Chapter Seven

"I don't think what goes on between me and Elizabeth is any of your business." Ric said shifting in the hospital bed. He did not know how close Elizabeth and Patrick were but he didn't like the feeling he got.

"See that's where you are wrong. Elizabeth is my friend. To be honest she's more like a sister to me. And well I just want her to be happy." Patrick told the older man.

"You're not going to tell me to stay away from Elizabeth?"

"I don't know you that well just what Elizabeth has told me really. But anyone is better than Jason Morgan." Patrick admitted with disdain. He hated the mob enforcer. Ever since Elizabeth had ended her marriage, Jason had been hanging around.

"What do you mean?" Ric asked concerned for Elizabeth and Cameron.

"He's been sniffing around her since... that's not the point. The two of you have some kind of history. Cam is proof of that."

"Yeah. Elizabeth and I were married. Twice." Ric admitted after several moments of silence. Since coming to Port Charles, before that really, Ric didn't have any friends. It was hard for him to trust people. Telling Patrick the truth certainly couldn't hurt.

"What happened?"

"The first time I screwed things up pretty bad. I thought Elizabeth would never forgive me. Then... she did. The second time is more complicated. I hated Sonny so much back then... Elizabeth heard us fighting she worried I would never stop. She... she didn't want to put a child through that. She got scared and left me."

"You just let her go?" Patrick asked slightly surprised. What little he did know about Ric was he rarely gave up.

"I didn't want to keep hurting her. Let go seemed like the best thing but if I had known Cam was mine..."

"You would have fought?" the doctor questioned. It was no secret he did not like Lucky. Mostly because of how he treated Elizabeth. Ric on the other hand seemed to be worried about Elizabeth than himself.

"Yeah. I would have." Ric said regretfully. "Look Dr. Drake when can I leave?"

"Straight to the point. Elizabeth was right about you. That all depends." Patrick said taking on a professional tone.

"On what?"

"Whether or not you have someone stay with you or not. Your injury wasn't that serious. Our major concern was the blood loss. However that doesn't mean you do not need time to heal because you do. That's why I want someone to stay with you at for several weeks. Preferably someone with medical knowledge."

"Like a private nurse?" Ric asked after a moment.

"Yeah. They can handle your dressings and watch for infection. Things like that. I can recommend some people if you would like."

"That won't be necessary, Patrick. Ric will be staying with us." Elizabeth said standing at the room door.

Both men were shocked at her offer. Ric was the first to speak. "Elizabeth I don't think..."

Elizabeth immediately interrupted. "What? It's the prefect solution. I can make sure your healing properly. While you and Molly get to spend time with Cam."

"What about Lucky?"

"He... he knows about Cam. I told him earlier." Elizabeth said quietly looking away.

"How did he take it?" Ric asked knowing how hurt Lucky was going to be.

"Better than me. I... I feel like I'm stealing his son."

Ric watched Elizabeth closely and knew she felt guilty. It made him hate his father even more. "Elizabeth don't do this to yourself. This is not your fault. Nobody blames you."

"That's what Lucky said. So about coming how with us..."

"I don't want things to be weird between us." Ric said hesitantly. As badly as he wanted to take Elizabeth's offer, Ric didn't want to lose their friendship either.

"They won't be I promise."

Ric could see how much she wanted to do this for him. He briefly thought of the last time Elizabeth took care of him. It was the start of him realizing how much Elizabeth meant to him. Ric knew he was going to give in. her offer was too tempting not to. "Alright I'll stay with you and Cam."

"In that case you can leave in the morning." Patrick said making some notes in Ric's chart.

"That soon? Patrick are you sure that's a good idea?" Elizabeth

"He's doing really well, Elizabeth. I wouldn't let him go home if I didn't..."

"I know." Elizabeth said softly. Patrick was a good doctor and would never risk his patient's life.

"I'm going to leave the two of you alone now." the doctor them after giving his friend a hug. Last night had been hell and he was just grateful they were both alive. It also proved to Patrick that he needed to make things right with Robin.

"Elizabeth I can hire someone you don't have to do this." Ric told her once they were alone.

"Yes I do. I refuse to let Trevor pull anymore stunts."

"So you're going to protect me from Trevor?" Ric asked wanting to laugh at the thought. He did not know why Trevor did any of this but he knew the reasons were no good.

"If I have to. Ric what he did... it was just cruel. You're his son. Didn't he care he was hurting you?"

"Not likely. Trevor and I have always been at odds. He's done stuff like this before. Hey look at me.," he said turning her face towards him. "I'm okay really. The only thing that matters is us and the children. Alright?"

"Yeah." Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked anxiously around the room. Maybe Ric was right. Maybe him staying with her was a bad idea. Elizabeth didn't know how she was going to keep him from discovering the truth. It was too late to do anything about that now. Cameron needed the chance to know Ric. "My Grams is bringing Cam by in a few minutes," she said in an attempt to change the subject.

"Have you told her yet?" Ric asked trying to calm himself. He had spent time with Cameron before but now he knew the young boy was his son.

"I told her about the test but I wanted to tell you the results first. You're worried what she's going to say."

"I am. She hasn't always liked me." Ric pointed out gently. Elizabeth always wanted to think the best of people. It was one of the traits he admired most about her.

"No but she could always see how much you love me. I think that's why she never tried to discourage me from forgiving you."

"I'm..."

"Okay let's make deal no more apologizes to one another." Elizabeth suggested before he could finish. They could both spend a lifetime feeling guilty and apologizing for it. Or they could find away for their family to move on.

"That sounds like a good idea. Deal." Ric easily agreed with a smile.

"Elizabeth, why did you..." Audrey stopped talking as soon as she saw Ric. She immediately knew what this was all about. "Oh. I'm guessing you got the test results."

"Just before the ball." Elizabeth confirmed quietly.

Audrey took a deep breath as she processed the news. It would be a lie to say she had hoped Trevor Lansing was lying. "I see. What are your plans?"

"Grams please don't..."

Ric placed his hand on Elizabeth's arm. He wanted to diffuse this now because Alexis was going to be out for blood. "It's okay, Elizabeth. I know she is just worried about you and Cam. All I know is I want to be apart of Cam's life."

"And Sonny? The last time we went through this you were still obsessed with your brother," the older woman reminded Ric firmly. She didn't want either Elizabeth or Cameron to be hurt again.

"Not anymore. He isn't worth losing my children over." Ric said thinking of the time he lost with Molly because of Sonny.

"You better be sure."

Ric had to smile at the warning. "I am Mrs. Hardy."

"I hope so," Audrey said passing a sleepy Cam to Elizabeth. "Just be careful this time." She told them both before leaving them alon.