Thank you so much for your kindness and continuing to stick with this story!
This chapter contains potentially triggering stuff, so read with caution.
10
Friday, October 23, 2020
Webber-Baldwin Living Room
Elizabeth drums her nails gently along the side of a mug of ginger ale.
She had done her best to pretend like her queasiness had abated, but Franco noticed her pushing her breakfast around and reaffirmed his decision to have her stay home. So she was forced to sit on her couch with a blue afghan over her lap and watch as Franco made sure each boy made it safely to their buses in the rainstorm.
Now her nerves steadily build as the clock goes from seven to ten a.m. with no signs of her guards.
She takes another sip of her drink with the bubbles long since having gone flat. A rumble of thunder goes through as Franco leans around his canvas to look at her. He had pushed the coffee table over nearer to the TV and laid out a white tarp to catch any drops of paint.
"You haven't drank much. Is that not helping?"
She takes another drink, bringing her mug to half full to assuage his supposed concerns. "No, it's not that. It's just..." She debates what to say only to pause and bring her hand to her head, needing a moment. Exhaustion clings to her bones like tar, frustrating her because she felt like she slept well the night before. She knows logically it's because of the baby, but she needs her wits about her if things are to go smoothly today.
She meets his gaze again once she's cleared the cobwebs in her mind. "It's just our new neighbors across the street, Ben and Joseph, said they were going to stop by today to get to know us better. And I thought that was a great idea."
His brows furrow. "When did they ask? We hadn't planned to be home today until last night."
"I noticed the missed call when you gave me my phone last night and returned the call," she lies easily. "It's not like I have the flu. I could handle the visit. It's just they said they would stop by this morning and it's getting... kind of late," she has to pause to cover a yawn.
A crack of thunder fills the air and Franco raises his eyebrows. "I mean, it is kind of stormy. They could've changed their mind."
She takes another sip of her flat drink, then shakes her head. Her guards would never bail because of a little rain. "It's right across the street and... they would've called to cancel I'm sure." She fights to keep her eyes open while lifting up her phone to check for any missed notifications. Her lock screen remains blank of anything but the time, date, and picture of her three kids.
"Hey..." Franco swoops to her side and takes her drink, setting it on the end table behind her. "You seem pretty tired. Why don't you take a nap?"
Her body sinks down into the couch as if those are the magic words, but she fights to resist. There's something... Something I need to do... "No, I don't wanna miss them," she mumbles, watching through heavy eyes as he raises the afghan up to her chin.
"I'll wake you if they call or show up. Promise," he soothes before placing a kiss to her forehead.
Elizabeth tries to say more, feeling a sense of déjà vu tickling the back of her mind, but sleep wins out.
—
The scene she takes part in is blurry at first, filled with darkened browns and smeared amber. Gradually, a veil lifts and she can make out a wooden headboard, dusty log walls, and a lantern off to the side. She feels an insatiable need thrumming within, and hot, rough hands sliding up and down her skin, languid and hungry like they need to feel more and more of her or they'll go absolutely insane. There's a delicious coil of pleasure in her core, tightening faster each time she descends on his cock. And Jason Morgan lies beneath her, looking as ravished as she feels.
Elizabeth gyrates her hips and bites her lip around a breathy moan when the tendons in Jason's neck strains as he lets out a ragged curse. Above him or under him she feels utterly intoxicated with him.
And it shows when she asks in a silken tone, "Guess what?"
He grunts, seemingly tongue tied as his fingers flex around her waist. She can feel him tensing under her. He's close. She licks her lips in delight feeling right there with him.
She bends over him, sucking kisses along the way until she reaches his ear. "I'm gonna make you my husband one day, and, if I have it my way... you're going to wake up like this every single morning."
"Fuck." His arms encircle her, squeezing her close as he drives his hips up into her in his release.
Her triumphant giggles morph into honeyed moans as the power behind his deep strokes sends her over the edge along with him.—
—The scene shifts. The room is the same, only aglow in early morning light. Jason is above her, his baby blue eyes being all she can see. The morning is still. Peaceful. They connect in lazy motions, their lips brushing in chaste kisses, never breaking eye contact. Their lovemaking is sweet, earnest.
Perfection.—
—Another scene unfolds and she sees sky reaching pine trees in afternoon light, feels a chill nipping at her through her clothes, smells leather and a tinge of sweet from the woods, and hears the tail end of their conversation.
"...you can't back out. I mean it. I want a life with you."
He nods slowly, sincerity twinkling in his eyes. "I want a life with you too. That's-that's all I've ever wanted with you," he murmurs before leaning down and sealing his mouth to hers.—
—Another scene flashes into existence of a well lived in home filled with knickknacks and warmth. She knows Jason is vulnerable behind her and a plain woman stands rooted ahead of her, pointing a gun. Elizabeth is overcome with the intense need to act, to protect him.
And she moves.—
—The world seems unrecognizable, except Jason. He's there, looking pleased to see her, well, more than pleased, which stuns her more than her unfamiliar surroundings.
Then his lips are on hers gentle, loving, and leaving faster than she'd like to peck her nose, and lastly settle on her forehead with a happy little moan.
His hand is on her cheek and his face inches from hers as he voices in a blissful sigh, "You have no idea how much I've missed your beautiful eyes and the sound of your voice."
And Elizabeth is absolutely certain she has died and been accepted into heaven, because nothing makes sense and she can't breathe.—
She jolts awake, her hands flying to her pounding head as fragmented memories mend into a full portrait. And everything finally makes sense. What she once assumed were vivid dreams, she now knows to have happened. She and Jason had been together, and they both knew what could happen as result. Her tension bleeds from her as her breath catches. We made this baby. Twin tears trace the curve of her cheeks as overwhelming relief fills her up. This baby has to be ours.
"Whoa, hey are you alright?"
Even the sight of Franco hovering before her can't put a dent in the euphoria overflowing inside her. She cries tears of joy, her hands folding over her heart. "Better than ever. I just had this really amazing dream."
He smiles with her and thumbs away some of her tears. "What was it about?"
Her lips part, her words stuck somewhere between her heart and her throat when the previously unnoticed drone of the news cuts into her focus.
"—breaking news. We have an eyewitness account on the shooting that took place on Pier 52 an hour earlier. The man stated he was taking a shortcut home due to the storm, when a shot rang out. He saw a man matching the description of alleged mob enforcer Jason Morgan fall into the water. He fled the scene and moments later an explosion devastated the pier. Police have been canvassing the area with no signs of a body yet to report. We'll keep you updated on this story. In other news, two unidentified bodies—"
Franco turns the TV off, but she can still hear the words, can feel them burn through her chest like a bullet allowing every sensation to bleed out of her until she's numb. Hollow. And the world around her looks bleak.
"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. I know he was a-a friend of yours..." he pauses then huffs, "but you have to admit he brought danger to you and your children's lives before. He's brought nothing but danger to the people of Port Charles. So maybe... maybe this is a good thing."
Rage explodes within her, filling her from end to end, giving her the strength to move, to breathe, to scream. "How could you say that?! That is Jake's father! He's my," angry tears scrape her throat as she chokes back 'everything'.
Franco's eyes widen as he tries to backpedal. "I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to—"
She leaps off the couch when he tries to reach for her, repulsed as she hisses, "Don't touch me!"
He stands and comes closer anyway. "Elizabeth—"
"Stay away from me! Don't come near me! The sight of you makes me sick," she spits out before bounding to the bathroom and locking the door behind her.
The rage drains too soon, burning hot and fast like a fuse. She's left with scorched pieces and only one hope of being whole again. Taking the phone out from her pajama bottoms, she nearly drops it several times, shaking as if she's in a blizzard. She hits number two on her speed dial and presses her phone to her ear like a lifeline.
"Please pick up, please pick up, please pick up. Please. I need you," she pleads in a tight rasp, dropping her hand to her belly.
The ringing cuts. "Elizabeth?"
She bends forward under the weight of her relief the sound of his breathtaking voice brings her. She brings her hand to her forehead, holding back her curtain of hair as she cries her gratitude to whatever entity that listened and kept Jason alive.
"Elizabeth, what's wrong? Where are you?" he asks with panic edging into his words.
She forces herself to inhale deeply as she reaches into the tub to turn on the water in hopes it'll make it difficult to listen in on her. Only then does she answer. "I was so worried. The n-news said you were shot and went into the w-water. And that happened before when you disappeared, so I…" A fresh wave of tears wets her cheeks, soaking up her words.
"God, I'm so sorry you had to worry for even a second," he apologizes fiercely.
She sniffles, wiping her eyes. "I'm always going to worry, no matter what. I don't want to lose you," she tells him in a soft voice.
He inhales quickly, and her heart beats faster, sensing his emotions as if he's right beside her with only a thin barrier keeping them apart. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen. I was-I was just grazed on the shoulder. It took me by surprise and I went in the water. I think they meant to immobilize me and the explosion would've done the rest... Instead, I was able to pull up out of the water from further down the pier and take Renault's enforcer by surprise."
She takes another calming breath, soothed by his voice, even while he's implying he eliminated someone. "What does that mean?" Mob business is always kept under wraps unless absolutely necessary. The fact that he's willingly telling her this much means it's significant.
"It means… things are going to happen really fast. Once Renault learns about the loss, he's going to try and go underground and regroup. We need to get to him before he does," he pauses. "That's where we're headed now," he finishes in a cool, emotionless tone.
"Okay." She takes a breath and tries again, firmer this time. "Okay. Then what happens afterwards?"
"I'm coming for you."
Her breath sticks in her throat at the husky, decisiveness to his words.
"I just… I meant—"
"No, no," she shakes her head, trembling now for a far more pleasant reason. "I like that. I want that," she breathes in a throaty resonance before adding, "But you have to come back safe first."
"That's the plan… Elizabeth? I'm gonna have to go," he tells her, voice weighed down with reluctance.
Her belly lurches and words spring free before she can think. "I love you, Jason," She's in her bathroom in her pajamas, staring down at her ruby red toe nails as her heart knocks around in her ribs, but who cares? Ideal moments are few and far between. She wants him to know what he's fighting for, so she says it again in breathless passion, "I love you. Always."
His exhale is shaky. "I love you. I'm so in love with you, Elizabeth."
She laughs, airy and free with happy tears clinging to her lashes. "Then come back to me already."
"I will. I'll see you later?"
With a light heart she agrees, "I'll see you later."
The call ends and slowly the outside world begins to seep in. Franco's out there, no doubt waiting, and—
She stares blankly at the time. It's half past noon with no missed calls. Fear works its way under her skin. What happened to my guards? And why hasn't Carly called? She navigates to her contacts when thunder claps overhead, rumbling through the house. The lights flick off.
Heart pumping faster in response, she turns on her flashlight instead, and quickly shuts off the water. Carefully making her way to the door, she eases out of the room and turns to the left towards the living room. The darkness is thick enough to try and swallow the beam of light from her flashlight. But she can see enough to know no one's there. Only the sound of the rain disrupts the eerie silence. Her hair stands on end.
Meekly, she calls out, "Franco?"
She hears something rushing behind her before splitting pain to the back of her head sends her plummeting into the darkness.
—
Elizabeth abruptly wakes, coughing at the tinge of ammonia scratching at her lungs and feels a pounding headache she knows won't fade simply because her memories have settled. The first thing she notices is she's now in her bed with her hands restrained to the headboard behind her head. Heart jump starting, she yanks her hands, hearing metallic clanks as the unyielding rim of the handcuffs dig into her delicate wrists.
"Good. You're awake."
The smooth comment brings her wide gaze to Franco sitting further down on the edge of the bed with his back to her. Several candles have been lit casting a dull glow to the room. A quick flash of lightning tells her the storm is still plowing through.
Her chest heaves with waves of fear. "What are you-why are you doing this?" she stammers more feebly than she would like.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice your revived infatuation with Jason?" he questions, again with an almost silky charm to his tone. His back remains to her, but she can tell he's doing something with his hands that sets her on edge.
She wets her lips and swallows, doing her best to keep her panic out of her voice. "What do you mean? I haven't seen him since we got back. I only heard about him on the news today-I'm sorry for snapping. He's Jake's father, so he-he matters."
Franco remains silent long enough for her to realize her rapid breathing is more than audible. She restlessly pulls her hands, gritting her teeth as she fights back tears. Where are my guards? Does Carly know something's wrong by now?
"If that were true, we wouldn't be here right now, Elizabeth."
"Then what is true?!" she barks. The room is icy without central heating, but she feels a cold sweat bead across her flesh anyway.
"You've given me the most wonderful form of inspiration," he praises, seemingly ignoring her question. "I told you-I took care of it last night."
He slowly turns towards her and the first thing she notices is his smile. It's wide with perverse delight squinting his eyes, his dark eyes empty of anything recognizable. The love, kindness, and understanding of her friend and husband that used to be housed there is long gone. All that remains is the cruelty of a monster disguised in human skin - a monster who wields a wicked knife that glints in the candlelight.
She jerks back as far as her restrained arms will allow, unable to keep her tears from falling. Oh god, what is he going to do to me and my baby?
"I did most of the work last night, but I had to drug you earlier to finish up the final touches. I think the news reporters took notice," he laughs in an easy and pleased manner.
Her stomach drops through her toes. The sense of déjà vu from before was because she recognized she was being drugged again, but by a different husband this time. What did he mean by the news? He couldn't mean Jason, so...
"In other news, two unidentified bodies—"
Ben and Joseph. Oh god. Carly called them last night so she probably doesn't know they're-they're dead. Oh god.
His teeth flash in the smile he fails to contain, resembling a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar - only he's proud of it. "I can see it in your eyes that you figured it out. You were always so smart and so beautiful... too bad you could never be loyal. Scratch that. Too bad you could never be loyal to anyone but Jason." A chink reveals itself in his charismatic demeanor as a black hatred overshadows his delight and his hand strangles the hilt of his knife.
However, It fades in a blink as he leans towards her slightly. "Well, that's not entirely true either. You betrayed him once by siding with Ric Lansing to get back at him for hurting you, right?"
Elizabeth sniffles, her body strained as she resolutely holds herself at the other side of the bed even knowing her attempt at distancing herself from him is futile. Jason had been right about Ric then and Zander too. He'd been right about Ewen, just as he's been right about Franco. But she never listens, wanting so desperately to be right about her choices, even though she knows she'll never be right unless her choice is Jason.
"I made you something," his voice boarders on excitement as he lifts a laptop from the ground and opens it up. There's a still image of herself sitting on the living room couch illuminated on the screen. "I knew you would have a hard time admitting to what you've done without it."
Even though she can feel the sear of his stare, her eyes are locked on the screen as nausea makes her head spin. He installed cameras in our home like Ric.
He clicks play and she hears the end of the voicemail she'd left Jason. "What I'm trying to say is maybe if you're sure it's safe enough, you can come over… and be as discreet as they are. Day or night, I don't care, I just... need to see you. And please be safe." She can see the blush in her cheeks and the adoration softening her smile. Even at the camera's angle, she'd have to be blind not to see the sheer amount of love in her expression.
The video changes to a shaky one obviously taken by hand. It's dark, but she easily makes out the way she and Jason are intertwined outside her house, swaying gently to the steady pulse of the emotions flowing between them. Tears track her cheeks as hatred courses through her blood so violently she practically vibrates from it. Franco twisted something beautiful between her and Jason into his sick act of vengeance.
And the video keeps going. Clips of her calling out for Jason in the middle of the night, clips of Carly's visit, hand shot footage through the crack of a door of her talk with Cameron, her phone call with Carly. Evidence of his stalking and spying on her for weeks all contained in one video. He knows everything - except for the existence of her baby which she never voiced aloud.
This is the only thing that keeps the vicious words she longs to hurl at him restrained when he closes the laptop and removes it from the bed. Instead, she tries to appeal to him for the sake of her unborn child. "Franco, I still love you. I do. I-I promise. It's just-Jason, he stirs up a lot of old memories and emotions. I don't deny that, but if-if we moved, that would all go away. It would just be me, you, and the boys. I swear. We can make this work," she pleads frantically with a sincerity she prays he believes.
But he doesn't even look at her. Franco eyes his knife in contemplation before finally locking eyes with her and grinning. "You betrayed me, Elizabeth," he informs her bluntly, reaching towards her with the knife.
For a moment, all she can hear is the thundering of her heart and her shrill pleas for him to stop.
The knife does stop. The tip hooked in the collar of her top. Franco's eyes are glacial. His smile, gone. "Your daily text messages to Jason," he ticks off.
She feels her shirt pull against her skin before the sound of ripping fills the air as the knife slowly cuts through it like butter. Thoughts swarm through her mind, but no is all she can get her mouth to beg.
He parts her shirt exposing her sports bra before hooking his knife in her bottoms. "You're little midnight rendezvous," he continues in a quiet, livid tone, and begins to methodically cut away those too.
She doesn't dare move for fear of the sharp blade cutting into her. She feels lightheaded, her mind assaulted with moments from a different time when she was restrained and unable to escape until he was finished. Her head shakes from side to side as her throat burns with emotion and the sudden urge to be sick. "Please, d-don't do this."
He tosses aside her shredded bottoms, then drags the cool tip of the blade up her belly.
She freezes altogether, not even breathing. She never said a word about her pregnancy, but she's terrified he knows. He's going to take her. He's going to take her. Oh god, he's going to take her away from me.
But when the knife merely climbs up to the bottom of her bra, she takes a shuddering breath and her eyes flick to his.
He watches her with a lopsided smile before cutting her bra open with a quick jerk of his hand. "And your plan with Carly to leave me today..."
She squeezes her eyes tight, bracing herself as sobs course through her. "What are you going to do to me?" she whispers in a warbled voice, reopening her eyes.
He turns and climbs off the bed, moving towards something to the side. She follows him with a hawk like gaze, spotting the camcorder positioned on the dresser pointed right at them - her answer without words.
After he turns it on, he returns to the bed. He explains anyway while smiling. Always smiling as he steers the knife towards her panties this time. "I'm going to leave Jason a few gifts... His broken woman and the video of exactly how she got that way. He'll know it was all his fault." He tugs the knife in a diagonal swipe, cutting open her panties.
She yelps at the searing pain as he grazes her thigh, then dissolves into full on weeping as he tears off the rest of her underwear, exposing her fully. Blind panic sends her legs kicking and thrashing, heedless of the blade nicking her flesh. It's like she's no longer tethered to reality. There's no pain. No sense of reason. Just overpowering adrenaline driving her to get away from the man who laughs like she's the funniest thing he's ever seen while she screams. "No! Someone-someone will come! Carly will realize-! You can't-you can't do this!"
He fits himself between her legs, trapping her hips to the bed with his weight. He abandons the knife to the side in favor of reaching between them for the fastening of his pants. "You already had your little check in with Jason, so he's taken care of. And Carly sent a text while you were... indisposed. I sent her a message reassuring her that your precious guards were doing their job."
She bucks with a screech, but he chuckles as if her efforts are a mild annoyance. "No one's coming," he purrs with a smile of satisfaction.
Her heart feels seconds from imploding in her tightening chest. The brutal grip of another set of hands holding her down in the snow feel clear as day. The mental snap is physical as she twists and arches away like a woman possessed. "Get off me! SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
Her head snapping to the side from a blow cuts her howl short. Pain starbursts across her vision, and she wails brokenly as she feels his erection pressing against her.
"You should understand why I'm doing this. You've been there yourself. It's called playback," he stresses with a sharp grin. His hand brutally clamps over her mouth, the other biting into her hip.
She shuts her eyes and she shrieks.