Chapter 4

After Patrick revealed his new living arrangements the family one by one had questions about why and they mostly wanted to know if they had started dating. Elizabeth put out those ideas quickly, assuring them Patrick was her best friend and nothing more.

Patrick watched her cheeks blush from embarrassment as her sister made jokes about them secretly dating. She was beautiful no doubt about it and completely oblivious.

She hadn't protested to him moving in and even if she did Patrick didn't care. He was going to help her through this pregnancy; morning sickness, swollen ankles and all. She was the only woman he'd give up his life for.

They were best friends, he agreed with that but his feelings also ran deeper where as hers didn't. It was a sad truth Patrick faced and got over years ago. She was beautiful, smart and funny, not many people knew she could crack a good joke. She was completely herself around him, no inhibitions with nothing to hide. He was grateful for that, that someone in this world could trust him as much as he trusted them.

The thought of her falling in love and having children always scared him. Patrick feared once that happened he'd lose her forever. But with this chance, the father out of the way, he wasn't going to let her go; he was going to be there.

Dinner soon wrapped up with everyone going their separate ways. Elizabeth waited until they were upstairs in his room to unleash what was on her mind. "It's a one bedroom tiny apartment." She pointed out, her hands on her hips and she looked at him like he was crazy.

"We should move into a bigger place once the baby gets bigger." Patrick mused as he poured a drink from the mini bar. "Right now the pull out bed in the living room is fine. Don't look at me like that because no I'm not joking. You need someone on your side and I'm it."

Her mouth twisted into a small smile. "You're really amazing."

"I know." He said, smiling himself while inside his heart tightened with the fact he was an amazing friend, always the friend in her eyes.

"But I have been on my own for a long time, you don't need to baby-sit me."

"I'm helping you, there's a difference. Can I get you something?" he chose to be the gentleman and offer her a drink rather then continue to discuss his motives. He was moving in, simple as that and soon she'd get used to it.

"No I should get going." She placed a hand over her stomach, dinner wasn't sitting well. Here came night sickness on top of morning sickness.

"I'll drive you back." Patrick was at the door before she could protest.

~*~

Elizabeth was relieved to be back home, it may be tiny but it was her home, the first place she got on her own and became her own person away from the family and past mistakes. It didn't take long to get rid of Patrick, she told him she wanted to go right to bed and they'd talk in the morning. She sat alone in her living room and reflected over the last few hours. The dinner went will compared to the ones in the past. It could've been near perfect if she hasn't seen the father of her unborn child on a romantic date with his girlfriend.

Patrick knew the truth now; he looked angry and disappointed as she predicted he would but then in true Patrick fashion he surprised her by being even more supportive by deciding to move in, tomorrow, to help her with the pregnancy. After pregnancy comes the baby, Elizabeth tried to picture Patrick taking care of a baby. The images made her laugh and suddenly it didn't matter what the hell the father was doing because she was going to be just fine, even better with Patrick by her side.

Elizabeth made it to work on time that morning all by herself. She felt proud as she walked to the locker room because she was getting back to her life back on track. As she stepped through the door she heard familiar voices. Patrick was talking with Nurse Leyla Mir, no they were flirting rather then talking. She hung back not to interrupt them and heard their arrangements for tonight. Always the polite one Elizabeth smiled to her follow nurse as she left the room. Patrick had a date again, he always had a date she remembered but this time the thought was bitter sweet. He couldn't be her in-house-best-friend and helper with the baby if he was living his bachelor life in other woman's arms. Sure he wanted to help, she believed that but soon it'd get old and he'd pull away. She was going to be a single mom and nothing could change that. No one wanted to stick around long enough.

"Hey," Patrick greeted. "Why the long face?"

Quick on her feet Elizabeth smiled and recovered. "Just thinking about this shift, being short staffed Epiphany has us doing double duty." She said easily, it wasn't a lie. At her locker she tossed her bag in and stared at the contents inside, her emotions getting the best of her. "So Leyla huh?"

"We're meeting each other later at Jake's."

She didn't turn around; she pretended to be looking for something because for the first time she could remember Elizabeth could face Patrick. It hurt facing the truth, that even him, her best friend, would leave her as well. He was fooling himself, one day he would find love, the perfect woman to tame his wild ways and his sole purpose in life would be that woman. "That's great, Leyla's a sweet girl." She said rather then remind him they made plans last night. He was supposed to be moving his things over officially making them roommates. "I have to get to work before I am late." She joked, rushing to the exit.

"Elizabeth."

She looked his way, over his shoulder rather then his face. "We'll talk later." Outside the room she leaned into an empty wall. Yet again she was the fool, believing in dreams rather then reality. She laid her hand protectively over her belly. "It's just you and me kid."

-

Isabelle A.