Disclaimer: You know the drill�no affiliation to ABC, Disney, GH, Rick, Becky, or the other
characters�I only wish that I were.
Summary: Elizabeth returns to Port Charles after five and a half years away with a surprise for
Ric.
Author�s Note: Okay, This is assuming that Elizabeth finds out all about Ric and his agenda after their date to the art museum on the night they made love for the first time. She left town without so much as a good-bye to anyone. She hasn�t kept in contact with anyone, and she changed her last name to Hardy so no one could find her.
~*~
A high level of panic rushed over Elizabeth as she pulled into the parking lot of General Hospital.
She didn�t know what to expect. She just picked up and left one day without so much as a
good-bye to anyone. Now five and a half years later she shows up, with a child no less. What
were they going to think of her?
She decided not to let the sudden paranoia take over. She put her car in park, unbuckled herself
and Erica, got out of the car, and went inside. She didn�t recognize anyone on her way to the
elevator, but she knew when she reached the third floor nurse�s station there was certain to be a
familiar face or two�or three or four.
�Mommy, what are we doing at the hospital? I thought we were going to see Mama Audrey.�
Erica asked, confused.
�We are honey. But remember when I told you she was sick?� Erica just shook her head, yes.
�Well, they had to bring her to the hospital.�
�Okay, but I�m only here for Mama Audrey. I don�t like hospitals.� She stated, matter-of-factly.
Elizabeth laughed. Her daughter spoke like an adult. She didn�t get it from her. Must be another
trait inherited from her father.
Elizabeth inhaled deeply. What was she going to say to Ric? How can she just show up on his
doorstep after five and a half years and say �By the way, we have a little girl.�? She needed a game
plan. But she had plenty of time to think about that. Right now she needed to think about her
grandmother, and getting passed all of the people she used to know.
The elevator doors slid open, and Elizabeth tentatively poked her head out. She didn�t recognize
anyone. When she decided the coast was clear, she took Erica�s hand and stepped into the lobby.
Before she could take another step, she heard a familiar voice sound behind her.
�Elizabeth Webber?� Bobbie Spencer�s high-pitched voice screeched behind her.
�Bobbie, hi.� She went to her friend and gave her a hug. �How have you been?�
�Oh, don�t worry about me. I�ve been fine. But what about you?� Bobbie looked at Erica and a
smile grew on her face. �And who is this precious little thing?�
�My name is Erica Elizabeth Hardy, and I�m anything, but precious.�
Bobbie chuckled at the little girl. �Well I�m happy to meet you, Erica Elizabeth Hardy. My name
is Bobbie Spencer, and I�m not all that precious either.� She rose to face Elizabeth. �Let me take
you to your grandmother.�
Bobbie led the way to Audrey�s room, while Elizabeth filled her in on her previous whereabouts.
When they reached their destination, Elizabeth was scared to go in. She hadn�t seen her
grandmother since she left. They�d talked on the phone, but Audrey was too sick to travel and
Elizabeth couldn�t bare coming back to Port Charles, until now.
�Hey Audrey, I have a surprise for you.� Bobbie escorted Elizabeth and Erica into the hospital
room.
�Elizabeth? Oh honey, I�m so happy to see you. Come give me a hug.� Tears started to pour
down Audrey�s face.
Elizabeth started to cry as well as she ran to her grandmother. �Hi, grandma. I missed you.�
�Oh honey, I missed you, too.�
�I have someone I want you to meet.� Elizabeth picked Erica up and set her on the bed.
�Mommy, I know Mama Audrey. Just because we haven�t ever seen each other in person doesn�t
mean we haven�t met.� She reached down and hugged her great grandmother. �Hi Mama. It�s
nice to finally see you.�
�It�s nice to see you, too, Erica. You are more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.� Audrey
kissed her great granddaughter and smiled up at Elizabeth. �What are you two doing here?�
�We wanted to surprise you.�
�Well, you succeeded.� Audrey began to cry again.
Bobbie stepped up to the family. �Hey Erica. How would you like to go play with some other kids
while your mom and grandma talk?�
Erica looked at her, deciding. �Well, I suppose. Just as long as I get to have my own private
conversation with Mama Audrey later.�
�Oh, absolutely honey. You can count on that.� Audrey smiled at her and gave her another kiss
before Bobbie picked her up and left.
�So, how are you feeling?� Elizabeth began pulling on the fringe that surrounded the comforter on
her grandmother�s bed. She had to do something with her hands.
�Oh, I�m fine. I can�t believe they won�t let me leave this place. I�m just fine. They�re all a little
overprotective.� Audrey came off strong, but Elizabeth could see the exhausted look in her eyes.
She wasn�t doing well at all.
�That�s good. It�s not bad having people to look out for you.�
�And now I have you.� Audrey took hold of her granddaughter�s hand and gave it a slight
squeeze. In that moment, Elizabeth knew she was where she belonged.
~*~
Ric stepped out of the elevator with a bouquet of flowers. He�d heard that Elizabeth�s
grandmother was taken into the hospital after she collapsed in Kelly�s. He wanted to make sure
she was doing okay.
He�d kept in close contact with her over the years as a way to stay close to Elizabeth. Even
though Audrey wouldn�t tell him where she was, she constantly reassured him that Elizabeth was
doing well for herself.
He tried to search for Elizabeth for a year after she left, but there was no trace of her anywhere.
He had connections almost everywhere, and no one could tell him where she was. It was like she
just disappeared.
�Could you tell me where Audrey Hardy�s room his?� Ric asked the girl at the desk. She was
cute. Maybe he could get her number after he was done visiting Audrey. He hadn�t been on a date
in a couple of weeks. He was starting to get a little horny.
The girl looked at a chart. �Right down that hall.� She pointed behind him. �Room number 315.�
Her lips curved into a flirtatious grin.
�Thanks.� He winked at her before heading down the hall. When he reached Audrey�s room, what
he saw stopped his heart.
Elizabeth.
Ric wiped his eyes with his free hand and looked again. It was her. She was really there. Her hair
was longer, she looked a little older, but it was her.
He was flooded with about a million different emotions. He was excited to see her, relieved that
she was okay, scared she still didn�t want to see him, worried that she hated him, and pissed that
she hadn�t contacted him.
What was she doing back here after all of this time? He immediately felt stupid for even
wondering. She was here to see her grandmother. This had nothing to do with him. Maybe he
should go. If she wanted to see him, she would have called.
Ric tried to force himself to back away from the door, but instead his feet inched him further
inside. And then his mouth grew a mind of its own, making it impossible for him to turn back.
�Elizabeth?�
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