Waking up in the early hours of the morning, Elizabeth had tears in her eyes. Her breathing was shallow and she felt like she was about to fall apart right there. Sitting up, she looked to the man beside her and a small smile touched her lips. It was going to take her some time to get over losing her grandmother and she knew that this wasn't the last time she'd wake up crying. She remembers doing that when her puppy was run over.
Pulling herself out of bed, not wanting to wake her fiance, Elizabeth slides into her robe and makes her way downstairs. A cup of hot cocoa will surely calm her nerves long enough to get back to sleep for a few more hours. She reached the bottom step when her cellphone started ringing on the desk. She had forgotten that she left it there and rushed to answer it before it woke up Jason.
"Yeah?" she answers, making her way to the kitchen.
"Hey, Blaze." her brother replies. "Up for some cocoa?"
"That predictable?" Elizabeth countered, opening up the fridge for the milk. "I'm okay."
"Sure you are." Steven poured himself a cup of coffee. "Do me a favor?"
"What now?"
"Go wake up the fiance and have him help you through this." Steven said seriously. "You know I'd do it, but I'm not there."
"I'm fine, Steven." Elizabeth assures. "All I need is the hot cocoa and I'll be okay."
"Have we met before?" Steven counters. "Go wake him up."
"No need." Elizabeth smiles slightly at Jason, who's standing in the doorway. "He's already awake."
"Good." Steven takes a long gulp of his steaming hot coffee. "I'll see you later. Love you, Blaze."
"Love you too." Elizabeth ends the call before tossing it on the counter. "Did I wake you?"
"I reached for you and you weren't there." Jason concedes, walking over to her. "Everything okay?"
"I woke up crying." Elizabeth admits. "It happens when I'm grieving."
"Why didn't you wake me?" Jason brushes a few strands of hair from her face. "That's what I'm here for."
"You looked so peaceful." Elizabeth smiles softly. "I didn't want to bother you."
"Its not bothering me if I want you to do it." Jason pulls her into his arms. "Wake me up next time okay?"
"Okay." Elizabeth melts into him as his lips claim hers. "Want some cocoa?"
"Sure." Jason laughs softly before helping her make it. "What do you have planned today?"
"I'm thinking about going over to see your grandmother before planning the wedding with Maxie." Elizabeth says as she follows him out into the living room. "What about you?"
"Sonny and I have a few meetings to handle before we check in at the warehouses."
"Should I assume that Johnny and Marco are going to be with me all day today?"
"I'd tell one of them to go back to the warehouse, but neither would do it." Jason concedes, shaking his head. "They've both decided that their only job is protecting you."
"Really?" Elizabeth arched her eyebrow. "Or is my future husband being a little overprotective?"
"Both." he smirks before kissing her softly.
After having their cup of hot cocoa, Elizabeth and Jason went back to bed for a few more hours before waking up and going their separate ways. With a long, breathtaking kiss goodbye, Elizabeth made her way to the Quartermaine estate while Jason went across the hall to Sonny's penthouse. Arriving at the estate, Elizabeth and the two guards were let in by the butler and guided to Lila in the family room. After greetings were made, Elizabeth joined her for some tea.
"How're you holding up, dear?" Lila questioned, taking a sip of her tea.
"Some days are harder than others." she admits. "I'm as good as expected."
"I'm here if you ever need to talk." Lila assures, smiling softly.
"Well, I actually came here to ask you for a favor." Elizabeth admits, setting her cup down. "You know that me and Jason are getting married, right?"
"Yes, he told me." Lila shook her head. "I'm really happy for you both. Anything you need, just ask."
"Well, I was hoping that we could have the reception here." Elizabeth glances around the room. "I really loved the way they did your birthday and I was hoping to have something similar for the reception."
"Of course." Lila's eyes were beaming. "I would love to host your reception here."
"Really?" Elizabeth smiled brightly. "It would mean so much to us."
"Have you set a date?"
"My birthday." Elizabeth concedes. "We're going to have the ceremony at the church, of course, and having the reception here would be absolutely perfect."
"The estate is completely at your disposal." Lila assures. "You'll let me know if I can help in any way, won't you?"
"Letting us use your home is more than enough." Elizabeth was starting to truly feel happy about this. "I'm not sure I should ask, but how's Emily doing?"
"Oh, dear." Lila sighs, shaking her head. "Monica and Alan have taken her to see Dr. Collins. I truly hope it'll help."
"For what its worth, I hope she's okay." Elizabeth says softly. "I'd like to think that our friendship wasn't destroyed on purpose."
"So do I." Lila admits. "I know this might be asking too much, but will you try to be there for her? Whatever you can do, it'll be truly appreciated."
"If I can help Emily, I will." Elizabeth assures. "She still matters to me...even after everything, I still care about her."
Leaving the Quartermanine estate, Elizabeth made her way to Carly's penthouse. She still had some time before Maxie would be coming over and she actually misses Carly. She hasn't hung out with her for a while and she wanted to check in on her friend. Being let in by Ritchie, Elizabeth found Carly sitting with the boys.
"Hey!" Carly greeted, getting up to hug her. "How's the bride-to-be?"
"I'm okay." Elizabeth smiles slightly, pulling away from her. "You?"
"No way...for once, I'm not talking about me." Carly laughs softly. "Yeah, I know, shocker right?"
"You're not as selfish as people make you out to be." Elizabeth shakes her head. "I'm really okay, I promise."
"Okay." Carly shrugged, walking with her over to the boys. "Still not talking about me."
"Aunt Lizzie, can you look at this for me?" Michael spoke up, sliding his sketch over to her. "Does it look okay?"
Elizabeth sat down next to Michael, looking over his sketch. "You're getting the hang of it." Elizabeth smiles as she slides it back to him. "A few more lessons and you just might be better than me."
"Yeah, right." Michael shook his head. "I'm not that good."
"But you will be." Elizabeth assures. "You just have to keep at it."
"Okay." Michael looks down at his sketch. "I'll keep practicing."
"Good." Elizabeth smiled, really happy that he's liking art so much. "I have a favor to ask you."
"Shoot." Michael looks up at her.
"Your Uncle Jason and I are getting married and I was wondering if you'd like to be the ring bearer." Elizabeth explains. "What do you say?"
"That's the person that gives the priest the rings, right?"
"Yes." Elizabeth shook her head. "You'd hold onto the rings until its time for me and Uncle Jason to put it on each other's fingers."
"Okay." Michael says without hesitation. "I'll do it."
Carly couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. She wasn't at all sure about her at first, but now she was glad that she gave Elizabeth a chance. She's really good for Jason and she's amazing with Michael and Morgan. Carly can only imagine how she'd be with her own kids, though she's sure that won't be happening any time soon. Michael jumped up from the chair and went up to his room, something about wanting to practice his technique a little more while Leticia took Morgan for his bath.
"Maxie's going to be my maid of honor." Elizabeth says as they sit down at the table. "But I was wondering if you'd like to be a bridesmaid with Skye."
"Sure, I'd love to." Carly assures. "I know that Sonny is going to be the best man. Do you know who he'll choose as groomsmen?"
"Nikolas and Zander." Elizabeth shakes her head. "I was going to put them on my side, but Jason said he didn't mind having them on his side."
"Anything for the bride." Carly could just imagine how that conversation went. "Do you need any help planning?"
"Actually, if you want, maybe you can take care of the reception." Elizabeth admits. "More specifically, the decorating. Maxie and I can take care of the rest."
"Leave it to me." Carly was hoping to have a hand in the reception decorating. "I'll take care of it."
"Great." Elizabeth stood up. "I have to go, Maxie will be here soon, but I'll be over for dinner."
As soon as Maxie got there, nothing else was discussed outside of planning the wedding. Elizabeth had to reassure Maxie that Jason was handling the technical parts of things. Maxie was very organized and she wanted to be sure that the marriage license will be ready in time for the wedding. She knew that this was going to be hectic, but Elizabeth had no idea just how much went into planning a wedding. Maxie finally allowed them to have a break to have lunch at Kelly's.
"Don't worry." Maxie says as they walk into the diner. "Between you and me, we'll have everything set in time for you to get married on your birthday."
"I really appreciate everything you're doing." Elizabeth shrugs out of her coat and hangs it up. "I don't think I could plan this without you."
"That's what your twin is for." Maxie said simply, plopping down on a chair. "Mac wanted me to let you know that the prick's hearing is over and he's been sentence to finish off his original sentence."
"Seriously?" Elizabeth eyes her intently. "He's not getting out?"
"Not in this lifetime." Maxie assures. "There's no more appeals left because they took it straight to the supreme court."
"Thank god." Elizabeth lets out a breath of relief. "One less thing to worry about."
"I know." Maxie smiled slightly, laughing when Elizabeth's cellphone started ringing.
"Yeah?" Elizabeth answered.
"Its me." her fiance replies. "How's the planning going?"
"Almost halfway done." Elizabeth concedes. "How're things going with you?"
"We've got two more meetings and then we're heading to the warehouses." Jason got into the town car. "I hate to ask this, but I need a favor."
"Name it." Elizabeth leans back so the waitress can put down her plate.
"Can you call Monica and ask what she wants?" Jason gave the driver the okay to take off. "She's been calling and I don't have time to call her back."
"Sure...I'll give her a call." Elizabeth assures. "I'll let you know what she says."
"Thanks." Jason really hated asking her. "I'll see you when we're done."
"Okay." Elizabeth ended the call before dialling Monica's number.
"Monica Quartermaine." she answered.
"Hi Mrs. Quartermaine, its Elizabeth." Elizabeth takes a deep breath. "Jason said you're trying to get ahold of him, is everything okay?"
"Oh, Elizabeth, I just needed to talk to my son." Monica assures. "Is he busy?"
"He's swamped with work, but I can give him a message for you if you want."
"No, that's okay." Monica sighed, a little nervous to ask what she needed to ask, but voicing it regardless. "I know I probably shouldn't ask, but can you come to the hospital?"
"Is this about Emily?"
"Yes." Monica confirms. "We've admitted her to the psych ward and I think seeing you might do her some good."
"Um, sure." Elizabeth says, remembering her conversation with Lila. "I'll be right there."
"I'm coming with you." Maxie says immediately, cutting off anything she was about to say.
"Okay." Elizabeth gives in, not wanting to argue the point.
Elizabeth had their food put into to-go containers before paying for lunch and heading to the hospital. Johnny and Marco kept their distance, but they weren't too far away. Maxie and Elizabeth found Alan and Monica outside the room that Emily was admitted into. She wasn't sure what her doing there would help but she was there regardless.
"Psychological projection?" Elizabeth questioned, confused as to what that meant. "I don't understand."
"Dr. Collins seems to think that Nikolas's rejection sent her into a spiral." Monica explains. "She's projecting her insecurities onto you and Jason since the age difference is pretty much the same."
"Since it didn't work out with Nikolas, she thinks that it won't work out with me and Jason." Elizabeth shakes her head, understanding a little more. "I don't understand how me being here will help, though."
"Emily's case is the most extreme psychological projection that Dr. Collins has ever seen." Alan wishes that this didn't have to happen. "He thinks that if you talk to her, maybe it'll sink in that you and Jason are in love and it'll help her face her own emotions."
"But, from what I've heard, the only person that can help a patient out of this kind of defence mechanism is the patient themselves."
"Will you at least try?" Monica questions pleadingly.
"I don't know what good it'll do, but I'll try." Elizabeth concedes. "Maxie, wait out here, okay?"
"First sign of trouble, I'm bursting in there regardless." Maxie says seriously.
"Vibrantly noted." Elizabeth smiles slightly before taking a deep breath and walking inside. "Hey, Emily."
"Elizabeth." Emily looks at her carefully. "You came."
"Of course I came." Elizabeth walks over to stand by her bedside. "You okay?"
"I will be." Emily shakes her head. "Now that you and Jason are over."
"What?" Elizabeth looks at her confused. "Me and Jason aren't over."
"But you're here." Emily says like its obvious. "That means that you believe me...that you're not good for each other."
"No...that means that your parents called me." Elizabeth corrects. "Emily, your brother and I are getting married."
"No!" Emily nearly shouts. "No! You two don't belong together. Trust me Elizabeth...you're not good together."
"We're happy and we're getting married." Elizabeth assures. "Maybe if you're up to it, you can come to the wedding."
"No! You can't get married." Emily shakes her head abruptly, grabbing Elizabeth's arm. "You have to stop this! Stop this before its too late."
"Emily, you're hurting me." Elizabeth tries to yank her arm free, but Emily's gripping it too tightly. "Em, let go!"
"You have to see the truth!" Emily says seriously. "Please! You and Jason will hurt each other."
"Emily, we love each other." Elizabeth says trying to ignore the pain in her arm. "Please, just see that and accept it. I'm marrying Jason on my birthday."
"No!" Emily shouts. "No! This can't be happening...how can it? I...I just...No!"
Maxie walks through the door, helping Elizabeth pry Emily's grip on her hand before guiding her friend out the door. Elizabeth had tears in her eyes because she could see how deeply troubled Emily was. Her former best friend is truly hurting and she wishes that she could help her, but there was no use. Nothing Elizabeth did would help Emily now. Apologizing to Alan and Monica, she allowed Maxie and the guys to take her home. Getting inside, Elizabeth told Maxie that she'd be okay and for them to just go.
Sitting in her bedroom, Elizabeth hugged a pillow to her chest as she looked at a picture of her and Emily. It hurt so much that she has lost her best friend and no matter what happened, she wouldn't get that friendship back. Even if they could move past this and Emily returned to the girl she was before, Elizabeth knew that they'd never be best friends again. When Jason got home, he found her curled up in bed, hugging the pillow and gripping Emily's picture in her hand. After calling Sonny to tell him that they wouldn't be there for dinner, Jason crawled into bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. He could see the bruise on her arm and he'll ask her about it later, but for now, he'll just hold her, knowing that the days ahead would be hard, but they'll make it.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reviews!
I love waking up, checking my email and seeing all your reviews. It means a lot.
Hope you liked the update.
p.s. sashahailee, hope you're feeling better and thank you. I'm not great, but I'm getting closer to being okay.
Till next time...