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.
~*~
�Elizabeth?� She heard a familiar voice scream her name as she stepped out of the elevator at the
hospital with Erica in tow.
Elizabeth turned to the tall brunette running toward her. �Emily.� They embraced. �How are
you?�
�I�m fine.� Emily let go of her friend and looked her in the eyes. �How are you?� She asked
concerned.
�I�ve been better.�
�My mother told me that Audrey was brought in last night. I came by to see if she was all right
and to see if I could run into you.� Emily darted her eyes to Erica. She kneeled down so she could
look the child in the eyes. �And you must be Erica. I�ve been hearing lots about you.�
�I�ve heard a lot about you, too. You�re my Mommy�s best friend, Emily Quartermaine.� Erica
stated.
Emily smiled up at Elizabeth before returning her eyes to Erica. �Yeah, I am.� She rose to her
feet. �Well guys, I have to get to work. I�m at ELQ. Can you believe it?�
�What are you doing there?� Elizabeth asked shocked.
�I�m head of Marketing.�
�Hey, I�m at an advertising agency in Florida�or I was before I came back here.� Elizabeth
corrected herself.
�Really? What are you doing now? Do you have a job here yet?�
�No. I�m not sure what I want to do.� Elizabeth knew she needed to find a job since she�d be here
for a while, if not indefinitely, but there was no rush. It�s not like she needed money. Her family
had plenty. She didn�t really have to work if she didn�t want to, but what else would she do? Erica
would be starting school in the fall and she�d get pretty lonely all by herself.
�Well, you should think about working at ELQ. We could definitely use you in our advertising
department.� Emily smiled.
�Oh, wow. I hadn�t thought of anything like that.� That was a great opportunity. Working at ELQ
was never something she�d thought she�d ever do, but it was perfect for her line of work. �I�ll
think about it. Thank you Emily.�
�No problem. What are best friends for.� She winked at her. �What are the two of you doing for
dinner tonight?�
�Um�staying home I think. Your mother said my grandmother would be able to come home
today with an at-home nurse. We�re probably just going to eat something simple.�
�Well,� Elizabeth could see Emily�s brain turning. �Why don�t all three of you stop by for dinner?
And bring the nurse too. It�ll be great. And I know grandma and grandpa would love to see you.
And Ned and Skye. And AJ. Everyone. What do you say?�
Elizabeth didn�t know if this was a good idea. Her grandmother would be really tired. �I�m not
sure, Em. Thank you for the offer, but my grandmother��
Emily cut her off. �Already talked to my mother. She said as long as we keep our Q bickering to a
min. Audrey will be fine.� Emily pleaded with her for a yes.
Elizabeth smiled. She loved her best friend. �Of course. I�d love to.� She looked down at her
daughter who�d been quietly listening to their conversation. �What do you say little one?�
�I would love to. Can Daddy come, too?� Erica asked.
�What?� Emily asked confused. Who was the father? �I didn�t realize�I mean I just thought��
Erica cut her off. �Ric Lansing is my Daddy. I just found out, too. Mommy was keeping a secret.�
Emily aimed her shocked eyes at Elizabeth. �Ric Lansing, huh?�
�Yeah,� Elizabeth admitted. She needed to remind Erica not to blurt things out without asking
first.
�Well, Ric is definitely invited.� Emily smiled to Erica.
Erica pulled on her mother�s jacket sleeve. �Did you hear that, Mommy? Daddy can come, too.�
�Honey, I think Ric might be busy tonight.� Elizabeth informed her daughter.
�But we can ask?� Erica smiled up at her mother.
�Um�I�ll think about it.� Elizabeth looked back at Emily. �I will see you tonight.�
�Tonight.� Emily gave Elizabeth a hug. She knelt down and gave Erica a hug and a small kiss of
the forehead. �Later sweetie.�
�Later Emily.� Erica hollered after Emily while she entered the elevator. She gave a quick wave
before the doors slid shut.
�Ready to go see Mama Audrey?� Elizabeth asked her daughter.
�Absolutely.� Erica followed her mother to her great grandmother�s room.
Elizabeth had called the hospital before they left, and she was informed that Audrey was still not
awake. She didn�t care. She wanted to get out there as soon as possible anyway. She wanted to
be able to spend as much time with her grandmother as she could.
They entered the room to find Audrey hooked up to a bunch of tubes. She looked so helpless, so
weak. Elizabeth hated seeing her like this. Her grandmother was always so strong and brave.
Being like this must be killing her.
And it was. It really was killing her. She was going to die because of this sickness. Congestive
Heart Failure. What is that? Elizabeth had never heard of it. But whatever it was, it was getting
the best of her grandmother and she couldn�t stand it.
�Elizabeth?� A tentative voice came from the doorway. Elizabeth turned around to see a blonde
woman standing there. A woman she would describe as anything but tentative.
�Carly, what do you want?� Elizabeth asked, already defeated. She wasn�t in the mood for
another round with her today.
�I�um�Ric told me that your grandmother was brought in last night, and I wanted to make sure
she was alright.� Carly said simply.
So basically, Elizabeth thought to herself, Ric wanted to make sure everything was all right so he
sent Carly to check for him. Great. Thanks a lot Ric. �She�s doing better. She was just worn out. I
have to make sure she doesn�t have any stress put on her right now.�
�Yeah, Ric told me.� Carly looked over at Erica who was sitting on Audrey�s bed. �Hi there,
Erica. How are you doing?�
Erica smiled. �I�m good. Just waiting for Mama Audrey to wake up.�
�I�m sure she will soon.� Carly gave her a confident, warm smile before turning back to Elizabeth.
�Can I talk to you for a minute, alone?�
Oh, here it comes. Another lecture from Carly about staying away from Ric. Might as well get it
over with now. There�s no stopping Carly when she�s determined to say or do something.
�Yeah.� Elizabeth turned back to Erica. �Honey, I�m going to go outside and talk to Carly for a
minute. Can you stay here with Mama Audrey and wait for her to wake up?�
�Sure Mommy.� Erica started running her hands through Audrey�s hair like she was styling it.
Elizabeth followed Carly into the hall. �What is it?� She crossed her arms over her chest and
prepared for a rant.
�Well, I talked to Ric, and�� Carly started.
Elizabeth cut her off. �What? You here to tell me you were right? I hurt him again and now
you�re pissed? You want to warn me to stay away from him again?�
Carly put on a weak smile, looking down. �I guess I deserve that.� She looked back up. �But
that�s not what I came here to say, Elizabeth. I came here to say�I�m sorry.�
�What?� Elizabeth asked with a dumbfounded look plastered on her face. Was she hearing her
right? Was Carly apologizing to her?
�I guess I deserve that, too.� Carly paused. �Ric loves you. You make him happy. And I want Ric
to be happy.�
�I want Ric to be happy, too.� Elizabeth stated under her breath, but Carly heard her.
�Then why did you leave him again?� Carly looked at Elizabeth long and hard. �You�re hurting
too. Being apart�it�s obviously not good for either of you.�
�Carly, you just don�t get it�� Elizabeth trailed off. She really didn�t get it either.
�Elizabeth, when bad things happen in your life, it�s not a time to push away the people that care
about you. And Ric is one of those people.� When Elizabeth didn�t answer, she pulled an
envelope out of her coat pocket. �Here.� She handed it to Elizabeth.
�What is this?� Elizabeth asked, taking the envelope.
�It�s an invitation to Lucky and Courtney�s wedding. Courtney was going to bring it to you
herself, but I asked if I could.� Carly smiled to herself. �I thought if I couldn�t find the strength to
apologize, because well, this is me. I do have a problem with things like that. I figured if I
couldn�t, I�d have a reason to start a conversation.�
Elizabeth laughed. �Well, you were successful. Great apology. I feel like you really meant it.�
�Well, I try.� Carly joked. She looked at Elizabeth seriously. �It�s this Saturday. If you need a ride
or anything, give me a call. We really want you there.�
�Thanks,� Elizabeth smiled. �I�ll try.�
�Okay, and think about what I said. This is the time to pull people close, not push them away.�
Carly smiled at her. �Tell Audrey we�re all praying for her. And for you and Erica.�
�Thank you Carly. It means a lot that you came. I appreciate it.�
�No problem.� Carly smiled before walking toward the nurse�s station.
Elizabeth leaned against the wall. Was Carly right? It seemed like an oxymoron. Carly: Right.
Elizabeth laughed to herself. Maybe things were going to work out after all.
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