Thank you for all the reviews! I know that I'm not making this a "gushy" Kristina and Ethan as might like, but I promise it's getting there. I just don't see the Ethan portrayed on T.V. decided to be gushy with her just yet. In my story, Ethan is still very torn... but bare with me! He's making MAJOR steps in this chapter!

Chapter 17

Ethan paused in front of the door, taking a deep breathe, before knocking. He stepped back and waited. The door slowly opened, and very groggy eyed Maxie met his gaze.

"What are you doing here? It is 7 am," Maxie asked, rubbing her eyes. Ethan nodded, putting his hands in his pocket.

"I need to see Krissy." Maxie sighed, looking behind the door at Kristina before stepping out into the hall.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Maxie told him, her voice cracking. Ethan exhaled loudly, leaning against the wall.

"I get that your trying to help Maxie but this is between me and Krissy," Ethan replied.

Maxie shook her head, "She's a 17 year old girl who needs someone to protect her from you." Her words stung Ethan and he quickly looked away.

"I would never hurt her," Ethan said through gritted teeth.

"I know that you would never intentionally hurt her, but what you're doing is hurting her. You're playing with her heart and I don't know why but I feel like I need to protect her from that"

"I want to make things better with her," he replied, shooting her a dirty look. He didn't know where Maxie got off decideding to protect Kristina from him.

"How?" Ethan looked at her and shook his head. Truth was, he didn't know exactly how to make things better, but he knew he had to. "Ethan, she's an abuse victim, she let Kiefer smack her around, beat the shit out of her, and didn't want him to get in trouble. That girl needs more help then you could ever give her. She's clinging to whatever makes her feel good, but what if in 4, 5, 6 months she realizes that this wasn't what she wanted? Can you live yourself knowing that you took advan...."

Ethan cut her off, raising his hand in the air, "I know that she let that fucker beat the shit out her! Do you think I don't get that? Do you think I haven't replayed every moment I ever saw them together through my head? Trying to figure out why I was so blind to his abuse?" Ethan felt his own eyes watering up and he turned around, refusing to let them fall.

Maxie sighed, grabbing his arm. "All I am going to ask is that you make up your mind. If you want to be with her…. As her boyfriend, you need to do it the right way. Go to Sonny and explain everything. Ask for permission to date his daughter. Don't keep this a secret. Or else, tell her you are there for her but she's too young, to immature too whatever for you not to date her," Maxie told him, staring up at him. Ethan nodded slowly, pushing the hair behind his ear.

"Can you tell her I stopped by?" He asked before turning and walking away.

---

Ethan walked into Sonny's coffee shop and spotted Jason sitting at a booth, looking over paper work. Jason looked up, then back down. "What can I do for you?" Ethan sat down across from him, placing his hands on the table.

"I would like to talk to Sonny," Ethan replied, fidgeting nervously. Jason raised his eyebrow, glaring at him.

"About?" Ethan didn't like the feeling he got when he was around Jason, but he knew that he was just protecting the people he loved.

"Krissy… I need to talk to him about her," Ethan replied, trying to keep his cool and calm voice. Jason stood up and went to Sonny's office door, knocking before opening it.

"Ethan's here to see you," he told him, motioning for Ethan to come in. Ethan stood up, and walked towards the door. His heart was racing and he felt like he was going to throw up, but he knew he needed to do this. He stepped in and was surprised when Jason closed the door, remaining in the coffee shop.

"Is Kristina okay?" Sonny asked, looking up from his desk.

Ethan nodded, taking a seat in the chair across from his desk. "She's okay, doing pretty good considering…"

"That's good. Is there something I can do for you?" Sonny asked, leaning back in his chair.

"I need to talk to you about something, but I'm not really sure how to.." Ethan confessed, leaning forward in the chair and taking a deep breathe. "I'm falling for your daughter." Ethan watched as Sonny's face fell.

"You're what?" he asked, almost in a laugh.

"I started giving Krissy attention purely because I knew she was going through a lot with you and Kiefer… But each day I spend with her I realize that I really like her. I know she's young… and quite a bit younger then me… and I've tried to deny the feelings, and push her away… but I can't. I really like your daughter Sonny and I'm asking you for your support of a relationship between her and I…"

---

Kristina sat alone on the docks, looking over the water. She had woken up this morning wishing last night had been a dream. It bothered her that Ethan took another girl out, but she didn't blame him. Maxie was right when she said they were on separate pages in life. Sometimes Kristina forgot how young she was. She felt a lot older, mainly because of everything she had been through.

Her trial started next week, and she was nervous. She couldn't remember what made her think hiring a hit-man was a good idea, but now she had to pay for her consequences. Diane seemed to think they'd be able to get the charges dropped completely, but Kiefer's parents were very persistent in wanting Kristina to be punished to the fullest.

Kristina glanced at her phone and noticed she had a missed call. Her heart fluttered, hoping it was Ethan, but quickly changed when she opened her missed call log. It was Kiefer. She didn't understand why he kept trying to get in contact with her, but it worried her. She had no idea what he was capable of, especially after learning of her plan to have him killed. She wanted him to leave her alone but felt like until he went away to school, she would always be on his mind—a fact that scared the shit out her.

Kristina closed the phone and grabbed her purse, standing up. She started walking towards the stairs when she ran directly into someone. "I'm sorry," she muttered looking up. She froze in her tracks, fear entering her body.

"You are just the person I was looking for."

---

"This is a joke, right?" Sonny asked, literally laughing. Ethan swallowed hard, shaking his head. Sonny's expression changed, seriousness taking over.

"I wish it was, but I really have feelings for her," Ethan told him again.

"First of all, if it had been up to me Kristina wouldn't have even been allowed to start dating yet…" Sonny started. Ethan nodded, agreeing that he would certainly have those feelings with his own daughter one day. "But now I have a 22 year old telling me he wants me to support him dating my daughter… do you even comprehend how insane that is?" Ethan stared at Sonny, trying to read his reaction. While he seemed upset, he didn't seem as angry as Ethan had thought he might be.

"I completely realize how crazy this is. All I can say is I have been looking out for your daughter, and I care about her well being more then any other guy she could choose to date. I would never lay a hand on her, and because of who you are to my father, I respect you and her even more…" Ethan told him. Sonny shook his head, trying to understand all that was being said.

"I have no idea what to say," Sonny confessed, finally looking up at Ethan.

"You don't have to give me an answer now, I just wanted you to know that I respected you and Krissy… and I wanted your permission first. I would hope that any guy looking to date Lulu would do the same thing with me" Ethan added.

"That's another reason why this is insane. Kristina's brother is dating your sister…" Sonny said more to himself then Ethan. There was a long moment of silence before Sonny spoke again. "If it's permission you're looking for, I can't really find it in myself to give you it…" Sonny started, causing Ethan's heart to drop. "But… if she decides that it's you she wants to be with… I guess…" Sonny paused again, trying to understand his own words. "I guess I would have respect her decision."

Ethan let out a sigh of relief, standing up to shake Sonny's hand. "Sir, I promise you that if Krissy gives me a chance…. I will do nothing but honor and respect her, you have my word." Sonny stared at his hand for a moment before excepting it.

---

"I can't talk to you," Kristina said, trying to maneuver around the person standing in front of her.

"I didn't ask for you to talk, youneed to listen. I don't know who you think you are, or what powers you hold in this town but no one gets away with trying to murder my son. So just because you have a fancy lawyer mom, and mobster dad… doesn't mean you aren't going to pay for the merciful choices you made," Mr. Baur told her, pointing his finger in her face.

"I already said I was sorry, what more do you want from me… I didn't go through with it… I loved Kiefer," Kristina stuttered, having a hard time getting words out. Standing there in the presence of Mr. Baur sent chills down her spin. This was the man who raised Kiefer to be an abusive asshole.

"You loved him enough to want him dead?" he yelled, startling Kristina. She took a few steps back, but he only stalked forward.

"He hurt me so bad…" Kristina cried, reaching for her cell phone. Mr. Baur slapped it out of her hand, causing it to go skidding across the docks.

"That's a lie! You whored yourself out and you got what you deserved! DON'T pin that on my boy! He has his whole life in front of him… we warned him about you! But he refused to listen…"

"I'm sorry." Kristina looked up at him and saw the rage in his eyes she had seen in Kiefer's many times before.

"You better enjoy your last few free days because one the trial stars I am going to do everything in my power to make sure you…"

"Hey! You stay away from her!" Ethan yelled, coming around the corner.