Chapter 1

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtain chasing away the darkness of the night before. Reaching out for Jason Elizabeth softly smiled not surprised to find him gone. Padding her way down the hall she came to her room smiling as she gazed in on their private moment. She was used to observing them… every morning she would find him in Elena’s room holding her, reading to her, talking to her. These moments were reserved for Elena and her daddy and Elizabeth never attempted to interrupt them. Jason and Elena meant everything to her. Finally she knew what it was to be a part of a family where all love was equal. Watching Jason with Elena Elizabeth often wondered how and why her parents gave so little love to her. But seeing the love flowing from Jason to their daughter slowly filled the hurt left from her childhood. And every morning as she watched them she silently promised to love them always unconditionally and never to leave them. Jason knew Elizabeth watched every morning as he doted over their daughter and her presence calmed him… reassured him. His two beautiful girls and the love they gave to him made him whole. Sometimes he would sit and stare at both of them for hours wondering how he had been blessed enough to have them in his life. Knowing she was watching by the door Jason invited her to them.

Jason- [smiling as he softly spoke] Come here…
Liz- [quickly going to him she whispered noticing Elena sleeping] I knew you were in here.
Jason- I can’t help myself…
Liz- [smiling] I know…
Jason- She beautiful…
Liz- [smiling as she softly smoothed a stray hair on Elena’s head] She is…
Jason- She looks like you…
Liz- [laughing] Yeah right…
Jason- [looking at her] You don’t believe me?
Liz- [softly shaking her head] I was never this beautiful…
Jason- Yes you are… every night when I hold you in my arms.
Liz- [smiling] Thank you…
Jason- Thank you…
Liz- For what?
Jason- Giving me a family…
Liz- [smiling] No problem… but I think you had something to do with making us a family too.
Jason- [smiling] Really… you might have to remind me what exactly I did.
Liz- [smiling] Ok…
Jason- [smiling as he mimicked her] Ok…
Liz- [blushing] What… what are we doing today?
Jason- Anything you want to do.
Liz- [smiling] Anything?
Jason- [quickly kissing her] Anything…
Liz- I like the sound of that…
Jason- [smiling] I know you do…
Liz- [smiling] Well since she’s still sleeping… I can think of something that might occupy our time…
Jason- [smiling] Now I like the sound of that…
Liz- [smiling] I don’t know… putting up Elena’s mini pool does not seem all that exciting…
Jason- Mini pool?
Liz- [smiling] What else did you think I was taking about?
Jason- [noticing Elizabeth’s attempts to contain her laughter] Very funny…
Liz- Well if you have another suggestion…
Jason- [playing along] No… the mini pool it is…
Liz- Jason…
Jason-[raising his eyebrow] Elizabeth…
Liz- [smiling] I’ll race you to the room…
Jason- [laughing as he scooped her up in his arms] Ok…
Liz- [laughing] You cheated… I won…
Jason- Really… and what is your prize?
Liz- [kissing him passionately] You…

Falling together on the bed Jason and Elizabeth continued kissing making love as their daughter slept in her room. Elena’s cries waking her out of her slumber Elizabeth rolled out of Jason’s warm embrace going to check on their daughter. Bringing her back to their room Elizabeth, Elena, and Jason spent the rest of morning lounging around eating breakfast and watching TV in no rush to do anything else. The afternoon sun flooded their room signaling them of the day ahead of them.

Chapter 2

Nikolas smiled as he silently watched Gia sleeping. He loved her and daily she showed him how much she loved him in return. Waking with her in his arms gave him reason day after day to smile. She was his life and soon… soon they would show the world how much they meant to one another. Gia stirred trying to calm the sickness she felt in her stomach. For the past few days she had been experiencing morning sickness and she knew soon she would be rushing to the bathroom. Sensing Nikolas staring at her she slowly opened her eyes to his smiling face.

Gia- [softly smiling] What are you looking at?
Nikolas- [smiling] You…
Gia- Why?
Nikolas- [softly touching her face] I want to remember everything…
Gia- [softly] Do you really have to go?
Nikolas- Yeah… Ned can’t go so it’s left up to me.
Gia- You have to go there? Why can’t you handle it from here? I mean…
Nikolas- This is really important. Juan and this tour are important to L&B and we can’t let the promoters take advantage of him or the situation. Someone has to go and let them know how we feel. Someone has to…
Gia- [sighing] I know… I know… I still can’t believe Juan left.
Nikolas- Neither can I. I thought… we all thought that he and Emily were happy. I guess we were wrong.
Gia- I guess no one really knows what someone else is going through unless they ask.
Nikolas- Yeah I guess. [holding her tightly to him] I’m going to miss you.
Gia- [smiling] I’m gonna miss you too.
Nikolas- [softly] When I come back I have to… we really need to talk about something.
Gia- [softly fearing he found out about her pregnancy before she had the chance to tell him herself] What?
Nikolas- It can wait till I come back.
Gia- Nikolas what is it? I mean…
Nikolas- Shh… don’t worry yourself over it. We’ll talk about it when I get back.
Gia- Nikolas…
Nikolas- [shaking his head] I have to take a shower before it’s too late.
Gia- But…
Nikolas- [quickly kissing her on the mouth] When I get back…
Gia- But…
Nikolas- [smiling] I love you… don’t worry…
Gia- [grumbling as he rushed to take his shower] That’s easy for you to say…

Nikolas quickly showered knowing the time he watched her sleep made him behind schedule. He was going to miss her but the knowledge that he would propose to her upon his return made his leaving bearable. She stood before him when it was time for him to leave. Taking her face gently in his hands he brought his lips to her and lightly kissed her waiting mouth.

Nikolas- [whispering] I love you…
Gia- [softly] I love you too…
Nikolas- [softly] Don’t miss me too much…
Gia- [whispering] Too late… I already do.
Nikolas- [softly caressing her cheek] I won’t be gone long…
Gia- [softly] I know…
Nikolas- If you need me…
Gia- I’ll always need you…
Nikolas- [smiling] Call me…
Gia- I will…
Nikolas- Gia I…
Gia- Nikolas leave now or I won’t be able to let you go…
Nikolas- Ok… I’ll be back soon…

Softly touching her face he quickly memorized every line and detail of her face. Slowly coming together for another kiss Nikolas and Gia stood embraced in silence. Both knowing that with Nikolas’s return things would never be the same again.

Gia- [softly whispering in his ear] I love you…
Nikolas- [smiling as he whispered in her ear] You better…
Gia- [playfully hitting at him as she pulled away] Hey… that’s not what you are supposed to say.
Nikolas- [smiling] I know…
Gia- [smiling] Well…
Nikolas- [quickly kissing her] I love you too Sparky…

Gia stood on their porch watching as Nikolas slowly pulled away. Would she be able to make it in the short time he was gone? Returning to the house Gia quickly showered and laid down as the queasiness again got to her. Despite her attempts she could not control her thoughts or her sense of dread. She needed help… she needed someone to calm her down… someone to tell her that all would be all right. Rising she found the number long hidden away and slowly began to dial her number.