Liza kicks off her shoes and lays down on the couch

Liza kicks off her shoes and lays down on the couch. Adam picks up her feet and sits underneath them. He begins to massage her feet. Liza closes her eyes relaxing into his attentions. "Liza…"
"You are about to ruin this, aren't you?"
"Chandler Enterprises…"
"Is mine, Adam." Liza pulls her feet away and sits up a bit. He turns to look at her face to face. "It was put in motion before we started this. I have been slowly working this deal for years. I have a business plan already put into play. Adam, I can make Chandler Enterprises bigger than you or Zach did. Have you done research on ELC? Or did you get all of your info from Colby?"
"Mostly Colby, but I did check out the numbers that are available. You have done well but your company is privately funded."

"That doesn't mean it is limited. The way I have organized the cycle of funding, my company has constant access to credit and my investors have exceptional dividends. I will give you an overview of what I have started. ELC is, now, a multi-billion dollar international corporation. It has two companies under its umbrella; Three Brothers, Inc. and CMC Media, Corp. TBI handles the financial and business mergers and such while CMC controls the radio, TV, newspaper, and magazine business I've acquired."
"And where does Chandler fit?" She smiles.

"That is a little dirty." He can't help but follow her dirty mind and her attempt to change the subject.

"They are both."
"I know. But right now I don't want to involve you in it. Please, believe me when I say that this was not personal. And I don't want to fight about it."

"I don't either but I built…"
"I know." She closes her eyes and takes some deep breaths. "I don't want to discuss this." She can't help but start crying. He slides over and pulls her into an embrace.

"Ok. I hate it when you cry. And I've plenty of experience causing your tears. I would like that to stop." She leans against him. He wipes away her tears. "Better." She covers his hand with hers when he places it on her stomach.

"I'm sorry. I guess those hormones are in full gear. Listen, Chandler Enterprises is important to me. I won't drag it down." She laces her fingers with his, feeling the baby move.

"Liza, is there anyway I can contribute or…"
"I'll look into it. I will, but don't get excited about it."
"Fine."
"So…how's Dixie doing?" He smiles.

"Good. She and Kate bonded quickly. She and Tad are working on joint custody. And she figured out that you are having my baby." Liza sits up quickly turning to him.

"What? Has she…"
"I asked her not to tell anyone and she left your condition out of her story. She won't tell anyone. But I should tell you that JR and Colby tried to follow me today."
"Really?"
"Yes. They have become increasingly interested on where I go once a month." Liza moves over and straddles him.

"Where do you go, Mr. Chandler? Where do you want to go?" She shifts her hips a bit. He places his hands on her hips and supports her.

"So many places." He gently pulls her in for a kiss. "Here." He kisses her throat. "Here." His hands pull her body closer. She runs her hands through his hair. "And here." She feels his warm, soft lips leave a trail across her chest. Liza leans back from him.

"I could let you in as an investor. A small percentage will be profitable. All my investors think so."
"I am following the seduction you started and you want to discuss business." She glares at him. "Fine, we will discuss it later." He pulls her back to him for a kiss.

"The doctor said…" She smiles.

"To take it easy. I promise." He helps her up and maneuvers her toward the bedroom. "I will take you very easy." His hands caress her gently over her back and over her stomach. She smiles.

"Take me, I'm sure of that." They disappear into the bedroom.

"Liza?" He whispers in her ear. "Liza?" She stirs.

"Wha…Adam?" He is sitting on the bed next to her, fully dressed.

"You slept through your alarm. Then, you started talking in your sleep." She rubs her eyes and brushes back her hair.

"I was so tired." She starts to get up.
"No. Wait." He rushes to the kitchen and comes back with a tray. "I want to serve you for once." She lifts the lid.

"Blueberry pancakes with bacon and orange juice."
"I can get you milk if you prefer."
"No, this is great. Thank you." She pours syrup over the pancakes. Adam steals one of her bacon strips. "Stealing food from your child's mouth."
"No, her mother's, or his mother's." She is half finished when she notices the paper and contract looking paper on the tray. Carefully, she puts her fork down. He watches a myriad of emotions flash across her face; disbelief, confusion, fear and anger. She picks up the contract and looks at him.

"You put together a legal document. I said I would look into the Chandler stuff. You couldn't wait. When did you call your attorney?"

"Yesterday."
"Yesterday, I guess I should be happy you waited four days before having it put together. You just can't help but push, can you?"
"Liza! Why don't you open it first?" He yells trying to control his anger. She opens it and begins to read. He can't help but crack a smile at her surprise.

"It's full custody of our baby." He wipes away an escaped tear from her cheek.

"I didn't want us, or you, to doubt where we stand on the baby."
"Adam, I don't know what to say. I'm sorry…I …"
"Don't worry. Our baby will have us both, no matter what but I didn't want you to fear me. All you have to do is sign it. I already have. All it says is that when the child is born you have sole-custody and that my involvement is at your discretion."
"Ok. I will have my attorney look it over. She doesn't let me sign anything without her approval first."
"Sure." She lays down the paper on the nightstand and shyly looks at him before picking up her fork. "Embarrassed?"
"Shut up." He laughs as she takes a bite.

"Fine, enjoy your food. And next time I make you breakfast, I will try not to give you a legal document."
"Please, you do tend to do that to me."
"Well, I have a gift for you, too." He picks up a box at the end of the bed. "It is a prepaid phone. One for each of us. It's a baby phone. If you need something, just call mine. I put my number in already. "

"You bought me a phone."

"Yes, for you and I only. And the doctor. I called her office and gave her this number for me. I know you don't want me to have your numbers or know anything about your life outside of the penthouse."

"Adam." She tears up and lays the tray on the table. He falls back when she launches into his arms. "Thank you for being patient and considerate." He rolls onto his side taking her with him. He sits up on his elbow.

"Well, I have my moments." She lays back and they both rub her stomach. I promised not to bring up a future or to talk about what happens when the baby is born. I don't know if I can do this. I want her home more and more. I can't believe how much I've missed her. Her fingertips touching his face snap him back to reality.

"Hey, how about we amend the rules a bit?" His heart flutters, can she read minds all of a sudden. "I keep wondering what our baby will be like." She smiles at him. He relaxes a little disappointed.

"He, or she, will be a philanthropic super-business tycoon." She laughs and sits up to face him.

"Or an artist, like Stuart. Would Stuart mind if he has his name as a middle name?"
"I don't think he would. But…can I tell him that he's going to be an Uncle? I need someone to talk to in Pine Valley." He watches her mind work.

"I understand. Yes, he at least will be happy about it."
"Good, because the only other person is Dixie." I'm falling so in love with you, Liza, he thinks. For a minute, he thinks he said it out loud. She blushes a little and leans into to kiss him.

Colby trudges down the stairs slowly. Dixie looks her over seeing so much of Liza. Colby looks up from her inner musings. "Dixie, hi. Sorry I don't want to interrupt." She looks around for JR.

"He had class. I'm so proud of him."
"Yeah, um…" She starts to walk off but turns back to Dixie and walks to the couch. "Dixie, did you and Mom talk at all? Did she mention me?" Dixie smiles.

"Yes. She mentioned that she had to escape because she still had to make amends with you. I got the feeling she hurt just mentioning you." Colby feels a little happier.

"What about Billy? Did she mention him?"

"Billy?"
"Her husband. Dad doesn't know she is married. I didn't tell him bec…" She stops seeing the look on Dixie's face.

"Uh Colby, maybe you should call you mom. I don't think I should…" She stops and looks down at her hands.

"I tried. No one picked up and a friend of hers said she was still out of town. Dixie, did she say something about Billy. They are still together, right? He was so in love with her and her, him."
"Colby, I…she…she said that he is…that he died in a car accident." She watches Colby's expressions go from shock to disbelief to anger and sadness. Her eyes overflow with tears and she runs upstairs. "Oh my." Dixie sighs. She hears the door close and stands up to greet Adam.

"Hello Dixie." He sorts through his mail.

"Adam, you should probably go talk to Colby. She just got some bad news and I unfortunately delivered it." He turns to her.

"About what?"

"You know I don't want to be involved in this. She needs her dad." He puts the mail down and starts towards the stairs. "Oh, how's Liza?" She whispers.

"Good." He looks around and pulls something from his packet. "See." He shows her the sonogram.
"Adam, this is great. Boy or girl?"
"Don't know yet but maybe next time." He takes the picture back. "I should go upstairs. Adam lightly knocks on her door. When he doesn't hear anything, he lets himself in.

"Go away." She says through sniffles.

"No. When my daughter cries it deserves my attention." He sits down next to her. She is laying face down on the bed.

"Please, leave."
"No. Colby, look at me and talk to me." Colby turns over, wiping her tears away. She sits up.

"It's about Mom. I don't' think you…"

"I'm your Dad. Don't worry about my feelings." She relaxes realizing he means it. "Talk to me."

"Dixie just told me that when they were together Mom told her that…Ok, before I left Mom was…" Colby looks down at her hands as fresh tears fall. "Mom married Billy. He's perfect. His love for her was like the movies. He treated me with so much respect and love. He never tried to take your place. She was so happy." Adam's heart aches for her and his pain over Liza loving someone else. She has been lying to me. "He is dead." Adam's pain disappears. "Dixie said it was a car accident. Mom's alone. I wasn't there for her. I should have been. She wrapped her life around us and I left. I left her thinking she could be happy with just him. I left her and now she's alone." Adam pulls her into his arms.

"Shh, shh. Colby. Liza is strong. Did she have friends? His family?" Colby just nods.

"Then, she is not completely alone." He holds her while she grieves. Her words mix with ones Liza cried after her nightmare. They both think that Colby should have been with Liza. When I ran into Liza, she was so depressed. I wonder how long ago he died. I'll have to ask Dixie. "Colby, I think its time you called your Mom."