A/N – Thanks for the comments! Guest – They haven't been together and ended on a very bad note. I need them both to love each other, not just the one way. They both deserve to be loved in the right way after all the pain they have been through. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 5

Elizabeth woke up early and heard Sam throwing up, so she went into the kitchen and retrieved some crackers and made some ginger tea.

When Sam appeared, Elizabeth winced.

"Here," she said putting the mug down next to a plate that has crackers on it. "That helped me. As soon as I woke up, I would shove a cracker in my mouth."

Sam slowly sat and then sipped the hot liquid before biting into the cracker. "Thank you."

"Ginger is supposed to help calm your stomach."

"It does get better, right?"

Liz slightly smiled. "Yes."

Jason appeared in the doorway. "Everything alright?"

"Yes. Elizabeth was helping me out with morning sickness."

Jason eyed Liz who smiled.

"I can make breakfast."

"He does make a good omelet. Are you okay with eggs?" Liz asked.

"Yes. That sounds good."

Jason turned the stove on and got out the ingredients. "Anything you don't like?"

"No," they said in unison.

"Did you sleep okay?" Liz asked.

"Yes. It was fine. I haven't been sleeping well lately, but I slept well last night."

"Yeah, I've been the same way."

Jason listened with concern.

"Have you lived in Port Charles a long time?"

"I've been here four years."

"You like it?"

Liz shrugged. "A lot of things have happened since I've gotten here that aren't great, but overall, I think it's okay. It can be a little quiet. What about you?"

"I have a salvage boat, so I travel a lot. My brother Danny is in a group home not too far from here, so I visit from time to time."

Jason placed their food in front of them. "Eat up…"

The women dug in while Jason got them some milk.

Once he cleaned up, he moved to the doorway. "Alright, I have to go."

"You don't eat?" Sam asked making Liz roll her eyes.

Jason smirked. "No. Call me if you need me."

"Okay," Liz said.

"Are you going out?"

"I want to get my art supplies."

"I'll tell Johnny to take backup with you. Francis had everything cleaned up at the studio. We also installed some surveillance equipment. Ric had left a package outside the door."

"Thank you. Did I need to see it?" The guards will make her feel so much safer.

"No, it was candy."

"I do love my chocolate, but not if it's tainted."

His expression lightened. "Later."

"Later…"

Sam studied her for a long moment.

"What?"

"I'm just trying to figure out the dynamics."

"Oh. Jason and I—well, we have a history that was good and bad."

"You don't have to tell me everything."

Liz shrugged. "It's not a secret. It was just complicated. Our timing has always sucked."

Sam smirked. "I can understand that."

"Do you love Sonny?"

Sam nodded. "I have strong feelings for him, but we haven't been together that long, and then there is Carly."

"Yeah, she tends to somehow always be a presence in their lives."

"They are staying together because of Michael, but I'm not stupid. History does usually take precedence."

Liz got some water. "Do you want some?"

"Sure. Hydration is important."

Liz handed her a bottle. "Do you want this baby?"

"I think so. I mean, I was willing to consider adoption. I didn't have the greatest childhood. My parents were cons and taught me well. I had to rescue my brother at one point who has some learning disabilities and take care of him when I was a teen. Life has hardened me. I did what I had to. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yes, I do." Liz fiddled with her napkin. "I was raped when I was fifteen."

Sam gasped.

"It was pretty awful. Then, my boyfriend died in a fire, or at least we thought he did."

"Okay, you can't leave it there."

Liz smirked. "The Cassadines, well let's just say they have a beef with his family. She brainwashed him and I went through hell and back with him he returned. I was friends with Jason the year before that and we grew close. Everyone was telling me I had to be with Lucky even if it meant I wasn't happy. I went along with it and lost Jason as a result. We were still friends, but I know I hurt him when I couldn't figure out who I wanted."

"Knowing what you know now, what choice would you make?"

"He asked me to leave with him one day in the park, but I was stuck on Lucky. Honestly, I wish would have taken his hand and left."

Sam nodded. "I feel like an interloper. I'm the slut that got knocked up, and somehow Carly Corinthos is the scorned victim."

"I'm trying to make a pact not to care what other people think. Otherwise, I'll drive myself crazy."

Sonny appeared in the doorway. "Hey."

Sam's head jerked in his direction.

"I'm going to go take a shower," Liz said before looking down and brushing past Sonny.

He took her place at the table. "What happened?"

"Nothing, I just—sometimes I panic, and I came here, and Jason let me sleep on the couch. Elizabeth is nice."

"I'm trying to work this out. We have time before we find out who the father is and hopefully, by then, Elizabeth will be safe, and Jason can tell everyone our baby is his."

Her eyes widened. "He agreed to that?"

"Not yet. He's worried about her, but they aren't together, and they never work out. I think later, he'll change his mind."

She schooled her emotions, but his suggestion just made her feel dirty like she's some secret that he's ashamed of.

He gripped her hands. "Hey, do you trust me?"

"I guess."

"Then let me handle this. Jason always does what is right."

"What happens after the baby is born if this plan of yours works out? Does Jason pretend to be the father? Is that fair to our child?"

"I don't have all the answers, but we'll figure it out."

"Do you want this baby, Sonny?"

"I do, it's just Michael has been through so much. He doesn't know when to stop and it scares me." He had gotten hurt, and it could have ended badly.

She sighed heavily. "I think you should have a plan b because Jason is already expecting a child with her."

"You can't tell another soul, but he's just saying that because Ric is insane and almost killed Elizabeth."

Sam is surprised. "So, you think that Jason will backtrack when the coast is clear with Liz?"

"I do."

"I still don't think it will be fair. I'm not going to subject this child to anything that will hurt it because I don't want the baby's life to be anything like mine." Liz has been nice to her when few people have been, and Jason shouldn't be involved.

He tugged her so she'd move around the table and sit on his lap and then placed his hand on her stomach. "I will love this child if it's mine, and it will be taken care of because I didn't have the easiest life either." He pulled her down into a kiss. "Still love me?"

When she nodded, he kissed her again.

"Damn, you're addicting. Can we go back to your place?"

"Okay."

They headed there for some alone time. Sonny will bide his time with Jason, and if the enforcer still doesn't come around, then they'll have to have a conversation about priorities and loyalty.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

At Kelly's, Emily listened as Elizabeth told her what happened with Ric on the docks.

"Wow."

"I know. The shit is going to hit the fan once it spreads."

"My family is probably going to hound you and him."

"I can handle them."

"I don't think you've seen Edward in full out heir to the kingdom mode."

Liz cracked up.

"Are you ever going to tell the baby about Zander?"

"I plan on it when they get older. I think they deserve the truth, and I have a feeling Jason will feel the same way."

"I should get back to the penthouse. I just stopped by to get some coffee before going to my studio."

The door opened and Ric strode inside.

"Crap…" Emily muttered.

Johnny was already texting Jason.

"So, I'm surprised your baby's father let you out of his ivory tower."

Liz stood. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Of course, you don't, because Jason probably doesn't let you."

Everyone's attention is on them. Unfortunately, Courtney had come from the back.

"My life is none of your business," she said picking up her coffee.

When she went to walk by, Ric grabbed her arm making Johnny rush forward.

"Jason may have knocked you up, but how long before this baby dies because of the business?"

A loud gasp is heard as Courtney looks around the room wildly. Jason entered through the front door, gazing at Elizabeth to make sure she was okay, and is relieved when she nods.

"How?" Courtney says as her eyes teared. "You cheated on me?"

Jason sighed, hating that they are in public. "It was when you were having problems."

"You mean when I kept accusing you of being with her?"

"Yes, but it wasn't what you think. Before the accident, everything was out of control and I got drunk one night at Jake's, and Elizabeth was there getting drunk too, and it happened. She left before I woke up and I honestly didn't remember what happened until later. When Elizabeth was blinded, she didn't remember, so she was surprised when the DNA results came back. That's when all the pieces fell in place."

Courtney smacked him across the face, making his head jerk and everyone gasp. "So, you chose to lie to me. How could you?"

"I loved you."

"Clearly, not enough."

"Don't even try that because we both know what happened. I'm not the only one who betrayed someone."

She knows he's talking about Alcazar, and possibly AJ. "Were you just not going to claim it?"

"We were scared about the danger."

"And what changed?"

"I think that's our business."

Courtney's eyes darkened and then she spun to face Liz. "Is this revenge for what I did? Were you trying to steal him back?"

"We were drunk. I still don't remember."

"And that's an excuse? God, I hate you."

"Said the woman who stole him in the first place while you were married to his brother. You couldn't possibly hate me as much as I hated you back then."

Jason doesn't want this to get out of control. "Our relationship didn't end because of anything Elizabeth did. You can hate me all you want but leave her out of it."

"And you lied about something else too."

"What are you talking about?" He has had enough.

"You said you never loved her, but there were times that I could tell you were drawn to her."

Elizabeth wanted to crawl under a table.

He shook his head.

"Don't deny it.

"Deny what?"

"You loved her before, didn't you?"

"What I felt before doesn't matter."

She wiped away a tear. "Yes, it does. Was I rebound?"

"You knew I was with her before you."

"But it's wasn't for long."

"We go way back, and you know that."

"I deserve to know. You cheated, Jason."

His eyes momentarily squeezed shut, but he didn't answer.

"I guess that answers my question then. We were nothing but a lie."

"I loved you, dammit. When I was with you, I was thinking of only you."

"Until you weren't…" She eyed Elizabeth. "I guess you got what you always wanted. Hopefully, the business won't touch you and your child like it touched mine."

She stomped away as people started to chatter.

Elizabeth can tell Jason is about to lose it. He hates having his life exposed in public.

"We're leaving," he said to her.

"Okay." She turned and hugged Emily.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm not sure."

"Call me if you need me," she said before picking up her purse.

Jason glanced at Johnny. "Follow Emily, please."

"Okay. I was gonna give you this later, but I think you need it now." He pulled out a bag from his pocket and handed it to him.

"What's this?"

"A big bottle of extra-strength Tylenol. You're gonna need it." The people in Jason's life are going to drive him insane.

Jason shook his head and then opened the door and then led Elizabeth to his car. He started it and then shut it off.

"It's done."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Yes, it is. I should have never gone back to him."

It makes him cringe to think of them together. "He has always been obsessed with you. That may have not changed anything, and you needed someone and unfortunately, he was there. I'm sorry that I wasn't."

"I don't think I would have let you in" She was bitter for a long time after their separation. "I am truly sorry that we had to hurt Courtney."

"So, am I, but I can take it. The question is can you?"

She gulped in some air. "I don't have a choice."

"Yes, you do. I can send you anywhere you want, even to Italy. You don't have to stay here."

"My friends are here and my Grams. Maybe I just don't want to be alone."

"Then promise me that you'll see this through for you and the baby. I'll take the heat for everything else."

She blew out a harsh breath. "Well, I guess I have another one-night stand under my belt. I'm turning into quite the hussy."

"You have nothing on me."

She smirked. "Yeah, I heard you were quite the slut back in the day."

He shrugged as he turned the car on. "I like sex. It wasn't for that long though."

"Uh-huh."

He slightly smiled. "You're not allowed to try and catch up. I'll take you to the studio. Johnny will meet us there."

"Thank you for everything, Jason."

"That's what friends are for."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason looked out the window of the studio while Johnny watched the building. Elizabeth is gathering her supplies and other things she might need and then Francis will have some of the men deliver them to the penthouse.

"It's so weird not being here. It's such a huge part of my life."

He sat on the arm of the couch.

There is a knock on the door and Liz jumped.

"If it was bad, they would have let me know." He opened the door and almost groaned when he saw Audrey who looks livid.

"Mr. Morgan, I see you are ruining my granddaughter's life yet again."

Before he can reply, Liz pushes past him. "Grams…"

"He was married, Elizabeth."

"That wasn't valid. How do you know?"

"I was sitting in the corner at Kelly's. Imagine my surprise when it was announced that he is the father."

Liz sighed and tried not to get emotional. "I know this looks bad."

"It's horrendous. He is going to get you killed."

"Mrs. Hardy, I will protect Elizabeth with my life."

"You are not God. She barely escaped with her life the last time and was almost blown to bits."

"Grams, Ric is stalking me. Jason is trying to protect me. Ric did awful things to Carly and almost killed me. I had to drink poison to save Lucky. Who exactly have I dated that was ever safe?"

Audrey sighed. "I don't know what to say."

"Say that you won't abandon me because you don't like my choices."

"This isn't a simple choice. I think you know that. You could die from being associated with him."

"And I could have died because of Lucky and the Spencers but you had no problem with him at all even though he hurt me over and over. I am my own person. Jason respects me and accepts who I am. He listens and really hears me. I feel safer with him than anyone and after all, I have been through, I need that."

Audrey didn't reply.

"If you want me to avoid you, then I guess I will. You'll just be another person in this family who turns their back on me. I'm tired of it."

"Elizabeth, your blood pressure. Please…" Jason said.

A worried look flashed in Audrey's eyes.

"Is the baby in danger?"

"I'm just under too much stress. Ric is associating with Faith Roscoe again, the women who made me lose my baby, and I'm scared. Jason is the only one I trust to try and protect me. Someone threw a brick through my window and the note said, you're dead."

Audrey gasped.

"I need you, Gram. Can you just get to know Jason and try not to judge him and be someone I can call and talk to if I need it? I'm not asking you to be okay with his lifestyle or my choices, but I can't take another person making me feel like I'm not worth fighting for or loving."

As Elizabeth started to break, Audrey grabbed her and hugged her.

"Shh, it will be okay. You need to be calm."

Liz cried harder making Audrey look at Jason with fear in her eyes.

He moved forward, so Audrey backed up and Jason lifted Liz and moved further inside.

Audrey sat on the couch next to them, stroking Elizabeth's hair. "I love you, Elizabeth. You're going to make yourself sick. Please…"