Chapter 2

Sam sat on the floor leaning over the coffee table with chopsticks between her fingers. Jason was a few feet from her on the couch and was holding a fork, digging through a Chinese food takeout container. He always thought it was funny when people felt the need to eat with chopsticks. They were not in China and forks were readily available so there was no need to make eating any more difficult.

Jason found himself growing tired of take out. The only time the did not order out would be the nights that he cooked dinner. He wasn't good for much more then some steak or chicken that he cooked on the George Foreman grill in the kitchen. Sam would not even attempt to cook. The only thing she did in the kitchen was make herself some of those stupid fruity smoothies that tasted like they were made of pure sugar. She made herself one every morning and drank that instead of coffee, which was probably why she was dragging by mid morning because the sugar rush she was on had worn out. Even if she had a romantic dinner for them she would order food from the Metrocourt restaurant or another place in town and transfer the food from the take out containers onto plates.

He didn't expect her to be June Clever or Mrs. Cunningham but she didn't cook, didn't clean cringed at the sight of blood or other bodily fluids. What would she do if a baby threw up? None of those characteristics made for a good mother. He was sure that she would love a child but is love enough?

The question made him think the same of their relationship. Is love enough and more then that, does he even love her anymore or have they just fallen back into a routine that was comfortable for both of them.

Jason stared at Sam as he pondered their relationship. She broke him from his daze when she spoke. "It's been a rough day. I'm going to go upstairs and take a long bath." As predicted, she stood from her spot on the floor and left her empty take out container on the table. Then disappeared up the stairs. Jason rolled his eyes and cleaned up the mess from dinner. If it were up to her she'd leave the empty containers on the coffee table until the cleaning service came two days from now.

Once his work was done he sat on the couch and twisted off the top of his beer. His eyes closed as the cold ale flooded his mouth. He almost spit the drink out of his mouth when a scene flashed behind his eyelids. He placed the beer on the table and rubbed his palms over his eyes. Closing his eyes again he replayed the scene. Elizabeth was hovering above him and he could almost feel her hands behind his head, holding him. This time he could clearly hear what she was saying to him. "You have to stay with me, for the baby's sake. It's not Lucky's Jason. The baby is ours."

Was his mind playing tricks on him. He'd been thinking a lot lately about having a child with Sam and with the possibility of Elizabeth's child being his, maybe it was just wishful thinking. He wasn't one to daydream so why would he be imagining this.

For a few minutes he sat there and thought about the possibility of his thoughts being reality. Did she really say that to him that night and if she did why would she not ever mention it again? Without telling Sam he was leaving, Jason grabbed his key and left. He had to go ask Elizabeth or this would drive him insane.

Jason arrived at the hospital in mere minutes. He thought she would still be there and surely enough when he stepped out of the stairwell, she was standing there at the nurses desk.

She looked up from her paperwork and saw him approaching, "Hey, what are you doing back here so late?" she asked with a genuine smile.

"I… uh, I need to talk to you about something. Do you have a break soon?" He asked hesitantly.

She could sense his tension, "I am done in about five minutes." She answered, looking at her watch. "Is everything ok?"

Jason nodded, "I'll meet you down in the lobby."

Just like that, he was gone, leaving he wondering what was wrong.

Fifteen minutes later she stepped off the elevator in a pair of jeans and a green sweater. He felt slightly less tense when he saw her, she was beautiful although she did look slightly tired. He did not know how to feel about what he thought he remember about that night and she was the only one that could clear it up. It wasn't like her to lie, especially about something so big so he repeatedly had told himself that it was just wishful thinking.

Elizabeth pulled on her wool coat and wrapped her scarf around her neck.

"Can we go for a walk?" Jason asked.

Elizabeth nodded and started for the door, he followed close behind. They walked silently down the street to the waterfront. When they reached their familiar bench, Jason stopped. "Do you want to sit?"

Elizabeth shook her head, "I'm fine. Jason's what's wrong? You look preoccupied. You looked preoccupied when I saw you earlier too."

Jason sat on the bench, "Well I've been having these dreams. Well I wouldn't actually call them dreams, they feel more like memories but they just can't be real… I don't know. At first I couldn't clearly understand it but then tonight…" He took a deep breath, "Elizabeth, I know you told me I'm not but… and I the father of your baby?"

Elizabeth looked at him in shock. She could not speak and could feel her legs begin to shake. Turning to look out over the water, she leaned into the railing as he continued.

"See, the reason I am asking is because of that night in the church. I keep seeing you there over me, frantic because you found me shot… again." he chuckled slightly when he said again. "I just… I hear you telling me that the baby is mine and I just can't get it out of my head. I don't understand why I am thinking or imagining this, maybe because of Sam... I don't know." His eyes were fixed on the back of her head. His stomach turned in knots because she would not look at him, was she mad that he was asking or worse, was it true and she lied to him. "Elizabeth? Am I?"

She stood there for another second longer before he saw the back of her head nod up an down followed by her shoulders started moving, she was crying. He sat there in shock, wondering if this was really happening, did he imagine the nod, was he going crazy?

Willing himself to move, he stood up and walked over to where she stood. He placed his hand on the ice cold railing beside her and asked again, "Am I the father?"

She looked over at him with tear flooded eyes and choked out one word, "Yes."

His heart skipped ten beats before it started again, "But… but you said…" he trailed off.

"C…Carly had already told you the baby was Lucky's. I got the results and you had to leave town because you'd beat up Ric and I got the results back and by the time I had a chance to look at them, Sonny was standing right there and he asked me who the father was. And I told him it… it was who I expected. I-I meant you. I was going to tell you the truth but then you said that it was probably for the best for everyone if the baby is Lucky's. You and Sam were trying to work things out… I was confused and you were talking about the danger and I don't know... I got lost." She rambled.

Jason took a few steps back, he moved back to the bench and sat down. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands as he tried to process the thought that he was going to be a father. His hands were shaking and he was trying to get control of his emotions, "I don't understand… you figured that Carly had told me it was Lucky's so you'd just go with that?" His tone was cool and abrupt. Elizabeth could tell that he was angry with her but could not tell if he was happy about being the father.

"I didn't really plan anything out Jason." She sighed. "I guess it was just the easier decision… you know, protect Lucky, protect myself."

His head looked over at her, "Protect yourself?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

She turned to face him, "I don't mean it like that Jason, I know you wouldn't hurt me but I was married when I slept with you Jason, do you know what that makes me? And you said it yourself that day that this baby could be in danger if the wrong people found out that you were the father. I'm not saying that what I did was right, but…"

"But you made the decision without me!" he said raising his voice. "I would have kept this to myself if that was what you wanted but YOU didn't even trust me with the truth."

Fresh tears rolled down her face, "I'm sorry Jason. I didn't want to hurt you."

His expression was angry but the anger was masking the hurt that he felt. How could she lie to him and not trust him, that was what hurt him. "I, I just can't believe you lied." He voiced in a defeated tone. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and shivered. Jason stood from the bench, "I'll walk you back to your car, it's not good for you to be out here in the cold this long."

Elizabeth just stood there, unable to move. "I know you hate me and…"

"I don't hate you Elizabeth… I just need some time to process this." He said then silently escorted Elizabeth and his unborn child back to her car. "I need some time." Was all he said as he opened her car door for her. Before she could even start the engine he was gone.

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