This is my first story/song fic for Guiding Light! I started watching the show last summer right before the show ended. I had a general idea of characters (Reva and Josh of course!) and when the show ended I started watching old episodes online. There's also an ongoing Twitter based on Melinda Sue's point of view regarding Springfield and what's currently going on. Its mostly about her and Rick but one tweet about Lizzie and Jonathan gave me an idea for this story. According to Melinda, Jonathan has been very controlling regarding Sarah. Melinda along with Billy and Bill are asking her to consider filing for sole custody of Sarah.
"What Becomes of The Broken Hearted" (Prologue)
As I walk this land of broken dreams What becomes of a brokenhearted
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
filled with sadness and confusion
who had love that's now departed
I know I've got to find
some kind of piece of mine, baby…
Every day, heartaches grow a little stronger,
I can't stand this pain much longer…
All is lost there's no place for beginning..
All that's left is that unhappy ending.
Lizzie wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to collect herself before calling her mother. It was getting late, almost ten o' clock but she was so upset about what she had seen, there was absolutely no way she could drive herself anywhere. Alanna smiled up at her unaware of all the pain, hurt, and anger she was feeling. She mustered up enough courage to turn up the corners of her lips. But only a little just for her daughter's sake.
"Is everything okay Lizzie?" Buzz asked bringing her some more water. She had seen him studying her earlier from across the room.
"I'm fine," she mumbled as he stared at her.
"Well you don't look fine. I could call Lillian. She's off tonight you know," he added making goofy faces at Alanna. The little girl giggled.
"Grandmother works hard enough. She doesn't need to be bothered by me," Lizzie said staring off into the distance.
"Alright then. Well, we close in twenty minutes but stay as long as you need. Let me know if you need anything," he said walking off.
Lizzie pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She knew her mother would give her the third degree and question her extensively but right now there was no other option. Reva was on another one of her cross-country trips with Josh. Billy, being Bill's father and with all the best intentions in the world would try to get her to work things out immediately.
Not after what he did. All she could picture was him rolling around naked with some slut, in their bed, in their house. The image was still burning and lingering arounf in her brain.
Still shaking and unnerved she dialed her mother's cell. It rang about four times before Beth picked up.
"Sweetie! How are you? Oh my! Its late, is something wrong dear?" Beth asked in her usual snarky voice.
"Mom, I need you to come pick me up or send me a driver," Lizzie demanded.
"Where are you? Are you in trouble?" her mother asked.
"Mom, I really don't want to talk about it. Please... I've got Alanna with me. We're at Company," she replied.
"Umm sure honey. Phillip and I will be there in a few," Beth said.
"No. Don't tell Daddy please," Lizzie said.
"Is everything okay with you and Bill?" Beth questioned.
"Mom, please," she told her getting upset again.
"Alright. I'll be there in a little bit. I love you Lizzie," she added.
"I love you too, Mom," Lizzie repiled hanging up.
-
The car ride to the Bauer cabin was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Lizzie sat in the back seat with Alanna who was fast asleep. Her mother kept glancing through the rear view mirror which was really starting to annoy Lizzie. She closed her eyes and tried to rest her mind but to no avail. So many questions were swirling in her brain. She opened them again when the car suddenly came to a stop. Beth got out and took Lizzie's bags in as she carefully took Alanna out the car seat. There was already a crib in one of the bedrooms. Lizzie placed the little girl in the crib and kissed her good night.
Lizzie then headed downstairs to the bar and fixed herself a glass of scotch. Beth sat down on the leather couch quietly and watched her daughter. Lizzie took a drink and winced. The spirit was stronger and burned more than she anticipated.
"So I'm sure you're just dying to know what happened right?" she asked swaying the glass around.
"Well honey, you call me late at night and demand that I take you to the cabin without telling your father, how do you expect me to react? My guess is something happened between you and Bill," she responded.
"Damn right something happened. Mom, I caught him with another woman. His secratary," Lizzie said unphased. Beth's jaw dropped.
"Well are you sure? I mean sometiems there can be an good explaination," she replied.
"Yeah there's an explaination. Bill Lewis is a grade-A jackass. But that's okay... I've survived worse," she said with her eyes swelling with tears. She gazed blankly out of the cabin window.
Beth ran over to hug her. Lizzie began to cry uncontrollably.
"Things haven't been good for a while. Not since the baby died," Lizzie sobbed.
Beth wiped her daughter's tears.
"Lizzie this is not your fault. Losing that baby wasn't your fault," she explained.
"If I hadn't been so distant after we lost Will. If I would have been a better wife!" Lizzie cried.
"No, no, no! Lizzie...you've been a wonderful wife and a great mother to both your girls. Stop blaming yourself. I know you might not believe it but Bill still loves you. And I know you still love him. You two can work this out," Beth told her.
"I don't know if I want to," Lizzie said wiping her face.
"Do you still love Bill?" her mother asked.
"Yes," she uttered quietly.
"Then you've got to fight for your marriage. You two belong together," Beth said.
Her mother's words echoed over and over in her head. You two belong together. There was a time when Lizzie couldn't imagine her life without Bill but now she wasn't so sure.