Elizabeth looked around the hospital room that had been her home for the past two weeks of her life. She had slept there, ate there and threw her fits there but now it was time to leave and while she loved the idea of getting the hell out of this hospital she was afraid of what was on the other side of that door.

Absolutely nothing.

She had nowhere to go. The only reason she had the clothes on her back was because she had talked Sly into going out and getting her something. He knew her well enough to know her size and her taste and she felt more comfortable asking him than she did Lily who had been more than generous with her.

Sly was currently staying in a room above Kelly's which was too small even for him. He had offered to allow Elizabeth to stay with him but there was no way she was going to put him on the floor. Granted he probably deserved it but she was not one to kick someone out of their own bed.

The last home that she had known had been the one with Jason Morgan. The man she had barely seen over the last two weeks.

Refusing to go there, to even think about something that would just make her angry again, just bring on more tears that she didn't want to cry Elizabeth zipped the new duffel bag Sly threw her clothes in and hoisted it over her shoulder. It was time to go out and face the real world. She just hoped she didn't have to go back to square one.

"I hope you weren't planning on leaving without your taxi," Lily smiled as she stepped into the hospital room, "Well limo," she rolled her eyes, "I tried to tell Sonny that he was over doing it but he wouldn't listen. He actually wanted to come but I managed to talk him out of that."

"Wait," Elizabeth laughed softly as she held her hand up, "Lily you're making me dizzy."

"Okay," Lily laughed softly as she approached Elizabeth and took her bag from her, "Nice and slow, I'm here…to take you…home."

"Home?"

"Yes," Lily smiled, "Are you feeling alright? Are you sure you're ready to leave?"

"I'm more than ready to leave," Elizabeth groaned.

Lily laughed, "You sound like my husband. What's going on sweetie?"

"I don't…" Elizabeth looked down at her hands, feeling very much like the vulnerable little girl that was lost in the bright lights of a club three years ago, "I don't have anyplace to go Lily, I don't have anything set up right now and I don't have any money."

"Damn that man," Lily said dropping Elizabeth's bag on the bed, "He told me that he would…" She smiled as she ran her fingers through her dark brown hair, "Sonny runs the largest organization on the east coast and yet I still have a hard time getting him to call the plumber, this shouldn't surprise me that he hasn't talked to you."

"Talked to me? About what?"

Lily motioned for Elizabeth to sit back down on the hospital bed and then she joined her, reaching for the younger woman's hand and squeezing it tightly. This reminded her so much of the time when Elizabeth was leaving town and Lily couldn't do a thing about it. This time she made sure that she could.

"Sonny and I," Lily smiled softly, "Would be honored if you would stay with us."

"Stay with you? At your home?" Elizabeth practically squeaked, "Lily, no, I couldn't. You have the kids, there couldn't possibly be any room."

"There is plenty of room," Lily said, "And this isn't just…we don't want you to just move in with us we want you to be a part of our family. I already think of you that way, Elizabeth, you should know that."

"I do," Elizabeth said quietly, "You don't know how much you mean to me Lily. I feel that I'm doing nothing more than taking advantage of you."

"That's nonsense," Lily said, "Sonny and I want you in our lives, in our children's lives, they want you to come live with us. They're asking for Aunt 'Lizabeth."

Elizabeth laughed softly, "I can do that. I can stay for a little while until I…"

"When I said that I wanted you to become a part of our family I mean literally, legally," Lily said softly as she tucked a piece of brown hair behind her ear and smiled, "I know that you are probably going to be upset with us for doing this but when you were admitted into the hospital Sonny and I applied for legal guardianship of you."

"What?" Elizabeth whispered. Her eyes became glassy again, something that she had been familiar with over the past two weeks, something she hated but that happened nonetheless and she didn't stop the tears as they started to slowly slide down her face.

"We also filed the adoption paperwork as well but we know that those things could take years and you're going to be eighteen in another twelve months so that was just something we did to prove that we want you around."

"I can't…" Elizabeth pressed a hand over her lips when she let out a soft cry.

"Elizabeth, honey," Lily said softly as she wiped away the young woman's tears.

"You have no idea what it's like to be wanted," Elizabeth whispered, "My father threw me to the wolves, he got rid of me as fast as he could and no one else…all I ever was to people was a fuck buddy, some plaything and you…you actually want to bring me into your home and make me a part of your life, even after all that I've done to you."

"Your deceased husband has done that to us, to all of us, including you," Lily said firmly as she took both of Elizabeth's hands in hers, "We're not going to force the adoption because of your age but when the judge questions us about guardianship you are going to have to decide whether or not you want to stay with us until you are eighteen. You're welcome to stay as long as you like, eighteen, twenty-one, twenty-five, forty," Lily laughed softly, "The judge just needs to know where you want to be."

"There's no question," Elizabeth laughed softly, "There is no question where I'm going to be, I can't…" she leaned over and hugged Lily tightly, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me. You've been here everyday, Sonny at least every other. Lily, I don't know if I would've made it through sanely if you hadn't visited me while I was locked up in these white walls."

"You're a strong woman, you would've made it through," Lily smiled as she slid off the bed and picked up Elizabeth's bag again, "Now come, Johnny is waiting and he is in for the surprise of his life. We're not going home right away."

"We're not?"

"Nope," Lily grinned, "If you're not opposed and you feel up to it I'd love to take you shopping."

"Lily I don't…"

"Oh Elizabeth, it's not my money," Lily laughed as she held open the hospital door, "We're burning a hole through Sonny's pocket."

"Well in that case," Elizabeth laughed.

"They aren't here yet," Sonny said when he heard the door close to his penthouse suite. He then looked up from a mound of paperwork and grinned at Jason, "But I've got a whiskey waiting for you."

Jason nearly shuddered at the thought of anything other than his beer but the woman that he couldn't get off of his mind for the past two weeks would be coming home from the hospital today and she would be living just across the hall from him, barely twenty steps away.

The lord was testing his resistance.

He walked over to Sonny's mini bar and picked up the tumbler that was half filled with a dark liquid. He eyed it distastefully but threw it back anyway, letting it burn down his throat and settle in his empty stomach. He winced before he placed it back down on the bar and made his way to the single chair that was cattycorner to the couch.

"I'm not going to make you talk about it," Sonny said as he flipped another page, "But you're over here for a reason and I'm sure it has nothing to do with the contracts in front of me," the don looked over at his enforcer, "I think it's best you tell someone what the hell has been going on for the past two weeks."

"What does that mean?" Jason asked defensively, "I've come to work; I've done my job…"

"That's exactly what I mean," Sonny said slapping the paperwork down on the coffee table in front of him, "You've just lost a child Jason, the woman that you love is lying in a hospital…"

"I don't want to talk about this," Jason said as he got up and ran his fingers through his hair, "Pick another subject."

"Why the hell have you been avoiding Elizabeth?" Sonny asked, "Lily has been with her everyday and I've been there too, so the hell has Eckert and you are nowhere in sight."

"I'm out doing my damn job," Jason said through gritted teeth.

"A job I didn't ask you to do," Sonny said, "Elizabeth needs you right now and I know that you are hurting just as much as she is. I wish the two of you would see that you need each other more than you need this damn brick wall you built between the two of you."

"I am not what Elizabeth needs," Jason said, "And I think you and Lily need to start realizing that. She needs something that I can't be," he hesitated as he looked away from his mentor, "I'm going to let Sly be that instead."

"Don't," Sonny said shaking his head, "Don't tell me that you have some crazy notion Jason that she is…"

"She was with him before," Jason said, his blue eyes flashing, "He understands what she went through. He was there with her. He can be her support."

"It wasn't Sly's child."

"It wasn't mine either," Jason said quietly, "It was Elizabeth's and my bullet destroyed that child and I'm more worried and frustrated and pissed off that she seems to be taking two steps back instead of moving forward. She's finally free now, Sonny, and it's like she doesn't know what to do with that freedom."

"I can't think of a better man to show it to her."

"I can't be that man."

"Why not?" Sonny asked standing up from the couch, "You've been everything else that I've asked you to be, why the hell is it so hard for you to be something for Elizabeth?"

"Because you can't be a friend to the person you are in love with!" Jason shouted and then growled frustrated, running his hands over his face, "You can't…you can't have a friendly hug or share a friendly kiss. There is no friendly laughter between you, no friendly secrets, no friendly winks. Nothing is friendly when you're in love with that other person, everything is more. The laughter is strained, the hug is awkward and you certainly can't kiss the person. Elizabeth…" he stopped and licked his lips, looking away again from Sonny, "I can't watch her date someone else and I can't watch her fall in love with another person. I can't watch her…I can't watch her be with another person, not up close, not as her friend, so it's easier to stay away, to put that distance there. It will hurt so much less in the end."

"You think so?" Sonny asked approaching his friend, "You think its easier for her to have Lily picking her up at the hospital in a limo than it is for you to walk in that door with a helmet in your hand? You have no idea what her face looks like Jason when that hospital door opens and she thinks it was you on the other side; you have no idea the devastation that appeared in her eyes when she realized it was only me or Lily or yeah, even Sly. You have no idea."

"I do," Jason said as he felt the tears gather in his eyes but he quickly blinked them away, "I watched her face every night when she slept and I was the reason that she had cold chocolate milk every morning. I was there when she cried out in her dreams, I was the comforting voice on the other end of those nightmares and I'm the one that had to tear myself away when the sun came up because I knew me staying there would bring nothing more than heartache and pain."

"Jason…"

"You know that I can't be with her, not in the way that we truly need each other Sonny," Jason snapped, "So stop fighting this, it's done, it's over with. Elizabeth can move on without me, she's got Sly, she's got you, she's got Lily, the kids. She'll be fine."

"I hope to God you come to your senses before it's too late," Sonny said quietly as he slid his hands in his pockets and stared down at his leather shoes. He then looked up at Jason again, all business, "You want to keep your mind off of things? I've got a job for you."

Jason nodded, "What do you need me to do?"

"You're going to Chicago," Sonny said and shrugged slightly, "For a few days, get some things settled, and then you're coming right back here, no arguments, no reprieves. The jet will be ready to leave whenever you are."

"You want me in Chicago?" Jason asked, "Isn't that kind of dangerous with the word going around that I…" he turned when he heard the door open behind him and the sound of female laughter. He felt his heart drop to his stomach when he saw Elizabeth and Lily enter the penthouse, their arms filled with bags and Johnny following behind him, amidst dozens of boxes.

"Just drop them by the door," Sonny grinned as he walked over and kissed his wife, "How was the outing?"

"Wonderful mi esposo," Lily smiled as she placed her bags down next to the boxes. She then reached for Elizabeth's and noticed that the young woman's eyes were directed at Jason. Lily suddenly felt the temperature in the room go up about twenty degrees, "I'll have to show you all the things we bought later," she smiled as she stepped in front of Elizabeth and linked their arms, "Elizabeth has agreed to move in. Isn't that wonderful Jason?"

"Great," Jason said quietly as the two women came to stand before him, "Hello Elizabeth."

"Hi," Elizabeth whispered as she reached up and tucked a strand of hair between her ear. She looked over at Lily and then back at Sonny who was lingering by the doorway. "I appreciate everything that everyone has done for me but I think that it's time we put aside the distractions and deal with the big issue here." She removed her arm from Lily's and stepped towards Sonny, "It's been two weeks, I held up my end of the bargain. When does the plane leave for Chicago?"

"What?" Jason nearly shouted which caused Lily to jump.

"You know what?" Lily said, "This is business and I have to go pick up the kids from Mike's. He's waiting for me," she smiled as she planted a kiss on her husband's cheek.

"That never stopped you before," Sonny frowned.

"Yes well the way he's looking at her now, I'd run if I were you," Lily whispered to Sonny before kissing him again, "Love you, see you soon."

Sonny growled as the door was shut in his face and he heaved a sigh before he turned around to the people in the penthouse with him who stood only inches apart, ready to do battle with one another.

Hey, at least they were talking again.

"You are not going to Chicago," Jason said as he glared at Elizabeth and then looked up towards Sonny, "She is not going to Chicago."

"Hello," Elizabeth said snapping her fingers in Jason's face, "I am right here and I am going. Sonny and I had this conversation two weeks ago," she turned around towards him, "Apparently he doesn't remember to speak to people about things."

Sonny gave her his famous dimples, "Slipped my mind?"

"Hmm, I bet," Elizabeth said as she folded her arms across her chest, "I told you that I'd go alone or that I'd take Sly. He's willing to take the risk," she said as her eyes darted towards Jason.

"This isn't about risks," Jason said, "This is about you, someone who was nearly killed two weeks ago, staying at home, in bed, taking it easy. There's no need to go chasing after some measly little empire."

"Measly little," Elizabeth stamped her foot and made sure that her heel was planted on the toes of Jason Morgan, "That is my measly little empire Morgan and you best well remember that. My measly little empire could probably outsell your puny little warehouse. Sorry Sonny," she called over her shoulder.

Sonny held up his hands to mean no offense and kept his mouth shut.

"So you," Elizabeth yelled wagging a finger at Jason, "Can take your tail, stick it between your legs, walk back across the hall, place some fucking pool and choke on your damn beer. I'm going where I want, when I want and with whom I want. You can't stop me."

"Want to bet?" Jason asked with raised eyebrows.

Sonny cleared his throat behind them, "If you two are finished?" he asked and then started towards them, "I promised Elizabeth that she could go to Chicago to take care of her affairs, those pertaining to her husband's estate. We agreed that it would only take a few days. Isn't that right Elizabeth?"

"Yeah, something like that," Elizabeth muttered before glaring at Jason again.

"I would rather Elizabeth be escorted to the city by the men I trust the most," Sonny said, "Sure, Sly could get in easier but we don't know if people bought that we killed Alcazar because of the territory thing, besides," he shrugged, "He has a quick temper," Sonny grinned at Jason, "Apparently so do you."

"Get to the point," Jason grunted.

"Right," Sonny said still smiling, "And I need Johnny and Francis. That leaves you Jason. I trust you, with my life, with my family's life and Elizabeth is part of that family now," he shrugged again, "If you feel that you can't handle the job..."

Jason rolled his eyes. Sonny was actually stooping this low.

"I can handle it without him," Elizabeth said, "In fact, I'm going to pack," she walked back over to her sea of bags and plucked out the important ones, "I'll be back down in an hour and ready to go to the airport Sonny, with or without Mr. Morgan there," she shook her head sadly, "I would've never guessed that the big bad enforcer thing was just an act, sad really."

"Funny thing is," Jason said with a humorless chuckle, "You're now young enough to take over my knee."

Elizabeth growled at him and stormed up the stairs with a shake of her fist, her shopping bags banging against the walls beside her. Sonny walked up towards Jason, sighing and rubbing his hand along the back of his neck.

"I am going to need her back in one piece Jason."

"Don't worry Sonny, I won't harm a hair on her head," he said as he moved past his boss towards the front door, heading across the hall to his penthouse where he could pack his own things for the upcoming trip to the Midwest.

He could easily promise that he'd never harm a hair on Elizabeth's head, but the idea of putting her over his knee was becoming mighty tempting.