February 2, 2004

Elizabeth Lansing tugged her jacket more tightly around her bulging middle as she followed her husband down the docks steps. “Do we really have to go this?” she sighed. “I’d much rather just stay at home and keep my feet up.”

Ric chuckled and pressed an absent minded kiss to her temple. “We’ll just make a quick appearance and we’ll go, I promise. I’m running to take Scott Baldwin’s office and it’s never too early to make a good impression on people.” His eyes turned dark and troubled as he gazed out over the water. “I have so much to make up for–so much to make people forget.”

Elizabeth smiled warmly and touched his shoulder. “Honey…you can’t make people forget. You can’t even make them forgive you. You just…have to move on from it.”

He turned to look at her. “Is that what you did?” he asked. “Did you just move on from it?”

“What else could I do?” she answered honestly. “What you did to me this summer was neither forgettable nor forgivable. All I could do was move on. I chose to marry you again–to spend my life with you because I believe that you are changing or at least…that you want to change.” She narrowed her eyes. “As long as you don’t lie to me…that’s all I can hope for right now.”

Ric nodded. “I will never lie to you again,” he vowed. He laced their fingers together and brought her hand to his lips. “I love you with everything that’s inside me and that will never change.”

“Well, that’s a start,” Elizabeth murmured. “Come on…let’s get this night over with.”

—

Zander Smith secured the explosive and checked the detonation device one more before shoving into his jacket pocket. One last job. One last thing before he left this town and put it behind him for good.

He stood and took a deep breath. When this was over, maybe he’d take on a different name. Let the name Alexander Lewis die for good.

After all…being Alexander or Zander had never given him much happiness.

He went to the stairs that would take him to the main deck of the Haunted Star. When he reached the landing, he saw Ric guide his pregnant wife into the main room. He let his eyes linger on Elizabeth for a few moments. She was carrying his child and part of him was rebelling against the decision to stay away–of handing his child over to her and her husband.

But a larger and much stronger part knew better. Knew he’d only poison the child and ruin his life.

He ruined everything he put his hands on.

Better to let a good, kind and compassionate woman like Elizabeth raise their child. She was so pure–so opposite of who he was. She’d be good to him and maybe one day she’d tell their baby about a friend she’d known once. If she did, Zander knew she’d only tell him good things.

Even if she had to make them up.

With a start, he realized that the explosive he’d just rigged to go off in twenty minutes would undoubtedly trap the Lansings inside. Panicked, he turned around and bolted down the steps, intent on disarming the bomb.

—

“Excuse me for a moment,” Ric murmured to his wife as he spotted a somewhat intoxicated Brian Beck at the bar. “There’s Emily and Nikolas–why don’t you go speak with them?”

“Yeah, sure,” Elizabeth replied. She moved to talk to her friends while Ric crossed the span of the room and slid onto the seat next to the dark-haired officer.

“What brings you here?” he asked, ordering himself a drink and a water for Elizabeth.

Brian glared at him, his dark eyes slightly glassy from the alcohol. “She knows. And now she doesn’t trust me.”

“You knew that was a consequence of this,” Ric replied easily. “It’s not my fault you allowed yourself to get emotionally attached.”

“You know for someone so cold and unfeeling, I find it hard to believe that a woman like your wife gives a damn about you,” Brian seethed. He tossed the rest of his drink down and slammed the glass on the bar, gaining a few curious glances from people in his immediate vicinity.

Ric cleared his throat and glanced around with a disarming smile intended to assure everyone he had this situation under control. When he felt that their attention had wandered, he looked back at Brian and his eyes turned cold. “You don’t know a damn thing about my wife so just–”

“I know that she divorced you after you kidnapped Carly,” Brian retorted. “And I bet she wouldn’t take kindly to the idea of you arranging for me to use Courtney.”

“Elizabeth doesn’t even like Courtney, why would she give a damn what I did to her?” Ric demanded.

“Because she’s not like you. Because I’m not like you,” Brian challenged. “I don’t look at people and wonder what they can do for me. Because people like me are the ones people like you use and throw away. And I think you know exactly how she’d react.” He gestured towards her. “Why don’t I go tell her?”

Ric grabbed his arm and squeezed it tight. “Stay away from her,” he hissed.”

“Ric? Is everything all right?” Elizabeth asked softly. She put her hand on Ric’s arm–the one that was holding onto Brian. Immediately Ric released him.

“Everything’s fine, sweetheart,” Ric assured her. “Officer Beck and I were just talking.”

“That’s Detective Beck,” Brian seethed. He turned his gaze on the brunette. “Your husband and I were just discussing my failure in my latest assignment.”

“Detective,” Ric began.

“You know–the one where I try to get close to Courtney Morgan and get information on her brother and husband.”

Immediately Elizabeth’s eyes snapped to her own husband’s. “Is this true?” she demanded.

“Elizabeth, honey, this is just department business. Why don’t you go talk to–”

“Don’t send me away like a child,” Elizabeth snapped. “Is that true? Did you tell Brian to use Courtney to get to her brother?”

“Yep,” Brian confirmed. He ordered another shot. “‘Cept I decided I liked Courtney–respected her too much to do it. I let her catch me in the act so I could confess. But Ric wanted me to keep going. Find more information to put Sonny and Jason in jail.”

Elizabeth’s lower lip trembled. “It’s always going to be about Sonny, isn’t it?” she asked softly. She stepped away from Ric.

“Elizabeth, he’s drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s saying–”

“Oh.” Elizabeth looked at Brian who met her gaze head on. His eyes were slightly unfocused but he was telling the truth. It sent her heart to her feet as she turned back to Ric. “Not ten minutes ago, you promised me honesty. And then you just lied to my face. I’m really glad that our marriage means so much to you.”

“Elizabeth,” Ric protested.

“I’m going home,” she seethed. She whirled around and stalked across the room. Ric took off after her.

Brian just shrugged and downed the shot the bartender had put in front of him.

—

“Shit, shit, shit,” Zander moaned. He stepped back from the bomb with five minutes to go. He darted up the stairs and burst out onto the deck where Ric had caught up with Elizabeth and they were arguing bitterly.

“You’re always lying!” she yelled. “It doesn’t matter what the subject is! You lie like someone people breathe!”

“It’s not uncommon for people to do assignments like this!” Ric retorted. “It’s a job I have to do and until you learn to trust me–”

“You used an innocent woman to get to Sonny! When does it end?” she demanded. “Why can’t you just do things by the book?”

“Because if I did that, no one would ever get caught!”

“You two have to leave right now!” Zander yelled from across the dark. He jogged over to them. “Seriously. Go. Now.”

Elizabeth shook her head, ignoring Zander. “I’m going home with Emily and Nikolas,” she told Ric. She turned and stalked back inside.

Ric glared at the father of his wife’s child. “What the hell do you want?” he demanded.

Zander ignored him ad took off after Elizabeth. She had to get out of there. Immediately. “Elizabeth!” he called frantically.

She turned and frowned. “Zander? What’s wrong with you?”

He yanked on her elbow. “You have to go. Right now.”

“What’s going on?” Elizabeth demanded. “Zander?”

He licked his lips nervously. “Look…I can’t explain right now. Will you just…please just–”

Suddenly the ground shook beneath them, the lights flickered and then went out. Someone screamed.

Another explosion–this one was much larger and more intense sent Elizabeth flying to the ground.

Outside, Ric saw flames licking at the sides of the boat from a large gaping hole that was rapidly taking on water. His eyes widened and he felt the boat shift to the side.

The Haunted Star was sinking.

General Hospital: Emergency Room

“Here.” Jason Morgan handed Nikolas Cassadine a steaming hot cup of coffee. “Did you get that arm looked at?”

“Yeah, Monica bandaged it.” Nikolas sighed. “Bobbie says Emily’s not awake yet but she’s only got a concussion and needed some stitches. She should be up soon.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “Good. I’m glad you guys got out of here,” he told Nikolas. “A lot of people didn’t.”

“Yeah,” Nikolas replied. “I don’t…I’m dreading having to tell her about Elizabeth when she does wake up.”

Jason looked at him sharply. “What about Elizabeth?” he demanded.

“You mean you don’t know?” Nikolas responded, surprised. “She was there tonight–with Ric. They had a huge fight.”

Jason stepped towards him. “And?” he prompted.

“Well, she ran out and he followed her. There was the first explosion–look to make a long story short, Ric was killed when he pushed Elizabeth out from underneath some falling debris,” Nikolas reported.

“Is she okay? Did she make it out?”

“Yeah but she went into premature labor,” Nikolas replied. “She’s in the delivery room now. I thought you knew.”

“Oh…man…” Jason shook his head. “She’s not far along enough for the baby to be okay, is she?”

“She’s almost five months…” Nikolas sighed. “The pregnancy was normal and completely healthy. Maybe she’ll get a miracle.” He set his coffee down. “I’m going to go check in with Lucky about the scene down there and then go up to the maternity floor to see how she is. Will you stay with Emily and let her know what’s going on if she wakes up while I’m gone?”

“Yeah sure…” Jason caught Nikolas’s elbow. “If you get a chance to talk to Elizabeth…tell her I hope the baby’s okay.”

“Yeah, sure.”

General Hospital: Maternity Floor

“Where’s Ric?” Elizabeth panted. She gripped her grandmother’s hand harder. “Is he hurt? Gram? Where is he?”

“He’s…honey, just concentrate on the baby,” Audrey advised. She glanced at Dr. Meadows who was talking intently with a few other surgeons. “You’re going to be fine, sweetheart. Just fine.”

“Please don’t let me lose my baby,” Elizabeth whispered. “Please Gram–where’s Ric?”

“Honey…he pushed you out of the way from debris that would have killed you,” Audrey reported sadly.

Elizabeth sat up in a panic. “He’s hurt isn’t he, Gram? Is he in surgery? Where is he?”

“Darling…” Audrey smoothed Elizabeth’s sweaty hair from her forehead. “Ric died. On the scene. He was gone by the time they found the two of you. He saved your life, baby.”

With a loud wail, Elizabeth leaned back against the pillows as another contraction wracked her small body. She’d broken some ribs in her fall and the intense breathing she was doing caused more and more pain. “I hurt so bad, Gram,” she whimpered, tears rolling down her pale cheeks marred with soot and bruises. “So bad…it hurts to breathe.”

“Oh…” Audrey looked at Dr. Meadows. “Can’t we give her anything for the pain?” she asked desperately.

Dr. Meadows stepped towards them. “Elizabeth–we are doing everything we can to stop the labor but it doesn’t look like it’s working.”

“The baby’s barely five months…it’s too early!” Elizabeth shook her head. “No! I won’t do it!”

“Listen to me…listen to me, Elizabeth,” Dr. Meadows hardened her voice. “If you don’t deliver this baby, you could die.”

“I can’t lose my baby, please…Gram, I can’t…” She closed her eyes. “I lost Ric. I lost everything. Please don’t let me lose my baby.”

“There’s a slim chance that we can save the child,” Dr. Meadows told her softly. “If we perform a caesarian and get the baby into an incubator–there’s a chance for him, okay?”

“Do it,” Elizabeth said urgently. “Gram, will you be in the room with me?”

“Of course, darling. Just let me go get scrubbed up and ready to go in,” Audrey kissed her forehead and stepped into the hallway.

Nikolas was just stepped off the elevator. “Mrs. Hardy, how is she?” he asked immediately.

“The baby’s in distress,” Audrey said fretfully. “They can’t stop the labor. They have to deliver. Oh….I had to tell her about Ric. She kept asking and I just couldn’t lie to her. If she loses this baby, too…” Tears filled the elderly woman’s eyes. “I can’t lose her.”

“Hey, hey,” Surprising them both, Nikolas embraced Elizabeth’s grandmother. “Elizabeth is too strong and stubborn to die. This child has a set of parents who are more pig-headed than anyone else I know, okay? That’s going to help a lot.”

“Thank you, Nikolas. I know–I know you just wanted news so you could let Emily know.” Audrey pulled away and wiped her eyes. “I need to go get ready for surgery. They’re performing a Caesarian.”

“Tell Elizabeth that I’m praying for her,” Nikolas instructed. “We all are. Lucky, Luke, Skye–Brian Beck–he pulled her from the wreckage and got her to an ambulance, you know?”

“Thank God for him,” Audrey murmured.

“Tell her everyone is here for her. Emily will be as soon as she wakes up–Jason told me to tell her that he hopes the baby is okay, tell her all of that, okay?”

Audrey nodded. “Thank you. I should get going.”

General Hospital: Emily’s Room

Emily moaned and moved her head to the side. “Nikolas…where are you? Nikolas? We have to find Elizabeth…”

Jason took his sister’s hand in his own. “Shh…you found Nikolas and he’s okay. He’s okay, Em.”

“Jason…I have to find Elizabeth–she’s pregnant–I have to find her,” Emily whipped her head to the side, grimacing at the pain.

“You found her, too,” he told her softly. “She’s okay–she’s in surgery now.”

His voice started to register and Emily slowly blinked her eyes open. “J-Jason?”

“Hey…” Jason kissed her hand. “There you are.”

“What–what happened?” she asked. She slid up in the bed, grimacing at the sharp pain in her forehead.

“You have a concussion. You were hit with some falling boards while you were being evacuated from the ship,” Jason informed her. “The Haunted Star–parts of it exploded and it sank.”

“Nikolas is okay though right?” Emily asked urgently. “Elizabeth? Luke? Skye? Ric?”

“They’re all okay–” Jason hesitated. “Ric…he died though.”

“Jesus,” Emily breathed. “Elizabeth must be so devastated.” She flicked her brown eyes to the blue gaze of her brother. “Take me to see her right now. If she’s not in here, she’s in another room. I need to see her.”

“She’s going into surgery,” Nikolas stepped into the room and moved to her side. He kissed her forehead. “Hey, baby, thank God you’re okay.”

“Why is she in surgery?” Fear lit in her eyes. “The baby? Did she lose the baby?”

“No…but when Ric pushed her out of the way…she went into premature labor. If Brian Beck hadn’t found her and gotten her to an ambulance, she would have bled to death,” Nikolas told her bluntly.

“She can’t have the baby so early!” Emily gasped. “Nikolas–”

“It’s okay…Zander and Elizabeth are stubborn people–their baby will be too,” Nikolas repeated his words to Audrey. Zander. Nikolas closed his eyes. “Honey…Zander was on board tonight.”

Emily’s lower lip trembled. “No,” she whispered. “No…he didn’t die like that. He…please tell me…”

“They haven’t found his body,” Jason interjected. “So no one knows for sure, okay?”

“He was last seen with Elizabeth and Ric, though, so…” Nikolas trailed off. “I’m sure he got off the boat, though. I mean–he’s just one of those annoying people who refuses to die. Like Sonny,” Nikolas added helpfully.

“Right. I mean, how many times has someone tried to kill Sonny?” Jason assured her. “He’s still kicking.”

“Right, right.” Emily sat up and started to swing her legs over the side. Nikolas quickly stopped her.

“Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”

“Up to surgery. I want to be there when Elizabeth comes out.” Emily narrowed her eyes at the two men. “You can either help me up there or get out of my way. Nothing is keeping me from her tonight, you understand?”

“I’ll get a wheel chair,” Jason sighed.

General Hospital: Surgery Waiting Room

Lucky Spencer blew through the doors, Brian Beck on his heels. “Nikolas! Emily!” he hurried over to them, kissing Emily on the forehead. “Good, you’re okay. Is she out of surgery yet?”

“No.” Emily sighed and rubbed her forehead before focusing on Brian behind Lucky. “Brian…Nikolas told me that you saved her life. Thank you so much…Elizabeth is like my sister–she means the world to me.”

Brian nodded. “I feel responsible,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was arguing with her husband and–I think I caused the fight between them that sent them both out on deck.”

“You couldn’t have known,” Nikolas assured him.

“Ric didn’t need anyone’s help to screw up with Elizabeth–he did well enough on his own,” Jason muttered, shifting in his hospital chair.

“Still–she loved him. Once this is over….and his death hits…” Emily sighed. “She’s going to be so destroyed.”

“She has you,” Jason told her. “And she’s strong. She made it through something like this before.”

All eyes hit Lucky and he shifted, slightly uncomfortable. “Right. Well…Brian and I were just coming here to question my dad and Skye. They’re in the ER, getting stitches and over seeing some of the other wounded people. We thought we’d come here first.”

“I’ll page you if she gets out of surgery,” Nikolas promised.

“Thanks.” He looked at Brian. “Come on, let’s get this over with so I can get back up here.”

An Hour Later

Audrey emerged from the delivery room, her eyes red and her hands trembling. Nikolas and Lucky both guided her to a seat. “She’s…she’s alive,” Audrey managed to tell them.

“The baby?” Emily asked softly.

“A little girl,” Audrey replied. “She’s alive. They’ve got her in an incubator but the next few days are critical.”

“And Elizabeth?” Nikolas prompted.

“She’s in recovery. Dr. Meadows says she’ll be fine now that she’s given birth. They can tape her ribs and give her the stitches and pain medication she needs. She should sleep through the night.”

Audrey stood. “I need to go home–go to her place and get a few things. There–there are arrangements to be made for Ric, I suppose,” she murmured softly.

Nikolas stood. “I’ll drive you,” he offered. “You’re in no shape to get behind the wheel.”

“Thank you,” Audrey said gratefully.

Jason stood. “I’ll take you back to your room, Em, so you can get some sleep. Because we both know you’ll crawl to Elizabeth’s room in the morning if you have to.”

“Damn right.”

“And I’ll go sit with Elizabeth in recovery,” Lucky replied. “The baby’s in the neonatal unit, right?”

“Yes,” Audrey said. “I–she’s so small…I can’t imagine how she’ll survive.”

“Did I ever tell you about the time that Elizabeth managed to talk me into getting into car with her?” Nikolas asked, guiding Audrey from the room. “Did you know that your granddaughter couldn’t drive a car to save her life…?”

Nikolas’s voice faded as they left the room. Emily touched Jason’s arm. “Can we stop buy the neonatal unit?”

“Sure.”

General Hospital: Neonatal Unit

Jason helped Emily to stand as they looked through the glass window where several incubators were located. Elizabeth’s daughter was closest to them, a little sign on the front proclaimed her to be “Baby Girl Lansing.”

“She looks like dolls I used to play with–only so much smaller,” Emily murmured. “How can something so small and innocent possibly survive?”

“With Elizabeth as a mother, how can she not?” Jason asked instead.

Emily tossed aside another magazine and rubbed her forehead, slightly exhausted. Nikolas just smirked. “I knew I should have just taken you home.”

Emily glared at him. “And I repeat–I am parking my butt in this seat until Elizabeth wakes up,” she told him. “I have a headache, okay? She gave birth to a premature baby, lost her husband and nearly died. I think I can deal.”

“Hey, I’m not saying anything. I’m just saying you could have gone home until she woke up,” Nikolas pointed out.

“I want my face to be the first she sees,” Emily said stubbornly. “If not mine, then Audrey’s.”

“At least she was reasonable enough to go home last night,” Nikolas said. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “That little girl looked so tiny,” he said almost absently. “I hope–I really hope Liz gets a miracle.”

“She of all people deserves it,” Emily murmured. She took Elizabeth’s hand in hers and studied the slightly battered face of her still unconscious best friend. “After everything she’s done for everyone else…she deserves to have her little girl live.”

“Any idea what she’ll name her?” Nikolas asked.

Emily smiled at him brightly, her love for him shining in her eyes. “Do you know how wonderful you are?”

He frowned. “What did I say?”

“One of the doctors last night–I overheard them saying the baby doesn’t have more an a thirty percent chance at survival–that naming the baby would be a waste.” Emily pressed her lips together firmly. “Jackass.”

“Every child deserves a name,” Nikolas retorted hotly. He stood. “What’s that doctor’s name?”

“Sit, Tarzan,” Emily remarked dryly. “And I don’t know what she’ll name her.” A shadow of guilt passed over her face. “We haven’t talked a lot lately. She’s been busy with Ric and me with you and my family…”

“Hey, it happens sometimes. Doesn’t mean you love each other any less,” Nikolas told her. “When she’s ready to come home–I was thinking of suggesting she stay at Wyndemere.”

“She’ll probably stay at Audrey’s but I’m selfish, I want her close all the time now.” Emily traced a pattern on the back of Elizabeth’s hand. “I’ll come with her every day to the hospital to see the baby and sit with her during any kind of treatments and I’ll make up for being such a crappy friend to her.”

Elizabeth made a little sound and wrinkled her nose. “Emily?” she murmured, her voice hoarse, the words a bit a sluggish. She forced her eyes open and frowned. “Where am I?”

“The hospital, sweetie,” Emily said, unable to stop the tears from springing to her eyes.

“The hospital,” Elizabeth repeated dully. Gradually, her eyes focused and when the drugs wore off, Emily saw recognition slam into her. “Oh…no…”

“Hey, hey, look at me, honey,” Emily urged. “You are okay, and your baby–your daughter is, too.”

Elizabeth blinked and Emily saw the hope in her eyes. “Daughter? She…but she’s so early–”

“She’s strong though,” Nikolas leaned forward. “Very strong. I talked to Alexis–the guru of premature babies and she said the fact that the baby made it through the caesarian and the night–it speaks volumes.”

“And Ric?” Elizabeth asked. “Is he really…?” She couldn’t even say the word.

Emily swallowed hard. “Yeah. He saved your life though, sweetheart. I know that’s the way he’d have wanted to go.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes and fought the tears. “What happened?” she asked softly.

“When the second boat explosion hit, it knocked all kinds of things loose,” Nikolas told her. “And some of it came crashing towards you. Ric pushed you out of the way and took the brunt of the hit.”

“The fall sent you in premature labor,” Emily told her regretfully. “Brian Beck was there and he got you to an ambulance in time to get you to get to the hospital. But Ric was killed instantly. I’m so sorry, baby.”

Elizabeth cleared her throat and started to cough. Nikolas grabbed one of the plastic cups at her bedside and filled it in the bathroom and then brought it to her lips. She drank it greedily.

When she spoke again, her voice sounded a lot better and Nikolas helped her to a seated position. “I want–I want to see my daughter.”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to move,” Emily said, regretfully. She looked at Nikolas. “Go get my mother and see if we can’t work something out.”

Nikolas nodded and exited the room. Emily squeezed Elizabeth’s hand tightly. “You feeling okay otherwise?”

Elizabeth nodded slowly. “I feel numb,” she admitted. “Empty. I don’t–Ric is dead because I’m alive. How can I be okay with that?”

“Because if you’d been in his place, you’d have done the same thing,” Emily told her. “He loved you, Elizabeth. You know that, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah…have you seen her?” Elizabeth asked.

Emily nodded. “She’s very tiny,” she admitted. “Very. But she’s beautiful.” She kissed Elizabeth’s forehead. “I’m just so glad you’re okay.” Her voice broke. “When they couldn’t find you–I was so scared.”

Elizabeth frowned. “You’re bruised. Are you okay?” she asked, touching Emily’s tender cheek.

“Slight concussion and I had to have some stitches in my arm.” Emily held it out. “I don’t even know what hit me.”

“And Nikolas? He looked okay–”

“He’s fine, too. Everyone’s okay–Ric and a some people we didn’t know were the only people who didn’t…” Emily hesitated. “Zander hasn’t been found yet. We think he might have just left town. Right now–the explosions look intentional and he might have set them.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes. “He told me I had to leave,” she remembered. “He wouldn’t say why–but he kept saying it.”

“Anyone on deck was seriously injured. The first explosion just startled everyone–I was standing under shelves–I think that’s what hit me. And almost everyone was evacuated before the second one which was designed to sink the ship.”

“Zander would never intentionally hurt people like that. I have to believe he thought everyone would be out,” Elizabeth said.

Emily nodded, her eyes filled tears. “Me, too.” Her breath hitched again. “They couldn’t find you, Liz. They couldn’t–and I was scared they’d call off the search. I was half awake and I just kept screaming your name. Nikolas was about to go back in to look–Jason, too. I think Lucky was already searching.” Emily kissed Elizabeth’s hand. “But then Brian came off the ship, bloody and battered and he had you in his arms. I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life as I was to see him.”

“I’m so glad you’re all right,” Elizabeth said. “You, Nikolas, and Lucky–Luke’s okay, too right?”

“Just some bumps and bruises. He and Skye were so wonderful together,” Emily told her. “As soon as the first one hit, they were organizing people and getting them off the ship. Lucky said that if they hadn’t quelled panic, so many more people might have died.”

“Luke always was good in a crisis.” Elizabeth sighed and rested her head against the pillow. “I was fighting with Ric before the explosion. He’d…he’d assigned Brian to get close to Courtney so they could get evidence on Sonny and Jason.”

“Oh, no,” Emily said softly. “Poor Courtney, I know how much she cares for Brian.”

“Brian was there–he’d been drinking and arguing with Ric. I came up to them and Brian just blurted out to me.”

“Well, he was upset,” Emily said, with sympathy. “He probably didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

“Yeah, I know. I just wish Ric and I hadn’t been arguing.”

—

Nikolas stopped at the nurse’s station. “Hey, Maxie, could you page Dr. Monica Quartermaine and tell her to come here?”

“Sure,” Maxie put the page through. “Elizabeth awake?”

“Yeah, she wants to see her baby,” Nikolas replied.

“Oh…I hope the baby is going to be okay. I think it’s so sad,” Maxie sighed.

Nikolas nodded. He saw Brian Beck exiting the elevator. “Hey, Brian,” he called.

“Hey…Nikolas, right?” Brian asked.

“Yeah…I just want to thank you again for saving Elizabeth,” Nikolas told him. “She’s like a sister to me and my fiancée…I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t.”

Brian shrugged. “I found her–I brought her out. I’m glad she’s okay. Is her baby going to be okay?”

“They’re not sure yet but she lived through the night and that’s a good sign.” Nikolas rubbed the back of her neck. “I think in a few days–Elizabeth will probably want to thank you herself. Once everything sinks in for her. You should go see her.”

Brian shook his head. “I doubt it–I’m the reason she and her husband weren’t in the main room with everyone else. I told her something that he’d done and she was angry with him.”

“That’s not your fault–Ric…he loved her but he was always making mistakes and giving her reasons not to trust him. If you hadn’t told her, she would have found out from someone else.”

“Nikolas, you paged me?” Monica asked, stepping up to them. “Hello, Detective Beck, nice work last night.”

“Thank you, Dr. Quartermaine. Do you know which room Calvin Fuller is in?” he asked. “I need to question him about last night.”

“No, but I’m sure Maxie can help you.”

Brian thanked her and moved towards the young blonde volunteer. “Nikolas?” Monica prompted.

“Elizabeth is awake and she wants to see her daughter,” Nikolas told her. “I wasn’t sure if that was okay or not but I thought you might at least like to check on her.”

“She really shouldn’t be getting out of bed,” Monica sighed as they started down the hallway towards Elizabeth’s room.

“She’s just lost so much–I think she wants to see for her own eyes that her daughter’s okay,” Nikolas replied.

“Oh, I completely understand. I am going to let her make a very short trip to the neonatal unit just to see her. But after that, she’s got to be on bed rest for at least two days to give the stitches some time to heal.”

“If she’s anything like Alexis–she’ll end up living in the neonatal unit,” Nikolas said, stopping in front of Elizabeth’s room.

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Monica laughed. She pushed the door open. “Hey, Em, Elizabeth. How are we?”

“Anxious to see my daughter,” Elizabeth said firmly. “I know–I just had surgery…but I really want to see her.”

Monica nodded. “I understand.” She looked at Nikolas. “There’s a wheelchair over there–why don’t we get Elizabeth all ready to go?”

“Really?” Emily said. She squeezed her friend’s hand. “That’s great news.”

“Thank you so much,” Elizabeth said gratefully. Nikolas wheeled the chair towards her and then lifted her into it with ease.

—-

Elizabeth stood in front of the glass, leaning heavily on Nikolas. She touched the window. “She’s so small,” she murmured.

“Well, you’re not a giant yourself,” Emily teased. “So, what are we going to name this future beauty queen?”

“Monica?” Elizabeth asked, looking at her friend’s mother. “If…if Detective Beck hadn’t found me–I’d be dead right now, wouldn’t I?”

Monica sighed. “By the time one of the search crews had found you, you might have bled to death, yes.”

“And I definitely would have lost her,” Elizabeth said softly.

“Without a doubt,” Monica confirmed, trading a concerned look with her daughter.

“Then I’m naming her for him,” Elizabeth informed them. “Brianna.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” Emily said, clearly delighted. “Don’t you think so Nikolas?”

“Brian will be really honored,” Nikolas said, kissing Elizabeth’s forehead. “I think it’s a wonderful thing.”

“Brianna Audrey Lansing,” Elizabeth tested it. “How does that sound?”

“Sounds like it was made for her.” Monica smiled. “Speaking of Audrey, did anyone call her to tell her you were awake?”

Emily flushed. “We’ll do it when we get back to the room.”

“Which you should do now,” Monica suggested. Nikolas helped Elizabeth sit back down before wheeling her back towards the room.

Emily dawdled and traced a pattern on the glass. “Brianna Audrey Lansing,” she repeated to herself. “You’d better be okay because your mother really needs you,” she said softly.

February 3, 2004

— General Hospital: Nurse’s Station —

When Brian emerged from the hallway, he found Courtney Matthews waiting for him at the elevators.

“Brian…” She moved towards him, relief written across her features. “I heard you were on board the boat last night–are you okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah–I wasn’t hurt.” Brian frowned. “I thought you were angry at me.”

“I–I am b-but that doesn’t mean I can’t be relieved that you’re all right,” Courtney remarked. “And I am relieved. I–” She hesitated. “So many people were hurt.”

“And some died,” Brian sighed. He looked away, his dark eyes distant. “Have you ever done something you wished you could take back?”

“More than you know.” Courtney stepped towards him and put a hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“I was–I was angry last night. We’d had that argument and you’d found out about my assignment. I let you catch me in the act, Courtney,” Brian informed her. “I was–I was just so tired of lying to you.”

“What happened?” she pressed, filing that information away for later.

“Ric Lansing was there with his wife and I–I’d been drinking but I don’t know if I’d held myself back if I were sober, either. I–I told her what he’d assigned me to do. I knew about their history–everyone knew. I just–I wanted to hurt him like I was hurting,” he admitted. “But they had this huge argument and she left. He went out after her–”

“Oh, God…” Courtney said softly. “Most of the people who died were out on the deck–killed by falling objects.”

Brian nodded miserably. “Ric pushed his wife out of the way of some debris. He was killed instantly.”

“Jesus…” she swallowed hard. “What about Elizabeth?”

“She went into premature labor and she would have bled to death if I hadn’t gotten her off the boat when I did. The baby–the baby is still in the neonatal unit but it’s my fault if that little girl dies, Courtney.” His voice broke. “My fault that Elizabeth Lansing loses everything.”

“No…” Courtney shook her head vehemently. “You just said she would have died on that boat. You saved her life, you gave her child a chance–more of a chance than she would have had otherwise.” She moved her hand to his cheek. “Brian–you’re a good cop and a good man. You couldn’t have known the boat was going to explode–”

“A good man wouldn’t have hurt an innocent woman just to get at her husband,” Brian said shortly. He stepped away. He didn’t deserve her comfort or the sympathy he saw in her eyes.

“Brian–” Courtney protested. He moved past her and jabbed the elevator button. “She won’t blame you.”

He shook his head. “You don’t know that–”

“I do know that,” she said forcefully. “She’s not that kind of a person. She won’t look at the fact you inadvertently caused an argument. Elizabeth is a good person and she’ll only remember that you’re the reason her little girl has a chance at all.”

He just shook his head and stepped on the elevator. She started after him but the doors slid shut.

—

February 4, 2004

— General Hospital: Neonatal Unit —

Elizabeth glanced from side to side, nervously. She’d snuck out of her hospital room during a lag between visitors. She’d convinced her grandmother and Emily to go home and she knew Lucky wasn’t due for another hour.

She just wanted this opportunity to look at her daughter. Two days old and still fighting. Dr. Meadows said it was a good sign.

But Brianna still didn’t have more than a thirty-two percent chance of survival.

“Emily was right.”

She turned to find Jason standing behind her with a faint smile on his lips. “She was right?” Elizabeth echoed with a confused expression.

“She called me on her way back to the mansion and told me to come and check on you.” He lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “She knew why you were trying to get rid of her and your grandmother earlier.”

Elizabeth sighed and turned her attention back to the incubator in which her daughter depended on for survival. “Emily knows me too well,” she murmured.

“She looks better than she did the other night,” Jason offered, joining her at her side. “Emily and I came here after your surgery.”

“Dr. Meadows says her chances rise every day that she’s alive,” Elizabeth said. “Still–she’s so early. Babies born this early almost never survive.”

“I wasn’t supposed to survive my accident,” Jason said quietly. “The doctors told the Quartermaines that even if I came out of the coma, I’d have so much brain damage I could never live a normal life. Never live on my own, never hold down a job, have a family or any kind of a real substantial life.”

“I mean–they were partly right,” Jason continued after a moment. “I had brain damage and I’m not even remotely the same but I’m just trying to say that doctors only go by experience. People with my kind of head injury were vegetables but here I am, eight years later and I’ve got a life. Not the one the Quartermaines wanted but it’s my life.”

“It just doesn’t seem fair,” Elizabeth replied. “I thought I was finally going to have a good life. Ric wasn’t perfect–I wasn’t blind to the things he’d done. I know what people say about me but I knew what he’d done. I chose to believe he could change and he did to some extent. He was on the edge this summer, Jason and I’m pretty sure he slid over it a few times.” She sighed. “But he loved me. I was sure of that and I thought that could be enough.”

“Sometimes it’s not. Sometimes you need more than that.” Jason exhaled slowly. “Sometimes love is just the foundation. If a year later, it’s still all you have–if you haven’t built on it–you’re nowhere.”

“I’ll never even have a chance to find out if we could have built something better,” Elizabeth murmured. “I always seem to lose in the end. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much I sacrifice, I always lose.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “I don’t want to lose her.”

He wished he could tell her that she wouldn’t. That her daughter would not only survive, but flourish. But that was a promise that he could not make. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe we should get you back to your room.”

She shook her head. “I’m afraid if I leave, she’ll go away. In another day, I’ll be released a-and I’ll probably be allowed inside.” Elizabeth closed her eyes. “I wish that I could hold her.”

“Is there anything you need?” Jason asked.

“To go back in time,” she said softly. “So that I could stay inside the room and be evacuated.” After a moment she shook her head. “No, there’s nothing I need except to hold Brianna and I can’t do that.”

“Brianna?” Jason questioned. Emily hadn’t told him that Elizabeth had named the baby and he’d overheard the same intern Emily had the night the baby was born. That naming the baby would be a useless gesture. He should have known Elizabeth would pay no attention to that.

“For Brian Beck,” Elizabeth told him. “Monica told me that if he hadn’t found me when I did, I would have died. Brianna Audrey.” Her voice faltered and nearly broke. “I think I’ll go back to my maiden name. Ric’s gone. What’s the point?”

At this, she started to cry in earnest. Her shoulders start to shake and her body was trembling. “Oh, God,” she choked. “He’s gone.” Elizabeth turned into the embrace Jason offered and cried until her legs gave out and he carried her back to her hospital room.

— Quartermaine Mansion: Living Room —

Emily sifted through a box of baby things that she’d been setting aside for the past few months. She’d been planning on throwing Elizabeth a baby shower and every time she’d gone shopping, she’d picked up some odd or end.

Nikolas had brought the box over from Wyndemere when he’d brought over clothes for himself and Emily. Neither of them wanted to be too far from the hospital in case Elizabeth needed them.

She felt a weight press into the couch next to her and she sighed. “I didn’t know if she was having a boy or a girl,” Emily remarked mournfully.

Her grandfather patted her arm. “I’m so sorry you’re hurting, Emily.”

“I bought one of everything in both colors,” Emily told him. She held up the rattles, one pink, one blue. “I figured–whatever she didn’t use–I could. We were going to raise our families together a-and now she’s lost her husband and her daughter might not survive.”

She could fee the misery rising in her throat again and she fought against the tears. Edward tucked her under his arm and kissed her forehead. “Don’t speak such nonsense,” the elder man said briskly. “The baby will be fine.”

“I really need her to be,” Emily remarked. She set the rattles down and reached next to her, holding up a hanger with a lacy white dress hanging from it. “I bought it on impulse. I knew Elizabeth would want to buy the christening gown herself b-but I saw it and I couldn’t help myself.”

“It’s lovely,” Edward assured her. “And Elizabeth will appreciate it no matter what.”

“I don’t even know if I should give any of this to her,” Emily sighed. She set the christening gown back on the couch and raked her hands through her brown hair. “I mean I don’t want to give her hope and then have Brianna die. That just seems–it seems so cruel.”

“But you don’t want to treat Brianna as though she’s doomed to die either,” Edward advised her. “Elizabeth will appreciate you treating her like a real child, a real newborn rather than a tragic little life that never had a chance.”

“But what if the latter proves to be true?” Emily asked, stricken. “How can Elizabeth survive losing her husband and her child?”

“She has you,” Edward remarked. “And she has her grandmother and other family. You will get her through.”

“When we thought we’d lost Lucky…” Emily closed her eyes and shook her head. “God…he’d been my best friend and it felt like someone had ripped my heart out. Elizabeth was destroyed and drowning in her grief for so long–I stopped looking. I couldn’t handle her devastation and my own.” A faint smile brushed her lips. “But Jason–he saved her that time a-and he’ll do it again.”

“Your brother’s a good man,” Edward said grudging. When Emily turned her amused eyes at him, he narrowed his own. “That stays between us.”

“Right, Grandfather. We don’t want the whole world to know what a softie you are.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for this. You barely know Elizabeth and you’re sitting here anyway. I’m so incredible lucky to be a member of this family.”

“And we’re just as lucky to have you.” Edward patted her knee. “I’ll take a page from your grandmother’s book and tell you to have faith. Everyone gets a miracle once in their lives and it sounds as though your Elizabeth is due for one.”

February 10, 2004

— Quartermaine Estate: Dining Room —

Brianna Audrey Lansing not only survived the next night, she survived the next six days. Each morning, another doctor would marvel at this incredible miracle of the baby who’d only been twenty-four weeks old when she’d been born.

On February 10, the bills started pouring in and suddenly–reality not only hit Elizabeth, it slammed into her.

“The way we lived–I assumed Ric had money…” Elizabeth sat at the Quartermaine breakfast table and stared at the letters in her hand. “But–there’s nothing left.”

Alexis handed Ric’s will back to Nikolas who looked over it himself though he knew his aunt had missed no angles. “It seemed that Ric changed his will after your original divorce was finalized and instead of you inheriting everything–it all goes to charity.”

“The house was in his name,” Elizabeth murmured. “The cars–everything. They’re going to take it from me, aren’t they?”

“I can contest the will but I don’t see how I’d win,” Alexis said regretfully. “If Brianna were his biological daughter–a judge might award part of the estate to her but she’s not.”

“Jesus…” Elizabeth’s hands started to shake. “I can’t–the bills for Brianna’s care are starting to come in–I was counting on Ric’s money–”

“You know I would give it to you if I had it,” Nikolas said urgently. “Alexis and I have gone over everything–we’re hanging on by a thread.”

“And so is my family,” Emily remarked softly. “But we’ll come up with something, honey. Maybe Luke’s got a secret stash.”

“Mmm-hmm…” Elizabeth closed her eyes, trying to stave off the hot fresh tears burning behind the lids. “And if I can’t get the money, I can’t pay for Brianna’s hospital care–she won’t make it without the specialized care–”

“Jason would do it,” Emily said instantly. “Jason would give you the money in a heartbeat.”

“You’re going to have to come up with a short-term plan anyhow,” Alexis said. “The hospital will only hold off for so long. Jason is a good bet–we can take up collections–”

“I just don’t know how to ask Jason for that kind of money–I’m not good at that sort of thing–”

“I’ll ask,” Emily volunteered. “I’ll do it right now.”

“No–” Elizabeth stopped her from rising. “Brianna is my daughter and she is my responsibility. I’ll do it.”

— Morgan Penthouse —

Elizabeth raised her hand hesitantly but dropped it before she’d actually knocked. She didn’t even know how much money she needed–and what if Courtney were there? Jesus.

“Elizabeth?”

Sonny’s voice startled her and she whirled around. “You scared me.”

“Sorry,” he offered. He stepped towards her. “I heard about your daughter and I’m real glad she’s hanging on.”

“Thanks.” Elizabeth folded her arms tightly and looked down at the ground.

“Ric–well I hated the ground he walked on but I’m real sorry that you lost someone that you love. I know how that can eat at you and I hope you’re doing okay,” Sonny continued.

“I–” She closed her eyes. She was going to break and she was so tired of falling apart in front of people. She needed to get out of here, crawl into a room and scream for a while so she could go to the hospital. “I–I have to go–”

He caught her elbow. “Didn’t you need to talk to Jason or something?”

“I–I can’t do this.” Her breath hitched and her body started to tremble. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, God…” her voice faltered and ended on a ragged sob.

“Elizabeth, what’s wrong?” Sonny asked urgently. He put an arm around her shoulders–more to keep her upright and standing rather than to offer her comfort.

“There’s–there’s no money a-and no one I know can spare the kind of money it’s going to take to keep Brianna’s hospital care going–” Elizabeth started to cry then. “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”

“Shh…” He wrapped her in an embrace. “You’ll have all the money you need, Elizabeth. Any doctor you want, anything you need, I’ll see that you get it.”

“I don’t–I don’t have the right to ask you for that,” she managed to sputter out.

“Your Brianna is only a little older than my son was when Carly lost him–” she pulled away and looked at him–the pain in his eyes was raw. “Four years ago–they couldn’t save him, there just wasn’t enough technology and I had to choose between Carly and my son–it wasn’t a difficult choice in the end, he never would have survived outside of her body–but it was the worst decision I ever made–and I have never forgotten who was there for me that night…” now his voice was on the verge of breaking. “You gave me comfort when few other people would–”

“I called in that favor a long time ago,” Elizabeth shook her head. “I’ve been so cruel to you, Sonny–”

“And I’ve been just as cruel to you,” he interrupted. “That night was not about favors and neither is this. Your little girl can survive where my boy couldn’t and I’ll be damned if that won’t happen because a silly thing like money.”

The elevator doors slid open and Jason stepped off them, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Elizabeth crying in Sonny’s arms. “Did–did something happen to Brianna?” he asked.

She shook her head. “N-no…I just–I came to talk to you actually and Sonny happened to be here.”

“Why don’t I take you to my place?” Sonny suggested. “You look like you’re in need of a good meal and you can tell Jason about our little arrangement while I cook.”

“I should get to the hospital,” Elizabeth said though the idea of a lunch prepared by Sonny was awfully tempting.

“You’ll do Brianna no good if you don’t take care of yourself. Come on.”

— Corinthos Penthouse —

Elizabeth accepted the tall glass of homemade iced tea gratefully. “Thanks, Sonny.”

“I would have given you the money,” Jason assured her. “You know that, right?”

“I–” Elizabeth sighed. “I wasn’t sure–I know you’d do it if Emily asked because she’s family b-but Brianna’s my daughter and I had to do this myself.”

“I would have done it,” he repeated. “I just can’t believe you’re in this position–when we researched Ric last year, he was comfortable financially.”

Elizabeth sighed. “When we married he first time, he changed his will to include me and whatever children we’d have. But after we divorced, he changed it back and everything goes to charity. He never changed it again.”

“Well, that’s just irresponsible,” Sonny remarked. He set a tray in front of Elizabeth on the coffee table. A plate filled to the brim with a chicken salad sandwich, carrot and celery slices–topped off with a homemade chocolate chip cookie. “When Carly told me she was pregnant with Morgan, I changed my will again and I changed it one more time when he was born.”

“I don’t think Ric knew he was going to…” Elizabeth trailed off. “Anyway–none of that matters to me. I’m staying with the Quartermaines because Emily wanted me there and it’s closer to the hospital but–as long as Brianna’s taken care of, I could sleep under the docks for all I care.”

“Who’s handling the estate?” Sonny asked. “Isn’t there something you can do about the will?”

“Alexis looked over everything–if Brianna were Ric’s biological daughter, I would have had a leg to stand on but she’s not so…”

Sonny frowned–he had been unaware of that information and it seemed that Jason hadn’t been as well. “Elizabeth, if you don’t mind me asking–”

“Oh–Zander’s her father.” Elizabeth sighed and bit into the sandwich. She chewed it and a real genuine smile spread across her face. “God, Sonny, if you ever get tired of being the local Godfather, you could really do something with this skill.”

“Yeah–so I’ve been told.” Sonny cleared his throat. “So if Alexis is acting as your lawyer–I’ll contact her to set up the transfer of funds–”

“Sonny, you really–” she broke off. “I appreciate it–especially the fact that you offered despite the fact that I was married to Ric.”

“You’ve always had a gift of seeing what others wouldn’t in a person,” Sonny told her. “You were friends with Jason and me when everyone you knew wanted you to back off and God knows, you went to the wall time and time again for Zander. If you believed there was something good about my brother–then that’s enough for me.” He shrugged. “As such–your connection to him doesn’t bother me. I’m doing this because I like you.”

“And if you need any more money, just let me know,” Jason jumped in. “Or–anything at all.”

“Thank you both–so much.” Elizabeth smiled weakly. “If everyone keeps this up, I won’t know who to pick for Brianna’s godfather.”

— General Hospital: Neo-Natal Unit —

“Mrs. Lansing…” Dr. Meadows sighed and shifted a clipboard under her arm when she found the young mother standing outside the nursery. “I wondered if I could have a moment of your time.”

“She looks even better than she did last night, doesn’t she?” Elizabeth asked hopefully. “Her chances are better aren’t they?”

“She’s surpassed all expectations as of yet,” Dr. Meadows said. “Mrs. Lansing, I want you to be prepared though.”

The smile slid from her face and her skin paled. “Prepared for what? Brianna’s eight days old. Most babies would have died by now.”

“She can still catch an infection–” Dr. Meadows broke off and shook her head. “Yes–she’s eight days old and with every day that passes, she gets stronger. But if she survives, I cannot guarantee that she won’t have some developmental problems–brain damage. She may never lead a full life–”

“That’s what they said about me.” Jason stepped up to her side. “They told the Quartermaines that and they told me when I woke up from the coma. But doctors don’t know everything.”

Dr. Meadows pressed her lips together firmly. “I don’t believe in giving her false hope.”

“Whatever Brianna’s problems maybe in the future, she is my daughter and I love her regardless. The mere fact you telling me things that may happen down the road gives me hope,” Elizabeth replied.

“Mrs. Lansing, there is only so much we can do for her here,” Dr. Meadows said bluntly. “She still lives–but machines are living for her. Breathing for her. Her lungs do not work and we cannot guarantee she will ever live without the help of the machines.”

Whatever color might have been left drained from her face. “Are you saying she may–that she may never breathe on her own?”

“She was never supposed to survive the first night,” the doctor tried to be gentle. “I’m aware that you’re having trouble paying your medical bills from the brief visit you had last week–Brianna’s care will surpass that amount and sky rocket–I just wonder if it’s not worth the effort–”

“Money is no longer an obstacle,” Jason said coldly. “And neither is finding a doctor who’s a little more capable of handling a case as delicate as this one.”

Elizabeth glanced at him sharply–surprised not only by his arrival but now his quick and cutting defense of her and her daughter.

“Mr. Morgan–I am the best trained professional here and I’m saying that Brianna will never be a normal child–”

“I don’t want to hear any more of this,” Elizabeth whimpered. She clamped her hands over her ears.

“You will hear and you will listen. Keeping that baby alive with those machines is cruel and unnecessary,” Dr. Meadows said sharply. “It’d be in the best interest of the child if you just let nature take its course.”

Elizabeth stared at the doctor with barely bridled irritation. “And if I take her off the machines–what? She dies?”

“Or she fights to breathe on her own and we see if we truly have a fighter on our hands.” Dr. Meadows shrugged. “It’s completely up to you.”

“Elizabeth–you need to think about this a little more,” Jason said. He touched her shoulder. “Emily, Nikolas and Lucky are in the waiting room–maybe we should go talk to them–”

“No. I know my daughter will be all right. She’s survived eight days when she never should have survived the delivery. And–if she’s not…” Elizabeth took a deep, bracing breath. “Then I’ll deal with that. But I will not stand here and let you tell me that I’m a cruel person. Give me whatever forms I have to sign and we’ll see exactly what my little girl is made of.”

Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth stood in front of the nursery window, her arms folded tightly. Every muscle in her body was braced for the possibility she could lose her daughter. While she watched the doctors prepare to move Brianna from the breathing machines, she glanced up at Jason. “You know–I didn’t even ask if there was anything you needed.”

“I just came to let you know that Sonny transferred the money,” Jason replied. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’m positive–if she can’t survive even a few moments off the machines, then I know what she’s saying is true.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “And as much as I don’t want to lose her, I can’t let her suffer.”

Dr. Meadows emerged from the room. “They’re going to do it now. If she manages to draw a breath, we’ll put her back on the machines. There’s no reason to wear her lungs out right now. We’ll need to do a surgery to strengthen her lungs and then possibly we can see about her being off the machine.”

“Just–just do it,” Elizabeth said softly.

Dr. Meadows nodded and gave the doctor the nod. Inside, a male doctor removed the breathing tube from Brianna’s throat.

And Elizabeth watched her daughter take her first breath.

February 10, 2004

— General Hospital: NICU Waiting Room —

Jason helped a shaken Elizabeth sit in a chair before he turned to the stricken trio waiting for them.

“What’s wrong?” Emily demanded. She kneeled in front of Elizabeth. “Why do you look so pale? Isn’t Brianna okay?”

“She’s—she’s fine.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “We took her off the machines briefly—a-and she took a breath.”

Nikolas closed his eyes. “Thank God.”

Lucky frowned. “I don’t understand. What does that mean?”

“It means that she took a breath without the support of the machines. Her lungs are getting stronger. The machines are helping her—not keeping her alive,” Nikolas explained. “It’s good news.”

“I was just—Dr. Meadows goaded me into making the decision. She said Brianna wouldn’t survive and even if she did, she’d have serious problems—that it was cruel to keep her hooked up.”

Nikolas narrowed his eyes. “Even if she was trying to help—that’s a little blunt and incredibly unnecessary.”

“Jason—did she talk to you about the hospital bills?” Emily asked her brother softly.

He nodded. “But Sonny talked to her first and he’s already transferred money into the accounts. Brianna will have the best care available to her.”

“Good—because I talked to my dad and he offered to find a way to get the money which you know is never a good phrase coming from his mouth,” Lucky said with a wry grin.

“I have to call my grandmother—I have to tell her about Brianna.” Elizabeth started to stand but Emily pushed her back down.

“I’ll do it. You just sit down. You’re still recovering from surgery yourself and I don’t want you to strain yourself. You left without eating breakfast this morning—don’t think I didn’t notice,” Emily remarked. “Now—Jason, can you stay with her while I get her something to eat?”

“What about me?” Nikolas said. “I—”

“You have a board meeting with the hospital,” Emily reminded him. She kissed his cheek. “And Lucky has to go stop Luke from doing something—Luke-like.”

Lucky smirked. “It’s probably too late but I do have to start my shift. Ah, Elizabeth…Brian Beck’s been kind of—well he feels real guilty about starting that fight on the Haunted Star and I was wondering if it’d be all right to tell him about Brianna—why you named her and all that.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes—tell him to come by the hospital if he has time. I want to thank him in person. He has nothing to feel guilty about. Ric and I created our own problems.”

“Thanks.” Lucky, Nikolas and Emily moved towards the elevators at the same time and the brothers hung back letting Emily enter the car first.

“Thank you—for being there with me. I know I should have given it more thought or at least told them about it but I just—” Elizabeth closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. “I just had to know for myself if I could handle it.”

“She’s very much like you,” Jason told her. He sat in the chair next to her. “She doesn’t do what everyone expects.”

Elizabeth managed a weak smile. “Yeah—maybe she’s trying to prove a point no one but her mother gets.”

The familiar words weren’t lost on either of them and he smiled then. “What point would that be?”

“That her mother doesn’t always have to lose at everything.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “Now that we’re sure she’s going to make it—I need—I need to start making some decisions. I have to find somewhere to live—get a new job—”

“You don’t work at Kelly’s anymore?”

“I do but that’s not really a realistic job for a single mother who has to support herself and a baby,” Elizabeth told him. “And I know what you’re going to say so—I’m only accepting money from you and Sonny because there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. But her medical bills is where it stops, okay?”

“Okay but if there is anything you need, you can come to either of us, you know that right?”

Someone cleared their throat behind them and Elizabeth and Jason turned to see Sam McCall standing somewhat uncomfortable with an arrangement of flowers. She stepped forward to hold them out to Elizabeth. “Sonny wanted to bring them by himself but he had to go to the warehouse.”

“Thank you.” She took the arrangement of lilies and tulips and smiled. “They’re beautiful.”

Sam nodded. “Yeah—he’s got pretty good taste in flowers, I guess or maybe the florist picked it out. Anyway—congratulations on having your baby. Sonny didn’t say if it was a boy or a girl…?”

“Girl,” Elizabeth supplied. “Brianna Audrey.”

“Pretty name.” Sam glanced nervously at Jason before rubbing the back of her neck. “Uh…that was really it. Sonny just wanted to drop those off now and tell you thank you.”

“Thank you?” Elizabeth frowned and looked at Jason. “That should be the other way around. He’s helping me pay her medical bills.”

“You’ll have to ask him, I’m just the messenger.” Sam shrugged and slid her hands in her back pockets. “But he’s probably thanking you for letting him help you or something, right Jase?”

“Yeah, probably.” Jason shifted and it dawned on Elizabeth that they were probably both uncomfortable being in the same room with each other—since Jason was also Carly’s best friend and Sam was Sonny’s latest girlfriend.

“Right.”

“What, Sonny’s not enough for you—you have to go after my husband too?”

Courtney’s shrill voice sounded from behind Sam and the brunette grimaced and rolled her eyes. “Here we go again,” she muttered.

“Courtney—” Elizabeth began, standing.

“Do you really have no decency?” Courtney demanded. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at the other woman—whom she towered over. “Women like you—”

“Hey, look, I’m sorry we ran into each other because—believe me—hearing another lecture about how I’m this huge slut was not on my list today but why don’t you get a grip on reality and just imagine for one minute that I’m not here to steal your husband?” Sam shot back.

“Oh and what else could you possibly be here for?” Courtney retorted. “You don’t know Elizabeth and trust me, you won’t win any points for pitying her.”

“Oh, now wait a minute,” Elizabeth said angrily. “Why don’t you shut up for five seconds before coming to conclusions that just make you look like a horrid shrew?”

“Excuse me?” Courtney said, shifting her glare from one brunette to the other.

“It just so happens that Sam is here to talk to me,” Elizabeth said. “We met while I was still working at Kelly’s and she brought me flowers for Brianna. You know—that friendship with Carly is really working out for you.”

“Oh what is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that Carly had a tendency to jump all over any woman in Jason or Sonny’s immediate area. She tried to intimidate me into staying away from both of them for years but—look how well that worked out. Why don’t you worry about your own marriage without jumping down everyone’s throats?” She turned to Jason who had a tired look on his face. “Tell Emily I’m at the nursery. Sam—you want to see Brianna?”

“Uh…yeah, sure.” Sam blinked and followed the irate mother down the hall.

“The absolute nerve,” Courtney muttered.

“What are you doing here?” Jason asked, rising from his seat.

“Sonny told me you were here—why did you let Elizabeth rip into me like that?” his wife demanded.

“Because you started it,” Jason stated. “You attacked Sam who wasn’t doing anything wrong—”

“Except sleeping with a married man,” Courtney remarked scathingly.

“That’s none of your business. Sonny and Carly are separated,” Jason reminded her. “They’re adults and they get to do what they want to do. Sonny likes Sam and if you were any kind of sister, you’d lay off of her. But you walked up and launched into this whole attack before you even knew why Sam was here and then you set into Elizabeth who just lost her husband and nearly lost her child.” He shook his head, a little disgusted. “Grow up, Courtney. It’s not always about you.”

— General Hospital: NICU —

“Um—I’m sorry about that back there. The last thing you probably need is hearing her voice,” Sam remarked as Elizabeth led her to the nursery window.

“I’m used to her,” Elizabeth said. “Wasn’t too long ago I was the one who was being accused of going after Jason. I feel for you since you probably have to deal with Carly and Courtney.”

Sam grimaced. “If I don’t see one, I see the other. I’m living in Hell.”

“That’s Brianna,” Elizabeth gestured.

“She’s so small,” Sam breathed. “She looks like a little china doll.”

“Yeah—we took her off the machines a little while ago and—she took a breath.” Elizabeth smiled then. “No one expected her to survive and here she is—still going.”

“I know how that is—fighting every day just so you can feel like you’re living and not existing,” Sam nodded. “That’s part of the reason I’m still sticking with Sonny even though I have to deal with the Double mint Twins on crack.”

Elizabeth laughed then—one of the first genuine laughs she’d experienced in days. “I’ve never heard that before.”

“It’s true. They’re just like those girls from the commercials—only scarier, you know? And listening to them talk?” Sam rolled her eyes. “It’s like these little dogs yapping. I want to throttle them but I try to control myself because I don’t want Sonny to know they’re doing it.”

“Sonny’s a good man—I never understood what he saw in Carly but they were together for so long…” Elizabeth shook her head. “Carly and I have never gotten along. Since the day I became friends with Jason, she’s tried to force me from his life.”

“But you keep fighting back because it looks like you guys are still pretty close,” Sam nodded. “I have no idea what he sees in that wife of his. My God.” She sighed. “But—Sonny—he’s worth it. He doesn’t make me feel like…I’m something he needs to fix. Like—he doesn’t see my past—and it’s a pretty bad one.”

“Well Sonny’s past isn’t exactly stellar so he really shouldn’t judge.” Elizabeth smiled. “I’m glad he’s happy.”

Sam frowned. “How do you know he’s happy?”

“I saw him today,” Elizabeth reminded her. “He looks a lot better than he has in a while.”

“Oh…well, that could just be the sex,” Sam said seriously. “Or—like the idea of not having Carly to deal with.”

“It could be you.”

“Yeah—probably the sex,” Sam nodded.