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.
~*~
Ric pulled his car into Audrey�s driveway and turned it off. He climbed out and walked to the
door. Before he had a chance to knock, the door flew open and Elizabeth stood on the other side.
She looked beautiful. She had on a long black dress that fit tight around her curves. The front was
split open all of the way down to the waist showing him her cleavage and belly button. Her hair
was curled and pinned on the top of her head. A few spiraled tendrils fell around her face.
�I�m overdressed.� Elizabeth said when she noticed Ric�s clothes. He had on a pair of khakis that
hung nicely below his side divots. His shirt was black and clung to his sculpted chest. He trimmed
his mustache and goatee, too. And he let his hair curl. He looked gorgeous, but casual.
�You look�perfect.� Ric managed to say while staring at Elizabeth.
�Thank you, but I�m overdone. Where are we going?� This is why she hated surprise dates. She
never knew how to dress!
�I said that was a surprise, but you�ll fit in perfectly. Trust me.� He smiled at her. As long as she
was with him, she�d be perfect anywhere.
�Ric! Hi Ric!� Erica ran into his arms. He picked her up and gave her a big hug.
�Hi Erica. How are you?� He kissed her on the forehead before pulling back so he could look at
her while she answered.
�I�m great. Mama Audrey is home from the hospital so we�re making cookies! Do you want
one?�
�I would love one.� He carried Erica into the kitchen while Elizabeth followed.
�Hey Audrey. You look great.� Ric lied. She looked so tired. Maybe they shouldn�t go out.
Maybe they should stay here to make sure she was okay. Erica was pretty rambunctious. She
might be a little too much for Audrey to handle.
Audrey laughed. �Funny boy! I look terrible, but thank you anyway.� She sounded good, Ric
thought. Maybe she was better than he thought. She could just look sick because of making the
cookies. It was pretty hot in there.
�Ric wants a cookie.� Erica wriggled out of Ric�s arms and ran to the cookie plate and grabbed
him a one. She ran it back to him. �Here you go Ric.�
Ric took the cookie. �Thank you.� He took a bite. �Wow, this is great! You are an amazing
cook.�
�It was really Mama Audrey. I�m just the helper.� Erica admitted.
�Well then�� Ric walked to Audrey and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ��this cookie is fabulous.
You did a wonderful job.�
Erica frowned. �Doesn�t the helper get a kiss too?�
Ric smiled at her. �Of course.� He leaned down and kissed Erica on the cheek. �Great job.�
�Thank you. I�m glad you can appreciate talent.� Erica looked at her Powerpuff Girls watch.
�You two had better go. You don�t want to be late for your date. Not that you really have to be
on a schedule for this kind of date.� Erica winked at Ric.
�Wait, Erica knows where we�re going?� Elizabeth looked at her daughter and then to Ric.
�Of course Mommy. Ric and I are buds.� Erica gave her mother a kiss. �Now go.�
�She said go.� Ric looked at Elizabeth who was still trying to get the secret out of them.
�Oh, fine. But I�m mad about this.� Elizabeth went to the door. �Bye girls. I�ll see you later.�
�Well, take your time dear.� Audrey started. �We won�t wait up.� She gave her granddaughter a
knowing wink.
�Grandma!� Elizabeth shrieked.
�Go, get out of my house.� Audrey shoed them off.
�See you guys later.� With that, Elizabeth and Ric left.
~*~
�Oh, you are just doing this so you can just walk me into things.� Elizabeth said to Ric as he led
her to their destination. He had blindfolded her, so she wouldn�t see where they were going.
�Well, since you mention it�� His comment broke off in a fit of laughter.
�What? What�s funny?� Elizabeth demanded. She really didn�t like surprises.
�You just look so funny.� Ric said amused. He was loving this.
�Fine fine. Laugh all you want. Just remember kid, payback is a bitch!� She warned him, not
entirely joking.
�Okay, I�ll remember that.� Ric pulled her to a stop. �But for now, we�re here.�
�Can I take this goofy blindfold off now?� Elizabeth didn�t wait for his answer. She ripped the
cloth he�d tied around her eyes off. She looked around the room they were in. It was large and
empty. She didn�t understand. Why was a big, abandoned building such a big surprise? �What is
this place?� She looked back at Ric.
�It�s an art gallery.� He answered simply.
�An art gallery?� She looked around again. �Ric, there aren�t any paintings here.�
�Well,� he walked up behind Elizabeth and put his arms around her waist. He felt her lean into his
embrace. ��that�s because the artist that owns it, hasn�t been around to decorate the walls.�
�Who owns it?�
Ric hesitated before answering. �You.�
Elizabeth pulled away from him just far enough to be able to turn around and look into his eyes.
�What?�
�I bought it for you. The day you left I signed the papers for it and I put it in your name.� Ric
rubbed the forming tears out of his eyes. �I wanted you to have a place that you could show the
world how talented you are.�
Elizabeth didn�t know what to say. No one had ever done something like this for her before. �But,
when I left, you kept it?�
�Yeah.� Ric looked away. �I couldn�t let it go. I guess I couldn�t let you go.�
Elizabeth turned to face him. �I couldn�t let you go either.�
�I missed you Elizabeth. I missed touching you.� He ran his hand down her arm. �I missed
holding you.� He pulled her body to his and wrapped his arms around her. �I missed kissing you.�
He let his lips gently rest against hers. They slowly began massaging hers. �Can we pick up where
we left off? Can we ever get back what we had?�
Elizabeth closed her eyes and looked down. �I don�t know. It was a long time ago.� She smiled
up at him. �And I was kind of hoping we could aim for something better.�
Ric let out a relieved sigh. �Something better sounds perfect.� He kissed her again. His hands
made their way down her body and rested on her hips. She felt so perfect in his arms. He�d missed
this so much.
Elizabeth unbuttoned his shirt and ran her hands along his chest. He was so sculpted, so strong.
She kissed her away across the body she had etched into her mind so many years ago. It had
changed a little, but it was still what she remembered for the most part.
Ric slowly unzipped her dress and let it all to the floor in a puddle at her feet. He smoothed his
hands over her breasts, down her sides, and rested them on her back. He slowly eased her to the
floor. He quickly took off his pants and lay on top of her.
Ric felt Elizabeth shake under him. �Are you okay?�
She laughed. �Yeah, just a little out of practice.� Her eyes left his. �Of course I heard from Carly
that you haven�t really been.�
Ric placed his finger to her lips. �Shh�forget about Carly, and everyone else. This is about us.�
�Just us.� Elizabeth smiled at him.
�Just us.� Ric repeated before making love to her.
It felt so right to both of them. The past five years they�d been going though the motions, trying
to find some sort of peace without the other, but it didn�t work. They needed each other to be
complete. They were connected. They were destined.
~*~
�Mama Audrey, are you okay? You look kind or sick.� Erica asked her great grandmother.
�Oh, honey, I�m fine. I just need to sit�� Audrey�s sentence was cut off when she fell to the
ground.
�Mama! Mama Audrey!� Erica ran to her side and started shaking her. �Mama! Are you okay?
What�s wrong?� Tears filled the little girls eyes when she didn�t get a response. �Okay,� she tried
to stay calm. �I need to call nine-one-one.� She ran to the phone and dialed the number.
�Nine-one-one emergency. What is your problem?� The voice on the other end asked.
Erica cried into the receiver. �I think my Mama Audrey is dead!�
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