Back To Life
~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~
Quickly sitting up in bed, Elizabeth's heart is pounding at the sight of darkness, her screams ringing out as she backs up against the headboard. Within seconds, Jason bursts into the room, immediately turning the light on in hopes that it'll help her register her surroundings that much quicker. The moment the light goes on, Elizabeth's eyes lock with his before she starts to come out of her frightened state. Settling onto the bed beside her, Jason keeps his distance as she comes down from the fear of yet another nightmare.
"I'm sorry I woke you." Elizabeth whispers as she runs her fingers through her hair, cradling her head in her hands.
"It's okay." he assures, reaching one hand out to touch her once he's sure she's back in reality. "They're getting worse."
"I know." she sighs, laying her head back against the headboard. "I'm trying..."
"Maybe this will take more than just trying to ward off the nightmares." Jason suggests, moving to sit beside her. "Maybe you need to talk about it."
"I can't." she says as she closes her eyes. "I can't talk about it. About any of it."
"The fear is eating you up inside." Jason says seriously. "The nightmares will never get better until you face the fear that keeps you up at night."
"I've tried to say it out loud...when I'm alone, I try to say the words..." she admits, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't say the words, Jason."
"Maybe talking to a doctor will help." he suggests. "Someone that knows how to deal with something like this."
"If I can't say it to myself, how can I say it to a stranger?" Elizabeth questions, meeting his eyes as the tears fall down her cheeks. "How, Jason?"
"I don't know." Jason sighs, reaching up to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "But we've gotta try something."
"I'll think about it, okay?" she relents, taking a deep breath. "I'm tired...I'm gonna try to get back to sleep."
"Okay." Jason accepts. "In the morning, I'll get a few names and you can research into which doctor you'd like to talk to."
"Jason?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you stay with me tonight?" Elizabeth asks softly, needing him close in case another nightmare grabs hold of her again. "I don't think I can get back to sleep on my own."
"Sure." Jason replies, settling into the bed as she turns to nestle into his side. "Close your eyes. I'm not going anywhere."
"If I start to have a nightmare..."
"I'll help you out of it." Jason promises. "Just try to get some rest, okay?"
"Okay."
Wrapping her arm around him, Elizabeth lets out a deep breath before closing her eyes and falling into a deep slumber. She hates being like this, she knows that something's got to give, but she just can't bring herself to admit to the things that happened to her while she was being held captive. She just couldn't bring herself to remember all the horrible things that happened to her because it only makes it worse. It makes everything in her life so much worse. For a while, she thought she could ignore it, to forget it ever happened, but the nightmares won't let it last. The nightmares remind her every single night that it did happen and no amount of denial will change that.
~ . ~ . ~ . ~
Emily could see that he was curious as to what she had planned for him today, but she wouldn't ruin the surprise for him. She tells him to trust her and that everything will make sense later that day when they have lunch together. Being the ever respectful prince that he is, Nikolas accepts what she says and tells her he'll be back in time to share in that lunch with her. Walking with him to the launch, she kisses him softly before watching her leave the island for the mainland. She can't wait to see his face when he learns about Elizabeth.
"Hey, Liz." Emily says into the phone after she answers it. "We're all set for lunch on the island. Nikolas has business to handle at the hospital, so, he won't be back till right around lunch time."
"Thanks for this, Em." Elizabeth says wholeheartedly, looking at Jason as he calls the hospital for a list of doctors for her. "I can't wait to see him."
"He's going to lose it, trust me." Emily admits. "He's been having a hard time with things lately. Missing you is messing him up inside."
"I know the feeling." Elizabeth assures. "I'm going with Jason to your family's place to see Lila, but we'll be over right after."
"Good. I should have things set by then." Emily replies. "See you later."
"See you later."
Ending the call, Emily takes a look at the dining hall, knowing just what she wants to do with the place to get it ready for their lunch. Telling Lucky about Elizabeth is something none of them are ready for just yet, knowing that it was going to be a huge shock to him, but knowing it couldn't happen just yet. They'll find a way to reveal the truth to him in due time, but for now they have Nikolas to focus on. Telling him is their first priority and she intends on making it a moment none of them will ever forget.
~ . ~ . ~ . ~
Pacing back and forth outside his grandmother's bedroom, Jason wasn't at all sure what he should be doing in that moment. Bringing her to see Lila wasn't something he had really understood, he just knows that Lila is the only person that gave him clarity in his chaotic moments and he just hopes that she can be that beckon through the storm for Elizabeth. She listens where others would comment and she hears you though you don't actually say the words that need voicing. Lila is unlike anyone in the world and he just hopes he made the right choice in bringing her here.
"Jason, my boy, you're getting dangerously close to walking a hole in that floor." Edward, his grandfather comments as he walks down the hall to him. "Why don't we have a drink in my office? They're bound to be a while."
"I'm fine." Jason assures, glancing at the closed door.
"Clearly you brought the young woman here for a reason." Edward pushes on. "An important one from what I can gather. One that will take quite some time to sift through, am I right?"
"Okay." Jason takes a deep breath before facing his grandfather. "I'll take the drink."
Walking into the home office with his grandfather, Jason couldn't help but wish that Elizabeth would walk out of the room. He just wants to know for sure that this was the right choice. That bringing her there had been the right choice to make and that it won't make anything worse for her. Accepting the glass of whiskey from Edward, he downs it quickly to help steady his nerves before accepting a refill within the next breath.
"Audrey told us quite a bit about what happened." Edward admits as he takes a seat at his desk. "How is the girl holding up?"
"As best she can given the circumstances." Jason admits. "I was hoping bringing her hear to talk to Lila will help."
"A talk with Lila always helped you in the past." Edward comments with a shake of his head before downing his glass. "I'm thankful to see that you're still able to turn to one of us when the need arises."
"I'd really rather not talk about this." Jason says after a moment. "No offence."
"Okay, how about job offer?" Edward stops him from talking, knowing where his mind went with that sentence. "A temporary offer. I have a new development in the works and I'd appreciate your input before I take it any further. There are a few aspects that just aren't where I need it to be."
"And you want my help with it?"
"I'll pay you, of course." Edward assures. "You helped me out of that bind last time and I'd like the chance to work on this with you, if that's okay. Just while you're waiting for the young Webber girl."
"I could use the distraction." Jason admits, pulling up a chair to sit across from him. "But I won't take your money for it."
"How about I just owe you one, then?"
"Sure." Jason says as he takes the file. "That I'll take."
"Good, good." Edward says with a slight smile. "Its a done deal."
They sat there for about an hour just going over the plans for the project, Jason actually interested in the plans that the old man put together. Given a couple subtle changes, Jason believes that this development could be a much needed upgrade for the docks. A part of him wanted to ask the old man just why he's suddenly interested in developing the docks, but he knows better than to question the man's motives. Just as they were ironing out the details for the project, a knock sounds at the door and Elizabeth walks in.
"Just wanted to let you know I'll be waiting by the bike." Elizabeth explains, smiling slightly at the sight that greeted her when she opened the door.
"We're pretty much done here." Jason assures as he rises to his feet, turning to Edward as he lifts the file. "Mind if I take this?"
"Go right ahead." Edward says, rising to his feet. "You can send it by carrier when you're finished."
"I'll drop it off myself." Jason assures before shaking the old man's hand. "Thanks, grandfather."
"Of course." Edwards smiles brightly, thankful for the family moment with his grandson. "I look forward to the changes you put in place."
Walking out of the house with Elizabeth, they make their way to the Elm Street Pier where they'll be riding the launch to Spoon Island. He hadn't been certain about spending any time alone with his grandfather, but he finds that he appreciates the man's attempt at keeping his mind of Elizabeth's talk with Lila. He wants to ask her about it, but he knows that she'll tell him if that's what she wants to do. She seems a lot brighter than she had been that morning and that gave him hope that he made the right choice by bringing her by to see Lila.
"Jason." she says, stopping him just shy of knocking on the door. "Thank you for taking me to see her. It really helped to talk to her."
"Good. I was hoping it would."
"She suggested Dr. Baldwin." Elizabeth voices before knocking on the door. "I set up an appointment to see her tomorrow."
"Do you want me to wait for you while you're there?"
"I'd like that." she says as she glances up to look in his eyes. "If you're not busy."
"I'm not." he assures. "I'll be there."
"Hey, guys." Emily greets them when she pulls open the door. "Nikolas just called, he's on his way back, the launch just left to pick him up."
Making their way into the dining hall, Elizabeth and Emily walk off together to make sure everything was set for the lunch. Jason could see that everything was fine, but he surmises that Emily just wants Elizabeth to feel like she had a hand on setting it up. Something that he credits to Emily's ability to see that her friend was dealing with a lot. They both just want to help Elizabeth ease back into her life and he just couldn't wait to get her back to the girl he had known before she was taken. It didn't take long for Nikolas to arrive to the island, calling out for Emily when no one greets him at the door.
"Alfred? Emily?" Nikolas calls out as he makes his way into the dining hall. "Where's everyone at?"
"Hi, my love." Emily greets him at the door, keeping his focus solely on her. "I hope you don't mind, but I kind of gave the staff the afternoon off."
"That's fine, but why?" Nikolas questions her curiously. "Did I forget a special occasion or something?"
"Forget? No." Emily says with a soft smile. "Special occasion...well..."
As Emily steps to the side, allowing his focus to fall onto the rest of the room, she's unable to choke back the tears as tears form in her boyfriend's eyes at the sight of Elizabeth. All words ceased to form as he silently made his way over to the girl that they had lost a year prior, unable to believe the sight that stood before him. Elizabeth's tears began to fall down her cheeks when he finally got to her and pulled her into his arms, both letting out a collective deep breath once the connection was made.
"I don't care how." Nikolas whispers, holding her tightly as the reality of her existence hits him in full force. "I just care that you are. You're really here."
"I am." she whispers, clinging to him just as tightly. "I've missed you."
"You truly have no idea." Nikolas says, shutting his eyes to fight off the tears that threatened to continue. "Life hasn't been the same without you. Nothing has. Never leave again."
"I don't intend to, I assure you." Elizabeth says, glancing over at Jason who meets her eyes. "I intend on doing whatever it takes to get my life back."
A/N: Okay, so, there's the update as promised for the third story in the chosen few. Can't wait to hear what you thought. Thank you for hanging in there and showing me to love and support you have over these many years. You all mean the world to me. Thank you!