Well after approximately five rewrites and twelve frustrating days the new chapter is finally done! Normally I can write faster than I can level up in the MMORPG I play (yeah, I'm a geek), but this time it was another story. I think it turned out really well, better than I expected anyway, but I'll leave you to be the judge of that. Anyway, 3 things:

1. The song used in this chapter, "Fylakas Aggelos" by Giannis Kotsiras (which I do not own) is translated from Greek, so if it sounds funny as you read it, that's because of how it's translated. The song is really beautiful when sung in it's native tongue, if you have an IMeem account look it up. It's also on YouTube but live.

2. I couldn't recall if Nikolas is supposed to be able to speak Greek or not, but for this chapter I'm relying on the assumption that he can.

3. And last, thank you all so much for your great reviews, you're all an inspiration for me to continue writing. I love this story and to know that others love it just as much really warms my heart. So thank you! Now enjoy the new chapter.

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Chapter Twenty Two

Hotel - Athens, Greece:

By the time Georgie woke up for her first full day in Greece it was already half over. Groaning, she was tempted to drag the covers back up and over her head but decided to fight against her grogginess. Propping herself up on her elbows Georgie carefully scanned the room through half-closed lids and half wondered where Nikolas was. Almost immediately she remembered that he had nearly a full day of meetings.

With a large yawn and one long stretch, reaching the entire length of her body, Georgie threw back the covers and planted her feet on the floor. As soon as she did she was overcome with the sensation that she was still on the plane. Suddenly her stomach began to roll at the memory and she was propelling herself from the bed, with one hand covering her mouth, as she stumbled to the bathroom. Casting herself down in front of the toilet she promptly emptied her stomach into the bowl.

Once she was finished she reached up to the knob and flushed the bowl out and while she was certain she wasn't about to retch again she decided to wait a moment to be sure. Plus the cool marble floor felt divine on her heated skin.

As she sat there on the floor Georgie realized that she could no longer deny the possibility that she was pregnant. She was sick to her stomach, tired a good majority of the day, and her period was four days late. And while all of these things could be attributed to motion sickness, jet lag, and stress, the likeliness of them occurring all at once was slim at best.

Feeling as though the nausea had passed Georgie got up from the bathroom floor, with great reluctance, only to have a slight wave of dizziness pass over her briefly. Once she regained her bearings Georgie made her way back into the main room where she rang room service. As she ordered a pot of tea she stared longingly at the mug of cold coffee that Nikolas must have left for her. She could vaguely recall him attempted to wake her shortly before he left, but it was really just a blur.

By the time she dumped the cold coffee and grabbed her light summer robe, room service had arrived and delivered her tea. While she knew she shouldn't be surprised at their promptness, it still amazed her.

Laying out on one of the sofas in the suites living room, Georgie sipped from the delicate china tea cup and gazed out at the amazing view. However, her eyes slowly traveled down to her feet, up her legs and landed on her stomach. Cocking her head to the side she set the tea cup down and placed her hand on her stomach and stared at her abdomen thoughtfully. Thinking back over her science and health education classes from high school and college she tried to recall what the first stages of development were.

"You're only a hand full of cells right now," Georgie murmured to her stomach.

Then realizing what she was doing she rolled her eyes at herself. She didn't even know for sure if she was pregnant or not. There was no use in starting to imagine it when it might not even be true.

Suddenly, Georgie was left stunned by the sensation that thought left in it's wake.

What if she was just sick? What if she wasn't pregnant?

Why did she suddenly want to be so badly?

Wrapping her arms protectively around her waist, Georgie batted away the tears that sprang to her eyes and tried to banish the questions from her mind. Obviously she didn't know, and with 'if' questions popping into her mind she wasn't sure she wanted to know just yet. However she did realize that she couldn't entertain thoughts of being pregnant, especially if she wasn't. It would only cause her more pain in the end if she were to start daydreaming.

Making a decision that she would go to see Dr. Lee once they returned to Port Charles, Georgie decided to keep the possibility in mind but otherwise not think about it. With her mind made up and knowing that the only way to keep herself from thinking was to stay busy, she finished her tea and got ready for the day. Determined that she would see at least a little bit of Athens while she was there.

Restaurant - Athens, Greece:

Nikolas watched in rapt amusement as Georgie animatedly described what she'd seen that day between taking small bites of her food. While he'd seen it all before on previous trips, having her describe them to him from her point of view was like seeing them all over again. Brand new. It thrilled him in a way that he couldn't remember being thrilled in a long time.

An hour earlier Nikolas returned to the hotel after a day of meetings to find Georgie asleep on one of the sofas. The concern that had been hovering in his mind all day long returned full force as he watched her sleep. There were slight shadows under her eyes and an ashen color to her skin, both of which told him that she still wasn't well. While he was tempted to bring it up to her, he knew that she would tell him that she was fine, just as she always told everyone. It was a trait that was really beginning to gnaw at his nerves since he'd hoped to be the one person she wouldn't pretend with.

Even now as she sat across the table from him, eating a plate of very bland food from a restaurant known for it's cuisine, she smiled through her fatigue. However, as tired as she seemed to be her excitement and enthusiasm pumped adrenaline through her veins and appeared to keep her going. As she talked, her brown eyes remained huge as they strayed from him and their table to the setting and the people around her. Every once in a while Nikolas would have to focus Georgie's attention for her.

"And that wasn't even the best part!"

Her exclamation brought Nikolas out of his thoughts and back to her. He watched and listened as she slowly trailed off watching as a large family in one corner of the restaurant fought.

"What was?" he asked in response to her outburst.

"What was what?" she asked distracted.

"The best part?" Nikolas prompted.

"Her son insulted her cooking," she said, then turning to him she asked, "am I right?"

"Yeah, how did you know? I thought you didn't know any Greek," he commented gazing at her curiously.

"I don't, but I can read people," she replied, her focus back on the family, "now he's trying to defend himself."

Nikolas grimaced as he too began to listen in on the conversation, "yeah but not very well."

"It she looks like she might spank him," Georgie giggled.

Covertly Nikolas looked over his shoulder at the family and watched as one of the younger men slapped his hand over the boys mouth and began to defend him. Once Georgie motioned him closer, Nikolas began a dialogue of the argument in a low voice, narrating for Georgie everything that was said. They both fought to contain their laughter as the boy once again made another remark, this time causing the older woman to grab the boy by the ear and drag him from their table. Once the rest of the family left they burst into laughter, along with several other patrons at the restaurant.

Once they'd calmed down again Nikolas asked Georgie where she learned to interpret body language. He admitted to her that he was impressed with her ability to break though the language barrier and know what was going on around her.

"Kelly's," Georgie told him in response, shrugging it off, "if you want good tips, you need to when a customer wants or needs something without being asked or being too intrusive. And I worked there a long time, so..."

Nikolas felt a pang of guilt pass through him at the reminiscent tone of her voice, but tried to ignore it. Instead he said, "Elizabeth worked there too for a long time, and she's good at reading people, but nothing like that."

Again Georgie shrugged, "then I guess it's a gift."

Sensing that she didn't want to talk about it, Nikolas turned the subject back to her day and listened to her soothing voice as she finished telling him what she'd seen. The two finished their meal in quiet conversation, the topics switching back and forth between them.

As soon as the bill was paid, Nikolas and Georgie left and though Nikolas tried to get a drowsy Georgie to agree to go back to the hotel, she insisted on staying out a little longer.

With their arms wrapped around each other, the two walked quietly through the narrow streets of the older parts of Athens. The only sound being made was the light tapping from the soles of their shoes on the cobble stones. Nikolas let Georgie guide them blindly through the streets as he was left entranced by the rhythm of Georgie's body as she walked beside him. Her steps slow, and even though she didn't know where she was going, they were sure, determined steps.

Gradually Nikolas began to become aware of a guitar playing softly, growing louder with every step they took. Soon the source of the sounds came into sight. Standing in the shadows Nikolas and Georgie listened to a duo who sat just outside of a private residence, where there were a few older adults gathered around tables on a patio.

When you feel lonely
when the house will be empty
you'll have my company
and I will give you courage

Watching as one of the older couples stood and began to dance, Nikolas took Georgie's hand in his own and guided her in their own private shadowed dance. Pulling her close, he began the dance, slowly urging Georgie's tired body into meeting his own sway.

When the sky gets black
when your arms freeze
and when you're sad
I will be coming to you

Knowing that she couldn't understand the words that were being sung, Nikolas began to quietly repeat them too her in English. Georgie, in turn repeated the words in Greek under her breath.

As long as you're well
I want to see no tears in your eyes
we may live apart
but then we lived a love

With his hand at the small of her back and Georgie's arms wrapped loosely around his neck, their bodies were melded together and moved as one. Their feet making only the most minimal of movements as they danced.

May you my girl be well
and when you ask for your man
I will be there
your guardian angel

"How do you say guardian angel?" Georgie asked in a barely heard murmur as soon as he translated.

"Fylakas aggelos," Nikolas repeated in Greek.

After that Georgie seemed to draw closer to him, as he pulled her as tightly as he could, while still keeping a gentle hold on her, as close to him as possible. Her head was laid upon his shoulder and he could feel the heat of her breath through the thin fabric of his shirt.

Turning slightly Nikolas inhaled the scent of her hair, releasing his deep breath he could feel her shudder against him. When his grip on her tightened, Georgie pulled away and caught his gaze.

If he breaks your heart
and wants to leave you alone
tell him someone once
really loved you

Guiding her back against the wall of one of the buildings that shadowed them, Nikolas pressed his body into hers and captured her lips with his own. Gripping the fabric of the skirt of her dress, he urged her to open her mouth to him, and when she did he entangled his tongue with hers.

There in the shadows, with the music setting their pace, the two continued their dance in an entirely different fashion. With their mouths, hands, and hips.

As long as you're well
I want to see no tears in your eyes
we may live apart
but then we lived a love

As his mouth moved from hers, down the side of her throat, Georgie threaded her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck.

Keeping her steady with his hands as she pushed her hips up to meet his. He groaned deeply in his throat when she moved against him and he might have just taken her right then had it not been for the sound of a scooter passing somewhere in the distance.

May you, my girl be well
and when you ask for your man
I will be there
your guardian angel

Georgie moaned as he pulled away from her, his breath as ragged as hers. Looking into her half lidded, glazed eyes he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Not here," he told her.

Taking her hand in his he guided her back to their car. To both of them the trip back to the hotel and up to their room was a blur. As soon as the door to their suite closed behind them, their clothes were shed and they continued the dance they'd started.