Sorry it's been so long, I hope this was worth the wait (at least, somewhat). For a tiny, insufficient explanation, you could check chapter three of The Madness, but it's just busyness.

Enjoy!

Chapter Fifteen

When Elizabeth awoke the next morning, she was shocked to see that she had slept past noon, which wasn't like her. She got the answer why when she drew the curtains. It was so cloudy and dim out that it might as well have been nighttime. She smiled as she looked out, thinking that it was somehow weird that the day didn't reflect her mood, which was shiny and bright. She got dressed and went downstairs, disappointed that instead of Jason, she found a note, telling her he'd be back later, and to drink a glass of milk. Hmmm.. looked like he had a bossy streak after all. She bounced around the penthouse, to happy to sit calmly. After a half-hour of doing little more than rattle about the room, she decided to go see Lucky and tell him her good news. He didn't like Jason, but he would be happy she was happy, and she couldn't stand not to tell someone.

But when she got to the house, there was no Lucky to be found. She stood on the porch, irrationally disappointed. Unwilling to give up, she circled round the house, hoping he was in the back yard. Opening the gate, she called out, "Lucky! Anyone here?"

"Elizabeth!" It wasn't Lucky, but Lulu who answered. "How are you? I heard you were in that accident, and I wanted to come see you, but I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me." She sounded oddly hesitant.

"What? I always want to see you Lulu, you know that!" Elizabeth reached over and pulled her surrogate younger sister into a hug. Lulu clung to her. "What is it? Are you okay?"

Lulu pulled back. "Yeah, I'm fine. The real question is, how are you?"

Elizabeth's face became wreathed in smiles. "Everything is wonderful. I don't know if you know Jason Morgan, but I've loved him for a long time, and last night I found out he feels the same way." She giggled, then frowned, "God, I sound like a schoolgirl."

Lulu waved a hand, brushing it off, "You deserve it. I'm so happy for you Elizabeth! Is that why you're here? To tell Lucky?"

"Yeah, but I guess he's not here, so I'll just call him later. Is it okay if I use the bathroom first, though?"

"Of course. The downstairs one is out-of-order though." Lulu picked up her book, which she had been reading when Liz had arrived, and walked her into the house.

Elizabeth was washing her hands when she heard a loud crash downstairs. "Lulu?" She walked out onto the main landing to the top of the stairs, Lulu was kneeling at the bottom picking up some glass, having obviously dropped a pitcher of water. She looked up.

"I'm fine, just dropped a glass."

Liz stared at her, gripping the rail tightly. A vision of another night, at the top of another flight of stairs exploded in her mind. She had been at the hotel, walking through the lobby, when she had heard a noise. She opened the door.

She opened the door. It was dark, and the air was stuffy.

"Hello?" Her voice echoed. She heard a choked sound, reaching out of the dark, and as her eyes adjusted she saw two figures at the bottom of the stairs. A face looked up at her.

Like the face that looked up at her now.

"Elizabeth?"

"Lulu." Her voice was broken, and she met the girl's gaze. "It was you. I remember. It was you."

"It was an accident. I swear. I swear." Lulu rushed up the stairs and stood two steps from the top, looking at Elizabeth. "I didn't mean it."

"I know, honey."

"Lulu? What happened?" Liz walked down, careful not to misstep in the dark. "Who is that? " she reached the bottom and kneeled beside them. "Oh god, Zander."

"I found him, and he kept talking about how he was going to get Emily back, and I told him that he was going to go to jail, and that he had to stay away, and that Em was with Nikolas now, and he got mad and we were at the top of the stairs, and he told me how Emily would never love anyone like she love him and I got angry and I pushed him I didn't know he would fall. I didn't mean it. God Elizabeth, I swear I didn't mean it."

"I know, honey. I'll take care of this. I want you to leave, right now. You were never here, do you understand me?" Steely resolve was in her voice, and she grabbed the girl, forcing her to stand.

"No, Elizabeth, you can't do this." Lulu protested.

"I can and I will. It will be okay. Just walk up those stairs, and pretend you were never here.. Don't argue with me. Go. NOW."

Lulu walked backwards, unable to tear her eyes from the scene. When she reached the door, tears running down her cheeks, she turned and ran, wanting to get as far away as she could.

"Oh Zander." Elizabeth stroked his cheek. "Why did it have to be this way?" She placed a kiss on his forehead. "You take care, alright?"

Ric burst through the door. It had been moments since she called. "Elizabeth! God, baby, are you okay?"

She looked up at him, her husband, and lied. "I killed him, Ric. You have to help me."

"Elizabeth? Lulu?

She was pulled from her memory by the sound of Lucky's voice. The women looked down at him guiltily.

"What's wrong?" He wanted to know.

Elizabeth touched Lulu's face, bringing her attention back. They locked eyes and Elizabeth spoke, deliberately, willing Lulu to understand. "Nothing is wrong. Everything is fine. We broke something, but it'll be fixed."

"No." Lulu's voice was a whisper.

"Yes." Elizabeth voice was unyielding. And Lulu acquiesced. Lucky knew they were lying, but he trusted Elizabeth.

"Good then. Oy, this isn't grandmother's favorite pitcher is it?

Lulu injected false cheer in her voice. "'fraid so." They walked down to meet Lucky.

"Well Lucky," Elizabeth said, "I came over to tell you that I remember everything. Thank you for being a pal."

He hugged her. "Always."

"Well, I have to go find Ric." The words rushed out, and she found that her desire to see Ric was not feigned, but a pressing need inside her. She kissed them goodbye, hurriedly, then flew out the door, anxious to find her husband.

TBC

Bwa ha ha ha ha. I Ôm evil, I know. I wanted to remind you that I said that Lulu was thirteen in the story, sometime back, in case anyone was confused. I didn't want to reiterate it at the beginning, in case it gave something away. SO, what do you think? Tell me. Tell me nowÉ.