Thanks for the reviews, I don't know how fast this story will move, so I am planning on taking it one chapter at a time and see where my muse takes it. Hope you guys enjoy! :D

Chapter Two

I had been a long drive and even though Elizabeth was 'healthy', she still tired awfully easy, so Epiphany was left to her thoughts more often than not and sometimes her thoughts were downright horrifying. The one thought that had been plaguing her for years, was physical abuse, possibly, more than likely emotional abuse the only thing that ever occurred to her or, was her aversion to men because her father or some other man sexually abused her.

It wasn't like she could have the child checked for something like that, not when her family had been proclaiming her being a klutz as to why she was injured all the time and after…even though she affirmed herself a coward in her own mind, she couldn't bring herself to ask that one question, nor could she force that type of exam on her. Seven years after the fact and she still hadn't found the courage to ask.

Even to her subconscious, that sounded like a pitiful lie. In her heart of hearts, she was terrified of knowing the truth, whatever that truth may be.

Allowing her thoughts to go to their current situation, Epiphany realized that in a few short miles, they'd be pulling into Port Charles and whether good or bad, things would be changing.

XXXXXXXX

Port Charles, New York…when she left, after the divorce, she never really thought she'd be back but for the love of a girl, here she was, acknowledging her own less than perfect, troubled past.

"Liz…I know that…how do you want to handle everything? Mr. Corinthos will need to be told enough of the story so he can pick the appropriate people to guard you and whether you have allowed yourself to think about it or not, those who are going to be guarding you are probably going to be men. I hate to say it but most of his…company is likely to be men."

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Liz tried to get all her thoughts in a row before she answered. "Do you think full time guards are really necessary? It isn't like I go out much, I shop online, I work at home, the only time I am really going to be out and about is when I have to go to the hospital, can't I just have protection then?"

"I don't know sweetie, I guess it all depends on what Mr. Corinthos thinks. With something like this, I think it would be in our best interests to cede to his expertise and not rock the boat too much. You and I both know, anything can happen and I for one would prefer to make sure you are safe all the time, not just some of it. Now, don't think I didn't notice that you seemed to completely gloss over what you want me to tell him, out with it girly, what am I or we, telling him?"

"You know, the older I get, the bossier you seem to become." After receiving one of her most patented 'don't mess with me' looks, Liz broke, "Okay, okay…I guess tell him what he needs to know or everything, I don't think it matters much, either way, a 'man' in his position will probably just order a file on me anyway, so…" Liz replied, with just a touch of sass.

Epiphany knew this wasn't as easy as Liz was trying to make it seem but she appreciated that under all the hurt, her girl still managed to have fire.

"Liz?"

"No, I understand, I really do. I just hate when people look at me and…you are the only one who has ever looked at me and not reeked of pity. I get it, they see the limp or the scars and wonder what could have caused it and all that but…you look at me and you see me, not what made me this way. I don't want pity and I don't want to be coddled. I want people to see me, really look, beyond all the issues and just see me…"

"I understand sweetie. What I want to you understand though, is that people can feel bad for the cause, for the situation, they can feel bad because you went through so much so young…Even though you have never really spoken of what really happened, I know something did, I was there, remember? You can bury your head in the sand, pretending it didn't happen but someday soon, you will have to face it head on, if you ever hope to move past it AND with the right someone, they will see all you are, not only want you hide but what you can be and what has been. Life is rarely fair and never perfect, but it does have its perfect-like moments and when you open yourself to ALL possibilities, you will see you have done yourself more harm than good. You need to feel the wind on your face, find joy in the small things…" Epiphany said, trying to help her understand, that dreaming wasn't a bad thing, with the right someone, it could be amazing.

XXXXXXXXX

"Hey, Piph, I thought we were going to our new place, some towers thing…?" Elizabeth asked. A yawn muffling her words, making them almost unintelligible but Epiphany had a PhD in yawning Elizabeth talk.

"That is our second stop. First we need to pick up your security detail and get the keys."

"Oh…well, that makes sense." Elizabeth conceded.

Epiphany didn't bother with a reply, just raised her one eyebrow, as if it said all it needed to and for Elizabeth, it really did.

XXXXXXXXX

Sonny Corinthos was a man who was used to getting what he wanted and rarely if ever being questioned about his motives but since he got to the coffee shop, all his 'employs' had done was question him.

"But Sonny, why do these ladies need guards?" Johnny O'Brien asked.

"Sonny, who are these women?" Francis Corelli questioned.

"Why, as your enforcer, do you require me here?" Jason queried.

Sonny rolled his eyes as his three top men seemed to be trying to get on his last nerve as Johnny started the next round of questions.

"What is required from us?" Johnny wondered aloud.

"Are they high-maintenance?" Francis asked.

"Are you in trouble Sonny, are you being blackmailed into this? Something about all of this, feels off…" Jason said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"If you'd all shut up, I might have a moment to answer you. What's with the rapid fire questions? I am the boss, I tell you to do something, you do it, since when has that changed?" Sonny asked, the end of his patience reached.

When his men stayed mum, Sonny took a deep breath and began. "Look, Epiphany Johnson is the ex-wife of a friend. I don't know much but when she contacted me, she gave me the bare bones and said she'd tell me more, when 'they' got here. Jason, you are here because you are the best and I think this young woman is going to need your special brand of protection. After the initial meet and greet, I'll give you the information that Stan has dug up, although, I am sure some of the stuff on his mom will probably be edited…"

"Stan's mom…wow…really...I've heard she is even fiercer than Jason!" Johnny said with a laugh.

"You three gossip more than the old biddies down at the senior's center." Sonny said, shaking his head.

"Why didn't we get the information beforehand?" Jason asked.

"Epiphany asked me to wait; she didn't say why, other than she wanted me to get the bigger picture before I threw our proverbial hat in the ring. Whatever is going on with these two women…it's important to me, so please keep an open mind." Sonny said before taking a sip of his coffee.

It was just after four in the morning. If this wasn't so important, he wouldn't have held the meeting at such an ungodly hour but he had a feeling waiting could be bad. He normally didn't hold stock in feelings, he was more of an actions man but since the morning of the phone call, he had an impending sense of foreboding.

XXXXXXXXX