Chapter 16

Lizzie was in her room relaxing just as she had promised Coop she would do. He had left about an hour earlier and had made her promise she would just relax for the rest of the afternoon, but it was almost impossible. She wanted to be up and doing something. She was not the type of woman to sit around and do nothing. Well, the old Lizzie was, but not the new and improved Lizzie. She had tried so hard, and had finally succeeded in becoming a better person. And that was all because of Coop. He had made her see things in a way she would have never seen on her own. He made her feel better about herself and made her feel like a better person. Most of all she didn't feel like she was alone in the world anymore. She loved the new feeling she had about her, and then this whole Leukemia had to come and ruin it. She had already decided that she wasn't going to let this be the end of her. She was going to fight this disease with everything she had. She had too many things to live for. Well, one thing in particular, Coop. She knew she couldn't have gotten through this without him. She was going to need him in the future and for a long time coming. She had faught so hard not to allow this to happen, but in the end, she had allowed herself to fall in love with Henry Cooper Bradshaw. She was sure it was love because it was different than any other feeling she had ever felt before. Sure there was Joey, but that wasn't really love that was more about the thrill of the chase. Wanting something she couldn't have. But with Coop it was very different. She knew she loved him, more than anyone in the world. She just wished she could find the courage to tell him the truth about her feelings. She was worried he wouldn't feel the same way. She didn't know what to do. This had been sitting on her mind for the last hour, ever since he left.

Suddenly the phone rang interrupting her thoughts. She looked at her caller ID. Sure enough it was Coop.

Lizzie sat up on the bed and answered the phone. " Hello?"

" Are you resting like you promised me you would?" Coop asked, immediately getting very concerned.

" Well, I was until you called, but hey, I'm not complaining." Lizzie said, half heartedly making a joke.

" Ha Ha Ha." Coop said, sarcastically laughing at her joke.

" So, Henry, what's up?" Lizzie asked, curious as to why he had called her when they had just finished talking in person a little over an hour earlier.

" Well, I was just sitting here thinking, and I came to the conclusion that you need a vacation away from Springfield." Coop said, about to bring up his brilliant idea.

" A vacation? That sounds very nice, but where would I go?" Lizzie asked, curiously.

" Where would you go? Don't you mean, where would we go?" Coop said. " I'm coming with you. There is no way you are leaving the town alone."

" That is so sweet. So where are we going?" Lizzie said, correcting her question.

" Where do you want to go?" Coop asked

" Well, I would like to go to the beach. I love the beach, but since we already live so close to one, I guess we could go somewhere else." Lizzie said. " I know, how about the mountains?"

" The mountains?" Coop said, not sure whether she knew what she was talking about.

" Yes, the mountains. That is it, Coop. I haven't been there since I was a little girl. That is where we are going." Lizzie said, in a demanding voice.

" If you're sure that is where you want to go then that is where we'll go." Coop said, finally giving in.

" Thank you, Henry." Lizzie said.

" Yeah, Yeah." Coop said, jokingly.

" Well, I'll start packing." Lizzie said, eager to pack her new clothes.

" We can leave tonight, it that's okay with you." Coop said.

" Sure. I can't wait." Lizzie said.

" Okay, see you then, Bye." Coop said, hanging up the phone.

" Bye." Lizzie replied, hanging up her phone.

Lizzie had finally decided that tonight was the night she was going to tell Coop that she loved him. This would be the best trip she had ever been on.

Coop had finalized the end of his plan. This was the night he was going to tell Lizzie that he loved her. This was going to be the best trip he had ever been on.

Meanwhile across town, Phillip, Gus, and Alan Michael were in Harley's old office. Gus figured this was the only way he could keep Phillip's return secret from Alan. Gus had called Harley and told her to meet him there, so she could be let on in the plan.

Just then the door to the Angel's office opened and in walked Harley.

" Phillip!" Harley shouted, as Gus and Alan Michael ran to the door and pulled her in and shut it.

" Honey, it's a long story, but sit down and we'll tell you the whole thing." Gus said, putting his arm around Harley and leading her to a chair.

A whole hour had passed and Harley was still in shock. The man she thought was dead, and the man who had made her life a living hell, and still was was not dead at all.

" I apologize, Harley. For my behavior before all of this happened, and especially for my father's behavior through the whole thing." Phillip said. " I know that this isn't enough, but I do want you to know that I am truly sorry for what followed my supposed demise."

Harley knew it would take a lot more than that for her to fully forgive Phillip, but he did sound sincere.

" So, this plan" Harley mentioned, " Are you guys sure it is going to work?"

" It should work, as long as you keep it a secret." Alan Michael said.

" He won't hear it from me." Harley promised.

About an hour later Lizzie arrived at Company with her bags packed, and she was waiting on Coop so they could leave for the mountains. She was so excited. She couldn't wait to spend all that time alone with him.

" Hey, Lizzie." Coop said, running out the front door at Company with his bag around his back. " Sorry I'm late, I had to close up before we left."

" It's okay, Coop." Lizzie said, just happy to see him.

Just then Phillip was walking around in the woods outside Company. He just wanted to see how his daughter was doing, running Company and all. Then he heard her voice and a boy's. He assumed it was Coop, after all Gus had already warned him.

" So are you ready to go?" Coop asked Lizzie.

" Of course I am. So, since I am a girl and I don't know distance, how long is it going to take us to get there?" Lizzie asked, feeling slightly dense.

Phillip laughed inside. That was his Lizzie. But where was Coop taking his daughter. He walked up a little closer.

" Well, I would say a little over two hours. Are you that excited about the mountains?" Coop asked, shocked she was so excited.

" Of course I am. I told you, I haven't been there since I was little, I am dying to go again." Lizzie said.

The mountains were where they were going. It was true about Lizzie loving the mountains. She had loved them when he, Beth, and Lizzie had went there when she was younger. She looked so happy. He hadn't seen her that happy in a very long time. He didn't want to ruin this for her. He had no choice, he didn't like the idea of his daughter dating anyone, but she was happy and that was all that mattered to him. Her feelings came first.

" Well, let's go," Lizzie said, getting excited.

" Okay. Okay." Coop said, kissing her forehead. " Let's go."

Phillip had made up his mind. He was not going to ruin this for her. If this made her happy and it was what she wanted than, so be it.

About an hour later Coop and Lizzie were in Coop's car driving down the road, and were sort of having an argument over what they disliked about each other.

" What do you mean, I am a snotty brat?" Lizzie said, getting kind of angry.

" I said, sometimes." Coop said, getting annoyed.

" Well, I don't think I am ever snotty, as you call it." Lizzie said, pouting.

" Please, Lizzie remember that time at the Spaulding Mansion when you kissed me?" Coop said.

" What? You kissed me. I didn't make the first move." Lizzie said, getting mad.

" Whatever, Lizzie. You totally kissed me." Coop argued back, finally pulling off the road.

Lizzie jumped out of the car. " I have had it. If I am so annoying and you can't stand to be around me, than why did you even bring me here?" Lizzie said, furious.

" Lizzie, I never said I couldn't stand to be around you. Where do you get this crap? Coop said.

" Nothing I say is crap." Lizzie said, getting more angry.

" That's impossible. Because what you just said was crap." Coop said, now getting mad.

"Answer my question, why did you bring me here?" Lizzie said.

" Lizzie…" Coop started to say.

" Answer me." Lizzie yelled, getting madder.

" Fine. Because I love you!" Coop yelled, not even realizing what he had said.

Spoilers for Chapter 17

Coop says something to Lizzie that brings tears to her eyes

It's time for Lizzie to tell Coop the truth about her feelings, but will she?

Coop and Lizzie have a serious talk about sex

Phillip, Gus, and Alan Michael start the fist plan of action

Alan has a haunting nightmare about Phillip, but is it really a nightmare?

Whitney