Hello Guys! Sorry this took so long it was harder to write than I first anticipated. This is where the story is changing a bit. We can't have out couple settle in for too long now can we. The darker forces are hard at work and encroaching on the happy citizens. Please let me know what you think. This story is taking on new life for me and I would like to keep it going. also there is a new character in the story. She is a character of my creation but she does have ties to Port Charles after some research (okay a couple hours of reading back story and character descriptions) I hope you like her. The next chapter should be up soon barring any writer's block. :) Enjoy

On the first day of the new year Elizabeth floated into work after AJ dropped her off. She was working with Steve today on one. As she took the elevator to seven to go to her locker, memories of what had wound up being a perfect night between her and AJ replayed in her head. After their first time they had reached for each other over and over again. She had been lying against AJ's side just enjoying the afterglow when his roaming hand had stirred her all up again.

Elizabeth felt amazing like a thousand little fireworks had gone off at once inside of her. Her skin tingled wherever AJ's hand touched. He just kept going up and down tracing lightly as they caught their breaths. She was so glad he was with her. So glad that she had turned around to see him standing there, she wanted nothing more than to erase the pain and doubt in his eyes. He had been so good to her. How could she not fall for him? Her mind raced but AJ's hand was too distracting. He toyed with a curl at her ear. His finger traced over her shoulder and down to her breast. Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat as he toyed with her nipple, peaking it to a hard point. She moaned. AJ was magic. Everywhere he touched she ignited. Groaning she rolled on top of him. She wanted to tease him a little. She kissed his chin, his cheek, gentle little kisses. He tried to reach for her but she grabbed his hands and pinned them to the bed beside his head. With a look, she told him not to move. His eyes rolled back in his head as Elizabeth traced hot wet kisses down his chest. His hands itched to touch her soft skin.

Elizabeth went to work on AJ touching him wherever she wanted without his touch distracting her from her task. She sat up, her bottom resting on his thighs as she explored his body. Her hands were everywhere. She loved how strong he was. Years of physical therapy for his broken back had given AJ a phenomenal body and Elizabeth relished in touching him everywhere she could. She leaned down and her lips followed her fingertips. When she reached his belly, he sucked in a tight breath. She flashed a devious smile up at him and went back to what she was doing enjoying the way his abs jumped where she touched. She reached his arousal and he stopped breathing. Just the touch of her hand and he felt like he was going to explode. Then he felt her mouth on him and he reached new heights of torture. She was exceedingly thorough in what she was doing. He knew he could only take so much before he completely lost it. Finally, when he thought he just couldn't take anymore she lifted herself up and took him into her body. Throwing her head back in ecstasy she rode him. He reached his hands out and caressed her breasts. He sat up, careful not to dislodge her, and wrapped his arms around her kissing her neck. She wound her arms around his neck her mouth seeking his. They kissed passionately. They looked deep into each other's eyes as the moment culminated in a fiery explosion. They lay back down entwined in each other's arms content for the moment just to hold each other.

Elizabeth reached the locker room on seven. As she changed into her scrubs, she thought about the sweet way AJ woke her up that morning. She had opened her eyes to see a brilliant Casablanca lily on the pillow beside her. AJ had laid out a shirt for her to put on and a note inviting her to the kitchen for breakfast.

Elizabeth slipped on the t-shirt AJ left for her and twirled the lily in her hand enjoying the fragrance she had come to adore. Quietly, she crept out of the room. The floor plan of AJ's apartment had barely registered in her mind last night but she found her way to the kitchen. What she saw there brought a crooked grin to her lips. The kitchen was a disaster. There was egg smeared across the counter. The bacon beside the stove had clearly been cooked a little too long. There was some kind of batter dripping from the ceiling and toast burning in the toaster. There was packaging all over the place, and empty egg carton, the wrapper from the bacon, bowls and spoons littered the other parts of the counter. AJ was at the stove trying to cook scrambled eggs. It was so cute that he was trying to cook for her. She could stop the little giggle that squeaked out. AJ looked up.

"I'm…uh…trying to make breakfast."

"I can see that"

"I had a little trouble with the bacon and the toaster and these eggs don't seem to be cooking."

Elizabeth slid in beside him. "You have too much cream in them." She grabbed the spoon and started stirring asking him if he had any seasoning. He stopped her and spun her around the spoon dripped partially cooked egg on the floor. He kissed her. He couldn't help it. The sight of her standing there was too much for him. He kissed her thoroughly. Then he handed her the seasonings she asked for. Elizabeth managed to save the eggs and pulled the rest of breakfast together when she noticed there was another smell and it was wonderful.

"Are you making something else?" She asked him.

"My muffins!" AJ scooted Elizabeth out of the way and opened the oven door. There sat six beautiful muffins cooked perfectly and smelling of fresh blueberries. He set the hot pan down on a clear spot on the stove.

"AJ…! How did you…?" Elizabeth was perplexed looking around the kitchen you'd think a ten-year old had been cooking but here was a perfect pan of gorgeous muffins and from scratch.

"I like to bake" he said with a blush that went to his hairline.

They sat down at a table AJ had set up with Casablanca lilies in the center. They managed to save most of the meal together. It felt natural and comforting to work together and if the eggs were still a little runny and the bacon over cooked, it didn't matter. Elizabeth took a bite of the blueberry muffin AJ set in front of her. Her eyes popped wide.

"AJ, this is incredible!" She exclaimed

"When I was in recovery at the clinic, they said I needed to find a hobby. It turns out; I like baking." He said with a smile. She smiled back at him charmed at the side of AJ she hadn't expected. They finished their breakfast talking and laughing. He told a story about Emily and Alan. She told him a story about Emily he hadn't heard before. It was nice to reminisce without all the sadness of remembering people who had tragically left this world before their time. Together, they cleaned up the kitchen when Elizabeth looked at the clock.

"Oh no! I have to go. I need to run home and take a shower before my shift."

"You know you could always just shower here."

"Here?" Elizabeth thought about it for a minute. "Well, I do have some scrubs in my locker."

"I can make it worth your while." AJ said. The light was back in his eyes. Elizabeth knew what it meant and it excited her.

"Really?" She said sliding up against him seductively looking into his eyes.

"Well I think I have some more muffins" Elizabeth laughed into the kiss. AJ picked her up in his strong arms and carried her to the bathroom. Setting her on her feet, he pulled the shirt over her head and thrust his fingers into her hair. Holding just on the edge of too tight his mouth came down on hers ravenously. She responded in full. There was no more teasing or laughter. He reached behind her and turned the water on. Knowing it would be a second until the water was warm enough; he kissed her and touched her everywhere he could reach. Elizabeth did not stand idly by either. Her hands were just as busy as she slid AJ's pajama pants down and filled her hands with his hardness. There was nothing soft or sweet about their coming together this time. Neither wanted slow and sweet; they wanted it hard and fast. They all but fell into the shower.

AJ grabbed the soap and began to ease it all over her body. Water sluiced down their bodies as they soaped each other in turn both groping and washing. Soapy bubbles were rinsed away as AJ once again found her mouth his tongue delving deep. He craved the taste of her. Their coming together was fast and left them both very clean and very satisfied. They were all smiles as they dressed for the day, Elizabeth in a pair of AJ's sweats. AJ dropped her off at the hospital with the promise to pick her up after her shift.

Elizabeth had been smiling her way through the morning when she and Steve had a quiet moment. "You seem awfully cheery this morning," he said as he came up behind her at the nurse's station. She turned around all smiles. "I'm glad you're happy. I was worried about you last night."

"I was too. I turned around and AJ was just there. I knew that he was the one. Lucky and I… I was the girl Lucky pulled out of a bush when she was broken at fifteen. I was the girl who needed saving and he was the hero. Eventually the roles just stuck."

"Come on you are one of the strongest people I know. Sure sometimes bad things happened."

"Really? Ever notice how many bad things have just happened in my life."

"Steve, it got to the point where it didn't matter if I tried to save myself or not because someone was always there to save me, whether it was Jason or Lucky or Ric or even Matt and Ewen. One of them or you came to save me. I made Lucky feel like a hero and then he began to resent me for it. It's what broke us apart. It's what started the whole chain of events. I made my mistakes but so did Lucky. I can't be the girl he wants. I won't be the girl I was."

"Elizabeth, you are beautiful and intelligent and above all people one of the strongest people I know. If AJ is half the man I hope he'll be, then he will see you for everything you were, are, or could be. I just want you to be happy." He pulled her into a hug and she laid her head on her brother's shoulder and just enjoyed the moment. That is until they were distracted by the "Awwwww" from beside them. They pulled apart to see Felix' smiling face.

"No, go on I love family moments like this."

"What's up, Felix?" Steve asked turning with a smile. He and Felix had gotten close as they were often misbehaving together while they were supposed to be working.

"Well, now don't you have a pretty smile today? And we left our hair go natural…"

"Felix…"

"Alright, alright fine. I have been looking for you two all morning."

"What's goin' on?"

"Well, Sabrina took ecstasy last night."

"What!?" came in unison from both Elizabeth and Steve.

"Well after you left with AJ, you left with your new fiancée, it left the four of us to carry on the party. Out of nowhere, Sabrina starts acting strange, seeing things and hearing things and then she got all hot and sick. Matt brought her in here around one o'clock. They found out she had high levels of MDMA in her system."

"Oh My God! Is she okay?"

"They pumped her stomach. How would you be?"

"Why would she take ecstasy?" This was from Steve.

"She didn't. She swears she didn't. She's resting now. Matt sat with her all night. I swear Dr. Tightpants is quite the hero."

"She's really going to be alright?" Steve asked.

"She's going to be fine she is in room 809."

"Psychiatric?"

"They're calling it an overdose and apparently there were some reports in her personnel file, complaints from a certain doctor…"

"Brit" Elizabeth gritted out.

"Uh-uh The Britch wasn't there."

"Brit was there we all saw her." Steve said.

"She was there. She wasn't when Sabrina started acting strange."

"She left?"

"Umm-hmm and not alone either."

"What do you mean?"

"Well after you left with The Hottie, that boy you left on the dance floor hit the bar with a vengeance."

"Where was Lulu?"

"That fine blonde? She got a phone call left for a while. Your soon to be step-son and Ms. Devane were gone too they both took off like there was a fire somewhere."

"Felix!"

"Anyways, the Britch was all over him like white on rice and ushered him out the door."

"Oh God." Elizabeth sighed.

"It's not you fault. You can't blame yourself for what he does. He's a grown man. He makes his own mistakes."

"And then there's the dead body that came in to the morgue this morning."

"What?!"

"Mr. Dubois!"

"Bed pan duty" He whispered before turning around and facing Epiphany with a big smile.

"Don't you try your charm on me, son. As far as you are concerned, I am immune. Now come with me and we can see if we can find you something more entertaining to do. I believe there are some bed pans that need changing. And after that, we'll see if we can change some beds." Groaning Felix followed Epiphany away.

Anna Devane sat in her office trying to make heads or tails of the case files regarding the recent murder and abductions that had taken place on the pier. So far three women had been abducted only one had been found. It was why she and Dante had been called away from The Haunted Star last night. The disturbing lack of evidence had led her to put a call in to her old friends Sean and Tiffany Donely. Sean had started an investigation firm in Boston where they returned after the birth of their daughter Anna. He had been happy to hear from her but wished it was under better circumstances. He said he had a perfect associate in mind and would be sending her down straightaway. She was due any minute. Anna put a call into the pathology lab at GH. There were still no results yet on the autopsy of Phoebe Hall. Dante was pouring over the minimal evidence collected by the forensics lab but it would be a few days until they had something more concrete. She was just about to go over the photos of the crime scene when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in" Anna looked up to see the lovely young woman enter the room. She had long curly dark hair and bright green eyes. Casually dressed in a pair of black jeans and a short fitted black leather jacket, she looked like a college student. "The explorers program is down the hall"

"You're not the first person to tell me that." The young woman said with a smile. "I believe you spoke to my father on the phone last night. He said you needed some help with a case?"

Anna reevaluated the young woman before her. "Your father?"

"Sean Donely."

"But…" Anna's confusion was clear. She stood up and came around her desk leaning back against it.

"I'm sorry. I thought Dad would have told you." She said with a laugh. "He does have a wicked sense of humor. Let's start over." She held out her hand. "My name is Amelia Flynn. My friends call me Mia. What my father should have given you a heads up about is that I am his daughter. He had an affair with my mother a long time ago. I was curious as to who my dad was so I looked him up. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was living in my hometown. We met a few years ago. He found out I was going to school for criminal psychology and he asked me to join his firm when I was finished."

"But… How come I have never heard of you before now?"

"Well…You know how Dad is." It was a simple explanation but it explained everything.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Anna held out her hand to the young woman who took it readily. "Please sit down. We'll have time to discuss your father and his not so charming habit of keeping quiet about certain things later."

Mia unwound the striped scarf from around her shoulders and took a seat opposite Anna. "I familiarized myself with the case on the flight down here. It appears you have very little to go on other than a basic description of the victims."

"Yes, So far only one woman's body has been found. But the damage was severe and demented." She held the file out to the younger woman wondering how she would react to the gruesome photos of the body. They were horrible. "She was found in a red dress near the park. Her colleagues tell us that she wasn't wearing it when she disappeared."

"So she was redressed."

"Yes. According to her roommate she routinely walks home from her job at a veterinarian's office where she works as a veterinarian assistant."

"And the other two women?" Mia had read the files but she really wanted Anna's take.

"One of them, Charity Vaughn, is a receptionist at a dentists office who was reportedly on her way to Kelly's to grab a sandwich before they closed. And the most recent victim, Jessie Harrison, is a lab technician at General Hospital. She had been filling in for Ellie Traub on New Year's eve."

"So all the woman work in a medical field and they all have dark hair."

"And so far that is all we really have. You can see why we could use the help on this one."

"So why call Dad? Why not call in the FBI? I understand their BAU program is excellent in this type of situation."

"I called your father because I don't necessarily trust the FBI. We have had some rather…unfortunate problems in the past. I decided to ask Sean for help because he is simply one of the best investigators that I know."

"Well, I hope I can live up to all his hype."

"If you are half the investigator Sean was then we shouldn't have any difficulties." Anna answered the phone when it rang at her desk. After a brief discussion, she thanked the person on the other end and ended the call. "That was the pathologist at GH. He is ready to give me a report. Would you care to tag along? I know you must want to settle in. Do you have a place to stay?"

"Yes, thank you, I do have a place. I rented a room at Kelly's. Dad suggested it. As to the pathologist, do you mind if I make a quick call first. Dad said he was sending someone else down to assist and I haven't heard from them yet. I just want to give him a call to find out what is keeping them."

"Not a problem, Dante Falconeri is the lead detective on the case. I'll introduce you and we can get going. You can call your associate on the way to the hospital."

"Sounds good." Mia said. They made their way to the room that had been set up as a command center for the investigations. It was still early on in the investigation but the walls were already starting to fill up with photos and descriptions and what evidence they did have. Dante was there talking to someone who had their back to them. At the sound of the door opening he turned around.

"Anna, look who's here." Dante said.

"Lucky!" This came from Mia. Two shocked faces turned their gazes on the young woman.

"You two know each other?" Anna asked.

"Lucky is a relatively new associate at my father's firm. Would you mind excusing us for a moment? I am very sorry."

"Not at all will we leave for the hospital in ten minutes. There is a private room down the hall."

"Thank you." Mia appeared calm on the surface but she was still rattled on the inside.

"Mr. Spencer?" She said opening the door and gesturing him to follow.

"Who was that?" Dante asked. "And what was that all about?"

"That is Mia Flynn. She's the associate from Donely Investigations. And I am assuming she is not very happy to see Lucky Spencer here."

Mia slammed into the interrogation room, Lucky following close behind. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" She was furious. Her father had said nothing about Lucky being her partner on this case. Then again, he didn't know about the affair the two of them had been having or the fact that they had a messy break up the month before when Lucky had told her there was someone else and he had to make it right.

"Sean called me this morning. He asked me to meet the investigator assigned to case here."

"Well I don't want or need your help on this case so you can just go home to Boston back to your girlfriend and leave me the hell alone!"

Lucky was resigned he deserved everything Mia was saying and after last night a whole lot more. It had been during his affair with Mia that he realized how much he missed and loved Elizabeth. After her rejection last night, he had hit the bottle and wound up going home with the doctor from General Hospital. She had been a cold bitch all but throwing him out on his ass after what he had considered very bad sex.

"Mia…"

"I don't want to hear it alright. I am over it."

"Come on, this is my first real assignment. I can't just go back to Boston."

"Really? Isn't your girlfriend waiting for you there?"

"Okay look. Elizabeth is not my girlfriend. She's moved on."

"My heart is breaking for you." Her dry sarcasm was not lost on Lucky.

"I screwed up, okay! I thought I could go back and reclaim my past but I was wrong."

"I don't care. You can do what ever you want after you get on a plane to Boston."

"I can help you with this case. I know this town. I know the people in it. Hell, I used to work for this very police department. That's why Sean wants me to assist."

"Fine" Mia saw the rightness of what he was saying but that didn't mean she had to be happy about it. "But outside the case you just stay away from me you got it?"

"Yes." Mia brushed by Lucky on her way to the door when he grabbed her arm. "I never meant to hurt you Mia."

"You didn't" She shrugged off his hold and left the room. She walked past all the officers and detectives to the ladies' room. Her expression was blank. She got when the door closed behind her she finally let her emotions show. She would be damned if she would let Lucky Spencer see her cry. She had been falling in love with him when he dropped the bombshell on her. The sheets had still been warm from where they had slept. A lone tear dropped from her eyelash and she brushed it away as she heard a tentative voice from beside her.

"Are you alright?"

Mia looked up to see a lovely girl standing there holding a tissue out to her. Embarrassed Mia took the tissue and crossed to the mirror. "Thank you. And I am sorry. I am not usually so emotional. I just ran into someone I hadn't been expecting to see."

"An ex-boyfriend?"

"You could say that. I'm Mia"

"Lulu Falconeri."

"It's nice to meet you. Wait did you say Falconeri?"

"I did."

"As in Detective Falconeri?"

"Dante" Lulu said with a smile. "He's my husband. How do you know him?"

"I don't really. I've been assigned to help him with the Hall case. In fact I should be going. They are probably waiting for me."

"It was nice to meet you," Lulu said. "Even if it was in a police bathroom." Mia Laughed and thanked Lulu again for her concern. She looked at herself in the mirror one last time stood up a little straighter and headed out to meet the rest of the team.

Steve and Elizabeth were back at the Nurse's station in the ER when Epiphany and Monica found them. "Elizabeth, I need you to post these in the break rooms." Epiphany said handing her a stack of papers."

"What's going on?" Steve asked reading the paper over Elizabeth's shoulder.

"We are instituting some new guidelines due to the recent abductions." Epiphany said.

"The women from the pier?" Elizabeth asked looking up.

"Yes," Monica replied. "I just spoke with Anna. Apparently, the women who were abducted were all in the medical field. Including the body that was found in the park last night."

"'All female staff is to be escorted to their vehicles by security. No female staff member is to leave the grounds unescorted' These are pretty strict." Steve said.

"Well the point is to protect the staff. I don't think there should be any problems." Epiphany said. The phone began to ring; Elizabeth rushed to answer it.

After a brief exchange she hung up. "Trauma coming in. Severe lacerations and head trauma."

"Get Patrick on the line and get him scrubbed in. Better call in Dolan as well. If the lacerations are severe we'll need a plastic surgeon. Epiphany put in the call and Elizabeth and Steve rushed to the ER doors awaiting the arrival of the ambulance.

Anna, Mia, Dante and Lucky were down in the basement at the morgue. The body of Phoebe Hall was on the table in front of them and Dr. John Seville was going over his notes.

"The cause of death is exsanguination due to a deep laceration to the carotid artery. There are also several deep cuts to the face and body. The wounds weren't all exacted at the same time. Several cuts show that the healing process had begun…"

Elizabeth and Steven went to work on the woman right away. Elizabeth I need you to start a line of O neg right away. The two work in tandem flawlessly stabilizing the patient. Monica was impressed. She knew Elizabeth and Steve were both good in their own right but together they were a well oiled machine. Epiphany came to stand next to her.

"They are something to watch aren't they?" She said.

"There are three other people in that room and it looks like they don't need any of them." Monica said watching.

"Elizabeth is one of the best nurse's I have ever worked with. Her problems in the past aside, She is amazing. She anticipates the doctor's needs and has it ready before they ask.

"…The deceased had trace amounts of ether in her system. It must have been what her abductor used to keep her calm. She'd been tortured for what appears to be days before the killing blow was struck.…"

Patrick scrubbed was scrubbing in on ten when he was joined by Felix who moved to assist him into his operating gown "What have we got coming in?" Dr. Dolan came into the room as well to scrub in.

"A deep laceration to the throat, nicked the carotid. Several facial lacerations, Severe head trauma. Lacerations to the torso." Felix replied. He may like to goof off but when it came to this he was all business. The transition took Patrick a little by surprise.

"How is Sabrina?"

"Matt's with her now. Her doctor is going to release her in an hour or so."

"Dr. Seville, is there any evidence of rape?" Mia asked as Anna received a phone call and stepped out of the room.

"Funny you should ask. There was severe trauma to the area. It looks like she was raped with a foreign object. I found some trace and sent it up to the lab. Along with the clothing the victim was found in."

The door flew back open. "We're heading to the ER a trauma was just brought in. It looks like it could be another victim." The team headed out. Dr. Seville promising to update them as soon as possible.

"The ER?" Lucky asked. "That means they are still alive?"

"For now."

The elevator doors opened up and the four of them moved to the trauma room. Epiphany and Monica had joined them in the room. Monica and Epiphany were calling out orders as was Steve. Lucky's heart ached at the sight of Elizabeth. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance.

Elizabeth caught sight of the group and walked over. She was careful not to look at Lucky. "We are trying to get her stable."

"Elizabeth, what can you tell us?" This was from Dante. At the use of her name, Mia looked at Lucky. There was no mistaking the look in his eyes. This was the woman he left her for.

"I can't tell you anything right now. We are trying to get her stabilized for surgery. You can wait on ten."

"Elizabeth," Anna called her back but separated a little bit from the group. She quietly told her that the other victim had been raped. Elizabeth told her she would let Steve know and ran back into the trauma unit.

"Alright people let's move her." Steve said. They began to wheel her towards the elevator when the girl started speaking. Her voice was rough and faded but she kept repeating a word over and over again. Steve leaned in close to hear her. Elizabeth was on the other side out of direct sight of the patient. Anna's team got as close as they could to catch it.

"Eli…"

"Don't try to talk now." Steve said. "We are taking you up to surgery. You are going to be just fine" He was trying to calm her down but she kept repeating the same word. Finally, she was able to get it out loud enough to hear.

"Elizabeth" She finally said. Steve looked up to meet his sisters' eyes.

"Elizabeth?" He questioned.

"He's going to kill her." She said before losing consciousness.