PART EIGHT

-Port Charles Grille-

Katherine stood there in the center of the restaurant as her face flushed with rage, red… then nearly purple. "I'm sorry… I don't I heard you correctly."

Elizabeth drew strength from Nikolas and their companions. She lifted her free hand to touch Nikolas' chest, felt the steady thump of his heart beneath the suit coat and dress shirt. "Nikolas asked me to marry him and I agreed."

Turning her ire on her former lover, Katherine narrowed her gaze at him. "What kind of game do you think this is?"

"I don't think any of this is a game," Nikolas answered back in a tone considerably softer than her own shrill inquisition. "When I thought of who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with," he looked at Elizabeth with a soft smile, "there was no question."

"Maybe you didn't hear me the other day, Nikolas." Katherine's shoulders rose and fell with her anger. "I told you that the only way you were going to be a part of my child's… OUR child's life is if WE were married." She glared at them all in turn. "Don't think that because you have the misguided support of your father and your aunt… that you'll be able to weasel out of your responsibility."

"Oh, I know my son," Stefan interjected, "and he is dedicated to his responsibility. He will be a loving and dedicated father to his child. You have no worries on that account, Miss Bell."

"You," she pointed her finger in Stefan's face, "you told Nikolas to do this just to spite me!"

"Spite has nothing to do with this, Katherine." Nikolas looked around the room before looking at his former lover. "If you'd like to talk about this, I'll be happy to finish this conversation in a less public place."

"Oh, I'm sure these people would love to know how you threw me over for a little slut who jumps from one brother to another."

Nikolas tried to push Elizabeth behind him, but she wasn't having any of it. "You're right, Miss Bell," Elizabeth leaned into Nikolas and felt his arm reach around her back and settle his hand on her hip, "I've already had that thrown in my face, but I'm sure you can sympathize."

"With you, you little tramp?" Katherine's eyes froze with hate. "Why would I sympathize with you?"

"After all," Elizabeth smiled up into Katherine's face, "it's just one level better than sleeping with a father and a son." When Katherine had no immediate response, Elizabeth shrugged. "Well, we'd like to get back to our celebration. I'm sure you'll understand. Good bye, Miss Bell."

Turning back to their table, Elizabeth felt Stefan move to help her with her chair and Nikols to help Alexis with hers. By the time the four were seated they looked up to see that Katherine had left.

"Well, if you ever decide to try your hand at law, Elizabeth," Alexis laughed, "I want you on my side in court." She gave the younger woman a bright smile. "I don't think Katherine knew what was happening."

Nikolas reached out and covered Elizabeth's hand where it lay on the table. "How are you feeling?"

"Me?" The word all but squeaked out of her mouth and Elizabeth blushed. "I don't think I can feel my hands or my feet."

The whole group shared a soft laugh as their server walked up to the table.

- Kelly's -

Halfway through the morning rush, Elizabeth was beginning to get used to the questions and congratulations that came with her ring. It was a distraction, but a nice one. Most people just wished her joy and continued on with whatever they were doing. It was her co-workers that were giving her the hardest time.

Kimmy leaned over the counter and gazed longingly at the ring. "It's sooooo romantic! You losing your guy in that fire… and then falling in love again!"

Elizabeth set the used dishes in her tray and started to wipe down the table. "It's not all flowers and romance, Kimmy. For a long time I felt like I didn't have anything to look forward to."

"And now?" The younger girl prompted Elizabeth hoping to hear more. "Now, you have a wedding to plan… how exciting!"

"I have a little bit of time before the wedding. Right now I'm just getting used to the idea of it all."

"Exactly how long do I have to convince Nikolas that he's making a huge mistake?"

Elizabeth froze in place and took a deep breath before straightening up. "Hello, Miss Bell," Elizabeth was enjoying the moment, copying Stefan's manner of addressing Katherine. "What brings you here today? The sugarless muffins? Orange juice cravings?"

"You're so proud of yourself, aren't you?"

Elizabeth dropped her rag into her tray and picked up the half-full container. "I'm good at my job and I enjoy it," she winced as she looked back at Katherine, "most of the time."

"You give Nikolas your puppydog eyes and your weepy moans and he just fell right into your lap."

Rounding the counter to put her dishes away, Elizabeth kept up her end of the conversation. "I'm not sure about the dog thing, but I've had my share of tears in the last few months, but Nikolas and I have been there for each other. And I think I would have noticed Nikolas falling into my lap. He's a bit bigger than I am… it probably would have hurt."

Elizabeth caught a signal from one of the other tables and nodded in reaction, reaching for the coffee pot. Crossing to the table she refilled the cups before she headed back to the counter.

Katherine was now blocking her way. "You're only a little girl," Katherine seethed. "Nikolas is going to tire of you soon enough and he'll be back in my bed."

"Oh, I don't know," Elizabeth gave her adversary a broad grin, "I'm a quick study." The cook called out an order and Elizabeth moved to scoot around her. "If you'll excuse me, I need-"

Katherine didn't say a thing. All she did was lift her elbow slightly as Elizabeth began to move to the window. The sudden motion pushed Elizabeth's arm, splashing coffee over the hand that held the pot.

-General Hospital-

When Nikolas arrived at the ER he didn't have to ask where Elizabeth was, he could hear the commotion. "Grams, really… I'm fine. I need to get back to work."

"I think you need to have the doctor take a look at it, Elizabeth. The burn is swelling."

"I just need some ointment and a bandage and I'll be fine. Kimmy's alone at Kelly's and the lunch rush is about to start."

Nikolas slipped into the examination area, past a shocked Audrey, and sat down beside Elizabeth on the gurney. "What happened?"

Elizabeth looked up at Audrey, hoping the older woman would take the hint the leave. She'd forgotten how stubborn her grandmother was.

"Elizabeth was burned when your former paramour splashed hot coffee on her arm."

"Katherine did this?" Nikolas took hold of her elbow and turned her arm into the light. "Have they brought you anything for the pain?"

Shaking her head, Elizabeth sighed. "No, my grams was the nurse that came in with me, I think she's taking notes on the injury first."

Audrey shook herself mentally. In fact that was her job and she'd been so intent on convincing Elizabeth that this had all been Nikolas' fault that she'd kept her granddaughter waiting for pain meds unnecessarily. "I'll go and find a doctor to review your case." A moment later she turned to leave but stopped when she heard Elizabeth's voice.

"Grams?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

Audrey felt about three inches tall when she left the exam area.

Nikolas examined the burn again. "Katherine did this to you?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I'm not sure she did it entirely on purpose," she explained, "I wasn't giving her the reaction she wanted. She wanted a fight, I had an order to pick up, so I started to move around her. She bumped my arm and-"

"Did you call the police?"

"Police?" Elizabeth almost laughed at the idea. "I don't think Katherine would be willing to talk custody if I put her in jail for assault. So I'm just going to treat this like an accident."

Nikolas glare at her arm. "If this keeps up, I might be tempted to return the favor."

Elizabeth touched his arm with her uninjured hand. "Hey… careful… that's the mother of your child you're talking about."

He shook his head. "She may be carrying my child, but I wasn't joking when I said I wanted you in my life, Elizabeth. That I would want someone like YOU to be the mother of my child."

Blushing, a color less violent than the injury on her arm, Elizabeth shrugged. "A diner waitress who sometimes drops glasses if she's not careful? Some mother I'll be."

"Mother?!"

They looked up as Audrey re-entered the exam area. "Hey Grams, is the doctor coming?"

"What did you mean, Elizabeth?" She glared at Nikolas. "Is that why you're marrying her… because she's pregnant?"

Nikolas stood up from the gurney. "Mrs. Hardy, please… don't jump to any conclusions."

"Well, what am I to think, Nikolas?" She looked from one to the other. "You come to me with a ring on her hand less than a year after Lucky dies and then I hear you talking about her being a mother to his child? When is this going to happen?"

"We are marrying on my birthday, Grams." Elizabeth winced as she moved. "And no, I'm not pregnant… but as Nikolas' wife I'm sure one day I will be the mother of his child." Elizabeth sighed. "So if the doctor is on his way, great… I'll just sit here, but I really don't have enough strength to argue with you anymore."

Audrey could hear the frustration in her granddaughter's voice and see the pinch of pain in her face. 'I'm not… I mean… the doctor is on his way and he'll be able to give you a prescription for the pain."

Nikolas sat down beside Elizabeth and guiding her head down to his shoulder for her to rest. He met Audrey's eyes with a nod and a smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Hardy, we really appreciate your help."

She left them when tears stung her own eyes.