Emily was curled up on the floor, playing with Spencer, when her cell phone rang. "Hello?" Her face went serious as she listened. "Sure. No, that's fine, I'll be here."
She looked up at Nikolas as he walked into the room. "Elizabeth is on her way over."
"Great. Did she say how Lucky was doing?"
Frowning a little, Emily said, "Uhh- no." She scooted up onto her knees. "I heard something today, Nikolas. No matter what happens with her and Lucky, she really needs us to be there."
Nikolas sat on the sofa next to her. "Of course. Liz has been a friend for years. But what's going on?"
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Wyndemere had always captured Elizabeth's imagination, making her think of princes and fairytales. She couldn't help but feel the same way even as she waited at the front door. As Nicholas opened the door and ushered her in, she smiled at him, asking about Spencer.
"I swear he does something new every day." Nikolas grinned back at her, thinking of his son.
Laughingly, she agreed. "Cameron's the same. Even now, there are so many changes!"
"Fun, aren't they. Come into the parlor, Emily is just putting away Spence's toys."
Emily looked up as they walked in, pleased to see that Elizabeth was smiling.
"Hi! Did you come to help clean up after Spencer?"
"No, I do quite enough of that with my own boy." Liz smiled at Emily nervously, "I do need to talk, though."
Nodding, Emily told her to take sit down, inquiring if she'd like a drink.
"No, thank you." Liz looked up at Nikolas. "Would you stay, too? I think you both need to know what's going on."
Liz walked towards the window as Nikolas and Emily settled together on a sofa. The moonlight outdoors reflected beautifully in the garden, and it looked so serene. She wished she could feel the same.
She turned to her friends. "I'm leaving Lucky. I wanted to try to make things work, but he's still using drugs, and I think he's still seeing Maxie."
"Elizabeth-"
She lifted her hand to stop him. "Wait, Nikolas. This isn't all Lucky. When I found him with Maxie, I was heartbroken. I went to go… to go see a friend, and I… and we slept together."
"Lucky is the last person who has a right to be angry about that," Nikolas stated quietly. "Considering his attitude lately."
"I know, but I still cheated on my husband." She tucked her hair behind her ears. Her blue eyes met Emily's. "And it turns out, I got pregnant that night."
Silence filled the room, then Emily stood and walking over to Elizabeth. "Oh, Liz," Emily murmured, enveloping her friend in a hug.
Nikolas came over, gently squeezing her shoulder. "Do you need a place to stay?"
She sniffled, looking up. "No, Cameron and I have somewhere to go for a while, until we can sort things out. But, thank you, I really do appreciate it."
Emily hugged her again, then pulled back a little. "And the father, is he gonna be around?"
"That's… that's where we're going. We'll stay with him until we find a place."
Nikolas frowned, "Is it Patrick? What about Robin?"
"No. It's not Patrick." She looked at Emily apprehensively. "It's uh, it's Jason."
Emily froze. "Jason? My brother?" she asked in a strangled voice.
Elizabeth nodded.
"Well…" Emily smiled at Liz. "If it's Jason, he'll be a good dad."
Liz looked at Nikolas, "But how do I tell Lucky? Can I really just walk out on him in his condition?"
"What choice do you have, Elizabeth?" Nikolas asked quietly. "When he finds out about the baby, he'll be an addict out of control. You need to keep yourself and Cameron away."
Emily agreed, "Jason will take care of both of you. You can't fix everyone, Elizabeth."
"Is Cameron at Audrey's?"
Liz nodded, trying to wipe away tears.
"Then stay here with us tonight. Tomorrow while Lucky's at work, Emily and I will help you get your things."
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Maxie covered Lucky's eyes from behind. "Guess who?" Laughing, she moved in front of him, and kissed him.
"You're in a good mood," Lucky murmured as he took the plastic bag from her.
"Well, I heard some really good news today." Unlocking her door, she pulled him inside with her. "But I'll tell you about that later. First…" Maxie slid her hands up into Lucky's dark hair, pulling him down for a kiss.
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Jason opened the door to Sonny, his hair more mussed than usual, an unfinished game of pool on the table.
"So, what's happening, Jason? You okay?"
Jason leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "I'm fine. Liz and Cameron are moving in here tomorrow."
"So, I take it that this is your baby," Sonny stated with his eyebrows raised.
"What about Sam?"
"Sam has nothing to do with this."
"And you can't forgive her. Jason, she really needs you right now. How do you think she'll feel when she finds out Elizabeth is pregnant? That she couldn't give you a child, but Liz can."
Jason slammed his fist into the wall, creating a large crack. "Do you think I don't know that, Sonny? Do you think I don't know how this will hurt her?
Do you think I don't know how this affects every one of us?"
Sonny's voice was calm as he said, "Regrets alone can't fix this, Jason."
Jason walked over to the window, staring out into the moonlit night. "I don't regret sleeping with Elizabeth. I've cared about her for years." He sighed, turning back to Sonny. "I love Sam, but I can't be with her. You're right, I can't forgive her. But, Alexis has a point. When we broke up, she changed her life for the better. A good job, a family that loves her, a life that doesn't just revolve around me. "
Sonny nodded, deciding to leave that subject alone for now. "You are planning to tell Sam about the baby and Liz moving in here though right?"
"Yeah, after Elizabeth is settled in tomorrow, I'm gonna talk to Sam."
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The next morning, Elizabeth slid into her seat in the back of Nikolas' car.
"So, what did your Grandmother say?" Emily asked, giving Liz a sympathetic smile.
Elizabeth brushed the tears off her cheeks, sniffling. "That she's disappointed in me, that she loves me, but I've made the wrong decisions again. She said we could stay with her, but I… I don't think that's a good idea." Rubbing her forehead, she murmured, "Cam will be packed and ready for pickup this afternoon."
Nikolas's eyes met Liz's in the rearview mirror. "Anything you need, Liz, just let us know."
Liz nodded, then looked out the window, lost in her thoughts. Everything from how Lucky would react, the upheaval in Cameron's life, the baby, to Jason, and her feelings. Jason had always been her biggest temptation. He was one of her best friends, the man who understood her the best, the most dangerous man she knew. He was the one who always had a shoulder for her to cry on, who had saved her from some of the worst moments of her life. The memory of his powerful body, his comforting arms assailed her. Regrets? Amazingly, no. She was nervous and sad about many things, but not regretful.
Nikolas murmured to Emily, "That's a surprise," as he pulled up in front of Elizabeth's apartment. Jason was leaning against a large black truck, patiently waiting.
Elizabeth walked over to Jason, and they smiled at each other hesitantly.
Nodding his head to Nicholas and Emily, he looked back down at Liz, brushing a curl away from her face in an absent-minded, intimate gesture. "You ready to do this, Elizabeth?"
She took a deep breath, then shook her head, "Yes. But Jason, I haven't told Lucky anything. I didn't know.."
Nikolas cut in, "Even I told her she needed to stay away from him when he found out. It's better she talks to him at Wyndemere, or-"
"Or not at all." Jason finished. He looked at Elizabeth, "Either Nikolas or I can tell Lucky."
"No, Jason. He was my husband, and he at least deserves the courtesy of me telling him that I'm leaving." She gently touched his arm, a sweet smile on her face. "But, thank you for offering."
Jason looked at her seriously, disagreeing with her decision. He finally decided to let it go, saying only, "All right, let's get this done."
Emily smiled to herself, seeing the inner war her brother fought with himself. He so badly wanted to hide Elizabeth away and keep her safe, just like he had always tried to do. In a way, she wasn't surprised at what had happened. Their timing was terrible, but the bond between them was always there.
Jason's phone rang as they were walking into the building. Cursing, he looked at Liz. "Give me just a minute, I need to answer this."
Elizabeth told him they would start and he could come in when he was ready.
As they walked down the hall, she and Nikolas discussed what needed packed. All she wanted were Cam's things and her personal possessions. Anything else could stay for Lucky.
Suddenly she stopped, and her blue eyes looked soberly into Nikolas's dark gaze. "I loved him, Nikolas. The brave boy who took care of me, gave me my first kiss. Even when that boy changed into a very different man, I loved him, his drive, his wonderful personality. I'm.. I'm sorry that I wasn't a better wife to him. Please tell him that someday."
Before Nikolas could say anything, she turned back to open her door and stepped in. Walking toward the next room, she froze, seeing Lucky leaning back against the wall, watching her. "Lucky," she whispered.
"Welcome home, Elizabeth." He drawled, his eyes bloodshot, the smell of alcohol wafting in the air around him.
Nikolas could see that his brother was aware something was going on. In an attempt to save Liz the worst, he stepped forward. "We're here to help Liz pack, Lucky. Why don't you let us help her, and then you and I will go talk, okay."
"Pacify the druggie, brother dear? Good to know you're not here to help me. I guess that shows family loyalty, huh?"
Nikolas's eyes narrowed, "You did this to yourself, Lucky, and worst of all you know it. Do you really expect me to sit around and watch you destroy your life, and Liz and Cameron's?"
"Destroy my wife's life? My sweet, faithful Elizabeth?" He was stalking toward Elizabeth as she stepped backwards toward the door, shoving Nikolas out of his way. "Where is your lover, my 'faithful' wife," he sneered. "Have you told them you're carrying Patrick's baby?"
She jerked her head back in surprise. "Stop it, Lucky!" she cried. "How dare you! You've been having an affair with Maxie for how long? Lying to me about drugs, endangering my son. One night with a man who I've always cared about does not even compare to what you've done."
"Where's Patrick?" He coldly replied. "Where's your lover, Elizabeth?"
"It wasn't Patrick!" She yelled. "I never touched Patrick."
"Then who was it? Did you enjoy his hands on you, did you enjoy betraying me, laughing about me behind my back? Who is it, Elizabeth? Who is he?"
Lucky stepped toward her menacingly and she tripped, about to fall back, when she was steadied, then shoved behind a powerfully muscled back.
Jason's deep voice echoed in the room. "Me, Lucky. I was the one that slept with Elizabeth."
Lucky looked startled for a moment, then "So, my wife is back to being the Mobster's little playtoy? Cop's wife to Mob mistress. Good choice, Elizabeth." And with that, he swung at Jason.
Jason deflected the blow, stepping forward away from Elizabeth to keep her safe. "You don't wanna do this, Lucky. You're drunk, and you're high."
Lucky said nothing, launching himself at Jason again. Emily quickly stepped around the edge of the room, hugging Liz. "It'll be okay. Jason knows what he's doing."
Nikolas was accidently punched by Lucky when he tried to interfere, and received a look from Jason who told him to get the hell out of the way. The men crashed around the room, both strong fighters.
"You won't be able to take care of her, Jason." Lucky sneered. "Nothing's ever good enough for her." Lucky grabbed a vase, swinging it at Jason, who ducked, then punched Lucky in the stomach.
"Really," Jason drawled as he used his advantage to slam Lucky up against the wall. He followed it up with a hard blow to Lucky's chin, The combination of drugs, alcohol and his head slamming against the wall made Lucky dizzy and weak, and he slid down the wall. Jason leaned down and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him up a little. "You moron. I've been taking care of her, and you, for a while. Who saved her from Manny, paid all your medical bills, your rent, daycare? Who actually made your 'Hero' shot you got a raise for? Who held her when she cried about the crap you pulled? I didn't 'take' her from you, you did that to yourself. Come near her, or Cameron again, and I'll make sure you pay for it, Lucky." With that, he released Lucky's shirt, and stepped away, turning back to say, "Some guys will be here later to pack her things. Stay out of their way."
Liz watched him walk toward her. Blood ran from a cut on his mouth, and he looked cold and menacing. But his hand when it touched her face was gentle, his voice soft. "Are you okay, Elizabeth?"
She nodded, looking into his blue eyes, then let her head fall forward to rest on his muscled chest.