Disclaimer: No I don't any of these characters. I wish I did because then they would be together intead of in nowheresville!
Title: Convenient Proposal

Circumstance

"I'm fine," Elizabeth sighed with a smile. "Kelly looked me over and said there was nothing wrong with the baby."

"Everything isn't fine when you're passing out in the living room, Elizabeth." Jason could not describe the panic that washed over him when Spinelli, rambling incoherently with his Shakespearean touch, informed him that he had found 'the fair Elizabeth' gaunt and pale, and unable to rouse her. "I don't want you taking any chances," he said concerned. "I think you should take a break from work. Maybe a vacation?"

"Jason!" she laughed, noting the concern in his eyes. "I am perfectly fine; and I am capable of deciding whether I need bed rest or not."

"You're not going to work around the issue of your fainting."

"Look, it was probably stress. That's what Kelly said," Liz explained reassuringly. "Plus I hadn't really eaten anything for lunch..."

"Why would you be stressed?" He silently chided himself for even asking.

With everything going on, obviously Elizabeth was stressed. Perhaps this marriage was a mistake? Maybe he should offer her a way out?

"Lucky came by."

He knew that. Milo had informed him.

"What did he want?"

"He was coming by to tell me he would take me back," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. Liz remembered the words that had passed her lips. She hated how the words struck out at her ex-husband, but she meant them. She meant every word. "And we got into an argument."

"Are you okay?" He reached out and grasped her hand, squeezing it gently.

"Uh, yeah," Liz nodded, trying to dismiss the hollow feeling inside.

Lucky had been such a huge part of her life. She had loved him with all of her heart. To think about how their relationship had deteriorated shattered the remaining pieces of her heart. All that was left of her were pieces; and she didn't know how to put herself back together again.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself, she said to herself. At this point, she did not have the luxury of wallowing in self-pity. Cameron needed her to be strong. This baby growing inside of her needed her to be strong. Even if her life was in shambles, her children would not feel the brunt of it.

"You don't have to hide from me, Elizabeth," Jason said softly. "I know you're going through a whole lot and you don't have to lie about how you're feeling. You can always tell me the truth."

"I know." She tried to smile. "But it's hard Jason. I never thought I'd ever be in this sort of position," Liz replied, her tone hushed as if fearful that the baby inside of her would hear the awful confession. "I never imagined us getting married because I was pregnant with your child. I never imagined being in a marriage of convenience, if that's what this is." She felt herself tensing as she spoke the words that had been silently rolling around her head for days.

"Breathe," he said, moving closer to her bedside. Suddenly he felt his body tense as the heart monitor began to beep erratically. "Calm down and breathe."

Elizabeth took one deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her eyes met his and they were filled with such worry. It should have made her upset, in a way; but she found herself soothed by the concern that he had for her. Because he does care about me and our baby.

"I know we haven't gotten everything figured out yet," Jason acknowledged. "But what we need to think about right now is your health - yours and the baby's. If you think we've made a mistake by getting married..."

"No," she blurted out. Elizabeth bit her lip, not sure why she said that. For the past couple of days she had been thinking they had rushed into it. But when Jason said it, she couldn't help but think he was wrong. "I mean..."

"You don't need to explain."

"Listen Jason, I know that things have been uncertain. Maybe we should have discussed the details of how this was going to work," Liz replied slowly. "But I'm so glad that everyone knows the truth. I'm happy that I don't have to lie anymore."

"But you didn't need to marry me to do that."

"I know," she whispered. Elizabeth looked away. There was a question she had been wanting to ask, pondering it over and over in her head. If there was any time to ask, it was now. "Do you regret it?"

Jason knew that it was a loaded question. Were there things - consequences - that he regretted the decision brought? Yes. His thoughts drifted to the look of betrayal in Sam's eyes. But in the end, did he regret the decision in itself, to marry Elizabeth? No. Fundamentally he knew it was something their child would need. And that was the biggest priority for Jason right now - what his child needed. "No."

Elizabeth felt a rush of relief pour over her.

"Knock knock," a familiar voice chimed as the hospital room door opened. "Is the fairest and their progeny available for a visit?"

"Spinelli," Jason said, frowning as he turned to see who the visitor was. "What are you doing here?"

"Dearest of the baby bearing medical field said fair Elizabeth had awakened and was well," the tussled haired teen explained meekly. "And I just wanted to see for myself that your partner and mate was doing well. As it is obvious it is now." He pointed excitedly at Elizabeth.

"I'm fine, Spinelli." Elizabeth smiled warmly at the boy-esque man who had been fluttering around her door since she had been admitted. Ever so often she would see a blur pass by the small window opening within the door. It wasn't until now that she realized it had been him. "I hear, from a good source," she glanced up at Jason, "that you were the hero in this scenario."

"No," he protested, waving his hands dismissively at the compliment. "I didn't..."

"Spinelli," Jason sighed. "Yes, you did have something to do with making sure Elizabeth was fine."

"You give me too much credit." The look on his face was utter delight as he received praise from Jason.

"Obviously," she said. "If you hadn't found me, something much worse could have happened."

"Milo was the first on the scene," he explained quickly. "Dylan and I merely happened to stumble upon the scene."

"Still," Jason said. "You had the presence of mind to phone the ambulance."

Spinelli opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted.

"I know because Milo told me everything."

"It was the only course of action," Spinelli said to Elizabeth, who was warmed by the boy's obvious respect and loyalty toward Jason. "Unheralded Stone Cold and your progeny could have suffered untold harm...as well as yourself."

"Well, thank you Spinelli." Elizabeth was grateful that she was found and brought to the hospital. She rubbed her stomach absentmindedly. "And our baby thanks you as well."

This seemed to bring sheer joy to the teenager. He seemed to have no words.

"Spinelli," Jason interrupted Spinelli's attempt to bask in the appreciation. "I need you to find Dr. Lee for me, please."

"Of course, Stone Cold." The brown-haired teen spun around and set off on his mission, only to come to a screeching halt as he exited the door. Peeking his head around the door he smiled, "Again, fairest Elizabeth, I am ecstatic that you're in complete health." And then he disappeared, closing the door behind him.

Jason shook his head and rubbed his mouth at the teen. He didn't think he'd ever get used to that boy and his strange ways.

"Well, seems like you've got quite the fan in Spinelli," Elizabeth laughed, tucking herself under the hospital sheets. "I don't think I've seen anyone so enamored."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "He is one of a kind."

"He seems to have latched on pretty good."

"He's a good kid."

"Well obviously he's got good taste," Liz replied, reaching out and clasping Jason's hand. "So I can't argue with that."

"You might change your mind after living with him after a while," he joked.

They both laughed. Then suddenly silence settled between them.

"We'll be okay, right Jason?" She knew what she felt for him was real. However, there was always the underlying question of how Jason could let go of the obvious feelings he had for Sam. For pete's sake, he was planning on marrying the woman.

"We'll get through this," he answered with a nod. "Together as a family."

-&-

Sam sat at the bar downing another drink. She'd already had several. AT the beginning she reasoned that it would make this pain go away. However it didn't. It just seemed to make it worse and everything so much more tragic.

"Don't you think you've had enough to drink?" the bartender asked warily.

"I didn't ask your opinion," she slurred. "Your job is to fill this glass whenever I ask."

"I think you've had enough."

"Again, I didn't ask."

"I don't hink he was asking your opinion either," a voice chuckled from behind her.

"What the f-?"

"That's it. I'm cutting you off," the bartender stated, grabbing the glass sitting in front of her.

"Excuse me?" Sam could not believe the way she was being treated. "I pay good money to get drunk," she said irrately. Glaring at the bartender she stood up or tried to. For some reason they had put a stupid stool right behind her, causing her to stumble. But she recovered quickly. "So keep the drinks coming."

"Sorry." The bartender shook his head and walked to the other side of the bar and began serving another customer.

"GET BACK HERE!" she yelled, as she wobbled backwards.

"Whoa," a stranger laughed as he caught her by the arm. "Why don't you just have a seat?"

"Excuse me?" Sam drawled, spinning around to confront the interloper.

He was unkempt and had a scruffy beard.

"Get your hands off me! No one tells me what to do."

"Oh, I think you don't have a choice," he stated calmly. "The bartender certainly isn't going to serve you anymore alcohol."

"And how do you know?"

Sam could not believe how everyone was getting in her business. She could certainly handle her alcohol. The men in this bar were just chauvinistic andbossy and down right pathetic.

"The bossman already told him to cut you off."

"Since when?" She spun around, trying to catch a glimpse of the bastard ruining her binge. "There's no one heeeeere but you!" She lifted her finger and poked him in the chest.

"And you don't look like any kind of Bosssssssman!" She laughed at the insult.

This was fun.

"Oh really?"

"Yesh."

"Well I guess you're not really that good at observations," the man replied, looking her up and down. "In fact I'm surprised you can form a coherent sentence.

"Oh whatever!" Sam groaned. "I don't really care what you think. The fact of the matter is that I don't give a flying leap what you or Jason or Miss Elizabeth Webber think. God, everyone's so pious and a know-it-all! I'm so sick of being told what to do. I'm tired of men like you," she waved at the stranger in disgust, "who lurk around for drunk women to hit on. I'm so sick of people telling me to feel this and that. Not to feel this..."

"You lost me."

"Good," Sam growled. "The more lost the better."

"Look," he frowned. "I think I'd better call you a taxi."

"I'm not going anywhere!" she yelled out loud so the whole bar could hear her. "All I want is another drink! And the service sucks here! So why don't you and your little scruffy bearded self take a hike!"

"Okay," the gruff man sighed. "That's enough of that."

"Oh really?" She narrowed her gaze and leaned in. "What are you going to do about it?" she breathed drowsily.

"This."

Suddenly the room was spinning and she found herself staring at a pair of black dress shoes, her hair hanging in front of her face.

What the hell?

However Sam was in no condition to fight back. In fact, those dress shoes were the last thing she saw before passing out.