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| ~*~Chapter 7~*~ �Let him in.� Ric hesitantly entered his brother�s penthouse. Sonny stood by the phone and Jason was pacing by the dining room table. They were both looking at Ric with angry, impatient, demanding eyes. �What is it, Ric?� Sonny asked when Max had closed the door. He crossed his arms across his chest and continued to stare at him. It was in this instant that Ric considered turning around and running. They were going to kill him. His own brother was going to stand by and watch as his best friend blew Ric�s brains across the wood floors. But Ric had to stay and tempt fate. He had to do this to prove to Elizabeth that he didn�t want to hurt Sonny anymore. Well, at least prove that he was going to stop going after him. Ric would always want to see Sonny pay for taking away his mother. So Ric stood up straight, put on a confident, determined face, and started to speak. �I have something for you.� Ric pulled the tire iron---wrapped in a plastic bag---out of his jacket. �What in the hell is that?� Jason demanded. He walked to Ric�s side and ripped the murder weapon from his hand. He looked it over before returning his gaze to his once attorney. �Is this my tire iron?� �Yes.� Ric looked back and forth between the two mobsters before settling his view on his brother. �It was used to kill Fowler. I was going to hand it over to the cops. It has Jason�s fingerprints all over it.� Sonny stared at his brother for a long moment before speaking. �And why are you giving it to us now?� �I want a truce.� Ric said simply. Sonny laughed. �A truce? After everything you�ve done, now you want a truce. Why?� Ric wasn�t sure if he wanted Sonny and Jason to know his business, but he really had no choice. There was no sense in starting their reconciliation with lies. �Elizabeth Webber is why.� �Elizabeth?� Jason asked. Ric switched his attention to the hit man. �Yes. I�m in love with her and I have to prove to her that she comes first.� He looked back at his brother. �Even before getting revenge on you.� �Well, Ric�� Sonny started. ��that sounds nice in theory, but why should I believe you?� Ric hesitated---trying to find the right words---before speaking. �You really don�t have all that much reason to believe me. But I was hoping that by bringing the tire iron to you, you�d consider it a token of my good faith.� Sonny took another long look at his brother. �You killed Fowler?� �No.� Ric admitted. �Another one of Faith�s men, Davis, did it.� He paused before adding, �I couldn�t do it.� Sonny laughed. �But you could kill my employee?� He asked, referring to the guard Ric had killed while trying to escape one of Sonny�s safe houses. �You were going to kill me. I tried to escape. He shot me. I took his gun and shot back when he attacked me. It was self-defense.� Ric explained. �Well, Ric. If that�s all, you can go now.� Sonny opened the door for him. Ric looked between the two men, then headed toward the door. When he was about to exit, he looked at Sonny. �Just to warn you, Diego Alcazar is ten times worse than Luis. He�s in town for revenge. He�ll go after Alexis Davis, Jasper Jacks, the two of you, and he�s going to be coming after me.� He paused. �You might want to inform Brenda Barrett that he�s started coming after everyone involved in his brother�s death as well. He would never kill her---out of respect for his brother---but that doesn�t mean he can�t do something worse.� With that, Ric left his brother�s Penthouse with hope that he could finally start his life. ~*~ Ric raked his right hand through his hair while he dug into his left pocket with the other, searching for the keys to his apartment. He couldn�t help but feel discouraged. He�d just been to Elizabeth�s studio and she wasn�t there. Then he went to Kelly�s and she wasn�t there either. He walked along the docks to his apartment and didn�t run into her. He was going to go on a search of the entire town, but decided against it. He knew he sort of scared her just showing up the night before. Then he went a little wacko on her which didn�t help the situation any. No, he decided he�d just wait until he ran into her at Kelly�s. She had to work again soon or later. And it�s not like he was going anywhere. Even though Sonny seemed unresponsive to Ric�s request for a truce, he could see agreement in his brother�s eyes. As long as Ric didn�t come after him or his family, Sonny would leave Ric alone as well. There was Diego, however. That son of a bitch found the best time to waltz into town, didn�t he? But it didn�t matter. Ric would keep Elizabeth and himself safe from that monster, no matter what it took. He wouldn�t let Diego win. Ric finally managed to withdraw his keys from his pocket and he unlocked his door. When he swung it open, he froze. The living room was dark, with the exception of a few candles placed around the room. There were rose pedals---red, white, and pink---sprinkled on the floor. He was excited about what waited inside for him, until he realized who it would be. Faith. She was probably playing another one of her sick games with him. She was going to try and seduce him into sleeping with her again. Why didn�t she understand that it was a mistake. A horrible, disgusting mistake that would never happen again. Right when he was about to scream at her to get the hell out of his apartment, he heard something from the kitchen. When he looked up, he saw Elizabeth emerge from the dark corner. She looked beautiful. Well, she always looked beautiful, but it was obvious she was trying extra hard tonight to pull it off. And she had. There weren�t words to describe the beauty she possessed. Her hair was loosely clipped to the top of her head with one of those claw things she always wore. Long, delicate tendrils fell from the wrap and draped along her shoulders. A few strands fell into her face and barely spiraled. She�d put on her usual amount of make-up---a light foundation, a thin layer of brown eye shadow, a couple strokes of rose-hewed blush, and a dab of clear lip gloss. He�d memorized the routine from the many times she�d stayed here with him. Her clothes were very different from what he�d seen her in earlier that day. She had on a long, red dress that was tight around her breasts, but loosened at her waist. Her red, strappy high-heeled shoes were just visible below the hem of her dress. �I�you look�I mean�wow�� he managed to stutter before she cut him off. �Uh uh uh, Mr. Lansing. No talking. It�s my turn.� She slowly started to walk toward him. She was literally inching her way there---undoubtedly to drive him crazy. It was working. �You see, for the past few weeks, I haven�t been able to explain to myself---or anyone else for that matter---why I keep coming back to you. I mean, you�ve done some terrible things. You lied to me. You kidnapped�� �And Elizabeth, I�m sorry. I�� Ric tried to explain, but she cut him off. �Didn�t I say no talking?� She raised an eyebrow at him, and he simply smiled. �Now, as I was saying, I�ve been trying to figure this out. I never go back once I�ve walked away. But with you, I just can�t help myself. So what I came to realize today is�you�re it for me. It doesn�t matter what you did in the past. I forgive you because I love you.� Ric nearly fainted when he heard her say those words to him. She forgives him. She loves him. It was a good thing that she didn�t want him to talk because he wouldn�t be able to manage an entire sentence at this point. He was too happy to think straight. Elizabeth Webber loved him and that was all that mattered. �So I would like to run an idea past you. What do you say we start from the beginning? From that first dance? How �bout it?� Ric just smiled and shook his head yes. �Good. But this time�� She walked to the CD Player on the entertainment center and hit play. A sexy, salsa beat started to pound from the speakers. ��this time I think we should speed it up a bit. I�m a little impatient.� She smiled seductively at him. �So, Mr. Lansing, may I have this dance?� She asked, holding her hand out to him just like she had before their first dance. He smiled at her and took her hand. He pulled her into his arms, and they started to sway to the music. It seemed to be like the perfect thing for you and me It's so ironic you're what I had pictured you to be But there are facts in our lives we can never change Just tell me that you understand and you feel the same All of his life, Ric had this picture in his head of what the perfect woman should be. He never really thought that love would figure into his life, but everyone dreams. And his girl would have to be smart. She�d need to make him laugh. Confident was always something he�d envisioned his life partner to be. And knowing himself, she�d have to be understanding and patient. She needed to have a big heart, and the ability to forgive. Ric couldn�t believe he was holding that girl in his arms. Elizabeth was everything he�d ever hoped for himself. And she wanted to be with him. This perfect romance that I've created in my mind I'd live a thousand lives each one with you right by my side But yet we find ourselves in a less than perfect circumstance And so it seems like we'll never have the chance Ric let his left hand slide from Elizabeth�s waist to the small of her back, pulling her tight against his front side. Their hips began to move in sync with the music. Even after everything he�d done to her, Elizabeth still loved him. He�d never in his life experienced unconditional love. This father tried to love him, but Ric reminded him too much of Adela, so he pushed him away. His stepmother hated him because he was a reminder of Trevor�s infidelity. So early in life he�d given up hope of ever finding someone to look at him like Elizabeth was looking at him now. Ain't it funny how some feelings you just can't deny And you can't move on even though you try Ain't it strange when your feeling things you shouldn't feel Oh, I wish this could be real Ric kept his eyes locked on Elizabeth�s. In them he could see so much love, passion, concern, lust, warmth, desire. He saw in her eyes everything that he felt. He blocked out of his mind all of the negative things in their lives. He didn�t want to think about them now. He had Elizabeth in his arms, looking at him with so much love, he didn�t want to let the rest of the world in tonight. Ain't it funny how a moment could just change your life And you don't want to face what's wrong or right Ain't it strange how fate can play a part In the story of your heart It�s funny to think how in one moment his destiny was set. It was the third time he�d ever seen her. Sure, the first time he had, he was immediately attracted to her. He had to do a double-take when he saw how incredibly beautiful the woman ording beside him was. But then when he�d seen her again at Kelly�s, he was a little rude. He hadn�t meant to be. He was just scared because he thought he�d been caught spying on Sonny. But back to the deciding moment. It was when she�d come up to his room inquiring about his music. He saw paint in her hair and when she went to the mirror to see, he couldn�t help but follow. Then their eyes met and he felt it�a click. And that�s when he knew his life was never going to be the same. Sometimes I think that a true love can never be I just believe that somehow it wasn't meant for me Life can be cruel in a way that I can't explain And I don't think that I could face it all again Ric used his hand that was resting on Elizabeth�s back to nudge her into a spin. She effortlessly twirled under his arm, then fell right back into his hold. She tossed her head back, and her face burst into a beautiful, excited, no-holds-barred smile. He delighted in knowing that being in his arms was making her just as happy as it was making him. I barely know you but somehow I know what you're about A deeper love I've found in you and I no longer doubt You've touched my heart and it altered every plan I've made And now I feel that I don't have to be afraid �A deeper love I�ve found in you and I no longer doubt�� Elizabeth started to sing along with the song. Her voice was so beautiful. How had he never heard her sing? That was something else they had in common. He pulled the hand of hers that he held to his chest. �You�ve touched my heard and it altered every plan I�ve made�and now I feel that I don�t have to be afraid.� He sang to her. She smiled big again. He remembered the first time he sang for her. It was Christmas Eve. She�d told him she didn�t want to go to her grandmother�s yet, but he had a feeling she didn�t want him to be alone for the holidays. And that was when he knew it was love. Ain't it funny how some feelings you just can't deny And you can't move on even though you try Ain't it strange when you're feeling things you shouldn't feel Oh, I wish this could be real Ric moved both of his hands to her waist and slowly eased her back into a low dip. When she came back up, she was firmly planted against him. Instead of loosening his grip on her, he wrapped his arms tight around her chest and held her even closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they began to sway to the music again. Ain't it funny how a moment could just change your life And you don't want to face what's wrong or right Ain't it strange how fate can play a part In the story of your heart The story of Ric�s heart was simple. Darkness, darkness, darkness. Then there was some more darkness. And then, out of nowhere, when he least expected it, light came in the form of the gorgeous bolt of lightning he had wrapped in his arms. She came in and turned it all around for him. I locked away my heart but you just set it free Emotions I felt held me back from what my life should be I pushed you far away and yet you stayed with me I guess this means that you and me were meant to be There was no way to describe Ric and Elizabeth, but as soul mates, destined, meant to be. So many obstacles were thrown in there way---mostly by him---but they kept finding their way back to one another. If there really was such a thing as fate, it was telling them to make it work. Ain't it funny how some feelings you just can't deny And you can't move on even though you try Ain't it strange when you're feeling things you shouldn't feel Oh, I wish this could be real �Is this real?� Ric whispered in Elizabeth�s ear. It felt right. He could feel her in his arms, but it was so perfect. He had to know for sure. �This is the only thing that is real.� She whispered back. �Us, together. Our love. And it�s all that matters.� Ain't it funny how a moment could just change your life And you don't want to face what's wrong or right Ain't it strange how fate can play a part In the story of your heart As the music ended, Ric pulled his hand from behind Elizabeth�s back and gently stoked the side of her face. He pushed a few wild strands of hair out of her face, before resting his lips against hers. Music Credits: "Ain't It Funny" by Jennifer Lopez |