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.
~*~
�We lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.� Erica explained to Ric, Michael, and Matthew. �It was
warmer there than it is here. I like the hot weather, but Mommy says I�ll get to see snow here.�
�You�ve never seen snow?� Matthew asked shocked.
�Nope. It doesn�t snow in Florida.� Ric watched Erica take another bite of her pie. �This really is
good pie, Ric.�
�I know. I have atleast one of these a day.� Ric smiled at his daughter. His daughter. He couldn�t
believe how natural that sounded.
�I think I might have to make Mommy bring me back here everyday to have one of these, too.
Maybe we can all come together some day.� Erica asked excitedly.
Ric smiled. She really liked him. He was scared she was going to hate spending time with him. �I
think that sounds like a great idea.�
�Now, getting back to this no snow in Florida thing�� Michael started.
Ric watch Erica. How did he not know she was his daughter when he first saw her? She was so
much like him. For one, she looked just like him. Then there was the way she used her hands
when she was trying to explain something. And when she was eating and someone talked to her,
she lifted her eyes, not her head. He did that, too. Not to mention she loved Apple Turnovers.
And her voice�in the car on the way over she was singing. She loved music, too. This was his
little girl. This was his daughter.
~*~
When Elizabeth heard Ric�s car pull into the driveway, she went to the door to meet him. He was
carrying a sleeping Erica. �Hey,� he whispered with a smile.
�Hey,� Elizabeth held the door open for Ric.
�Where should I lay her down?�
�Um�I have her in my old room. Follow me.�
Elizabeth led the way to her old bedroom, and Ric gently placed Erica in bed. He took off her
shoes, put her under the covers, and sat on the side of the bed. Elizabeth just smiled as tears
formed in her eyes. Why did she keep him away from his daughter for so long? He was so great
with her. He already loved her.
When Ric was finally able to pull himself away from Erica, he followed Elizabeth into the
livingroom. �Can I get you something? A soda? Anything?�
�Um�nah. I should probably go.� Ric ran his hand through his hair. He didn�t want to go, but if
he and Elizabeth were going to start over they needed to do it right. �But, can I take you out
tomorrow night?�
Elizabeth smiled. �I�d like that.� She followed him to the door. �Where are you going to take
me?�
Ric smiled. �That�s a surprise.� He winked at her before leaving.
Elizabeth closed the door and leaned against it. Everything was starting to make sense again.
~*~
Ric entered the elevator to his building. He hit the button for the tenth floor and watched the
doors slide shut. He couldn�t keep the goofy grin off of his face. He finally had Elizabeth back.
And she loved him. And he had a daughter. And he was happy. How can a person�s life change so
much in one day?
His smile did happen to falter when he exited the elevator and saw who was sitting at his door.
�Carly, hi. What are you doing here?�
She rose to her feet in a huff. �Trying to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life.�
Ric raised an eyebrow at her. �And that would be what exactly?�
�Getting involved with Elizabeth and her child. I know she says it�s yours, but can you really be
sure?� Carly followed Ric into his apartment after he opened the door.
�Carly, you know she wouldn�t lie about something like this, and anyway, it�s not your business.�
She needed to stop trying to run his life. It was starting to get old.
It took her awhile to think of something to say. �Not my business? You�re my brother-in-law and
my friend. I don�t want to see you hurt again, Ric. Do you remember what it was like for you
after she left? You were destroyed. You were still recovering when she rushed back into your life
yesterday.�
�Do you ever wonder why I was still recovering?�
�Because she totally fucked you up!� Carly screamed at him. Why won�t he listen to her? She
only wants what�s best for him. Elizabeth Webber hurt him worse than anyone has ever hurt him,
and he couldn�t see that she was going to do it again.
�No, because maybe, just maybe, I wasn�t supposed to get over her. Maybe the two of us are
supposed to be together. Don�t you want me to be happy, Carly?� Ric asked.
�Of course I want you to be happy. I love you, Ric. You know your happiness is important to me.
That�s why I�m here. I don�t want you to make another mistake.�
�Well,� Ric started. He smiled at Carly. �It�s my mistake to make.� He pulled Carly in to an
embrace. �I love you for worrying about me, but I�m going to be okay. And if you are right. If
Elizabeth turns out to be the horrible person you say she is�which she�s not! Well, I�ll have some
closure, now won�t I?� Ric pulled her back to look into her eyes.
Carly thought before giving in. �Yeah, I guess. But I get to beat her up if she hurts you, okay?�
�Oh, definitely.� He smiled and hugged her again.
�So,� Carly smiled at Ric. �What did you and Erica do?�
Ric�s goofy grin returned with a vengeance. �Well, we went to Kelly�s and had Apple Turnovers.
She loves them by the way. Then we went to the zoo. Can you believe she�s never been to the
zoo?�
�Never?� Carly smiled at her friend. He was so happy. Maybe getting involved with Elizabeth
again wasn�t such a bad thing. He has the woman he loves and they have a little girl together.
Maybe this is what was meant to be. Maybe she should stay out of his life because it was obvious
she didn�t know what the hell she was talking about.
�Nope. Elizabeth has kept this child under a rock!� Ric smiled. �Can you be happy for me? I really
want you on my side.�
�Ric, I�m always on your side.�
FanFiction
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