AN:

Can you believe this chapter marks the halfway point? :) and :(. I really have enjoyed writing this. I do have at least one more LiLo fic planned. However its very different than this and I may need some more confidence first. So any short fic suggestions let me know. [I don't mean you Roomie.;)]

And now... back to this chapter. There's kinda a lot going on in this one. But there little hints to Liz and Lorenzo's relationship in there.

~Kelly~

PS

Whoever asked me about Ric. No he's not in Port Charles. He left/died/disappeared after the panic room incident.

Chapter Three

Two days had passed since the attack since Elizabeth and Cameron moved in. Part of Lorenzo loved having his family whole. Everyone adjusted to the change easily. It would have been perfect if not for two things. The first being a lack of information about the attackers. The second would be Elizabeth's behavior. Around Cameron and even Diego, she was completely normal. When they were alone however it was like being back to when Cameron was first born.

Lorenzo knew she was worried about being hurt again. He was the latest in a long list of people who disappointed her. Looking back, he hated his actions but he was trying to fix them. Lorenzo didn't doubt Elizabeth loved him. She had told him so a few times late at night. However, he wouldn't admit to caring for her until he held Cameron. It was then he finally realized her loved her but he was too late.

Elizabeth hurt and angry by his actions shut him out. It had taken months for her to even speak to him beyond their son. He had started to hope that given time they could start over. Perhaps become a normal family but now Elizabeth was shutting him out once again.

"Papa." Cameron squealed when Lorenzo walked in the door. The living room now resembled a toy store with his son in the middle of it all. He had changed so much since he was born Lorenzo hated every moment he missed.

"How is my boy today?" he asked no one in particular. Lorenzo scooped Cam up into his arms causing the toddler to giggle even more.

"I think he's tired of being inside."

"I know." he said looking around the room. His apartment was a tight fit for him and Diego let alone the four of them. He really needed to look into a bigger place. "This place really isn't big enough for all of us."

"Have you..."

Lorenzo shook his head cutting off Elizabeth's question. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"We both know that's not true," he said rubbing Cameron's back. He could tell the little boy was getting sleepy. "I think someone is ready for bed."

"Looks like. Do you want me to take him?"

"Can I? I usually..."

Elizabeth looked away for a moment. If she would just give in to Lorenzo's pleas Cam would have his father all the time. "It's fine Lorenzo. Night baby."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lorenzo took his time settling Cameron for bed. Tonight he was going to start fixing things with Elizabeth. He had to make see she that the risk of trust him again was worth it. Cameron deserved to have them both all the time.

They sat in his study talking quietly with a glass of wine. The conversation consisted mostly of Cameron at first but then moved to their own childhoods. Lorenzo bit back curse at the things Elizabeth told him. Her parent had practically neglected from birth. No wonder she was reluctant to trust him again.

As the night wore on Elizabeth curled into his side on arm draped across his chest. She began to toy with the buttons of his dress shirt. Lorenzo bit back a moan when she slipped her fingers in between the material to tease his skin.

When she began nibbling at his neck, he couldn't be silent any longer. Moaning loudly Lorenzo pulled her mouth up to his and kissed her deeply. Their tongues tangled as Elizabeth seated herself on his lap.

He wanted her. Possibly more than he had ever wanted a woman before but not like this. Lorenzo knew what Elizabeth was trying to do even if she didn't. "Elizabeth no."

"Don't you want me?" she pouted still toying with his shirt buttons.

"We both know that I do but not like this."

"Please Lo let me give you this."

He kissed her gently and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Oh Sweetie us making love isn't going to fix things. Otherwise I'd drag you to bed right now."

"I can't. Sometimes I wish I could but I can't. I'm sorry."

"Me too."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Diego watched silently as Elizabeth. He had never understood her or the relationship she had with his father but he wanted to. Diego could see how much having all of them together meant to him. He was finally starting to understand all the things Lorenzo was trying to tell him. "Why are you scared of my father?"

"I'm not scared of Lorenzo. Why would you say something like that?" Elizabeth demanded to know angrily. Despite everything, she had never, not once been afraid of Lorenzo.

"You act that way sometimes. He loves you and Cam very much."

"I know and this is between me and your father. He loves you too you know."

"I know." Diego finally admitted when the silence became too much.

"Then why make things difficult?"

"Probably for the same reason you do."

Elizabeth smiled at Diego. They were similar in so many ways. "Yeah probably."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lorenzo silently entered the guest room and approached the bed. He could feel the temptation to just hide away with Elizabeth. In another time and place, he had. How many nights had he sneaked into her apartment for a few hours of peace? Truthfully, he was ashamed of the answer. That was why he had stopped Elizabeth tonight. This time had to be about more than sex. Carefully sitting on the bed, he ran his fingers across her face. Did she know how beautiful she really was? Lorenzo doubted it. "Elizabeth Sweetie you have to wake up."

"Lo? Is something the matter?" she asked just barely awake.

"Everything's fine. I just have to leave on business."

"For how long?"

"I should be finished sometime tomorrow. I just didn't want to worry you."

"Thank you," she said placing a light kiss to his cheek. "Please be careful."

"Always." he promised after kissing her softly. "I love you."

Lorenzo was gone before Elizabeth could respond. She didn't even know what she might say at this point. Easing out of bed, she grabbed her robe and a sketchbook. She knew sleep was no longer an option.