A/N – Thanks for the reviews! So glad you guys enjoyed the last chapter.
Chapter 51 – Making Plans
Jason looked down at her and smiled. "You know we probably should talk about our marital status."
Liz rolled over and looked down at the rings on her left hand. "Yeah, I was thinking about it earlier." She took them off and Jason looked at her curiously. "I want you to take these back until you propose."
Jason took them from her hand. "I don't like how your finger looks without them."
"I know. I'll miss them but we agreed that we wanted to do this right this time."
"I'm just not sure what that means. I can't wait a year to marry you Elizabeth."
She smiled. "What did you have in mind then?"
"I don't think there is any question that we belong together."
"I agree."
"So, I'm just going to say that I don't want to wait a long time. How long are you going to need to plan everything?"
She shrugged. "I'm not sure but I think it will be less stressful if I had at least a few months."
He nodded. "Okay."
"That's it, just okay?"
He smirked. "I'll get back to you." He said standing up and putting the rings in his top drawer."
"You can't leave a girl hanging like that."
"I can and I will." Jason said playfully.
Liz couldn't help it and laughed. "You are just so wrong."
He climbed back onto the bed. "You didn't think I was so wrong a half hour ago."
"That's beside the point."
His phone went off. "Dammit." He said grabbing it off the nightstand. He sighed and typed back. "I'll be right there."
She frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Someone tried to get to Claudia in the hospital. I need to go over there."
She stood up. "I'm coming with you."
He knew she wouldn't back down. "Okay."
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They walked into the waiting room area. There were cops everywhere. Jason groaned as he looked at the melee in front of him.
Liz followed him over to where John was standing. "What's going on?" He asked.
"One of Javier's men tried to get into Claudia's room."
"Was she hurt?"
"No, I tackled him and the guard helped me hold him down. A nurse called the police, so Taggert just carted him off."
"Damn." Jason said under his breath.
"They won't let me back there." John said quietly.
Liz frowned. "I'll go." She said walking towards the hallway.
"I'm sorry ma'am."
"I work here." Liz said angrily pushing by him. She walked into Claudia's room.
"Is John okay?" She asked clearly worried.
"He's fine. They won't let him back here right now." She looked up at the machine. "Your blood pressure is up so I need you to calm down."
"Someone just tried to kill me. How can I be calm?"
Liz gave her a stern look. "Claudia, I am telling you right now that if you don't want to compromise your recovery, then you'll take some deep breaths and try to calm down."
Claudia gave her a look. "Maybe there is hope for you yet." She said smirking.
Liz rolled her eyes. "And as long as you keep your hands off of my man, we're good."
Claudia smiled. "I'm seeing someone now you know?"
"I know. I just wanted to give you a hard time."
"I guess I deserve that."
"You think?" Liz said raising her eyebrow.
"You're awful saucy tonight." Claudia said grinning.
"That's what happens when a romantic night gets interrupted by the Ruiz's."
"I see….sorry." She said giving Liz a naughty look.
"Yeah, you look really broken up about it." Liz said smiling back.
"I heard one of Jason's exes showed up."
Liz rolled her eyes. "Good news travels fast."
"Don't let that bitch come between you and your man. You are way too nice. I would have clawed her eyes out already."
"Don't think I haven't thought about it."
"Listen, she is back for one reason, she wants Jason. Whatever story she conjures up is probably just pretext."
"We actually agree there." She said firmly. "You need to get some rest."
Claudia nodded. "Thanks for checking on me."
Liz smiled. "You're welcome."
She left thinking that maybe her and Claudia had come to an unspoken understanding.
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The next morning, Liz went to the hospital. She had been there about an hour when some EMT's brought a gurney in. She ran towards it when she saw it was Delores. "What happened?"
"Car accident."
"Was there a child with her?"
He nodded. "She's behind us."
Liz brought them to an empty exam room and then ran back out to meet Ariella. She was crying and struggling in the EMT's arms. She seemed to recognize Liz and reached out for her.
"Hey baby, it's okay." She said softly wiping away her tears. "Is she hurt?"
"Doesn't seem to be but a doctor should check her out."
"I'll take her." She said walking her towards an exam room.
The doctor followed her inside.
"Hey Leo." Liz said smiling. "How about I hold her while you check her out?"
"Ariella this is Leo."
Leo smiled and soon Ariella smiled back.
"He's just going to check you out. He won't hurt you I promise."
Ariella watched him curiously. He quietly talked to her while he examined her and then finally finished up. "She's fine." He said smiling down at the little girl.
"Good."
She got up and walked out into the waiting room planning to take her to the nursery. But when Liz looked up and there was a creepy man standing over by the stairs, she quickly surveyed the waiting room and then made eye contact with Johnny. As she pointed, the man took off.
"Stay there." Johnny yelled taking off after him.
Francis walked up behind her and scared her.
"Francis!" She said loudly after jumping out of her skin.
"Sorry. I just wanted you to know I was here."
"Can you call Jason and get him down here."
"Johnny already did."
"Thanks."
The elevator opened up and Jason walked towards her. "What happened?"
"There was a car accident. The doctors are with Delores now. Ariella is fine."
Ariella lunged towards Jason and he grabbed her.
"I was going to take her to daycare, but I saw a strange man and Johnny took off after him."
"I'll watch her."
"I'll go check on Delores."
Liz turned and went towards her room.
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Pushing back the curtain, she went inside. "How is she?" She asked Patrick.
"Well, she has a mild concussion and some bruising. Someone will have to watch her tonight."
Liz nodded and went back out to the waiting room. "She has a mild concussion so someone will have to watch her tonight."
Jason sighed. "I'll see if I can get someone to do it."
Liz started to say something and Jason cut her off.
"She's not coming to our home. I'll figure something out."
Liz nodded.
Patrick walked over to them. "She's asking to see an Ariella."
"I'll take her." Jason said walking towards the room. He went inside.
Delores smiled as Ariella squealed. "Hi baby." She said softly.
Jason walked over to her and placed Ariella next to her on the bed. "I heard you are going to be okay."
She nodded.
"Do you remember what happened?"
"A car came out of nowhere and clipped the front of the car and we were spinning and slammed into something." She said as tears started to brim in her eyes. "I must have blacked out for a minute and I came to as Ariella was screaming. I was so scared." She said wiping her face.
Jason sighed. "I'm sorry."
"The police said the driver fled."
"I'll try to get to the bottom of it. Milo is going to guard you and Ariella tonight. He'll have to wake you every few hours."
She nodded. She was disappointed because she had hoped that Jason would invite her to stay.
"I'll check on you in the morning."
"Thank you Jason."
"No problem. Bye Ariella." He said smiling at the little girl. She grinned and watched Jason walk out.
Jason found Liz and gave her a kiss and went back to the warehouse.
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Liz's shift finally finished and Emily walked up to her. "Hey." She said smiling.
"Hi Emily."
"I haven't seen Jason for a while. Is he okay?"
She smiled. "He's good. I'll tell him to call you. It's been kind of crazy."
"Isn't it always?"
"I don't know if you heard but it turns out that Alexis and Sonny are my parents."
Emily's eyes grew big. "Wow, that's some big news."
"I know."
"I just saw Delores. Why is she back?"
Liz sighed. "If I tell you, you can't tell the rest of your family."
Emily pulled her over to the side. "I promise."
"She had a baby 3 years ago and she's here so Jason can take a paternity test."
"Holy shit." Emily said quietly.
"I know. We should be getting the results back any day now."
"Are you okay?"
"I'll be okay either way."
"That's still a lot to deal with. If you ever need to talk, I'm here."
"Thanks. How's Dante?"
"He's good. We should have a double date."
Liz chuckled. "Dancing and karaoke?"
Emily laughed loudly and then snorted. "I can just see Jason up there singing Bon Jovi or maybe he could rap. Ice Ice Baby…."
Liz busted out laughing and soon the both of them were crying at the vision of Jason rapping and dancing.
Johnny walked over grinning. "You have to tell me what's so funny."
Liz calmed herself and told him and soon Johnny couldn't stop laughing either. "You guys have to do it and I want to be there."
Emily and Liz high fived each other.
"I'm going to make this happen." Liz said grinning. "Coleman doesn't know it but he's about to have a karaoke night."
Johnny knew that Liz was probably the only person who could make that happen.
