Chapter 5

Time stood still for Elizabeth as she saw Lucky over Jason's shoulder, it wasn't moving any faster for Jason either. Jason knew from the look on Lucky's face this wasn't going to be an easy thing to do and he didn't envy Elizabeth any for having to face Lucky so soon after finding out that she was pregnant with his child and not Lucky's. Knowing Elizabeth she'd probably had an entire speech planned out, a whole scenario played out in her head of how things were going to go, and he was pretty damn sure that Lucky showing up just when they were about to make love yet again, wasn't exactly what she had in mind.

"I came to ask for you help in finding my wife, but I guess I should have known she'd come running to you. She has a nasty habit of that."

Jason immediately tensed and even though Elizabeth tried to move past him to speak to Lucky outside on her own he wouldn't let her, keeping her firmly behind him with one strong arm. His ice blue eyes turned into unmoving glaciers as he stared at the younger man who had at every given chance hurt the woman they were both supposed to love.

"She has to go somewhere Lucky, your to busy with your own nasty habit to pay any attention to her. I'm surprised you remember you have a wife, what with Maxie all over you." Jason heard Elizabeth gasp behind him and he knew he should just shut up and keep his mouth shut like he always had but not now, not this time.

Lucky fairly growled at Jason and he knew that if he pushed just the right amount he could get the younger man to take a swing at him, then he'd be allowed to do what he'd been dreaming of doing for years now, kick the #$ out of the punk kid who thought he knew everything. Elizabeth would be furious of course but somehow the temptation was almost too strong for even that threat.

He was saved from having to decide as Elizabeth pushed her way past his arm and stood between the two of them, her dark blue eyes blazing with furry and Jason had to wonder, was it directed toward him or Lucky. Elizabeth placed her small hand against Jason's chest; her touch light and almost airy where as she had to literally push back against Lucky. That was the difference between the two men. Jason was in control of himself; he knew his limitations, knew how far he could be pushed before he was forced to either walk away or retaliate. Lucky on the other hand, Elizabeth had to wonder when the last time her husband had been in control.

"Lucky, outside now." It was all that Elizabeth would allow herself to say for the moment as she pushed Lucky backwards out into the hall. She paused just momentarily to glance back at Jason and she could see the wariness in his eyes, he wasn't sure about her being alone with Lucky and to be quite frank, neither was she but this was something she had to do. She eased the door closed behind her and took a deep sturdy breath before she turned towards the man she had promised to love forever.

"I can't believe you told him about the pills and Maxie! You swore you wouldn't tell. Damn it, Elizabeth, do you realize he could take this to Mac and then my career would be over? Did you ever stop to think about me when you chose to confide in your precious killer?"

Elizabeth merely stood there, arms crossed under her breasts and watched as the man she'd give her heart, her life and her body to for most of her adult life, yelled at her for confiding in a friend about his drug addiction and his cheating. He sounded so much like a child that Elizabeth found herself fighting the urge to laugh. Well she'd always wanted the boy to come back, she guessed in some weird way he had.

She tilted her head to the side and studied the man before her. His wild hair and even more wild eyes, he was a complete mess from his hair to his shoes and it saddened her greatly. Lucky had held so much promise when she'd first met him. He'd had so many dreams and goals for his future and yet now, now all he cared about was his next fix. Didn't he see that anyone willing to take a second to look at him would know he was addicted to something? Strangely, she'd been so concerned about how she was going to tell him, how he was going to react to the news of her pregnancy, yet now she felt a strange calmness settle within her.

"Actually, Lucky? No. No, I didn't stop to think about you. For once I was thinking about my own pain, my own fears and I knew that Jason would be there for me. Not because he has some hidden agenda, not because of some sense of duty but because he wanted to be there for me, to listen to me as I poured my heart out to him. You want to know why I didn't come to you? Do you want to know why I can't ever confide in you anymore? Because your too damn busy sleeping with Maxie Jones in my bed I didn't want to bother you. I tried to stay with you Lucky, I tried to make it work and forgive you and be there for you during this troubling time for you, but you know what? I have to stop trying to protect you Lucky. I have to stop putting you ahead of Cameron and I- I…" she paused for the first time since speaking as she thought over her next words.

Elizabeth knew that the instant she spoke again, any chance she'd ever have of trying to make it work with Lucky would be gone. Every dream she'd ever had since the moment she met him all those years ago would be flushed down the drain with no hopes of ever gaining them back. And yet strangely she wasn't afraid like she thought she'd be. Yes, those dreams used to be important to her. They used to mean the world to her, but the lives of her children meant more. The chance to have a life with a man who would love her and her children, who would take care of them for once, was too important to pass up on the off chance that Lucky would ever straighten up. Taking a deep breath she brought her sapphire orbs up to his and spoke the words that would end all those dreams.

"Lucky, I'm pregnant." she saw the happiness enter his eyes and for a moment she didn't know if she could break that happiness but then she thought of Jason, and just the thought of him gave her strength to continue on, "…and it's not yours."