"I can't tell her!" Elizabeth wailed.
"Yes you can," Conner insisted. They were sitting together on the
couch.
"I can't hurt her again."
"But if you stay you'll be hurting yourself," Conner said wrapping his
arm around her.
Elizabeth stared at him. "Did you just give me advice?"
"Yeah, cause I'm better and wiser than you," Conner said matter of
factly.
"You wish," Elizabeth said poking at his side. "I just don't want to
hurt her, Conner. We have a long way to go before we'll be completely
comfortable around one another. I won't be helping if I move across the
country."
"You guys can write and call," Conner pointed out. "It's not like
you're going to leave mad at each other."
"That's true," Elizabeth agreed. "She's coming over in an hour and I'll
make her understand that this is the best thing for me."
"So when are we leaving?" Conner said changing the subject.
"My job starts on Monday so I wanted to leave on Tuesday which is
tomorrow so I can get there early enough to start unpacking. Have you found
an apartment?"
"Yeah, I got a townhouse in the Bronx."
"I got a place in Manhattan," Elizabeth said. "Are you all packed?"
"Well, most of the furniture I'm leaving here," Conner explained.
"You're not selling the house?" Elizabeth said surprised.
"No, because we'll need a place to stay when we come back and it's not
like I don't have the money."
"Wow," Elizabeth said smiling at him. She took his hand and squeezed
it. "Are you sure you want to come?"
"Yes, Elizabeth. You keep asking me that. Don't you want me to come?"
"I do want you to come. So much," Elizabeth said looking at him. "I
just don't want to change your life so that if anything happened to us
then your life wouldn't be changed to much."
Conner let go of her hand. "What you think I'm going to leave again?"
"No," Elizabeth said squirming and Conner knew that she wasn't
completely honest.
"Listen, I screwed up back in college. But I was twenty years old. I've
changed a lot Liz. Everything with my mom and Megan really helped me
realize how important commitment is. Now I can't promise you that we'll
wind up retired together playing bridge. But I do know that I won't
leave you without an explanation or some sort of warning."
"Really?" Elizabeth said smiling.
"I'll have a billboard put up in Times Square," Conner said laughing.
Elizabeth snuggled up to him. "Thanks. Plus I do know that you've
changed. All I meant was that I don't want you going anywhere."
"I won't be anytime soon."
"You mean you won't leave me for a slut nurse?" she said slyly.
"Nurse assistant," Conner corrected and she laughed. "Nah, I kind of
get turned on by sexy journalists."
Elizabeth pretended to be offended, "And all this time I though you
liked me for my mind."
"I didn't know you had one of those," Conner kidded.
"So what are you going to do when we get to New York?" Liz asked.
"I'm not sure," Conner said thinking about it. "It's been about a year
since I did my last album and I guess I'll start writing new songs and
stuff."
"What inspires you?" Elizabeth asked softly.
"Well my last album was mostly about changes and having to face new
things. There was also some stuff about my mom's death. I already have one
song for my new album called Visions and Virtues which is what I want
to name the album."
"That's great," Elizabeth said. "I hope I'll be able to inspire you,"
she said coyly.
"You already are," Conner said laughing. "Every time I kiss you I feel
this surge of creative energy."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "Really? I'd hate to do more than that
because then you might explode from all that creative energy."
"I don't think that's going to be a problem," Conner said gazing at her
intently. He moved his hands down to the small of her back and pulled
her close.
He gave her a deep kiss. "Any doubts that I'm going to leave?" he
whispered.
"I might need some more convincing," Elizabeth said mischievously.
"Don't you trust me?" he said in mock indignation.
"I trust you," Elizabeth said. "So much that if you told me to jump off
a bridge, I would do it."
"Actually, don't trust me that much," he said laughing.
"I was just being nice so that you would kiss me again," she said.
Conner chuckled and began to kiss her neck. Elizabeth ran her hands
through his hair. She fell back onto the big pillows on the end of the
couch and Conner positioned himself sideways next to her. Conner began to
run his fingers through her hair. "You know I love you, right?"
Elizabeth nodded. "I had my doubts, especially with Monique hanging at
your side."
"She meant nothing to me," Conner said smiling at her.
"She had to mean something or else you guys wouldn't have stayed
together."
"Trust me, when you have to be around her, you learn to tune her out."
Elizabeth giggled. "Did she like you?"
"Probably but it wasn't real deep. I think she just liked being with
someone famous."
"And she had the nerve to call me a groupie!" Elizabeth said laughing.
"She was a groupie," Conner said. "She was into the whole rock star
scene."
"Did she want to be a singer?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, her voice sounded like gravel. I think she wanted to be a dancer."
They were both quiet for a few minutes and just lay there enjoying the
warmth and closeness of each other.
Elizabeth leaned over and began kissing him. Conner's arms tightened
around her waist.
After the pulled back, Conner began to run his fingers idly through her
hair. "You know," she said. "We've broken up so many times, first when
you found out I knew about your mother's drinking problem, then for
Alanna, then Alanna again, and then you left…" Elizabeth trailed off.
Conner placed a finger to her lips. "But we've always ended up getting
back together," Conner pointed out. "Doesn't that mean something?"
"That we're stupid for not getting it right to first time?"
"Absolutely," Conner agreed.
"Hey, Conner! Get your hands off my sister!"
Elizabeth and Conner sat up surprised.
Jessica stood there grinning. "How long were you guys going to moon
over each other before you realized that you had company?"
"How'd you get in?" Elizabeth asked Jessica.
"The housekeeper let me in," she explained. "And see," she said
pointing to the clock on the mantelpiece. "I'm even early."
"That's great, Jess," Elizabeth said. She gave Conner a look and he
immediately stood up.
"It's nice seeing you Jessica, but I have to go in the other room to do
the thing," Conner said stammering.
Jessica gave him a weird look, "Is he okay?"
"He's fine Jess. Listen, I'm really glad you came."
Jessica sat down on a chair. "What's going on? I'm getting nervous here
like you're going to tell me something big."
"I'm really glad I came back," Elizabeth said smiling. "I missed you
and I'm so glad that we're starting to work things out."
"Me too," Jessica said returning the smile.
"Jessica, I'm moving to New York tomorrow," Elizabeth rushed out.
Jessica sat there frozen in shock. "Why?" she choked out.
"I got a really great job offer for the New York Times," Elizabeth
explained.
"But you already have a job!" Jessica protested.
"But it's terrible!" Elizabeth shuffled through the newspaper and
handed Jessica a section and pointed, "Read."
"'The Los Angeles Women's Club will meet this Thursday at St. Helen's
parish center at 4:30. New members please contact Mary Rose at…'"
Jessica was quiet for a minute. "This is good, Liz! I could tell write off
that you wrote it, it has that special Liz touch!" Jessica lied.
"Jessica!" Elizabeth said exasperated. "Anyone even a five-year-old
could write that.'
"Why can't you get a job out here, there are other newspapers."
"Because there are no jobs out here. Believe me, I've looked. I don't
want to move, but I don't have another choice!"
"Yes you do!" Jessica insisted. "Your boyfriend is like a
gazillionaire. Force Conner to marry you!"
There was a couching sound from the other room and Elizabeth blushed.
"Jessica, we just got back together, what are you insane?"
"No," Jessica said tears forming in here eyes. "If he really loved you
then he would ask you." Then she burst into tears. Elizabeth got up
from the couch and sat down next to her sister and wrapped her arms around
her.
"I just got you back, why do you have to go?" Jessica wailed.
"I know, I don't want to go, but you know that this is the best thing
for me. If there's a job opening here I'll be on the first plane back."
"What does Conner say about you leaving? You guys just got back
together."
"He's coming with me, he can still have a career in New York."
"He's following you?" Jessica said in disbelief.
"No, he's joining me," she corrected.
"You know," Jessica said thoughtfully. "I could always come out too.
There's the theater and everything."
"I though you were happy out here," Elizabeth asked. "And you always
wanted to be a movie star, Jess. Plus what about Ryan?"
"You're right," Jessica said softly. "I just don't want you to go. Plus
I really can't. I just got an offer to be on Days of Our Lives."
"Jessica, that's fantastic!" Elizabeth said smiling.
"Yeah," Jessica said.
"I'll watch you everyday," Elizabeth promised.
"But you hate soaps."
"I do. But I don't hate you," Elizabeth said taking Jessica's hand.
"Who do you play?"
"I play Harmony Hart and she's an intern at the hospital."
"I'm so proud of you Jess," Elizabeth said squeezing her hand.
"When do you leave?" Jessica asked her.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow!" Jessica cried. "That's way to soon!"
"I know, but I don't have much of a choice."
"I'll come see you off," Jessica said.
"Our plane leaves at five in the morning."
"Five!" Jessica bit her lip.
"It's okay, you don't have to come Jess."
"Thanks!" Jessica said laughing. "You know how I am in the morning."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Of course I do, I don't want you anywhere
near a car at that hour."
Jessica gave here sister and hug. "I'm going to miss you. You have to
promise to call everyday."
"Everyday," Elizabeth promised.
"And write three times a day."
"Anything."
The twins sat there like that for several minutes just hugging each
other.
"I hate to say this, but I have to go. I have the play tonight."
"I know, Conner and I are going."
"Thanks," Jessica said softly. "I don't know what to say."
"How about I love you?" Elizabeth said.
"I love you," Jessica said crying.
"I know, I do too!" Elizabeth said also crying.
"When am I going to see you again?" Jessica said, her face buried in
Elizabeth's shoulder.
"I'll come out for Christmas and Thanksgiving," Elizabeth promised.
"Really?"
"Yes, and you can come see me."
"Yeah, New York does have great shopping!" Jessica said choking back a
sob.
"I'll miss you Jess. Just make sure to stay out of trouble while I'm
gone."
"I promise," Jessica said. Then she and Elizabeth burst out laughing.

"Come on, Liz. We're going to miss the flight," Conner said lightly
resting a hand on her shoulder.
Elizabeth was gazing out the window that overlooked Sweet Valley. "It's
so pretty," she whispered. "It'll always be home to me."
She turned around and faced him. "I love you."
"I love you," Conner said kissing her. "But we have to go."
"Remember when we left to go to college?" she said as they walked onto
the plane. "Jessica and I could hardly stand to look at each other."
"But you guys are friends."
"No, we're more than that," Elizabeth said smiling up at him. "We're
sisters."

That's the end! I don't have any plans to write a fifth part to the
series. But loo for new stories by me and please review.