Disclaimer: Anything remotely recognizable as being a part of the cannon General Hospital.

Claiming any artistic creativity thought up by yours truly. Copy Writers be fore shamed.

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If It Makes You Happy
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Chapter Ten:
I'll Stand By You

Waking up to the smell of breakfast cooking on the stove, Elizabeth had to take a moment to remember the changes that have occurred in her life. As the realization dawns on her that her family have moved into her home, she pulls herself out of bed to get ready to face the day. It was strange how the simple knowledge of having her family's support could change her attitude for the day.

Taking a long hot shower, she feels the tenseness leave her body, causing her muscles to relax and feel a lot better than she had a moment ago. Washing her stomach, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile slightly, knowing that a life was growing within her. That she would soon be a mother to a little baby boy or girl. Though it was still hard to come to terms with, she had to admit that she loved the idea of being a mom.

Getting dressed and fixing herself up, Elizabeth walks out of her bedroom, following the sound of her family laughing and joking around, bringing her to the doorway of her kitchen. A sight she hasn't seen in a long time greets her.

Her dad and brother washing dishes as her mother cooks. Just watching her mom, how easily she moves about, like taking care of her family was the easiest thing in the world, Elizabeth grew to love the idea more and more. Seeing her mother like this, becoming a mother didn't seem so scary anymore.

"Hey, kiddo." her father's the first to greet her, walking over and kissing her forehead. "How did you sleep?"

"Better than usual." she admits, smiling slightly when her mother turns to smile at her.

"Good, good." her father shows her to the stool by the counter. "Sit and I'll pour you a cup of tea."

"Daddy, I'm pregnant." Elizabeth points out. "I can still do stuff on my own."

"Humor your old man." Jeff smirks, grabbing one of her tea cups. "Its been quite some time since you let anyone take care of you."

"Okay." she concedes, shaking her head. "You win."

"Way to fold, Lizzie." Steven laughs, turning towards the door when a knock sounds through the house. "I'll get it."

"No...I'll get it." Elizabeth hops off the stool. "Don't you have dishes to dry?"

"Dang." Steven chuckles. "Here I thought the old Lizzie died a long time ago."

"Steven." their mother says warningly.

"Only in your dreams." Elizabeth laughs softly before walking off to answer the door. "Sarah?"

"I cannot believe I am in this ratty town again." Sarah states, walking past her into the house and dropping her bags before looking at Elizabeth. "I must really love you."

"Its good to see you, too, sis." Elizabeth shakes her head, accepting the hug that her sister's offering. "Mom kind of implied that you weren't coming."

"As much as I hate this town, I wasn't going to." Sarah admits, shrugging out of her coat. "But...family's family...so here I am."

Smiling slightly, Elizabeth shakes her head, unable to put into words what she was feeling in that moment. For her sister to make the venture, this really was turning out to be a really good day. For all the bad changes that have happened, the good ones are outweighing it by a ton.

"Look who I found at the door." Elizabeth says as she walks into the kitchen with Sarah.

"Nice of you to show your face, brat." Steven says teasingly, smirking slightly.

"Nice to see you, too, butt-face." Sarah smirks, punching his arm. "Not all of us are itching to be back in this town like you."

"Eh, to each their own." Steven shrugs, plopping down on the stool.

"Mother, father." Sarah greets her parents, kissing both their cheeks. "Food smells great, mom."

"Thank you." Carol smiles slightly. "And thank you for showing up for your sister."

"Webbers stick together." Sarah shrugs, smacking Steven's hand when he reaches for one of their mother's muffins. "Some things never change, huh, Steve?"

"What can I say?" Steven shrugs. "I'm a creature of habit."

"Well, you got the creature part right." Sarah laughs, plopping down beside him. "Never thought I'd say this, but its good to be home."

"Amen to that." Jeff says, handing Elizabeth her cup of tea.

It has been such a long time since breakfast at her house has been this lively, making her realize just how much she missed her family. It was always easy to be away from them, knowing that they were all doing what made them happy, knowing that their lives were great. Having them under her roof, though, it just made her realize how lonely she had really been without them around.

"Emily!" Elizabeth smiles slightly, seeing her best friend at her door. "Hey, come on in."

"I came by the other day, but Steven said you were asleep." Emily feels the need to say, shrugging out of her coat. "So, your whole family's here?"

"Yeah." Elizabeth shakes her head. "Even Sarah."

"Wow." Emily knew, better than anyone, how huge that was. "That's good."

"Jason told you?"

"Yeah...he told me." Emily concedes. "You okay?"

"For the most part." Elizabeth admits, smiling slightly. "Having my family here helps a lot."

"And Lucky?"

"Like my modelling career, our marriage is over." Elizabeth sighs, leaning back against the couch. "Its okay, though...I'm okay."

"Your whole life has changed and, yet, you still have the ability to smile and look on the bright side."

"I learnt that from you." Elizabeth points out, smiling. "There's no point in dwelling on things we can't change, right?"

"Right." Emily shakes her head. "Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and remind you that I'm here for you."

"I know you are." Elizabeth shakes her head. "You're one of the few people that I can rely on to always be there."

"Is it wrong that I'm excited about you making me an aunt?" Emily questions, looking at her warmly.

"Its not wrong." Elizabeth shakes her head. "You're allowed to feel how you want."

"Well, I should get going." Emily says, rising to her feet, tilting her head when she spots a few pamphlets on the side table. "Uh...you'll call if you need anything, right?"

"Of course." Elizabeth assures her. "I'll call the moment I think of something."

"Great." Emily hugs her closely, a little taken aback by the information on the pamphlets. "You do that."

Walking out of the apartment, Emily hops in her car and heads to the one person she feels the need to see, now more than ever. Taking the elevator up to the penthouse level, she knocks on the door repeatedly until someone answers. She hoped it would be her brother, but accepted it when Sam was the one to open the door.

"Emily?" Sam looks at her curiously. "Is everything okay? You were knocking like there was some kind of fire."

"No fire." Emily shakes her head. "I just need to see Jason...is he here?"

"No, he's at Jake's." Sam admits. "Is everything okay?"

"Uh, sure." Emily says simply. "Everything's...everything's fine. I heard you're pregnant...congratulations."

"Thank you." Sam smiles brightly. "I'm really excited to be a mom."

"I'm sure you are." Emily shakes her head. "Look, I'd love to stay and chat, but I really need to see my brother. Congratulations, again."

"Thanks." Sam says as Emily hits the down button. "And I hope everything turns out okay...whatever's bothering you, I mean."

"So do I." Emily admits, walking onto the elevator and riding it back down to the lobby.

"Whoa!" Johnny blurts out when she almost knocks him over. "Where's the fire?"

"Just need to see Jason." Emily says quickly. "Sorry about that."

"No sweat." Johnny shakes his head. "Is this about Elizabeth?"

"Something like that." Emily admits. "Nothing for you to worry about, though."

"Okay." Johnny accepts. "Well, drive carefully."

"Always do." she says before booking it out of the towers and heading to Jake's. "There you are!"

"I heard you were looking for me." Jason counters, dropping the pool stick. "What's wrong?"

"Have you figured out what you're going to do?" Emily retorts, eyeing him intently.

"Not yet." Jason sighs, running one had down his face. "I mean, I know what I'm going to do, not how I'm going to do it."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I'm leaving Sam." Jason concedes, taking a deep breath. "I just haven't found a way to do it."

"Well, you be better find a way and quickly."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I was just at Elizabeth's place and she had pamphlets on her table."

"Okay...and?"

"Abortion pamphlets, Jason." Emily says seriously. "She had abortion pamphlets on her table."

"She wouldn't...would she?"

"I honestly don't know." Emily shakes her head. "Her life has changed so much because of this pregnancy...I honestly don't know what she'll decide."

"What do mean her life has changed?"

"Lucky left her and her modelling career is as good as dead." Emily concedes. "Whatever she's thinking, as far as the pregnancy goes, she's not opening up to me about it. Maybe its because you're the father, but...word to the wise, figure things out quickly before its too late."

With her family out of the house for the time being, Elizabeth decides to relax with a cup of hot cocoa, putting on soft music to help her feel more relaxed. Before long, she'll be getting pretty stressed out when she starts looking for a job. For now, she just wants to relax.

"And, of course, the universe won't grant me that much." Elizabeth shakes her head, pulling herself up off the couch to pull open the door. "Jason?"

"Can we talk?" Jason questions carefully. "Its okay if you don't want to see me."

"Last time I checked, you were the one that didn't want to see me." she counters, stepping aside. "Not the other way around."

"I'm sorry for how I handled that." Jason admits, walking past her into the house, turning when she shuts the door. "I shouldn't have done it like that."

"Why did you?"

"I knew I'd never be able to do it in person." Jason concedes, smiling slightly. "I knew if I saw you...I wouldn't walk away."

"Right." Elizabeth walks further into the house, plopping down on her couch. "Why are you here, Jason?"

"Emily told me about Lucky." Jason admits, walking over to sit on the table in front of her. "And about your modelling career."

"Don't feel bad...I hated modelling."

"I know you did." Jason shakes his head. "But, I am sorry your life changed so much because of me."

"Is that why you came by?" she counters. "To apologize for how my life has changed while yours has stayed the same?"

"No...I just wanted you to know that, whatever you decide to do in regard to our baby...I'll stand by you." Jason says carefully. "No matter what you decide."

"Whatever I decide?" Elizabeth looks at him curiously. "What are you talking about?"

"I just know that there are a lot of options for you to consider." Jason explains. "And whatever you choose, I won't stand in your way."

"Okay." she says simply, rising to her feet to pull open the door. "You can go now."

"In spite of what you may think, I really do care about you." Jason says carefully, leaning in and kissing her forehead. "A lot, actually."

"You have a funny way of showing it." Elizabeth says simply. "Goodbye, Jason."

"Goodbye, Elizabeth."

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