Liz is awakened by the sound of the pilot announcing their safe arrival to New York City. She is quick to get off the plane and makes her way to the nearest exit. She has decided to come home early from her trip to Whitehaven as there is some unfinished business to attend to before she can jet off again for Jack and Avery's wedding.
As Liz makes her way through the terminal she can hear her name being called.
'Liz, Liz, LEMON!'
As she turns round and squints to focus on the image that is running towards her she can see the familiar face of Avery. Avery is panting as she tries to catch her breath to speak again.
'Hey Liz, I was calling you...you didn't hear me?'
'Sorry Avery I took a sleeping pill and I'm still cleaning my eye boogers from the flight'
'Do you want to share a cab back to Manhattan?'
'Jack's not picking you up?'
'No I wanted to surprise him, I'm not due back until tomorrow, truth is, the thought of spending any more time with my parents was enough for me to book the next flight back here, I still intend to claim it back on expenses though'.
The car journey is short lived as there is no traffic at the early hours of the morning. They soon arrive at their destination and with the meter running Avery tempts Liz to come in a while.
'Why don't you come in Liz?'
'No, no, really it's late and Jack will be sleeping'
'How about if you help me in with my bags, I will arrange for Jack's town car to take you back to your apartment?'
'I will take that deal'
Avery opens the front door taking special care not to wake anyone. On entering Avery turns round to silence a heavy footed Lemon.
'Quiet Lemon, you will ruin the...'
Avery is stopped mid sentence as she can hear Jack and Colleen in the study, she is surprised to hear that they are still up at this hour. They quietly put down their bags and tip toe across the hall to make their way towards the voices. The suspense is killing Liz and she begins to break into laughter and covers her mouth in attempts to suppress her noise. Liz's laughter is infectious and they are both now Lizzing themselves. Avery is waving at her urging her to stop. As they approach closer the muffled words become clearer and their laughter is killed dead with Colleen's question.
'I need to know... how you feel about Liz'
Avery looks round to see if Liz has heard the question. With one look at her face Avery knows that she has heard it too. Liz starts to back up and make her way towards the front door, in a mad dash Avery grabs Liz's arm and pushes her up against the wall. Liz is desperate to yell out and confess that they are here but Avery is quick to cover Liz's mouth to silence her.
'Jack, how long have you known Liz? 5 years is it? And in that time, how many thoughtless proposals have you had? The first, hollow bones, then to that Puerto Rican and now Avery.'
With the mention of her name Avery presses harder on Liz's mouth making it more difficult for her to breath.
'Phoebe and Elisa, she was your Nurse Maid Mother'
As they listen into the intimate conversation they have no choice but to look at each other face to face. Liz has given up on fighting back as she doesn't want to hurt a pregnant Avery. Avery is fixed on Liz like a lioness watching for any reaction from the conversation that they are ease dropping on.
'What I'm saying Jack, is that you were always too quick to put a ring on it, not realising that the whole time you were already in the greatest relationship of your life. You're so satisfied and happy with your relationship with Liz that's why you go out looking for horizontal pleasure from those floosies and why you so easily propose to the first woman that says yes'.
'You don't know what you're talking about Mother'
'I don't know what I am talking about? Oh so over these years as an observant mother I didn't notice that you kept Liz as a friend and that's exactly it, you kept her as a friend, because if you have her as a friend you get to keep her forever...and that's what you want, you want to keep her forever'.
As Avery looks deep into Liz's eye's she can see they are soft and with every effort Liz looks away as she can't face her.
'Enough Colleen'
They are startled with Jack's outburst. In order to regain power over Liz, Avery pins her back against the wall. The shove is so forceful that Liz's double L initial necklace has come undone and drops to the floor.
'Why can't you love Liz?'
Avery's hands slip from Liz's mouth, her focus is no longer on silencing Liz; her attention is focused on Jack response. Liz is no longer concerned with crying out in protest and too waits for the answer to Colleen's question.
'If I chance loving Liz, I risk losing her and I can't let that happen'.
Liz is now free from Avery as the shock has kicked in and both woman stand silent. Liz starts to slowly back away and makes her way to the front door, aware that she must treed careful not to make a sound. She can feel the tight grasp of Avery's hand around her arm and she spins Liz round to face her once more.
'You're not coming to the Wedding! You can make any excuse you want, just do it and do it fast!'
With each request Avery's grasps becomes tighter and her voice lower.
'I will make sure that Jack never sees his baby girl and it will be because of you! Do not underestimate the things that I will do. Do I make myself clear?'
With a long pause Liz understands the seriousness of her request and with a deep breath she suppresses her tears to answer her.
'You have my word'
Avery releases Liz from her grasp and watches as she leaves.
XXXXXX
'Avery, you're back early?'
Avery turns round to see Jack and Colleen standing at the door of the study, they are both surprised to see her there.
'I heard the door close, was that you just coming in now?'
An on edge Avery answers Jack to then open her arms to greet him. Watching her son embrace, Colleen takes a step closer to inspect her late night visitor. Suddenly she feels something underneath her foot. As she lifts her leg she discovers Liz's necklace. Colleen leans down to pick up the necklace and is taken aback to see a nervous Avery watching her over Jack's shoulder.
Jack can feel the buzzing of his cell in his pocket and releases Avery in order to retrieve it.
'Who is it Jack?' Avery is anxious to know
'It's a text from Liz'
Avery can see the heartache in Jack's face as he reads over the text
'What does it say Jack? Jack what does it say? Jack, answer me?'
'Eh, mmm...she can't make the wedding...it's the weather in Whitehaven...it's too dangerous for her to travel' Jack closes his mouth in order to gain more moisture to finish reading aloud. The thought of Liz not being there has left him feeling deserted. 'She said; don't try calling as the reception is too bad'
'That's all it says?'
'Yeh, that's it'
A relieved Avery then orders Jack to carry her luggage upstairs. As Colleen watches her son struggle she asks Avery.
'You took in all of those bags yourself?'
'I did'
As Colleen looks down at the necklace in her hand running her fingers over the double L initials she thinks about Avery's abrupt response which only confirms her suspicions that Avery was not alone in coming into the house that night.
TO BE CONTINUED
