This follows one of my one-shots of Nathan and Liz getting married to keep her from Ric. They settle in California and start a new life. She has no children and she paints for a living. I hope you like it. I don't own the characters, they belong to GH and ABC.

Liz and Nathan flew to Las Vegas when Liz skipped out of her wedding to Ric. She needed to get away from Ric because he was way too controlling. She knew that if she married him that he would never let her go. He would either have her locked up or he would kill her if she tried to leave.

Liz talked to Jason because he was her best friend. Jason told her that he couldn't help her but she needed to find someone that she could marry that neither Ric or Sonny could go after. That is when Jason thought of Nathan and Dante. She knew not to ask Dante because he was in love with Lulu and about to marry her. Nathan was in love with Maxie so she wasn't so sure about asking him either. She would have to leave Port Charles but Ric could find her.

Liz went to see Nathan to see if he could help her get out of town. "Nathan, I need a favor. I must leave Port Charles and I need to do it tomorrow or flee the wedding the next day. I can't marry Ric. I don't love him and he scares me. I need help."

"How about going to some big city where you can just blend in. There are a lot of cities like that or you could go to a small town but I think people would notice you faster. I say you find someone in Vegas and get married. That way, your last name will change and then you can alter your appearance in some way."

"Can you help me get to Las Vegas? Once, I am there you can go back home." Nathan looked at her and realized that he could help her and help himself. He loved Maxie but he knew that down the road, he would not be enough for her and that she would break his heart.

"I can do you one better. I can marry you there. I have been thinking about Maxie a lot and I know that deep down I am not enough for her. I would try but it will not be enough."

"Are you sure that you want to do that? You are a great guy but I don't want you to feel that you should do this to protect me. I can figure it out once I get there."

The two of them chatted a little longer and figured out a plan for her wedding day. Nathan bought the plane tickets and had his vehicle ready to pick Elizabeth up at the church. He didn't tell anybody about his plan because if he did, it wouldn't have worked. Elizabeth trusted Nathan to pick up her suitcases. He had everything ready, he just needed the bride.

Elizabeth got ready for her fake wedding. Well it was her real wedding but she wasn't going to go thru with it. Emily helped her get ready. Emily was her best friend and she knew that she was making a big mistake but she wouldn't say anything.

Elizabeth started to get ready. The thing that no one noticed was what she was wearing on under the gown. She had on her jeans, t-shirt and her sneakers. Her gown was pretty but it wasn't something that she would really want to wear. She knew what Ric liked and bought it. It was a little loose and so it would be easy to take off. She made sure that the room she picked to get ready in was close to the doors to get out of the church.

Elizabeth didn't want to have anyone walk her down the aisle. She did ask that someone knock on her door when the wedding march started to play. She planned on being outside already halfway to the airport by then.

She wanted to say goodbye to Emily first and then she would run. "Emily, there is something that I need from you. Stall for five minutes for me. I can't marry Ric. I don't love him. I am leaving town and never coming back. I will get in touch with you when it is safe. I love you so much. You are my best friend and I know that you and Nik will get together. Please be happy for me and say a prayer that Ric never finds me."

Emily looked at her best friend and knew that it was for the best. "Good luck. I love you and I will protect you for if you need. Go, and be safe."

Emily knew that Elizabeth would be fine but she knew that her best friend needed a head start. She heard her cue and she was going to play it off for as long as she could. She walked down the aisle and tripped hitting her head on one of the pews. There was blood and Emily looked like she was going to pass out.

Elizabeth heard the commotion and made a run for it. She threw off her wedding gown and left it behind the steps. She ran towards Nathan's pick-up truck and got in. She kissed him as two of Ric's guards came around the church. They went right by the pick-up truck and didn't even see the wedding gown. Elizabeth was able to throw it somewhere the men wouldn't look for it.

They made it to the airport and had just enough time to check-in and go through security. They were going first class so they could board as soon as they got to the gate. The plane was soon taking off and then the real fun began.

Emily got up and felt dizzy. Ric looked over her head and expected to see Elizabeth any minute. Nik, Lucky, and Jason went to see how Emily was doing. She pretended to feel faint so Lucky went to get Emily some water. "Is Elizabeth gone? I hope that you didn't take it too far when you tried to help her and you really hurt yourself."

"Jason, what was I supposed to do. She needed my help and why are you not surprised?"

"I was the one that told her she needed to leave if she didn't really love Ric. I know Liz and she is scared to death of him and rightfully so. She had to leave or he would make her life here a living hell."

"You are right about that. I think that I gave her enough time. She seemed to have everything under control. At least, I hope so."

Ric went to check on Elizabeth and found the room she was in, empty. He started shouting and soon his guards were by him. "How could you let her get away? I hired you both to make sure she didn't slip out of the church. You two can go. You are both fired."

Ric then went to his brother Sonny. "I need help finding Elizabeth. She couldn't have gotten far. When I find her, she is going to pay for making me look foolish. I think that we should start with your buddy, Jason. He probably knows where she went. He probably helped her escape."

Sonny went over to see Jason and Emily. "How are you feeling, Emily? You look like you are going to have a good shiner there. I wonder if it was worth it so Elizabeth could escape my brother."

Jason was mad because he was accusing his sister. "Sonny, I think you need to apologize to my sister for what you just said. No one should be forced into marrying someone as low as your brother, Ric. I am glad that Elizabeth had time to figure out that she didn't want to marry that asshole. You know how I feel about him and I know I can't touch him because he is your brother but I wouldn't wish anyone on him, especially not Elizabeth."

"Jason, did you help Elizabeth escape today? I need to know that I can trust you and that is something that I can't tolerate. You made Ric look like an ass in front of everyone. When you do something like that to my brother, it is like you are doing it to me. Do you understand?"

"I do completely. I did not help Elizabeth escape but if she would have asked me, I would have. I don't blame her for leaving and I am sure that she is somewhere safe where Ric can't touch her."

"Okay. I will ask this one more time? Where is that bitch? She needs to be found and then dealt with. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, I do. I don't know where she is going but if I did know, I wouldn't tell you anyway. You are my best friend but you don't own me. If you think that we should part ways, remember I own 90% of the company. I had to take over a lot of things when you were presumed dead. I also had to help you out of a lot of tight dealings and because of that, I had to get more control of the company. I will buy out your 10% but not a penny more. I will call Diane and have her get on that."

"I don't believe anything that you are saying to me. I know that I own a lot more of the company than that. I will get in touch with Bernie and Diane. This is going to be settled as soon as possible."

When the plane landed in Chicago, both Nathan and Liz breathed a sigh of relief. They knew that the only way to protect themselves was to get married and leave their lives behind. The first thing that they did was say their goodbyes to the people they loved in Port Charles.

Nathan called Dante to say goodbye. He was his best friend and he wanted to tell him before that but he couldn't do it. Ric was his uncle and Sonny his father. He had already put his notice in at work and so did Elizabeth. Epiphany knew why and told her good luck. She went to her bank and took everything of value with her.

Nathan did the same. There was nothing left in Port Charles that either of them had to worry about but Nathan felt bad because of Maxie. He called her up after talking to Dante. "Maxie, when you hear your voicemail tonight, I will be gone. I have fallen in love with someone else and I have left Port Charles. I know that we were never going to be able to make each other happy. You need more from me, then I can give you. I just want you to know that I will treasure every moment that we have had together. I want you to be happy."

Nathan, then took his cell phone and threw it away. Elizabeth called Nik and Emily to tell them goodbye. She thanked them for being there when she needed them. She told them that she was safe and that there was no need to call back because she was throwing the phone away. She did text Jason and told him thank you for everything that you have done for me. She also told him that she would love him always.

Once Jason read the message, he deleted it. He knew that she would get another phone because she would be traced to anywhere she was going with her cell phone. The tracker stopped in Chicago. Whoever Ric hired to find her would come up with a dead end after making it there.

The next part of the trip was the best part. Liz felt such relief with being away from Port Charles and just realized how lucky she was to be with Nathan. He was strong and very capable. She knew that the two of them once they got married, needed to figure out where they were going too next.

They got off the plane in Las Vegas and headed to the strip. They arrived at one of the most beautiful casinos on the strip. The casino itself was beautiful and it had its own wedding chapel. Nathan fell in love with their hotel room, the minute they walked in the door. Elizabeth was excited and a bit nervous. They had a couple of drinks on the plane and now they were in the hotel room. She really felt that she knew what she was doing up until this point. Now, she was lost. She really liked Nathan and the sexual attraction was there. She just wanted a bit more.

The two of them got changed and then went down to the chapel. They talked to the owners and they got to pick out their wedding outfits. Elizabeth saw the cutest white dress. It was form fitting and it looked like she was made for it. She found the gown, shoes, and her bouquet. She had her make-up redone and her hair touched up. Nathan found a nice tuxedo to wear for the ceremony. They had video of the wedding and photographs. Once the ceremony was done, they received their license and thanked the couple.

Nathan and Elizabeth then went to get something to eat. They were happy but Elizabeth felt like she was forgetting something. They drank a little more and then headed up to their room.

Elizabeth looked at Nathan and knew that she made a great decision asking Nathan for help. She looked up at him and pulled him down for his kiss. The two of them took it slow at first with the kissing. Then Nathan helped Elizabeth out of her outfit and looked at his beautiful new wife. She smelled so good and looked like a goddess before him. She helped him undress and then the two of them got a little shy. Nathan turned off the lights and they two of them kissed goodnight with Elizabeth falling asleep on Nathan's chest.

Liz started to stir and when she did, she started to really see Nathan for who he is to her and that she was his wife. She felt very overwhelmed and a little shy but the minute he woke up, she felt something change between the two of them.

Nathan started to kiss Elizabeth who he nicknamed Lizzie. She was his wife and he wanted to know how she felt when he was inside of her. He had always wondered what she would be like in bed but now, he finally had his chance. His kisses started to deepen and then he could hear her start to moan. His hands started to touch and feel every inch of her amazing body. He touched, kissed and sucked his way down her body. She was getting so turned on that she couldn't say anything even if she wanted too.

The way Lizzie turned him on was like something he never imagined. She had a way about her that when she touched him, he could feel it deep inside of him. She got a bit more brazen and she straddled him. She felt him go inside of her and it was like he was made for her. She started slowly and worked her magic on him. He could feel that he was right on the edge. She started to pull back a little more and slowed him down a bit. She then revved the two of them up again making sure that he hit every tiny nerve that they both felt everything. She knew that she was about to cum and so she sped it up for him too. He was right about to go over the edge and he couldn't stop even if he wanted too.

The two of them went over the edge at the same time. Then Lizzie looked down at her hand and saw the beautiful ring that Nathan had bought for her. She had found him a nice matching wedding band but she wished that she could have gotten him something a little nicer.

The next morning, Nathan looked at his Lizzie and decided that the two of them needed to figure out where they were going to next. Lizzie wanted to go to Los Angeles and do her art. She knew that sooner or later, Ric would find her but she wanted to be established by then so he couldn't hurt her or Nathan.

They found a place for rent that they could afford to start off but fate had decided to help them a little. The two of them went down to the casino and decided to play a little. Nathan went to play some poker and Liz went to play some black jack. They both took a hundred dollars and they had left the rest of their money in their hotel room.

Nathan had played poker before but it was all in fun. Lady luck was smiling on him for the first few hours of play. He took that hundred dollars and turned it into a thousand dollars. He knew that it was best to leave ahead instead of trying to win more and maybe lose it back to the house.

Lizzie had an even better streak. She played for an hour and turned her hundred dollars to ten thousand dollars. She then went to one of the slot machines and put a hundred-dollar bill inside the machine. It was one of the multi-line and multi-player. The jackpot on it was over twenty-five million dollars. She did the maximum on it and then the bells started to go off on it. Lizzie West was now a multi-millionaire.

Nathan saw his wife had just won the big jackpot. He knew that everyone in Port Charles was going to find out that the two of them were now married. The managers of the casino were there to congratulate the new couple. There were a lot of photographs taken of the beautiful young couple. He looked like he could be an actor or a model. She looked like someone on a cover of a magazine but together they were breath-taking.

Nathan knew that the photograph of the two of them hitting the jackpot would make it to the press in Port Charles. They needed to get out of Las Vegas and fast. He just wanted one more night and tomorrow they would rent a car to Los Angeles.

The photo of the couple did reach Port Charles and Ric was livid. He could not believe that his Elizabeth talked the cop into marrying her in Las Vegas. The other thing that he was upset about was how good the couple looked. She looked happy being with him. She never looked like that with him.

Jason and Sonny both saw the picture of the young couple. Jason was happy that she got far away from Port Charles and married Nathan. He also saw that they had hit the jackpot so they could get on with their lives and not have to worry about money for a little while. That would give them time to figure out what they wanted to do.

Sonny knew that Jason did not help her when he saw that she married Nathan. He didn't want to help his brother because he didn't want to get involved with hurting a cop. He didn't need the exposure that would happen if he tried to do away with either one of them. He knew his brother was obsessed so he just let him do what he wanted.

Ric took the first plane to Las Vegas that he could get on. He landed in Las Vegas and went straight to the casino. He saw Nathan and Elizabeth having dinner in one of the newer restaurants in the hotel. Ric went up to Elizabeth and slapped her and grabbed her out of the booth. Nathan stood up and that was when he saw Ric's gun. Elizabeth also saw Ric's gun and she knew that she needed to do something so that Nathan and she would be safe.

There were dozens of witnesses that saw what had happened. It was also on video tape. Security was going into the restaurant and they got everyone out safely except for Ric, Nathan and Elizabeth. The cops and SWAT were called in but they were not needed. Ric was solely focused on Elizabeth. She knew what buttons to push and Nathan trusted her to do what she needed to get away but also give him room to take the gun away from Ric.

"Ric, you need to understand that I will never go with you. I am happily married and tomorrow, Nathan and I plan on starting our new life together. We plan on going far away from Las Vegas and start our lives wherever we land. I was thinking Italy or maybe France. Nathan wants to go to Australia. We haven't figured it out but we have our passports and we have the money, so the world is there for us to take in and see."

"You are never going to leave this restaurant with him. I will kill you both first before you get to have your happy ending. I don't care what happens to me because you have already ruined my life. I loved you, Elizabeth. I was willing to give you the world and you threw it back in my face. How could you do that? I trusted you and you ripped my heart out. If something happens to me, then my brother will go after the two of you. You will always be on the run. I am not worried because I plan on ending you two myself."

When Elizabeth had, Ric talking, Nathan came up from behind him and could grab Ric's gun before Ric even realized where he was. It was then that Ric took out his knife and put it to Elizabeth's throat. "If I can't have her, then no one can have her."

He went to slit Elizabeth's throat when Nathan shot Ric in the head. Ric fell and Elizabeth could get away. She had a tiny nick on her throat but she was okay. Other than that, she was alive and that was all the Nathan cared about in the moment.

Ric did not die but he was taken away to the hospital. The security saw that Nathan did everything that he could to keep everyone safe. He was considered a hero. Nathan told security that he just left Port Charles and he was a cop there. He just wanted to make sure that his wife was safe from her crazy ex-boyfriend. When Ric was better, he was going to jailed for attempted murder.

Lizzie was so happy about the way things had happened there. The manager had upgraded their room to the penthouse suite. They decided on staying a few more days and have fun on the strip. They were going to take in a few shows and then they were going to continue to Los Angeles.

Elizabeth knew that she was falling in love with her husband. The past few days were magical. She felt treasured and loved from the most incredible man that she had ever met. She knew that her life was free from Ric Lansing and knew that Sonny would not go after them. Jason would destroy Sonny before he would let Sonny do that.

The two of them did get in touch with their friends in Port Charles. Nathan was happy when he found out that Maxie was going with Spinelli. She was moving to Portland to be with him and their daughter, Georgie.

Lizzie got in touch with Emily, Nik, and Jason. She told them about what happened to Ric and that they were moving to Los Angeles. They were happy for her and especially that her and Nathan hit it big in Vegas and they looked so cute and happy together.