waiting on the edge of town, suddenly feeling nostalgic for the days when she would walk everywhere in Port Charles. As she took in the crisp fall air, she began to feel that perhaps her penchant for drivers and taxis in London was something that should change. Her feet seemed to be moving of their own volition, guiding her toward a place they knew all too well. When the smell of Kelly's floated under her nose, she couldn't stop the warm smile that spread across her face.
Of all the things she missed while in London, a burger from Kelly's topped the list. When she turned the corner and the cafe came into sight, she finally felt as if she was back home. The place held so many memories, both good and bad, moreso than almost any other place. How many afternoons had she spent in her grandpa's establishment, her school books taking up the entire table? The place radiated warmth and homeliness. The bell above the door tinkled lightly to announce her arrival. The place was mostly deserted, but Kristina reasoned that it was mid-morning on a weekday and most people were probably at work. She greeted the waitress and took a cup of coffee, settling into a table in the corner. Pulling out her blackberry and once again catching up on e-mails, there were several from Simon and it was only then that Kristina realized the only message she had left for her fiance was a hurried post-it on the fridge stating that she had a family emergency in Port Charles. She wrote him back, assuring him that everything was okay and she'd be returning to London as soon as the funeral was over. He wrote back almost immediately, and Kristina was warmed by his understanding and love.
She sat in her corner, watching the handful of customers drifting in and out. As strange as it was to be home, the familiarity of it all was oddly comforting in its own way. She loved London and her life there, but it was nice to be in a place she knew like the back of her hand, even for tragic reasons. She idly stirred her coffee as she thought of Nikolas. They had never been particularly close, until a nineteen year old Kristina had shown up on his doorstep begging him to help her gain access to her trust fund so she could get the hell out of Port Charles. Maybe it was the tears or the sheer desperation in her voice, but within forty eight hours Nikolas had set her up with an apartment and a job with Cassadine Industries and she was on the first flight to London. She had never looked back, culminating in her promotion to President a year ago. She was one of the youngest executives in the world, successful, and happy, and she owed it all to the man they would now have to bury.
Kristina was so lost in her thoughts of Nikolas that she didn't register the ringing bells above the door or the heavy footfalls. Her whole body reacted, however, when she heard a voice she had sworn to never hear again.
"A large coffee please, love."
Kristina froze, her grip on the coffee mug almost painful. She felt the urge to hide under the table, but her body seemed unable to move and her brain assured her that would be extremely juvenile. Still, it seemed like an excellent idea to her. All she could see was the back of his head, but he still looked the same. His hair was long again, pulled back into that familiar ponytail. His clothes were slightly different, the only way Kristina could describe it was that he looked more...put together. The jeans and button-up shirt were still there, but they seem to be more fitted and higher quality.
When she saw him begin to turn around, her mind screamed at her to look away. He'd always been a keen observer and had probably already sensed he was being watched. Despite this, she couldn't look away, her eyes fixed on him. His eyes locked with hers, and Kristina felt her stomach plummet. She swore that her heart stopped, and she had to tell herself to breathe. She knew her eyes were as wide as saucers, if the look on Ethan's face was any indication. She should have known better, should have never left Wyndemere - never left London. She should have known, with her luck, it would only take hours to come across the main reason she hadn't come home in five years. He stared back at her almost as hard as she stared at him, but neither had spoken yet, probably for a reason. Because as soon as a whispered "Kristina" crossed his lips, she did the one thing she'd been wanting to do since she heard his voice.
She ran out of the restaurant.
Author: sarahbell05/sarahbell86
Fandom: General Hospital
Characters/Pairing: Ethan Lovett/Kristina Davis
Rating: PG for now
Genre: Angst/Romance
Word Count: 3008
Warnings: Character death
Summary: Five years ago, Kristina left Port Charles and Ethan Lovett behind. When tragedy brings her home, will they get a second chance, or will fate and history conspire to keep them apart?
Notes: I have no idea why, with all the Ethina loveliness going on, my brain will write nothing but angst. But, here we are. I've been itching to write a series since I finished Near To You and I hope you guys enjoy!
Kristina Davis watched from the expansive window of her office as the union jack blew in the wind of Buckingham Palace. The queen was in, and Kristina smiled as she always did when she realized her office was mere blocks from the home of the royal family. It was the early afternoon, and she was taking a break in between meetings, shoveling a salad as fast as she possibly could. She supposed she should just be happy that she had time to eat lunch at all, a rare luxury.
"Miss Davis?" her intercom came to life, the voice of her assistant filling the office. "You have a call from the Port Charles office."
"Send it through, please." It was probably Nikolas, Kristina mused, pressing the speakerphone button when the call came through.
"Forget something Nikolas?" she joked.
"Miss Davis, this is Carrie Blackbourne, Mr. Cassadine's assistant." There was something in the woman's voice that made Kristina bring the phone to her ear, setting her salad aside.
"How can I help you Miss Blackbourne?"
"It's...It's Mr. Cassadine, Miss Davis."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Five years.
Five years since she had left everything - everyone - behind. She had sworn that nothing short of the apocalypse would bring her back to this town, a place which held nothing but painful memories for her. But, here she was. Pulled home because the one person she was sure would never leave her, never abandon her, was gone. The one who had allowed her to escape, a chance to start over and make a new life for herself. She had received the first call, boarded the jet, and received the dreaded second call before she had even crossed the ocean.
Nikolas Cassadine was dead.
When the plane finally landed, it was nearly two in the morning. Her family didn't know she was here, after five years it was the last thing they would expect. Knowing her mom, she had already taken charge of affairs at the hospital. All she wanted to do was sleep and begin to sort out in her head everything that had happened. As the driver took her toward the dock for Wyndemere, she thought about the last conversation she had had with Nikolas. It had been earlier in the day after a video conference between them and the head of the Moscow office. Nikolas had looked pale and complained of a headache. He had chalked it up to stress and told Kristina not to worry. One hour later, she'd gotten the call that Nikolas had collapsed in his office. Without even thinking, she had ordered her assistant arrange for a flight to Port Charles. Now, though, she was a bundle of nerves at the thought of being in her hometown. Before stepping off the plane, she had considered turning it around and having it take her back to London. No one would ever know she had been there. Almost immediately, though, her better judgment kicked in. Aside from person connections, she was Nikolas's second in command, for lack of a better term, and it was her job to ensure that everything with the company was taken care of.
So, here she was, back in Port Charles and about to face everyone she had left behind all those years ago. She still received the annual birthday cards and Christmas presents from Molly, Sam, and her mom. They had even made the trip to London a few times over the years, but she had steadfastly refused any invitations to return to the States.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize how close she was until the boat dropped her off at Spoon Island. The house was silent, but Alfred was there to greet her.
"Miss Kristina." he greeted, and Kristina laid a hand on the older man's shoulder, in greeting and sympathy.
"How is Spencer?" she asked as the butler removed her coat.
"As well as can be expected, Miss Kristina. Mrs. Spencer brought the young master's cousins this evening and they have been a great comfort."
"Elizabeth is here?" Kristina asked, panic rising. She told herself the Spencer wife was in bed, but no sooner she heard a voice behind her.
"Kristina?"
Kristina turn to face the older woman, and was immediately shocked at the sight. While the years had done little to mar the graceful beauty of Elizabeth Spencer, she looked worse for wear at the moment, her hair pulled back in a haphazard ponytail and her face splotchy and red from crying.
"I...I came as soon as I heard." Kristina replied, dropping her gaze down to her feet. She had never been particularly close to Elizabeth, which is why she was surprised when the older woman pulled her inot a tight hug.
"I know how close you and Nikolas were." Elizabeth said, still hugging the smaller girl. "Thank you."
"Of-of course." Kristina replied. "What happened? I spoke to Nikolas this morning and he was fine."
At this, Elizabeth visibly tenses and Kristina can tell she's hit on something.
"Elizabeth? What happened?"
"Kristina, he didn't want anyone to know until...after. It was...it was the tumor. It grew back a few months ago, but it was in an inoperable place. So, Nikolas...made the decision to let things run its course."
"But why didn't he say anything?"
"He didn't want anyone to treat him differently. Lucky and I were the only ones who knew. And Spencer, of course. He did his best to prepare him. It's been a long night, Kristina. I'm sure Alfred will get you set up in a room."
"Thanks, Elizabeth." Kristina replied, still running what she knew now through her mind as Alfred took her bags and led her up the staircase.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time Kristina awoke the next day, the sun was high in the sky. Habit kicked in, and before she had even fully sat up in bed her blackberry was in her hands. It was well into the afternoon in London, and already her inbox was flooded with e-mails. An hour later, she had answered everything that was an emergency. Dressed down in a pair of dark skinny jeans and simple black blouse, she pulled her shoulder-length curls into a low ponytail before leaving her room.
As she descended the main staircase she could hear muffled voices coming from one of the living areas. Quieted as it was in the expansive old house, the sound of her mother's voice was unmistakable. She must not have known that Kristina was in Port Charles, let alone at Wyndemere, or she would have come storming into her room long before now. Taking a deep breath, her thoughts drifted back to her family's last visit to London.
It was Christmas, and her mother and sisters had managed a two whole days without pushing her to move back to Port Charles. It probably helped that everyone spent most of their time fussing over Annie, Sam's two year old daughter. It was the first time Kristina had seen her niece outside of pictures and she was immediately taken by the toddler. She looked just like a Davis, with the typical dark brown hair and tan complexion, save for the piercing blue eyes that were all Jason.
There had also been the added presence of Simon, her boyfriend that was currently in the process of making her mom and sisters fall in love with him. He was the first guy she'd ever brought around her family and they had been living together for a few months. For the first time in years, the thought of a relationship that lasted didn't terrify her. She loved him, even if he wasn't the most spontaneous or passionate person - or perhaps because of it. She was brought out of her reverie as she felt an arm slip around her waist, Simon dropping a kiss on her forehead, an empty wine bottle in his other hand.
"Why are you hiding in here, love?"
"I just needed a minute." Kristina replied, shrugging off the nostalgia brought on by being near family. She followed him back out into the living area of their expansive flat, where her mom and sisters were arguing over what movie to watch.
"Before we get into that," Simon said, pulling Kristina in front of her family. "There's something I'd like to do."
Turning to face Kristina, his smile was wide but nervous. "I know it's not Christmas yet, but I have something I want to give you." he said, and Kristina couldn't stop the gasp of shock that escaped her mouth as she watched Simon sink to his knee. She vaguely recognized a squeal of glee from Molly, but became completely focused on the ring box Simon now held in his hands.
"Kristina, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
She opened her mouth to reply when, unbidden, an image of Ethan Lovett popped into her head. Thrown by the thought of the man from her past, Kristina froze.
"Well?" Simon asked after several moments, and Kristina shook her head in attempt to right herself again.
"I'm sorry," she said, her smile growing. "Yes, of course I will!"
Kristina's eyes slipped down to the ring on her left hand. They had yet to set a date, not that Simon hadn't been pushing her to. Kristina just didn't see what the rush was. What was the harm in being engaged for a year...or five?
Steeling herself against the inevitable onslaught, Kristina pushed open the door and four heads turned to greet her. She immediately recognized her mother, Lucky, and Elizabeth, talking with a woman she didn't recognize. She looked around Kristina's age, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed head to toe in designer clothes and Kristina was fairly sure the Manolos on her feet weren't even in the stores yet (she should know, she'd been on the hunt for them since London Fashion Week).
"Kristina." her mom's voice is a whisper, but a second later she's enveloped in a hug and, for the first time since getting the news, she gets the urge to cry. It's still amazing to her now, at 24, she's still affected by the warmth of being near her mother.
"What's going on?" Kristina asked, turning her mind to other things.
"Oh," Lucky said, gesturing toward the blonde stranger. "Kristina, this is Serena Baldwin, Nikolas's attorney. Serena, this is Kristina Davis, Alexis's daughter."
"Yes, I've heard of you from Nikolas. You're the President of the London office of Cassadine Industries, correct?"
"That's right. What happened to Jacob Meisner?" Kristina replied, alluding to Nikolas's regular lawyer.
"Mr. Meisner is handling everything on the corporate side, I'm handling the estate. But we don't need to deal with that right now. I know I'm still in shock over all of this."
Kristina was struck by Serena's statement. After all, how close could they have been if Nikolas had never mentioned the blonde to Kristina? Still, she brushed it off, chalking it up to jet lag and grieving. "I just wanted to come and offer my condolences and my services if you need anything."
Kristina stood silently as Alexis and Liz thanked Serena and led her out of the room. Their exit left her alone with Lucky Spencer.
"How have you been, Kristina?" Lucky asked, but Kristina knew he was simply trying to distract himself from the fact that his brother and oldest friend is dead. "How do you like London?"
"London's great." Kristina replied, managing a hint of a smile. "How are the boys?"
All of a sudden, Lucky's expression changed. There's still sadness there, but also an undeniable parental pride. "Good, great. Cameron's at Madison now, actually."
The mention of her alma mater made Kristina's stomach tighten in knots. She could only hope that the eldest Spencer son had a better experience than she did. "Wow, I can't believe Cameron's already in high school."
"You and me both." Lucky said with a laugh, and it seemed to break the awkwardness between them. By the time Liz and Alexis returned, they were sitting on the couch sharing one of Lucky's favorite memories of Nikolas. Lucky and Elizabeth disappeared upstairs to spend time with Spencer, their last remaining link to their childhood friends Nikolas and Emily. It pained Kristina to admit that she had no such connections. The closest thing she had to a best friend was Michael, but they only talked once or twice a month and had drifted in and out of each other's lives as they had gone off in different directions. She didn't have anyone to feel that way about anymore.
She begged off going with her mom back to the lakehouse, claiming she had a conference call for work. In truth, she needed some time to clear her head. Being back in Port Charles was seriously messing with her head and the thought of an onslaught of Davis and Corinthos family members was more than she could take. She left the driver waiting on the edge of town, suddenly feeling nostalgic for the days when she would walk everywhere in Port Charles. As she took in the crisp fall air, she began to feel that perhaps her penchant for drivers and taxis in London was something that should change. Her feet seemed to be moving of their own volition, guiding her toward a place they knew all too well. When the smell of Kelly's floated under her nose, she couldn't stop the warm smile that spread across her face.
Of all the things she missed while in London, a burger from Kelly's topped the list. When she turned the corner and the cafe came into sight, she finally felt as if she was back home. The place held so many memories, both good and bad, moreso than almost any other place. How many afternoons had she spent in her grandpa's establishment, her school books taking up the entire table? The place radiated warmth and homeliness. The bell above the door tinkled lightly to announce her arrival. The place was mostly deserted, but Kristina reasoned that it was mid-morning on a weekday and most people were probably at work. She greeted the waitress and took a cup of coffee, settling into a table in the corner. Pulling out her blackberry and once again catching up on e-mails, there were several from Simon and it was only then that Kristina realized the only message she had left for her fiance was a hurried post-it on the fridge stating that she had a family emergency in Port Charles. She wrote him back, assuring him that everything was okay and she'd be returning to London as soon as the funeral was over. He wrote back almost immediately, and Kristina was warmed by his understanding and love.
She sat in her corner, watching the handful of customers drifting in and out. As strange as it was to be home, the familiarity of it all was oddly comforting in its own way. She loved London and her life there, but it was nice to be in a place she knew like the back of her hand, even for tragic reasons. She idly stirred her coffee as she thought of Nikolas. They had never been particularly close, until a nineteen year old Kristina had shown up on his doorstep begging him to help her gain access to her trust fund so she could get the hell out of Port Charles. Maybe it was the tears or the sheer desperation in her voice, but within forty eight hours Nikolas had set her up with an apartment and a job with Cassadine Industries and she was on the first flight to London. She had never looked back, culminating in her promotion to President a year ago. She was one of the youngest executives in the world, successful, and happy, and she owed it all to the man they would now have to bury.
Kristina was so lost in her thoughts of Nikolas that she didn't register the ringing bells above the door or the heavy footfalls. Her whole body reacted, however, when she heard a voice she had sworn to never hear again.
"A large coffee please, love."
Kristina froze, her grip on the coffee mug almost painful. She felt the urge to hide under the table, but her body seemed unable to move and her brain assured her that would be extremely juvenile. Still, it seemed like an excellent idea to her. All she could see was the back of his head, but he still looked the same. His hair was long again, pulled back into that familiar ponytail. His clothes were slightly different, the only way Kristina could describe it was that he looked more...put together. The jeans and button-up shirt were still there, but they seem to be more fitted and higher quality.
When she saw him begin to turn around, her mind screamed at her to look away. He'd always been a keen observer and had probably already sensed he was being watched. Despite this, she couldn't look away, her eyes fixed on him. His eyes locked with hers, and Kristina felt her stomach plummet. She swore that her heart stopped, and she had to tell herself to breathe. She knew her eyes were as wide as saucers, if the look on Ethan's face was any indication. She should have known better, should have never left Wyndemere - never left London. She should have known, with her luck, it would only take hours to come across the main reason she hadn't come home in five years. He stared back at her almost as hard as she stared at him, but neither had spoken yet, probably for a reason. Because as soon as a whispered "Kristina" crossed his lips, she did the one thing she'd been wanting to do since she heard his voice.
She ran out of the restaurant.