I Want to Be Free by liasonfan75

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter Thirty – Seven

Elizabeth shuttered as memories of that day poured over her like cold water. She never knew what would happen after she whispered those two words to her mother and father.

“What?” Her father growl out though clenched teeth.

Elizabeth glazed at him as the color left her face. “I’m pregnant.” Elizabeth turned her glaze to her mother.

She sat there holding Jeff’s hand tightly, her lips still in a frowning line.

“Mom?” Her mother remained silent; her eyes glazed over and unfocused. “Mom, say something.” She pleaded.

“I can’t believe you.” She whispered under her breath. “I can’t believe this, Lizzie. I mean, you have disappointed us before, but I never dreamed that you could do this.”

Tears dripped from Elizabeth’s eyes. She wanted to be hard and unfeeling, but the words stung and stung deep. “I’m sorry that I disappointed you again.” Elizabeth whispered.

“Who is this young man? Do you know?” Her father asked.

Elizabeth bulked at her father, her mouth hanging open. “Of course I know who the father is!” Elizabeth screamed as she stood up, throwing her hands in the air.

“There is no need to yell Elizabeth.” Her mother said getting to her feet.

Elizabeth turned around and faced her mother. “I’m glad that you know my name, Mama.” She whispered nastily. “I didn’t expect you to be happy about this. But I will not let you talk down to me anymore.”

“Lizzie! You’re carrying a child at seventeen; of course we aren’t happy about it!” Jeff Webber yelled as he too stood up next to his wife.

“What’s his name Lizzie?”

“Why do you care? He’s not going to be in my baby’s life.”

“He needs to know, Elizabeth.” Her father roared.

“No he doesn’t. I’m going to do this by myself.”

“Not in this house.” Her mother whispered.

“What?” Elizabeth asked as she narrowed her eyes on her mother. “You’re kicking me out?”

“You’ll go live with someone who can handle you.” Whispered her mother.

“And who would that be?” Elizabeth asked as she crossed her arms.

“You’re grandmother. Audrey. Sarah says that she is very nice and I’m sure that you’ll love living there.” She whispered.

“I am not going to go live with Saint Sarah.” Elizabeth spat out.

“Oh yes, you are.” Yelled her father.

And that was that.

Elizabeth glanced up to find Jason holding Michael and staring at her intensely. She brushed away the tears and hoped the marks of the dried tears had gone too.

“Are you okay?” He asked as he entered the room.

“Yeah. I’m good.” Elizabeth whispered.

Jason glanced at her and gave her a look that made her nervous, but he didn’t say anything. He sat down and laid Michael on the carpet.

“How was your ride?” She asked.

“Lonely.” He whispered.

“Why?” She asked, although, she knew the answer.

“Because you weren’t with me. I got use to it.”

Elizabeth paused. “I can’t believe you just said that.” She whispered, her cheeks turning red at Jason’s answer.

“Why?” He asked.

“Because, I just never thought that you would say something like that.”

“It’s true. I missed having you on my bike with me.”

Elizabeth blushed even brighter.

“Do you want to tell me why you didn’t want to come?” He asked

“I just thought that I should just sit here and think.” Elizabeth sighed. “When you came in the first time I was thinking about the rape, you know.”

Jason nodded.

“And I really did want to go riding, but I wasn’t sure about the baby, you know. And so I told you no, and I should have went because this song came on that reminded me of my parents and how badly they reacted to the pregnancy.”

Jason arched an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

“They told me that I had disappointed them again and I thought that my father was going to punch a wall. He looked so mad.”

“Why?” Jason asked. “You didn’t lie to them.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I guess because I only seventeen.” She paused. “I wouldn’t tell them who the father was.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew that my father would track him down and make him take reasonability. I didn’t want that. Not after the way that Taylor had treated me. I didn’t think that he would care enough.”

“So what happened?”

Elizabeth brushed away a tear and laughed bitterly. “They threw me out. They gave the problem to my gram. Like she could handle it.”

“I’m sorry you were in pain, Elizabeth.” Jason whispered.

“Yeah, me too.” Her glaze met Jason’s. “Look, I know that I seem to fall apart all the time, but I swear that I’m normally in control and stuff. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I do worry Elizabeth.”

“There really is no need for you to.” Elizabeth said.

“Yes there is.”

“If this is about saving me and helping me with my baby, than there is no need for you to be so noble. I mean, I don’t need some white knight.”

“‘White knight’? What are you talking about?”

“I don’t need you to help me out of obligation.”

“This isn’t about obligations.” Jason whispered, his eyes searching her face.

“Then what is this about?” Elizabeth asked.

“This.” He whispered. Jason lean over and lightly brushed his lips to hers. Cupping her cheek with his right hand, he braced himself with his left arm. He ran his thumb over her cheek as she wrapped her hand around his forearm. Jason meant the kiss to light and quick, but his brain seemed to leave him as he captured Elizabeth’s mouth again, hopping that she wasn’t scared; hopping that she would respond to him.

Elizabeth was shocked when she felt Jason’s lips on hers. She felt a flashback of Taylor hit her, but she pushed it away, along with the flashback of her rape. Those memories didn’t matter right now. Nothing matter right now, expect that Jason was kissing her. She never thought that he would. She never thought that he wanted it too. She was sure that he just thought of her as a friend, and nothing more. But this proved that he thought more of her that she originally thought.

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter Thirty – Eight

Jason pulled away from Elizabeth slowly, licking his lips. His crystal blue eyes met hers with an intense look.

Elizabeth chewed on her bottom lip as she stared right back at him.

“Are you okay?” Jason asked as he dropped his hand from her cheek.

Elizabeth nodded but didn’t say anything. She glazed down toward the floor.

“Elizabeth? Are you sure?” Jason asked again. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Elizabeth gave Jason a small smile and tucked her hair behind her ear. “You didn’t scare me.”

Jason sighed in relief. “Good.”

“You surprised me.” She whispered. “I – I didn’t think that you felt that way.”

“I do.” He sighed. “I care about you Elizabeth. I want you happy. I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to see you though this.”

“You have, Jason.”

Jason remained silent.

“Jason, you have helped me for the past two months. That’s more than anyone has done for me.” She took his hand. “My family disowned me, my lover decided that I wasn’t wroth it, I was broken when you found me and you fix it the best you knew how.”

“I just listened.”

“Well, listening helps a lot.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you Elizabeth.”

She smiled a full smile. “Thank you for caring about me.” She whispered as she lightly kissed his cheek.

“Do – Do you feel the same?” He asked, his eyes pricing hers.

Elizabeth nodded. “I do. But I can’t deal with a psychical relationship right now. Not with the baby coming and my past.”

“I understand.” Jason whispered.

“I like you, Jason. I trust you. And I want this with you, but just not right now. Okay?”

Jason nodded as he looked away. He glaze found Michael and he smiled. “I’ll wait.”

Elizabeth beamed at him, “Thank you, Jason.” She whispered.

Jason nodded as he picked up Michael and turned to her. “It’s late. Get some sleep, okay?” He paused. “I’m going to put Michael to bed.”

Elizabeth nodded as she picked up a hand full of brushes, stood, and turned to the small sink in the corner to wash them. Jason had remodeled the little room into a full studio for Elizabeth. Compete with canvas, paints, brushes, and open windows with lots of light. Elizabeth light up when she first saw it; and had jump into Jason’s bed to hug him, even though it had been three in the morning.

Elizabeth smiled at the memory. How did she feel about Jason? She didn’t know. Part of her still wanted to be with Taylor, but she that was impossible. He didn’t love her; all he wanted was her baby. Did she love Jason? A man that she only knew for a few months. Did that matter? Elizabeth asked herself. She shook her head. She didn’t know. She didn’t know if she could be with Jason. She didn’t know if she could let herself be close to someone again. Everyone she got close to turned away from her. She didn’t want that.

Elizabeth sighed as she put the brushes away and left the room, turning off the light. She slowly climbed the stairs. She paused at the top and nervously glanced at Jason’s closed door and sighed again. She didn’t know what she wanted. But she didn’t want her rape to control her. She didn’t want Taylor to be a shadow over what she wanted.

But she didn’t want Jason to feel like he had to take care of her because he found her in the first place. She didn’t want him to be trapped in this hell too. He had other people to keep safe.

She couldn’t help herself as she knocked on his door. She licked her lips nervously. She didn’t know what she was going to say. She locked her arms behind her back and stared down at the carpet.

“Hold on.” Jason called through the door. He opened the door a second later. “Elizabeth?” Elizabeth’s eyes wondered to his face. He was dressed in sweat pants but nothing else. Elizabeth swallowed hard.

“Hey.”

“What’s wrong?” He asked as he turned away from the door and grabbed a hold of a light brown t-shirt and pulled it over his head. Elizabeth followed him into the room.

“I didn’t know if you were still awake.”

“Yeah, I just put Michael down. Latchia is watching him.” He paused as he sat down on his bed. “What’s wrong?”

Elizabeth sighed. “I don’t know. I’m confused.”

“I’m sorry that I confused you. I didn’t think that it was fair to you if I didn’t tell you.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“What are you confused about, if it wasn’t about what happened downstairs?” Jason asked.

“I’m confused about what I want.”

“What do you want?” Jason asked, meeting her eyes.

“I want my baby safe. I want people I can count on.” She paused as she searched his face. “And I think I want you.”

“But you said –”

“I didn’t know what else to say. It’s not like guys are lining up to date pregnant women, not that I wanted to date. Not after all the things that have happen to me.” She paused. “I guess that’s not the point.” She whispered as she sat down next to him. “It’s not like I thought that you felt that way. I wasn’t expecting it and it surprised me.”

“What changed?”

“I thought about it. And I’m still a little confused about it all. But I think I want this. But I’m just so afraid that I’ll push you away.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Elizabeth.” He whispered.

“I know that.” She whispered as she gave him a small smile and stood up. “Thank you.” She whispered.

“I’ll be here if you need me, Elizabeth.” Jason whispered, as he stood up next to her and gave her hand a small squeeze, and pulled her into a hung.

“Thank you, Jason.”

“I didn’t do anything.” He whispered.

“Yes, you did.”

March turned into April and before Elizabeth Webber knew it, it had been three weeks since Jason first kissed her. She had hardly seen Jason in that time. He was away on business most days, and when he wasn’t, he was with Sonny giving him a full report. Elizabeth didn’t mind that Jason had been gone; at least she didn’t have to worry about Jason finding out that her dreams weren’t just including A.J., Tony, and Tom Baker; but now Jason had enter them.

He always remained a silent shadow, looming over whatever was happening in the dream; whether it was the rape or the kidnapping.

Elizabeth sighed in relief when she heard the doorbell; that meant a break from cleaning. Jason had told her that they had a house keeper, but Elizabeth found that nothing could get clean enough. Jason called it the ‘nesting instinct’; he had read it in a book.

Elizabeth brushed her hands together and tucked her hair behind her ears. She rolled up her sleeves and opened the door, smiling.

A girl with dark brown hair and round owl eyes stood in the doorway. Her dark eyes narrowed on Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s smile faded.

“Hi.” Elizabeth whispered. She glazed at the bodyguard to the left and raised an eyebrow at him.

“She’s okay.” Max whispered.

“Hello, is Jason home?” The small girl asked.

Elizabeth turned her attention back to the girl, “he’s not here right now.”

“Well, can I came in and wait for him?” She asked.

“Well, he’s away on business right now.” Elizabeth whispered. Elizabeth didn’t like the look on the girl’s face.

Michael’s cry interrupted the intense stare that Elizabeth was giving the girl. Elizabeth glanced at the stairs. “I have to go.”

“Is that Michael? Can I see him?” She asked.

“How do you know Michael?” Elizabeth asked. Jason never really talked about the people who knew about Michael, so Elizabeth didn’t know what to think. She had been careful about who was around Michael after that kidnapping when she was babysitting Michael.

“Who the hell are you?” Elizabeth asked, placing her hands on her hips, ever they be so around.

The girl’s face fell. “You know you remind of someone I use to know.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” Elizabeth spat out as Michael’s cries got louder.

The girl sighed loudly and Elizabeth saw Max roll his eyes behind the girl. “Look, Jason knows me.”

“So? Do you see him here?” Elizabeth asked rudely.

“Robin. My name is Robin.”

“Oh,” Elizabeth smiled widely and laughed, “You’re Robin?”

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter Thirty-Nine

“Oh,” Elizabeth smiled widely and laughed, “You’re Robin?”

“Yeah. And why is that so funny?” She asked as she flashed Elizabeth a sugary smile.

“Because than you must know that I’m not going to let you see that baby.” Elizabeth said as she forced herself to not laugh when Robin’s smile faded.

“Why not? You know that I know Jason.”

“So? I also know that you hurt him. I don’t know how but I know you did.” Elizabeth paused. “Plus, I never let anyone but Jason and the nanny near the baby when I’m watching him. So you can leave now.” Elizabeth said as she shooed her away with her hand.

Robin laughed snottily but didn’t move. “God, you sound just like Carly.”

Elizabeth folded her arms over her chest, smiling. “Thank you. I’m sure that you meant that as a complement.”

“No. I didn’t actually.”

“And how did you find out about the baby anyway? It’s not like you’ve been here.”

“A friend told me.”

“Oh, I bet they did.” Elizabeth growled out. “Did your friend tell you about me too?”

“No. She didn’t part with that information.” She paused. “Who are you? Carly reincarnate?”

“Elizabeth.” She paused, Elizabeth knew that she shouldn’t have let the next words slip out of her mouth but she could seem to help herself. “I’m Jason’s new girlfriend. And I don’t think Jason would like it if he heard you talking about Carly that way.”

She saw the tips of Robin’s ears turn pink and her mouth drop open for a second out of shock.

“What you think that he waited around for you? Please. You hurt him and left him. Was he supposed to sitting around and pine for you? Is that what you think?” Robin glared at her. “Aww, you did, that so cute.” Elizabeth whispered. Lizzie had out to play. An alternate personally that often got Elizabeth into trouble, but she wasn’t about to let Robin into Jason’s life again without putting up a fight. Robin didn’t deserve Jason, and she was going to make sure that Robin knew it. “Look,” Elizabeth started as she held back another comment that Lizzie wanted to make, “Jason isn’t here. You can come back later, when he is. I’m sure he knows where to find you.” Elizabeth said as she started to close the door.

“I’m sure that he’ll be very angry with you to know that his guest threw his true love out of his penthouse.” Robin whispered.

“Go to someone who’ll care.” Elizabeth shouted back as she firmly shut the door in Robin’s face.

Elizabeth didn’t want to deal with another problem; she already had enough to deal with. Her grandmother has started daily calls trying to get Elizabeth to change her mind with the promise of a safe home and the threats of throwing Jason in jail. Most of the time Elizabeth never answered the phone, letting Leticia or the answering machine pick it up.

Robin sighed as she walked across the hall and knocked on Sonny’s penthouse door. It opened and Robin stared into Jason’s intense blue eyes. “Jason.” She whispered.

Jason’s eyes turned cold and the mask of indifference cover his face. “Robin.” He whispered as he moved aside and let her in, closing the door behind her.

Sonny smiled as he pulled Robin into a hug. “Hey. I didn’t know you were back.”

“Yep.” Robin said smiling widely. She turned to Jason as he stood by the door. His hand gripping the doorknob, wanting to leave now that the meeting was over. “Jason, I –”

“I don’t want to hear ‘I’m sorry’.” Jason stated.

“This isn’t like you, what happened?” Robin asked as she glanced at Sonny for some guidance. Sonny stared at Jason with warm compassion. He knew what Robin did had destroyed him. “If it’s that girl –”

Jason head snapped up at he met Robin’s eyes. “You saw Elizabeth? What did you do to her?”

“I didn’t do anything.” Robin stated furiously. “She’s the one that wouldn’t let me see Michael, much less get into the penthouse. She’s the one that acted like Carly.”

“I don’t want you near Elizabeth.” Growled Jason. “You stay away from her.” Jason demanded as he jerked open the door and slammed it shut behind him.

“Sonny, what has gotten into him?” Robin asked as they slowly walked over the couch and sat down.

Sonny sighed. “You hurt him a lot Robin, you know. And he didn’t understand why you couldn’t deal with his life. So that made him hard, numb, I guess.”

“Who is Elizabeth?” Robin asked as she curled her feet under her and stared at Sonny.

Sonny sighed again as he threw his arm over the couch and glanced at Robin. “I’m sorry; Robin, but I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s for Jason and Elizabeth to tell you.” He whispered.

“Is the baby his?” Robin asked.

“The child that Elizabeth is carrying is none of your business, Robin.” He paused. “You know I care about you and I want you happy. But I can’t tell you this. It’s Jason’s life, and he needs to tell you. You choose to walk away from Jason’s life. You choose Paris and not him. I can’t blame if he wants to shut you out.”

Jason slammed the door shut as he entered the penthouse.

“Are you mad at me?” Jason glanced up at Elizabeth as asked the question; she came down the stairs carrying Michael in her arms.

“No,” he answered as he took the baby from Elizabeth and sat down on the couch. “Why would I be mad?”

“Because I just assumed that you saw Robin and she told you what I said to her.”

“She told me that you were acting like Carly.”

“I think I was.”

“It doesn’t matter what you said to her, Elizabeth.”

“It doesn’t?” Elizabeth asked.

“She shouldn’t have come here demanding to see me or Michael.”

“That’s what she did. Jason, she was acting like she never did anything to you. And it made me so mad that I say some things that I really shouldn’t have said.”

“What did you say?”

“I thought that you said that it didn’t matter?” She asked with a small smile. Jason give her a pointed look and she sighed dramatically. “Okay, if you have to know, At first I was nice, okay. I swear, I didn’t let my hormones take over. But than she was all, ‘I have to see Jason and Michael’ and blah, blah, blah.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she rested her head on the back of the couch and stared at Jason. “What do you see in her, Jason? Really, because she was snotty. Anyway, I got mad and told her that I was your girlfriend and she sort of got meaner and called me ‘Carly reincarnate’, whatever that means.”

Jason blinked in surprise.

“Are you mad at me?” Elizabeth asked.

“You called yourself my girlfriend?” He asked the surprised look still on his face.

Elizabeth blushed and ducked her head, staring at the couch, pulling at some invisible tread.

“Why?” Jason asked.

“Well, she was acting like she didn’t do anything, and I wanted to show her that you went on with your life.” Elizabeth sighed. “Lizzie just came out to play. I’m sorry, Jason.”

“Lizzie?”

“Well, that’s what I call it. When I get mad or just don’t care or something like that. I say and do things that are really wild. When I do them, I call myself Lizzie.” She laughed. “I got into so much trouble when I was her. Oh man, it was great.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jason raised an eyebrow, “what did you do?”

Elizabeth glanced up at him, a wicked smile played on her lips. “Oh, well, let’s see. I use to smoke and drink. I use to climb out my window and get do whatever I wanted. Hang out at the local hangouts when no one was there. I didn’t care, as long as I was having fun.” Elizabeth’s smile dipped.

“What? What is it?” Jason asked.

“Lizzie came out to play with Taylor that day.” She paused. “And the dance, the dance I went to before – it was her idea.”

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter Forty

“Lizzie came out to play with Taylor that day.” She paused. “And the dance, the dance I went to before – it was her idea.” Elizabeth whispered.

“Elizabeth.” Jason whispered before reaching out to her.

She jerked away from him and turned her back to him, wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t need your pity.”

“What pity?” Jason asked. “I don’t pity you.” He sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his forefingers. “Am I sorry that this is happing to you? Of course. How can I not? But don’t turn your back on me because I want to help you.”

“I don’t want you to think, ‘oh poor Elizabeth’. I don’t need that.”

“Look, I’m not going to tell you how to deal with this. And I’m not going to tell you that you need help. But I want you to know that I’m here.”

Elizabeth sighed. “I know that.” She whispered. “I do.” She said as she faced Jason and let her arms go around him. “I just need someone to remind me.” She smiled.

“I’ll be here.” Jason said as she pulled away from him.

“So,” She whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder, “What’s Robin all about?”

Jason laughed. “What do you want to know?”

“Did you love her?”

“I think she’s the first person I did love. Besides Sonny. But that’s different.”

“Well, what was she like? I mean, before everything when down hill because she couldn’t handle your life.”

“Robin was in this life before I was.” Jason whispered.

“What?”

“She dated a guy who was like a brother to Sonny.”

“Like you are now.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Robin –”

“What happened to him?” She asked.

“He died.”

Elizabeth gasped. “How? I mean, did he get shot?” She paused and glanced up at him. “Should I not ask that?”

Jason shook his head, “no. He didn’t die because of Sonny.”

“How then?”

Jason ignored the question for now. “His name was Stone.” Jason sighed. “Stone died of AIDS.”

“Oh my God.” Elizabeth whispered. Her face paled as she glanced at Jason’s face. “Does Robin have it?” Elizabeth asked. Elizabeth wasn’t sure that she wanted to know the answer. She wanted to hate Robin. She wanted to hate her with a passion, and Elizabeth wasn’t sure if she could do that if she knew that Robin was sick and had this terrible disease.

“Yes, she’s HIV positive. But her string isn’t as strong. She’s going to live a long, long time.”

“Well, what else?”

“She’s the first person I knew that I could love without having to be anyone else. I mean, she knew and loved Jason Quartmaine, but she accepted that I was Jason Morgan. That I was different from him. But she acted like I was a child. That I didn’t know what was best for me.”

“She wanted you to leave, right?”

Jason nodded as he absent-mindedly ran his fingers over Elizabeth’s arms. “She couldn’t deal with the danger of it.” He glanced down at her. “I don’t want you to feel that way either. All you have to do is say the word.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Elizabeth paused. “You’ve helped me a lot, Jason. How can I just walk away from that? I don’t think so.”

“You always have that right.”

“Is that how you forgave Robin so easily?”

“There was nothing to really forgive. She couldn’t understand why I choose this. She thought that I could do something else. She thought that she could push me into doing something else.”

“You wouldn’t be you, if you did that.” Elizabeth whispered softly.

“She didn’t understand that.” Jason sighed and sank lower into the couch, taking Elizabeth with him.

“I would never do that to you.”

“She thought too.” Jason whispered. He lowered his head and shook his head. He didn’t want to admit that Robin had really hurt him.

“Listen to me, Jason.” Elizabeth commanded. “Robin was a moron. You are the best thing that could have happened to me. You are great. And she’s stupid if she did realize it.”

Jason laughed. “Now you really sound like Carly. She didn’t like Robin and I guess she had a right.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I want to hear more about Carly.”

Jason sighed. “Maybe later. Right now,” He said as he got up and helped Elizabeth to her feet, “we have to get you to the doctor’s appointment.”

Elizabeth hissed. “Do I have to?” Elizabeth whined.

“Yes.”

“Meanie.”

“What?”

“Your mean.”

“Why?” Jason asked, confused.

“Never mind. Remind me to never joke with you.”



Chapter Forty-One

Elizabeth slowly bit her lower lip in confusion. The papers that the young man had shoved into her hand as soon as she opened the door didn’t make sense. She closed the door as the young man turned and walked away without a word. Sighing, Elizabeth flipped through the papers again, but it was like reading a different language. She slowly made her way to the couch and sat down.

At five months pregnant, Elizabeth didn’t want to be pregnant anymore. She didn’t want to deal with the weight gain and aches and pains. She didn’t want to deal with all the people laying claim to her baby either, like she was some kind of car that could just be paid for and driven away. Her baby hadn’t even been born yet, and they had seen fit to tell her day after day that she would be ripped from Elizabeth’s arms.

Robin Scorpio was another story. She didn’t take Jason’s words to heart and leave. She had come up to Elizabeth at Kelly’s every time she was there and tell her that Jason was just confused and would soon come back to her, because that’s what he did. Jason would forgive her, like he had done so many times before and run back into Robin’s arms. Elizabeth knew better than to tell her that Jason had no intention of going back to Robin; that comment would just fall on deaf ears. But Robin had crossed the line when a week later she had come up to her after Elizabeth, Lucky, and Emily were leaving the movies.

“I can’t believe you had never seen that movie!” Lucky said as he stuffed a hand full of popcorn into his mouth. “Emily as seen that movie at least fifteen times.”

Elizabeth laughed when she saw Emily roll her eyes and mumbled for Lucky to shut up. “Well, you said that it was released last year. I was kind of busy smoking and making my family miserable.”

Emily and Lucky laughed. “But this is Romeo and Juliet!” Emily said through fits of giggles. “Not to mention that Leo is h-o-t. Hot!”

The Port Charles Theater was running ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at the dollar theater and as soon as Emily had heard that Elizabeth had never seen it; she and a recruited Lucky had taken her to the movie. Elizabeth had enjoyed the movie and for a few hours she didn’t have to think about the world around her as she was sucked into the modern Shakespeare world of Juliet and her Romeo.

Elizabeth smiled and laughed. “I can’t ague with that.” She paused. “Why did you see it Lucky? Isn’t a chick flick?”

“For the guns, of course. Plus, I was kind of out numbered wasn’t I?” He asked as they continued to walk to Kelly’s, six blocks away, where Jason was suppose to met her and her friends for dinner.

Emily smiled widely. “Smart man.” She whispered, and once again they broke into laugher.

The air was sweet with smells of the translation between winter and spring. It made Elizabeth look forward to the things that were coming. Things that were just about to happen. Jason and Elizabeth had both been busy; Jason with business, which was done for now, and Elizabeth with her painting and the baby. Elizabeth hadn’t said anything about the daily calls she had started getting for her grandmother and Taylor, but she promised herself that she would tell him tonight. They had to figure out what to do; they couldn’t go on living like this. It wasn’t fair to her, Jason, or her baby.

“Excuse me.” Elizabeth whispered as she bummed into a woman.

“Watch it.” The woman growled out.

Elizabeth stopped and glanced up at the woman; Elizabeth shouldn’t have been surprised to see Robin standing in her way.

“Move.” Emily whispered as she pushed her way past Robin, dragging Elizabeth behind her.

“How rude.” Lucky whispered as he followed the girls.

“She’s always in my face. What did I do?” Elizabeth paused. “Don’t answer that.”

“She just doesn’t want to face that she actually loss Jason.” Emily paused as she bit her lip, “I didn’t mean that Jason could be owned, or anything.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Em.”

Elizabeth glanced up when she heard the door to the penthouse open, and Jason appeared. He shut the door and dropped his keys into the table. He looked up and watched Elizabeth for a second before he asked her what was wrong. He made his way to the couch and sat down.

Elizabeth sighed as she handed over the papers to Jason. He frowned as he flipped through them, “What do they mean?” Elizabeth asked.

“It’s a petition.”

“A petition for what?”

“Custody.”

Elizabeth’s hand atomicity when to her rounded stomach. “But my baby isn’t even born yet. How could they take her away?”

“They claim that you are putting the baby at risk and they she would be better if she was in the care of your grandmother.”

Elizabeth’s face turned pale and the breakfast that she ate that morning turned in her stomach. “What about Taylor? Doesn’t he want my baby?”

“It says that he supports your grandmother.”

Elizabeth crossed her arms and snorted, a look of anger flashed in her eyes. “She’s no doubt paying him or something.

Jason dropped the documents on the table in front of him and pulled Elizabeth close. He kissed the top of her head as she relaxed against him. “You fight this.”

“Yeah I know.” Elizabeth whispered, none to sure of herself. She sighed deeply.

What was she going to do now? How could she fight this? Her grandmother had a good job and plenty of money. She had a large house and could easily afford the baby. What did Elizabeth have? She had no job, no money. All she had was Jason. Jason Morgan, the known mobster. And yet here she was; a recovering victim of rape, pregnant by a lover that didn’t love her, living in his penthouse. Jason had money, and she knew that he would spare no expense for her to keep her baby. But was it worth it? Would she able to be a good mother to her baby like she wanted? Was it wroth getting Jason into the middle of this? She was sure that Jason cared about her, but why? Why did he care about her? Was it just friendship? Had Jason been lying when he said it wasn’t? Of course not, Jason didn’t lie. He swore that he cared about her and that whenever she was ready, he would be there. But could wait that long? Could he wait until she was over her past and eighteen? She was sure that she didn’t want Jason into even more trouble than he normally would be in, and that’s what would happen if Elizabeth continued to live with him and drag Jason into the dark hell that was about to happen.

Damn it. Was it worth it?

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 42:

Shit happens. If there was anything that Elizabeth had learned, it’s that shit happens. And the shit that was happing was about to hit the fan.

She ran her hands over the dark wood and took her seat. She swallowed hard as she glanced up. The woman standing in front of her wore a smile, and her dark brown hair hung around her shoulders. She wore a suite of dark purple, and her glasses hung off her nose, as if she really didn’t need to see with them.

Elizabeth smile was shaking and she wrung her hands that were sitting tightly in her lap.

“Ms. Webber?” Alexis Davis whispered.

“Hum?”

“You have to pay attention.”

Elizabeth nodded. Of course she had to pay attention; her baby was counting on her.

“Now,” Alexis said as she walked toward her. The court room was empty and Elizabeth glanced to her left, were the jury box sat. “There won’t be a jury Elizabeth.” Alexis said kindly as if reading her mind. “The judge will be sitting next to you and your grandmother’s lawyer will be sitting over here.” She pointed to the desk that was sitting to left of the courtroom. “And we’ll be sitting right here.” Alexis pointed to the other table. “Now, you’ll be one of the first people on stand. We’ve gone over this Elizabeth. We really have. And I know you can do this.”

“O.K.” Elizabeth whispered.

“You know what’s going to go on. And don’t answer any questions that I object to. Your past is relevant. But your rape isn’t, so try and not mention it. Just answer to questions as best as you can, and don’t back down when you go against your grandmother’s lawyer.”

“Will Jason have to go through this?”

“You know he has to.”

“But I don’t want him to have to go through this too. I mean he’s going to be asked about what –”

“Elizabeth, Jason is a coffee importer. That’s all. They can’t prove otherwise. And you’ve never been in danger, have you?”

“No.” Elizabeth said.

“Good,” Alexis said as she nodded and folded her arms over her chest. “Jason knows what to do, Elizabeth. Don’t worry about him. And don’t worry about this; the most that you grandmother is going to get is visitation.”

“Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked. She had been so worried when she first got the petition that she almost made herself sick. Jason had jumped into action, though. Telling her that he would get her a good lawyer and they would fight. Alexis Davis, who was a crime attorney, had answered, and she had been a saint. Elizabeth wasn’t sure, but she thought that Jason and Sonny had offered Alexis a place with them if she could help Elizabeth. Elizabeth also knew that Alexis Davis was Nikolas Cassadine’s aunt, the same Nikolas that had been dating Elizabeth’s sister.

When Elizabeth found out, she made sure that Alexis was okay with that fact.

Alexis smiled. “Elizabeth, I’ve never fit in with my family. And I’m glad for that. But Nikolas understands my job and what I do.”

“So he’s not mad?” Elizabeth asked.

“I didn’t say that. But the difference is that I don’t care. If Nikolas has a problem with what I do, than he needs to learn that this is my job.”

“But he’s your family.”

“I wouldn’t use the word’ family’.”

“Why?”

“The Cassadines can’t be considered family. Enemies is more like it.”

“Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked again.

“Elizabeth,” Alexis sighed, “if Nikolas wants to fight on my actions as a lawyer, then he can. If he wants to be a voice for his girlfriend then he can. I’m not going to listen. I’ve learned when to listen and when to ignore.” She paused and flashed a smile. “That’s it.”

“OK. If you’re sure.” Elizabeth whispered.

“I’m sure.” She leaned closer to her and threw the law book she was reading onto the coffee table and Alexis lowered her glasses. “Do you want some popcorn?”

Elizabeth smiled widely. “Yes, ma’ma.”

“Jason is going to be fine; all I want you to do is think about what you have to say tomorrow. I don’t want you to worry about Jason.”

Elizabeth nodded. Jason can take care of himself, right? Elizabeth thought. But she was still worried. She still doubted if this whole thing – the courts and the lawyers – was the right thing to do. She didn’t want trouble for Jason. She didn’t want the courts to look him up too. That was the very last thing that Jason should have to do.

----

Elizabeth woke the next morning to find Jason standing over her. She gazed up at him as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “What are you doing?”

“We have to go.” He said.

Elizabeth quickly glanced at the clock and cussed under her breath. Her alarm hadn’t gone off. She tore off the blankets and quickly got out of bed; mumbling that she wanted more time to pick out her clothes and give the baby a good breakfast.

“Elizabeth clam down.” Jason said as he watched her rush around her room grabbing clothes from place to place, closing drawers and pulling clothes from their hangers, and then changing her mind and throwing the piece of clothing to the growing pile on her closet floor. “No, this wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to get up early and cook breakfast –”

“You were going to cook?” Jason asked, surprised.

Elizabeth huffed. “Not the point! I was going to do all this stuff and I was going to make you coffee and get Michael ready so you didn’t have to do it. And I was going to iron the blue flower dress.” She paused as she gave Jason a guilty look. “Alexis said that she liked the flower dress. Oh why couldn’t I get up? Damn the stupid clock.”

“I told you that you should have gotten a normal one.” Jason said as Elizabeth finally choose a simple pink dress, throwing it on her bed instead of the pile at her feet, and was now going through her shoes; ignoring the fact that she couldn’t get to her knees as fast as she wanted to to look through her shoes.

“I liked the Hello Kitty one, thank you very much.” Elizabeth mumbled.

Jason shook his head but didn’t say anything.

Suddenly Elizabeth sat back on her heels and glared over her shoulder at Jason.

“What?”

“Do you know what we sound like?” She asked as she started to laugh

Jason raised an eyebrow. “Should I?”

“We sound like something from Gilmore Girls.”

“What?” Jason asked, giving Elizabeth a confused look.

Elizabeth shook her head as she gathered up her dress and shoes heading for the bathroom. “Nothing. Pop-culture is really lost on you, isn’t it?” She asked, shutting the bathroom door behind her.



Chapter Forty- Three

Nothing could have prepared Elizabeth for the crowd that she faced when she got out the SUV and helped Jason with Michael.

Cameras went off in her face as she climbed out of the SUV; Elizabeth looked up wildly at all the people that surrounded her.

“Miss. Webber, can you please tell us what’s it like living with a known crimal? What is the real Jason Morgan like? Miss?”

“Miss. Webber doesn’t have a comment.” Elizabeth heard Alexis yell as she appeared at Elizabeth’s side. Alexis wrapped her slim arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders and smiled down at her as she patted Elizabeth’s shoulder and nudged her forward. Elizabeth didn’t glance up as the cameras went off again and again. She didn’t even glance up to make sure that Jason and Michael were following her and Alexis into the court house. She knew that they were there, following Elizabeth’s very step.

Elizabeth sighed and slowly sat down in the bench just inside the oak doors off the court house. Elizabeth glazed up at Alexis and Jason, who held Michael tightly in his arms, a question on her lips.

“They can’t come in here Elizabeth. The judge forbade it.” Alexis answered before Elizabeth could even ask.

“Why did he do that?” Elizabeth asked, as she tightly laced her hands together to keep the nervous shaking at bay.

Alexis gave a small shrug. “She could have done it for any number of reasons. Judge McKean has her own personal reasons.”

Elizabeth gave her an arched eyebrow and glanced between Jason and Alexis, he didn’t seem surprised to hear the information that the judge had personal reasons for keeping the press outside and away from her courtroom. “What didn’t you tell me?” Elizabeth asked.

“She just doesn’t like the press.”

“There must be a reason.” Elizabeth reasoned as unlaced her hands and started to run her fingers through her hair. “I mean, she knew that you were involved in the case; that, alone, had to mean press, right?” Elizabeth asked Jason.

Jason shook his head. “That’s why she took it, Elizabeth.” He said softly as he sat down next to her. “She didn’t think that a young pregnant teenager with a fight on her hands should also go through the press circuit too.” Elizabeth looked confused. “Her words, not mine.”

Elizabeth nodded; a little too tired to ague with him and got to her feet. Jason wrapped one arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders and carried Michael in the other arm, supporting him as half of Michael’s body spread out on Jason’s shoulder.

Alexis was the first to open the courtroom doors and march in. The people in the courtroom turned and stared as Elizabeth and Jason made their way into the room. Elizabeth saw Lucky and Emily wave from their seats next to Lucky’s parents, who Elizabeth had only made a few times in passing. Sonny was sitting in the front row, all of them witnesses.

Elizabeth glanced at Jason as he slipped into the seat next Sonny; her pleading eyes found his, and he squeezed her hand before she walked to her seat next to Alexis. Elizabeth swallowed hard as she stared at her hands that she tightly clasped together in her lap once more. She was determined to not look at her gram; afraid that Taylor would be sitting in the front row. She still didn’t want to believe that Taylor was on her grandmother’s side. She wanted to believe that he would want to see his daughter on his terms and not Audrey Hardy’s.

“Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth glanced at Alexis when she called her name. “I’m ready.”

“Good.” She stood up and walked around the table, lightly laced her fingers together in font of her. “Your Honor,” Alexis started. “I call Elizabeth Webber to the stand.”

The Judge nodded and Elizabeth stood, bracing her hands on the table so her shaking legs wouldn’t give out on her. She slowly walked to the stand and sat down.

“Elizabeth, lets start with something simple. Do you know why you are here?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because my grandmother wants full custody of my baby as soon as she’s born.” Elizabeth whispered. She stole a glance at her grandmother, who didn’t know that the baby was girl, looked like she was trying to kill Elizabeth with her eyes. Like she willing Elizabeth to die. Elizabeth swallowed hard again and turned toward Alexis.

“Do you know why she would like full custody?”

“Because she doesn’t think I’ll be a good mother. Because she doesn’t like who I live with.”

“And who do you live with?”

“Jason Morgan. He takes good care of me and his son. He reads to Michael all the time and he talks to Michael like he’s a normal person and not a baby. I like that. Jason makes sure that I have every thing I need and he makes sure that I’m doing everything I need to do. He takes me to my doctor appointments. I know that he would be good to my baby and if I learn from him, then I’m going be an awesome mother.”

Elizabeth stared at Alexis; she didn’t want to see reactions on the faces of the people in the courtroom. Especially Jason’s. She knew that Jason had feelings for her and she did too. But there things, roadblocks, in their way right now. One being her rape and pregnancy. Two being age. Three being the people in town. Not that Jason cared. But for some reason, Elizabeth did. She did care what Lucky and Emily thought. She did care what Sonny thought, and Mr. and Mrs. Spencer; even if she didn’t know them every well.

“How did you come to live with Mr. Morgan?”

“I – I was sent to Port Charles by my parents the second they found out. And my grandmother was supposed to be better for me. I’m guessing, that she was supposed to convince me to have an abortion as soon she as she was told that I was pregnant. I wouldn’t do it. So she thought that it was best if I was to graduate early and leave sch –”

“Objection.” Elizabeth’s head snapped up and glanced at the apposing lawyer.

“Your Honor, my client is just telling her story. Now, she needs a little time to work it out in her head. Please give her that time.” Alexis said.

Elizabeth glanced at the judge as she nodded. Elizabeth licked her lips and gazed at Alexis again. “She thought that it was best if I leave school early. No one would know that I was pregnant. No one could guess. As a little party for myself, I went to the high school Valentine’s Dance. I had just gotten my diploma in the mail.” Elizabeth paused as she took a deep breath. “I was raped that night and Jason found me. He took me back to his place where a doctor looked at me and Jason took care of me. That’s why I am living with Jason. Because I was raped.” Elizabeth stared down at her hands in her lap; running her jagged nails across her thumbs.

“Why didn’t you just tell you grandmother what happened?”

“I was ashamed. I didn’t want anyone to know. I called my gram and I told her that I was staying at a friend’s house. She yelled at me that I should get home or never come back. So I just stayed with Jason. I didn’t want to be there and she didn’t want me there, or that’s what it felt like.” Elizabeth quickly added when she saw the tight-lipped lawyer next to her grandmother raise from his seat.


Alexis nodded her approval as she walked the floor of the courtroom. “Where you ever in danger living with Jason?”

“No.” Elizabeth lied.

Alexis nodded as she started toward her desk, “No more questions.”

Elizabeth glanced at the judge as she nodded for the other lawyer to proceed with the questioning. The lawyer stood, and Elizabeth got a good look at him. He stood at lest six foot and wore a light gray suit with an even lighter blue tie. His skin looked pale against the bright lights and his brown hair had tiny streaks of blonde highlights. His chin jetted out into the air and his nose was turned up too much; like Elizabeth disgusted him. Elizabeth stared right into his cold green eyes and gave him, what she hoped, was a look of loathing.

[kaydimz]

I loved this fic I wonder when is the next update and who is her grandmothers lawyer? Update Soon.

[trini12180]

Can't wait to read t he rest

[ejliason]

need more please finish it.

[liridonahm]

I hope this fic is eventually finished. It's so interesting.

[blessed]

I have enjoyed this story, but hope that more is coming.