I don't own ABC, General Hospital, Under the Tuscan Sun, and Disney. I also don't own any of the characters therein. I still don't own Range Rover, or newly added International Midwife's Alliance. Two chapters later and I'm still as poor as I was before, and still have a lot of time on my hands. Thanks for reading this.
10.) Worth Fighting For
The door opened to the penthouse, "Thank you for looking after me. How did I get so lucky to have such a wonderful big brother?"
"The same way I got so lucky to have such an amazing little sister, and there was no way with all that is going on that I was going to trust your safety to anyone else," Jason replied.
He set her duffle bag down, and put the food from Kelly's on the living room table.
"I also needed to tell you something, but I wasn't sure how to go about it."
"Where's Sam?" Emily asked as she looked around.
"She and I are over. I broke it off with her last night."
"You did what? Jason, I thought you were working hard to get back together."
"Things changed last summer and I realized that I'm not in love with her. I've been lying to myself for a long time. There's someone else I'm in love with and I spent years trying to deny how I feel and so has she."
"Wow, Jason. Who's the lucky girl? Oh my God, tell me it's not Carly, Jase. Having her as my sister-in-law was unbearable the first time."
"Okay, okay, you caught us. Carly and I just couldn't hold back our feelings any longer."
Emily gave Jason an incredulous look, before he burst out laughing.
"No, not Carly," Jason said.
"Whew! Of course you said that she was also denying her feelings so it couldn't be Carly."
"Promise you won't freak out on me."
"Does this woman that you love make you happy and treat you well?" Emily asked.
"Yeah. She's always had my best interest at heart."
"Then that's good enough for me. Who is she, Jase?"
"Elizabeth."
"Oh my-. Now I get it. You're the father aren't you? You're the one she was with the night of the blackout?" Emily asked then continued as Jason shook his head 'yes' to confirm her first two questions, "I'm not that surprised actually. You two have always been magnetic."
"I certainly feel a pull towards her that I haven't ever been able to describe with words."
"Jase, why did you turn her away, if you knew you were the father? That doesn't sound like you. I mean if you didn't want to be with her, you could've told her and she would understand but didn't you want to go to doctor's appointments? Find out the gender? At the very least you could co-parent"
"I was misinformed as to the results of the paternity test. I did ask her to marry me before I even knew the results, but Elizabeth felt that the proposal was obligatory on my part as a need to help save her. That's not how I felt, but I could understand why she felt that way. She has a need to be independent and not be seen as a burden. Anyway, to get back on the topic, I didn't really let her speak when she came to see me about the results, and told her I was aware of what the results indicated and thought we should take a step back from our friendship. I thought the results stated that I wasn't the father, and so I pushed her away. I was hurt, because I really wanted to be the father of her baby."
"Well that makes sense. I guess Monday was fairly exhilarating and devastating for you Jason."
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
"I mean in one moment you found you were going to be a father and at that same moment you also found out that someone you harbored feelings for was being stalked and targeted and that she had fled with your unborn child to what would hopefully be a safer place. Even worse she knows that you care about her but are focused on a relationship with Sam. God that sounds like Elizabeth. Out of everyone I know, her feelings always come last. She's like the female version of you only less lethal when crossed."
"Yeah, I messed up."
"You didn't do it alone. How did you find out that the results were negative?"
"Carly. Carly had a confrontation with Liz and assumed that since Elizabeth was still working that meant that the baby wasn't mine." Jason answered simply.
"Figures," Emily said, "Look, I want in."
"Huh…in on what," Jason said befuddled.
"On the plan. You know…whatever you're working on to help get Elizabeth back. I want in on it. So, what do you know?"
"I don't know. I don't have a major plan yet. I'm just trying to figure out the pieces. You've got the same pervert coming after you, and possibly Helena. We really need to find her."
"Have you figured out where Elizabeth is?"
"I don't know if I should mention it. Elizabeth didn't mean it mean, but she doesn't trust Nik or his family at the moment."
"I don't blame her for mistrusting Nik's family, and when it comes to Nik I get the hesitation, I won't tell him. The fact is that he hasn't been right since dealing with James Craig and whatever he exposed Nik to."
"He hasn't been violent has he?"
"No, but he has been volatile. He's been suffering from bad headaches which have altered his mood."
Jason got up and went to his email, and sure enough there was one from Francis. "Em, if I let you in on this you can't tell Nik. I can't risk Liz's safety, or yours for that matter."
"I promise I won't," Emily said.
"Francis found her. He set up surveillance on the first floor of the Villa that she's staying in. She doesn't know that. I haven't seen any footage yet, but I'm eager to see if she and the kids are alright."
"Ohhhh, she's gonna be so mad when she finds out. It's a good thing it's Francis. She has a soft spot for him."
"She does?" Jason said a little unsure if he should be jealous or not.
Seeing this Emily clarified, "Yeah, like a big brother. Liz kind of adopts people into her orbit. She's special that way."
"Yeah, yeah she is."
Jason opened the email message which provided an active link to the feeds in Elizabeth's living room and kitchen. Jason clicked on the link and two split screens showed up. It appeared to be dark.
"Hmmm…quaint. Geez how old is this villa, Jason."
"According to Francis 2 to 300 years old. Elizabeth has moved quickly though she met with contractors earlier this morning."
"Either they're asleep or not home," Emily said as she observed the stillness of the room.
They ate what would be considered an earlier dinner and waited patiently for something to happen. It was 4:00 pm their time, so it would be a little after 10:00 PM in Italy. Jason got up to get him and Emily something to drink.
"Jason look the door is opening," said Emily excitedly.
"Great."
From behind an open door an exhausted Elizabeth emerged with two very tired children in tow. Since the video had audio they could hear the conversation.
There was a childish giggling, "Hold on you two, and let me turn the light on."
"Hurry Aunt Lizzie, I have to use the potty." Aurora said as she was hopping while crossing her legs.
"I know baby, but if I don't get the lights on you could trip." Liz said as she flipped the light switch on.
"Aurora, I'll race you," said Cameron playfully.
"Cameron Steven Webber, you come here and stand in timeout for baiting your cousin into running when you know she can't right now."
"Aurora, are you okay to head up to the bathroom?"
"I'm scared Aunt Lizzie, its dark up there. There could be a monster in the shadows." Elizabeth secured the door and made her way over to Aurora.
"Cameron, buddy you stay right here and we're going to have a talk as soon as I clear the house of shadow monsters,"
"Poor Liz has her hands full with those two. She's amazing isn't she? Did you see the scarf in her hair?" Emily commented as she started laughing.
"Yeah she is amazing. I was going to ask the purpose of the scarf." Jason replied.
"Well you remember how curly her hair is right?"
"I thought it was one of those perms that ladies sometimes get."
"No, Liz's hair is naturally curly, just like Cameron's. I've seen the rag look before. She only employs it in times of desperation," Emily said as she noticed her brother look stressed, "Penny for your thoughts, Jase."
"There's just so much I need to say, and to apologize to her for," Jason said as Emily placed a comforting hand on his back.
"You'll get your chance. I know that Liz will hear you out." Their attention came back to the toddler who waiting at the bottom of the stairs for his mother. Slowly, Elizabeth made her way down the stairs and sat on the bottom step. In her hands was a pair of pajamas. The brother sister duo watched as Elizabeth began to talk to her son while she started to change him.
"Cam, come here sweetie," Liz said as she got right at his level and used a very calm tone. Then she asked, "Do you know why I had you stand there and wait in timeout?"
"I tried to get Rora to race me and she's not posed to," Cameron said innocently as he tried to bat his eyes at his mother who was having none of it.
"Cameron, you remember Aurora's booboos?"
Cameron nodded and then said, "Yes, mommy."
"Baby, we have to go to special heart doctor to make sure that it's okay for Aurora to run. The accident really hurt her. If we don't check her first, and she plays too rough or runs too fast her heart could stop beating and that would be real bad."
"Would she be wif the angels?"
"Yes, that would be a very real possibility," Liz said as she finished getting Cameron dressed in his pajamas.
"I'm sorry, Mommy. I don't want her to go to the angels. She's my best friend," Cameron said.
Liz looked at Cameron with tears in her eyes, "Baby you don't have to be sorry, just try to remember that we have to help Aurora by not allowing her to run too much, which means for now and until I tell you, no more racing, okay?"
"Okay Mommy, I promise."
"That's my good boy," Liz said as she leaned forward and gave him the biggest wet kiss he ever had.
"Hey mommy, do you have a best friend?"
"I do. I have a couple actually."
"You can have more than one?" Liz shook her head yes, "Who's your best friends?" Cameron asked.
Liz smiled and thought for a moment, "Well my best friend that's a girl is Aunt Emily," Liz said.
"Ooh, I love Aunt Emily," Cameron said, "She's the funnest sitter I know."
Emily smiled as she observed the conversation taking place on the screen, and wiped a tear away.
At that moment, Aurora who had gone to the bathroom, brushed her teeth and gotten dressed at her aunt's request joined them on the stairs.
"It's alright, Aurora. Come here dolly. We were just talking about best friends," Liz said to her niece who looked like she felt she was interrupting, "Sweetie don't be shy, you're always welcome to join us."
"Cameron is my best friend," Aurora said as she wrapped her little arm around Cameron's neck and hugged him tightly.
"Well, that's good, because he said that you were his."
Aurora smiled at this, "Did you say Miss Emily was your best friend Aunt Lizzie?"
"She sure is, but I have two more. One of my other best friends is Uncle Nik."
"He gives the best piggy back rides, but don't tell daddy Lucky or he will yell,' Aurora acknowledged what Cameron said by shaking her in agreement as if she'd been witness to the crazy all along (which she hadn't, but best friends agree anyway) Whose you're other best friend, Mommy?"
"My other best friend is Jason. Do you remember him Cameron?"
"Yeah, he pushed me on the Chuggin' Charlie scooter by the docs."
"He sure did."
"If he's one of your best friends how come we don't see him lots?"
At this Jason teared up. He felt like a world class jerk, but he continued to watch wanting to hear Elizabeth's answer. For her part, Emily patted Jason's shoulder as she knew this was hard to watch.
Liz had to organize her thoughts before she continued, "Well Cameron, you see Jason has a job where he protects people. He protects his boss and his friends and family from all sorts of villains. He's even saved my life a time or two."
"Really, can you tell us?"
"Not tonight it's getting so late."
"Please!" said Aurora.
"Nope, but maybe tomorrow. I still have a lot to do tonight. I will tell you this. Several months ago I was real sad. Someone had hurt my feelings really badly, and I went to see my good friend Jason. He was sad too! We talked for a while and we made each other feel better. He saved my heart from breaking and gave me one of the best gifts ever?"
"Ooh, what was that Aunt Lizzie?"
"This little guy right here," Elizabeth said as she rubbed her belly lovingly with a big smile on her face.
"Is Jason my little brother's dad?" Cameron asked.
"Yes," Liz said.
Liz leaned forward and kissed the two kids on the cheek with the mushiest wettest kiss she could muster.
"Eww, mom germs."
"Aunt Lizzie, they're sticky kisses," Aurora giggled.
"Mom germs! I'll give you mom germs," Elizabeth said as she began to tickle Cameron and Aurora. After a minute she stopped and got up, "Come on Cam, Aurora. I still have to get all the stuff from the SUV, and you two need to get to bed. We have a lot of stuff to pick up before construction starts on Monday, and we only have three days to do it."
"Can we still sleep with you tonight?"
"Sure sweetie, I don't have your beds set up, and I have more that I want to do with your rooms. Plus I feel more comfortable with us all together anyway," Liz said as she urged the kids up the stairs.
"Her note to me didn't indicate the gender of the baby. She said he or she," Jason said.
"Oh, well I went with her last week to see Kelly. Liz finally got an ultrasound that confirmed it. Your son had been reluctant to show the goods before a live studio audience that consisted of three nosey women one of which was his mother, so she must have written you note before she knew the gender."
At this Jason smiled and thought, 'I'm going to have a son.'
Emily and Jason sat quietly as they waited 15 minutes before they noticed Elizabeth coming down the stairs. It was clear that she had changed into some yoga pants and a t-shirt. Again she stopped to look in the mirror that was on the wall by the end of the stairs. Now that the scarf that was on top of her head was gone she could see the damage.
"Good Lord look at my hair." Liz complained loudly as she talked to herself, "It's like something out of the 'Bride of Frankenstein.' I'm going to need a chisel to work my way through this mess. Maybe I should just chop it all off. I really don't have time to worry about this. So tired," as she let out yawn and opened the front door.
Jason and Emily couldn't contain their laughter at her antics.
"Poor Liz. She was probably such a wreck when she left that she didn't have time to bring her flat iron and big curlers."
"Big curlers?" Jason asked as he lifted one eyebrow in curiosity.
"Haven't you ever wondered how Elizabeth gets her normally unruly hair to cooperate into the stunning mass of beautiful flowing curls and waves that you see at the hospital?"
"I just sort of thought she woke up that way."
"Well, much to my frustration, Liz wakes up with a naturally gorgeous face, but the beautiful princess hair takes some work to accomplish."
Jason nodded in understanding and they quieted down say they could spy on poor Liz, but at that moment Carly came in through the door.
"Hey Jase, Emily," Carly greeted them, "I need to speak to Jason about something that we're working on, so if you don't mind Emily could you maybe step out for a minute?"
"Carly, Emily is in on the plan. Not that there's much of one yet."
"Elizabeth is my best friend, let's just all work together to get her home."
"Well I just spoke to Bobbie, and Elizabeth did go and see her about two weeks ago, and pleaded with her to speak with either you or Sonny about added protection for me, the boys, and Lulu."
"Of course she did. That's what Liz does. Takes care of others."
"I've never been fond of her, but I never said that she wasn't good to those around her. I've just always felt that she wasn't good enough for Jason, and she wasn't strong enough for his lifestyle. I don't want to see him with a broken heart."
"Carly, Elizabeth is one of the bravest most selfless people that I know. There's not much she can't handle under pressure."
"I'm starting to see that Emily. Are you staying here now?" Carly asked as noticed the duffle bag.
"Yeah, it appears that Tom Baker broke into my locker and Elizabeth's and left both of us presents."
"What kind of presents?" Carly asked with disgust.
"Well first he replaced our clothes with burgundy dresses, and then he left me a message on my locker door about when he blackmailed me. He put photos up of Myself, Elizabeth and Aurora, and if that wasn't bad enough left a handwritten letters letting us know how badly wished to rape all of us."
Carly cringed in response, "I'm sorry that happened, Em. Is this what Elizabeth has been dealing with the last couple of months?"
"We think so," said Jason as he continued to watch Elizabeth set up some presents in the kitchen for the kids.
"Months?" Emily piped up, "Try years. Tom Baker sent a letter to Liz every Valentine's Day since he was arrested. Since, he wasn't sent to prison on her rape, he could harass her as much as he wanted, and unlike these letters he was never this sexually explicit, that is until the statute of limitations was up last year."
"She never mentioned it," Jason said with concern.
"Liz preferred to ignore it. She's always been determined not to let him win."
All three heads turned towards the computer as the phone in Elizabeth's kitchen started to ring.
"Jason, you know where she is and you're spying on her?" Carly asked, "Would you look at her hair."
"Ciao, chi e questo?" (Hello, who is this?)
"Can it, Carly!" Emily said in return. Let us watch.
"Oh, hi Anna. I'm going to put you on speaker if that is okay?" Elizabeth said as put her cell phone on speaker.
"Oh, calm down. It's funny because Elizabeth's hair is usually so nicely done that it's hard to imagine her hair so out of sorts." Carly said as she watched Elizabeth on the camera feed playing out over Jason's laptop.
"Well, she had to leave in a hurry." Jason replied to Carly who was standing behind him and then turned back to the conversation that Elizabeth was having with Anna.
"What are you up to Elizabeth?" Anna asked trying to gage Elizabeth's state of being.
"Well we met with the contractors today. It was hilarious. I will have to tell you sometime. Then I took the kids to Florence and we picked up my brand new 'Range Rover.' Then I met with a midwife and I scheduled to have an at home visit this week. Then I took the kids toy shopping and we went to dinner and came home. It was a full day."
"Did she just say midwife?" Jason asked.
Emily nodded in affirmation.
"That's what I heard, but why would she do that? There has to be hospitals in Italy that are capable of delivering a healthy baby," said Carly.
"Shhhh Carly, I want to hear this," Emily said.
"Elizabeth are you sure you want to go through with a midwife? I know a lot of women swear by it, but you could have complications."
"Anna, your concern is noted and I will consider it. The truth is I'm scared to have this baby at a hospital where Helena can find me and take him. I will feel more secure at home."
"Do you want me to reach out to the father or perhaps Lucky?"
"My God Anna, no! I will reach out to the baby's father when the baby arrives. He's busy dealing with personal issues of his own. He's not obligated to look after me. I am. As for Lucky, I don't want him near me or any of my children," Liz said defiantly.
"Well if you're sure," Anna said.
"I am. Anna, why did you really call?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're a world class spy, and I find it hard to believe that you'd be interested in what transpired in my life today."
"You have me there. Although, now that I've gotten to know you, I can see why Robin loves you so much. You're a good person, Liz. Aside from that, I've looked over your record and noted that in the last 9 years or so life has really given you the shaft. The real reason for my call is that I've gotten word from the State Department regarding the disappearance of your parents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
"This isn't going to be good. Is it, Anna?" Liz said while sitting down in the chair in the kitchen.
"I'm afraid that it's looking rather grim, Love. It seems your parents were out in the field back in January. The convoy they were with was attacked and they haven't been seen since. I have agents looking into it, but Liz this is very grave."
"Doesn't the LRA work out of that region?" Liz said as she sniffled.
"In the northeast. They infiltrate down from the Sudan, but your parents were in the southwest region of the Congo"
"So are you saying that you don't think that the LRA is behind this?"
"No, it's just that everyone that was in the vicinity was executed with a single bullet straight to the head."
"And?" Elizabeth asked as she noticeably started to tremble.
"The LRA are particularly gruesome. No children were shot, but children were part of the convoy. The LRA doesn't discriminate. They will shoot anyone, and those they don't shoot they kidnap and ask for ransom. There's no ransom request for your parents."
"Well who do you think did this then? You must have an idea."
"We've had unsubstantiated reports that Russian mercenaries may have done this, and AK-47s were the brand of the weapon used, which admittedly is what just about everyone terrorist cell uses, but these were clean kills."
"Russian Mercs in the Congo? Russian, you mean Helena?"
"Presumably yes, she has ties to the Russian Mafia, which means she would have access to Russian Mercs."
Elizabeth felt sick. "So your saying your my parents may have been killed two months ago by Helena? I just don't get what's so special about what she believes is Lucky's baby that she would go to these lengths?" Elizabeth asked shaken.
"I don't know. I'm going to speak to Luke soon."
"Good luck with that old relic."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"That means that Luke will dangle some information in front of you but it will be intended to take you on a wild goose chase. He doesn't want the queen taken down. He lives for this stupid adventure. Meanwhile, an association with him has now more than likely cost me nearly my entire family."
"Speaking of which were you able to contact your sister Sarah?"
"No, and that is the worst part. None of my family is particularly close especially Sarah and me, but for the life of me I just can't understand why she would ignore the warning. After all she's heard the story. I begged her to leave with me."
"Well I promise I will check into your parent's and sister's disappearance and get back to you as soon as I can."
"Thanks Anna."
"Chin up dear, we'll talk soon."
"Anna, I'm definitely interested in some of those security upgrades that you spoke about."
"We'll talk tomorrow and I will get the particulars from you."
"Okay Anna, talk to you then."
"Get some rest if you can, Elizabeth."
"I'll try," and with that both women hung up.
Elizabeth was sitting at the table with one hand supporting her face, tears were slowly pouring down and she finally said what was on her mind loud enough for the audio on the cameras to pick up, "Damn you Helena. If you've had my family taken out, I will spend every ounce of my time getting revenge on you, but unlike Luke, I will kill you," Elizabeth said as she broke down in tears.
"Oh my God, Jason. This is serious I've never heard her say she was willing to kill anyone. I think she's at her breaking point. We have to get to her."
"Yeah, but we have to do this carefully, Em. I can't leave you behind and if Helena is in anyway tracking you it could lead her people right to Elizabeth and the children. I'm not willing to risk it just yet. I will be placing extra men that we have over there on her. While we work out the logistics of getting to her ourselves"
"I have to go, Jase. I forgot to tell you before. Mama, said that Lucky went undercover and is on a new case so you shouldn't have to worry about him for now. Keep me in the loop," Carly said as she looked at the screen and then added, "For what it's worth Jase, I've never been fond of Elizabeth, but even I know that she doesn't deserve this. She's been good to the people in my family and I know she's saved your life a couple of times, so I'm in, and there will be no betraying Elizabeth. It'll just take some time getting used to her."
"Aunt Lizzie, Aunt Lizzie! I had a bad dream about the accident," Aurora came into the kitchen screaming.
The three adults talking looked at the screen.
Elizabeth quickly wiped her tears away as if they never existed, "Come here, sweetheart," Elizabeth said opening her arms.
"I take it that is Elizabeth's niece?"
Emily nodded yes, "Her name is Aurora. She's very sweet."
"I'm so sorry, Aurora."
"What was your dream about?"
"The big truck was coming right towards us."
"Oh, Aurora. I'm so sorry, but the truck isn't here, and we're safe and warm now. Aunt Lizzie, will protect you."
"Aunt Lizzie, I don't want to lose you. Will you promise that you won't go away like my mommy and daddy?"
"I promise that I will do my best to always be here for you. You and your cousins are so worth fighting for."