Chapter 9

His hands were shaky, his throat dry. His head throbbed with pain and his stomach felt nauseous. It had been a long time since he had experienced these feelings, and vowed never to feel like this again.

Don lay awake in bed for hours just watching Liz sleep. She had fallen in the armchair beside Don's hospital bed last night. She looked terrible. Her hair was messed, her make up smudged and her face was stained with tears. It was almost time for the doctors to begin their rounds so Don decided to wake her. As he reached his hand out to hold hers she stirred in her sleep.

"Liz, honey I think its time to wake up" Within seconds Liz was stretching her arms and yawning.

"I am so glad to see you" she admitted.

"You didn't have to stay Liz I'm a big boy I can look after myself" replied Don.

"I'm so sorry for dragging you into all of this Don. I never wanted anyone to get hurt, I should have told you"

"Liz you really should have told me. I mean I've told you everything about my life, even the parts I have never spoke of before. I wish that you had of told me but it's over now and it wasn't your fault. Jamie told me everything that had happened with your father, none of it was your fault. I love you Elizabeth Donnelly" As Don finished speaking he could see the tears in Liz's eyes. She had always seemed like such a tough almost heartless woman but he knew that she was different. She loved all the simple things in life and when she cried Don knew that there was a good reason for it.

"Come here" instructed Don as he stretched out his arms and let Liz fall into them. In that moment they both knew that they were going to get over this and they would be better for it.

As Don began to place tender, loving kisses on Liz's cheek their moment of bliss was cut short by Ciara entering the hospital room.

"Really guys in the hospital?" laughed Ciara.

"Ciara!" scolded Liz.

"Anyways if you two are finished doing whatever it is you were doing I brought you all some breakfast" explained Ciara as she held up a bag full of food. "The food in these places is always terrible" she added. Liz and Don took the food and coffee that Ciara had brought and began to eat.

Soon the doctors hade came by and looked over Dons wounds. Everything had seemed fine and Don was able to go home later that day as soon as his blood tests had come back. While they were waiting on the test results Liz remembered that she had to talk to Ciara about something. She didn't want to mention it in front of Don but she was definitely going to have words with her when they got home.

Meanwhile Olivia was readying herself to tell Elliot about her pregnancy. It was now almost a week since her injury and she was able to move more freely with the aid of her crutches. As she made her way out of the bedroom and down the hall towards the kitchen she felt her heartbeat quicken. She didn't know why she was so nervous but she was. When she reached the kitchen she spotted Elliot making breakfast for them both.

"Breakfast will be ready soon" Yelled Elliot.

Olivia loved the sight of Elliot in a pair of old sweats making breakfast. She loved his strong arms, the arms that always made her feel safe. She also found his tattoos very attractive. She had never really asked him about them but she would someday. Her mind drifted off into its own world thinking about getting a tattoo and what Elliot would look like with a tattoo of her name. She let out a laugh as she realised that she was being silly.

"What's so funny?" Inquired Elliot. He was glad to see her in such good spirits after all that had happened the previous day.

"I'm pregnant" Olivia just blurted it out before she even realised eyes Elliot cautiously. What she saw was Elliot with one of the biggest smiles that she had ever seen before.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes I'm serious El! We are having a baby"

Elliot Lifted Olivia up into the air and twirled her around. He was so happy that he was finally going to start a family with the woman he loved.

"I take it you're pleased then?" giggled Olivia.

"Pleased doesn't even begin to describe it Liv. I've wanted this, us, a family for so long and its finally coming true! I mean seriously how lucky am I?" shrieked Elliot in delight.

"I don't want you to tell anyone for a while yet though" admitted Olivia "I want to keep it quiet until after the twelve week scan ok?"

"Yeah sure. Does anyone else know?"

"Liz does so I was thinking maybe just tell Don for now and then tell everyone else later" explained Olivia. Elliot just smiled.

"I love it when a plan comes together" He laughed.

"Oh and one more thing, it's going to be Ciara's seventeenth birthday soon and I was thinking we should plan her a surprise party"

"Shouldn't you be telling Don and Liz this?"

"I've told Liz and she said it's a great idea but she doesn't really want a party in her house"

"Why doesn't she want it in her house?" Asked Elliot.

"She said something about all the files and stuff that she and Don have in their place. So I offered to have it here!"

"Liv are you sure you're up to this I mean this place will be full of bratty teenagers whining all the time and- "

"El don't worry I've got this. It's going to be a night to remember"

Elliot just looked at Olivia and laughed. She had no idea what she was getting herself into.

Later that evening Don was discharged from the hospital and was now at home snuggled beside Liz on the couch. Ciara was texting Zack.

Hey wanna do something tomorrow night? – Z

Ciara was excited about how things were going between her and Zack. He seemed as interested in her as she was in him. They had a lot in common and felt comfortable around each other. Just as she was about to text back Liz called her to join her in the bedroom. When she stepped into the bedroom she knew this wasn't good.

"Would you care to explain to me why you had Zack over the last night?" Asked Liz.

"The movie was sold out so we decided to come back here. It was no big deal" replied Ciara nonchalantly. She wasn't going to make a big deal out of it and hoped Liz wouldn't either.

"Ciara you should have told me you were bringing a guy over"

"It was no big deal, nothing happened!"

"Ciara I thought I could trust you!"

"You can Mom I swear nothing happened. We kissed that's all" Confessed Ciara.

"Well I don't want it to happen again. Don already thinks you are too young to have a boyfriend. God knows what he would do if he heard you were bringing Zack around here when we are out" explained Liz.

"It's not as if we had sex" replied Ciara sarcastically. Liz looked at Ciara suspiciously. She hadn't mentioned anything about sex and was a little suspicious as to why Ciara had mentioned it. She decided not to get into it at this time. She was going to have to have a serious talk with Ciara , soon

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Ok so what do you guys think? Next chapter I hope to have some more Casey/John action. Reviews are always appreciated

Thanks for reading x