Disclaimer: I have no part in Guiding Light, no share in the ownership of these characters, etc. This is written purely for fun, no profiting involved. Don't sue, please?
Background: A week or two before Jonathan and Lizzie attempted to get married, there was a rumor going around that Tammy was actually alive and she and Bill would disrupt the wedding. Didn't happen, obviously, but I thought it would be interesting to write a story that started out with that happening and ended up with Lizzie and Jonathan together.
Pairings: Jizzie; past Bizzie and Jammy; Remy/Lizzie, hints at Remy/Marina

A Sight to Behold

Prologue

(February 2008)

Jonathan and Lizzie are getting married.

It's not as great as it sounds. The ceremony is being held in a bar, Billy's not in the audience, she has no one to walk her down the aisle, she certainly doesn't have a proper wedding dress, and, to top it all off, they're still not getting married out of love. It's still to protect Sarah. And this time they're both on the same page about that- Lizzie cares about Jonathan, and she always will, but one near-strangulation and two faked deaths later she's certainly not in love with him.

For the thousandth time that day, Bill Lewis's face crosses her mind. She knows she needs to make her family her first priority, and she will, but the selfish, needy rich girl who will never quite go away can't help wishing that Bill will show up and maybe finally tell her how he feels about her, and mean it. She won't do anything about it, she can't, but… at least she'll know.

She looks sideways at Jonathan, who's holding Sarah and listening to Josh speak. She can't really focus on the minister's words, not when she's thinking about Bill and Alan and leaving Springfield. Living with Jonathan and Sarah used to be her dream, but a loveless marriage spent on the run is not what she wants.

He still loves Tammy, and no one can change that.

Lizzie gets it; she really does. She remembers her love for Coop, how it felt knowing that someone could see through the crazy, selfish brat everyone thought she was to the broken little girl underneath; not only see through it, in fact, but think she was worth loving and saving. Her breakup with Coop couldn't have been much worse, but part of her will always love him for everything he did for her. Jonathan and Tammy, on the other hand, had just gotten married when she died, and how can anyone compete with such a perfect memory?

It doesn't matter, she reminds herself, and means it. We can do this. We have to. For Sarah. She wouldn't be surprised if someone told her that they heard her say those last two words in her sleep. She certainly says, and hears, them often enough when she's awake.

Jonathan looks down at her, offers her a small smile. She matches it. He reaches out with his free hand, taking her own small one, and something inside her relaxes. As forced marriages go, she could do worse. Jonathan's list of faults and misdeeds is miles long, but he's a great father and he and Lizzie understand each other and make a great team when they have to. This will give them another chance to prove that.

It'll be okay, she tells herself, and tries not to think of lost chances or Bill's kisses or Billy's disappointed eyes.

"Does anyone have any reason these two should not be wed? Speak now or forever hold your peace." Josh's offer draws her attention back to the ceremony. There's a near-smirk on the minister's face that Lizzie knows is matched by nearly everyone in the room. There are so many reasons to object that it's not even funny, and Lizzie knows that keeping quiet is absolutely killing Reva and Beth. But she also knows that no one will say a word. They've dealt with Alan for longer than Lizzie and Jonathan have, know perfectly well what he's capable of. Many of them attended Tammy's memorial- so recently, but it seems like such a long time ago. They care about Sarah's well-being, too, and have resigned themselves to trusting Lizzie and Jonathan on this. And that in and of itself is a minor miracle.

So everyone holds their peace, and Josh is about to speak again when the door to the bar opens and there's a babble of excited voices at the back. Lizzie turns, feels Jonathan's hand tighten on hers- and then they both let go entirely when they see who it is.

Bill rushes in first. "Stop, stop!" he yells. His words are for everyone, but his frantic blue eyes are focused solely on her.

His protest would be a futile effort if it wasn't for who had rushed in alongside him. Who they're all gaping at.

"Stop," Tammy repeats, voice quiet but carrying in the otherwise silent room. She's staring at Jonathan.

Lizzie hears Jonathan draw in a sharp breath. She herself can do nothing but gape.

Tammy's alive.

And, just like that, everything changed.