10

It’s been two weeks since Lucky and Elizabeth had begun dating again and so far everything was going smoothly. It looked as if they young people were on their way back to the way they were before Jason.

Elizabeth stood at the nurses station at GH, waiting for her Grandmother to get off break. She had been avoiding Audrey since she came back and knew it was time to face the music. Whatever her grandmother had to say, it couldn’t be all bad. Facing Lucky was the hardest and that was easy. But facing Gram…that was something else all together.

"Elizabeth hello!" Bobbi Spencer waved as she came out of a patient’s room. ""Luke told me you were back in town," She pulled Elizabeth into a warm hug. "What took you so long to come over and say hi?"

"You can say I was avoiding Gram," Elizabeth sheepishly smiled. "But I’ve decided that avoiding her was only making it worse."

Bobbie nodded. "I understand."

"Elizabeth?" Audrey Harding stood behind her granddaughter, disbelief shone in her face. "Is that really you dear?"

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth released Bobbi from the hug and turned to face her grandmother, who must be furious with her for leaving without saying goodbye.

"Yes Gram. It’s really me," Elizabeth bit her lip, not knowing what was going to happen next. She was surprised when Audrey pulled her into a hug.

"Oh Elizabeth, I have been so worried about you. Sonny had given me the number you were staying at in Italy and the line was disconnected!"

"I’m sorry Gram. I had left Italy and came home," Elizabeth cleared her throat.

"Well where is Mr. Morgan? I have a few things to say to him."

"Jason is in Paris Gram. He left me. That’s why I came home."

"Oh…well I must say Elizabeth, I told you so."

"It was a good thing you called Lucky and he got you home. Being trapped alone in Italy without in money, pretty scary huh?" Bobbie said, instantly regretting her slip when she saw Audrey’s eyes widen. "I think I hear one of my pages. I better go. Uh….Elizabeth, good to see you back. Bye," Bobbie quickly scurried away.

"He left you alone in Italy and you had to call Lucky Spencer? Elizabeth…why didn’t you call me?"

"Because you would have rubbed it in grams and I really didn’t need that at the time."

"And Lucky, the boy you dumped for Jason wouldn’t have?"

"No he wouldn’t Gram and he didn’t. He helped me when he had every reason to turn me down."

"Well…Lucky was always a gentleman. Even during that whole mess with Helena Cassadine. Well now that you’re home I’ll have you old room ready for you and I’ll ask around the hospital about jobs…"

"I already have a room Gram. And a job at Deception designing clothes for Gia," Elizabeth bit her lip.

Audrey’s face lit up in surprise. "Why I’m surprised. You’ve only been back for a couple of hours and all ready you…"

"Well actually…it’s been a couple of weeks."

"What? You’ve been in Port Charles for a couple of weeks and you didn’t even come see me? Elizabeth…I’m…hurt."

"Grams don’t be. It was like I said, you would have told me you were right and how stupid I was for believing all of Jason’s lies…I couldn’t take it at the time Grams. I was already doing it to myself, I didn’t need you adding to my own guilt."

"Elizabeth…do you actually think I’m that cruel?"
Elizabeth didn’t answer. She just stared at the floor, not wanting to answer that question.

"You do don’t you. Well…I see where I stand…"

"Grams…"

"Well believe it or not, I am glad you came to see me and I’m glad Lucky was able to get you home and now that….goon is out of your life for good. Well…I must get back to work now…I’ll stop by Kelly’s sometime. We can talk then."

"Grams please…"
"Good-bye Elizabeth." Audrey turned and went back to her station, not looking at her granddaughter at all.

"Grams! I didn’t mean to hurt you!" Elizabeth tried to get her grandmother’s attention, but it was of no use. Audrey refused to even look at her. Sighing, she disappeared into the elevator, hopeing that someday Audrey could forgive her.

Elizabeth entered Kelly’s to find Lucky, Nikolas, Gia, and Katie gathered around a table laughing over a joke Gia had told.. Lucky’s smile fades as he saw Elizabeth’s tears. He knew she had gone to see Audrey that day and instantly knew that things didn’t turn out well.

"Elizabeth?" He got up and went to her, pulling her into his arms. "What happened? What did Audrey say?"
"She’s so angry Lucky," Elizabeth sobbed. "She refused to even look at me. The look in her eyes…she was so hurt…I never wanted to hurt her like that Lucky. Never."

"That’s always your story isn’t Liz?" Nikolas got to his feet.

"Nikolas don’t," Lucky warned his brother, but Nikolas was not to be stopped this time. He was itching to tell Liz what he thought of her actions and now was as good a time as any.

"No Lucky! She needs to hear the truth! She has to stop hiding behind you all the time!"

"Nikolas stop being ridiculous!" Lucky glared at his brother, getting between Nikolas and Elizabeth. "Just leave her alone ok."
"No Lucky….it’s ok. I want to hear what Nikolas has to say about me," Elizabeth touches Lucky’s arm.

"Good! Because I’m going to say it anyway! You come waltzing back into town like nothing’s ever happened! That you haven’t hurt people! For goodness sake Liz, Lucky’s not the only one that got his heart torn out when you left! Audrey! Laura! Even Emily! All of us were destroyed that you cared so little about us and more about that…emotionless borg!"

"Nikolas that’s enough," Lucky tried to interfere, but Nikolas was not to be stopped.

"No it’s not enough! We all were destroyed that day! Who stood beside you through your ordeal with the rape Liz? Lucky. Who stood behind you when Tom stood trial? We all did, not Jason! But who did you choose when it came our turn? Jason! That’s who! And now that he dumped you, you expect us all to except you back with open arms! Well think again! You are not excepted! Even my oh so forgiving brother here is holding back from you! Ask him if he trusts you Liz! Go ahead!"

"Nikolas stop it right now! That is none of your business!" Lucky yelled.

"Go ahead! Ask him!"

"I know where I stand with Lucky," Elizabeth silently replied. "And I know where I stand with you as well. You’ll never forgive me and I don’t expect you to."

Nikolas laughed. "Yeah right. Of course you don’t. But you expect Audrey to didn’t you? You expected her to just throw her arms around you and welcome you back. Well let me tell you, it doesn’t work that way!"

"You know, maybe Lucky’s right. It’s none of your business," Elizabeth turned to walk away, but Nikolas kept talking.

"You can’t just hurt people and expect them to be ready to forgive you Liz! Whether they’re family or not! They have feelings too!" Nikolas called after her as she disappeared up the stairs. "Figures. She leaves when she knows you’re right."

"I can’t believe you just did that," Lucky glowered at his brother.

"I was just being straight with her Lucky! You heard her, she was practically begging for it!"

"That still doesn’t excuse your going after her like that! She’s obviously upset and you go and make it worse!"

"For goodness sake Lucky! Stop standing up for her! Believe me, she wouldn’t do the same for you! Especially if Jason comes back!"

Lucky sighed, obviously irritated at his brother. No matter how hard he tried, Nikolas refused to see things his way. "You know, if you can’t even be civil to her, then just stay away from her. Don’t say anything to her at all."

"I can’t do that Lucky. She’s everywhere I go. If you want her to have a easy time of it after Jason then tell her to leave Port Charles. Go somewhere where she didn’t cause any pain and heartache, because I’m sure in the heck not going to let her forget as long as she insists on staying in town and in your life," Nikolas got to his feet and gathered his coat. "So until she’s out of my face, only then will I be out of hers. Come on Gia. Let’s get out of here. We have a wedding to plan."

"Later Lucky," Gia waved as Nikolas pulled her out of the restaurant.

Katie got to her feet. "Nikolas is pretty mad."

"Why is he doing this Katie?" Lucky turned to his friend, his eyes shining with anger. "Why can’t he just let it go."

"Because he loves you so much. Lucky…you don’t realize, Nikolas did more than listen to you talk. He listened to you cry when you thought no one was listening. That really tore his heart out knowing that you were hurting and like everything else, there was nothing he could do to make it better. He’s just trying to prevent you from going through that again."

"Well…I guess I could be a bit more understanding of my brother’s feelings…but the way he’s always going after her, every chance he gets…"

"From what Em has told me when I first got here, when you were gone for that year, Nikolas had developed a crush on Elizabeth. Jason started coming around too and Elizabeth spent a lot of time with him. Deep down he was hurt that she chose to spend time with Jason over him and he had never forgiven her for it. And then, when she broke up with you to leave with Jason…Lucky that put him on a whole new level of angry. "

"Well I know that we need to talk, but right now Elizabeth needs a friendly shoulder to cry on without getting needlessly attacked. I’ll talk to you later," Lucky hugged his friend and went up after Elizabeth.

Lucky hesitantly knocked on Elizabeth’s door, not knowing if he was welcomed to enter without permission or not. He sighed, remembering the time when he didn’t have to knock. That seemed like a hundred years ago.

"Elizabeth? It’s Lucky. Can I come in," He spoke through the door.

Two minutes later the door opened to Elizabeth who’s eyes were red from crying so much. She didn’t even have anymore strength to smile. "Do you have a few things to yell at me about too?" She tried in vain to wipe away her tears.

Lucky just pulled her into another hug. "Elizabeth, I’m so sorry about Nikolas. He had no right to say those things to you."

"No Lucky, he had every right. He’s right, I did expect to come home and have Gram’s total acceptance. I should have expected the same from her that I was expecting from the rest of you. Just because she’s family doesn’t mean I can’t hurt her."

"Audrey will come around Liz. She loves you, she won’t stay mad for long," Lucky rubbed her back.

"Nikolas really does hate me doesn’t he?"

"Well…I don’t know what’s going on with Nikolas. He’s been a lot more emotional since he found out that Helena had brought his father back from the dead."

"What?" she looked at Lucky in disbelief.

"It’s a long story. I can’t even believe myself and I saw the guy," Lucky laughed at the confused look on Elizabeth’s face.

Elizabeth sighed, pulling away from Lucky and collapsing onto the bed, placing her head in her hands. She was so exhausted from all the confrontations that day and she knew that most likely they weren’t over. Especially with Nikolas.

"Lucky…maybe I should just leave Port Charles. Sarah’s asked me to join her in England the last time we’ve talked. Maybe I should just take her up on that."

"Would that make you happy?" Lucky’s heart was in his throat. He didn’t really want her to go. He wanted her to stay so they could work their way back to a relationship. But it was her choice and he wasn’t going to stand in the way.

Looking at Lucky, she knew it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to stay and make the best of this second chance he was giving her. She wanted to be near him, talk to him, hold his hand and see him as much as she could. Plus there was her new job at Deception. She loved it. Plus, if she went to England it would seem that she was deserting both Gram and Lucky for the second time and even though Lucky would understand, it was a pretty good bet that Gram wouldn’t.

"No. It wouldn’t make me happy. I’m just at a lost Lucky. My life is in such a shambles. The only thing I’m really sure about anymore is you. Even though we have a long ways to go, I know that you’re my friend no matter what. Even though I’ve abused your friendship time and again. You’re still here."

"I’ll always be here Liz," Lucky smiled, kissing her forhead. "No matter what. Even if we don’t work out romantically."

Elizabeth wiped away her remaining tears and smiled up at Lucky, grateful that he was so willing too stay with her. "Thank you. Thank you for always being my friend. And for giving me another chance…I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t."

Lucky squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead. "Don’t mention it. You make it easy. Come on, let’s go get something to eat."

Elizabeth brightly smiled, taking Lucky’s hand and following him out of the room. She then knew that no matter what she would be fine.

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