January 6, 2015

After walking out on a disastrous wedding and unhappy relationship, Elizabeth Webber promised herself a fresh start. She moved into Bobbie’s Brownstone with Gia Campbell as an unlikely ally, and befriended AJ Quartermaine’s new wife and Sonny Corinthos’ long-lost sister, Courtney Matthews.

When Carly Corinthos goes missing after a car accident at Vista Point, Jason Morgan is forced to return to Port Charles, testing Elizabeth’s resolve to put all her bad decisions behind her. AJ begins to plan for a custody battle for Michael Benson which pits brother against brother, and putting Elizabeth right in the middle.

Bittersweet rewrites the return of Jason Morgan in the spring of 2002, exploring his relationships with Elizabeth Webber, Carly Benson, and Sonny Corinthos. It is the first of two stories that takes on the menace and malice of Luis Alcazar, a man determined to destroy Sonny Corinthos at all costs. Its sequel, Malice, is due out in 2023.


2 September 2020: Updated the Timeline & Setting page to give a better recap of the storylines at that point and changes in the show. I added the synopsis for Maice.

1 September 2020: Updated the site make it more readable on mobile devices. I also cleaned up the Inspiration & Dedication page, actually adding the Dedication. The main page has been completed.

2 July 2020: Pages cleaned up. Ebook added. Still some tweaks to be done.

27 June 2020 – Launched sub-site. All pages are live. Still a bit under construction.

April 12, 2014

Inspiration & Timeline

This is one of the stories that I found when I was looking at older version of my site in the Internet Wayback Machine. I actually have very little memory of writing this — in fact, I have no memory of this. It’s a very strange story that takes a bit of a turn about 3/4 of the way through. It’s one of my earliest short stories, so it’s worth reading for that.

It picks up the day Elizabeth learns Sonny is alive and is at the penthouse waiting for him. This is also the day Carly learned about Brenda. It was a real banner day for honesty in the Corinthos-Morgan organization.


Left Behind

October 6, 2002

— Harborview Towers —

Carly Corinthos jabbed the button of the elevator viciously and turned to Scott Baldwin. “Will you go away?” she snarled.

“Well, I’m headed to the police station anyway,” Scott replied, smiling his trademark smirk. “Might as well give me a ride, eh, Carly?”

“That’s Mrs. Corinthos to you.”

The doors opened and Carly ran right into Elizabeth Webber, fresh from her shift at Kelly’s.

“Whoa, Carly,” Elizabeth said, holding her hands up. “Is everything okay?”

Carly hesitated. “I have to go to the police station,” she said, loathing to be the one to tell Jason’s girlfriend he’d spent the last three weeks lying to her.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in fear. “The police station?” she said softly. “What happened? Is Jason okay?”

“Jason’s just fine,” Scott jumped in. Carly threw him a nasty look. “In fact, I bet he’s just great, you know since, his boss is alive and everything.”

Elizabeth frowned and glanced at Carly. “What is he talking about?”

“Sonny’s alive,” Carly said, irritated with being held up. “Look, come with me and I’ll explain on the way.” She pushed the brunette back into the elevator and the doors shut before the district attorney could get in, too.

— Port Charles Police Department —

Jason Morgan leaned against the table in the interrogation room, his arms crossed. “How much longer are we going to be in here?”

“Long enough for those idiots to realize that we haven’t broken any laws,” Sonny muttered. He rested his hands on her hips and squinted through the blinds outside the window. “I think we’ve got a problem.”

“What?” Jason asked. He straightened. “What is it?”

“Carly and Brenda just saw each other,” Sonny murmured. “Not good.”

Jason peered through the blinds and exhaled slowly seeing the petite brunette behind Carly. “What is Elizabeth doing here?”

“Came with Carly, probably,” Sonny replied. He eyed Jason from the corner of his eye. “She’ll understand, Jason.”

“I doubt it,” Jason said under his breath.

It was another fifteen minutes before Taggart kicked Jason out of the room to question Sonny. Instructing the enforcer not to leave, he closed the door. Jason turned and stepped hesitantly towards Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth–”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” she murmured, keeping an eye on the snarling women in front of her. Part of her knew she should pull Carly aside, but a larger and angrier part wanted Brenda to kick the blonde’s ass, wanting Carly to feel some pain for the mortification Elizabeth was feeling right now.

“I–”

“I said that we’ll talk about it later,” Elizabeth snapped, finally looking at him, her eyes cold and angry. “Because you do not want everyone around us to hear what I have to say.”

Jason nodded and rubbed the back of his neck, knowing this night was going to get worse before it got better.

Finally, Mac Scorpio stepped in and announced that Sonny and Jason were to go home but to be careful not to leave town. They hadn’t broken any laws that night–but Sonny was going to be fully investigated for shooting Luis Alcazar.

— Limo —

The limo was cloaked in silence as Elizabeth sat next to Jason and pointedly ignored him. Carly wasn’t speaking to Sonny currently, pissed about Brenda’s return from the dead.

“After all that talk about honesty,” Carly muttered. “After making me promise not to keep secrets.”

“Carly–” Sonny began, his tone patient and indulgent.

“Do not start with me, Sonny Corinthos. You had no right to keep this from me!” Carly yelled.

“I knew it would just upset you–”

“You’re damn right it upsets me!” she raged. “You lied to me!”

Elizabeth snorted and shook her head. The hypocrisy level in this car was going to choke her.

“Did you know?” she asked, suddenly, interrupting Carly’s tirade.

Carly paused and looked at her guiltily. “Yeah.”

Elizabeth stared at her for a moment and closed her eyes. “That’s what I thought.”

“Elizabeth,” Sonny began, seeing a battle he thought he could win. “This wasn’t kept from you to hurt you.”

“Sonny–” Jason tried to cut in.

“We couldn’t just trust anyone,” Sonny continued, sure that Elizabeth would understand.

Carly groaned and rolled her eyes, sensing that Elizabeth’s outrage was going to take over in about five seconds.

Jason shifted, uncomfortably. Sonny’s choice of words hadn’t been good and he could feel the waves of hurt and anger coming from the woman beside him.

“Right,” Elizabeth drawled. “Because, hell, who am I, right?”

Sonny winced. “Okay, that’s not what I meant–”

“I’m just the girl that’s been cooped up in the penthouse, who’s been kidnapped and shot at twice just because I happen to know you and Jason. But hey, we can’t just tell anyone the plan right?” Elizabeth said sarcastically. “We can tell your wife, who turned you in the government, but not the girl who’s risked her life several times for Jason, right?”

“Hey,” Carly protested. “That’s not fair.”

“Elizabeth, that didn’t come out right,” Sonny tried again. Jason chose to stay silent for the moment, knowing his friend wouldn’t shut up until he had nothing left to say. “What I meant was it was completely necessary that this secret was kept.”

“Sonny, just shut up,” Carly advised.

“Of course,” Elizabeth said, sweetly. She narrowed her eyes. “Because God knows I couldn’t keep a secret to save my life right? I mean, completely excusing the fact that I trashed my reputation and let people think I was sleeping with Jason so they wouldn’t know he was shot or that I lied to everyone I knew and hid Jason in my studio, why the hell should you trust me?”

Sonny frowned. “Elizabeth, this wasn’t about you.”

“You’re right,” she said softly, the fire draining from her. She stared out the window. “I don’t matter at all.”

Sonny opened his mouth again, but Carly elbowed him in the ribs. “You’re just making it worse,” she muttered.

“Elizabeth,” Jason quietly. “You know that’s not true.”

She turned to look at him, her eyes full of tears. “Do I?”

The limo pulled into the underground parking garage of the towers. Elizabeth shoved the door open and stalked towards the elevators, not waiting for the trio behind her.

Jason watched the elevator doors shut behind her, a pained expression etched onto his face.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” Sonny said, firmly. “She’ll come around.”

Carly rolled her eyes. “Yeah, okay. Let’s just go upstairs.” She looked at Jason and touched his arm. “Look, she’s angry right now. Very angry. And she has every right to be. So, just let her vent. Let her yell and scream at you. Do not try and defend yourself because we both know it was wrong not to include her. But whatever you do, do not let her leave you. Because I’m willing to bet that will be her first instinct.”

“Actually, Jason, I need you to come over to the penthouse,” Sonny cut in. “We have some things to work out.”

Carly stared at him. “Are you insane?” she asked incredulously. “He cannot come over right now–”

“Damn it, this is more important,” Sonny interrupted angrily.

Carly felt Jason tense beneath her hand. “I’ll go talk to her,” she promised him. “You get this thing figured out with Sonny.”

“Fine,” Jason said shortly.

— Jason’s Penthouse —

Carly pushed the door open silently and saw Zander zipping up his bag. “Hey.”

He glanced at her. “Hey.”

“Going somewhere?” she asked, gesturing towards the bag.

“Elizabeth told me that Sonny is alive. She advised me to leave,” Zander replied. “She’s right. After we both risked our lives for him and then to be lied to…I don’t trust any of you to keep me safe. I’ll take care of myself.” He lifted the bag. “She’s upstairs packing now.”

He left, slamming the door behind him. Carly sighed and waited for the other woman to come downstairs.

She could hear her slamming around above her and winced every time a drawer slammed shut. For such a tiny girl, she sure packed a lot of violence.

Before Elizabeth came down, the door behind her pushed open and Jason entered, his face ashen.

“Is everything okay?” Carly asked, worried.

He hesitated a moment before speaking. “Sonny’s taking everyone to the island,” Jason told her.

She frowned. “Wait, what?”

“Tagliatti–” Jason’s jaw clenched. “He got caught laundering money and he’s going to make a deal with the DA.”

“A deal?” Carly asked softly. “What kind of deal?”

“He’s turning on Sonny,” Jason replied. “We have to leave now before the arrest warrants are issued.”

“Okay.” Carly tried to smile. “Well, at least Elizabeth won’t be able to leave you if she’s stuck on the island.”

Jason looked towards the stairs. “I’m not–I’m not taking her.” He looked back to Carly. “I don’t know how long we’ll be gone and I can’t ask her to give up her life here.”

“You can’t just leave–” Carly shook her head. “Jason–”

“You’d better go pack,” Jason told her quietly. “We’re leaving tonight.”

Carly sighed and left, cursing Tagliatti and Jason mentally.

It was a few more moments before Elizabeth descended the stairs, dragging a suitcase behind her.

She stopped in front of Jason. “I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me,” Elizabeth said softly.

“I understand.”

She waited. Waited for him to stop herto say something, to say anything. When he didn’t–when he only stared at her sadly, she clenched her jaw.

“Fine.”

— Hallway —

“You packed quickly,” Johnny mused, as Elizabeth dragged her suitcase towards the elevator. She stopped and stared him, irritated. “But didn’t Jason tell you? We’re not leaving for another hour.”

She frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“The plane doesn’t leave for another hour,” Johnny clarified. When the confusion didn’t clear from his eyes, he narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t Jason tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Elizabeth asked quietly.

“We’re going to the island–someone turned on Sonny and Jason,” Johnny explained. “We have to leave before the arrest warrants are issued.”

Elizabeth glanced towards the door of the penthouse. He hadn’t said a word. Hadn’t even told her he’d be leaving town. He’d just said he understood and let her leave. He hadn’t even cared enough to ask her to go with him.

She looked back at Johnny and sighed. “He didn’t tell me anything. I’m going home to my studio,” she said. “I was leaving him.” She hesitated. “I am leaving him.”

Johnny shook his head. “Wait, Miss Webber, we can’t not take you. You…you’ve been living with Jason, everyone knows the two of you are together. It’s not safe to leave you here by yourself.”

“That’s funny, Johnny,” Elizabeth said, pushing the button for the elevator. “Because if anyone knew anything, they’d know I mean nothing to anyone who lives on this floor.”

“Now that’s not true either,” Johnny argued. “Miss Webber–”

The doors opened and Elizabeth pulled her suitcase into the elevator. “Call me Elizabeth, Johnny. There’s no reason to pretend anymore.”

The doors shut on those words and he just stared at the closed doors.

November 18, 2002

— Sonny’s Island —

Jason stared out over the water from the deck of the large home adjacent to the casino. He could see Carly and Michael playing on the beach from where he stood.

“Did you get the reports?” he asked Johnny quietly.

“Yeah.” Johnny folded his arms across the suit he still wore. He was the only member of the inner circle still able to travel back and forth between Port Charles and the island, the only person that hadn’t been charged with racketeering and a host of other crimes.

He went back to check on the progress of the caseto let them know when it might be safe to return. He also went back for reports on members of the family they’d left behind. Courtney. Mike. Bobbie.

Elizabeth.

Courtney had barely noticed her estranged older brother had left town. Mike missed Sonny, but was still angry with his son for making him mourn for nothing. Bobbie missed Carly sorely and was working her charm on Scott, trying to get the charges dropped.

Elizabeth had moved back into her studio and was working at Kelly’s again. She almost seemed normal, but anyone who knew her knew that she was miserable.

Johnny had tried to convince Jason to let him bring Elizabeth back to the island, knowing the girl would jump at the chance to have any indication that he still cared. But Jason had refused, not wanting to disrupt her life.

Johnny strode forward, putting himself in Jason’s line of sight. Jason frowned, taking in the other man’s bruises. “What the hell happened to you?” he asked.

“One of Alcazar’s men paid me a visit,” Johnny replied. “Just a warning. Also left me with this.” He shoved a picture at Jason, not caring that he probably wouldn’t make most of it out.

Jason stared down at the black and white photo. “What is it?”

“It’s a picture,” Johnny snarled. “Of the girl you won’t let me bring here. Seems Alcazar is curious about her…curious why you left her behind.”

Jason narrowed his eyes. “He’s watching Elizabeth?” he demanded.

“Yep,” Johnny drawled. “Satisfied now?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You tried to do the right thing by letting her leave, trying to pretend that she isn’t in deep enough to matter. But if you want my opinion, Jason, there ain’t a man in the organization or in the families who doesn’t know Elizabeth Webber. Everyone knows about that bomb Sorel put in her studio, about the kidnapping, about her hiding you in her studio twice–it was fucking stupid to think you could her alone in Port Charles and pretend that none of that happened.”

“You done?” Jason demanded.

“Yeah.”

“Good.” Jason tossed the picture back at him. “Get the plane ready.”

“I’ll bring her–”

“I’m going to go get her,” Jason cut in. “Tell Sonny where I went. Tell him that I’m just going to get her and I’m bringing her back. I don’t have time to make the rounds, so he’ll have to deal.”

“You can’t go to Port Charles,” Johnny reminded him as he followed Jason into the spacious front room. Jason headed for the steps. “Taggart will have you thrown in jail.”

“Then he’ll have to throw me in jail,” Jason said. “Because I’m going to get Elizabeth.”

November 19, 2002

— Kelly’s —

Elizabeth closed the door to the diner behind her, making sure it was firmly locked. She sighed and tucked the key in her purse before stepping away to walk home to her studio.

She was halfway across the docks when she felt someone grab her arm and pull her underneath the dock stairs. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand covered her mouth.

“Don’t scream,” Jason told her. “It’s just me.” He let his hand fall away.

“What are you doing here?” Elizabeth whispered. “You’re supposed to be on the island.”

“You know where I’ve been?” Jason asked in surprise. “How?”

“Johnny told me the night I left,” she replied. “The cops have been asking everyone if we’ve heard from you or Sonny. There are even charges against Carly aiding and abetting–”

“We know all of that,” Jason interrupted.

“Then why are you here?” she demanded. “You’re going to get caught–”

“I need you to come with me.”

She blinked. “What?”

“You have to pack a bag and come back with me,” Jason told her.

“Are you crazy?” she hissed. “It’s been a month since you left. A month. Why now? Why not the night you left?”

“Because I thought you’d be safer here,” Jason answered. “Because I didn’t realize how much I’d miss you.”

She frowned. “Okay. So what’s the real reason?”

“Alcazar’s watching you,” Jason said without hesitation. “I’m worried he’s going to make a move.”

“You came back here, risked prosecution and possible jail time to get me?” she asked softly.

“I’m sorry for what happened…and I’m sorry that I let you walk away without a word, but you have to believe me that I do care about you and–”

“Let’s go,” Elizabeth interrupted. “We’d better get out of sight anyway. Cops patrol these docks like crazy now.”

“You’re going to come with me?” he asked, skeptically. “Without any argument?”

“Do you want me to waste time and argue?”

“No.”

“Then let’s go.”

The End

Inspiration

At the Liason Underground, we had a few rounds of a Picture Fiction Challenge. Someone would post a picture, then we’d have 6o minutes to write. The prompt for this challenge was an old, ornate key.

Timeline

This was set in the fall of 2002 after Elizabeth had left Jason’s penthouse.  Jason hasn’t really gotten involved with Courtney yet, so we’re talking mid October.


Banner


“You collect keys.”

Elizabeth Webber frowned and pulled the large shoebox out of Lucky Spencer’s hands. “It’s not that pathetic,” she defended.

He raised an eyebrow. “After all these years, how is it possible that I didn’t know?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Never came up, I guess.”

Lucky nodded. “All right fair enough.” He surveyed the studio. “I think we’re about done for this morning, don’t you think?”

Elizabeth bit her lip and shoved a box to the side with the tip of her foot. “Yeah, I guess. I really appreciate you helping me pack.”

Lucky sighed. “I’m gonna miss you.”

She hugged him lightly. “It’s only for six months. And when I get back, I’m going to find a good apartment.” Her eyes lit up. “Maybe I’ll even have enough money for a house.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t doubt it. The paintings you shipped to San Francisco were fantastic.”

Elizabeth grabbed her purse. “Come on, I’ll treat you to lunch at Kelly’s.”

“Good. You can tell me why you collect keys,” Lucky told her, snagging the shoebox from the couch.


“Okay, where’s this one from?”

Elizabeth set her soda on the table and rolled her eyes. “Lucky, I can’t remember where each and every single key is from.”

He scowled. “What’s the point of having them?”

“They’re pretty and they got these really awesome intricate designs,” Elizabeth told him. She dug around for a particularly ornate key with a piece of faded red ribbon attached. “I remember this one, though. It was my grandmother’s on my mother’s side. It was for her jewelry box.”

“You’ve never mentioned her before,” Lucky said, taking a bite from his cheeseburger.

“She died when I was really young. About six,” Elizabeth replied. “I don’t remember much about her except she always wore jasmine-scented perfume.” Her smile turned soft. “I’ve seen pictures of her. She’s the only family member I looked like.”

“So, how excited are you about San Francisco?” Lucky asked, raising his voice a little.

“I’m excited,” Elizabeth confirmed. “I’ve already arranged for an apartment overlooking the harbor. Can you believe the museum is paying for it?”

“Well, you’re a talented artist, Elizabeth. Your time was gonna come,” Lucky declared, his voice still a few decibels too loud.

“Thanks,” Elizabeth murmured, narrowing her eyes.

“So, are all the paintings you sent for sale, or did you just loan some for exhibit?” Lucky asked.

“They’re all for sale, except a few,” Elizabeth replied. She raised an eyebrow. “Why are you talking like that?”

“Which ones did you just loan?”

“All right,” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “We’ll play this game. I loaned the one I did for your parents wedding–you know, the one I never gave them. I’m saving that for when she’s better.”

“I appreciate that,” Lucky told her, squeezing her hand.

“And I’m loaning the Wind,” Elizabeth said softly. She looked down at the table. “I thought about selling it–even came close to listing it as for sale.”

“So why didn’t you?” Lucky asked.

“It’s not mine to sell,” Elizabeth answered simply. “I guess it doesn’t matter since I doubt the owner even remembers the damn thing anymore.” She snorted and lifted her glass to her lips. “Doubt he even remembers me,” she muttered before taking a sip.

Lucky smirked. “Oh. He remembers both, I’m willing to bet.”

Elizabeth frowned. “You know, you’re acting odd. Even for you.”

Lucky leaned forward and lowered his voice to almost a whisper. “Elizabeth, do me one last favor in the memory of our friendship.”

“Memory? You say that like it’s dead.”

“Details. Anyway, I want you to get up, go into the courtyard and say goodbye to Jason.”

Elizabeth sat back in her seat and twisted immediately to look out the door. Jason was standing there, looking away towards the far side of the courtyard. “How long has he been there?” she asked softly.

“Since he walked out of here.”

Elizabeth turned back to look at her ex-boyfriend. “When was that?”

“Right after you said you doubted the owner remembered the painting.” Lucky grinned. “You gonna grant me this favor?”

Elizabeth stood, grabbed the shoebox and glared at him. “I’m only doing it because I–” she stopped, at a loss for an explanation.

Lucky sobered. “Look, Elizabeth, you’re about to embark on the adventure of your life. A museum across the country wants you for six months. They’re doing an exhibit, asking you to teach a class, paying for your living expenses. You cannot leave Port Charles still thinking about Jason Morgan.”

“I am not thinking about Jason Morgan,” Elizabeth hissed.

“You are, and you know it. Say goodbye to him.” He studied her. “And this time, I want you to mean it. Because you walked away from him. And you’ve kept going. You’ve both been walking away in opposite directions, but neither of you has taken the chance to permanently end it. And as long as that loose end is still dangling, you will never move on.”

She scowled. “I hate when you make sense.”

Lucky shrugged. “Take advantage of it when it happens.” He grinned. “It only occurs so often these days. Go, babe. I’ve got the check.”

“Damn right,” Elizabeth muttered as she headed towards the door.


“Jason,” she said hesitantly. He turned and looked at her.

“Hey,” he said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

She bit her lip, cursing Lucky with every breath she took. Damn idiot he was. “I–I wanted to tell you” You can do it, Webber. “I’m moving to San Francisco for six months. And I guess…I just wanted to say…”

She couldn’t do it.

She set the shoebox full of keys on one of the tables and ran a hand through her hair. “They want me for six months, an exhibit of my own. They want me teach a class there.” She snorted. “I hate school and this museum…they sponsor art classes for underprivileged kids–they want me teach them.”

“You’ll do great,” Jason told her firmly and honestly, taking a hesitant step towards her.

“I sent the Wind to be put on display,” Elizabeth told him in a rush of breath. “I probably should have asked you first since it’s yours, but I still feel like it’s the best work I’ve ever done.” She bit her lip. “I’m not selling it…it’s on loan” She looked away from him, looked at the ground.

“I overheard Lucky and you talking about it,” Jason admitted. “I do remember it, Elizabeth.”

“I know. I was just…in a rotten mood,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m packing up my studio and you know I’ve lived there for over three yearsthere’s so much.”

“You’re not coming back?” Jason asked quickly, stricken.

“I am–I just can’t afford the rent on the studio while I’m gone,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m not getting paid for the class out there. They’re paying for the rent and everything. I’m hoping I sell enough paintings to put a down payment on a house or something when I come home.” She sighed. “Lucky told me I should come out here and say goodbye.” She met his eyes. “But I can’t do it. I guess it’s a curse or something.”

“What do you mean?” Jason asked, taking another step towards her.

“I can say it in my head,” she told him softly. “I can even say it when I’m alone and no one’s there to hear. Because, believe me, I’ve been practicing it. I thought–you know, if I could say it to myself, it would mean the same thing.” She sighed. “We’ve never said it, you know? Not even when I thought you attacked Lucky. Or when you left town the first time. Or when I walked out of the penthouse. We’ve never said it, not even in passing.”

“I don’t see why we have to say it at all,” he said suddenly. She frowned and looked at him. “You’re just going away for a while. You’ll be back.” He shrugged. “And maybe…we can go for a ride when that happens.”

“Can it really be as easy as that?” she softly.

“Not everything has to be complicated to work,” Jason told her. The corners of her mouth quirked up as she recalled the night he broke the window in Kelly’s when she’d locked herself out.

“No, I guess it doesn’t,” she replied, smiling.

“When do you leave?” he asked.

“Tomorrow,” Elizabeth said. “I still have so much to do. Lucky kind of got exhausted while we were packing up my studio, so I had to bring him for lunch. I’d better go and make him get back to work.” She grabbed her shoebox and headed for the door.

“Elizabeth.”

She turned when he called out. “Yeah?”

“When the exhibit opens,” Jason said, “let me know. I’ll come out and see it.”

She smiled. “I’ll do that. See you later.”

April 10, 2014

Inspiration & Timeline

Set in December 2002 after Jason slept with Courtney. I wrote this in December 2002, using the song Come Away With Me by Norah Jones before it became LiRic’s theme song. YouTube video embedded below.


Banner



Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song

Brownies. What made him think of that? What had made him tell Brenda to make brownies.

The only food Elizabeth could cook without burning them. He’d found a box of the mix in one of the cabinets after she’d walked out. He’d tried to make them, but they hadn’t tasted like hers.

He was running on autopilot now. After leaving Brenda at the penthouse, he’d just had to be by himself for a while. So many of his actions seemed strange and peculiar to him.

He’d slept with Courtney. With Sonny’s little sister. With Elizabeth’s friend. He’d slept with her.

He was no better than Lucky.

Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can’t tempt us
With their lies

She knew she should turn around the second she saw him sitting on the bench. She remembered sitting there with him, three years ago, when he told her he was leaving. She’d cried for days and missed, but now she wished he’d never come back.

At least then she’d have their perfect friendship instead of the broken relationship.

There was something about him right now—something lost and vulnerable. Something she couldn’t turn her back on, no matter how much she wanted to.

“Hey.”

I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won’t you try to come

He looked up at the sound of her voice to find her standing a few feet from him. Her eyes were concerned, caring. He frowned, wondering why she was talking to him. Why she hadn’t walked away.

“Hey,” he replied.

“You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Elizabeth said quietly, taking a seat next to him.

He shrugged, not really knowing what to say. How could he explain to her that he had to stay married to a woman he hated, that she had to stay in the penthouse where Jason resented her presence, because as far as he was concerned, the only woman who belonged there was Elizabeth.

How was he supposed to explain that he’d made a mistake and slept with Courtney and somehow managed to lead her on, thinking they had a chance. He’d let himself believe he could be with Courtney, and be happy.

He’d been lying to himself, he could see that now. That the only person he’d ever be happy with was sitting next to him and she wanted nothing to do with him.

He sat back on the bench and looked at her. Her gaze was unwavering and strong. Like she’d finally made a decision.

And he decided to trust her. “Have you ever done something you wished you could take back as soon as it happened, but somehow you ended up making it worse?”

The question startled Elizabeth, but she nodded. “Yeah. I have…” She looked down at her hands. “When I slept with Zander.”

Come away with me and we’ll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I’ll never stop loving you

“I did that yesterday,” Jason told her. “And you’ll probably never forgive me for it.”

She bit her lip and looked away. She’d seen Courtney today—she already had a pretty good idea what he’d done.

She’d been hurt at first, but she’d put it into perspective. He hadn’t done anything that she hadn’t. She’d slept with Zander, let him believe he had a chance. And Jason had slept with Courtney, and she obviously believed that they had a chance.

“Try me,” she said quietly.

He looked up. “I slept with Courtney.”

And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof

“I know.” She shifted on the bench and stared out over water. “She told me.”

He frowned. “And you…still sat down and talked to me. I thought—”

Elizabeth looked back at him. “You never turned me away after Zander. I made a lot of mistakes, Jason. But the biggest one was walking away from our friendship.” Her eyes softened. “We were friends before we were anything else, and that friendship has always meant the world to me.”

He reached for her hand. “It’s meant the world to me, too,” he admitted.

While I’m safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you

“I miss it,” she confessed. “I miss talking with you, and going for rides and…just being around you. I understand that you’re married to Brenda and with what’s happening with the Alcazar murder, I’m guessing that’s going to last a little longer than you thought, huh?”

“Yeah,” Jason admitted. “We have to stay married so we can’t testify against each other.”

“And what about Courtney?” Elizabeth asked quietly. She looked down at their hands, watched his thumb move in small circles across her skin.

To come away with me in the night

“I’m going to have to explain that I’m in love with the most wonderful woman in the world,” he said softly.

She looked up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I love you, too,” she breathed.

He stood up, using their joined hands to pull her up with him. Suddenly not caring who was watching, whether it was the PCPD or Scott Baldwin or Courtney, he pulled her to him and kissed her.

He’d waited too long to care about anyone else.

When he pulled away, she smiled up at him. “So, speaking of rides…”

Come away with me

Inspiration
In late January of 2003, they aired a scene in which Elizabeth followed Courtney to the loft where she discovered the relationship with Jason. Then we got a horrid confrontation scene. I either rewrote that scene or wrote this as a tag to the original episode. I have a second version of this that takes a different tone.

I used a song in here that I know I never heard before. Back in 2003, it was so much harder to get songs and I liked the lyrics of this. I have, uh, since listened to it and while the lyrics still fit — the mood doesn’t, lol.

Timeline
This story is set in January of 2003 and written at that time. Jason and Elizabeth had broken up in October of 2002, sharing very few scenes after that point. Jason and Courtney started dating in December, and he arranged for a loft where they could see each other privately while Elizabeth tentatively started seeing Ric Lansing. When Elizabeth learned that AJ (Courtney’s estranged husband) had hired a PI to follow her, Elizabeth was worried and followed Courtney to warn her. Instead, she saw Jason meeting Courtney there. This story is set directly after that.


Banner


I wanted your love, but look what its done to me
All my dreams have come to nothing

“If you’ve got a question, ask me.”

Elizabeth’s entire body tensed up and she glanced to the right. Damn, forgot to lock the back entrance, she thought idly.

“Jason, I’m so glad you’re here,” Courtney jumped in. “She—”

“Courtney, could you give us a minute?” Jason asked. “I’ll meet you outside.”

“But—”

He looked at her. “Please.”

Courtney sighed and went to unlock the door. She left, but made sure to stand outside and look in.

“Elizabeth—”

“You are either the biggest liar in the world or I am more naïve than I thought possible,” Elizabeth broke in, glaring at him.

Who would have believed
All the laughter that we shared would be a memory

He frowned and shook his head a little. “I’m sorry if I hurt you—”

“How dare you tell me over and over again that it was too dangerous—that it wasn’t safe for us to be together and the second I leave the penthouse, go and shack up with Courtney!” Elizabeth cried. “How could you lie to me like that?”

“I wasn’t lying,” Jason said, defensively. “It was too dangerous. You’d been shot at—kidnapped—”

“But suddenly it’s not?” Elizabeth replied. She arched her eyebrows. “I thought it never really over. I thought that even meeting in secret wouldn’t work. So, you want to explain how that works with Courtney?”

“You walked out on me!” Jason said, exasperated.

You walked out first,” Elizabeth retorted. “You walked out that door in September and you let me sit in that penthouse alone. You were there for everyone but me. You never called. You never came home. And you lied to me.”

“You told me you could handle my job!” Jason accused.

I cannot count the tears you’ve cost me
If I could have seen

“And your job was to avoid me?” Elizabeth snapped. “To never come home but have time to spend at Courtney’s place?”

“Elizabeth, I was guarding her—”

“Yeah. I know. But you couldn’t even pick up a phone to tell me that, either. For all I know—you could have been lying somewhere, bleeding or dying. God, do you have any idea how many nights I lay awake, scared to death because yet another day had gone by without you even coming home to change.”

Jason took a deep breath. “Look, I’m sorry—”

“No you’re not,” Elizabeth replied. “You’re not sorry at all. Because it was your job. And in your mind that makes it okay. So, yes, I walked out. But tell me, Jason. What did I have to stay for? To come last? To come after Sonny and Carly and Courtney and everyone else in your life? To not even make the list of your priorities?”

“That’s not fair,” Jason argued. “You know how I felt about you—”

“No, I don’t,” Elizabeth cut in. “Because you never told me. You pushed me away for months. And because you promised to try and then you lied at me—I was supposed to stick around and be treated like dirt?”

And do you ever think of me
And how we used to be?

“You slept with Zander,” Jason replied, crossing his arms.

“Oh, no. You do not get to throw that in my face anymore. I told you I was sorry. I told you that it was a mistake. I tried to make you understand why it happened—but you never wanted to hear it. So you do not get to throw that in my face.” Her eyes darkened. “And that is no excuse for the way I was treated.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Elizabeth, look things didn’t work. You said that they couldn’t. And I believed you.”

“Because it’s exactly what you wanted to hear.” Elizabeth took a step towards him and tilted her head to the side. “Tell me, Jason. How long before you and Courtney got together? A day? Two?”

“It was a lot longer than that,” Jason replied, a little irritated. “Nothing even happened until—” he stopped and looked away. “I’m not going to do this with you, Elizabeth.”

“Why not? Because you’ll have to tell me the truth for once in your life?” Elizabeth accused. “I’m right. It didn’t take long for you to hop into her bed.”

“Don’t say it like that,” Jason said. “That’s not the way it happened. So, what, I’m not allowed to be with anyone else? I’m not allowed to move on?”

Oh, I know you’re somewhere else right now
And loving someone else no doubt

Elizabeth just shook her head and looked away. “That’s not what this is about. This is about me being lied to by someone I thought was my friend. I covered for her with AJ. I went out of my way to help her—support her. And she lied to me.”

“We couldn’t tell anyone,” Jason tried to explain. “It would hurt me at trial.”

“And what…you think I’d go run and tell everyone I see?” Elizabeth asked, a little hurt. “You think that I am that vindictive?”

“No…” Jason sighed. “No, I don’t think that. I’m sorry, Elizabeth—”

“Can you answer me something?” Elizabeth cut in. “Is there something about me? Something that I do or say that just screams lie to her? Betray her? She doesn’t need anyone?”

“No,” Jason said, confused. “I—”

“Because all anyone does to me. Everyone lies to me. It’s like a disease and I’m sick of trusting people. I trusted Nikolas and Gia to be my friends and they used it against me. Did Courtney ever tell you that I stuck up for last year when they were trying to blame the accident on her? That I went against my best friend to tell the truth and set her free?”

“No,” Jason admitted. “She didn’t—”

“I thought Sarah was my friend but she slept with Lucky. And I thought Courtney was my friend. God, I confided in her and I trusted her. And look where that got me,” Elizabeth said. She shook her head. “Everyone lies to me.”

Well I’m one for sorrow
Ain’t it too too bad

“And you,” she continued in an almost broken whisper. “You were supposed to be one person in my life that I didn’t have to worry about lying to me—that I didn’t have to ponder every word you said and wonder if it was the truth. And once again—you lied to me. And I think that’s what hurts the most of all. You, who promised to listen to me and respect me and be honest with me…you who promised to try…you broke those promises, Jason. Do you realize that?” Her eyes teared. “Every time you walked out of that penthouse without so much as looking at me or saying a single word to me…you broke those promises. When you let everyone and everything come before me…you broke those promises. And I left because I couldn’t recognize you anymore.”

Jason took a breath. “Elizabeth—”

“I want you to leave,” Elizabeth said softly. “All right? Just go outside. I’m sure Courtney’s waiting in the courtyard for you.”

“I can’t leave…” Jason shook his head. “Elizabeth—”

“Go,” she said, more forcefully. “There’s nothing left to say. We tried. We failed. You moved on.”

Are you breaking someone else’s heart
‘Cause you’re taking my love where you are

“What’s going on in there?” Courtney muttered, trying to hear the hushed conversation.

Zander pulled her away from the window. “Hey, give them some privacy, okay? This is the first she’s had to really lay into him and he deserves every word of it.”

“She can’t blame Jason for everything,” Courtney retorted. “Elizabeth left him.”

“You know—” Zander shook his head. “You weren’t there, Courtney. You don’t know how many nights she stayed up and paced waiting for him to come home. She worried herself sick over him and to find out that it was for no reason…that she’d comforted Carly in her grieving and worried about Jason losing Sonny…and Sonny wasn’t even dead…I don’t blame Elizabeth one iota for how she’s handled the situation. Jason deserves whatever he gets.”

Well I’m one for sorrow
Ain’t it too bad about us

“What about you?” Jason asked. “You haven’t moved on?”

Elizabeth snorted. “You have to ask? I just attacked your new girlfriend.” She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve really moved on.”

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” Jason said. “At any time.”

Elizabeth crossed her arms and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Please go.”

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?” Jason asked. “Why didn’t—”

“Because it wouldn’t have made any difference,” Elizabeth replied softly.

“Why not?” Jason demanded.

I wanted your love, but I got uncertainty
I tried so hard to understand you

“Because I actually meant what I told that night. You’re Sonny’s enforcer. First. Last. Always. And anything else…it just doesn’t rate all that high on your priorities.” Elizabeth shrugged and looked down. “I’ve been in a relationship where I came last. Where a family feud, poison, brainwashing and everything else came before me. I turned myself inside out to make it work and it didn’t. I still didn’t matter enough.”

“You mattered to me, Elizabeth. You always did,” Jason tried to insist.

“You’d never know it,” she replied. “Because I felt like I was with Lucky all over again. Like I wasn’t needed or wanted. Like I didn’t matter enough to warrant a simple phone call to let me know you were still breathing.”

All the good it did me
Now the places that we knew remind of how we were

“I never meant to make you feel that way,” Jason said. “I’m sorry.”

“I accept your apology.” Elizabeth tilted her head towards the door. “Now. Please, go.”

“Elizabeth.”

“Your girlfriend’s waiting.” Without another word, Elizabeth turned and walked quickly towards the back of diner. Jason stared after her for a moment.

Then he turned and walked out of the diner. He walked right past Courtney and out of the courtyard.

“So,” Zander said, looking at the stunned blonde. “Tell me again how much he loves you.”

Courtney started sputtering and started to chase after Jason. Zander shook his head and went into the diner.

Everything is just the same
But all I feel is hurt

“Elizabeth?” Zander called. “Are you still here?”

Elizabeth appeared at the entrance of the kitchen. “Zander…what are you doing here?”

“I was outside with Courtney,” Zander said. “It was the funniest thing—Jason walked out of here and right past her. Like she didn’t even exist.”

Elizabeth gave him a weak smile. “I know that feels.”

“You okay?” Zander asked.

She shrugged. “I’ll have to get back you on that.” She sighed and reached under the counter for her purse. “Come on. I need to lock up.”

“You know…he’s an idiot,” Zander said as she pulled her coat on.

“Yeah…well…aren’t we all?” Elizabeth murmured.

And do you ever think of me
And how we used to be?

Timeline & Inspiration

Back in November 2002, General Hospital decided to devote the entire Thanksgiving episode to a series of Courtney dreams that actually ended up being Jason’s dream. Yes. It sounds as insane as it you think. At this point, Courtney had been on the show less than a year, and the execs were obsessed with her. She is one of the worst characters in this show’s history, possibly only matched by Peter August.

I decided to rewrite this an Elizabeth standalone episode. You don’t need to know much other than it’s set post penthouse walk out in October 2002, but pre-Jason/Courtney sleeping together in December of that year.


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Lizzie Does Thanksgiving

— Studio —

BEEP BEEP BEEP BE—

Elizabeth Webber’s small pale hand snaked out from underneath a pile of covers and blindly reached out for her alarm clock. A few seconds of groping and she managed to turn it off.

She pushed the covers off of her and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Thanksgiving—and she had to work.

She stumbled towards her bathroom and took a shower, hoping the hot water would wake her up. Audrey was away, spending the holiday with her parents and Sarah, leaving Elizabeth in Port Charles all alone to spend the day.

When Bobbie had asked if anyone would work on Thanksgiving, she and Courtney had volunteered. While Elizabeth wasn’t looking forward to dealing with the insipid blonde, at least she had the knowledge that someone else in Port Charles wouldn’t be enjoying a dinner their loved ones.

She dressed mechanically, pulling on a worn pair of jeans and red turtleneck. She ran a brush through her hair, not even bothering to dry it. She knew she’d be paying for the decision later when it was curly and impossible to deal with.

For now, she just grabbed a red scrunchie and put it. She grabbed her leather jacket and her purse and set off for another wonderful day at Kelly’s.

— Kelly’s —

“Don’t you wish you were anywhere but here?” Courtney Quartermaine asked, resting her elbow on the counter. Elizabeth tossed her a bored look before returning back to her magazine.

The diner was absolutely dead—staying open for Thanksgiving had been Bobbie’s idea and not one of her brightest. She and Courtney had no customers and since the cook for the day had gone upstairs to his room to take a nap—they had only each other for company.

She stared at the door, willing someone to come in. Anyone, actually. At this point, she’d be glad to see Carly Corinthos.

When a customer finally did walk in, she grimaced and pushed herself off the stool. “Why don’t you take this one?” she asked Courtney, passing the customer in question and heading for the door.

Jason Morgan stared after her for a minute before turning back to Courtney to order a cup of coffee.

Elizabeth grabbed her coat off the coat rack, intent on heading out for some fresh air. The last thing she needed was to be in a room—alone with Jason and Courtney. She might be sick if she had to do that.

Before she could pull it open, a man rushed in, shoving her back. “Hey!” she cried, irritated. “Watch—”

“All right, no one move!” the man said, pulling a gun from his side. He grabbed Elizabeth’s arm and pulled to him roughly. “Just give me all the cash in the place and no one gets hurt!”

Elizabeth closed her eyes and counted to ten, hoping Courtney understood that this was serious and not to argue with the man.

“Um, there’s no money,” Courtney said. “We only had the one customer today.”

Jason threw her dirty look before looking to the man who had Elizabeth. “I’ll give you whatever you want…just…let go of her.”

Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel smugly satisfied at Jason’s words.

“But Jason,” Courtney wailed, “I thought you loved me!”

“I don’t love you,” Jason said, giving the blonde a confused look before looking back to Elizabeth. “Please let her go.”

“What’ll you give me?” the man demanded.

Jason pulled out his wallet, and Elizabeth could feel the grip on her arm loosening as the man took in the large wad of cash that was visible. “You can have all of this,” Jason told him.

The grip tightened as the man became suspicious. “Why would you give all that for some waitress you don’t even know?”

“Because she matters more to me than any amount of money in the world,” Jason answered.

Elizabeth smiled—despite the situation. Maybe there was still hope.

He held out the wallet and the man shoved Elizabeth away. Jason caught her and the guy ran out of the diner.

“Are you okay?” Jason asked, looking her over for any injuries.

“I’m—I’m fine.” Elizabeth blinked. “Did you—did you mean that?”

“Of course,” Jason replied. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. For everything. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Of course,” Elizabeth breathed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “All you had to was ask.”

He grinned and leaned down to kiss her—

BEEP BEEP BEE—

Elizabeth sprang out of her bed and glared at her alarm clock. “You suck,” she muttered.

After glaring at her alarm clock for a few minutes, Elizabeth shoved the blanket back and stood up. Just when the dream was starting to get good—

“I should not be dreaming about Jason,” she muttered to herself as she headed to the shower. “I should be dreaming about a cute guy who—who doesn’t shut me out or spends more time with a blonde than me.”

Still grumbling to herself, Elizabeth stepped under the hot spray and tried to down all thoughts of a certain spiky blonde mob enforcer.

She pulled her lavender colored robe around her and routed around in her dresser for clothes. She pulled on a pair of worn blue jeans and a red turtleneck. She ran a brush through her hair and pulled it up, stuffed her feet into a pair of chunky black boots and grabbed her purse and leather jacket as she headed out the door.

— Docks —

She stopped on the docks for a few minutes. Some people might she think was crazy—but she loved the water during the winter. It was icy and more blue.

She frowned. They reminded her of Jason’s eyes.

That unsettling thought lurking in her brain, she turned and headed for the stairs, intent on shoving all thoughts of Jason out of her brain.

“Hey, darlin’,” Luke Spencer said from his position on a bench in front of the stairs. “How are you this morning?”

Elizabeth stopped – the last time she’d seen Luke had been while he was digging a fake grave for Laura. “Hey…you seem better.”

“Got a new lease on life,” Luke said. “You headed to that dump?”

“Kelly’s?” Elizabeth asked. “Yep. Do you want me to bring you anything?”

“Nah,” Luke said. “Hey, you know what?”

“What?” Elizabeth asked, shifting on her feet. She was going to be late if she stayed any longer.

“I just saw your boyfriend walking past here—he was looking for ya.”

Elizabeth frowned. “My boyfriend?” she repeated, hoping Luke wasn’t drunk and meant Lucky. The thought was just too disgusting to bear.

“Yeah, Morgan. Said he really needed to find ya.”

“That’s weird,” Elizabeth murmured. She shrugged and said goodbye to Luke before heading into Kelly’s.

— Kelly’s —

The diner was completely dead except for Courtney and AJ arguing. Elizabeth sighed in irritation before going to punch her time clock and making herself a cup of hot chocolate.

“I love you,” AJ said as Elizabeth sat down at the counter and made no attempt to pretend she wasn’t watching the married couple. “Doesn’t love count for anything?”

“I can’t forget what you did,” Courtney said. “You hurt me, AJ. How am I supposed to forget that?”

“Don’t,” AJ said. “I know I hurt you, but I hurt myself too. I’d rather die than hurt you, Courtney. I made a mistake—I should have trusted you, trusted in us, but…” he leaned over and took her hand. “I was scared. You were everything to me and I just…” He looked down at her hand. “I couldn’t handle it. I talked myself into believing I didn’t deserve it and screwed it up.”

Courtney leaned towards him, her eyes soft. Elizabeth could tell the blonde might actually forgive him. “I love you so much, AJ. We’re so different. How can it work?”

Elizabeth frowned. This sounded really strange—it definitely a different argument between the two. It sounded like an argument between…

No. No Jason thoughts.

“We love each other,” AJ told her. “There has to be a way.”

This is ridiculous, Elizabeth thought. If she kept listening to this conversation, she’d be tempted to seek out Jason and tell him she loved him and have the same conversation Courtney and AJ were having.

“All right,” Courtney said finally. “I can’t forgive you…not right now. But…we can try again.”

Try. Elizabeth hated that word almost as much as she hated the word safe. Or dangerous. Or the phrase it doesn’t matter.

Ugh.

Courtney finally looked over. “Oh, hey, Elizabeth. I didn’t see you there.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I’ve only been here a few minutes.”

“You just missed Jason,” Courtney told her. “He was looking for you, wasn’t he AJ?”

AJ grimaced. “Yeah.” He looked over at her. “He seemed really desperate.”

Jason was looking for her. Three people had heard him say this.

This was really weird.

Elizabeth frowned. “Did he say what he wanted?”

Courtney gave her a teasing smile—like the ones she’d given her before the whole stalking thing where Courtney had been a friend encouraging her to be with Jason.

Those days were long gone.

Right?

“No, but I’ll bet I know.” Courtney grinned. “He wants you back, it’s so clear.”

“It is?” Elizabeth asked skeptically. “I must have missed it.”

AJ wrinkled his nose, obviously hating the subject. “I don’t know, Elizabeth. I think he likes you.”

Courtney rolled her eyes. “He totally loves her, AJ. Didn’t you see how disappointed he was when she wasn’t here?”

“Wait, wait, back up for a second,” Elizabeth said. “I think I’ve just stepped into the Twilight Zone. The two of you have made up, you’re shoving me towards Jason and AJ’s even talking about him without the words criminal or dangerous mixed in.” Elizabeth’s eyes darted between them. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Thanksgiving,” Courtney said. “Everyone gets a second chance.”

“Really,” Elizabeth said. “What fortune cookie did you read that one in?”

“Hey, there’s Jason now,” Courtney said, gesturing toward the window. Elizabeth whirled around – and there he was, looking in from the courtyard. It was like old times. He’d look in just before the end of her shift and they’d go for a ride.

“What am I supposed to do?” Elizabeth demanded.

“Uh, duh,” Courtney laughed. “Go out and talk to him.”

Elizabeth gave the couple another strange look before heading into the courtyard.

— Courtyard —

“Hey, I hear you were looking for me,” she said hesitantly.

“Yeah, I need to talk to you,” Jason said. “I needed to tell you that I’m sorry.”

“Sorry,” Elizabeth repeated. This was too good to be true.

“I’m sorry I hurt you—there’s nothing I wanted to do less,” Jason told her. “I miss you Elizabeth.”

She bit her lip. Stay strong, stay strong, she chanted. Tell him that’s nice and go back and finish your shift. She opened her mouth and made the mistake of meeting his eyes.

Oh, the hell with it.

“I miss you, too,” she admitted.

He moved closer. “Can we try again?”

She found herself nodding. “Definitely.”

He grinned and leaned down to kiss her.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEE—

Elizabeth grabbed her pillow and started whacking the clock radio with it. “You couldn’t wait five more seconds? All I wanted was one kiss!” she yelled into between whacks.

She took a five minute shower, pulled on the same outfit she’d been wearing in her dream and put her hair up quickly. It was time to get realistic – Courtney and AJ weren’t going to work things out, therefore keeping Courtney from Jason and Jason was not going to come looking for her to work this out.

The only thing that was going to happen was she was going to work the breakfast shift on Thanksgiving. She was going to serve about five customers the entire day—that was it.

She walked leisurely to work – and didn’t stop to talk to anyone she saw. She passed Felicia Jones, Bobbie Spencer and even Carly Corinthos—but she didn’t even give into the dirty look and the nasty taunt the older woman threw at her.

Courtney and AJ were arguing when Elizabeth entered. The fight was more vicious than the one she’d dreamed about. She hung up her jacket and completely ignored the two at the counter.

“Why won’t you just admit that you want Jason?” AJ demanded.

“Why can’t you let this go?” Courtney countered.

“Why don’t the two of you shut up?” Elizabeth muttered, making herself a cup of hot chocolate.

“What did you say?” Courtney demanded.

Elizabeth looked up, unaware that anyone had actually heard her. “What?”

Courtney glared at her. “What did you say?”

Elizabeth sighed and shrugged. “I just think you two need to shut up. You keep having the same argument and I’m just really tired of hearing it.”

“Why don’t you stop listening?” Courtney said, snidely.

“I would if you’d stop having this conversation where I work,” Elizabeth snapped.

“Courtney, knock it off,” AJ said.

“No, Elizabeth has no idea what’s going on and I’m sick acting all perfect just because she thinks so.”

“You know what, Skipper?” Elizabeth slammed her mug down and pointed at her. “Why don’t you tell AJ he’s right? That all you ever want to talk about is Jason, hell that’s all you talked about before you found out AJ did the stalking.”

“I knew it,” AJ muttered.

“And you,” Elizabeth said, glaring at Jason’s brother. “Stop making everything so dramatic. She never turned to Jason until you started screwing up. Jason’s not in competition with you, so stop trying to win. It’s irritating and the rest of us are sick of hearing about how your brother takes everything from you. He doesn’t have anything that you didn’t give up.”

“Here we go, someone else defending the golden boy!”

“She used to defend you,” Elizabeth retorted, gesturing towards Courtney. “But you screwed it up.” She grimaced. “I am so sick of listening to the both of you whine. Christ. Grow up. Your marriage failed. It happens every day.” Elizabeth headed for the door, grabbing her jacket and purse on the way out.

“God, those two are so irritating,” Elizabeth muttered, tugging her gloves on. She had her head down and didn’t even see Jason until she crashed into him. She groaned. “Here we go.”

“Are you okay?” Jason asked.

“Yeah, I’m just peachy,” Elizabeth muttered. The temptation just to kiss him was really too much—after two near misses that morning, she was getting irritated by the whole day.

She looked up at him suddenly and was trying to remember why she was mad at him. Her scrutiny made him shift a little. “Elizabeth?”

“That day at Jake’s last week,” she said. “Why were you really there?”

“Elizabeth—” he began. But for some reason, he stopped and started again. “I wanted to know if you’d forgiven me.”

“And if we still had a chance?” Elizabeth pressed.

“I guess,” he admitted.

She looked away. Well, maybe they could say the things she wanted to say then. “Well, I was angry when I said we didn’t. And last week, I asked you and your answer kind of led me to believe that you didn’t think so, so I back tracked.” She looked back up at him. “Well, I lied. In my mind, we’ll always have a chance.” She shrugged. “I don’t know—maybe it’s because I’m pathetic or I just don’t want to end up whining like Courtney or AJ, but—”

“Elizabeth.”

She stopped babbling and took a deep breath. “Sorry. So, I’m going to ask you again. Do you think we still have a chance?”

He smiled at her and leaned down—

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEE—

The alarm cut off abruptly as Elizabeth grabbed the clock from the night stand and hurled it across the room.

Irritated with the way the morning was going, Elizabeth decided to just give in. She pulled on the same outfit for the fourth time in a row, threw her hair up and left.

Once again, Courtney and AJ were arguing behind the counter. Elizabeth hung up her jacket and took her time getting to the couple.

“Just admit that you want my brother!” AJ yelled.

Does he ever find something new to whine about? She wondered, approaching the counter. She tied her apron on and surveyed the empty room. She’d have to listen to the whining brothers.

“Who wouldn’t?” Courtney finally said.

Elizabeth’s head snapped up. That wasn’t what Courtney normally said. She normally avoided the question.

But hey, since this was her dream, she figured Courtney would be saying what Elizabeth thought she would.

AJ narrowed his eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.

If I have to tell you, I’m gonna hit you, Elizabeth thought.

Courtney gestured towards herself and Elizabeth. “Well, both the women in this room have been attracted to him.”

“Don’t bring me into this,” Elizabeth said. “I don’t want any part of this conversation.”

“Well, at least Elizabeth wasn’t married,” AJ threw back.

“He’s got you there, Corky,” Elizabeth said.

“Corky?” Courtney said, momentarily distracted.

“Yeah…well, I’m tired of saying Courtney,” Elizabeth muttered. She leaned on her elbow and stared at the door.

“It doesn’t matter, because our marriage is going to over soon,” Courtney said, getting back on track. “And maybe I will date Jason.”

Date. Elizabeth snorted.

“What is your problem?” Courtney asked, irritated.

“Jason doesn’t date,” Elizabeth replied. “So if you’re looking for the hearts and flowers, take you to the movies type boyfriend, you ought to stick with Spanky over here,” she said, indicating AJ.

“Hey!” AJ said, insulted.

“Oh, so what does he do?” Courtney asked, a little snidely.

Elizabeth smirked. “How do you feel about motorcycles?”

“She hates them,” AJ supplied. “Always shudders when they ride past. Says they’re death traps.”

“Well…” Elizabeth hesitated. Then again, this was her dream. She could say whatever she wanted. “Well, you’re going to have to get over that fear pretty quick because he rides that thing everywhere.”

“He can walk,” Courtney said, but her voice wasn’t so smug.

“What about pool?” Elizabeth pressed. “Do you know how to play?”

“No, she thinks its stupid,” AJ cut in.

“Will you stop answering for me?” Courtney said, throwing a dirty glance at AJ. “I can speak for myself.”

“Okay, so answer for yourself. Do you like pool?” Elizabeth asked.

“I could learn to like it,” Courtney said hesitantly.

Hmmm….well, might as well go for the kill.

“And Jason’s job, can you handle it?” Elizabeth asked. “Can you handle the lack of phone calls, the nights he doesn’t come home and you don’t know if he’s okay…because he certainly wouldn’t tell you.”

“I can do it,” Courtney said, faintly.

Elizabeth smirked, and leaned towards the blonde. “How do you feel about blood?”

“B-blood?” Courtney stammered.

AJ’s brown eyes lit up. “Oh, yeah. Jason gets in a lot of fights, right Liz?”

“Uh huh,” Elizabeth replied. “Why, I even took care of him once when he was shot.”

“I could just take….I could take him to the hospital,” Courtney said, squaring her shoulders.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Nope. That’s a definite no-no with his job. No hospitals. It’ll more than likely be you having to change his dressing, check his stitches, feeding him. It’s a fulltime job, being Jason’s girlfriend.” Her blue eyes twinkled with amusement. “I just don’t think you’re cut out, Courtney.”

“Well, neither can you,” Courtney argued.

“Oh, I have no doubt I can handle more than you,” Elizabeth replied. “I’ve already handled most of it.”

“And you walked out,” Courtney accused her. “You hurt him.”

“Yeah, well, he hurt me,” Elizabeth argued. “I stayed cooped up in that stupid penthouse with Zander and some nameless guard while he ran around perpetuating a lie and hugging you and avoiding me, so you know what? I was completely justified in leaving.”

“But you refused to go back,” Courtney protested.

“Refused?” Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “I don’t remember Jason asking me to come back. I don’t remember him speaking up and saying one damn word.” She leaned forward. “See, that’s something else you’d have to get used to. He doesn’t talk a lot, and you have to practically pry words out of him sometimes. But hey, you love the sound of your own voice, so—”

Courtney suddenly straightened, her back stiff. “Hi, Jason.”

Elizabeth and AJ both looked at the same time to see Jason standing just inside the doors.

Well, here comes part two of the dream, Elizabeth thought. “Hey, Jason,” she said, waving at him.

He frowned. “You’re talking to me?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Well, a person can only hold a grudge for so long.”

“How long have you been standing there?” AJ asked.

“Long enough,” Jason replied. “Elizabeth, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure,” she chirped. Hey, maybe she could get that kiss after all and her dream could have a happy ending.

She came around the side of the counter and followed him to the courtyard, grabbing her jacket along the way.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “You’re acting differently.”

She shrugged. “I figure…you can’t beat ’em? Join ’em.”

Jason frowned. “All right.” He looked away for a second. “I heard what you said.”

“Which part?” Elizabeth asked. “Because I honestly didn’t mean to talk Corky out of liking you, it just happened.”

“Wait, what?” Jason asked, looking back at her.

Elizabeth smiled. “I just asked her how she felt about a few things, like motorcycles, pool, blood…you know the stuff that comes along with being in your life?” She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “By the way, she’s not too fond of anyone of them.”

“I don’t care about Courtney and whether or not she likes me,” Jason said. “I was just looking out for her. It’s what Sonny wanted.”

Sonny. Here we go.

“And whatever Sonny wants, Sonny gets,” Elizabeth muttered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re not the same person you used to be,” Elizabeth explained. “You used to live to make yourself happy and now you’ve put everyone else in front of you. Don’t you know that’s the fastest way to make yourself miserable?”

“Yeah, well, I can’t have what makes me happy,” Jason replied.

See, now she knew it was a dream. Because the real Jason never would admit something like that. Not anymore.

“And what makes you happy?” Elizabeth asked, almost tiredly. She wanted this conversation over so she could get her kiss and wake up.

“You,” Jason told her after a few minutes.

What the hell, right?

“Well, you never told me you wanted me back,” Elizabeth said. “So how was I supposed to know?”

“You told me we didn’t have a chance.”

“Jason, Jason, Jason,” Elizabeth said, shaking her head. “You of all people should know when I’m lying.”

“Lying?” he echoed.

“Lying,” she confirmed. She shrugged. “I was angry and lashing out. By the time I was over that anger, you were hanging around Corky in there, so I figured my chance had passed.” She smiled up at him. “So, do you still want to be with me?”

“Elizabeth—” Jason stopped and shrugged a little. “I never stopped.”

“Well, then.” Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head up. “Let’s try this again, shall we?”

He leaned down.

And she waited to wake up.

When his lips brushed hers, she jerked away suddenly.

“Elizabeth?” Jason asked, confused. “I thought you-”

She touched her lips. “Why—why didn’t I wake up?” she asked.

“Wake up?” Jason repeated. “What are you talking about?”

“All morning, I’ve been dreaming about this and every time you lean down to kiss me, my alarm clock goes off.” Her eyes widened and she peered up at him. “I’m not dreaming am I?”

Jason took a step back and frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Elizabeth just shook her head. “No, I have to be dreaming.” She pinched herself. Hard. “Ow.”

“Elizabeth—”

She did it again. “Damn it, wake up.”

Jason reached out grabbed her hand before she could do it a third time, “Hey, knock that off.”

“No, no. You don’t understand. See, I’m dreaming and I wanna wake up now,” she said, her voice taking on a desperate edge.

“Okay, what makes you think you’re dreaming?” Jason asked, proceeding cautiously.

“Well, first of all, you’re out here with me,” Elizabeth said. “And you’re not in there with Courtney.”

“Why would I want to be with Courtney?” Jason asked.

She groaned. “Come on, wake up, Elizabeth.” She pinched herself again. “Ow!”

“Stop it, you’re going to bruise yourself,” Jason said. “You’re not dreaming and I don’t want to be with Courtney.”

She moaned and covered her face with her hands. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding. I’m really awake?”

“You’re really awake,” Jason told her.

“And I said all those things to Courtney?” Elizabeth whimpered. “Oh, man.”

“What, you didn’t mean any of them?” Jason asked, his heart sinking a little.

“That’s not the point,” Elizabeth said, irritated. “I thought I was dreaming—so I didn’t hold back. Oh, man, how am I gonna face her for the rest of the shift?”

“So, did you mean what you said to me?”

She peeked out from behind her hands. “That depends.”

He frowned. “On what?”

“Did you mean what you said?” she hesitantly.

He gave her small smile and took her hands away from her face, enveloping them in his larger ones. “Yes, Elizabeth, I meant what I said.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay.” She looked down at their hands and then back up at him. “Yeah, I meant what I said, too.”

“Good,” Jason replied. “So…?”

“I need a favor,” Elizabeth said abruptly.

“Okay.”

She tilted her face up to his. “Could you kiss me? Because I’ve been waiting all morning—actually, four different mornings, you know and I haven’t gotten—”

He grinned and cut her off, by tugging her to him and leaning down to capture her lips.

After few moments, she pulled away. “Well, that was certainly worth waiting for.”

He grinned and started to pull her out of the courtyard. “So, what exactly happened in your dreams this morning?”

She smiled. “I’ll never tell.”

THE END

Timeline & Inspiration

This was an episode tag for a show that aired in November 2002, after Elizabeth had moved out of the penthouse. I was doing a series where if Courtney was in a scene, I replaced her with Elizabeth. So at the beginning of this story, the line spoken by Carly was spoken on the show, and I think Courtney overheard it. Instead, it’s Elizabeth.

Song is The Rose by Bette Midler. I’ve embedded the YouTube video below.


Banner


 

The elevators were open before Carly finished her statement but she didn’t pay attention.

“Why can’t you just admit that you like Courtney?”

But Jason wasn’t looking at Carly anymore—he was looking over her shoulder. Carly frowned and turned around.

“What do you want?” Carly demanded.

Elizabeth pulled the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder and folded her arms across her chest. “I forgot one of my jackets here,” she said quietly.

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed. 

Carly smirked and took a step towards her. “I hope that’s all you’re here for because that’s all you’re getting. Jason’s moved on, little girl—”

“Carly.”

Carly turned to glare at her friend. “What? Just because you won’t admit it—”

“Go home, Carly,” Jason said firmly.

“And leave you alone with this twit?” Carly said, her eyes wide. “Hell, no.”

“He’s a big boy now, Carly,” Elizabeth said, keeping her tone light and even. “He doesn’t need a babysitter.”

“You stay out of this.” Carly turned back to Jason. “Jase—”

“Go home,” Jason repeated. Carly glared at the brunette before stalking past her and slamming her door shut.

Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower, and you it’s only seed. 

Elizabeth bit her lip and gestured towards the door. “Can I get my jacket?”

Jason nodded wordlessly and moved to open the door. Elizabeth passed him and entered. She stopped at seeing the suitcases in the living room. She turned to him. “You going somewhere?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. Had she heard about the marriage? “Um, no. Brenda’s moving out.”

She frowned. “You’re getting a divorce?”

“Yeah,” Jason replied.

“Oh.” Elizabeth looked away. “Well, I’d better get my jacket.” She headed up the stairs, leaving Jason standing in the entrance of the penthouse staring at the stack of the suitcases.

It’s the heart, afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.
It’s the dream, afraid of waking, that never takes a chance.

She reappeared on the landing a few minutes later, her leather jacket over her arm. “I think I’ve gotten everything,” she said quietly. She made her down the steps and started past him.

“Wait,” he said.

She turned, trying to keep her face from lighting up. “Yeah?”

“When I see you…am I supposed to pretend that I don’t…that I don’t know you?” he asked.

She bit her lip and looked down at the jacket. “I was very angry the day I said you were a stranger. I’ve been meaning to apologize for some of the things I said…but I haven’t seen you.”

“I’ve been busy,” Jason said. He put his hands in his back pockets.

“Yeah.” She looked up at him. “Not that it’s any of my business…but is what Carly said true?” She met his eyes. “Have you moved on?”

It’s the one who won’t be taken, who cannot seem to give.
And the soul, afraid of dyin’, that never learns to live.

“She thinks I’m interested in Courtney.” Slightly encouraged by her question, he went on, “I’m not.”

“I’ve missed you,” Elizabeth admitted. “The way we used to be before it all got complicated.”

“I’ve missed it, too,” Jason said. “It seems like all we do these days is fight or not talk at all.”

“I don’t like that.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t like it all. And I don’t want to keep doing it.”

When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,

“Me either,” Jason agreed. He eyed the suitcases and then looked back up at her. “You wanna go somewhere?”

Her eyes lit up a little. “Sure.” She gave him a little smile. “Can we take the bike?”

“Is that what you want?” he asked, amused by the way she lit up at the thought.

“Definitely,” she agreed with a nod of her head. “But only if I get to drive.”

“You are not driving my bike.”

“Oh, why not?”

“Because it’s been too long,” Jason replied.

She took his hand and started leading him to the door. “Far too long,” she agreed.

Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love, in the spring becomes The Rose.

Timeline & Inspiration

At some point, I’m going to be putting together a more comprehensive Liason history so I can figure out exactly when some of my episode tags are set, but for now — this is vaguely set somewhere in November/December 2002 — definitely before Jason slept with Courtney but later in November because the scene on the show had snow in it.


Banner


Courtney had been watching Michael make snowballs and stack them for twenty minutes before she heard footsteps crunching in the snow behind her. She turned and smiled. “Hey.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Hey, Courtney. I didn’t know you were off today.”

“I’m not,” Courtney replied. She stood up and put her hands in her pockets. “I was on my way home from Kelly’s when I ran into Michael and Carly.”

Elizabeth grimaced. “Tell me Carly’s not still here.”

Courtney laughed. “She doesn’t seem to fond of you either.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I think we like to fight.” She turned to Michael. “Hey,” she greeted.

“Hey, Lizbeth,” Michael said, barely looking up at her.

“He knows your name?” Courtney asked, surprised.

“Well, yeah.” Elizabeth gave the little boy a bright smile. “We’re old friends. He’s been coming into Kelly’s his whole life.” She sat on the bench and Courtney followed suit. “God, he’s gotten so big. It feels like just yesterday he was in his stroller at the garage.”

“Garage?” Courtney echoed.

“Yeah,” Elizabeth replied her eyes on Michael as he continued with his snowballs. “Jason had this bike garage about four years ago and Lucky worked for him then. He lived in an apartment above the place.” She smiled fondly. “Michael was always there—like Jason couldn’t bear to be separated from him.”

“Jason loves him,” Courtney said.

“Yeah,” Elizabeth replied. “Jason’s going to be good father one day.” She chuckled. “If he ever lets himself.”

Courtney frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Jason seems be the anti-happy person,” Elizabeth said. She sighed a little. “He’d rather help everyone in sight before worrying about himself.”

“Well maybe helping people makes him happy,” Courtney said defensively.

Elizabeth frowned. “I’m sure he gets satisfaction from helping people, but what happens once everyone he’s helped is happy…what’s he supposed to do then?”

“He’ll find new people to help.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “That’s no way to live. He’s just going to end up miserable in the long run.”

“Well, he’s not with Brenda anymore, so maybe he’ll find someone who makes him happy,” Courtney said.

“He and Brenda separated?” Elizabeth asked, surprised. “Didn’t they just get married?”

“They thought she was sick,” Courtney explained, sounding a little smug. “Jason told me yesterday that she’d been misdiagnosed.”

“Well, that’s good,” Elizabeth said. “That marriage always seemed a little quick for me, y’know? Because I couldn’t understand how he’d managed to fall in love with Brenda two weeks after we broke up when it took him three years to admit he even wanted to be with me.”

“You two were together?” Courtney asked frowning.

“For like a week,” Elizabeth muttered. “He promised to respect me, listen and be honest with me. And like eight seconds later, he lied to me. Not exactly a solid foundation for a relationship.”

“But it was his job,” Courtney protested. “He couldn’t tell anyone—he couldn’t even tell me.”

Elizabeth frowned. She didn’t like the way that sounded—like Courtney had a right to be trusted with something she wasn’t even trusted with. Hadn’t Elizabeth proved herself far more times than Courtney?

“It wasn’t just his job,” Elizabeth argued. “It’s not like I haven’t kept secrets for him before. The first winter we were friends, he was shot and he recuperated in my studio. I lied to everyone I knew—told them we were sleeping together so they’d leave him alone. And then last year—”

“Were you?” Courtney asked, slightly stricken.

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. Did she have another Sarah on her hands here? “No. I was barely eighteen and he was shot. Of course not.”

“Oh.”

“And then last year,” Elizabeth continued as if Courtney hadn’t spoken, “he came to town and no one could know he was here. He came to me because he knew he could trust me. I lied to everyone again—I lied to Lucky, to Jason’s sister, Emily—but apparently they forgot I could be trusted.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean to do that,” Courtney assured her.

“I’m sure he didn’t. He also let me worry myself sick when I was staying with him—he knew I was staying up, waiting for him to call or come home. But he never did.”

“That’s not his fault. You’re the one who stayed up,” Courtney told her.

Stung, Elizabeth recoiled a little. “Okay—maybe you’re right. But it doesn’t matter now. He’s obviously moved on.”

“Yeah,” Courtney agreed.

Elizabeth frowned. “Has he, really?” she asked quietly. She hadn’t actually meant it—hadn’t expected to have it confirmed.

“Well, sure,” Courtney said. “He’s not sitting around, waiting for you to grace him with your presence.”

Elizabeth bit her lip and looked away. “I didn’t expect him to sit around.”

“Well, what did you expect, after you walked out on him without giving him a chance to explain?” Courtney demanded.

“He told me it was about his job—that it wasn’t about me,” Elizabeth replied softly. “I think he was blocking out the reasons I was even staying with him. Alcazar came after me, too, you know? How could this not involve me?”

“You should have just accepted his apology,” Courtney said, shrugging.

“That’s just it—he never apologized,” Elizabeth replied. She looked at Courtney. “When you say he’s moved on…do you mean…he’s moved on with you?”

“I don’t really think that’s any of your business,” Courtney said. “Michael, come on. I’m going to take you home.”

Michael waved bye to Elizabeth. “Bye, bye, Lizbeth.”

“Bye,” Elizabeth murmured, without looking up.

Courtney and Michael left – leaving Elizabeth sitting alone on a bench as the snow fell around her.

—–

“There’s nothing going on.”

The sound of his voice startled Elizabeth and she twisted around on the bench. “Jason.”

He was looking down at the ground, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his leather jacket, the snow making his spiky hair slightly damp. “I mean that—there’s nothing going on with Courtney.”

She frowned. “What…?” She looked down at her gloved hands. “How long have you been standing there?”

“I was watching Michael,” Jason admitted. “Before Carly even left.”

“Oh…” Elizabeth shifted. “So you heard the whole conversation.”

“Yeah.” He looked up then and met her eyes. “It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you and I’m sorry if it felt that way.” He rolled his shoulders a little. “I’ve always trusted you.”

“I thought after…everything with Zander…that you didn’t,” Elizabeth admitted. “I know I certainly didn’t deserve your trust at times.” She looked away. “I’m sorry for what I said just now…about you being anti-happy…”

He shrugged. “Don’t apologize if you meant it.”

“I just…” Elizabeth stood and faced him. “I just don’t understand you anymore. You run around making sure everyone else is happy—but I don’t see you doing the same thing for yourself.”

Jason looked away then. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Why not?” Elizabeth pressed. “Why doesn’t it matter?”

“Because you’re not there,” Jason stated matter of factly. Elizabeth had forgotten just how brutally honest Jason could be at times.

“Jason.” She folded her arms across her chest and looked away. “Don’t—don’t make me the reason you’re not happy.”

“I wanted to apologize,” he said, ignoring her comment. “I should have handled it differently.”

Elizabeth looked down at the ground. “I shouldn’t have left,” she said softly.

“I never think about what I should have done differently,” Jason said. “I don’t ask what if…I never saw the point.”

“I can’t help it sometimes,” she admitted. “I seem to make so many wrong decisions, all I’m constantly doing is thinking about what I should have done instead.” She looked up and caught his eye. “I don’t want to think about that anymore.”

“I don’t want to, either.” He took a few steps, his long legs rounding the bench so he was standing in front of her. He held out his hand. “Come with me.”

“Where?” she asked, a small smile on her face.

“Anywhere.” He shrugged. “Nowhere. Just as long we’re free.”

It wasn’t fixed yet and it wasn’t perfect. But maybe it wasn’t supposed to be. Maybe the best things in life were slightly flawed and rough at the edges.

She stared at his large hand for a few seconds before placing her small one in his. “I thought you’d never ask.”

I have no idea where this is in GH timeline. I’m assuming it’s it’s in 2002. Song is Two Rivers (Avril Lavigne)

Inspiration &  Timeline

This was set just before Luis Alcazar was murdered in November 2002, but after Jason and Brenda got married. Brenda thought she was ill, and Jason promised to take care of her. Song is Two Rivers by Avril Lavigne. YouTube Video embedded below.


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Jason stands on the docks after Sonny leaves and stares out over the chilly water. Brenda’s not sick.

The three words have changed his entire life. He no longer has to go to Europe to watch her fade away.

He doesn’t have to leave Elizabeth.

Like two rivers flow
to the open sea
Someday we’ll reunite
for all eternity

As if on cue, he hears her voice behind him. “Jason?”

He turns around and looks at her at the top of the stairs. “Elizabeth.”

“I thought you were leaving,” Elizabeth says softly.

“I don’t have to anymore,” Jason replies.

Let the rain falling on your face
Run in to your eyes
Can you see the rainbow now
Through the stormy skies

She comes down the stairs and stands at his side. “What’s changed since this afternoon?” she asks.

“I found out Brenda’s not sick,” Jason answers. “She’s fine—she’s not going to die.”

“That’s great,” Elizabeth says sincerely. She bites her lip. “What does that mean for you?”

“I guess it means we don’t have to be married anymore,” Jason replies. He turns slightly so he’s facing her.

Like two rivers flow
to the open sea
Someday we’ll reunite
for all eternity

“Guess you’re glad about that,” Elizabeth says. She meets his eyes. “Is that all it means?”

He takes a step closer. “Did you mean what you said earlier?” he asks.

“What did I say?” she asks in return, her voice low and breathy.

Like two rivers flow
to the open sea
Someday we’ll reunite
for all eternity

“You said see you later,” Jason clarifies. “Did you say that because it would be a while before that happened…or did you really mean it?”

She gives him a little nervous. “That depends…did you mean what you said?”

“What did I say?” Jason asks.

Standing in the rising tide
Heaven’s light shines on you
On you, on you

“You said I mattered,” Elizabeth whispers. “That I always had. Did you really mean it?”

“Yeah.” He touches her cheek and she closes her eyes. “Can we get past what happened?”

“I really want to,” Elizabeth replies. She opens her eyes and searches his. “I want to be with you—is that still true for you?”

Test the sea rising at your feet
How far can you go
Til you need God’s helping hand
To ride the under-tow

“It’s always been true for me,” Jason replies honestly. “Will you give me a second chance?”

“Will you give me one?” she asks instead. “Because I walked out the first time we had a problem—and I should have—I should have tried harder.”

“I didn’t give you much choice,” Jason says. “I miss you.”

Like two rivers flow
to the open sea
Someday we’ll reunite
for all eternity

“I miss you, too,” Elizabeth replies. She steps closer. “So…are we going to try this again?”

“If that’s what you want,” Jason answers.

She smiles a little. “What do you want, Jason?”

Someday we’ll reunite
for all eternity

“You,” Jason replies. “It’s always been you.”

He leans down and brushes his lips against hers lightly. When he pulls away, her eyes are closed.

“It’s always been you, too,” she whispers.

Someday we’ll reunite
for all eternity

January 30, 2014

Inspiration

This series is a rewrite of the first General Hospital fanfiction I wrote back in 2002 and the majority of the third story, Sweet Revenge, is lifted from my story, Deserving. I honestly can’t speak much to where my inspiration came from other than a desire to write something. I had watched GH off and on through high school, but in the summer of 2002, I was recovering from foot surgery and stuck in the house. I rediscovered my love for General Hospital and though I’ve walked away more than once, I’ve always gone back.

I don’t care much for this story, which is why I never finished my plans for it — it involved Emily returning to the fall out of events of Sweet Revenge and whatnot, but eh. It’s not that great, and I have no desire to deal with it, though I’ve always wanted to go back to summer 2002 😛

Timeline

This is set in August 2002, before we knew why Brenda was back in town, before the warehouse explosion that took Kristina (Alexis’s sister)’s life, but after Elizabeth slept with Zander. Things to remember about that period of time: Felicia was dating Roy DiLucca (yeah, I didn’t understand it either), and Skye had signed a contract with Edward to bankrupt Jax because she thought he cheated on her. Additionally, the story reflects the fact that I used to be a huge Courtney/AJ fan, mostly because I hearted the crap out of Billy Warlock’s AJ and wanted him to have whatever he wanted.

Graveyard Status

Beyond a general decision to rewrite it, I don’t really know what I’ll be doing with it yet. I don’t know which elements will be saved, what will get jettisoned. So just stay tuned.


Characters

Luis Alcazar

Chapters