a/n: I am thrilled that so many are enjoying this story! I will always love liason, but I have to say that the last couple years were really hard to watch. There were always way more options for our girl than just Lucky, Ric, and Jason. I always wanted Lilo, but of course the writers were evil and did not satisfy my craving. Then after liason ended, I wanted Johnny Z/Liz, again no dice. By the way, I must say that your guess at Cam's dad were what I expected. I figured most would go with J.O. b/c you all can tell that I adore him, but I always wanted Lilo, even if tend to use him as a villain in other stories, so I decided to make myself happy!
I have to say that this story and the one with JZ/Liz recieve way more views lately. Whatever the reason, please enjoy and review! Reading all your comments make it worth writing. I am also working on all my stories for those that are reading them all, but real life is being a pain and this one is almost writing itself right now. (Maybe because I always loved me a sexy bad boy Alcazar! LOL) ~~~~Thanks for all the encouragement!
Chapter Four
Sitting in the dark and silent room, Elizabeth closed her eyes and prayed. They were performing the procedure on her baby boy and she was terrified that his body would reject the marrow. Steven had reassured her that with the almost perfect match, that it was unlikely his immune system would attack, but she was still worried.
Her mind drifted to the argument that had taken place this morning. It still irked her that her friends could not even wait until Cameron was healthy before starting in on what had come to light yesterday. Snorting in disgust at their disapproval, Elizabeth rubbed her temples to ward off the headache that was beginning to brew.
"Liz." Watching her jump, he rested a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, I thought you heard me." Johnny sat down beside her and gave her a togo cup. "I had the guys stop and get you a double hot chocolate with mint."
"You remembered that?" She looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Baby girl, I guarded you for months with your knowledge, and then months without you knowing. I know waaay too much about you!"
"Oh God! Johnny O'Brien, you are just cruel. Shut up!"
Eyes sparkling, he only shrug unconcerned and winked. "But you love me."
"That I do." She glanced at her watch. "They should almost be done with Lorenzo."
"And his stubborn ass will be up and out of that bed as soon as they turn their backs," Johnny stated. Seeing her nod in agreement, he flashed his dimples. "I need to make some calls. Do you need anything, Liz?"
Thank you, but no." When he stood and started by her, she reached out and caught his arm. "What am I suppose to do now? Mine and Cam's lives are forever changed."
Sitting back down, he turned and met her eyes. He could see the uncertainity, fear, and hesitation swirling in her bright blue orbs. "I wish it could be simple, Elizabeth, but you know it won't be. Things are more complicated than you are aware of. Focus on Cam, and then talk with Lorenzo. He will tell you what he can." Seeing her start to protest, he held up his hand. "Don't give me that look. You know perfectly well that I can't tell you everything."
Shoving him lightly, she gave him a devilish grin that caused him to pause. "Oh, I understand perfectly, O'Brien. Just remember that Lizzie could still come out and visit some."
He shuddered and eyed her with unease. "Uh huh. Just remember that you are tiny enough for me to carry too. That last bar fight you started at Jakes," he paused and scratched his head as he thought back, "caused me and Francis both needing stitches."
"Hey! I never asked for you to two to jump in and play protect the damsel." Giving him a smug look, she sniffed. "I seem to remember having it under control."
"Yeah, well, keep telling yourself that all you want." He stood and bent down to hug her. "Cam will be fine, kiddo. Just stay positive. Lorenzo should be back in just a bit. His stubborn ass won't stay in bed no matter what they say. I'll be right outside if you need me. I have to make some calls."
Watching him slip out of the room, she felt alone once again. Not surprising since Emily, Nik, and Lucky were upset with her, but it still hurt. She could still picture the unusual scene from this morning.
"Seriously, Liz! What were you thinking? Lorenzo Alcazar is a freaking mobster!" Lucky hissed. "Believing that it was that damn punk Zander was bad enough, but this just completely beats that."
"Lucky, stop. It really doesn't concern you."
"No, but it does me." Emily stepped forward and frowned at her. "You let everyone think that Zander was the father, Elizabeth! That hurt and it was low!"
"How?" the upset mother demanded. "Zander was more than willing to help me when I asked. He knew the truth. So did Lorenzo. No one else has any right to be upset, Emily!"
"I thought that Cam was a part of Zander that was left after he died!" she screamed at Elizabeth. "You created an illusion because you were ashamed to admit that you screwed a mobster. But why would we all be shocked? You married a freaking psycho!"
Staring at the three people that she had always counted on, Elizabeth shook her head. "You know what...I don't need this right now. You are being a bitch. My SON is sick, and don't tell me that you that no longer care because he is not Zander's. He is still an innocent baby that is fighting for his life. Just save all the drama and yelling for later, I can't do this now."
"You would actually think that your friends might consider it a good thing that Lorenzo Alcazar is the father of that little boy," Carly snidely injected as she stepped into the almost empty cafeteria. "Because of him, that little boy will live. You would think knowing that would outweigh everything else."
Nik snorted. "You hate Liz. Why are you now defending that she slept with a criminal!"
"And your family is filled with saints?" Carly sneered. "It's no secret that I don't exactly get along with Muffin here, but I do find it rather sad that her so called friends are standing here attacking her because the father of her child is not the man that they thought. Instead it is an alive man that is going to save him. Damn, Elizabeth. Shame on you for not sleeping with Zander. Tsk, tsk. Poor little Miss Quartermaine lost her last pieces of Zander. Maybe you shouldn't have cheated on him, princess, if you loved him so much."
Watching Carly taking great pleasure in decimating Emily, she honestly couldn't find it in herself to interrupt. It burned that Carly was the only one that seemed to understand that without Lorenzo coming back, that Cam would have died. Catching Johnny's worried look, she rolled her eyes and started back to where he was waiting on her. The sound of Carly slapping Emily and then Lucky and Nik's raised voices caused her to only increase her speed. She wanted nothing to do with that arguement because it was about to erupt into a war, and she knew all too well how viscious they all could be.
Relaxing when she felt him slip into the pew with her, she lifted her head and opened her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I am perfectly fine." Sliding over and wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he tugged gently until she dropped her head against his shoulder. "Johnny said that you have been alone."
"Yeah, well, Grams refused to come when Lucky ran and told her about you. Steven is helping with the procedure. And Emily, Nik, and Lucky are not happy with me either."
Hearing the pain that she was trying to conceal, he gave her a small squeeze. "They will come around, Elizabeth."
"I'm past the point of caring right now," she admitted with a sad smile. "All I want is Cameron healthy. They can all just deal with it or not. I am use to their disapproval."
Angry that her friends and grandmother were so selfish, he took a deep breath to calm his temper. "O'Brien also mentioned that Carly started a fight this morning."
"Not with me, for once," she admitted. "She really laid into Emily though. I felt bad for just leaving, but I couldn't handle it right then."
"No one expects you to."
They sat in silence in the chapel with him holding her against his side. Neither one looked up when the door opened but no one entered. Johnny quietly closed the door back and glared at the enforcer.
"I told you that they were together. She doesn't need the stress that you going in there will create, Jason. Leave them be for now."
"I wanted to make sure that she is okay."
"Trust me, Lorenzo is taking care of them."
Jason's eyes hardened and he pinched his nose. "What happened to you, O'Brien? You use to be a good guy. Then you starting working for that piece of shit. Now you are acting like I would hurt her!" he bit out as he clenched his hands.
The Irishman only shrugged, not impressed at all with the display. "You know why I did what I did. I explained it to you the night that you shot me, Jason. As for thinking that you would hurt Elizabeth," he stopped and arched a brow. "Didn't you shoot me for working with Alcazar?"
"Because you betrayed us!" he snapped angrily.
"With Alcazar." Seeing the control of Morgan's famous temper beginning to fray, he gave him a grave nod. "And that is why you are not going in there right now. Do you think that I don't know that you and Sonny see this as a betrayal on her part. Not that you two abandoning her with Lansing's sick ass should matter, huh. You had Courtney at home waiting after all, so there was no need to care that the violence was escalating that Elizabeth was facing."
"I didn't know," Jason spat, sick to hear Johnny's words.
"No. You didn't care," he countered with a sneer. "She came to you and Sonny for protection after she told you where Carly was when she discovered the panic room. You and Corinthos ignored her. She almost died, Jason! And now you are standing there pissed that she had a child with Lorenzo. Give me a freaking break! You aren't needed or wanted here today. Just leave her be. She is focusing on her family."
Slamming his fist against his his own thigh in an attempt to keep from killing his once time friend in the middle of a hospital, Jason snarled. "You two cannot stop me from talking to her. We are friends."
"Were friends," Johnny cheekily replied with an arrogant tone. "And if Lizzie wants to see you that is her decision, but today, no. She is terrified for her son, Morgan. Just walk away and let them be. There is no way that anyone else is upsetting her today after the stunt that your lil sis and the two morons already pulled this morning."
Jason grimaced. "Yeah, well I think everyone can safely say that they are upset."
"And I think that everyone needs to stay out of it. It is no one's concern."
Sonny sauntered up while glaring at the man that he had ordered to be killed once before. The smug bastard had always had the best luck. "But it does concern us. It actually concerns all the families that Alcazar is back."
"Well then, it is a good thing that he met with them this morning before the procedure." Seeing the pained expression on Sonny's face, Johnny winked and then chuckled. "Did you honestly expect him to not protect Elizabeth and Cam with what was revealed? He is not stupid." Stopping as he saw Steven Webber getting off the elevator, he eased the door open to the chapel. "Your brother is coming this way, Lizbits."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holding his son while he slept peacefully, Lorenzo felt an inner happiness that he had never felt before. It would still be a while before he came home, but so far everything looked good. His eyes landed on the sleeping woman that was at peace for the first time since he had arrived back. When her brother had given them the good news, Elizabeth had collapsed and finally broke down. It amazed him that she had held strong for so long, especially with as little support as she seemed to have.
Pressing a soft kiss on Cam's forehead, he eased the little tyke back into his crib. He rubbed his back until he was sure that he would stay asleep before joining Elizabeth on the pull out couch that he had opened up for her earlier after her crying jag. Slipping off his shoes and and the dress shirt, he settled in beside her and pulled her warm body into his arms.
Elizabeth murmured and turned into his arms without waking up. When she settled back down, he swallowed a groan. He knew that it would be a long night, but he just needed to hold her. The burning need that he felt for the petite woman had only grown in the last year that he had been gone, and holding her again was really pushing his restraint.
He closed his eyes and was half way asleep when he felt her stiffen and inhale sharply. Studying her with hooded eyes, he saw the conflict playing across her features. "Do you feel better after getting some sleep?" he whispered.
Trying to ease away from him, she only sighed when his arm tightened, keeping her from retreating. "Yes. The sleep helped." Biting her lip, she watched as he returned her stare. "I should check on Cam," she finally said.
"I just laid him down, Elizabeth." He gave her a quizzical look. "Are you uncomfortable with me now? I kind of thought that we were past that stage."
Blushing, she licked her lips but just shook her head. "I am not uncomfortable, Lorenzo. More like uneasy. We have a lot to talk about."
"That we do. But tomorrow will work for that just fine." When her eyes fluttered and she placed her head back on his chest, he ran his hand over her back. "Just rest, Elizabeth. Tomorrow is soon enough to deal with everything."
"It's all changing now, isn't it?" she sleepily muttered.
He thought about everything that he needed to tell her and almost flinched. "More than you can imagine," he admitted to her as she drifted back off. "I just hope that you can understand and forgive me."
