Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with CBS, Guiding Light, Daniel Cosgrove, or Marcy Rylan.

Author's Note: First GL fanfic. The Bill/Lizzie budding romance has actually made me want to watch again. So, here's the first chapter. Please review, and be honest! This takes place after Bill has lost his sight, and no matter what tract the show takes from there, I'll just keep going with my own imagination :D

For Keeps

I . "Princess, you got no reason to be jealous."

"I'm telling you darlin', you are making a real big mistake" Billy said looking earnestly into the eyes of his business partner, friend, and surrogate daughter.

Lizzie Spaulding sighed, looked at her feet. Part of her knew that Billy was right. Her brain told her that Billy's son was no good at all. All the stuff that he had done since he got back into town proved that even though Bill Lewis had once been looked to as one 'heck'uva a guy', that guy was no longer him. He wasn't even one of the good guys anymore at all. He was one of the enemies. Just like her grandfather. And that was the worst thing you could possibly be. An unfeeling sociopath.

However, the other part of her, the part that was currently winning the race with the more logical side, told her that Bill Lewis was what she'd been looking for. He was a strong man, and deep down he cared about her. He carried her picture in his wallet for goodness sakes! He was funny, and smart, ambitious and resourceful. Not to mention, he was pretty easy on the eyes. Strike that. He was completely gorgeous.

Sensing her inner turmoil, Billy reached out and took the pint-sized blonde's hand in both of his.

"Listen to me sweetheart. I know you care about my son, and that makes me so happy, that despite all the trouble he's causing, he's got somebody like you in his corner-"

"Somebody like me Billy? Don't paint me up like saint. I've changed, yeah, but I've done some pretty horrible things. I'm no angel that you have to protect from losing my innocence or anything."

"Hey, hey darlin', let me finish. I know you've done some things you ain't too proud of. We all have. I mean, look at me, I'm in rehab. But, the difference is, we know we were wrong. We're fixing our lives. Bill ain't even admitted how screwed up he is just yet. He's still got a big ole chest full of rage he wants to get out, and I just don't want you to get caught in the crossfire of his problems. "

"But he's a Lewis." She said squeezing his hand, and offering a hopeful smile "He's your son Billy. And that makes me know he's going to turn out okay"

Billy's eyes twinkled at her. "Okay huh? Like his Pop, making mistake after mistake?"

"No." She said, sitting down beside him on his bed. If you could call this thing a bed. She made mental note to talk to this rehab about he mentor's current sleeping arrangements. Billy Lewis didn't deserve to sleep on a cot. "I know he's going to turn out to be just as sweet, selfless, and caring as his father-" Billy made to interject but she shushed him. "Now you let me finish. You may feel like scum Billy, but our friendship was the best thing that ever happened to me. You helped me through one of the darkest times of my life, and you're still helping me deal with everything. You...you're the greatest guy I know. Now, what do you say to that?"

Billy looked thoughtfully at her for second, before grinning. " I say, you need to meet some more guys darlin'."

She narrowed her eyes at him before puling him into a side hug. "I have to go, but I want you to call me anytime you need me. And I'll back to see you the day after tomorrow, tomorrow if you're not sick of me."

"I'm never sick of sweets, but I think you need to concentrate on yourself a little more, and me a little less. Besides, I got sessions all day tomorrow."

She looked at him with a skeptical grin as she stood and got her coat. "Okay, then I'll see you day after. Take care of yourself."

"You too darlin'" He said, following her to the door "And Lizzie please, think about what I said. Don't go falling for my boy. Look after him, but don't let him under your skin. I'm telling you, the state he's in, he'll let you down."

She gave him a half smile and nodded. "Bye Billy."

Little did Billy know, it was a little late for his advice.

Bill Lewis may be without his sight, but he would know that thick, sweet coconut-y smell anywhere. As soon he heard the door open, from where he lay propped up in his bed, he could smell her intoxicating scent, and he slapped on his large toothy grin.

"Princess, you're back! I thought I was actually going to have to get up and do something fro myself."

Lizzie gave him an incredulous look, which was completely wasted, since he wouldn't see it anyway. She saw that his coat was over the back of the chair, and wet tracks were on the floor, so it was obvious that he'd been out all by his self. Well, not by his self. He was still having trouble getting around. So that told Lizzie that Ava had probably more than likely been his little crutch.

That infuriated Lizzie, and it infuriated her even more that she was jealous. For the second time in her life, she was envious of Ava Peralta. That he would make her feel that way, that she would allow him to make her feel that way, was criminal. But, you can't help how you feel, and like it or not, Lizzie already felt attached to Bill.

She just huffed as she cleaned up the food mess, that the two of them had likely made, from all around the room. She really couldn't complain. She had asked for this, No, she had begged Bill to move back in so that she could take care of him. He hadn't even wanted to. It was only under Dinah and Vanessa's urging that he did. After all, without much of a life these days, all she had was time.

When she got to a side table closest to where he was propped, he felt around until his hand grazed her body, and then leaned up and stealthily pulled her close. "I don't like to be ignored."

She tried to shrug out of his grasp, but now that he had his bearings, he found the small of her back with one strong hand, and maneuvered her until she was on top of him. Taking advantage of the situation, he ran his hands over every inch of her that he could, and searched for her lips with his own. Partly because she felt bad for him, though he didn't deserve it, and partly because he was just too much to resist, she pressed her lips to his, and after they parted an easy smile spread across his face.

"Now that's a good hello. I prefer that to icy indifference"

Her anger a little broke by the attention, and a little distracted by his ever-moving hands, she rolled over and situated herself on the bed beside him.

"You feel okay? I see you went out."

"I feel fine," He groaned a little agitated. He hated being treated like an invalid " I'm not sick, I just can't see right now."

Avoiding the subject of his blindness all-together, she smoothed his shirt a little, before settling into the crook of his arm. "So, did you and Ava have a good time?"

He gave a smirk, which she immediately wanted to wipe off his face, and also made her make to get way, but he tightened the grip of the arm that held her to his side.

"Hey, you didn't even me chance to say anything babe. For your information, Ava wasn't here. Dinah brought me some food over."

She glared at him, boring holes. "Dinah is in rehab. I just saw her when I was there visiting your father. Does she have apparition powers now?"

He laughed a little, curling his fingers in her wavy hair. "Okay. You caught me warden. I've been a bad boy. If I was you, I would definitely punish me."

This time she did get up, giving him a slight push as she did.

"You are unbelievable you know? You're really the biggest jerk I've ever met."

"Do you get infatuated with every jerk you know, or just the really cute ones?"

"How do you even come from the same bloodline as your father? I swear, I really need to take his advice more often. He never lies to me." She asked, taking off her coat, and avoiding even looking at his smirking countenance.

"Ohhhh. That's what's got you in such a mood" He nodded knowingly, and began speaking in a Southern drawl, imitating his father's speech. " You went to see 'Big Daddy', and he told his little apple fritter-darlin' to stay away from his black sheep son."

"This has nothing to do with Billy. It has to do with the inconsiderate way you're treating me, after everything I'm trying to do for you."

This time, it was Bill that stood up in a huff. "I don't need anything from you, got that? So you can stop doing me favors right now, and I'll get my own room. " He made for the door, a bit wobbly, and hand to hold his balance on various objects, seeing as he had refused the help of the cane that Rick had tried to get him to use.

"Wait." She said, side stepping in front to of him just as he made it to the door. "I'm sorry, I want you here, okay? I do. I just." She paused, not wanting to be honest, but wanting him to stay more "I'm just jealous. Okay? You happy. I'm jealous of Ava."

His face relaxed a little, and after a minute the victorious grin found his lips again, and she wanted to puke. She tried to move past him defeated, but he found her face with hands and kissed her slowly.

After they broke, leaving her breathless, he pushed his lips through her hair to whisper in her ear.

"Princess, you got no reason to be jealous, 'cause even fighting with you turns me on."