A/N – Thanks for the reviews. I'm a bit sarcastic sometimes but truly I hope you guys don't take it as I'm mad at you when I make my notes. Cause really I'm not! With that said, I'm glad you guys appreciated the last chapter. Onward. This chapter is going to catapult a bunch of action.

Chapter 25 – Plus sign

Lorenzo heard Skye come down the hallway.

"Have you heard anything from our daughter yet?"

Skye smiled and walked into the room. "No news is good news," she said walking over to his desk.

Lorenzo looked up and sucked in his breath. "What are you doing?"

Skye smirked. "If you have to ask me that question, than you've been way to busy." She dropped her robe.

Lorenzo smiled and pulled her onto his lap. "Temptress. Quiero hacer el amor contigo (I want to make love to you)."

Skye smiled. "You'll get no arguments from me." She kissed him deeply.

"God I love you," he said before grabbing a handful of her hair.

"I love you too."

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The next day, Jason headed back to work and Liz spent all morning finishing a painting she had been working on.

"Can I see it yet?" Johnny said coming up behind her.

She turned towards him and smiled. "I guess."

Johnny trotted the rest of the way and plopped next to her. "Ok, lay it on me."

"It's for you, did you realize that?"

She watched his face change and couldn't quite read him. "What's wrong?"

"I can't believe that you would paint something for me," he said softly.

"Johnny, you have taken care of me since the day that I met you. I've learned some things about having people's back recently. You've had my back and Jason's, so I will always have yours."

Johnny looked away. Elizabeth was like family to him now. He would always protect her.

She revealed the painting. "I was told that the area around Ballynahinch Castle just happens to be one of your favorite places in Ireland. So, I thought I'd bring a little bit of Ireland here."

Johnny looked up at the painting and felt the tears well up in his eyes. "It's beautiful. You've captured the essence of what I love about the place. Thank you Elizabeth," he said emotionally. "Who told you about the castle?"

Liz grinned. "Your mom."

Johnny was shocked. "That big lug sold me out. She didn't talk your ear off about how I won't give her any grandchildren did she?"

Liz laughed. "Oh yes. She had some pretty choice things to say about you."

Johnny groaned. "She hates that I refuse to settle down."

She put down the painting and he hugged her tightly.

"Hey, I can't leave you two alone for a few hours…"

Johnny let go of her and smiled. "That'll teach you."

Jason smiled and walked towards them. "She gave you the painting?"

Johnny shook his head. "It's the best present I've ever gotten."

"You're such a kiss up," Jason said lifting Liz up in his arms. "I can't stay. I just needed to talk to Johnny for a minute."

"I'll go make you a sandwich to go."

Jason smiled. "Put some of that secret sauce you make on there." he said before putting her down.

Liz grinned. Her sandwiches were a hit with all the guys. "I will. I love you."

"Love you too."

After she was gone Johnny gave Jason his attention. "So what's up?"

"Sam has had five visitors in the last two days. I need to organize the guys and get any information we can."

"You think she's up to something don't you?"

"I wouldn't put it past her and I'm not willing to take a chance."

"Don't worry about it, I'll handle it."

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Tess stared at the stick in her hand and almost swooned. "Fuck!" she yelled crumbling to the floor in tears. How can she be pregnant? They had been so careful. She knew they weren't ready for something like this. Hell, she never thought she'd even want kids after the horrible childhood she had. Besides, because she was sexually abused when she was a small child because of her then mentally ill mother, she ended up with Dissociative Identity Disorder and had created a personality named Jessica in order to survive the trauma. She had been buried in her own mind for years and after intense therapy, she was finally able to live a normal life. Panic arose in her body when she imagined that Johnny would push her away over this and she'd lose him. He made her feel like she didn't have to live in the past and gave her a future.

Tess jumped up and ran into the bedroom. She grabbed her small suitcase and packed it up and then found her keys. All she knew is that she had to get out of there and think. She would call Johnny later and let him know she'd be back in the morning.

Putting the test back in the packaging, and then into a paper bag, she got off the elevator and threw it into a trashcan. As quick as she could, she got on the subway and took it the lower Manhattan and then took a ferry over to New Jersey. From there, she called a car service.

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Liz's phone rang. She put down her sketchpad and saw that it was Tess.

"Hey girl." Her heart sank when she heard some sobs. "Tess? What's wrong?"

"I need you," she barely got out.

"Where are you?"

"Some diner called Kelly's."

"I'll be right there."

Liz yelled for Johnny.

"What's wrong?" he asked running towards her.

"I need to get to Kelly's, something is wrong with Tess."

Johnny nodded and walked her to the car and they took off.

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Liz ran into Kelly's and quickly saw her in the corner. Tess stood up and Liz pulled her into a hug as the woman cried. She finally quieted and they sat down.

"What is going on?" One look at Tess and she thought the woman was going to completely fall apart.

"Something happened and I think John is going to be pissed."

Liz tensed up. "Tell me what happened."

Tess looked into Liz's eyes and started crying again. "I'm pregnant."

Liz sat back in her chair. That is not what she thought Tess was going to say. "Clearly, you are not happy about this. Why do you think Johnny would be mad at you? You two are so in love."

"He's not ready for it and frankly, neither am I." Tess hit the table with her hand. "We were so fucking careful."

"Tess, trust me, you need to talk to him about this before making any decisions."

"I'm going to tell him tomorrow. I just need to get over the shock and get myself together."

Claudia walked up to the diner and saw them talking inside. "What the hell?" She pulled out her phone. "John?"

"Hey sis, I'm about to play at a charity luncheon. Make it quick."

"Why is Tess sitting at Kelly's diner in Port Charles crying her eyes out?" Claudia asked.

Johnny gulped. "She did seem really weird the last few days, but she kept saying nothing was wrong."

"Well clearly something is wrong."

"Hold her there. I don't care what you have to do. I'll leave as soon as I'm done playing."

Claudia closed her phone and walked inside.

"What's wrong?" she asked looking at both the woman.

Tess gasped and just stared up at Claudia. "Nothing, it's nothing," she said before getting up to leave.

"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what is wrong," Claudia said looking down at the suitcase.

Liz tried to calm down the situation. "Claudia, please, let me handle this."

"No. Did you do something to hurt my brother?"

Tess collapsed back down in the chair and put her head in her hands and cried.

Claudia looked over at Liz and then she pulled up a chair and pulled Tess into her as she hugged her and tried to calm her down. "It's okay. I'm sorry I yelled at you. Just talk to me."

Tess pulled back and Liz handed her a tissue. She blew her nose and wiped her face and took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

Claudia was stunned. "That's it?"

Tess looked up at her. "That's it."

"How long have you known?" Claudia asked.

"I suspected it and then brought a test last night and took it after John left this morning."

"So, he doesn't know?"

"No."

"Were you going to tell him or did you just think you'd run away?" Claudia snarked.

Tess almost growled. "Just stop it Claudia. I didn't do this to trap him. I didn't do this hurt him. It was an accident."

Claudia leaned towards her. "I didn't say you did it to trap him. Is that what you think that he'll assume?"

Tess got up to use the bathroom and she made it about halfway there before she got dizzy. Johnny was sitting at the counter and caught her. Liz and Claudia jumped up.

"Are you okay?" Liz said.

"I-I'm fine. I haven't eaten since yesterday. I'm just light headed."

Johnny sat her back down.

Claudia called the waitress over. "Bring her a club sandwich, no mayo and an ice tea please."

Tess looked up at her. "Thank you."

"You have to make sure that you eat regular meals now Tess. You have a baby to worry about," Claudia said trying to process the situation. She didn't understand why Tess was so freaked out. Clearly, there were things about her past that Claudia didn't know.

Tess nodded her head. "Okay."

Liz and Claudia sat with her while she ate. They tried to talk about other things to relax her. They had finally gotten her to laugh when John came running inside.