Okay so I am changing more history here but you'll understand by the time you get to the bottom. Hope you all enjoy! Sorry for the lack of updates, dad's not been doing so well and it was his birthday yesterday. I am hoping to find some time and inspiration to get working on IPBNE's next chapter but the trial is giving me issues.

Chapter Fifteen

With Francis walking beside her, Elizabeth tried to get a grasp on her feelings. It had been a long day, a lot longer than she had expected. Dr. Drake had been…friendly, a little too much in her opinion but his personality wasn't what was causing her issues.

She knew it was a long shot, especially since no other doctor held much hope that the procedure would work but she'd been fool enough to get her hopes up. It wasn't as bad as it was when she was a child but the thought of spending the rest of her life in darkness, terrified her.

So lost in her thoughts, she didn't immediately feel Francis' hand on her shoulder.

"Elizabeth, are you alright?" Francis asked, stopping their forward momentum.

"Sure, sure…ummm, how long till my next appointment?" Elizabeth asked, not really wanting to suffer more disappointment but knew if she didn't try, Epiphany would blow a gasket. It was why they were in Port Charles after all.

"We have twenty minutes; want to get something to eat?" He asked softly. It was breaking his heart seeing her look so despondent.

"Not really hungry, is there somewhere I can just relax?"

"Sure, the roof is a great place for that. Elizabeth, what did Patrick say?"

Not wanting to talk about it but knowing if she told Francis then he could tell everyone else and save her the pitying looks.

"The blood clot is getting bigger, the blood thinners aren't working at all and the placement of the clot is putting too much pressure on my nerves. The experimental procedure is good for this type of thing, if it isn't an ongoing condition and since I've been suffering from this for over ten years…the likelihood of me going blind, increases as it grows. How can I paint if I go blind Francis? Hmm?" Elizabeth asked, not really wanting an answer just…frustrated. "And on top of that, Patrick thinks the amount of blood collecting between the cranium wall and the brain has increased and will force his hand and the need to operate."

Not knowing what to say, Francis said, "I'm going to touch you, okay?"

Not really listening but hearing enough, she simply nodded her head. When his arms enfolded her, she had to fight back the strong emotions that were threatening to pull her under. "I'll be fine, I always am but thanks." It wasn't often she was able to receive a comforting hug but she'd take this one, it was needed.

"No problem, I'm always up for giving a beautiful lady a hug." Francis teased but it fell flat.

"The stupid thing though, all this time wasted at the hospital is going to be for naught. I know what Doctor Okafor is going to say. I need a new hip but even that isn't a sure thing, because until I stopped growing, there wasn't a point in giving me an artificial one but in waiting, it's damaged the socket and ligaments, tendons and muscle enough that a new one will most likely not do anything to help but cause more issues." Elizabeth said. Hating the whiny note in her voice but unable to move past the blows that just kept coming.

There was nothing that Francis could say, he'd read her file and spent the night worshipping the porcelain goddess. He was in the mob for goodness sakes. But he had never seen or done anything like what had been done to her. He watched her stare off into the distance, it seemed like she wasn't even there in that moment. Lost to her thoughts or the view, he wasn't sure.

XxXxXxX

Sonny was ready to pull his hair out. His wife had seemed to dial back her obsession but it was really just more focused. "Lily, baby, I love you, to the moon and back but if you don't stop pacing, I'll be the one throwing up."

"I can't help it, that poor child; she's been through so much. How can you be so calm, what if the doctors give her bad news?" Lily asked, wringing her hands.

Tempted to laugh at his wife's in ability to grasp that Elizabeth was a young woman not a child, he decided to just shake his head. Her hormones were kicking in lately and he didn't want to piss off the future mother of his children. "It could be good or it could be bad, we can't start a funeral march for a just in case."

Before he could go to his wife and comfort her, a knock sounded on the door. Marco poked his head in, "Hey Boss, there's a doctor Maguire here for you."

"Thanks Marco, please show him in to my office, I'll be there shortly." Sonny said, acknowledging the guard.

Now he was the one with butterflies in his stomach and an abundance of acid. If Maguire was here already, when he wasn't expected for at least another week, the news couldn't be good.

Gently kissing Lily, he said, "I have some business to attend to, I don't know how long I'll be but try to stay calm, you don't want to stress yourself out, it isn't good for you or the baby."

"I know, I know…I'm just having a hard time separating myself from Elizabeth. She's had a hard life and it hasn't just magically gotten better because she is here. I'll do better, I promise. Go, do what needs to be done. I love you!" Lily said.

XxXxXxX

"I told you Francis!" Elizabeth said with great anger. Why he insisted she see the doctor when she already knew what was going to be said just pissed her off.

"Elizabeth, he said it would be difficult, not impossible. There is a 30% chance you'll gain full mobility and the muscle spasms will cease." Francis replied, trying to put a positive spin on the grim answers.

"30%, really, you want me to dance a jig over 30%...Can you just take me home, I don't want to be out anymore." Elizabeth said, her shoulders slumping even further.

As Elizabeth was preparing to step on to the Elevator, a woman's shocked gasp brought her gaze up from the floor, where she had been studiously staring to avoid the pity in Francis' eyes.

Not knowing who the woman was, Elizabeth prepared to continue on to the elevator, but the woman's hard voice, stopped her dead.

"Elizabeth Webber?"

With panicked eyes, she quickly looked to Francis. What was she supposed to do?

"Do I know you?" Elizabeth asked. Playing dumb.

"You would if you hadn't run away. I'm your grandmother." Audrey Hardy said.

"I didn't run away but beyond that, what happened is none of your business, I don't know you. If you are expecting some grand reunion scene, you've come to the wrong person." Elizabeth said, walking towards the stairs. This wasn't something she needed to deal with at the moment, not to mention, it scared the hell out of her that she'd been discovered so quickly. Why in the hell did she have to live here and it seemed, work at the hospital.

Forgetting all about Francis, Elizabeth dashed as fast as her legs would carry her down the stairs and out of the hospital.

By the time Francis caught up to her, he'd placed a call to Sonny and discovered Elizabeth was about to be brought even more news. He wasn't sure if she could handle anymore blows but Sonny refused to wait, saying waiting would be worse.

"Elizabeth, you can't run away from your guard. We don't know what will happen with the people…with your parents and now that Audrey knows you are here, you are in greater danger. Listen, I just talked to Sonny, he needs us to stop by." Francis said while directing her to their car.

"Francis, I just want to go home, please." Elizabeth pleaded.

"I'm sorry little lamb but this is something that is time sensitive. I promise brownies and a chocolate milkshake if you agree." He tried to wheedle.

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth tried to show she wasn't sold but the traitorous smile on her face just wouldn't go back in to hiding.

"You are so easy!"

"Shut it! I want my bribery beforehand, not after, you guys are all too conniving for your own good." Elizabeth said before settling in her seat. Asking for her treat before was only because she had a horrible feeling that trying to eat anything after whatever was coming, probably wouldn't be possible. Good things didn't happen to Elizabeth Webber, so why would whatever this news be, be.

XxXxXxX

Epiphany sat beside Elizabeth, taking her hand before she tore her nails to the quick. She could see the fear in Elizabeth's eyes and wasn't sure there was anything she could do to help, so she held her hands in a firm grip, hoping she was conveying her love and support.

"So, you called us here, what was the hurry?" Elizabeth asked refusing to meet Sonny's eyes.

"When…" Wondering how he was going to get this out, Sonny took a deep breath to steady his nerves. If ever something was going to be too much, he feared, this could be it.

"Elizabeth, after we met, I started doing some digging. Things didn't add up and unless I could understand the whole situation, I didn't think I'd be able to protect you. In my digging, I thought to do a few DNA tests. What I discovered…I'm sorry Elizabeth but there is no way you are the daughter of Jeff and Carolyn Webber. Steven is Jeff's son but Sarah is no relation to any of you either. The doctor I had on this case, Doctor Maguire, he had put your DNA into a database and has discovered the true identity of your parents."

Turning green, Elizabeth had to reflexively swallow a half dozen times to try to keep her stomach from revolting. "Who…how…please…" She said in a broken voice. Her words not really making sense but those surrounding her understood well enough.

"I don't know the how or why yet but I promise you, we will. As for the who…Mac Scorpio and Dominique Taub." Sonny said. Watching as the woman before him, fell completely apart.

XxXxXxX