Disclaimer:

I own nothing related to or affiliated with Disney, ABC Daytime, or General Hospital. Characters are not mine; they are merely being borrowed.

AN:

It's been a really long time since I've written fan fic but my friend writes for another GH couple. She's encouraged me to write and post this fic. More like harassed me until I caved.

If you guys like it I have a few more ideas. Feedback is welcome of course. Otherwise just enjoy!

Background:

This starts just after Elizabeth's miscarriage. I pick up after the real estate agent leaves in the May 28th scene. I think that's it any questions just ask.

Now & Forever

Chapter One

Ric knelt beside the sofa and watched Elizabeth sleep. She whimpered softly and it broke his heart just a little bit more. He hated she was in so much pain. Ric knew he would do anything to ease it. Anything.

Despite what Elizabeth said, he could not help but wonder if Sonny was involved somehow. Ric had carried around this intense hatred for his brother for so long that it clouded his judgment. Therefore, he was not sure he could totally trust himself when it came to his brother. If Sonny were responsible, nothing would prevent him from getting revenge. 'Not even Elizabeth's love.' Ric thought sadly.

She shifted on the leather couch drawing his attention. He reached out hesitantly and ran his hand down her back. God she was so beautiful. Even in his sweats, she astounded him. Somehow, they had to make some kind of peace with their loss because he needed her in his life.

Ric had been watching her for nearly and hour when Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes. "Hi."

"Hi." Ric whispered before kissing her forehead.

"I guess I fell asleep." Elizabeth admitted shyly as she sat up.

Ric immediately sat beside his wife on the couch and as he sat back he smoothed her forehead sighing as he was worried. He looked briefly out the window wondering if a walk and fresh air would help them both. "It's okay, Sweetheart." He said as he gazed tenderly in to her eyes as she gazed back so hurt and fragile but strong at the same time waiting for him to help her just a little. Finally, he said, "You needed the rest." Wearily she leaned in to him as the tears flowed again.

"I miss our baby." Her voice so soft he almost did not hear.

"I know. I miss our baby too," he admitted touching her cheek gently.

Between Ric's admission and his soft touch, Elizabeth broke down. "I'm so sorry."

Ric brushed away his wife's tears. "This isn't your fault."

"I feel like I failed you somehow," she admitted looking away.

"No." Ric said shaking his head. How could she ever blame herself? "I don't want you blaming yourself. You did nothing wrong. It was an accident." He insisted as he caressed her back gently. The anger he felt at her guilt was threatening to boil over. Ric took a deep breath and stared at the mantel. This was the last thing Elizabeth needed to see.

"I love you." Elizabeth said softly her voice full of emotion.

Ric turned to Elizabeth and said, "I love you too."

Elizabeth sighed, looked down at the rings Ric had given her just yesterday, and then said, "Please hold me. I need you." As the pain flashed through her blues eyes. "Your love makes it hurt less."

"Of course. Always." He pulled Elizabeth into his arms. Her head lying over his heart. Once his arms were wrapped around, her Elizabeth finally stopped shaking. "I hate that you're hurting. Is there anything I can do to make this easier for you?" Ric urged softly.

"You are right now. Holding me helps. Know that you wanted... our baby... that you miss... it helps so much." Ric held Elizabeth tightly as he caressed her in an effort to sooth her. He placed a soft a kiss to the top of Elizabeth's head. Anything to communicate the love he felt for his wife. Part of him selfishly worried she would leave now that their baby was gone.

The silence was finally broken by Elizabeth's cell phone ringing. "I should get that," she said slowly getting up. "Hello?"

"Elizabeth dear are you okay? Bobbie said you were brought in to the E.R." Audrey Hardy asked clearly worried about her youngest grandchild.

"I... um... What did Bobbie tell you?" She asked hesitantly tugging at the end of Ric's sweatshirt.

"Just that you were brought in and released. It's strange she was very tight lipped about the whole thing."

"I... fell down some stairs and was unconscious. So I ended up at GH."

"But you're okay? You must be for them to let you go."

"Yeah. I guess so." Elizabeth said not really answering the question.

"You guess? Elizabeth what's wrong?" She questioned as her concern grew.

Elizabeth sighed softly. She really did not want to do this now. "There... there are some things I need to tell you. Maybe you can come over and we can talk."

Audrey calmed down a bit. Whatever was wrong, at least Elizabeth was wiling to talk about it. "Of course, Dear. Are you at your studio?"

"No. I'm... let me give you the address." Elizabeth recited the address of her new home.

The address was unfamiliar to her and she wondered what Elizabeth was mixed up in now. "Whose place is this Elizabeth?"

"I'll explain once you get here I promise."

"Okay, Dear. I'll be there soon."

Elizabeth sat back on the couch wrapping her arms back around Ric. She did not want to tell her Grams what was going on. She also knew her Grams wouldn't stop until she knew everything. "I hope that it was that I invited her here."

"Elizabeth this is your home too. It's fine." Ric said placing a kiss to the top of her head.

"I know. I'm just nervous about telling my Grams." She admitted. Elizabeth was worrying her bottom lips. Ric reached over and brushed his thumb across the sore flesh.

"You don't have to do this." He pointed out gently. Ric pulled her against him so that she sat between his legs. His arms wrapped around her body as she laid her head back on his hard chest.

"Yeah I do. I am happy to be your wife. I'm not going to hide it." She said entwining their fingers. Elizabeth loved Ric's hands. They were so strong but were capable of being so gentle.

"Good." Ric said relaxing slightly. "I... you don't have to do this now."

Elizabeth turned so she could look in his eyes. In them, she saw the same pain and uncertainty that was in her own. "I'm not going to leave you, Ric. I love you. And I want our marriage to work." As she spoke, she ran a hand across his cheek. Ric turned his head slightly placing a kiss to the palm.

Ric felt a rush of relief. Elizabeth was not going to leave him. He knew the feelings were wrong and selfish but there was no way he could lose her. "I want it to work too."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Audrey stared at the door briefly before knocking. She wondered what Elizabeth had gotten herself into this time. Audrey hoped that she wasn't mixed back up with Jason Morgan and the violence that followed him. A few seconds after she knocked Elizabeth opened the door. Audrey studied her closely. Her eyes were red and swollen. It was obvious that Elizabeth was upset and had been crying. "Elizabeth dear is everything okay?"

"Not really." The younger woman said avoiding Audrey's gaze. "Why don't you come in? A lot's happened in the last few days."

Audrey looked around the living room. The room was filled with oversized leather furniture and books. A man clearly lived here but she could see her granddaughter influence as well. In fact, she recognized on of Elizabeth's paintings. "So who lives here?"

"I do. It's part of what I need to tell you." Elizabeth said biting bottom lip nervously. Audrey was the only person in her family whose opinion she cared about. She hoped that her Grams at least gave Ric a chance.

Just then, Ric came from the kitchen. "Sweetheart, did you want me to... um... Hi. You must be Elizabeth's grandmother. I'm Ric."

Audrey's eyes narrowed as she recognized the man from the paper. He had briefly been Jason Morgan's lawyer. And now she had heard he was Sonny's brother as well. "Ric Lansing? I read about you in the paper. Sonny and you..."

"Want nothing to with each other." He said quickly. Elizabeth had told him how her grandmother hated Jason and Sonny. "Maybe I should just let the two of you talk." Ric said turning to leave them talk in private.

"No wait. I want you here." Elizabeth said quickly. She needed Ric's presence if she even hoped to get through this. "Grams, Ric and I have been seeing each other and we love each other. Ric makes me feel so loved. I never thought... We got married a few days ago."

"What? Why?" Audrey demanded. She couldn't understand what was going through Elizabeth's mind.

"That was my doing. I convinced Elizabeth not to wait." Ric quickly answered in Elizabeth's defense. Something in him demanded he protect Elizabeth even from her grandmother.

Audrey studied the man. He was much older than Elizabeth was and involved with Sonny. Or at least he had been. What could Ric possible want with Elizabeth? "What was the hurry?"

"I wanted to reassure Elizabeth that I wasn't to leave her or..."

Elizabeth cut in before Ric could finish. Her voice was soft and filled with pain. "I was pregnant."

"Was?" Audrey asked immediately noticing the word.

"When I fell down the stairs I..." Elizabeth trailed off not able to finish.

"Oh Elizabeth. I'm so sorry." she truly felt for her granddaughter's loss even if she did not totally understand everything surrounding it.

"I… can't... I'm sorry." Elizabeth said as she ran from the room.

"I'll be right back." Ric told Audrey before following his wife. When he entered the bedroom dark, Ric found Elizabeth curled up in the middle of the large bed. She looked even smaller. Ric carefully sat next to her. "Elizabeth?" Ric said softly his hand reaching out to rub her back.

"You were right. I should have waited." her voice muffled by the pillow.

Ric felt so helpless. After everything Elizabeth had been through in her, life she was the last person who deserved this kind of pain. Maybe him but never Elizabeth. "Maybe but I don't think it would hurt any less. Why don't you try to rest?"

"What about my Gram?" Elizabeth asked rolling over to meet Ric's soft brown eyes. He brushed away her tears and placed a soft kiss to her lips.

"I want to talk to her. If that's okay?" Ric asked gently. There was so much they still had to learn about each other. Audrey was one of the only people who might be able to tell him how help his wife through this.

"Don't believe anything she says." Elizabeth said with a slight smile. She felt bad about leaving Ric to her grandmother's grilling alone. She knew once her Grams got to know Ric she would see the man Elizabeth fell in love with.

"Now I know I have to talk to her." Ric teased kissing her once more. "Just take as long as you need I'm not leaving you."

"Thank you." Elizabeth whispered. She loved how Ric knew what she needed. Sometimes even before she did.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ric watched Audrey from the doorway. She was wandering around the living room. Finally, she stopped in front of the mantel. When she picked up the bear he had placed there earlier, Ric spoke up. "Elizabeth is resting."

"Good. That means we can talk." She said putting the bear back on the shelf and turning to face him.

Ric smiled to himself. He could see where Elizabeth got her fire. He knew this was going to be an interesting conversation if nothing else. "What would you like to know?"

"Let's start with your brother Sonny Corinthos. And all the lies you told Elizabeth."