Chapter 1 - Calm before the Storm

Liz glanced at Michael who is sleeping beside her. The last year, despite Carly's machinations, had been really wonderful. She thought back to when they first kissed and she would have never guessed beforehand that this man would have shaken her to her core when their lips had finally touched. Something that made no sense and that was so unexpected ended up being one of her best relationships. The way he looks at her and touches her still gives her shivers.

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It hadn't been easy for them by any means. Only a few people supported their relationship at first, but most came around after they had been together for a while. They are good for each other and are very happy which luckily made most of their biggest enemies change their stance. Liz brought out a maturity in Michael that he didn't have before. He loved the boys and their life together and he bought a sense of lightness and fun to Liz's life that was missing. She snuck one last glance before running to take a shower since she has to go into work for a few hours. Several people had called in sick and Epiphany asked her if she wanted some overtime. While she hates leaving him on her day off, duty had called.

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Liz got off the elevator to find pure mayhem. There were injured people everywhere and the din inside the room is so loud, the nurses were shouting to each other.

"What the hell is going on?" she yelled to Epiphany.

"What do think? Idiots with guns shooting up everybody," she said shaking her head. "It makes no sense."

Elizabeth started assessing who needed to be seen first. When she walked past a stretcher, a hand grabbed her wrist.

"Do you know who I am senorita?" he hissed through his teeth clearly in pain.

"No, should I?" Liz said trying to pull her hand away.

"I am Tomas Santi and I need a doctor now!"

Epiphany whipped around to see where the yelling was coming from and finally spotted them and marched over there.

"Take your hand off my nurse."

Tomas glanced at her and then muttered something in Spanish before tossing Liz's hand aside.

"I need a doctor now," he said coldly.

Epiphany laughed at him. "You will see a doctor when it's your turn. "

"Excuse me?" he said shocked that she would talk to him in that way. "Do you know who I am?

Liz rolled her eyes.

"I know who you are Mr. Santi, but more importantly, do you know who I am?" she asked as she gave him extra attitude by tilting her head.

He just glared at her.

"Well, let me tell you then. I am what is standing between you and pain medication. If you continue to manhandle my nurses and make demands, I will see to it that you are the last person seen by a doctor in this waiting room. And by the looks of it, that could be sometime next week." She smirked. "Do I make myself clear?"

Tomas tried to contain his temper. He could have her whole existence taken out in one swipe, but for now, he needs her so he nodded.

"Good." She turned toward Liz. "Please check Mr. Santi's wound and assess his condition."

Liz cut away his clothing to look at the wound in his side. "This might hurt a little." She cleaned his wound as gently as possible as she ignored his pained expression. She covered it with a bandage. "I think the bullet went clean through. You're very lucky."

She noticed the hole in his pants and then pulled up the pant leg and examined the wound which has no exit wound.

His staring is making her extremely uncomfortable but she carries on.

"I don't see an exit wound on this one, so try to keep your leg still as much as possible okay?" She cut his pants leg above the wound and again said. "This is going to hurt." She winced as he jumped a little. "Sorry." She cleaned the wound the best she could and put a bandage over it. Tomas continued to study her. She is very beautiful and just his cup of tea.

She went to walk away and he grabbed her again. Liz swung her head to look at him.

"Thank you for being gentle. I'm sorry if I offended you."

Liz was shocked by his niceness and tried to school her reaction because she is aware that he is in the mob and doesn't want to get on his bad side. "Would you like it better if I pushed you over there?"

He glanced where she was pointing. There is a security guard standing over there and some of the doctors and nurses were using the area to store supplies.

He looked at her curiously. "Why would you suggest that?"

"You just look nervous. If you're over here, by yourself, someone might use that to their advantage," she said averting her eyes.

"That is probably a good idea." He smiled for the first time. "Thank you."

She nodded and then moved him. Her real motivation was that she wouldn't have to come across him again if he's out of the way.

Liz went back over to the nurse's station where Epiphany stood.

"How's the patient?" she asked sarcastically.

Liz chuckled. "A little less ornery, but if he starts shooting, I'm pushing you in front of me."

Epiphany laughed. "Not if I don't push you first."

Liz perused the room, glad that Michael hadn't chosen that life. If only Jason could have gotten out before it was too late.

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Liz rushed home to Michael. They still have a few hours before she has to go get the kids. She ran into the house calling his name, but when no one answered, she is surprised because she had texted him before she left. She bounded up the stairs and pushed open the bedroom door and smiles. There are candles everywhere. A path of rose petals led from the door to the bathroom, so she pushed open the closed door and there he was in the bathtub. There are bubbles everywhere and the room is lit up with candles as well.

"Oh, my God," she squealed. "This is just what I need."

"Get in here before I turn into a prune."

Liz threw off her clothes and got into the warm and soothing tub. She turned so she could lean against him and sunk down into the water. "Feels so good," she said softly before closing her eyes as his arms enveloped her.

"I could really get used to this."

"You know I'd do anything to make you happy."

She turned around putting her legs over his. They stared at each other before Michael leaned in and kissed her. "I will never get sick of kissing these lips," he said before diving in for another kiss. He pulled her against him and just as he was about to do everything possible to drive her absolutely crazy with want, they heard the boys downstairs.

"Shit!" Liz jumped up out of the tub and dried off as quickly as possible and then ran into the bedroom to throw some kind of clothes on. She just managed to get on a sweatshirt and sweatpants before Cameron came flying at her and they both fell back on the bed laughing.

"What are you guys doing home?" she asked watching Aiden walk into the room.

"Justin got sick," Aiden said sadly, "so his mommy drove us home."

"Awww," She hugged him. "I'm sorry."

Michael left the bathroom dressed in some shorts. "I guess this means it is superhero time."

The boys screamed and ran over to him and they fell onto the floor. He rolled around and let them get the best of him.

"Superheroes please help!" Liz yelled from the hallway. "I'm stuck."

"Mommy," Aiden yelled, "We're coming!" But Michael had grabbed them both by the ankles and then lifted them onto the bed to thwart the rescue.

"She's mine!" he said running towards Liz who pretended to scream.

Michael threw Liz over his shoulder and ran down the steps. The boys ran screaming after them and finally got him near the couch where they rescued their mom and tied up Michael. He then pretended to cry and they let him go. Liz watched them play with tears welling up in her eyes from laughing. Little did she know that this was the calm before the storm.