Disclaimer…..I do not own GH or the characters…No copy write infringement intended…..Entertainment purposes only….
For all those reading my pen name is BeckyFan1999. Lizbeth2003 was one of my best friends and co-workers. She recently passed away from cancer. Before she died, she had requested that I finish her stories since she was too sick to write. To be honest I am afraid that I will not do her work justice, but I promised to try and complete them.
Although I'm still in the middle of my own story, Sunday would have been Lizbeth2003's thirty-fifth birthday. In honor of her I am attempting to finish up this story since this was to be the last chapter. I truly hope that my writing keeps with how she was writing the characters and that you readers enjoy the update!
Chapter Twenty-Five
Johnny sat in the wooden rocker and stared at the tiny miracle in his arms with awe. Overcome with emotion, he lightly trailed a calloused finger down the tiny fingers curled into a fist. When the infant reflexively grasped his finger he felt his heart constrict with love and pride.
Clearing her throat softly, Emily stepped into the nursery. Her eyes watered at the picture before her eyes. "Absolutely beautiful," she murmured while thickly swallowing the lump of emotion lodged in her throat.
"Has Kelly come out yet?" he asked without looking away from his daughter.
"No, but the nurse said she'll be out in a couple minutes when Jerry demanded an update." She laid a trembling hand on his large shoulder. "Elizabeth's gonna pull through this surgery, Johnny. She has too much to fight for not to."
He finally raised his shattered eyes and met her wet ones. "She crashed once before they even started the C-section, Em." Blinking back the moisture gathering in his eyes, he brushed a finger over the baby's soft downy hair. "I don't think I can do this without her," he confessed, his voice cracking.
"Elizabeth's a fighter, Johnny. You got to have faith. She's not going to leave you and the kids without a fight."
Taking a deep breath, he silently prayed Elizabeth had enough strength to make it back to them. The last two months had been hell, her health deteriorating rapidly. Watching her struggled to bring their daughter into the world was the hardest thing he'd ever done because he couldn't do anything to make it easier as her body started to give out. Kissing the top of his daughter's head, Johnny reluctantly handed her to the waiting nurse. Once outside he gave a short nod and watched as the guard immediately took his place at the nursery entrance.
Returning to the maternity waiting room, he instantly bent down and caught Cam as he ran over to him. Unlike the adults solemnly waiting on word of Elizabeth's condition, Cam positively glowed with excitement. Both Cam and Jake had been kept in the dark about the severity of their mother's illness. Cam chalked her tiredness up to the pregnancy and Jake was still young enough that he just followed his older brother's lead.
"Dad said Mommy had the baby, Johnny!" He hugged his stepfather happily. "Was it a boy or girl? It's a boy, right?"
Ruffling his unruly dark curls, Johnny grinned. The little boy never failed to lighten up any room he was in. Glancing to see Jake asleep on Jason's lap, he returned his attention to the little scamp in front of him. He'd wanted to tell them both together, but he knew there was no way Cam would be put off. A large grin broke across his face. "You have a little sister."
Unable to help the chuckle at seeing his son's bewildered look, John shook his head. "What's wrong?"
Cam wrinkled his nose. "I wanted another brother, Dad. Girls play with dolls and wear pink."
Johnny exchanged an amused look with John. He'd needed that little bit of comic relief. "Sorry, buddy," he told the little boy. "It'll be awhile before she's ready to play with dolls though."
Catching movement out the corner of his eye, Johnny turned and tensed as Kelly approached. Emily swiftly ushered the little boy over to Nadine, who was also now holding Jake. Jason, John, Emily, Nik, AJ, Jerry, and Zander all gathered directly behind Johnny, each holding their breath while waiting on the physician to speak.
Exhausted both mentally and physically, Kelly tugged the surgeon cap off her head before meeting the Irishman's worried eyes. "The surgery was very complicated, Mr. O'Brien. That's why it took longer than I previously anticipated. The good news is the cancer remained isolated to the organs already infected for the most part. I performed a complete hysterectomy and removed both ovaries and fallopian tubes due to some malignant tumors starting grow on the ovaries."
"Is my wife okay?" Johnny interrupted impatiently. Nothing else mattered at the moment. All he wanted to know was if Elizabeth was going to live. Anything else they'd face later, together.
For the first time in over two months when discussing her friend's health, Kelly smiled brilliantly. "Yes. She's going to be sore and will need time to recuperate, but Elizabeth will be just fine. We got all the cancer. She's completely cancer free." Startled as the green eyed hunk suddenly grabbed and swung her around, Kelly squealed and then laughed.
A collective sigh of relief went through the crowd.
"I can never express how much I appreciate all you did for us. Thank you," Johnny stated softly, trying his best to keep his voice from wavering. "Can I see her now?"
"They are moving her into her room from recovery. Give the nurses about another twenty minutes and then they'll come get you."
Ecstatic at the news Emily flung herself at John, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank God!"
Relieved to know the mother of his son had survived the bleak chances given to them just hours ago, he returned the hug before dropping a kiss on top of her head. "Lizabeth's gonna be just fine, baby." Glancing up, he scanned the room before focusing on Johnny. "We're gonna take Cam home, O'Brien. We'll all be back in the morning to check on Liz and the baby."
"Wait!" Zander stepped around the couple. "Before we all go, what did you name your little girl, Johnny?"
He smirked. "I got to choose if it was a boy, Elizabeth if the baby was a girl. She wouldn't share the name she picked. I'm waiting just like you all are too."
Jerry snorted before clapping him on the back. "Doesn't surprise me at all. She enjoys leaving us all in suspense. I'm outta here. Call if you need anything."
Watching as the room emptied out except for Jason, Johnny stepped over and rubbed Jake's back lightly as he slept after Morgan took him back from AJ's girlfriend. "Will you wait and let us tell him about his sister?"
"Yeah, I know Elizabeth will want to see his face. I'll bring him back in the morning to see her." Jason paused and gave him a genuine smile. "Congratulations, O'Brien." While they would never regain a close friendship, the two men had declared a truce and Jason knew exactly how amazing it felt to experience the miraculous feeling of creating a new life.
Acknowledging the comment with a quick curve of the lips, Johnny's attention then shifted the approaching nurse. All thoughts of anything except for seeing Elizabeth fled as he immediately followed the woman without any prompting.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Fighting against the heaviness blanketing her mind, the familiar voice speaking softly to her had her struggling with a renewed vigor. It seemed like an eternity before her eyes finally blinked and she recognized the scent of the hospital. Still weak from the medicines used to sedate her, Elizabeth tried to turn her head in search of the voice talking.
Feeling her small fingers tightened around his own, Johnny's head whipped up and he leaned forward to brush his lips against her forehead before lifting the small cup of water and placing the straw to her parted lips. "Your baby blues never looked so gorgeous," he whispered.
"Our baby?"
"A perfect little angel just like her mom." Seeing her eyes widen, he grinned. "Five pounds eight ounces and nineteen inches with a headful of dark baby fuzz." Tenderly swiping the tears from her cheek, he squeezed her hands. "She's amazing, Lizbits. Although Cam was kinda depressed over the fact that she'll eventually play with dolls."
A hoarse giggle escaped at that tidbit of information. Both her boys had prayed for another brother and had been rather vocal in their preference. "She's healthy?"
"Yes, tiny but healthy." He watched as her eyes briefly closed in relief. "You both are. Kelly said the surgery was a success, baby." His voice dropped. "I was terrified I was gonna lose you when you wouldn't wake up this morning. I love you too much for you to ever do that to me again."
"I finally have everything I ever wanted, Johnny. I wasn't going anywhere. I love you too." Licking her dry lips, she glanced around the room. "Where's our girl and her big brothers?"
"It's after midnight, baby," he told her, knowing that she was confused about what time it was. "John and Em took Cam back to their place. Jason just left with Jake. They'll be back tomorrow to meet their sister. I can call the nursery and have them bring our little one over."
Fifteen minutes later, after counting all ten toes and fingers, Elizabeth cuddled her daughter close and looked up at Johnny with shining eyes before answering the question she knew was on his mind. "Shauna Leigh O'Brien. Shauna after her daddy and Leigh after Francis Lee Corelli, the two men who never gave up on her mommy."
At a loss for words, he very gently rearranged her so that she was cradled to his side and looked down at his two girls. "Thank you." Then his eyes twinkled playfully. "I was afraid you were gonna name her Francesca."
"Frannie wouldn't have wanted that. This way we can honor him but it's not obvious to everyone else." She paused when Shauna snuffed and wiggled before opening her eyes. Elizabeth's heart stopped at the exact same shade of bright green eyes that stared at her from her husband's face. "She's going to break hearts."
"Damn straight!" he responded with a laugh and relaxed against the headboard. For the first time since he'd learned Elizabeth was sick, Johnny could finally breathe easy. His wife was healthy, he had two wonderful boys to help raise, and now he had a mini replica of the woman he loved to cherish and protect. Even with the emerald colored eyes Shauna was all her mother with her tiny stature and the stubbornness she'd already displayed during ultrasounds.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Six Years Later…
"Please tell me you are kidding?" a twelve year old Cam demanded with a disgusted tone and his arms crossed.
John lifted an eyebrow and shot Johnny an amused look when the other man chuckled. "Shut up, O'Brien." Focusing back on his son, he cocked his head to the side. "I didn't think you'd be this upset."
"I'm not upset," he denied quickly while kicking his shoe against the football lying discarded in front of him. "But what if it's another girl, Dad?"
Following Cam's gaze and seeing Shauna playing with Emma on the other side of the yard, John laughed. Cam loved his little sister but it was no secret that he cringed whenever she pulled her dolls out. Unable to stand seeing her cry, more often than not, Cam and Jake both ended up playing with the dreaded girly toys. "Sorry, buddy, but I can't help it if Emily has a boy or girl."
Robin nudged Elizabeth and pointed toward the entertaining scene on the other side of the yard. "I don't think Cam appreciates gaining another sibling."
"He's probably scared it will be another girl," Emily pointed out while sliding into the lawn chair beside her friends. "I don't get it. Jake didn't react this badly when Emma became his stepsister."
Elizabeth reached over and rubbed Robin's back when her eyes dimmed. Three months after Shauna made her entrance into the world, Patrick had been killed in a car wreck on his way to an emergency surgery. Robin had spiraled into a deep depression for months. It was Jason's unrelenting support that had finally snapped Robin out of the darkness. Over the next couple years Jason and Robin's friendship slowly morphed into more. They'd celebrated their second anniversary just this past spring. Elizabeth was just relieved most of her friends had found the happiness and love that she had. John and Emily had quietly married seven months after Shauna's birth. Their attempts to have a child had been met with heartbreaking despair, until just last month when Emily had announced their joyous news, shocking John so badly that he almost passed out when she handed them the confirmation letter. Nik was the one exception. After a disastrous rekindling of his past romance with Gia and its failure, the prince had returned to Greece with his son. He still kept in touch but Elizabeth worried about her old friend withdrawing more into himself. Being basically secluded on his island, she feared the Cassadine genes would eventually rear their ugly head. She called him often to make sure Nik was doing okay.
"He's just afraid he'll end up at more tea parties, Em. Don't let him fool you. Cam adores Shauna and even begrudgingly tells Jake that Emma isn't that bad, for a girl." Elizabeth smirked at their snorts.
Joining the ladies as Cam continued to complain about the possibility of a girl to his father, Johnny handed Elizabeth a bottle of water. "Whatever, Lizbits. He tried to trade Shauna to Zander just last week for his and Maxie's baby boy."
"I don't understand what's so bad about girls."
"Easy. You're all nothing but trouble," Jason answered, earning three scowls.
"You are in so much trouble, dear brother!" Emily teased after Robin smacked at his arm.
When Shauna, Emma, and Jake ran over, distracting the women, Johnny inclined his head and moved into the kitchen. "Jerry called late last night."
Immediately losing all traces of the carefree mood from before, Jason's eyes hardened and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "AJ called me too. Look, O'Brien, we've may never be friends again, but we reached an agreement years ago. I intend to honor my word. I won't stand in your way, not when it comes to protecting Elizabeth and the kids."
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Johnny sighed. "With Em pregnant, finally, I don't want to risk causing her to miscarry. John and I already discussed this last night after I hung up with Jerry. I'm giving you the opportunity to try and contain Monica when she returns next week. The guards assigned to her reported she still blames Liz for her life being so screwed up. Talk to her, Jason. Or at least keep her away from my family, including Jake. Elizabeth doesn't trust her."
"I don't either," he admitted sadly. "Monica won't be anywhere near Jake. I'll try, but if she doesn't listen, you do what you have to, O'Brien. The past several years have been too peaceful to let her destroy it."
"AJ and Nadine are going to let her stay with them at the mansion. Maybe spoiling their daughter will distract her. But I wanted to give you a heads up. All Monica's chances are expired. My generosity only extends so far, and it only went this far because Elizabeth doesn't want Em to bury another mother."
Later that evening after putting Cam, Jake, and Shauna to bed, Elizabeth joined Johnny on the porch, settling next to him on the swing. When his arm draped over her slender shoulder and tugged her closer, she rested her head on his chest. "Thank you," she murmured.
"For what, baby?"
"For coming back for me. For saving me. For loving me."
Moving back and placing two of his fingers under her chin, Johnny lifted her head so their eyes locked. "From the second I left I was making my way back to you, Elizabeth. And you saved me by forgiving me for having to leave you for years. I love you. You, Cam, Jake, and Shauna are all I ever need to be happy." He paused and caressed her cheek. "School breaks for summer in two weeks. I want to take you all someplace special."
"Where?" She knew it wasn't too far, not with business. He'd have to stay close.
"Ireland. I wanna show you my family's home."
Surprised she blinked. "But what about…."
"Taken care," he winked. "John owes me a favor. What do ya say, Mrs. O'Brien? Wanna spend a month letting the kids hunt for leprechauns?"
She bit her bottom lip before leaning forward and pressing her lips to his and murmuring her approval of the unexpected trip. When she finally broke the embrace and stood, she gave him a sassy smile. "Too bad they don't realize they live with a leprechaun."
He smacked her ass before scooping her up and growling. "I'm almost certain they are mythical small, green creatures that are ugly."
"And I thought they were cute cuddly cartoon characters on cereal boxes with pots of gold," she teased while nipping at his ear. "You definitely gave me a pot of gold and are affectionate."
"Cute? Cuddly?" he groused before sitting her on the counter in the kitchen, his hands braced on either side of her.
"Hmm, maybe sexy?" At his arched brow, she wrapped her legs around his waist. "You could always try and convince me if…" the rest of her teasing remarks died on her lips as Johnny captured her hands, intertwining their fingers as he accepted the mock challenge.
The End!
I wasn't sure what Lizbeth2003 had in mind for the ending because she never gave hints and unfortunately she didn't keep notes. All her brainstorming for her stories was internally done. I hope the ending kept with the flow of the story. I tried to include most of the characters in the wrap up.
The other unfinished stories are on my to-do list but I want to finish my own story before picking up in the middle of the other stories. It's harder to take over writing mid story than I thought it would be, so hang in there.
-In memory of a wonderful friend who is missed!-