Rating: PG
AN:
So this is the last of the big flashback chapters. I was going to do three but two seemed to work out really well.
Only Love
Chapter Two
Elizabeth stepped back and admired her latest painting. She normally didn't paint abstracts but Elizabeth thought that this was one of her best works. The swirling colors held scenes from the last year of her life. A particular section of the painting caught Elizabeth's eye causing her to smile. 'The trial.' Elizabeth thought. Those few days last summer had been the tensest things ever got between her and Ric. She honestly thought he might even give up on them.
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"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Zander asked one more time as they sat in Elizabeth's studio. She had asked him over to discuss their plans.
"For the thousandth time yes. Please Zander." Elizabeth begged grabbing his hands tightly. "I need you to help me with this."
"I just don't get why you're doing this. I thought you hated Ric."
"I did. I do." She insisted even though she did not feel as confident as she hoped to sound.
"Then why do you care?"
"Because I want it to stop. He's driving me crazy with the flowers, the gifts, and showing up everywhere I go. I just want him to leave me alone."
"And that's where I come in?" Zander questioned. He knew Elizabeth along time. Even after everything, she was still a terrible liar.
"Exactly. If thinks I've moved on then maybe he'll stop all of this."
"Okay, Elizabeth. I'll help you out."
"Thanks, Zander you're a great friend." Elizabeth said giving him a quick hug. Her plan was turning out great so far.
Elizabeth could feel Ric's eyes on her as she sat down at the witness stand. She still wasn't completely sure why she agreed to testify for Jason. Except for the fact, it would hurt Ric.
As childish as it was everything Elizabeth did lately was to push Ric away. He had hurt her so much, more than Lucky or Jason ever could. She hated that Ric, that anyone had that kind of power over her. However, what Elizabeth hated most was the fact she still loved him. Even after all his lies and manipulations, Elizabeth still loved him. After weeks of Ric, apologizing and trying to win her back Elizabeth decided to ask Zander for help.
Ric watched Elizabeth intently as she passed him. He nearly groaned when he caught a whiff of Elizabeth's subtle sent. A sent that teased and tormented him. It seemed to have even invaded Ric's apartment. Not that Ric was complaining because the white pear and jasmine gave him a sense of calm. The same way Ric only ever felt with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth seemed to be taunting him. The fact that she would defend a criminal like Jason Morgan drove him crazy. He hated someone like that had her trust. Part of him wondered if it was more between then. Elizabeth did love Jason once after all.
However, the thing abut this day that had Ric pushed nearly to him limit was Elizabeth's outfit. The simple silk blouse and skirt weren't overly sexy. What drove Ric crazy was the fact she had wore it one night when they went out to dinner. Ric remembered how the silk felt in his hand as he removed it from Elizabeth's body. That led him down the path to other more erotic thoughts of that night. The way Elizabeth felt against him as they made love. The taste of her skin. Ric closed his eyes tightly fighting the urge to moan. No one had ever affected him the way Elizabeth did and he suspected no one else ever would. After several deep breaths, Ric's body slowly began to cool down.
As much as Ric hated to admit defeat, he was coming close with Elizabeth. Nothing he did seemed to work and at times, it made things worse. Ric realized he was making a fool of himself but he just didn't care. As long, somehow things worked out with Elizabeth the way he hoped.
For the first time in this trial Ric was glad he was not the prosecuting attorney. There was no way Ric could have focused enough to ask her any questions. In fact, he hadn't heard a word she said. Finally, Elizabeth's testimony was over and she stepped down. Instead of leaving, she sat beside Zander. Ric's blood began to boil as he watched them hold hands.
"Ric is going to kill me." Zander whispered when court was recessed for the day. He had seen the older man glaring at them.
"No he's not." Elizabeth giggled at Zander's nervousness and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Stop that." Zander protested knowing that Ric was probably still watching them. "Look Elizabeth I know you love the guy but he's crazy."
Elizabeth looked away and tried to blink back the tears. The last thing she wanted to think about was all the things Ric had done. "I know." She whispered softly.
"Hey I didn't mean it like that." Zander said quickly when he felt Elizabeth's mood shift. "People can change. I'm proof of that"
"Do you really think so?" Elizabeth asked hopefully her eyes focused on Ric. She could see the pain and longing in his brown eyes.
"Yeah. I really do."
"Thanks Zander."
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Over the next few days, Elizabeth thought more and more about what Zander had said. He was right people could change. Zander was so different from the person she met three years ago. The question was could Ric? There was no doubt in Elizabeth's mind she stilled loved Ric but she was so scared of being lied to and hurt again. Her heart just couldn't take it.
"You looked like crap." Lucky said walking past Elizabeth and in to her studio.
"Thanks Lucky. Just what every girl wants to hear." Elizabeth responded rolling her eyes.
"Sorry. Did you hear Jason and Sonny were sentenced today?"
"Yeah." Elizabeth admitted sitting on her battered couch. "Somehow six months doesn't seem like enough."
"So you're finally over Jason?"
"I've been over Jason. Being with him nearly destroyed me."
"I'm glad. You deserve better. What about Ric?" Lucky said sitting beside her.
"I don't want to love to him."
"So you do still love Lansing?"
"More and more everyday. I don't know how to stop, Lucky. I don't even know if I want to." Elizabeth admitted after a few moments thought.
"I guess what you have to figure out is he worth possibility getting hurt again?"
Elizabeth scrunched her nose at Lucky's comment. He knew her too well. "That's the thing I think he might be. I mean he is still trying to earn my trust back. No one's ever fought so hard for me before."
"I'm sorry." Lucky told her thinking back to how he had treated her.
"Don't be. I'm just happy we can be friends."
Lucky hated seeing his friend unhappy. He almost could not believe what he was about to say. "Look if you think Ric is worth the risk then you should give him a chance."
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It seemed ironic that Lucky of all people was telling her to give Ric a chance. 'It was sweet of him really.' Elizabeth thought with a smile as she wiped down table in Kelly's. She was expecting Ric to walk through the door any minute. She hoped it would soon because Elizabeth wanted to apologize to him. Elizabeth could imagine the look on Ric's face when she apologized for Zander.
The lunch rush came in and Elizabeth forgot about Ric momentarily. That was until Penny told her she had a phone call. "Hello?"
"Elizabeth, I'm so glad that I caught you." Bobbie said her voice filled with worry.
"Is something wrong Bobbie? Is it my Grams?" Elizabeth asked immediately panicking.
"No. She's fine. It's Ric. I know the two of you aren't close anymore but..."
"Ric's hurt?" Elizabeth interrupted as she began to become even more anxious.
"He was hit by a car. He's pretty banged up but he's going to live."
"I... um... thanks."
Bobbie could hear the fear and confusion in the younger woman's voice. Elizabeth obviously still cared deeply about Ric despite everything. "Elizabeth, he asked for you before they took him to surgery."
Elizabeth closed her eyes tightly when she heard Bobbie. Even after everything, Ric still wanted her. "How long will be in the OR?" She finally asked
"It should only take another hour or so. Look the rush should be just about over. I'm sure Penny can handle thing if you want to be here when he wakes up."
"Yeah. I think I do. Thanks Bobbie."
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Elizabeth sat in Ric's room anxiously waiting for him to wake up. Ric's right wrist was bandaged along with his head. It was almost painful to see Ric hurt. Elizabeth was reminded of when Ric had been shot several months before. The event was what caused Elizabeth to realize that she was falling in love with Ric.
She gently took his left hand in hers. Soft tingles spread though her body as their skin touched. Elizabeth sat in silence simply enjoying the act of being with Ric and not fighting. "What am I going to do with you?" Elizabeth asked as she ran her right hand through his dark hair.
"Anything you want." Ric conceded his voice still hoarse from the surgery.
"You're awake! Let me go get the doctor."
"Not yet." Ric said tightening his grip on Elizabeth's hand. "Why are you here?"
"I thought you asked for me? Bobbie said..."
"I did but you've made it clear you hate me." He injected quietly.
"That's not true, Ric. I tried to hate you. I even wanted to hate you. God knows I plenty of reasons but I just couldn't." Elizabeth admitted quietly looking away from Ric. "I sorry."
Ric was shocked to hear those words from Elizabeth's lips. "For what?"
"Zander. We're not together. I was just using him the other day at the courthouse." Elizabeth admitted slightly ashamed of what she had done.
"It's good to know but why are you telling me?"
"Because over the last few days I've been thinking. About you, about us. Ric, you hurt me so much..." Elizabeth began before Ric stopped her.
"I can't tell you how sorry..."
Elizabeth pressed a finger to his lips preventing him from continuing. "But anyone can break another person's heart. And if I didn't love you so much the pain wouldn't be there."
"You still love me?" Ric asked stunned by what Elizabeth was telling him. After seeing her with Zander, he had almost given up hope.
"So much." Elizabeth responded tears pooling in her eyes.
"I love you, Elizabeth. You know that right?"
Elizabeth nodded. "That's why it's been so hard to stay mad at you. I know that you never meant to hurt me. Do know it felt when you refused to let me go?"
"Tell me, Sweetheart." Ric urged lifting his hand to caress Elizabeth's cheek.
"Every time one of your flowers or gifts showed up I felt important. Then I'd look up and you would be standing there."
"Stalking you." Ric claimed slightly embarrassed by his actions.
"Loving me." Elizabeth disagreed placing a kiss to his palm. "In a way no one else ever has."
"Tell me what you want, Elizabeth. I would do anything..."
"I know. I'm sorry it took so long to believe you…"
"You're not here because of my accident are you?" He hated to doubt her reasons but he needed them both to be certain. There was no way he would ever let her walk out f his life again. The last few weeks had been hell on them both. Never again.
"No. I was going to tell you all of this when I saw you today. Then you didn't come in and Bobbie called. I needed to be here."
"I'm grateful to Bobbie for calling you. What happens now?"
"Now? I was thinking maybe we could start over. Really get to know each other." Elizabeth told him running her fingers through his hair as she spoke.
"I like that idea. I love you Elizabeth." Ric said his voice full of emotion. He knew he should take things slowly but it had been too long since their last kiss. Ric had to taste her. He tugged her gently until he cold brushed his lips to hers. Elizabeth sighed then deepened the kiss.
When Elizabeth pulled back, she rested her forehead on his. "I love you too Ric."