The slow burn between Gio and Emma finally ignited on General Hospital. After months of playful banter, shared confidences, and lingering almost-moments, the pair crossed the line from friendship into something more. Their first kiss set social media ablaze, and now the actors behind the characters are pulling back the curtain on what went into that big milestone — and what viewers didn’t see along the way.
Behind Gio and Emma’s Slow Burn
Braedyn Bruner (Emma) and Giovanni Mazza (Gio) recently sat down with Soap Opera Digest to reflect on the shift from friendship to romance and how the storytelling led up to that pivotal kiss. Mazza admitted that Gio’s feelings were bubbling long before the leap was made. “He became extremely conscious of those feelings,” Mazza explained, noting that the almost-kiss earlier in the week made the pull between them impossible to ignore.
For Bruner, Emma’s side of the story was equally layered. She pointed to moments of quiet connection, such as Gio being there for Emma when Maxie (Kirsten Storms) went into a coma, as the turning points that deepened their bond. She acknowledged that Emma’s drive to stay focused on her mission slowed things down, but the emotional tether kept growing stronger until she couldn’t push it aside anymore.
Facing Fears and Taking the Leap
Of course, both stars pointed out that timing — and hesitation — were a big part of the equation. Bruner acknowledged that Emma’s biggest fear was losing the one person she could fully count on, and that risk held her back. Mazza echoed the sentiment, admitting that Gio’s own lack of family support added to his reluctance to make a move. Yet when the moment finally came, he leaned on instinct: “When you know you know,” Mazza said simply.
The actors also admitted they had been waiting for the kiss almost as long as fans, expecting it to happen much earlier in the storyline. Instead, they got to experience the tension of a slow burn, one that Bruner described as both romantic and rewarding. With the door now wide open, both stars agree the kiss marks the beginning of a whole new chapter for Gio and Emma — and for ‘Gemma’ fans everywhere, it was worth the wait.
