Chapter 6

The second Elizabeth hung up the phone, she started swearing loudly. Colorfully, floridly. Words that one may not associate with one Miss Elizabeth Webber. And most of her anger was directed at her best friend. Who else would have called Jason? How else would he have her number? She hadn't given it to him.

It hadn't occurred to her. She thought they would keep in touch through Emily as they had apparently been, though without their knowledge. She never dreamed she'd be pregnant, never. Of course it was possible, as they'd… Even though they'd been protected.

Right now it was time to talk to Emily. A quick call to the Quartermaine home verifying that she was, in fact, there, and Liz was on the road.

Emily closed the door to the study and turned to her friend. Well, she hoped Liz was still her friend. She knew full well what she was here about. They stood on opposite sides of the room, eyes locked, like gunslingers before a fire fight.

"Emily Annabelle Quartermaine, how could you?" Liz cried.

"I had to…" Emily said quietly, trying to head of the yelling before it could start.

"You made a promise-"

"Technically, when you said you didn't want me to tell Jason, I made a non-committal noise-"

"You're splitting hairs? About this? About the biggest thing in my life? I trusted you not-"

Emily moved closer to her friend, attempting to bridge the distance.

"I love you, you're my best friend. But Jason is my brother. Will be forever and ever. So as much as I love you, I owed it to him."

"You owed… You owed it to him?" Elizabeth's face started going an unpleasant red.

"What I did was out of love. I love you, I love my brother."

Elizabeth crossed her arms in front of her chest, glaring at the other woman for a moment.

"But now he'll come back."

Emily couldn't contain her feelings anymore. They just burst out. "Is that so terrible? I know you care about him."

"I do, Emily. But it was…" she took a deep breath. "I had a crush on Jason Quartermaine. I had one night with Jason Morgan. It… It stirred all these feelings. But I don't know where we stand."

"You're having his baby," Emily said gently.

"Yes, I'm having this baby. But I don't know if I love him."

Tears started to form in Elizabeth's eyes.

"I know… I know how I used to feel. And that was so… Childish, so young. But seeing him again. It was like meeting for the first time. That night he was nothing like the Jason Quartermaine I remember."

She took a deep breath to push back the fear.

"And it scares me. How I might feel if I let myself. If I let myself feel for a man I hardly know."

"Oh, Liz, I-"

"Emily, he hardly knows himself! How can I say, 'I know you just got your life back and you're on the path to self discovery, but come back to Port Charles, marry me and raise a family'? It's not fair. To either of us. He'd never know for sure why he came back."

"Jason cares about you."

"He may, but he needs to know himself. And then we can get to know each other. And if we were meant to be, then we'll be. Baby not withstanding."

"So, you're being noble?"

"A bit. But, I'm also a scaredy-cat." More deep breathing for the panic that was starting to surface. "No matter what I may or may not feel about Jason. I am alone, about to have a baby…"

Emily completely bridged the distance, putting her arms around her friend.

"Lizzy, you're not alone."

"Em," she said, softly.

"Yes, hon."

"Don't call me Lizzy."

Both of the women broke into smiles.

Emily took the initiative.

"You are so not alone. I'm going to be there for everything. Doctor's appointments, ultrasounds, morning sickness, bloating, fatigue. I'm going to read all the books, so you don't have to. You know, "what to expect…" All those… I'll even read that Spock one. Even though I don't know what an alien knows about raising babies…"

"Emily, you are such a goof ball."

"I am aware. It's part of my charm."

Elizabeth went from light hearted to tearful again in a blink of an eye.

"What am I going to do? What am I going to tell my parents? My Grams? Can you imagine that conversation? 'Hi, Mom and Dad, I got impregnated by an almost stranger, who's left for South America. I'm keeping the baby…'

"Elizabeth, come on. What are they going to do? Disown you? Just tell them, get it out there and deal with the fall out. It'll be easier in the long run."

"Says she who is not knocked up."

"Whatever, Preggers, get your butt in gear so we can have lunch. All this angst make me want chili-cheese fries."

Elizabeth went a little green.

"Bathroom," she said and ran from the room.

Emily sighed quietly, "Aw, crap."

Dear Elizabeth,

After our phone conversation I realized that we never got past the niceties to get to the reason I called. I want you to be aware that before we talked, Emily told me that you are pregnant. I hope that you won't be angry with her, as we all know that she can not keep a secret to save her life. But she loves us both and she's only trying to help.

I know you said that you don't want me to return to Port Charles just because you're pregnant. I'm sure you know what you want and I will respect your wishes. I know you don't want me to stop my life to accommodate you. My being with you would never be an accommodation of any kind. I also know that our situations are not ideal. I decided to travel to South America in the hopes of finding out who Jason Morgan is. I have spent so much time being told who I use to be that I don't know who I am right now.

But I would like to tell you how I feel about this whole situation. I know that we don't know each that well, I mean well enough to have sex, but I don't know your dreams or your plans for the future but I would like too. I don't really have any memories of you from before….. But I feel that we have a connection. I realize that you have your life and that a child isn't something that you planned for just yet. But I think eventually, we'll give that child a good life, whether we plan to be together or not.

I hope that you will keep me informed on how you're doing and how the baby is doing. I'm over overwhelmed by the thought of you having my child, but not anxious. And though I'd like to be there first hand, I will respect your wishes.

I have attached all my contact information if you need me for anything. I have also attached information in regards to a bank account I've made available for you and the baby.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Jason

Dear Jason,

After receiving your letter, I wasn't sure what I would write in response. And I'm still not. I just wanted to respond, so that you know I got it and how I feel.

I was angry at Emily. But I find it's hard to stay mad at her for more than a few minutes. It's because she genuinely has a good heart and would never actually do anything to hurt anyone.

I agree that you need to have time to yourself. I think it's the most important thing for you right now. I also wanted to know if you were interested in ultrasound pictures and the like. Let me know and I'll send copies.

I don't know how I feel right now. My OB says I may not for a while, with all the hormones, until they settle down. If they ever do, I feel like I'll be on this roller coaster forever.

I've been feeling overwhelmed too at the prospect of a baby, but Emily is so gung ho and cheerful that it's easy to relax.

Thank you for the offer to help with money, but I think we'll be okay. I hope you get all that you need from your time alone.

Elizabeth