Month Eight:

Month Eight:

Liza walks into the, almost, empty bar. Sarah and Julie, her attorney, are sitting at the table closest to the kitchen. "Hey, look at you." Julie stands to hug her.

"Yes, yes, I know. I am getting bigger day by day." George comes over to take their orders. Liza lays Adam's document in front of her. "Now that you are back, Jules."
"From where you sent me."
"I need you to look this over and remember that this falls under attorney client privilege even though it's a personal matter." Julie rolls her eyes.

"She does that when she comes to see me, too." Sarah adds.

"Shut up."

"Snappy comeback." Julie opens the papers and starts reading.

"Wow, I don't think that I've ever seen a custody agreement before the baby arrives." Sarah sits up.

"He wants his rights settled before you bolt?"
"No, he gave her full custody." Julie answers.

"Attorney. Client." Liza reminds.

"Oh right, like you weren't going to answer yourself."
"He gave you full custody." Sarah leans closer in shock.

"He must know your history." Both Sarah and Liza look at her. Liza taps the bottom of the page where his signature is. "Adam Chandler!" She says loudly. Liza looks around thankful they are alone. "You're having a baby with your ex. Liza, how could…" Sarah clears her throat and Julie relaxes. "If he makes you happy…"
"Oh, come on. This whole sparing my feelings and positive reinforcement was nice when I was crazy but I'm fine now. Tell me your real reaction."
"Liza, how can you trust that he will stick to this? After all you've told us. Really?"
"I don't. I want to. It seems like he is trying but its when Adam is being good that I'm really scared. It is usually, in our past, that he is pulling something. So, is this legal and binding?"
"Yes, it is. It's unusual but legal. Wow, you and Adam in a baby collaboration. You don't seem surprised, Sarah?"
"I'm not. I annoyed it out of her during one of her appointments. Which I can't do anymore."
"Sarah." Liza sighs. "I told him he could come to the appointments and I don't want him here."
"I know but I was hoping to deliver it." She pouts with puppy dog eyes.

"I would prefer you do that, too. If my 'new' doctor doesn't mind."
"Plus, there is a good chance you go into labor here." Julie puts in her logical view.

"True."
"Ok, lets stop talking about this and finish, or start, our lunch." George brings over their food. When they are done, Liza signs the paper and Julie leaves. Before she can go, Sarah stops her.

"Liza, I should have told you earlier but we haven't been able to connect. Colby called."
"What?"

"She called when you were with Adam. She wanted to see if you were alright after the Vienna thing." Liza nods. "I told her what you said about her stuff."
"Ok." Liza panics inside. "Did she ask about Billy?"
"No, why would…Liza, does she not know?"
"No! Not unless someone else called her. I wasn't exactly in the right frame of mind afterward."
"True. I guess she still doesn't know then."

Adam hears breaking glass when he nears the door. He rushes inside to see her standing near the bar. "Liza, what happened? Are you ok?" He fears when he sees blood on her hand. But she is laughing.

"Yes, I'm fine. Clumsy but fine." He sighs and goes to get the first aid kit. She winces as he dabs on the astringent.

"What happened?"
"I was trying to straighten up and I bumped the table with my belly and caught the falling glass only to hit it while trying to put it back." He chuckles at her.

"Well, how's the belly?" He asks bandaging her hand.

"It is fine, no damage." She rubs her stomach. He puts the first aid kit away and pulls her into a hug. She cuddles close. "Our appointment is tomorrow."

"I know, they called." He leans back from her. "Liza, we need to have a serious talk. Not about us or the baby but our other baby. Colby needs you right now." Liza steps away from him.

"Colby doesn't need me, Adam. She made her choice."
"She made a choice and then didn't know a way out or back. Something you and I both understand." He realizes his voice has gotten louder in response to hers. "Dixie had no way out and broke the news that your husband died." Liza stops and stares at him. "You didn't tell her. She cried almost constantly for days." Liza turns away from him a little. "When did he die?" He asks a little unsure. She almost instantly turns on him.

"Why? Are you now wondering if this is yours?" She points to her belly. "What, you think I would pass off my dead husbands baby? Like it needs a daddy. As if I wouldn't be over the moon if he had left me a piece of him to love." She pushes him back. He grabs her arms but she pushes him again. "He died almost two years ago. Ok?" She hits his chest. He makes sure to hold onto her to balance her.

"Liza."

"No. Don't." She cries. Slowly, she sinks to the floor. Adam goes with her, holding her close. She lays her head in his lap and cries while he rubs her back. His heart breaks for her then he realizes how much he's changed. He should be jealous of her love for him. Her sobs subside and she lies there thinking.

"Liza." He whispers. "I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to know the details. I could have been more sensitive about it. I'm sorry." She wipes away her tears and sits up. "Really."

"Adam." She shakes her head unable to finish. He waits for her to gather her thoughts. "He was perfect." She tears up again. "He retired from his job a couple of years after we married so he could be at home for Colby when I had to start taking business trips. He spent time with me, listen to me, loved me. His one flaw was that he didn't fight with me. I would get upset or frustrated and he would just stand there and wait for me to calm down then hug me." She chuckles to herself at the memories. But sadness retakes her and he waits for her to continue. "We were at a BBQ at George's. He and his brother walked around the side of the building to gather up all the kids." She wipes away more tears. "All of a sudden we hear screeching tires and Bobby screaming. We all ran towards the sound. He was cradling Billy's head in his lap. He was gone. Sarah's little girl had run after a bunny. Billy got to her in time to push her out of the way but not quick enough to get out of the way in time to save himself."
"He saved the little girl, though. He's a hero, Liza." She pulls herself up and he follows.

"I know that, Adam." She yells. "He is a hero. But he left me. He said he would be the man to never leave me. He said he loved me. He taught me what love really was. He was patient and giving. He gave me everything of himself. And I took it. I took all his love until I realized that he deserved more. I began to follow his example. I stopped fighting his affection and gave in, gave him everything I could. I learned to love, Adam. Don't you understand, I had my dream. I had something that I never had, never thought I would ever have. He was my world, especially after Colby left. How could he leave me?" He grabs her before she sinks again. He holds her in a tight hug as she sobs again. Liza holds him as tight as she can. Adam can't help but smile feeling their baby move. Liza breaks the embrace and moves to sit on the couch. Adam sits next to her, taking her hand. "Sorry. I know you don't want to hear all of this."
"Do not apologize for loving him. I am eternally grateful to him for loving you and helping you to love. If we have a son, if you want to name…"
"No. Our child…no." She leans into him.

"Liza, I want you to feel free to talk about him whenever you want. Except the bedroom, please." She laughs.

"Ok." They sit in silence for a while. "Colby called me last month but I was here. Can you tell her what happened to him?"
"How could I do that?"
"I don't know, tell her you hired a PI."
"You want me to lie to our daughter." He says mockingly.

"I doubt it will be the first time. She'll love you for taking an interest."
"She will reprimand me for going anywhere near your life. She has made it clear that the reason she has lied to me about you and your life is because she doesn't want me to ruin it for you. She is very protective of your life." Liza doesn't respond quickly.

"Is she alright?" She sits up turning to him. "Is she happy?"
"She was sometimes. She has hated me for the things I've done but forgiven me eventually. I guess I don't learn. Maybe our situation is for the best. I won't have constant contact. He or she will have a chance."
"Colby hasn't turned into a drug addict or alcoholic, so she is a step ahead of the others. Right?"
"Yes, I guess that is true. She tends to manipulate though. I wonder where she gets that from?"
"Her father most likely."
"Oh, not totally. Who has me jumping through hoops here?" She smiles wickedly.

"Who is that?" He rolls his eyes and pulls her closer.

"The dazzling pregnant woman next to me. I'm hungry, lets eat." They both head into the kitchen.

Dr. Myers walks into the exam room breaking up their kiss. "Well Liza, how have you been feeling?"
"Good. Feeling a little big though, our daughter wasn't this heavy." The doctor smiles.

"Before we get started, I want to draw some more blood."
"I thought my tests came back good." Liza can feel the panic start to rise up.

"Yes, but my nurse didn't have a page in your file when she called you." Before Liza can comment. Adam takes her hand.

"Was something wrong?" He asks.

"Some of your levels came back a little high on one of the tests. I want to run another just to make sure before we start worrying."
"Which test? What are the implications of a high reading?" Liza begins rattling off questions.

"The AFP, it stands for…"
"We know." Liza interrupts and looks down at her hand in Adam's.

"We had the same thing happen with our daughter. But we recently found out it was a clerical mistake." Dr. Myers nods.

"Ok. Your levels are within normal tolerance but barely. I want another test done then we can go from there." She draws some blood from Liza and sends it to the lab. "I put a rush on it." They begin the exam then the sonogram. Liza starts to worry again seeing the doctor's expression. Adam notices as well. "Well, I might have found your problem." She smiles before turning the screen to them. "Here is the head. Arms and legs…" Adam sees it first.

"It's a boy?" He looks to the doctor.

"Yes, it is a boy." Liza isn't ready to be happy.

"Why would that be my problem?"
"No, its not but here, see the head." She moves the wand over her stomach. Adam is silent. Liza sits up a bit.

"TWINS! No! I'm not having twins." Adam tries not to laugh.

"Liza…" She turns on him.

"No! I refuse to have twins. No twins. No."
"Liza, you can't change that now." Dr. Myers tries to hide her grin. "If you will relax, we can continue." Liza lays back down. "Ok, this one is looking as well as the other."

"Boy or girl?"
"This little one is shy so we will try next time." They finish up the exam and Dr. Myers slips away quickly. Liza gets dressed angrily. Adam stays out of her way.

"We are having a boy. That's what we wanted. Right?"
"Twins! This is your fault. You're a twin."
"I will take the blame for giving you twins if you want, whether or not it's my fault." Liza grabs her purse and walks out. Adam decides to wait until they get back to the penthouse before bringing it up again.

Adam stops the door from hitting him and follows her inside. He can no longer hold his smile back. "What is so funny?" She asks coming out of the bedroom.

"You. Liza come here." He holds her by the wrist. "We are having a boy, Liza. A boy, which is what we both wanted. A son, Liza. Why aren't you happy?" She sighs but smiles at him.

"I am. I just wish he wasn't sharing his room with another."

"More to love and there is a 50/50 chance that one will be angelic and perfect, like Stuart or…"
"But twins?" She takes his hand leading him to the couch.

"Yes." He pulls her onto his lap. She leans back against a pillow stretching her legs out on the couch. "We have our boy. The other is a bonus. Be happy. Please." She kisses him.

"Sorry, its not that I'm not happy. I guess since yesterday I've been on emotional overload."
"Is there something else you want to talk about? You can."
"I'm just not sure how I want to tell you."
"Fine. You can start from the beginning." Maybe I should explain more to him, she wonders looking at her hands. Would he use it against me later? The twins, what if he takes them away because of it? Maybe he will understand. He has been so understanding. Too understanding, maybe I should worry about that. Or maybe Sarah is right and I'm over thinking this relationship.

"The reason I didn't tell Colby was because after it happened I…I was hospitalized." Adam turns all his focus to her. "His death hit me hard. I don't remember organizing his funeral. I'm not sure I did. The only thing I remember is seeing his coffin at the gravesite. Then, I went to bed. I stayed there for days. Sarah came then Lilly. They stayed; force-fed me, slept with me. I got up one night not realizing it was the same night and took more sleeping pills. When Sarah checked on me, I was barely breathing." She feels him tense up. "The doctor on call considered me an attempted suicide so he put me on a hold against Sarah's recommendation. I gave up in that moment so they kept me for a month in the psych ward." He looks shocked. "After they let me out, I pushed to get my life back on track. I threw myself into work. But I was so lonely I began to see him everywhere. I bought a new penthouse." She points around them. "I began to come here more because he wasn't here. Being at home was killing me slowly. I was slipping back into insanity. I would talk to him for hours before realizing he was still dead. I decided that I would end it. I put all of my affairs in order then I walked to the bathroom." She turns to face him with tears in her eyes. "But you knocked." He wipes away her tears. "You came to my door. You saved my life, Adam Chandler. Never would I have considered you my savior but you are. And the more this went on the less I saw him, the more I moved on and began to feel things again. I'm scared that I will once again get crushed. That having twins will give me more to lose. That you won't stick to the custody agreement and I will lose them." She pushes off of his lap and stands up pacing the room. "Or worse that you won't and they'll leave me for you like Colby. Even when I'm good, I lose."
"I kind of like you bad." He smiles.

"Not funny, Adam. I…" He stands and takes her hand.

"We are different people now. And you are a wonderful mother. I will not go back on my word. They are in your control. I just want to be here. Colby came to me but she has always been with you. I don't think she is truly happy. I am. I have found happy here with you." He pulls her back to the couch. "Liza, you are not the only one with doubts here. I have my own fears about us. At any moment, you could disappear from my life with them. Or not let me be at the birth. And several other things that I can't exactly think of right now. Plus, all of my business insecurities." Liza looks confused.

"Insecurities? Like what?"
"I haven't held onto my own company for more than a few years. My own son ousted me. I have been feeling a little obsolete."

"Then, you found out that I bought Chandler." He nods. "So, anything I've offered you has been a little insulting."
"Listen, I appreciate what you have done with Chandler Enterprises. At least it is in safe hands."
"Why don't you take a break from business al together? Take the Chandler men, minus one or two," She points to her stomach. "To the lake or fishing in Canada. Vacation without pressure."

"Maybe." She can't help but smile at him. "What?"
"We are having twins. Oh my gosh, I need to get so much. Baby clothes, bottles, blankets, strollers, baby beds."
"Why don't we go shopping tomorrow? We or you have the second bedroom here. We can fill it full of stuff and spend the next few months putting it together." Neither one of them bring up the fact that she doesn't live there all the time. But Liza privately wonders how she will bring the stuff home and back once a month. Should I buy two sets? I don't know how this is going to work.