I'd like to point out that General Hospital is owned by ABC television, not me! (However, Talia is my OC. So yeah.) Oh, but how I wish I owned Ethan Lovett… =]

As he leaned onto the bar in boredom, Ethan Lovett scanned the faces of the patrons at the Haunted Star Casino. He could see the naïve looks in their eyes as they sat down at the poker tables and crowded around the roulette wheels, and watched them smile as they played the games. Ethan smirked at their false confidence – he knew they would never really win any money.

He yawned as he poured a scotch for a rather portly man in an expensive-looking suit; working at the Haunted Star, while it could have its stirring moments, was often dull. Even working the tables could sometimes be uninteresting – and this was coming from someone who enjoyed a good con.

As Ethan returned to his lazy position behind the bar, his father – Luke Spencer – shuffled over toward him. "What's the matter, Dodge? Nothing exciting happening behind the bar tonight?"

"Well Luke, it is a Tuesday, so…" Ethan trailed off, staring intently in the direction of the main entrance. His eyes shimmered, and a not-so-innocent smile spread quickly across his face.

Luke whirled around to see why his son was so fascinated. At first, he didn't see anything or anyone; then, he noticed a girl about Ethan's age sauntering in the door. He turned back to Ethan, grinning. "Well, looks like you got some excitement now. Don't get into too much trouble there Dodge." Luke winked as he headed back toward the poker tables.

Ethan, breathless, watched the girl as she headed straight for the bar. She moved effortlessly across the casino, as if she were floating on a cloud. Her simple powder blue dress matched her gorgeous blue eyes perfectly.

Normally, Ethan would have easily overlooked her – he didn't usually go for the seemingly plain type – but something about the way her dark brunette curls fell across her petite shoulders just captivated him. His knees began to shiver ever so slightly as she approached. He had to know this girl, whatever it took.

Walking into the Haunted Star Casino, Talia looked around for some sort of worker – or anyone, really – that could give her directions to General Hospital. She hated the fact that, even though she used to live in Port Charles as a child, she had no idea where anything in the city was.

Talia was in town to surprise her cousin, Robin. She hadn't seen her in seven years – which meant that she hadn't met her cousin-in-law or their baby girl, Emma, whom she had heard about from Robin's mother.

In any case, she needed to get to the hospital where her cousin worked, and she didn't know anyone in Port Charles that could give her directions. She had almost lost hope until she saw the lights from the Haunted Star.

Talia had no intention of staying there for any extended amount of time; she simply needed to know how to get where she was going. She made her way toward the bar, hoping that the bartender knew his way around town. As she briskly made her way over to him, she noticed that he was staring at her rather intensely. Oh, great, she thought to herself, he expects me to buy something…

"No, before you ask, I don't want a drink." Talia stated bluntly as she sat down on a bar stool. "I just want directions to General Hospital."

So what do you guys think so far? I'm not sure where I'm going with this one, I kind of just started writing on a whim. In any case, review and stuff! There will be more Ethan-y deliciousness in later chapters. ;]