I don't know the schedule for this story and new chapters, but we will see how it goes. Hope you enjoy and will share your thoughts with me. This won't be a long story but it will move along fairly quickly once it reaches a certain point.
Righteousness
Chapter One
Ever since Sam and Lucky told the world about Jake and then about Cameron's paternity, she'd had to fight off friend, foe, do-gooders and naysayers.
Her poor son wasn't even a month old and already it felt like she had gone up against everyone, numerous times over.
Sadly, it was her oldest son who was taking the brunt of the hate and harsh words.
He didn't understand why suddenly, most people he knew were being short and downright mean to him. He was a child with a child's mentality. What the grownups were doing was wrong, but he just saw it as something he must have done, he's the three year old, but the people around him were acting more like children.
Emily turned her back and joined Lucky in calling her every name in the book. Even though the boys she called bastards were her nephews. Even though, at every turn, Elizabeth had stood by her, she'd done anything and everything in her power to make her friends life better, had been an accomplice in illegal things, to save her and those she classified as real friends.
Lucky, what was there really to say? He turned out exactly like she expected him to. Ever since he came back from Helena, there was something wrong with him, but he wouldn't hear of it, he was perfectly sane…what Spencer was ever 'perfectly sane'?
His words and actions ceased having the ability to hurt her since she refused his first proposal.
If she were honest with herself, she was glad that what they had was over and done with. It saved her from making huge mistakes where he was concerned.
It took her a year after he was returned, to stop thinking of him as her savior. It took another couple weeks to grow to despise his weaknesses and shallow and egotistical mind, but she had tried, tried to be his friend, to keep the peace between the 'four musketeers'.
So long as she did as she was told, Emily, Nicholas and Lucky treated her with a modicum of civility. When she told Emily about Cameron's conception, Emily hit her so hard, she'd fallen. She had from that moment on, refused to bow to their demands. When both Lucky and Nik suggested, but more like demanded, she have an abortion, Elizabeth severed whatever remained of their friendship.
Emily tried to worm her way back in but when Elizabeth overheard her spewing lies and trying to convince people that she was a horrible person and unfit to bear a Quartermaine heir, Elizabeth was forced to take the final step and get a restraining order.
Her grams up and moved when she wouldn't take Lucky back. Pronouncing to the world that she was a waste of a human being that even showing a small amount of like, when she wasn't worthy was beneath her.
Steven didn't bother to do his berating in person; he was much too busy and did so over the phone. When the first words out of his mouth were slut, idiot and had zero potential to be a good mother, she simply hung the phone up.
Sara simply laughed in her phone call, just before she disconnected, she crowed to the heavens about 'her' parents loving her, no matter what.
When her parents didn't bother with an in person meeting or a phone call, Elizabeth realized just how far she had fallen, at least in their respects.
Nevertheless, she managed to persevere, she didn't let those who would hurt her, have a moment's head time. Her life was fully about her child and her job.
Of course, there was one person who tried to stand by her side, especially when he found out about his child.
He said the right words when he was there, which was hardly ever, but he did try for his son.
XxXxX
On a night, roughly two years after her son's birth, when she was walking through the park, knowing it was a bad idea, but still doing it, because she needed a few moments of solitude. That inner voice continued to tell her what a bad idea it was, but, she wasn't really paying attention.
A patient that her team had been working on, a patient, who was seven months pregnant, had died on the table when they tried to save both mother and child, complications were too vast and the damage too great, there was nothing that could have been done, but being so close to her own due date, it struck a nerve.
The woman's family had been there, waiting in the waiting room. Standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to weather whatever storm life threw at them. She was happy the family had each other; it was just, in that moment, too much to bear. It was like a slap in the face for all Elizabeth didn't have. The mocking sounds of her own desires, curdling in her stomach.
She walked, the crisp air coloring her cheeks, the tempo of her pace kept her heart at a steady clip and even though she was semi-wallowing, she did not shed a tear, she wouldn't, what her patient had been through was much worse.
Her hubris for thinking it safe to walk the park had her bad luck once again rearing its head. She was almost raped, thankfully, this time, it didn't happen, but it was a close call.
All because she didn't have a phone and had been working 36 hour shifts, no one had been able to contact her and let her know of Tom Bakers release, for that was who she once again met, almost in the exact same place too.
If it wasn't for Jason and his epically good timing, she would have once again been a victim to the man who wore a monsters face in her nightmares and made her cautious while awake.
For two days she had paradise.
Jason's embraces were soothing, healing, his passionate kisses and his gentle and calm patience, were like a balm to her jumpy and fearful mood.
One of those two days had given her another gift but this time; she didn't share her good news. She went to New York and saw doctors there at the free clinic; she purchased her vitamins there as well.
It wasn't that she was trying to hide her pregnancy but she didn't believe there was a reason to share something so precious with a person who did not want the gift she thought it was.
Whether he wanted it or not, she didn't really know, but the further along in her pregnancy, and still not a word from her sometimes lover…she decided, it didn't matter to him, so she wasn't going to let it bother her.
XxXxX
For months she hid her increasing depression, for months she moved through life, only living when her son was awake and needed her. When she was alone, she wallowed, contemplated the type of person she must have been in a past life, to deserve such heartache's this time around.
It wasn't until a month before she was due that she managed to pull herself out of her funk and join the land of the living. She'd cried and raged against the injustices of life and her lack of love.
It wasn't until her son whispered his own words of love to her that she pulled herself from her depression and cast aside all past hurts. They were of the past and did not belong in her present or future. Her children deserved the best and a half alive mother wasn't it.
XxXxX
Jason was once again her rescuer, when she suffered a partial abruption and lay bleeding on her living room floor. How he knew to find her, she still didn't know but she took it as yet another sign. She had to start living.
Her son's father was able to see him enter the world. It was a bittersweet moment, because he no sooner placed him in her open arms than he was spouting off about the danger and the complications of his life.
It was okay though, she had lived through the worst that life had thrown at her thus far and whatever lay ahead, she would survive it too.
XxXxX
Tonight, she was going on her first date in…much too long. She'd met him at a diner on the outskirts of town. They'd talked for hours, Cameron taking a liking to him from the start, Jake on the other hand…he didn't rightly care who was there or not, he slept on peacefully.
When he'd asked her for a date, she'd practically done a happy dance. Life wasn't perfect and Landon wasn't the perfect man, nor did she feel love for him but she had hopes that it could move in that direction.
As she prepared for her date, she pulled on dark skinny jeans, a corseted top in midnight blue with gold swirls. Knee high boots completed her ensemble. When she placed the black bib lace choker and white gold and diamond drop earrings, she felt like a new woman, a more confident woman. Her platinum, white gold and diamond bracelet watch added the finishing touches and cured her of her last minute butterflies.
Even if this date didn't turn out perfectly, she knew she had taken the next step in fixing her life.
She may be alone more often than not, but with her children, she vowed, once and for all, she was going to live.
She had to use a babysitting service but that alone made her feel more comfortable. Leaving her children with someone who didn't know what they were doing had left a sour taste in her mouth. By using the service, she was getting someone who had experience.
XxXxX
Hearing a knock on the door, Elizabeth took a deep breath to center herself, but realized, as she opened the door, she should have just ignored it.
"Can I help you with something?"
"I am here to spread the word of God and his righteousness."
"Thanks, but…"
"God is never wrong; he has sent me here to teach you of his holiness. To teach you of the wickedness that living in sin and having babies out of wedlock will do on your eternal soul. Praise Jesus and his divine words."
The older lady gave a cursory glance at her ensemble before looking away, as if Elizabeth's soul might not be worth saving. The indignation was palpable.
Elizabeth looked down at her outfit, thinking she wasn't wearing anything that screamed slut, but, who knew when it came to women like this. Then her mind caught up to what she had said and she was pissed. This woman didn't know anything about her or her life.
Not censoring her thoughts, she blurted out the first thing on her mind. "Never wrong, what about the whole…testicles on the outside?" Elizabeth said.
"Why, I never, the audacity of you talking such foul garbage in front of me, is an affront to God and His glorious and righteous son, Jesus Christ!"
"Look, I'm not trying to be mean or rude but I have…I appreciate your 'big holy mission' but I think you read your tea leaves wrong, I'm…Thanks but no thanks. You don't know me or anything about my life or my children, so I ask you to keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself."
"But…"
"Have a good day."
She shut the door a little harder than she intended but she was pissed. This wasn't the first time someone from the 'church' had shown up and started preaching to her, the day before and the day before that had these old women knocking on her door and preaching, she did hope this was the last time, she couldn't take their Righteousness any longer.
As she leaned against the door, she instantly came aware of a feeling growing, whether in her stomach or elsewhere, she wasn't sure, but it felt like a dark and ominous cloud was dangling just above her head.
XxXxX