Author's Note: This chapter is where I think the story starts to not be as good. I hope you enjoy it anyway but just in case I thought I'd warn you.

CHAPTER 4

Three weeks later Elizabeth was sketching Jason while he read a book on the couch. He had healed a great deal but Sonny and Elizabeth were adamant that he was not ready to go back to work yet.

"Jason!" Sonny yelled bursting into the penthouse. "Alexis is sick. I called the doctor but she's freaking out."

Elizabeth and Jason rushed across the hall behind a frantic Sonny to find Alexis sitting on the couch sobbing.

"She's been sick the last couple of days, hasn't been able to keep much down," Sonny said. "And when I teased her about not liking my cooking, this happened."

Alexis looked up then, directly into Jason's eyes. Jason studied her for a few moments before he grinned. Elizabeth noticed his smile and hit him on the arm.

"Alexis being sick isn't amusing," Elizabeth said.

"Alexis isn't sick," Jason said. "Not really anyway."

At that Alexis started sobbing again.

"What do you mean, Jason?" Sonny demanded.

"Alexis isn't sick," Jason said. "She's pregnant."

"Oh!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Come on," Jason said. "We should leave these two alone."

Alexis's head shot up at that and Elizabeth saw the terror on her face. So did Sonny.

"Actually I think I should stay with Alexis in case she needs anything," Elizabeth said.

"Sonny will take care of her," Jason said.

"But…" Elizabeth said.

"Elizabeth," Sonny said quietly cutting her off. "Alexis will call or come over if she needs you."

Elizabeth looked around Sonny to Alexis who nodded weakly. Elizabeth followed Jason across the hall and Sonny sat on the coffee table in front of Alexis. He watched as she steeled herself for his anger. He doubted she knew it was visible but he could see her putting every piece of armor in place.

"The doctor will be here soon so he can confirm that you're pregnant," Sonny said calmly.

"I already have confirmation," Alexis said. "I saw Dr. Meadows last week."

"But you weren't even sick last week," Sonny said in confusion.

"Yes, I was," Alexis said. "It was only happening when I'd first get to my office."

"So it's worse now. You really are sick. Something could be really wrong," Sonny said beginning to panic.

"No, I think it's stress. This started right after I found out and I knew I'd have to tell you," Alexis said.

"And you were scared about telling me?" Sonny asked. When Alexis nodded, Sonny said, "Why? Come on, Alexis. Words are your favorite thing so talk to me. Tell me why you were afraid to tell me and why you were so terrified of me that Elizabeth didn't want to leave."

Alexis remained silent so Sonny continued. "You know how I feel about children and you know about my mother so I really don't understand how you could think I would…"

"That isn't what I'm afraid of," Alexis said cutting him off. "I've never been physically afraid of you despite your dubious reputation. But there is a string of women in your past who made one mistake and were tossed out like garbage. If you thought that I was trying to, I don't know, trap you or something…"

"Trap me?" Sonny said with a laugh. "I've asked you to move in with me a dozen times and each time I thought you were going to run for the hills." When Alexis still looked extremely upset, he asked, "What else, Alexis?"

Alexis remained silent for several long moments before she said quietly, "I'm not like Carly."

"What?" Sonny asked, confused.

"I'm not like Carly," Alexis repeated with quiet conviction. "I know how you treated Carly when she was pregnant and I will not be treated that way. I will eat what I want, when I want and I will work as much as I want. Don't get me wrong, I'll eat what you cook because you are much better at it than I am. But I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself and anyone else that happens to show up. I will not be treated like a child."

"What exactly are you saying?" Sonny asked, not wanting to misunderstand.

"If you insist on treating me that way, I will walk and I won't look back," Alexis said. "You'll be in our child's life but you will not be in mine."

This time it was Sonny who remained silent for a long time. When he finally spoke he was subdued. "Do you know I can't imagine what my life would be like if you were to walk out of it. If I had nothing else, when I could count on nothing else, I could count on you, on your friendship." Sonny paused for several seconds before continuing. "I can't promise that I won't ever ask you to eat more or rest more or work less but I can promise to try not to try and run your life."

"That's all I ask," Alexis said with a smile.

Elizabeth stepped out of the elevator after a long shift at Kellys two days later. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed with Jason but she realized there were no guards in the hall. Quickly switching direction, she walked into Sonny's penthouse after a cursory knock.

The instant Elizabeth was in the door she realized she shouldn't be. A man was tied up in a chair, Sonny stood to the side with his arms crossed, and Jason stood in front of the chair wearing a pair of gloves. Marco and Johnny stood behind the chair. The man in the chair raised his head and looked at Elizabeth.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt," Elizabeth said studying the man.

"Elizabeth, you need to leave," Sonny said.

"I know," she said. "But you need to know that if you think that is Luis Alcazar, you're wrong."

"Max said it was," Sonny replied.

"And I can see why Max would make that mistake," Elizabeth said. "They're definitely related, probably brothers."

The man in the chair closed his eyes and tried not to hope but maybe these men would listen to her and realize he was not Luis.

"Elizabeth, how can you be sure?" Jason asked.

Elizabeth looked at him and said, "I'm an artist and art is in the details. This man's nose is longer, his eyes are farther apart, his ears are bigger, and his chin is rounder. Also, he appears to be shorter than Louis."

"Thank you for telling us but you really need to leave now," Sonny said.

"Of course," she said walking over to Jason. She kissed him on the cheek and said, "Don't be too long. I'm ready for bed."

The man in the chair slumped as the door closed behind Elizabeth. He had really thought her presence would save him but she either didn't know or didn't care that he was about to be killed.

"Do you think she's right?" Sonny asked Jason after a minute.

"Well he's maintained that his name is Lorenzo the whole time," Jason said.

"Sonny," Alexis called from upstairs. "Are you coming to bed soon?"

"In a few minutes," Sonny said. Then he turned to Johnny and said, "Take him to a safe house and call Benny. Find out if Luis has a brother."

Johnny nodded and hid a smile while he and Marco took Lorenzo out of the penthouse. Once in the elevator the two bodyguards grinned at each other, amused that both their bosses would be getting lucky.

Jason walked across the hall and went upstairs to find Elizabeth. He was terrified she would hate him. He never wanted her to see him that way. Jason walked into the bedroom they had been sharing to find Elizabeth in bed in one of his t-shirts, mostly asleep.

When he eased into bed, Elizabeth immediately snuggled up against him. "I'm sorry. I tried to wait up for you but I was too tired."

"It's okay," Jason said kissing the top of her head.

A few days later Jason and Elizabeth were on Jason's bike when Jason stopped in front of her studio.

"How would you like to move back in?" Jason asked indicating the studio.

"Have you neutralized Alcazar?" Elizabeth asked.

"No," Jason said. "But I have a surprise for you."

He got off the bike and led Elizabeth up the stairs to her studio. Elizabeth blinked a couple of times as she looked at the door. In place of the old wooden door with a single key lock, there was a reinforced steel door with two deadbolts and a door knob key lock. Each one used a separate key.

"This door is practically burglar proof," Jason said handing her a set of keys.

It took Elizabeth a couple of tries before she got the door open. "I think I'm going to have to practice with these locks," she said with a laugh.

The laugh died as Jason answered his ringing cell phone.

"I have to go," Jason said giving her a kiss. "Will you be okay?"

"Yep, I'm just going to practice with these locks," she said. "Be careful. I love you."

"I love you, too," Jason said, nodding at Francis as he headed down the hall.

Ten minutes later Elizabeth was still in the hall practicing with the keys when she heard a noise. She looked toward Francis just as he crumpled to the floor. Before she had time to react, someone put a damp cloth over her nose and mouth. Not one to go without a fight, Elizabeth slammed her head back, breaking her kidnapper's nose. It was the last thing she was able to do before the chloroform knocked her out.

Meanwhile Carly was sitting at Kellys waiting on Bobbie to meet her for lunch. Sarah walked in and saw her chance to break Lizzie and Jason up. Sarah had finally gotten the history between the two women out of Lucky and planned to take full advantage of Carly's dislike for her sister.

Sarah approached Carly's table and said, "Aren't you Lucky's cousin?"

Carly looked at the younger blonde and felt an immediate dislike for her. "Yeah, what's it to you?"

"Well, I was wondering if you'd seen my sister Elizabeth recently," Sarah said oozing fake concern. "I haven't seen her since she moved into Harborview Towers with Jason."

Carly had spent enough time pulling cons to know when someone was trying to play her. The fact that it was Elizabeth's sister didn't surprise her since Bobbie had told Carly that the siblings had never gotten along. She did wonder what angle this goody-goody was trying to work though. Carly didn't particularly care what Sarah did to the Muffin but she had a feeling Jason would be involved and Carly would kill her before she let the waif hurt Jason.

"I don't spend a lot of time at the Towers anymore," Carly said. "But if your sister is there, then she's perfectly safe."

"That's what she thought about her studio until someone broke in," Sarah said. "I just want to be sure she's okay."

"Then you should ask Lucky. He keeps a pretty close eye on her," Carly said.

Carly didn't miss the flash of anger and jealousy that crossed Sarah's face. So that's it, Carly thought. This one wants Lucky but he hasn't given up on Muffin. Well, I'll just have to have a little chat with Muffin to make sure she doesn't break Jason's heart again.

"Look," Carly said, "I'm sure Elizabeth is fine. Now I was supposed to meet my mother and she's not here yet so I'm going to find her."

With that Carly left the diner and headed for Harborview Towers. Sarah sat back and smiled, thinking she had just sent Carly to break up the happy couple.