"Elizabeth." A voice called softly knocking on the door.
"Hey, come in." She said still struggling to get used to the stupid crutches. "Thanks for coming here, It's just easier for me."
"Not a problem Lainy replied. "Why don't we go have a seat." She said following Elizabeth into the small living room.
"So I still don't remember." Liz said unsurely after a moment of silence.
"And how does that make you feel?" Lainy asked.
"Frustrated and...honestly, relived." Liz admitted.
"How so?" Lainy asked.
"As long as I don't remember, I can pretend it's not true." Liz sighed. "It's all I can do to deal with all that's going on now. I don't think I can handle anything else."
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.
"Well let's see, first there's Sonny. He's not pushing, but I can see it every time we 'run into each other'. The questions, the guilt, the desire for a real father/daughter relationship."
"And that's not what you want." Lainy asked.
"Yes, no, I thought so." Liz sighed. "There was a point in time when I would have given anything for him to look at me like he does now, to want me in his life."
"But not anymore." Lainy prompted.
"Now..now it just feels so false." Liz explained. "I don't know what I want anymore. And I know I'm not being fair to him, to anyone really. I mean I lied to them, they should be furious, they should hate me but..."
"Do you want them too?" Lainy asked.
"Maybe, part of me does." Liz admitted. "Because then at least they'd be acting honestly. But then again they can't. Can't be angry with poor Elizabeth, the pregnant maybe rape victim."
"Have you spoken to them about this?" Lainy asked.
"No, I avoid them mostly, everyone." Liz sighed. "But especially Sonny and Jason."
"And how have things been with Jason?" Lainy asked.
"Strained." Liz sighed. "I don't regret this child, I never would or could but, it just makes things ten times more complicated."
Lainy nodded for her to continue.
"I mean put aside all the drama between Jason and I and then there's still Sam." Liz explained. "She's being so nice to me too. Which just makes it harder. I just, I know they weren't technically 'together' the night I slept with Jason, but it still has to hurt. I mean I slept with the man she loves, I'm having the baby she so desperately wants. Were not friends, we never have been but, I don't want to hurt her anymore. I know what it feels like to have someone step in, basically take over your life, or the one you thought you would have. I don't want to do that to her. Which just complicates things even further. I don't want to take anything else from her."
"Like what?" Lainy asked.
"Well the tonight for example." Liz began. "Sonny invited Cam and I over for Diner. I actually...I wanted to go."
"But you aren't because of Sam?" Lainy asked confused.
"Yes, no." Liz sighed. "I've been spending some time with Michael and Morgan. I talked about it with Sonny, well through Carly." she explained shaking her head. "He wanted to tell the boys the truth, give us a chance to know each other. I'm still not sure how I feel about Sonny, or what our relationship will become but, I did want to know my bothers. I mean I know them, we've spent time together, especially Michael and I. But that's another story. I wanted...I like being a big sister." She said with a smile. "And Sonny's actually been great about it, letting me spend time with them without forcing himself into the equation."
"So then where's the problem." Lainy asked.
"Kristina." Liz sighed. "Sonny wanted me to come over to diner to meet Kristina and I couldn't. Because..because she's Sam's sister."
"She's your sister too, just as much as Sam's" Lainy replied.
"She knows Sam. Sam's her big sister, her hero in fact." Liz sighed.
"You think that by your acknowledging her as your sister, it takes away from her relationship with Sam." Lainy nodded. "But, what about what's fair for Kristina, doesn't she deserve a chance to decide for herself if she wants you as part of her life too."
"That sounds like something Jason would say." Liz smiled sadly.
"Hey Princess." Sonny said as Kristina ran into his arms.
"Daddy I drew you a picture." Kristina said proudly handing it to him.
"Wow, this is great." Sonny grinned.
"Sam helped." Kristina admitted.
"Oh you did all the real work." Sam said ruffling her hair. "Come on, I'll help finish packing your bag."
"So, you excited for tonight?" Alexis asked motioning for him to take a seat. "I'm glad Kristina is finally getting a chance to meet her sister."
"Finally?" Sonny asked confused.
"Promise you wont flip out?' Alexis sighed.
"You knew!" Sonny exclaimed. "You knew and you didn't tell me? How could you."
"Keep your voice down." Alexis growled glancing back to the hall Kristina had just run down. "Yes, I knew." She explained. "When..when Kristina was sick, when I finally told you the truth so Morgan could be tested. Elizabeth heard the news, she was in Paris, some phot shoot or something, it doesn't matter. Anyways, she flew back. She found me, she told me."
"So she could get tested." Sonny sighed.
"Yes, but she asked me not to say anything, especially to you." Alexis explained.
"But she wasn't a match." Sonny realized.
"No, but she came pretty close, just not close enough. She even let them test Cameron, but neither of them were able to be donors." Alexis replied.
"And if she was?" Sonny demanded. "How were you going to explain that?"
"I asked her the same thing." Alexis sighed.
"If I'm a match, and I hope I am, we'll deal with it then." Liz said calmly.
"Sonny's not going to buy it as a weird coincidence." Alexis replied.
"No he wont. I've spent so long keeping this secret, guarding it. But none of that matters. It's not worth a child's life, any child's, especially my sister's life." Liz replied determinedly. "I always wanted a sister, you know."
"Well, you have one, and hopefully you'll get a chance to know her." Alexis smiled sadly.
"That would be nice." Liz smiled back as they both turned their attention to the sleeping child.
"After words, I told her she could still be a part of Kristina's life. Even if she didn't want her to know they were sisters." Alexis explained. "But everything was so crazy, with Sam and I and you and Carly and everything. She said it would just be easier if we pretended nothing had changed. So I agreed."
"You kept another child from me." Sonny spat.
"No, I respected the wishes of a twenty year old woman." Alexis defended. "I would have told you, I wanted to but, who was I to tell her to be honest with you?"
"Did she..did she ever tell you why?" sonny asked. "Why she didn't want me to know?"
"No." Alexis sighed. "And I didn't ask. It really wasn't my business. She obviously had her reasons for not telling you, for keeping it secret and I'll be forever grateful that she was willing to risk losing that secret to help Kristina. But, she came to me to save my daughter, our daughter, how could I repay that with betrayal."
"I just..." Sonny sighed. "When we were..well being held, I said I thought she hated me. Lulu, she told me she couldn't. But, I don't know, maybe she does. I just want to know why, why she couldn't tell me."
"Have you tried asking her?" Alexis asked pointedly.
"Sounds easy doesn't it." Sonny laughed bitterly. "She wont talked to me." He shrugged. "She'll talk to Carly, to the boys, to every single guard, everyone, but not me."
"Has Jason said anything?" Alexis asked.
"That's right, she wont talk to him either." Sonny said shaking his head. "So I guess I'm not even special in that way."
"Well maybe tonight you'll get a chance to talk to her." Alexis offered.
"Yeah maybe, if she was coming." Sonny sighed.
"Huh?" Alexis said confused. "But I thought you said she was ok with the boys and everything."
"She was, she is." Sonny explained. "She's sending Cam, so he can meet his Aunt Kristina. But she's not coming."
"But why?" Alexis asked confused.
"I thought maybe it was because I would be there, but I offered to go out, to let Carly handle everything, she said no." Sonny shrugged.
"Well She's been through a lot maybe she just needs more time.." Alexis nodded. "Or maybe it's just strange with Kristina because they've never actually met. She knew Michael and Morgan before...well everything acme out."
"No, it's something else." Sonny replied. "She said yes, when I asked her yesterday. She seemed excited. Then this morning she calls and says she'd rather not come. I just wish I knew what happened between then to change her mind."
"I'm ready daddy." Kristina said handing him her Little Mermaid back pack. "Sam says Elizabeth is an artist so we packed my markers, she can help me draw another picture for you, and maybe even one for mommy."
"Princess." Sonny said kneeling down and offering her a small smile. "Elizabeth isn't feeling well today, so she's not going to be able to come see you."
"Oh." Kristina said her disappointment obvious.
"But you still get to meet Cameron, he's your nephew." Sonny added hopeful that it would cheer the child up.
"Hear that big girl, you're an aunt." Alexis grinned.
"Ok." Kristina nodded.
"Don't worry, you'll get to meet her when she feels better." Alexis promised.
"When is she going to feel better?" Kristina asked.
"I don't know sweetie." Sonny smiled sadly. "Soon I hope."
"Me too." Kristina said the disappointment still evident on her face.
"How about we invite Jason and Sam over for Diner, that'll be fun huh?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah." Kristina grinned. "Will you come?" She asked turning to Sam hopefully.
"Sure, I can come." Sam smiled. "Will you be alright??" she asked Alexis.
"Don't worry about me, Jane's here." She said referring to the nanny.
"Ok, I'll call you tomorrow." Sam replied.
"Have fun you two." Alexis called after them.
"Hey Liz!" Brenda called having let herself in. "Liz! Elizabeth!" She shouted getting to response. Johnny told her Liz was home, and Cam was over at Sonny's for dinner or something. "If you think by ignoring me, I'll go away you obviously know nothing about me!" Brenda called to the quiet house becoming worried. Even if she didn't want company, she'd have just said so by now. "Liz?" She called agin quieting as she listened for any response. She hurried down the hall to the first floor bedroom Liz was using until she was off her crutches to avoid the stairs. It was dark but she could faintly hear the shower running in the adjacent bathroom a sliver of light escaping from under the door. She let out a sigh of relief flipping on the light and walking over to the closed door.
"Hey Liz, it's just me." Brenda called knocking softly."Liz." She called agin getting no response. "Liz answer me or I'm coming in." She demanded praying it wasn't locked she slowly twisted the handle pushing the door open. She gasped when she saw what was on the other side.