Chapter 13

"I'm sorry, run that by me again."

"What do you think about getting married sooner rather than later?"

"While I certainly can't wait to be your wife, why the sudden urgency."

"Lucky."

"Jason, if you think I'm going to end things with you and go back to Lucky - "

"No. That's not it. Lucky is a Detective with the Police Department. He has a stable income and he has been raising the boys since they were born even though they weren't his. Diane thinks that even though he isn't their father biologically, he could still get custody, since he is doing things for the best interest of the children."

"So what does that have to do with us moving up the wedding?"

"Diane says we will need to prove that we can provide the boys with a safe and stable home life and promise to marry isn't as strong of an argument as being married. She also mentioned that I should petition the courts to adopt Cameron."

"Jason – this is crazy. I feel like you are being forced into this situation so that I don't lose my children. This isn't fair to you."

"Elizabeth, this isn't fair to us. This isn't fair to our boys. I'm in my son's life and I'm supposed to sit back and let Lucky take him? I would do everything I could possibly think of to make sure we don't lose those boys. But compromising on our wedding is not something I'm willing to do. This wedding has to be perfect for you, the boys and for us."

"I'm so angry with Lucky. I can't believe of all the childish and arrogant things he has done, he decides to pull this shit. The boys are going to be so crushed. OK – I can't think about this now. We have more important things to deal with first. We need to deal with the perjury first and foremost. I can't think of going to a custody hearing until the truth is out about Jake and you being his father and not Lucky. Secondly, we need to decide where we are all going to live."

"The second one is easy. I will gather some clothes later to stay at your house since the boys things are there. We are eventually going to have to move into a bigger house and I would hate for them to have move twice. I will call Diane about setting up a meeting with Alexis. Do you have time to stay and eat with the boys?"

"God, I would love to, but my lunch is over in twenty minutes and I think I want to go somewhere quiet and think. Is that ok?"

"That's fine. We will see you tonight, but promise me you won't shut down on me."

"I thought that was your job, to "shut down". Don't worry about me, this is just so much to absorb. I never thought Lucky could go so far to hurt the boys and me."

"I honestly didn't think so either. I would expect this from Carly before Lucky. Well, they are related, so maybe it isn't so far fetched."

"Speaking of Carly, I have a meeting with her next week about Michael's benefit. I want to do something special for the family room of his wing."

"OK, are you going to tell me what it is?"

"Nope, it is a surprise for everyone involved in Michael's life and that includes you."


"OK – I will see you tonight after work. Please promise me you won't stress on this too much. I am going to make sure that we don't lose those boys."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

"Bye boys. Have fun with Jason and Spinelli and you had better behave. Bye."

With that Elizabeth left the little diner and trekked back towards her car and then back to the hospital.

Elizabeth had been charting at the hub for about forty minutes before she received a visitor in the form of Sam.

"Elizabeth, do you have a minute to talk?"

"Make it quick Sam, I have work to do." Elizabeth exclaimed, never taking her eyes off of her chart.

"I need you to believe me when I tell you that I had no idea that Lucky was planning on suing for custody."

"I'm not sure what to believe anymore. This man used to be one of my best friends and now because I'm engaged to someone he doesn't like, I deserve to lose my children."

"Wow, engaged. That was fast. Look, after Lucky and I left your place he took me home and ended things between the two of us. He said this was too much for him to process and he needed time to himself to think. That was the last time I spoke with him. He won't answer my calls, return my messages or anything. You have to talk to him for me. Please?"

"Is there a problem Nurse Webber?"

"No Epiphany. Can I finish this conversation real quick and then I will go and check on Mr. Dexter."

"Make it quick."

Elizabeth motioned for Sam to take a seat in the lounge.

"Sam, look I'm sorry that Lucky ended things with you. I really thought the two of you made a good couple. You loved each other and you were good with the boys. But I don't know what you think I can do about this situation. And secondly, I currently have my own problems I have to deal with. Lucky is suing for full custody of my children, of Jason's son."

"Look I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what this is doing to your family, but I really love Lucky and we were happy, but apparently Lucky still loves you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Elizabeth, get serious. You announce that you and Jason are together and he is going to raise his son, but don't worry Lucky can still play daddy as well and he can't dump me fast enough."

"Sam, I can't think about this now. I have to get back to work."

The rest of Elizabeth's shift seemed to drag on. Her first day back and it seemed like nothing had gone right. Lucky shows up and tells me he is going to sue for full custody. Jason says we have to get married right away and that he will need to adopt Cameron. The idea of Jason adopting Cameron warmed her heart. The Sam shows up and tells me that Lucky ended things because he is still in love with me. Is there anything else that can happen in one twenty four hour period that further stresses me out. Elizabeth felt the vibration in her pocket from her cell phone. She smiled when she saw the name on the caller id.

"Hey there."

"Hey beautiful. How was your shift?"

"Ha-ha, your funny. What did the guard tell you?"

"What makes you -"

"Jason!"

"Ugh. What did Sam want?"

"To talk about Lucky. Apparently he ended things with her after they left my house that day. She said that she had nothing to do with him deciding the sue for custody. But we can discuss this later. What's up?"

"When is your shift over?

"Twenty minutes. Why?"

"I need you to take tomorrow off."

"Why?"

"We have an appointment with Alexis in the morning."

"Oh."


"Elizabeth?"


"No, I knew this was coming. I will talk to Epiphany. I'll be home in a bit."

Elizabeth dreaded going to ask for the day off. She just got back from being off for weeks. Maybe she could switch her shift for a later time with Leyla or Nadine. Epiphany circled the hub and stopped in front of Elizabeth.

"Nurse Webber, I believe your shift is over. Why don't you check out a few minutes early."

"Epiphany can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"I need to take tomorrow off and I know that I just got back, but I have to meet with the DA in the morning."

"The DA. Is everything ok?"

"Um, I don't know yet. You are going to find out eventually. Do you recall when I was called to testify at Jason's trial?"

"Lord, what has that boy done now?"

"Nothing Epiphany. When I was on the stand, Ric Lansing asked if I had ever had sexual relationship with Jason. Ric was such a jerk, he knew the answer, yet he also knew that Lucky didn't and of course Lucky was there in the courtroom staring at me begging to say no and I couldn't."

""Elizabeth, your rambling. So I take it you and Jason had been sexual in the past. I'm not sure I follow why that was relevant to the case."

"Jason and I spent the night together in August of 2006. The night of the blackout. And you are right, it had absolutely nothing to do with the trial. It was just Ric digging into Jason. Lucky did not know that I had been with Jason. It was right after I found him at our apartment with Maxi Jones and high on pills."

"OK. I follow, but I'm still not -"

"Ric also asked me if it was possible that Jason was the father of Jake."

"And you lied and said no."

"How did you know that?"

"Child, you said August of 2006 and Jake was born in May of 2007. I'm a nurse, it doesn't take a genius to figure that own out and now that I think about it, that boy looks nothing like Lucky. So let me guess, something is about to happen that this information is going to come out and that is why you are scheduling a meeting with Ms. Davis."

"Yes. Oh god Epiphany, my life is so messed up right now. Jason and I are engaged which is just wonderful. Lucky is upset that we are together and has decided to sue for full custody of the boys. And then add the little matter of me committing perjury. I'm surprised I can even function."

"Elizabeth, you are one of the strongest women I have had the pleasure of working with. And for the last two years I have watched you twist yourself into a pretzel trying to do what everyone expects you to do. The only time you have ever been at peace is when you are with those boys and when a certain man in black leather jacket flashed his baby blues in your direction. I envy your strength and I know that you will make it out of this stronger for it. We will work something out with your schedule. If you need to take more time off, I will understand, and don't worry, you will always have a spot waiting for you here."

"Thanks Epiphany. I will call you tomorrow after I know something."

The ride home, Elizabeth was actually calmer than she had felt all day. She pulled into the driveway and smiled when she saw the bike in the driveway. She would have to convince someone to take her for a ride later on. When she got to the steps of the house, she could hear the sounds of laughing and giggling from her two children. A single tear escaped her eye as she thought about how she could lose them. She quickly wiped away the tear and shook those thoughts out of her head. She smiled as she bounded into the house and saw Jason on the floor with Cameron sitting on one side of him and Jake sitting in his lap as they watched a video. The she frowned.

"Where is Spinelli?"

"Hi, your home and he is at home – the penthouse."

"Well he needs to be here."

"Elizabeth, do you actually expect Spinelli to live with all us?"

"Yeah, don't you? Jason, Cameron and Jake absolutely adore him and he means something to you. Besides, there is an extra room that he can stay in until we figure out where we are going to live. Now go get that boy."

Jason sighed and agreed at his fiancé's request. When the enforcer arrived at his penthouse and told the cyber hacker the plans, Spinelli was for a lack of words, speechless. Jason and Spinelli left for Elizabeth's home and the dinner that was waiting as well as the uncomfortable conversation that awaited.

Dinner had little excitement other than Cameron and Spinelli arguing about some new cartoon while Jake sat in his high chair looking back and forth between the two children fussing.

"I think it is time for two little boys to take a bath and go to bed."

"Aww momma do I have to?"

"Yes sir. Go upstairs and wait for me and your brother."

"I will give them their bath. Spinelli can help you clean up."

"Uhh most certainly fair maternal one."

"Spinelli, do you mind that other people call you by your last name and not your first name?"

"Wha – well, no one has ever asked me that before. One's name is merely a moniker for example: Damien, Spinelli, the Jackal. All the same person."

"Well ok."

"Fair – Elizabeth how are you?"

"Oh Spinelli how much time do you have?"

"A tug at the ear is always available."

"Your so sweet. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that I am going to confess to perjury tomorrow. That I may or may not face a trial and possible jail time for. Top it off, my ex-husband has now decided to sue for full custody of two children that aren't biologically his. Jason is possibly being forced into marrying me as well as adopting my son so that we don't lose them. Add to the that the stress of working at a hospital and the impending moving of this entire household....which includes you. It's just a lot for one person to fully understand. Don't forget to mention that I'm recently reconciled with Jason, which I absolutely love and we are engaged to be married and he is raising his son. So many wonderful things have happened but so have horrible things and no one has had a chance to enjoy them."

"Stone Cold was right. You do ramble when you are nervous."

"He talks about me to you?"

"Maternal One, Stone Cold holds you in the highest esteem that one man can for one woman. I envy the abundant love that the two of you hold for one another. Despite every obstacle, true love never has faltered. I don't believe that Stone Cold could ever be forced to marry you. And as far as the older of the two progenies, he is just as much his as little Stone Cold is."

"Spinelli, thank you. I think you just reassured me that everything will be ok. How about we go set up your room so you can get some sleep."

"It isn't pink is it?"

"Dusty purple. Will that be a problem?"

"Nope anything is better than my regrettably pink room."

"Elizabeth, why am I here?"

"Family. You are family to Jason which means that you are apart of my family, our family. Now go to sleep. I'm going to need your help tomorrow with the boys while Jason and I meet with Alexis."

"Good Night Maternal One."

Elizabeth kissed her boys goodnight and followed the light to her bedroom where Jason was waiting. She kissed Jason on the lips as she sat down on the bed next to him. He could tell she was nervous, scared, angry, heartbroken.

"I promise everything will work out tomorrow. Who knows, Alexis may decide not to press charges. It's not like your admission would have changed the outcome of the trial."

"Can Diane do something for me? Can she draw up guardianship papers. In case things go bad, I want something that ensures the boys stay with you until the custody hearing. I want to make sure they are safe if I go to jail."

"Don't talk like that. Nothing is going to happen to you and nothing is going to happen to the boys."

"Jason, we need to be practical. I broke the law and if I go to jail, I want to make sure you can keep the boys as long as possible. Please."

"I can never say no to you. We will talk to Diane tomorrow before our meeting. Now, I want you to lay in my arms and go to sleep. You look absolutely exhausted. We can only take one day at a time, and I plan on being here every step of the way. We will get through this together. I love you."

"I love you to Jason. I feel so lucky to finally have you in my life."

Elizabeth closed her eyes for what just a moment and they did not open back up. The feeling of Jason's arms around her made her feel safe and comfortable. His skin against hers made her feel whole and the steady beat of his heartbeat made her feel complete. She relaxed further before drifting into deep slumber while Jason just stared at her. He couldn't let her know that he was just as terrified if not more that they were going to lose the boys. He made a silent vow that Lucky would not break her heart. He had done that enough already. His heart broke at the thought of Jake not being with him anymore. And Cameron, the petite version of him mother had crept into his heart and would be permanently there no matter what happened in the future. He smiled, the future. Him and Elizabeth and their two boys and maybe a girl, a little girl. He smiled at that thought before he succumbed to his lingering slumber.