It had been a few months since he and Liz were together, soon after Halloween he began working for Faith, and Liz didn't want to be associated with the dangerous life again. He understood and respected her wishes, he kept his distance, but during this time, he had gotten a lot closer to Faith. When she said she wanted a full service employee, she meant it. He wasn't feeling no pain when she seduced him into her bed, it was one time, but he knew she'd be back for more whenever she needed him.
Elizabeth was already gone when he got up, but she was so sweet and left him a note on the pillow. He loved that about her, though their encounters had no strings attached, she still cared enough about him for common courtesy and respect the next morning.
Zander,
I had work at Kelly's this morning, stop by and we'll have breakfast.
Thanks for last night, once again you knew exactly what I needed.
Elizabeth
He slipped on a black pair of dress pants, burgandy dress shirt, and a sleek black tie, not his normal every day wear, but Faith insisted. He grabbed his jacket and his keys as he headed out the door on the way to Kelly's for breakfast.
Elizabeth cleared another table and took the dishes into the kitchen. She returned to find Emily sitting on a stool at the counter. "What do you want?" Elizabeth asked as she poured another patron a cup of coffee. "I came to talk to you about Zander." Emily hoped that because Elizabeth and he were close, he'd listen to her. "What do you wanna know? Like it's any of your business anyway." Elizabeth snarked back. Ever since Elizabeth told Emily that she had slept with Zander on Halloween, things had just not been the same between them. She didn't see why Emily had to know every little detail about Zander's life now that he filed for divorce. "We're still married, Elizabeth." Emily replied as she followed Elizabeth as she went to clear off another table. "Could of fooled me. You don't give a damn about Zander, Em." The way Emily treated Zander for the last 9 months, it was obvious, she didn't care about Zander at all. "Oh and you do?!" Elizabeth gathered the dishes from the table and started walking towards the kitchen. "That's none of your business, but yeah I do!" Elizabeth set the dish tub down on the table and turned towards Emily. "I care alot more about him then you do! You hurt him like no one else has! He loved you Em, so much so he would of forgave you for almost anything! And you totally trashed that love by sneaking around with Nikolas!" Emily had about enough of the tongue lashing from Elizabeth, she raised her hand ready slap her friend across the face but her arm met what seemed to be a brick wall. "Don't you dare!" he said as he held a tight grip on Emily's forearm. Emily looked towards the person who held her arm tightly in his hand. She pulled it away forcefully. "Zander, I can handle this." Elizabeth said as she was grateful for his assistance but really didn't need it, she knew she could of handled her former best friend. "You know what? The two of you deserve each other!" Emily stomped off in a huff and left Kelly's by the front door.
"Dare I ask what that was all about?" Zander removed his jacket and laid it across the back of a stool at the counter. Elizabeth picked up the tub of dishes and walked into the kitchen. A loud crash was heard and Zander rushed to see what happened. Elizabeth held her face in her hands and the tub of dishes lay at her feet, a few broken and scattered on the floor. Zander went to her and she turned into him sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against him. "Shhh... it's only a few dishes, Elizabeth." He had no idea what was going on with her, but it apparently was more then a few broken dishes. "It's not the dishes Zander, it's so much more then that." His dress shirt now moistened by her tears, she sniffled back and tried to compose herself as patrons looked on curious to know what was happening. "Come on, let me take you upstairs to calm down and we can talk about it. Okay?" Zander turned her towards the stairs as Penny stood behind them watching them go. She bent down and started cleaning up the pile of broken dishes on the floor as Zander led Elizabeth up the stairs to her room. She had moved into Kelly's again after her divorce from Ric, she didn't want to move back in with her grandmother, so she took back her old room above the diner.
Zander opened the door to Liz's room and he led her inside. He closed the door behind him as he sat her down gently on the bed. "Now what's this all about?" he asked as he sat down beside her. Elizabeth wiped away the warm tears that welled in her eyes, and sighed heavily. "It's just everything feels like it's coming down on me Zander. Between work, going back to school, Ric, Emily and now... ." she felt like she was whining about petty things, but she knew Zander would listen to her and understand. "And now what?" he asked as she got up from the bed and began to distance herself from him. She knew he'd understand, he always knew what to say or what do to make it better for her, she contemplated on telling him for a few days already, but now that she left it slip, she had to tell him everything.
"Zander I really did it this time, I mean I really got myself into something I just don't know how to get out of." she had worry and concern in her voice, Zander knew it was something big. He went to her to try to comfort her and she was glad he did. "Elizabeth you know you can tell me anything. So tell me what's going on." She sighed deeply and took his hand. "You're gonna need to sit down for this, Zander." she led him to the bed and sat him down. She took a deep breathe and then stood in front of him still holding his hands in hers.
"Zander, I'm pregnant." He jumped up from the bed with joy and took her in his arms, he took her by surprise. She couldn't help but embrace him in return, but it was a little premature. "Zander, wait. There's more." he released her from his arms and left her continue. "The baby, is Ric's." she saw the joy in his face disappear as she said his name. "Elizabeth how do you know for sure, it could be mine." Halloween night wasn't that long ago and he knew she had just come from seeing Ric that night, it could very well be his or Ric's. She tried to evade his question, she wasn't sure herself if the baby was Zander's or Ric's but she sure didn't want Ric to find out that she might be carrying his child. She was still not able to trust him, and to have herself connected to him by a child, just wasn't something she was ready to admit yet.
She was saved by the ringing of Zander's cell phone and sighed in relief. He answered his phone call and then told her he had to go. He gave her a kiss on her cheek and told her he would be back later, not to worry, it all would be alright. Zander left her in her room and headed down the stairs of Kelly's. The call he had received was from Faith. She was expecting him at the Cellar about 20 minutes ago and he was late. He walked down the stairs into the club and found her standing behind the bar.
"What kept you?" she said as she walked out from behind the bar and approached him. "I was having breakfast with a friend upstairs. I just lost track of time." he removed his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair. She slithered up behind him and whispered in his ear. "That's okay, you can make it up to me later." He watched her slink away from him as his eyes followed every movement of her, his eyes focused on a pair of legs that just went all the way up. He moistened his lips with his tongue as he envisioned the make up part of later she just mentioned, so much so that he lost his concentration and she noticed. "Zander?" she snapped her fingers to bring him back from where ever he had drifted off to. He snapped back and regained focus once again. "You know .. you're so cute .. but I need you here with me, Zander." she purred as she approached him. "I'm going to need you today, there is a meeting that I need you to attend with me. And I need you to focus all your attention with me, okay." she added as she adjusted his tie and then smoothed out his shirt as she slide her hands down the front. Her perfume lingered in the air as she walked away from him, he was quick on the draw with his 9mm as he heard someone coming down the stairs and drew it from the back of his pants. He held his gun with both hands aimed at whomever it was who would be standing in the doorway. He wasn't taking any chances, he did that once, and it cost him.
A familiar face stood in the doorway, his gun still drawn and ready. "There's no need for that Zander. I'm here to see Faith." he said as he walked into the room. "What is it we need to talk about Mr. Cassadine? You owe me money and I want to use your ship. Sounds simple enough, don't it?" Nikolas approached her as Zander tucked his gun back in his waistband. He noticed Emily was followed Nik close behind, he looked at her as he passed by her and stood behind Faith. He crossed his arm in front of him just waiting for the word from his boss to show Nikolas the door. "See, I have a problem with that Faith. And I'm not going to allow you or anyone to use my ship to bring in illegal cargo." he replied as she came closer to him. "Well, then, I suggest you find other means to pay me the money you owe me, or you and your little girlfriend over there, will find yourselves in grave danger." Nikolas knew that Faith wasn't kidding and she never said anything she didn't mean. Her threats were to be taken seriously, she just didn't throw her weight around and not be able to back it up. Emily had about enough of Faith Roscoe and decided she needed to something about it.
Faith noticed Emily was about ready to blow her top and say something to her. "And what would you like to say .. cause I know you want to .." Faith smirked as she walked up to Emily. Nikolas tried to alert Emily not to say anything, she would just make it worse. Zander looked on and a smile came across his face. If Emily thought she could handle Faith Roscoe, she was mighty mistaken. "Nikolas isn't going to play your game, Faith!" she said forcefully as Faith just smirked. She got up closer to Emily's face, close enough Emily could feel her breath on her skin. "If he doesn't play with me, you'll be a widow before you say the "I do's."