So…I have no idea where this came from or where it is going or even how long it will be, but this little plot bunny popped in my head and demanded I run with it. I am a slave to my muse and not the other way around, so I do what I am told, in this instance. :D Hope you guys enjoy and will let me know what you think. I don't have a beta, so all the errors and typos and whatnot are mine. (Still sticking with the short chapters, hope you'll continue to understand. I'll update this when I can, but my focus is still going to be on my other unfinished stories.)

Lost Little Lamb

Chapter One

"Piph, why did we have to move again?" Thirteen year old Elizabeth asked with tears trailing down her cheeks.

"My little doll, you know why. If your mommy or daddy found us, they could hurt you again. I can't watch you go through that. Seven years sweetie, I sat by and watched you come in to the hospital. I couldn't do it anymore. I told you when we left, we could never go back. The day you opened your eyes after that last coma and said you wished I was your momma…trust me baby, we will find a way to make things right. For now, just trust me, it is you and me, forever!" Epiphany said as she gently took the little girl in her arms.

She would never, could never understand how a parent could do what Doctor Webber did. Well respected doctor my ass…their colleagues didn't know what they were like but every time Elizabeth Webber was brought into her hospital, she watched that beautiful child practically shake apart in fear when either of her parents got close. She didn't know if they both abused the child but she did know that Elizabeth would not settle whenever there were men around her.

She often wondered if she had done the right thing, taking a child's acceptance and simply discarded common sense but, she couldn't sit on the sidelines, watching as they concocted even more outrageous stories on behalf of Elizabeth and her 'EXTREME' klutziness.

"Elizabeth, do you miss your parents, do you want to go back?"

As she watched that forever ingrained fear practically freeze the child to her spot, Epiphany rationalized, no matter what, she had done the right thing.

"No Piph, no, please don't send me back. I can't hurt no more, please no more." Elizabeth cried, finally finding her feet moving as she threw herself into the nurse's arms.

After the sad little girl had cried herself to sleep, no matter how many times she had promised Elizabeth that she'd never had to go back, Epiphany simply hugged the poor, damaged sprite of a girl. She may be thirteen but she looked a lot younger.

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Later that night, after she had finished packing up their meager belongings, Epiphany transported her most precious cargo to her car.

If life continued on like it was, she was going to have to go to the only place they might have a chance of staying under the radar. It wasn't something she actually wanted to do but for the child in the backseat, who had quickly become her whole world, she'd do anything…anything to keep her from going back to the horrors, back where life wouldn't, couldn't be guaranteed…if she had to, she would go to her ex-husband's family and beg for their protection or help, whatever they deemed her and her…child, warranted.

She was a proud woman but watching Elizabeth play, while watching her try to do normal things, that should be done effortlessly, she had to watch her grimace in pain when she ran, if she sat too long…she couldn't just enjoy life because all the damage done to her throughout her childhood.

Realizing that in a few years, there would be no more options, she would have to go to them no matter what, left her feeling like a failure. Elizabeth needed reconstructive surgery to fix the damage done to her but all the doctors who had seen her thus far, all agreed that until she reached a certain age, there was no point to put her through such a trying surgery when her growing body would most likely just undo the work.

Yes, the time was coming but maybe for the here and now, she'd be able to find a family…a connected family, who could help her hide and maybe offer her some sort of protection.

With her mind made up, Epiphany slowly directed her car into the light traffic, praying they left no evidence behind. She'd make her decision on where to go after they had been on the road for a few days.

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For seven years…with a little help from a few people, even her son, she managed to avoid Port Charles and everything she feared but it was time to go there. She and Elizabeth had been putting it off for a few years now but Epiphany knew they couldn't put it off any longer, any more time and the damage may be irreversible, may already be.

"I know you are scared sweetheart but this is the right move. You are old enough now to make your own decisions but please don't refuse again. Elizabeth I have seen the pain you are in every day and it positively breaks my heart. You've been putting this off for two years. Let's show the world and those horrible Webber/Hardy's just how wonderful and strong you are. Mr. Corinthos said he would make sure you have the best security. I wish I could promise that nothing was going to happen but this is life and not some fanciful tale on the TV."

"Piph…I know this has to happen but are you sure there is no chance of you getting in trouble? I don't care what happens to me but I can't handle you getting in trouble, you have been the only person in my life I have ever been able to trust."

"Young lady, I don't ever want to hear you say you don't care what happens to you, you may not be able to wrap your mind around being special or important but you damn well are that and much, much more. I care and if you would stop hanging out with me all the time, you'd be able to make friends and…"

Before she could continue, Elizabeth was in her arms, hugging, for all intents and purposes, her mother. "I didn't mean it like that Piph. You raised me to be…me. I trust you with my life; it's just other people I don't trust. I still can't be in the same room, alone with a man. My entire life is you Piph…I was home schooled, I now work at home. I guess you could say I am borderline agoraphobic. I don't know if that will ever change but I do want to get better, I want to not hurt all the time, if this doctor says she can help, then I'll give it a try but please, no more after this, if this go doesn't work, we just let it be, please?"

Epiphany knew that this was going to be hard on all who got involved but she couldn't keep running away from all the issues that lay behind them. Her health wasn't the best anymore and on top of all of that, Elizabeth had no desire to keep moving from small town to small town. She knew, no matter what, Elizabeth would do whatever was in her best interests, not her own.

It was time to go back to her hometown and just maybe they could avoid the pretentious and egomaniacal Webber/Hardy family. Maybe…just maybe, her precious girl would never have to see or deal with them ever again.

Rolling her eyes, since not even five minutes ago, she had been telling Liz they didn't live in some fanciful TV show, and here she was, hoping for rainbows and daisies…

No, life had taught her a lot but one of the most important things was, life normally kicked you when you were down and tried to keep you there. You had to have steel in your spine, otherwise, more often than not, no one else would help you pick yourself up and dust yourself off.

Taking her eyes off the road for just a moment, she looked at the young woman asleep beside her. It was time, long past actually, to go home. "So starts another adventure chicky, here's hoping for happy times and good diagnoses."

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