– 12 –

That was intertwined in the tragic fabric of our dreaming
‘Cause tail between your legs, you’re leaving

---

She’d done it.

Even as her grandmother had begged her to reconsider, Elizabeth had packed as many of Cameron’s clothes as she could manage, as much as she could of her own, and she’d loaded the car. It had taken three trips, and then she’d lifted Cameron, startled from his nap, into her arms, and he’d started to cry.

Maybe she was insane. Certainly, she was impulsive. She likely could have taken a day, talked to Jason, but she was so terrified that she’d crumble, that she’d wilt beneath her grandmother’s disapproval but certainty. Audrey would always be there, even if it was with strings and conditions.

Jason…

Well, she would give him a chance. She wouldn’t walk away from him this time.

Except now she found herself in the lobby of Harborview Towers, a fussy infant in her arms, and the reality of her situation setting in.

She had no home. No place for Cameron to sleep, a way to feed him, and very little money to her name.  And everything rested on how Jason reacted to her just showing up — the very action she’d discarded this morning.

But she needed to know. She had to know where they stood.

She stepped up to the front desk, smiling tremulously at the guard behind the counter. He didn’t look familiar, and she hoped that wouldn’t be a problem. “Um, can you call up to Jason? Tell him Elizabeth — ” She looked down at Cameron’s miserable face, then back at the guard. “Elizabeth and Cameron are down here.”

The guard furrowed his brow, then picked up the phone. “He’ll know who I’m talking about?”

“Yes.”

The guard was quiet, waiting for the call to connect. “Mr. Morgan, I’ve got an Elizabeth and Cameron in the lobby for you. Should I send them up—” He stopped, nodded. “All right.” He set the phone back down, looked at her. “He said he’ll be right down.”

She exhaled slowly, forced a smile, then turned away, hoping that her reaction didn’t show in her face. Of course he wouldn’t send her up — not with the circus he’d described in detail — the one she’d seen evidence of in the park when Carly had attacked her. But Sonny and Carly had to know some time, didn’t they?

And Sam. Sam was pretending to have Jason’s child. If she could be upstairs, why couldn’t Jason’s actual son?

Her hands were trembling, and she readjusted Cameron again, stroking his back as he fussed again. “It’s all right, baby.” She kissed the top of his head. “We’ll figure this out. Mommy — she’ll figure it out.” Maybe there was a credit card she hadn’t used or even — there was always Emily.  It would be galling to ask for a loan, but for her son—

She heard the soft ding of the elevator, and turned back to see Jason hurrying towards her, his features creased in worry. “What happened? Are you all right?” he asked, approaching them. He lifted his hands as if to reach for Cameron —

And then let them fall to his side, with a look around to see who was watching. Her courage evaporated. “This — this was a mistake. I’m sorry. I’m sorry to bother you. We’ll go.”

—

Jason caught Elizabeth by the elbow when she turned away. “Wait. Wait. Tell me what’s wrong?” Why was she here? Was Cameron sick? Had Audrey said something?

Elizabeth’s lower lip quivered as she faced him, and she bit down hard. “I need to know where you stand. I—I can’t do this. I can’t sit and wait and be in the dark—”

He held up a hand, and she closed her mouth. “Did I miss something?” he asked, bewildered. “We talked about this earlier—”

“And my grandmother came home, and she—” Elizabeth let out a short breath. “I was planning a life in California. A good one. I had a job and apartment, and Cameron had somewhere to sleep, and I knew what all my tomorrows looked like. I was ready to be a single mother, to make sure my son had everything he wanted. I could have done that.”

“I know—” He curled his hands into fists at his side. “Is—is what you want? To go back?”

“No. God.” She huffed. “No. But I can’t do this. I was going to let you figure this out in your own time because I can’t stand to be one more person begging you to do something. To demand something from you, and if it was just me, I wouldn’t bother. But it’s not. It’s my son. And he deserves the best I can give him. I thought—I still think that should include you. But he shouldn’t have to wait while you fix your life. He shouldn’t take the backseat.”

“No, he shouldn’t—”

“So we’re going to decide right now how it’s going to be so I can make decisions for what tomorrow looks like. I need to know if you’re going to be here or if you’re just going to be a voice on the phone to him.”

“I—”

“Jason.”

He turned at the sound of his name, the gratitude for the interruption fading immediately when he saw Sonny by the elevators. The other man looked at the two of them, staring at Elizabeth for a long moment, before focusing on Jason. “We have to talk. Now.”

Jason grimaced, then turned back to Elizabeth. “Let me take care of this, okay? And then we’ll talk.” He reached into his pocket. “I have a new phone—”

“Jason—” Sonny’s voice was impatient now, and Jason just wanted him to go away. What could he possibly have to say to him right now?

Jason touched Elizabeth’s elbow. “Let me get rid of him. Okay? Just—just wait a minute.”

She closed her eyes, pressed her lips together, then nodded. “Okay.”

“I’ll be right back. Don’t—don’t go anywhere—” Jason turned and strode rapidly towards Sonny, still at the bank of elevators.  “Didn’t you say everything you had to say upstairs?” he said. “I’m in the middle of something.”

“Really? Does Elizabeth know that?” Sonny gestured, and Jason frowned, already turning. And his stomach dropped. Elizabeth—and Cameron—were at the other set of elevators, ones that led to the parking garage. No, no, no, no—

But he shouldn’t have to wait while you fix your life.

“Elizabeth—” His voice echoed across the lobby, but she didn’t look back. The doors opened, and Jason took off, sprinting at top speed, his long legs eating up the space he’d just created by walking away from her—from his son.

he shouldn’t have to wait

Elizabeth saw him coming but did nothing to stop the doors from sliding closed—

if it was just me, I wouldn’t bother

He reached them just as the last sliver of Elizabeth disappeared. “No, no, no—” Jason hit the doors with a pounding of his fists, then he frantically pressed the buttons on the elevator. “Damn it—”

I need to know if you’re going to be here

He whirled around, ignoring Sonny’s questions, racing for the emergency stairs. He didn’t know where she’d be parked, but he’d get to the garage before the elevators opened, wouldn’t he? He had to—

Let me take care of this, okay

He threw open the doors, took the steps two at a time, practically leaping down the second flight, skittering to a stop, and stumbling against the door.

And then we’ll talk

His fingers fumbled at the handle, but he was finally able to get his hands around it, jerking it towards him—

And then

He reached the elevators — but there was no one there — Jason whipped his head around, looking up and down the rows of cars, listening for footsteps, for the sound of a baby—

For his son.

just wait a minute

Nothing but creaking silence, the drip of water.

I’ll be right back just wait a minute then we talk let me take care of this

He started up one line of cars, frantically looking for any evidence that it belonged to Elizabeth. He didn’t even know what car she drove—they still hadn’t exchanged numbers—

I can’t sit and wait and be in the dark he shouldn’t have to wait

On the other side of the garage, he heard an ignition start and a car pull out. His heart pounding, he ran towards the sound, but the car was already near the exit, pausing at the street for traffic. He reached the street but it was pulling away — Elizabeth just barely visible in the driver’s seat, a car seat in the backseat.

And then she was gone.

Just wait a minute I can’t sit and wait he shouldn’t have to wait just wait

He stood on the curb, the summer heat pounding down around him, dribbles of sweat sliding down his neck.

She’d told him, hadn’t she? She’d been begging him to put her first, to put their son first, and at the very first opportunity—less than a minute after she’d begged him, what had he done?

Just wait a minute. And then we’ll talk.

He’d seen Sonny and had crumbled. He should have gotten on the elevator with her and gone—he should have just told Sonny who Cameron was—

But he hadn’t done any of those things.

I’ll be right back he shouldn’t have to wait

—

I still can’t believe it
‘Cause old habits die screaming

---

This was always a tragic song that deserved a tragic ending. But I decided to wait to post it 😛 Love you. HAPPY AUGUST #AugustBelongsToLiason #AndTaylorSwift