May 1, 2014

Timeline

This takes place in 2010, but it’s part of the Hand Me Down universe, so you should read If I Don’t Try With You first. I haven’t really worked on the HMD universe in a long time, but it begins after Michael’s shooting. Michael ended up dying, and Sonny died after going after Johnny. Jason and Elizabeth stayed together. That’s basically what you need to know.

Inspiration

This was definitely inspired by a challenge to write about a GH holiday with some fluff, but I only know that because of the topic of the story and the fact that I found the OG file in my Challenge response folder on my computer when I brought back the site in 2014.

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July 4, 2010

The annual Fourth of July picnic was one of the few days of the year when the citizens of Port Charles gathered and managed to remain civil to one another for at least three hours. That particular record had been set by the Quartermaines themselves in the early nineties. They had been within fifteen minutes of three and a half hours, but Edward had blustered about something that Alan had taken offense to and somehow, the mayor had ended up with mashed potatoes in his hair.

Each year, the celebration had grown in attendance until one couldn’t go to the park on that day and not tread over a picnic blanket, a table or in the case of more well-to-do residents – an entire tent.

On this particular day, the tent in question belonged to Jason Morgan. He was there with his wife, their two boys and their newborn daughter, Juliet. He had invited his best friend Carly, her husband Jax and their two children. It was a bittersweet celebration as neither Jason nor Carly were completely adjusted to spending this holiday without Carly’s ex-husband Sonny Corinthos and son Michael. Both had died just two years earlier.

They had endeavored to move on with their lives and both had done so with the birth of subsequent children. Each had solid marriages to their spouses and if life wasn’t exactly perfect, it was as close as either of them had ever been.

Despite the shade the tent offered, the day was steaming hot and sweat dripped from Jason’s adopted six-year-old son Cameron’s face. Cam had been chasing Carly’s son Morgan in a circle and both were red-faced and panting from the heat.

His wife, Elizabeth, bit down on her lower lip. “Maybe I should take them back to the car. Sit in the air conditioning for a while.” She adjusted her two month old daughter in the portable crib that had been set up and studied Cameron and their three-year-old Jake, who didn’t look much cooler. “It’s hotter than it was supposed to be.”

Carly gripped the front of her sweat-soaked cherry red tank top and pulled it away from her chest. “Well, it is summer,” she said with a smirk. “I’d be surprised if it was chilly.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Anyway,” she said, directing her remarks to Jason. “Maybe we should feed the kids and take them home. We can bring them back for the fireworks.”

“No!” Cameron argued. He shook his head. “I want to stay!”

“It’s too hot out here.” Elizabeth reached for a napkin, dipped it into a glass of iced water and started to wipe down her son’s face. Cameron squirmed.

“Come on, Mom!” he complained, twisting away. “I’m not a baby!”

“Which is why I didn’t spit on it first.” She sighed and released him. “Fine. Go. Run. Get heatstroke.”

“Thanks, Mom!” Cameron immediately tagged Morgan. “You’re it!” he crowed and took off.

“I’m taking Jules back to the car,” Elizabeth told Jason. She reached down and picked up the infant. “I can take Cece if you want.”

Carly glanced over to her fourteen month old daughter who was chattering away to her daddy about a ladybug she’d seen crawling on her arm. “I think she’s okay for now. I’ll make sure the boys don’t keel over from too much sun.” She glanced over at them and narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me. My kid is wandering too close to the Quartermaine tent. Nothing good comes from that.” She made a quick exit to grab head off Cameron and Morgan.

“We can all go back to the house,” Jason offered. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean, I’m okay, but if you think the kids are going to get too sick—”

“No, no,” Elizabeth shook her head. She smiled. “It’s the first year we’ve all been together as a family. Last year Carly and Jax were visiting Lady Jane, and I know Cam’s having a good time with Morgan.” She brushed her hand over Juliet’s almost existent fluff of blonde hair. “I just don’t think it’s good for Jules.”

“I wasn’t able to stop Edward from coming over to see his great-grandchildren,” Carly huffed, hauling both boys back, a hand wrapped around each one of their arms. “What did we say about wandering away from the tent?” she demanded.

“To stay away from Robin Drake,” Morgan said with an impish smile.

“And the Zacchara tent,” Cameron added dutifully. He grinned, revealing his dimples.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not what I said,” Carly muttered.

“And I’m almost positive that I said not to leave the immediate area,” Elizabeth said, arching an eyebrow. “Isn’t that right?”

“Possibly,” Morgan nodded. “But Cam was gonna tackle me and the last time he did that, I ate dirt.” He shook his head. “So not interested in repeating that experience, Aunt Liz. I think you can get what I’m saying.”

“I can get that you didn’t follow my instructions or your mother’s,” Elizabeth remarked. She grinned. “Because I’m pretty sure we both said to stay away from the Quartermaine tent.”

“That is…” Cameron paused. “Entirely possible.”

“Mayday,” Carly hissed to Elizabeth. “Incoming. Quartermaine at ten o’clock.”

“You think if I hide Jake under the table, he won’t notice him?” Elizabeth asked. “The last time we took the kids over, Edward was trying to convince us it was time for Cam to go away to boarding school.”

“I told you visiting Edward was a mistake,” Jason shook his head. “But you insisted.”

“To be fair, I took them to see Monica,” Elizabeth reminded him. She pasted a smile on her face as Jason’s grandfather joined them. “Mr. Quartermaine,” she greed politely.

Edward rubbed his hands together, looking uncharacteristically harmless in a pair of khakis and a polo shirt. Elizabeth wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen him out of a suit. “Now, now, my dear, I’ve told you to call me Edward.” He smiled charmingly. “Or Grandfather.”

“Right, Mr. Quartermaine,” Elizabeth nodded. She turned to Jason. “I think I should take the kids to the car for the air conditioning. They need a break from the heat.”

“Oh, but I’ve just arrived.” Edward leaned closer trying to get a closer look at Juliet. “And I’ve hardly had time to meet my great-granddaughter.”

“Will you try to enroll her in college before she can walk?” Jason asked, a little resigned.

“It’s never too early to plan for the future,” Edward advised firmly. “If you have a firm idea now, you will be able to execute it without a flaw later. It’s solid parenting advice that Lila and I followed for our children and it worked. Alan was a splendid doctor and Tracy is well…” he paused. “She had great potential at one time. I can’t quite fathom her marital choices, but she’s not bad at business.”

Elizabeth glanced at her husband, looking for some direction. Jason just shrugged. When it came to Edward, it was best to let him have his say and avoid conflict. “That’s very nice advice, Mr. Quartermaine,” she said. “Jason and I appreciate it.”

“Don’t patronize me, young lady,” Edward said sternly. “It’s not my fault that they were both incapable of raising their own children. Lila and I did a fine job but our entire crop of grandchildren was worthless. Except for Emily, of course. She was a fine girl who is still missed greatly.”

“Of course,” Elizabeth replied, softening. She held out her daughter. “Would you like to hold Juliet for a moment? It’s a bit warm out here for her so I’m going to take her into some air for a while, but I’m sure she’d like to meet her great-grandfather first.”

Edward’s eyes lit up as she placed the infant in his arms. “That’s very kind of you, my dear.” He cradled Juliet in his embrace and smiled down at her. “I was very pleased when Monica told me Jason was marrying you, you know.”

Jason shook his head, knowing that Elizabeth was a lost cause now. She’d insist Edward have regular visits from now on, she’d feel obligated to both the old man and his sister. His wife had always been a soft touch.

“You were always so good to Emily,” Edward continued, “and you had such a good work ethic and a strong moral compass. You are the exactly the right woman for my grandson and for the mother of his children. He is very lucky you chose him.”

He handed the baby back to her. “You get that child out of the sun,” he cautioned. He looked to Jason. “You have a very nice family. Don’t screw it up.”

Edward ambled back over to his tent where Monica and Tracy were arguing, Dillon was attempting to hide behind Alice and Ned was ignoring everyone and speaking to his daughter, Brook Lynn. Another day at the Quartermaines.

“I give them five minutes before Tracy throws water in her face,” Carly nodded.

“Ten before the ribs goes flying,” Elizabeth replied.

“I doubt they’ll hold out that long,” Jax joined them. “I can see Monica eyeing up the hot dogs.”

“You’re all wrong,” Jason surprised them by speaking up. “Tracy’s hand is inching towards the chicken wings.”

Sure enough, a moment later, Tracy flung the first chicken wing at her sister-in-law. Monica retaliated with a hot dog and Dillon ducked in the picnic table entirely to avoid the ribs that flew a moment later.

“They’re going to need that water,” Carly remarked. “To cool down and to clean up.”

Elizabeth laughed and reached up to kiss Jason’s cheek. “I think I can take Jules back to the car now. I’m glad I didn’t miss the annual food fight. It’s just not the Fourth of July without it.”

April 12, 2014

In 2003, the ABC writers decided to let fans play with the storylines. That’s all I remember about the idea for this story. I think I decided to switch roles or just…I don’t know…go insane, because there’s a Sonny/Skye pairing in here that makes no damn sense to me, but eh, such is life. I can’t really explain what this is about.

Segment One: Scene One

Jason Morgan stands at the window and looks out over the harbor. His hands are in the pockets of his black dress pants and his expression is thoughtful, bordering on the distracted.

He hears a sound behind him and glances towards it. He allows a small smile to cross his face as his wife slides an arm around his waist and leans into his side. “You know you’re overreacting,” she murmurs. Her other hand traces the lines of his abdomen through his black button down shirt.

He wraps an arm around her shoulders and shakes his head. “Maybe,” he allows. “But it doesn’t change anything.”

She sighs and tilts her head up to look at him. “He’s your best friend, Jason. And she’s your sister. You don’t want them happy?”

“It’s not that,” Jason denies. “It’s–” he stops and shakes his head. “I can’t explain it. You’ll just have to trust me.”

She shakes her head and pulls away from him, wrapping her arms around her upper body. “How would you like it if my brother had said it to you?” she asks softly. She stares out the window. “Would you have listened?”

“You don’t have a brother,” Jason reminds her. She rolls her eyes.

“Don’t be so literal,” she snaps. Her blue eyes meet his. “Do you know how many people told me that you were too dangerous, that you would only hurt me?”

Jason closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Elizabeth, please don’t.”

“I lost count of people warning me about you,” Elizabeth continues. “And I didn’t list to one of them. Because nobody tells me how to live and who to love.”

“You don’t get it–”

“No. You’re right. I don’t,” Elizabeth replies. She shakes her head again and heads for the doorway. “I’m going out.”

“Wait.” Jason turns and watches her pull her coat and flip her hair over the black collar. “Elizabeth”

Elizabeth bites her lip and looks away, pulling the lapels of her jacket tight around her. “I love you, Jason. I am always going to love you. But right now–I don’t like you very much.”

She pulls the door open and it clicks softly shut behind her, but the sound is like a gunshot in the suddenly empty and cold penthouse.

Segment One: Scene Two

Skye Chandler paces the docks nervously, her eyes darting to the left set of the stairs and when finding them empty, she turned her attention to the right set. Where was he?

It’d been a hellish few days. Since her brother had found out about her relationship with his enforcer, he’d been giving her the silent treatment. Elizabeth had been sympathetic and promised to talk to Jason, but their marriage was troubled enough these days, Skye knew that. She didn’t want to add to the trouble.

Not to mention that she was almost positive she was about to get her heart broken. She knew her brotherknew him almost better than he knew himself. And Jason had double standards. It was fine and dandy for him to have Elizabeth in his life, but the second Sonny wanted someone for himself, problems came up.

Okay, that wasn’t being fair to Jason. After all, Sonny wasn’t involved with just anyone. He was involved with the boss’s sister. A major no-no. She knew in other organizations, men could be shot for less. If anything, Sonny was extremely lucky to still be breathing, but it didn’t make it any easier to accept.

She hears footsteps behind her and turns to face Sonny Corinthos as he comes down the stairs.

He stops a few feet from her. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She hates the way her voice sounds. Low and breathy with just a hint of tears. “Did-did you talk to Jason?”

Sonny exhales slowly and looks away. “Yeah. I did.”

“Oh.” Skye looks away. “It didn’t go well, I guess.”

“No.” Sonny chuckles a little, bitterly. “No, it didn’t at all.”

She blinks away the sudden tears. “What happened?” she asks softly. She knows how difficult it was for Sonny to even go against Jason in the slightest.

“He’s right,” Sonny says suddenly. “You don’t belong with me. You’d be better off with someone else.”

“No,” Skye says firmly. She shakes her head. “No,” she repeats. “That’s not true and even if it were, it is not your decision to make. It is not my brother’s either. It ismy decision.” She takes a deep breath and meets Sonny’s eyes. “Now, if you want to end this because your feelings have changed, if you don’t love me anymore, that’s fine. But do not hide behind your job or my brother.”

“Skye,” Sonny begins. “You know how much I love you.” He steps towards her and touches her face. She closes her eyes and leans into his touch. She jerks her eyes open when he pulls away abruptly. “But it’s over.”

Skye glared at him. She took a step back. “Fine,” she said in a short, clipped tone. “If that’s what you want.” She stares at him for a beat before turning on her heel and stalking away.

Sonny stares after her as she walks up the stairs and turns a corner, walking out of his life.

Segment One: Scene Three

Emily Quartermaine-Smith sips her hot chocolate and eyes her sister-in-law across the table at Kelly’s.

Elizabeth keeps her eyes trained on the wooden grain of the table, but she can feel her friend’s eyes on her.

“You need to talk to him,” Emily says finally.

Elizabeth shrugs and looks away. “I try,” she replies. “But he doesn’t listen to me anymore.”

“He loves you.”

“And I love him,” Elizabeth says. She twists her small gold wedding band around her finger. “But it doesn’t seem to be enough anymore.” She takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders and looks up. “How are you feeling?”

Emily smiles, absently rubbing her growing tummy. “I’m feeling great right now,” she replies. “Zander is being over protective as always. I was lucky he even let me come here alone.”

“I can’t believe you’ll be a mother in three months,” Elizabeth mused. “I’m so excited for you.”

“You’ll do a mural for the nursery, right?” Emily asked.

“Sure,” Elizabeth agreed, her eyes sparkling at the opportunity to do some painting. “I’ll start some sketches and–”

“When was the last time you painted?” Emily cut in. Elizabeth sighed and looked away.

“Em–can we just not talk about this anymore?” she asks. “Let’s just accept that I’m miserable, okay?”

“Why?” Emily presses. “You have exactly what you always wanted. You’re married to Jason, the person you told me you couldn’t live without. You told me that you loved him more than anyone else in your life and that as long as you were with him, you would be happy.”

“I was young and I was nave,” Elizabeth replies bitterly. Her eyes are distant and cold. “He’s shut me out. He doesn’t talk to me anymore. He tells me to trust him–that as long as I trust him, he doesn’t need to explain the things he does.”

“Is this about his job?” Emily asks hesitantly.

“No. This has nothing to do with the way he’s chosen to live his life. It has to do with the way Jason treats me. Like I’m a fragile doll that needs to be set on a shelf. Never played with, never touched. Just there for show.”

Segment One: Scene Four

Carly Quartermaine enters the kitchen of their cottage and stops just inside the room as she observes her husband and their six-year-old son eating breakfast. AJ is reading the newspaper and is in the process of explaining the finer points of the Dilbert comic strip to Michael.

Michael is giggling, his round face messy from eating scrambled eggs dipped in ketchup. She smiles softly and wonders how they managed to get to this place in their lives.

AJ glances up and catches her eye. “Hey.”

Michael looks up and grins. “Mommy!”

“Hey,” Carly greets them. She crosses the room and leans over to kiss Michael on the forehead. She wipes his face with a napkin and tousles his red hair. She moves to kiss her husband good morning but AJ surprises her by wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his lap.

“Morning,” he says quietly, smiling at her.

His smile is infectious and she can her own spreading across her face. “Morning,” she repeats softly. She leans forward and brushes her lips across his.

“Ewww…Mommy and Daddy are kissing!” Michael squeals. Carly breaks away and laughs.

“That’s because I love Mommy,” AJ explained to Michael. “You’ll find out what that means when you meet a girl as great as her.”

“Ick, girls suck,” Michael said grimacing. He pushes his chair away from the table and starts to run towards the living room. “I’m watchin’ Scooby Doo!” he calls back to them.

Carly wraps her arms around AJ’s neck. “So what are your plans for today?”

“Other than watching a large cartoon dog?” AJ asks, grinning. “I’ve got to go into work for a few hours. After that?” he shrugs.

“I’ve got something to tell you,” Carly says hesitantly. She searches his eyes for a second.

“What is it?” AJ asks, curiously. He tightens his hands at her waist.

Carly bites her lip, trying to contain her smile. “It’s good news,” she tells him. “Really good news.”

“Well, tell me,” AJ urges.

“I’m pregnant!” she announces gleefully.

Segment Two: Scene One

Skye stalks into the penthouse to find her brother standing at the window. “Are you happy?” she demands harshly.

Jason sighs and shakes his head without turning in her direction. “I don’t want you to be unhappy.”

She laughs bitterly. “You could have fooled me. You’ve got a great lapdog in Sonny, I hope you know that.”

His shoulders slump and he sighs. Against her better judgment, Skye comes closer to him. Her voice is a little softer when she speaks. “Where’s Elizabeth?”

“She went out,” Jason replies. He turns then and meets his sister’s eyes. “She’s not happy about this.”

“Please. She hasn’t been happy in a long time,” Skye replies stiffly.

“Yeah. I know that.” Jason shakes his head again. “Do you love him, Skye?”

“More than anything in this world,” Skye replies quietly. “Make me understand, Jason. Why is it not okay for me and Sonny?”

He pulls out a chair and motions for her to sit. Skye does so and he takes a seat across from her.

“We’ve been taking care of each other for a long time,” Jason begins, clasping his hands and keeping his eyes trained on them. “You’ve seen me through a lot of bad times and I like to think I’ve been good to you.”

“You have,” Skye assures him. She reaches across the table and covers his hands with one of her own. “You’ve done everything in the world possible to make sure I have everything I want. That’s why I don’t understand.”

“You helped me to see that I loved Elizabeth and that I needed her. She’s in my life because you wouldn’t let me kick her out. I don’t know if I ever told you, but–”

“Jason, I know of all of this,” Skye cuts in.

“These last few months…things have changed around here,” Jason continues. “Ever since Alcazar–”

“You’ve been shut inside yourself, I know,” Skye replies. “Elizabeth knows it, too.”

“And I haven’t been treating Sonny like the brother he’s always been,” Jason tells her. “Skye, the reason I am opposed to the two of you together…it’s a selfish one. It’s irrational and it’s not fair to you. Either of you.”

“Then tell me,” Skye pleaded. “Tell me and we’ll fix it.”

Segment Two: Scene Two

Sonny sits in Jake’s, sipping a beer and staring into space. He hears footsteps behind him and turns.

Elizabeth Morgan is standing there, her hands deep in her pockets. “Hey,” she greets him.

“Liz,” Sonny states. She slides onto the stool next to him and orders a beer. “Are you here to give me the lecture?”

“No,” Elizabeth replies. She sips her beer and sighs. “I’m here to commiserate. I think Skye’s at the penthouse pleading your case again.”

Sonny shakes his head. “I don’t think it’s going to work.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Elizabeth says. “If anyone can change his mind, it’s Skye. He loves her.”

“After everything I’ve done–” Sonny sighs.

“This has been hard on Jason,” Elizabeth says, trying to defend her husband. “He–”

“Save it, Liz,” Sonny cut in. “He got what he wanted. I broke up with Skye and now she hates me. So why don’t you go home to your happy life and leave me the hell alone?”

Stung, Elizabeth pulls out a few bills and lays them on the counter. She stands, and hesitates for a moment before turning around and walking away.

Segment Two: Scene Three

Emily enters her apartment and smiles when she sees the door to the guest room. She can see Zander making a vain attempt to put the crib together.

“Hey you,” she says, grinning. “How goes it?”

“Damn thing sucks,” Zander grumbles, consulting the instructions again. “They say Leg B goes into Slot C and I’ll be damned if I can get it anywhere near Slot C.”

She giggles. “I could always call AJ,” she offers.

Zander snorts. “AJ wouldn’t know a crib from a table. He wasn’t around when Michael was born.”

“AJ’s always been good at putting things together,” Emily replies. She sighs. “I could call Jason.”

“No, no. I’ll get this figured out if it kills me,” he replies. He stands and crosses to her, kissing her cheek. “How was breakfast with Liz?”

“It was fine. She’s going to do the mural for the nursery.” Emily hesitates, her hand making slow circles around her abdomen.

“That’s great. You know, the last few times I’ve stopped by the gallery, her wall is kind of bare.”

“Yeah, she hasn’t been painting a lot lately,” Emily tells him. “It’s too bad. Pretty much everything else is going well. She’s got this great art gallery, she’s going to be an aunt–” Emily stops. “Okay, so those are really the only things going well.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Zander asks.

“Nothing substantial, I don’t think. I think it’s just this whole Skye and Sonny thing,” Emily replies. “I think it’s wearing on Jason and in turn, not helping Elizabeth. I’m going to try and keep her mind off it.”

Zander leans forward and brushes a kiss on her nose. “You’re such good friend. That’s why I love you.”

Emily raises her eyebrows. “That’s the only reason?” she asks.

He grins. “Okay. So it’s not the only reason.”

Segment Two: Scene Four

AJ grins. “You’re pregnant?” he repeats. “Seriously?”

Carly nods, excitedly. “Completely and totally serious.” She laughs as AJ pulls them both to their feet and spins her in a circle

Michael, hearing the commotion, runs into the kitchen and starts jumping up and down, excited. “What’s going on?” he asks, happily.

“You’re going to have a little brother or sister!” AJ announces swooping Michael up into his arms and hugging him.

Michael’s face creases. “This is good news?” he asks.

Carly tousles Michael’s hair. “This is extremely good news,” she tells her son.

Michael shakes his head. “Uh uh. I’m the baby,” he states clearly.

“No, you’re a big boy,” AJ corrects.

“No, I’m the baby.”

“Big boy.”

“Baby.”

“Big boy.”

Michael squirms out of his father’s hold and takes off down the hall towards the stairs, screaming. “I don’t want another baby!”

Carly looks at AJ, stricken. “What are we going to do?” she asks.

AJ sighs and presses a kiss to Carly’s forehead before heading towards the stairs. “I’ll talk to him,” he promises.

Segment Three: Scene One

Jason sighs and looks away. “I’ve seen what living this life has done to Elizabeth,” he tells his sister. “I know that you’ve grown up with it and that you can handle it,” he assures Skye before she can rip into him. “But it’s one thing to be my sister and another to be with Sonny.”

“I don’t understand,” Skye replies. “Jason–”

“In the past three years that we’ve been married, Elizabeth has become withdrawn and quiet. I know you see it.”

“Yeah,” Skye admits. “But I’m not Elizabeth and Sonny isn’t you. We’re not like you. We don’t hide from our problems. We scream and yell at each other until we’re done. We don’t pretend everything’s great.”

“Is that what you think Elizabeth and I do?” Jason asks, stung.

“Jase, you and Elizabeth are the masters of hiding behind walls and that’s what you’ve been doing since the day you got married.” Skye sighs and pushes her hair behind her shoulders. “She’s terrified of losing you and you’re terrified she’ll leave you. So you both have erected these high walls to keep the other out and neither of you can see it’s killing the other person.”

Jason sits back and stares ahead. “Maybe you’re right.”

“I know I’m right.” She shifts in her seat. “Is that why you don’t want me with Sonny? Because you think what’s happened to Elizabeth will happen to me?”

“I just don’t want to see someone else I love destroyed by this life.”

“You haven’t destroyed Elizabeth,” Skye says firmly. “She loves you. She wants nothing more than to be with you. You just have to let her, Jason.”

“I want you to be happy,” Jason tells his sister. “And I know you’re going to do what you want anyway.”

“So, me and Sonny?” Skye asks, hopefully.

“If that’s what you want,” Jason replies. “I can talk to Sonny about it.”

Skye throws her arms around her brother and hugs him fiercely. “It means so much to me that you approve,” she says softly.

Jason hugs her back. “And I’m glad you found someone who can make you happy.”

Skye pulls away and studies him. “Are you going to talk to Elizabeth about this?”

Segment Three: Scene Two

Elizabeth sits on the bench at Vista Point and pulls her knees into her chest. When did her life get soout of control? It seemed like just yesterday she’d been happy. She closes her eyes and sighs.

When winter comes in summer
When there’s no more forever
That’s when I’ll stop loving you

“I love you,” Elizabeth whispers, touching Jason’s face. He stares at her for a moment, swallows hard and gives her tremulous smile.

“I love you, too,” he replies.

That’s when I’ll stop loving you
I’m sure you’ve heard these words before
And I know it’s hard for you to trust them once more
You’re afraid it all might end

“Oh, you two are ridiculous,” Skye says, rolling her eyes. She puts her hands on her hips and glares at the two of them who’d just come in from a ride. “It’s so obvious!”

Elizabeth frowns. “I’m sorry–you’ve lost me.”

“You’re in love with each other. Now stop making the rest of us sick and get it over with,” Skye replies, waving her hands. She pushes past them and walks out of the penthouse.

In a broken heart it’s scared of breaking again
Cause you gotta believe me
I’ll never leave you
You’ll never cry as long as I’m am there
And I will always be there
You will never be without, no

Elizabeth folds her arms across her chest and takes a deep breath. “Okay.”

“Okay, what?” Jason asks, amused.

“Okay–kiss me,” she tells him.

“Kiss you,” he repeats slowly. He frowns. “Are you sure?”

“Jason,” Elizabeth says rolling her eyes. “Don’t be so difficult. If I wasn’t sure, then I–”

He grasps her elbows and pulls her toward him to kiss her.

When winter comes in summer
When there’s no more forever
When lies become the truth
Well you’ll know then baby
That’s when I’ll stop loving
That’s when I’ll stop loving you

She opens the velvet box and her eyes dart up to meet his. “Jason. You–this is–” She takes a deep breath. “Oh…wow…”

He takes the box from her and pulls out a small gold ring with an average-sized diamond in it. “I love you,” he tells her. “More than I thought I could ever love anyone. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He swallows hard. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she says the second he’s finished speaking. “Yes, yes, yes–” She stops abruptly and kisses him hard.

That’s when I’ll stop loving you, yeah
As long as sunlight lights the sky
The light of love will be found in these eyes of mine
(These eyes of mine)
And I will shine that light for you
You’re the only one I’ll ever give this heart to
What I’m trying to say is nothing will change this
Loving on time you will find there
Cause I will always be there
You will always have all my love

“I, Elizabeth Webber, take you, Jason Morgan, to be my lawfully wedded husband,” she says in a trembling voice. “To love and to cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, forsaking all others, all the days of my life.”

Jason clears his throat and stares into her glossy sapphire eyes. “I, Jason Morgan, take you, Elizabeth Webber, to be my lawfully wedded wife. To love and to cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and in healthy, for richer and for poorer, forsaking all others, all the days of my life.”

When winter comes in summer
When there’s no more forever
When lies become the truth
Well you’ll know then baby
That’s when I’ll stop loving
That’s when I’ll stop loving you

Segment Three: Scene Three

Emily twirls the phone cord around her fingers. “Yes, Mom,” she replies. “Uh huh. Yeah. I’ve been going to–right, Mom. Okay–definitely–I’m eating well–tell Grandfather over my dead body. Right. Okay. Bye–Okay, yeah. Right. Bye.” She hangs it up and leans back to let out a loud frustrated groan. “What is it with my family?” she asks.

Zander enters the room with a plate of salad. He hands it to his wife, before taking a seat next to her. “What’s wrong?” he asks.

Emily sighs. “Well, Mom wanted to know if I was seeing a doctor and to let me know that any time I wanted to come home I could.”

Zander frowns. “They do realize that we’re married, right?”

“I sure hope so. Who paid for the wedding otherwise?” Emily asks. “Not to mention that Grandfather is pushing for me to drop the Smith entirely so that the baby will be the Quartermaine heir.”

“What happened to Michael?” Zander asks.

Emily shrugs. “I think AJ finally made them realize he’s a grown man and will do whatever he pleases with his children. Including keeping Michael away from Grandfather.”

“How long do you think it will be before they realize you have that right, too?” Zander asks.

“A good ten years,” she says dryly. She gasps suddenly. “Oh!”

“What’s wrong?” he asks, leaning forward. He studies her. “Em?”

“The baby kicked,” she breathes. She takes one of his hands and presses it against her abdomen. “Can you feel it?”

Zander waits and then a grin breaks out on his face. “Oh my God. I can feel it! We’ve got one hell of a soccer player here!”

“Oh my God, I’m so excited!” Emily squeals. “The baby is kicking!”

He brings his other hand up to brush hair away from her face. “I love you,” he murmurs, leaning in for a kiss.

Segment Three: Scene Four

AJ pushes Michael’s bedroom open. “Hey, buddy,” he murmurs, taking in the sight of his small son sitting on his bed, his arms tightly crossed and his mouth set in a firm scowl.

“Go away.”

AJ sits next to him and is amused when Michael moves down the bed. He certainly had Carly’s stubborn streak.

“You know how much I love you,” AJ begins. “Your mother and I both love you.”

“Then what do you need another baby for?” Michael demands gruffly. Or as gruff as a six-year-old could be.

“Because your mother and I love each other. And we want more children,” AJ tries to explain. “We aren’t trying to replace you with another baby.”

“I’m the baby,” Michael tells him, seriously.

“You’re a big boy,” AJ corrected him. “Big boys get to go to the park and swing on the swings. Big boys get to go to work with me and help Mommy cook.”

Michael eyes him. “And big boys get to visit Uncle Jason?” he asks hopefully.

AJ tries to control his instinct to scowl. “Sure. But babies don’t get to do those things. Babies have to sleep in cribs and lay around all day. They can’t watch television or walk around.”

Michael’s noses wrinkles up. “Being a baby sucks.”

“Well, it doesn’t suck,” AJ says, grinning. “It’s just not a lot of fun. Besides, you get to be a big brother.”

“What does a big brother do?” Michael asks, intrigued.

“Well, a big brother looks out for their little brother or sister. They take care of them, make sure no one else messes with them.”

“Can I order them around?” Michael asks eagerly.

AJ grins. “Within reason, I guess. Hell, what’s the fun of having siblings if you can’t mess with them a little.” He reaches over and tousles Michael’s hair. “So, you read to go back downstairs and congratulate your mother?”

Michael heaves a big sigh. “Yeah. I guess.”

Segment Four: Scene One

Elizabeth opens the door to the penthouse to find Jason still in the same place as when she’d left. She closes the door quietly and clears her throat.

He turns and a look of relief crosses his face. “Elizabeth.”

“We need to talk,” she says softly. She makes no move to cross to him and he stays where he is. “We can’t go on like this.”

“I know,” he admits. “I talked to Skye earlier. I gave her my blessing.”

“You did?” she asks, surprised. “But I thought you–”

“It comes to mind that I was doing it for the wrong reasons,” he replies. “I wasn’t happy about it because I didn’t want Skye hurt. And even though I knew Sonny would cut off his right hand before he hurt her–I didn’t want them to be like us.”

“Us,” Elizabeth repeats.

Jason shoves his hands in pockets and sighs. “We’ve been walking around here these past few monthsthe last year or so especiallylike strangers. And I hate it.”

“I hate it, too,” Elizabeth tells him.

He holds his hand out to her and she crosses the room to take it. The second her hand is in his, he pulls her to him and wraps his arms around her. She slides her arms around his waist and looks up at him.

“I love you,” he says. “But I still think you’re going to see me for who I am–and your face will change and you’ll leave.”

“Don’t you get it?” she asks. “I love you, Jason. I’m not leaving. Ever. I know who you are and I love you. I know what you do…my face isn’t going to change,” she swears.

“I know that most of the time. But–” he stops and shrugs a little. “Sometimes I think about it. And I think about what my life would be like if you did…leave.”

“When you walk out that door,” she begins in a quiet voice, “some days, I am so terrified that you won’t come back. I try not to show it because I want to be better than that, I want to be the strong wife that you need, but some days it’s worse than others and I can’t…I can’t deal with the idea.”

He rests his forehead against hers and sighs. “We’re a mess,” he murmurs. “Skye was right. We’re both so scared the other is going to leave….that we’re not even seeing what our fears are doing to the other person.”

“I don’t want to be like that anymore,” she tells him, closing her eyes. “I don’t want to be scared that you’re going to leave and I don’t want you to think that there’s ever a day that’s going to come when I’m not going to love you and that I’m not going to be here.”

“I guess we’re just going to have to trust each other.” He moves his face and presses it into her soft brown curls.

“I can do that,” she replies, tightening her arms. “How about you?”

“I can try.”

Segment Four: Scene Two

Skye takes a deep breath and knocks on Sonny’s door at Jake’s briskly. She waits a few minutes, hearing some shuffling noises from inside. When it becomes apparent that he isn’t going to answer, she pushes the door open.

Sonny is slumped in a chair, a beer bottle in his hand. He frowns. “Skye.”

She enters the room and closes the door behind her. “Sonny.”

He takes a sip of the beer. “What’re you doing here?” he asks bluntly.

“I talked to my brother,” Skye replies. “And I know why he was against us.”

Sonny shakes his head. “I know why. Because I’m nothing but a killer–”

“No!” Skye stalks towards him and takes the bottle from him. “That’s not it, and you’re not a killer!”

“We’ve had this discussion,” Sonny says, sighing. “You know what I do for your brother–”

“Yes, I know that!” Skye snaps. “But to say that you are nothing but one is just ridiculous. I would never have fallen in love with you otherwise!”

“Skye, the point is–”

“The point is that Jason never had a problem with you!” Skye retorts. He stares at her for a second.

“Then what?”

Skye sighs and sits down on the bed. “It’s no secret that Jason and Elizabeth haven’t been…wellthat they’ve been having problems these last few months.”

“Yeah” Sonny sighs. “I saw her, today. Snapped at her pretty badly.”

“I think it hit an all-time low today. She walked out of the penthouse and I know Jason was worried she wouldn’t come back. See, he’s always been worried that she’s going to leave him. So scared he’ll lose her…he shut her out. And Elizabeth has been withdrawn and quiet…she shut him out, too.”

“What does that have to do with us?” Sonny demands. “Was he taking his frustrations out on us?”

“No directly. He was worried about me,” Skye confides. “Worried that what happened to Elizabeth–would happen to me.”

“That’s stupid,” Sonny cuts in. “I’m not Jason and you’re not Liz.”

Skye sighs. “I know. But he was worried about me. I talked to him about it–and it’s done. He’s finished with it. He’s going to talk to Liz.” Skye stands. “And he’s stopped objecting to our relationship.”

Sonny eyes her warily. “Are you sure?”

Skye nods. “He wants me to be happy.” She smiles tremulously. “And you make me happy.”

Sonny stands and crosses her to her. “I know you were disappointed when I chose to end our relationship instead of losing my job–”

“I was,” Skye interrupts. “But I understood. Jason’s not just a job to you. He’s your best friend.” She takes his hands in hers. “I love you, Sonny. And I don’t want to go through life without you.”

He pulls a hand free and touches her face. “I love you, too,” he tells her softly.

Segment Four: Scene Three

Emily giggles. “Come on. Just give me the ice cream already!”

Zander shakes his head and holds it away from her. “Nope. You’ve had enough.”

“Maybe,” Emily allows. She smiles. “But little Zander, Jr. doesn’t think so.”

He glares at her mockingly. “Not fair, bringing the tyke into this.” He hands the carton back to her.

“You can’t refuse me anything,” Emily teases, digging into the Rocky Road.

Zander studies her for a moment. “Em?”

“Yeah?” Emily asks, her words muffled by the ice cream.

“We haven’t really discussed names,” he says, “but I was wondering…if maybe for a boy, we could” he shrugs. “Peter?” he suggests.

Emily’s eyes soften and she sets the carton down on the coffee table. She touches Zander’s cheek. “I think that would be a great name,” she tells him. “And what about Paige for a girl?”

Zander covers her hand with his own, holding it to his face. “You’ve got it,” he promises, leaning over to kiss his wife.

Segment Four: Scene Four

Carly is sitting on the couch. She stands up quickly hearing her husband and son’s footsteps on the stairs. “Hey,” she says.

“Now, Michael,” AJ says, shoving the boy forward. “Don’t you have something to say to Mommy?”

Michael sighs. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles.

“And?” AJ prompts.

“And I’m happy about the baby.”

Carly kneels in front of him. “You know that this baby could neverever replace you in my heart,” she tells him softly. Michael shrugs and looks away. Carly grips his chin her fingers and forces him to look at her. “You are my first baby, the love of my life.”

“Hey,” AJ grumbles from behind them.

“What if it’s a girl?” Michael asks stubbornly.

“Then you’ll have a big job ahead of you,” Carly says firmly. “Because it’s going to be your job to make sure that she’s safe and happy. That no one hurts her.”

“But you’ll still love me?” he asks, hopefully.

Carly pulls him into a tight embrace. “Nothing could ever change how I feel about you,” she swears. “I love you so much.”

Segment Five

When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark baby
And have a little faith in me
And when the tears you cry
Are all you can believe
Just give these lovin’ arms a try baby
And have a little faith in me

Jason and Elizabeth are sitting on the couch in the penthouse, his arms tightly wrapped around her. She leans against his chest, her eyes closed.

“Maybe we need to move,” she murmurs.

“Move?” he echoes.

“Yeah. We could pretend we’re almost normal. Like with a house or something. With a backyard.” She shifts, snuggling deeper into his embrace. “And a front lawn where we can have a mailbox.”

“A mailbox,” Jason repeats, highly amused.

“Mmm-hmmm…I can plant a garden and the yard would have to be big enough for a swing set.”

Curious, “A swing set?”

She opens her eyes and tilts her head to the side so that she can look at him. “Oh. Right. I didn’t tell you.”

A smile begins to tug at the corners of his mouth. “No, I guess you didn’t.”

“Well…about six months after Emily’s kid is bornhe or she is gonna have a cousin,” Elizabeth reports.

Instead of answering her, he tilts her face further and leans down to kiss her.

Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me

Skye opens her eyes, and rests her chin on Sonny’s chest. “I love you,” she tells him again.

“I love you, too,” Sonny replies. He runs his fingers through her dark red hair. “Marry me,” he says suddenly.

She raises her eyebrows. “Marry you.”

He nods. “See, I love you, you love me-why not?”

“Why not, indeed,” Skye smirks. “That’s the most romantic proposal I’ve ever heard in my life.”

“So I’m not the hearts and flowers type,” Sonny shrugs. “I can deal with it if you can.”

“I suppose if I must,” Skye replies, sighing. “Sure, why not?”

He grins. “That’s the most half-hearted acceptance of a proposal I’ve heard,” he teases.

When your secret heart
Cannot speak so easily
Come here darlin’
From a whisper start
Have a little faith in me When your back’s against the wall
Just turn around, you will see
I will catch you, I will catch your fall
Just have a little faith in me

“Okay, we’ve decided,” Emily declares. “Paige Lila for a girl and Peter Alexander for a boy.”

Zander wrinkles his nose. “Not to be picky, but Lila Paige kind of flows better.”

Emily repeats both names. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Hey, what if we have twins?”

Zander shudders. “Lord, don’t even joke about that. I barely survived one crib!”

Emily grins evilly. “Or triplets.”

“I can’t hear this!” Zander cries, clamping his hands over his ears. “We’re having one kid at a time.”

“Must be nice to think you have a choice,” Emily cracks. “But I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work that way.”

“It will,” he says fiercely. “I just won’t accept anything else.”

Emily rolls her eyes. “Honestly, sometimes you’re such a baby.”

Well, I’ve been loving you for such a long, long time baby
Expecting nothing in return
Just for you to have a little faith in me
You see time, time is our friend
For you and me there is no end
And all you gotta do is have a little faith in me

Carly shuts off Michael’s light and closes the door. “I think that went rather well,” she remarks to AJ as they head for their bed room.

AJ groans. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one that had to explain where babies come from. You’re taking the next kid.”

Carly opens her dresser and pulls out a nightgown. “It wasn’t that bad.”

AJ heads for the bathroom. “Uh huh. So when Michael asked you why boys were different from girls, you didn’t pretend to have morning sickness?”

Carly scowls. “I was not pretending,” she said indignantly. She pulls the nightgown over her head. “I did have morning sickness.”

“Pretty convenient timing,” he teases. He stares at his face in the mirror of the bathroom. “Maybe I should grow a beard.”

“Maybe you can sleep in the guest room.”

AJ digs out his shaving cream. “Too hot for a beard,” he grumbles.

She appears in the doorway and leans against the door jamb. “I love you,” she says. “I just wanted you to know that.”

He sets the shaving cream aside and pulls her into his arms. “I love you, too.”

I said I will hold you up, I will hold you up
Your strength is enough
So have a little faith in me
I said hey baby oh baby
All you gotta do is have a little faith in me
All you gotta do is have a little faith in me

Song: Have A Little Faith In Me by Jewel

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

As I said, I was writing a lot of episode tags back in 2003, so there’s really not a lot of inspiration here.

Timeline

Back in April of 2003, the Ric storyline started to really heat up. Elizabeth was dating him, but literally everyone else knew he was complete trash. Jason had confronted her a few times on the topic of Ric, but she’d brushed him off. Ric kidnapped Courtney, and Jason was trying to find her. He told Elizabeth about what happened to Carly a few months earlier (he took advantage of her drugged state and made them think they’d slept together). This scene happened at the Corinthos penthouse, leaving off with Jason demanding Elizabeth tell him everything about Ric.

Banner

April 23, 2003

Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m not telling you anything.” She glared at Jason and started to stalk towards the door. Jason grabbed her arm and spun her back around.

“If you don’t tell me, he’ll kill Courtney, is that what you want?” Jason demanded.

Elizabeth yanked her arm out of his grasp. “Go to hell,” she spat.

“Wait a second,” Carly cut in. Her brown eyes were panicked. “What about Courtney, where is she?”

“Ric knocked me out and took her,” Jason reported, ignoring Elizabeth’s scoff. “Sonny’s on his way to meet him, but Ric told him he put Courtney somewhere else.” He glared at Elizabeth. “Where would he take her?”

“Why should I believe a word either one of you say?” Elizabeth demanded. “Neither one of you would know the truth if it bit you in the ass.”

Carly took a deep breath. “Elizabeth, I know it’s difficult to believe this right now, but Ric is not the man he obviously led you to believe he was.”

“Stop it!” Elizabeth cried. “Why are you saying these things?”

“Because they’re true,” Jason snapped, impatiently. “Damn it, Elizabeth. You’re smarter than this.”

She whirled around and glared at him. “Don’t you dare presume to tell me what is and what is not true, do you understand me? I don’t believe a damn word you say!”

“I have never lied to you before,” Jason shot back. “So–”

“That’s a load of shit and you know it!” Elizabeth retorted. “You lied to me about Sonny and you lied to me about Courtney, so don’t try and act betrayed when I have a little trouble trusting you.”

Carly rolled her eyes. “Oh, do not tell me you’re still clinging to the idea that Jason was cheating on you. Grow up.”

Elizabeth glared at her. “Yeah? So why don’t you tell me why they were always together, claming to be friends and then poof, they’re sleeping together? Tell me how that one happened.”

“You think I was seeing Courtney behind your back?” Jason sputtered. “When in the hell would I have found time for that?”

Elizabeth’s eyes burned with tears. “I wouldn’t know. I never saw you.” She took a deep breath and looked at Carly. “All right. I’m going to ask you straight out and I want an honest answer. Do you honestly believe that Ric raped you?”

“Yes,” Carly said immediately. “Yes, I do, Elizabeth. I am sorry you got mixed up with–”

Elizabeth held up a hand. “Spare me the apologies. We both know you don’t mean it.” She folded her arms tightly. “Offhand, I can’t think of anywhere he’d take her, but he, ah, probably would have taken her some place that you can’t get to easily, but in plain site. You know, since he hasn’t lived here long.” She frowned and bit her lip. “There’s a construction site down the street from his apartment. Maybe there’s something there.”

“Thank you.” Jason left without another word.

Elizabeth wiped her tears away and turned to Carly. “I’m sorry for calling you a liar, but this isn’t easy for me,” she whispered. She started towards the door.

“Elizabeth, wait.” Carly took a step towards her and ran her hand through her hair, placing her other hand on her hip. “I hope you believe me when I tell you that I am sorry you got mixed with Ric.”

“If what you’re saying is true, then he’s either really good at lying or I’m just a schmuck,” Elizabeth murmured. “You’d think I’d learn to spot a liar by now, but apparently not.”

“Jason didn’t start seeing Courtney until after you left him,” Carly said quickly, not sure why she was telling this girl anything, but feeling the need to make her feel better in some way. She’d been dealt with a harsh dose of reality today and Carly didn’t feel right about her leaving like this.

“He probably didn’t,” Elizabeth allowed. “But I think she factored into why he decided I didn’t exist anymore. I can’t remember the last time we talked without yelling at each other or me blowing up. One day, we were together and the next I wasn’t even a blip on his radar,” she said softly.

“Have you ever tried to talk to him about it?” Carly asked, trying to suppress the sympathy she felt. Elizabeth had walked out on him, after all.

“He doesn’t understand,” Elizabeth said. “He thinks this was because he lied to me, and yeah, that’s part of it. But–” she stopped and shook her head. “I don’t know I’m telling you any of this.”

“Could you stay here?” Carly found herself asking. “Just until I hear from Sonny or Jason. Because I swear, just sitting here by myself is going to drive me up the wall.”

“Why would you want me to stay?” Elizabeth asked, surprised.

“Because the only friend I have this world other than Sonny and Jason has been kidnapped,” Carly remarked dryly. “And you’re about all that’s left.”

Elizabeth sat down and sighed. “Must be nice.”

Carly frowned. “Excuse me?”

“Having friends who’d do anything for you. Having friends to worry about when they’re gone, who worry about you when something’s wrong.”

Carly sank into the seat next to her on the couch. “Oh, please. Don’t play this with me. You have got tons of friends.”

“I used to.” Elizabeth glanced at her. “How did Sonny take it?”

“Take what?” Carly asked.

“The…thing about Ric.”

Carly shrugged. “He’s been good about it. I didn’t expect him to believe me, but I was thankful when did. I thought he’d think I was dirty at first, but he loves me just the same.”

“That’s good,” Elizabeth replied. She stared at her hands. “It’s good that you’ve got your friends around you. You’re gonna need them. Especially Sonny. I know after it happened to me…” she trailed off and shook her head. “I didn’t sleep for almost a week. Every time I closed my eyes…”

“If you don’t mind me asking…how long has it been?” Carly asked.

“Six years,” Elizabeth murmured.

“S-six?” Carly echoed. She did some mental math. “Jesus, you were only what? Fourteen?”

“Fifteen. It was a few months after my fifteenth birthday,” Elizabeth replied quietly. “Sometimes it feels like it’s been decades. And other days, it feels like–” She stopped.

“Feels like what?” Carly asked softly.

“It still feels like I’ve just crawled out of the snow,” Elizabeth breathed. She swiped at her eyes again. “There are some details that will stay with you, no matter how much you try to forget. The texture of the bench I was sitting on, the damp snow, the cold ground…”

“The smell of the sheets, the shag carpet and the yellow sink,” Carly said shakily. “I don’t know what’s worse, not remembering or remembering everything.” She rubbed her hands together. “On the one hand, you can remember it and your nightmares will replay it in your mind.”

“And on the other hand, you’re left wondering what happened. You have no idea what he did to you,” Elizabeth finished. She took a deep breath. “God, I hope I don’t have a nightmare about it tonight.”

“Does it happen often?”

“Not anymore,” Elizabeth replied. “But if I think about it or the anniversary is approaching–”

“It must be horrible, living like that.” Carly shook her head. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

“You get used to it after a while. It becomes a part of your life, something that it’s in your history, part of who you are.”

“I am sorry that it happened to you Elizabeth,” Carly told her sincerely. “I can’t imagine being that young and dealing with it as well as you apparently have.”

Elizabeth smirked. “You should have seen me in the year or so afterwards. I was scared of shadows, scared of everyone I knew. If someone sneaked up on me, I’d scream.” She frowned a little. “I was scared of Jason, too.”

“Scared of him?” Carly repeated. “Why?”

“I didn’t know him that well. He’s so…big, you know? And you hear things about him.” Elizabeth shrugged. “But I was scared of pretty much every guy that wasn’t Lucky, Luke or Nikolas. It’s kind of what happens when you have no idea who did it.”

“Did they ever find him?” Carly asked curiously.

“I found him by accident,” Elizabeth replied. “I was helping Emily find out who was blackmailing her and they turned out to be the same guy. He’s in jail for what he did to her.”

“How’d you meet Ric?” Carly asked suddenly.

Elizabeth frowned and looked at her. “What?”

“I’m just curious. How did you meet him?”

“I was at Luke’s” Elizabeth smiled a little. “It was the night Alcazar was killed, actually. I was waiting with Lucky to meet with Luke’s psychiatrist and I went up to get our drinks. Ric was at the bar…” she trailed off. “He was watching Sonny and you, probably.”

“Probably,” Carly replied. “I remember that night. I don’t remember Ric offhand, but it makes sense that he was around then.”

“He was looking inside the windows of Kelly’s later that night. He was pretty rude at the time, but I guess eventually–” Elizabeth looked away. “Oh my God…”

“What?” Carly asked.

“He didn’t startacting remotely interested in me until after I told him that I knew Sonny. Up until then, he’d been a jackass, really.” Elizabeth sighed and bit her nail. “He used me.”

“More than likely,” Carly replied. “Hey, I bought his act, too. Right up until Valentine’s Day.”

“Valentine’s Day?” Elizabeth asked. She frowned. “That’s when it happened?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I–” Elizabeth shook her head. “It’s just a strange coincidence, that’s all. I–I was–it happened on Valentine’s Day for me.”

“Huh,” Carly murmured. “That is strange.” She glanced at Elizabeth. “You’re not as awful as I thought you were.”

“You either.” Elizabeth smiled weakly at her.

The penthouse door flew open and Courtney and Jason came in. Courtney glared at Elizabeth. “What are you doing here?” she snarled.

Elizabeth stood. “I suppose that’s my cue to leave.” She looked at Carly. “Thanks for the conversation. It was interesting.”

Carly stood. “Maybe we could talk some more?” she suggested.

“I’d like that,” Elizabeth said softly. She turned to the duo. “I’m glad you’re all right, Courtney–”

“Save it,” Courtney cut in. “You helped Ric get away, you’re the reason any of this is happening!”

Elizabeth sighed and started past her. Courtney grabbed her arm, stopping her. “Will you let me go?” Elizabeth asked, tiredly.

“Courtney,” Jason said, putting a hand on her arm. “Just stop it. I wouldn’t have found you if it weren’t for her.”

“I bet Elizabeth was part of the plan,” Courtney said, ignoring Jason. “Isn’t that right?”

“You’re just being ridiculous now,” Elizabeth sighed. She arched her eyebrows. “You gonna let me go now?”

“God, Elizabeth, do you hate Jason that much that you’d try to set him up?” Courtney cried.

“Wait, what?” Elizabeth asked, frowning. “Are you delusional?”

“Courtney, just stop it,” Carly said. “Elizabeth wasn’t in on any of this–”

“I mean, you did tell Jason exactly where Ric shoved me, didn’t you?” Courtney accused.

“I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t,” Elizabeth replied, irritated. She yanked her arm away. “Can I go now?”

“Who is Ric and what does he want from my brother?” Courtney demanded.

“Believe, at this point, if I knew, I’d tell you,” Elizabeth replied. “I just hope he gets what he deserves and if I ever see him again, it’ll be too soon.”

“Oh, sure, Elizabeth, play the innocent victim,” Courtney snarled. “But I think we all know the truth.”

“What, that you’re a paranoid delusional nitwit? Yeah, I think we’re getting that,” Elizabeth retorted. “You know what, Courtney? I’m sick of this. I’m sick of your accusations, I’m sick of your petty little comments about how much Jason loves you, I’m just plain sick of it all. When you grow up and start acting your age rather than your shoe-size, maybe then–” she shook her head and chuckled bitterly. “You know, even then, stay the hell away from me.”

She glared at the blonde for a moment before stalking out of the penthouse.

Courtney rolled her eyes. “My God, what a drama queen.” She turned to see Jason and Carly staring at her. “What?”

April 10, 2014

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

Inspiration

Back in 2002/03, there were a lot of Jason and Courtney scenes that easily could have been Elizabeth if the writing had been different. I collected these into a group of rewrites that I called Replacing the Twit (aren’t I clever?). Some of them have been lost, and I honestly don’t remember much about any of them because they were so short and I turned out many of them.

Timeline

This is set in February of 2003. After Jason and Brenda were acquitted of Alcazar’s murder, they filed for divorce and went their separate ways. Jason and Courtney were still hiding their relationship from Sonny, however. They get into a car accident on the way to a weekend trip (I think), and their relationship is exposed. Sonny goes to General Hospital to see Jason and tells him he doesn’t want Jason with his sister because Jason is a killer. (I shit you fucking not. I WAS LIVID AND I AM ANGRY ALL OVER AGAIN–)

Obviously, Jason/Emily/Sonny revisited a lot of these same beats, but it was a better told story with Jason being the aggrieved brother because we all knoew Sonny was trash. Anyway. Elizabeth was also at GH — she actually did try to see Jason, but Carly turned her away. (Blocking my goal as always for her agenda.)

This story supposes that Elizabeth doesn’t listen to Carly.

Banner

Elizabeth scanned the hallways as she hurried towards ICU. Carly Corinthos was not going to stop her this time. She was determined to see for herself that Jason was okay.

She didn’t necessarily need to talk to him—or even have a conversation with him. She just…she need to make sure he was okay.

Elizabeth stopped outside of his door and was about to knock when Sonny’s voice drifted out.

“You’re a killer, Jason. And as much as I love you…I can’t let you be around my sister.”

Elizabeth stared at the door in shock, her hand raised. Had Sonny…had he really just…said that?

Jason’s reply was too low for Elizabeth to hear but whatever it was, it was propelling Sonny towards the door. Elizabeth realized she needed to move but she couldn’t propel her body to do anything.

Sonny had just called Jason a killer. Sonny. Jason’s best friend. Jason’s brother. The man Jason would lay his life down for…had just…he’d just…

The door swung open before Elizabeth’s brain could communicate to her body that she needed to step away.

And she came to face to face with Sonny Corinthos.

Sonny was taken aback. “Elizabeth. W-what are you doing here?”

Elizabeth’s hand fell to her side and she glared at the older man. “Dr. Quartermaine told me I could see Jason.”

“Jason isn’t up for any visitors,” Sonny told her, firmly.

“Yeah, that’s what Carly told me,” Elizabeth replied. She raised her eyebrows. “And as you can see, I didn’t listen to her either.”

Sonny hesitated. “All right. Just don’t stay long.” He brushed past her and Elizabeth entered the room.

“Elizabeth?” Jason asked, surprised. He tried to shift higher on the bed and winced.

“Ooh, don’t move too much,” Elizabeth said, grimacing at the pain on his face. “How do you feel?”

“Why are you here?” Jason asked, ignoring her question.

She looked down. “Oh. I—I didn’t…I’m sorry. I guess I should have listened to Carly.” She turned to go.

“What did Carly say?” Jason asked before she could leave.

Elizabeth turned and flashed him an embarrassed smile. “That you didn’t want to see me. I thought she was just being her usual self, but—”

“It’s not that,” Jason assured her. “I’m just…surprised.”

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” Elizabeth told him. “Are you?”

“I’ve been better,” Jason admitted.

“I actually…I came to apologize,” Elizabeth said hesitantly. “I…” She sighed and looked away. “I don’t even know where to start.” She draped her coat over the back of one of the chairs and ran her hands through her hair. “First of all, I’m going to start with the smallest apology and just work my way up.”

“Elizabeth—you don’t—”

“I need to do this for my own sanity, okay?” Elizabeth cut in. “I’m sorry about the way I left the penthouse. I wasn’t clear enough on my reasons and it led to a lot of misunderstandings.”

He frowned. “Why did you leave then?”

She braced her hands on the back of the chair and looked down. “It wasn’t all because you lied to me about Sonny. I mean—it had something to do with it, but that wasn’t it. I…I guess I just got tired of coming last in your life, of feeling like I didn’t matter…” she trailed off. “Jason, I just don’t understand. I hid you in my studio twice. I’d had a bomb in my studio, been locked in a crypt, gotten shot at…and I wasn’t trusted. But Carly turned Sonny into the feds and…” Elizabeth stopped and shook her head. “I’m not going to rehash all of that. It doesn’t matter anymore. I just wanted to apologize for how I went about it.”

“Elizabeth—”

“I’m also sorry for slapping Courtney and that entire scene in Kelly’s. Just because I was hurt…I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.” She tried to smile but failed. “I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy. I just didn’t handle it well.”

Jason shifted again. “Elizabeth—” he tried again.

“And I’m sorry that I accidentally heard what Sonny just said to you,” Elizabeth said softly. Her eyes fell on his face. “I wish I hadn’t.”

Jason’s jaw clenched and he averted his eyes to look down. “What exactly did you hear?”

“I heard Sonny tell you that you were a killer and that as much as he loved you, you couldn’t be around Courtney,” Elizabeth admitted.

“He’s right,” Jason said, stiffly. “I have no business being with anyone.”

Elizabeth just shook her head. “He’s wrong, Jason.”

“No, he’s not,” Jason argued. “I am what I am, Elizabeth. I should have known it was going to be like this. I—” he stopped.

“So, Sonny gets to have the perfect family and you don’t?” Elizabeth asked. She put her hands on her hips. “I’d say that was a bit unfair, don’t you think?”

“Courtney would hate me if she found out who I really am,” Jason said, ignoring her question. “Her face would change and I can’t deal with that happening to me. Again.”

Elizabeth winced and looked away. Direct hit. “My face didn’t change because of what you do,” she told him. “I know what you do, Jason. I always have. I know that you have a gun, that you’ve used it and that you do more than work in a warehouse. I know that. My face changed because of the way I was treated and I’m sorry I didn’t make you realize that before.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that it happened,” Jason said shortly. “I’m tired of watching the people I love bleed. I did it with Robin…” he stopped and looked away. “I did it with you and I just…I wanted it to be different.”

Elizabeth’s chest tightened. “I know. But you’re forgetting something, Jason. I’ve watched you bleed and I hated it. But I never let it change my feelings.” She took a deep breath and forced herself to say the words. “If you love Courtney, if you really do…be honest with her. Do not push her away because of what you think might happen. Let her make her own decisions.”

Jason stared at her for a moment. “Why…why are you telling me this?”

“Because I speak from experience. I have spent my whole life letting people make decisions for me…I’ve said what was expected…I’ve let other people control me and it’s no way to live. And nothing…nothing hurts more…cuts more deeply…when the person you love does it to you. When they treat you like a small child who doesn’t deserve respect and doesn’t deserve the chance to decide for herself who she wants to be with.” Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes. “It sucks, Jason and I don’t want you to do it to someone else.”

“I did that to you?” Jason asked, a little wide-eyed. “I made you feel like that?”

“Every single time you told me it was too dangerous,” Elizabeth told him firmly. She looked away. “I should go. I’ve probably been here too long.” She reached for her jacket. “I’m glad you’re okay, Jason. I—I know we haven’t been close for the last few months, but I’ll always care about you.”

Her hand was on the door handle when his voice stopped her. “I’m breaking up with her.”

Elizabeth turned around and cleared her throat. “Why?”

“Because she doesn’t know who I am,” Jason said simply. “If anything, the conversation with Sonny made me realize it.”

“Sonny’s a jackass,” Elizabeth remarked shortly. “I wouldn’t listen to a damn word that came out of his mouth. You’re his best friend—how can he not want you to be with Courtney? Doesn’t he realize that’s the safest place for her? That you would die before you let anything happen to her—”

“I told her I loved her,” Jason cut her off. Elizabeth’s face paled and she swallowed. Hard.

“Oh. That’s…I’m…I’m glad.” Elizabeth looked away. At least I think I am.

“But I don’t think I was talking to her,” Jason continued. Elizabeth’s eyes darted back to his face. “I don’t…I don’t remember a lot of what happened while we were waiting for someone to find us. I was drifting in and out a lot…but I thought I saw you. And I thought I saw your face and heard your voice.”

Elizabeth blinked. “I don’t understand. Jason, I—”

“I told Sonny I loved her because she’s his sister and it seemed like the right thing to do. I lied to him,” Jason went on. “And I realize I’ve been doing a lot of that these past few months.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “Jason, I—”

“When I get out of here…will you go for a ride with me?” Jason asked.

“Can I drive?” Elizabeth asked softly.

“I don’t know—aren’t you a little out of practice?” Jason teased.

She smiled, her eyes full of tears. “Probably. I guess that means we’ll have to go on a lot of rides.”

“I guess so,” Jason replied.

“I’d better go. You need to rest,” Elizabeth told him.

“Will you come back?” Jason asked.

“I’ll come back,” she promised.

It started out that way. When Jason got out of the hospital, he took Elizabeth’s advice. He was honest with Courtney.

Completely honest.

It didn’t go well.

He told Sonny that it was over between him and Courtney—not because it was what Sonny had wanted, but because it wasn’t right for Jason.

Jason and Brenda got their annulment. And Brenda left town in the middle of the night. She left no trace of where she could be found—but Elizabeth had a feeling that Jason knew exactly where she was.

And Jason and Elizabeth finally went on that ride.

Inspiration

As with What Makes You Happy, this is another Jason/Brenda story that is in written in script form. There was definitely a first part of this story that I can’t find anywhere in which Jason and Brenda went to the Dominican Republic to get a quick divorce. On the show, they went through with it, and in my first story, I had them deciding not to. Either someone asked for a follow-up or I just decided to write one on my own.

Timeline

This is set in either late January or early February 2003. After Jason and Brenda were cleared of Luis Alcazar’s murder (thanks to learning Alexis had carried out the deed), they flew to the Dominican Republic to end their marriage. They had married earlier that fall for unrelated reasons and had remained married to avoid testifying against one another. On the show, they went through with it and returned to Port Charles. In the first part of this story (that’s lost to time), they decided to remain married and return to Port Charles to pursue a traditional divorce. They talked over their issues and decided to help each other out.

Banner

Scene One
(The Morgan Penthouse. Brenda drops her suitcase and collapses on the sofa. Jason sets his bag on the desk and stares at her.)

Brenda: (her eyes closed) Stop it.

Jason: Stop what?

Brenda: Looking at me.

Jason: I’m not.

Brenda: Ha. (groans) I hate planes.

Jason: I’ve changed my mind.

Brenda: About what?

Jason: This whole thing. This is a bad idea.

Brenda: (opens her eyes and sits up) It is not. It’s a good idea. I know what I’m doing. I can help, Jason. Honest. Come on, let me help.

Jason: I just don’t want this getting screwed up more than it already is.

Brenda: (smirks) I don’t think that’s possible. All right, take a seat.

Jason: I’ll stand.

Brenda: Suit yourself. All right, first part of the plan. Extricate yourself from Snow White.

Jason: Brenda.

Brenda: Right, right. No name calling. Okay, well, the simplest way to do this is to make seem like her idea.

Jason: How in the hell am I supposed to do that?

Brenda: I forgot who I’m talking to. Okay, you need to not be a good boyfriend. Shouldn’t be too hard. Start avoiding her, find excuses not to be around her. You know, the same way you got Elizabeth to walk out.

Jason: Brenda—

Brenda: I’m sorry, I forgot—that’s a sensitive subject, but you get my drift? Don’t act so damn interested in her.

Jason: And that’s not going to hurt her?

Brenda: No. It’ll probably sting a little, but you could always say you’ve got to work or something. Use your job.

Jason: And all you’re going to be doing is giving me advice right?

Brenda: (grins) Are you kidding? I am going to be totally hands on!

Jason: I was afraid of that.

Brenda: You go…do whatever it is you need to do. Just don’t see the little—er, Courtney. Leave her a message or something. No, wait don’t even do that. I’m going to do some reconnaissance.

Jason: Reconnaissance?

Brenda: I’ll be paying a visit to your little girlfriend. The other one.

Jason: (suspiciously) Why?

Brenda: (rolls eyes) Duh. I have to see how much groveling you’re going to need to do. Plus, I need to drop some hints.

Jason: I don’t grovel.

Brenda: Whatever. (stands) Let’s get this started.

Jason: (muttering) I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Scene Two
(Kelly’s. Elizabeth is working. Brenda slides into stool in front of her)

Brenda: (brightly) Hi!

Elizabeth: Hello. What can I get you?

Brenda: A soda and some conversation if you’ve got time.

Elizabeth: (eyes her warily) All right.

Brenda: (accepts the soda Elizabeth hands her) So, Elizabeth Webber.

Elizabeth: (amused) Brenda Barrett—or should I say Brenda Morgan?

Brenda: Oooh…I detect a note of jealousy in your voice. Could you be the mystery woman my darling husband refuses to talk about?

Elizabeth: (shortly) No.

Brenda: No? Not even a little bit? Because I know something’s up with him. I can get him to talk about Snow White, but he just totally shuts down when I bring up the chick he’s really in love with.

Elizabeth: Who’s Snow White?

Brenda: (leans forward and whispers conspiratorially) Well, it’s kind of confidential. Can I trust you?

Elizabeth: Sure.

Brenda: Sonny’s sister.

Elizabeth: Oh. Well, I already knew that.

Brenda: Oh. So, any ideas who the mystery woman is?

Elizabeth: How do you know it’s not Snow White?

Brenda: Well, you see, there’s this look Jase gets on his face when he discusses the blonde one and it ain’t the look he gets when he discusses the mystery woman.

Elizabeth: (curiously) What kind of look?

Brenda: (with a small triumphant smile) Oh, when he talks about the other girl, his eyes kind of light up, he sort of smiles and looks away like he’s thinking of something really really great.

Elizabeth: And when it’s the blonde one?

Brenda: He looks like a little kid being forced to eat vegetables.

Elizabeth: (laughs) Okay, so who do you think the mystery woman is?

Brenda: I don’t know. See, I thought it might be you since the only other woman ever associated with Jason other than Robin, Carly or me…is you.

Elizabeth: Me?

Brenda: Yup. A couple of people were under the assumption the two of you were an item.

Elizabeth: They’re mistaken.

Brenda: But are you two friends?

Elizabeth: (hesitantly) We were.

Brenda: What happened?

Elizabeth: It doesn’t matter.

Brenda: Oh…you’ve got to be the mystery woman.

Elizabeth: Why do you say that?

Brenda: Because the only person I’ve ever heard say that is Jason.

Elizabeth: So?

Brenda: He says that when I ask what happened between him and the mystery woman.

Elizabeth: It’s not me.

Brenda: How can you be so sure?

Elizabeth: Look, Brenda. You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me or what happened with Jason—

Brenda: Methinks you protest too much.

Elizabeth: Jason’s moved on, I’m working on it. Why don’t you just let things be?

Brenda: Not in my nature.

Elizabeth: I need to get back to work.

Scene Three
(Morgan Penthouse. That evening. Jason comes in to see Brenda sitting on the couch eating pizza.)

Brenda: There’s more in the kitchen if you’re hungry.

Jason: Okay. (heads for the kitchen)

Brenda: Good news. She’s still in love with you.

Jason: (stops and turns to look at her) What?

Brenda: Elizabeth. She’s still in love with you.

Jason: (after a beat) H-How do you know that?

Brenda: Just the way she looked during the entire conversation and the way she answered my questions. I told her that there was a mystery woman you were in love with and kept trying to get her to admit it was her. You’ve got her trained.

Jason: Trained?

Brenda: Yup. Told me it didn’t matter. (giggles) Thought I was talking to you for a minute.

Jason: That’s not funny.

Brenda: Honestly, Jason—the situation doesn’t look that bad. She hasn’t moved on. She said she was working on it, but if it hasn’t happened yet, it won’t for a little while, giving us just enough time to fix this.

Jason: Maybe…maybe we should just leave it alone. Elizabeth is better off without me.

Brenda: If that’s the kind of attitude you had around her, no wonder she walked out.

Jason: Knock it off.

Brenda: No, I’m serious. Jesus, stop being such wuss.

Jason: A what?

Brenda: A wuss. Be a man. Stand up for yourself. You want Elizabeth, you need to admit that to yourself. Stop hiding behind your job, and everything else. The only person who gets decide that Elizabeth is better off without you is Elizabeth, don’t forget that. (stands and pokes Jason in the chest) Don’t make me waste my time trying to help you if you’re just to screw it all up in the end.

Jason: I—

Brenda: Because, I swear to God, if I get you what you want and you screw it up, I’ll kill you myself. (puts her hands on her hips) So, what’s it going to be? Snow White or Elizabeth?

Jason: What the hell has crawled up your ass?

Brenda: You didn’t answer my question. You want to stay with Courtney because it’s easy for you or do you want me to help you get Elizabeth back?

Jason: I knew this was a bad idea. Let’s just forget the whole thing. We’ll file for an annulment tomorrow.

Brenda: Are you scared? Is that it? You afraid that you might really love someone?

Jason: I’m going out. (he turns to leave but Brenda grabs his arm)

Brenda: Why is it so hard for you to just go after what you want?

Jason: You’re living in a dream world, Brenda. Things don’t work out like that in reality. You don’t always get what you want.

Brenda: Yeah, well if you can’t even admit what you want, of course you’re not going to get it! You can’t even say it.

Jason: (defensive) Just stop it.

Brenda: Is it so hard for you to just say it? You haven’t once said out loud that you love her or that you want her back—

Jason: What good would that do?

Brenda: Once you say it, it becomes real and I think that’s what scares you.

Jason: (he just stares at her)

FLASHBACK

(Jason and Elizabeth are at the park.)

Elizabeth: Why do even like me? I mean, I give you mixed signals for months, I jerk you around, I make you say things that I’m sure you didn’t even want to say—

Jason: I, I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t want to. I mean, until now I wasn’t sure that you wanted to know how I feel.

Elizabeth: I think I was afraid to hear it. You know, when you say it, it becomes real. You can’t hide from it anymore or pretend it doesn’t exist. Believe me, I know, I’ve tried. I’ve come up with a million excuses for the way you make me feel. But excuses can’t change the truth. I want more than a friendship too.

Jason: It’s not wrong to trust what you feel.

END FLASHBACK

Brenda: (frowning) Jason? Jason?

Jason: (shaking his head) What did you say?

Brenda: Where’d you go?

Jason: I…

Brenda: (curiously) Are you okay?

Jason: Elizabeth said that to me once. (He sits on the couch and runs his hands through his hair) It was about two years ago. She was still dating Lucky…but I don’t know—they were having problems and she started…I’d been attracted to her for a while and we were kind of dancing around each other.

Brenda: (completely absorbed) What happened?

Jason: She and Lucky had this complicated history—she’s got an incredible sense of loyalty. She was really torn up about it—Lucky wasn’t the same, she was miserable and I just seemed to making it worse. She finally came out and asked me if I wanted more.

(We can hear the following dialogue over the scene)

Jason: What do you want me to do?

Elizabeth: Tell me how you feel. I, I think I know. I could be wrong. Are we just friends, or do you want something more from me?

Jason: Yeah I do.

Jason: (continuing) I told her yeah and then she said she was afraid to hear it. Because when you say it, it becomes real. You can’t hide from it or pretend it doesn’t exist. And then she told me she felt the same.

Brenda: But she wouldn’t leave Lucky.

Jason: He was her first love—and I don’t think she was at a point where she was ready to give up on him.

Brenda: She’s young, Jase. It can be hard to admit when something’s not working.

Jason: It’s…just…it’s like we’ve come full circle. Two years ago, she didn’t want admit what was happening between us. And now…I can’t admit how I feel about her.

Brenda: You guys have been dancing around each other for too long. Isn’t it time to knock it off and just do something already?

Jason: Yeah. You’re right. It is time to stop. (he looks at her)I need her. I need her in my life.

Brenda: That’s a start. So, are we done with this running and let’s forget about it crap? Are you ready to fix this?

(As if on cue, the phone in the penthouse starts to ring.)

Brenda: Let the machine get it.

Jason: Machine?

Brenda: Yeah, I got an answering machine when I decided to avoid calls from the press.

Jason: I thought this was a private line.

Brenda: (snorts) Since when does that bother the press?

Courtney: (over the machine) Jason? I probably shouldn’t be calling, but…well…Elizabeth was talking to Penny about how Brenda came in to see her and I guess since Brenda’s back…you are, too. You haven’t been by to see me. Is anything wrong? (waits a beat) All right. Call me when you get this.

(The machine clicks off. Jason and Brenda stare at it)

Brenda: Is that the kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Someone who seems…so clingy?

Jason: Brenda—

Brenda: For once, I’m really not trying to insult the girl. I just…look, I’m sure she’d make some other unsuspecting person happy, but she is definitely not the girl for you. Plus, she’s too tall for you.

Jason: Too tall for me.

Brenda: Right. See, you need a small petite kind of girl.

Jason: That’s an awfully shallow observation.

Brenda: (shrugs) Whatever. You didn’t answer my question.

Jason: What was the question?

Brenda: Are you still willing to fix this?

Jason: (after a beat) Yeah. But—

Brenda: (groaning) But what?

Jason: I need to do this my way.

Brenda: Your way. (a beat) You have a way?

Jason: I’m going to be honest with Courtney.

Brenda: You do realize that honesty might backfire.

Jason: If Sonny finds out, then…oh, well. He’ll just have to deal with the fact that he can’t control everyone.

Brenda: (stunned) Wow. When you grow a backbone, you really go all the way.

Jason: Very funny.

Brenda: No, no. I’m serious. This is good. This is the Jason Morgan I remember. Okay, honesty with Courtney. What else?

Jason: I need to sit down with Elizabeth and talk to her. Really talk to her. We haven’t…we haven’t done that for so long.

Brenda: What if she lashes out again? Are you going to walk away?

Jason: No. I’m going to actually listen to what she’s saying and find out what she really means. Elizabeth is good at pretending—at putting on an act. I used…I used to know when she was lying or saying things to deliberately hurt people.

Brenda: But it’s different when she’s doing all those things to you, huh?

Jason: Yeah. It is.

Brenda: Good. I’m proud of you, Jason. You’re making the right decision. Is there anything I can do?

Jason: (standing) If Courtney calls before I get back, tell her I’m on my way to see her.

(He leaves. Brenda stares after him)

Brenda: Huh. Well, I’ll be damned. He’s not Sonny’s bitch after all.

Scene Four
(The Loft. Courtney is sitting on the couch when Jason enters. She jumps up to go hug him, but he holds up a hand, warding her off.)

Courtney: Jason? (confused) What’s wrong?

Jason: We need to talk.

Courtney: About what?

Jason: Us. And why this isn’t going to work.

Courtney: What do you mean? I don’t understand.

Jason: (takes a deep breath) I’m not in love with you Courtney. And I never could be. I’m sorry.

Courtney: Hold on, I don’t understand. Before you left, things were fine. What happened? What’s going on?

Jason: Just what I said. It’s not fair to you for me to be with you and not be in this relationship completely. I’m not.

Courtney: Is it Brenda?

Jason: No.

Courtney: (eyes suddenly narrow) Is it Elizabeth?

Jason: Courtney this has nothing to do with anyone else. It’s me.

Courtney: It’s Elizabeth. I should have known—what was I thinking? That stupid—

Jason: Stop it. You can’t blame this on anyone but me. I’m the one who thought this would work and I was the one who was wrong.

Courtney: Get out.

Jason: I’m sorry—

Courtney: (yelling) Get out!

(Jason leaves.)

Scene Five
(The Morgan penthouse. Brenda looks up as Jason enters.)

Brenda: How’d it go?

Jason: As expected.

Brenda: Now don’t you feel better?

Jason: Not especially. I hurt her.

Brenda: Think about how much it hurt Elizabeth to see you two together.

Jason: I’m going to bed.

Brenda: What about Elizabeth?

Jason: I’m going to see her tomorrow. I think I deserve a little break, don’t you?

Brenda: Fine, fine. You want me to visit her first, prep her?

Jason: No. I can handle this myself.

Brenda: (pleased) Nice to know you still have a backbone.

Jason: Are you done?

Brenda: Do you listen to me any way?

Jason: No.

Brenda: Then what’s the difference if I’m done or not?

Jason: (shakes his head) Sometimes I just want to throttle you.

Brenda: (giggles) You know you love me.

Jason: I’d rather take a gun to my head.

Brenda: That’s so mean, I can’t believe after everything I’ve done for you…I gave you advice, a shoulder to cry on—

Jason: (speaking over her) A shoulder to cry on? Are you nuts?

Brenda: (continuing) I helped you with Snow White, with Elizabeth and this is the thanks I get?

Jason: Yeah, okay.

Brenda: You’re so mean to me, Jason. I mean would a thank you kill you?

Jason: Probably.

Brenda: You’re infuriating.

Jason: So are you.

Brenda: Go to sleep.

Jason: I don’t need your permission.

Brenda: Nope. You don’t need anyone’s permission to do anything. Except maybe Sonny.

Jason: Sonny doesn’t run my life.

Brenda: I don’t know—for a while it felt like he was.

Jason: Good night.

Brenda: (as he goes up the stairs) Was that a pleasantry from the big bad Jason Morgan?

Jason: (calls back to her) Shut up.

Brenda: (grinning) I think I’m growing on him.

Scene Six
(Elizabeth’s studio. Early the next morning. There’s knocking at the door. Elizabeth goes to answer it.)

Elizabeth: (sleepily) Hold on. I’m coming. (unlocks the door and pulls it open) Jason?

Jason: Can we talk?

Elizabeth: That depends. What’s the subject?

Jason: Us.

Elizabeth: (rolls eyes) Ha. You’ve made it abundantly clear that us doesn’t exist anymore. Go back to Courtney.

Jason: Elizabeth—

Elizabeth: You know what? This is my day off and I was planning on catching up on some sleep, so just walk away. You can do that, Jase. You’re good at it.

Jason: You either talk to me now or I’ll sit outside your door until you do.

Elizabeth: Yeah. Until Sonny calls, you mean.

Jason: I turned my phone off.

Elizabeth: I wasn’t even aware you knew how to do that.

Jason: Are you done being sarcastic? Because I really would like to talk to you.

Elizabeth: (shrugs) Fine. Whatever. Come on in if you must.

(Jason enters and Elizabeth shuts the door.)

Jason: I went to the Dominican Republic to get an annulment with Brenda and somehow she got me talking about you.

Elizabeth: (surprised) Me?

Jason: Yeah. I still don’t know how she managed to pry it out of me, but she did. And she kind of forced me to see where you were coming from with the whole Sonny thing.

Elizabeth: Somehow I doubt Brenda had any clue what was going through my head.

Jason: Well, she said that you must have felt kind of foolish when you found he was alive. She figured you might have been worried about me and she knew that I rarely went home or called anyone while I was guarding her.

Elizabeth: Well, I’ve got to hand it to your wife. She does have part of it.

Jason: Part of it?

Elizabeth: Oh, what? Now you want to know what I was thinking? Sorry. You’re a little late for that.

Jason: Damn it. Why can’t we just talk about this?

Elizabeth: Because that won’t solve anything.

Jason: I think it will. I think if we’re honest with each other, it might solve a lot.

Elizabeth: (surprised) Where is this coming from?

Jason: You can thank Brenda. She forced me to remember something you said to me once. That when you say it, it becomes real. And I’ve been avoiding that since you left.

Elizabeth: Avoiding what?

Jason: Telling you how I feel.

Elizabeth: And I suppose you’re going to tell me now.

Jason: If you want to know right now, I will tell you. But I’d rather we talk first.

Elizabeth: Well, I’m not talking until I know what you want from me.

Jason: (after a beat) I want to be able to walk into Kelly’s and have you smile at me like you used to. I want to be able to ask you to go for a ride. I want to be able to watch you paint or listen to you talk. How’s that?

Elizabeth: (slightly stunned) I…I suppose that’s a start.

Jason: Will you please talk to me, Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: (takes a deep breath) I left because I didn’t feel like I fit in your life. That your loyalty to Sonny and Carly would always take precedence over me and that was a possibility I wasn’t ready to handle. I left because I didn’t think I mattered to you.

Jason: And I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way. It wasn’t my intention—I never wanted to hurt you.

Elizabeth: Then why didn’t you come home or even call? Why did you ignore me when you did come to the penthouse?

Jason: Because I knew the more I heard your voice and saw your face, the less likely I was going to be able to keep the secret. Because I knew you’d know in an instant that something was off.

Elizabeth: So you avoided me so you wouldn’t want to tell me the truth

Jason: I know it sounds bad and in retrospect, it wasn’t one of my more intelligent decisions. I’m sorry, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth: Okay, so, why didn’t you come after me? Why did you start dating Courtney and making all these sacrifices for her?

Jason: Because with Courtney, there wasn’t anything at stake. I didn’t have to worry about her face changing because she didn’t know me to begin with. The only thing Courtney ever needed me for was to rescue her. And you never needed me like that. Not really.

Elizabeth: So what you want is a girl you can spend your entire life rescuing. (sarcastically) Well, that’s wonderful.

Jason: It gets old after a while, Elizabeth. I don’t want to be depended on to fix people’s messes or bail them out of trouble or rescue them from situations they get themselves into. I get enough of that with Carly and Sonny, and I realized that’s not what I want from a relationship.

Elizabeth: Then what do you want?

Jason: I want you. Like we used to be. When we would sit in Kelly’s after closing and talk or go for rides or you would explain your paintings to me. I don’t want someone who only needs me when they’re in trouble. I want someone who wants me around even in the good times.

Elizabeth: (hesitates) So you’re kind of here to ask for another chance.

Jason: I guess I am.

Elizabeth: What about Courtney?

Jason: I already broke up with her. Yesterday.

Elizabeth: (slowly) Okay, so are you going to tell me how you feel now?

Jason: All right. (after a moment) I love you.

Elizabeth: (finally) Could you…would you please repeat that?

Jason: I love you.

Elizabeth: (faintly) That’s what I thought you said. (pause)Um….I’m not…I don’t… (she shakes her head) I can’t believe this.

Jason: I just…I guess I thought you should know. I know I didn’t fight you before—I know that I just let you walk away and I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done that.

Elizabeth: (mutters) Damn right.

Jason: Look…I know I can’t…that I shouldn’t expect anything from you. I’ve done nothing but hurt you these last few months. But—

Elizabeth: You know, most normal people would remind me that I’m not completely innocent.

Jason: What do you mean?

Elizabeth: I mean that I spent most of the entire summer hurting you. Not to mention the last time you were in town—and I guess telling you to go to hell wasn’t fun to hear.

Jason: No. I never held any of that against you. You dealt with the situation the best you could.

Elizabeth: I know. It’s not easy being in love with two men at the same time. I was nineteen—I didn’t know how not to hurt anyone and I did my best not to…but it happened anyway.(takes a deep breath) You didn’t want to hurt me. I know you that much.

Jason: Where does that leave us?

Elizabeth: Honestly? I don’t know. I’m not…I’m not ready to jump right back in, okay? I’ve been burned twice this last year and I’m not in any hurry to have it happen again.

Jason: I understand. I—

Elizabeth: I know you wouldn’t mean to, but right now…I am not ready for a relationship. I need time. Time to just be by myself, y’know? Figure out what I want from life.

Jason: If you need time, that’s fine.

Elizabeth: I still want you around. Maybe…maybe we could be friends again. (hopefully) Like we used to be. We could go for rides, hang out at Kelly’s after closing…all the things we used to do.

Jason: I’d like that.

Elizabeth: Besides….we’ve both changed these last few months. I think we need to get to know each other again.

Jason: That sounds fine. Do you…want to go for a ride?

Elizabeth: (smiles) I thought you’d never ask.

Scene Seven
(The Morgan Penthouse. Brenda is stuffing things into a bag when Jason enters.)

Brenda: Hey. It’s been hours since you left. (grins) I guess you got lucky.

Jason: You better not mean what I think you mean.

Brenda: (wiggling her eyebrows) Oh, I do mean that.

Jason: (gestures towards her bag) What’s that?

Brenda: Oh. (guiltily) I’m fleeing the country.

Jason: (resigned) What did you do this time?

Brenda: (defensively) Nothing. I…just…I’m trying to avoid Jax and he’s kind of on his way over here. See, I haven’t exactly told him you and I are still married.

Jason: Why not?

Brenda: Because you know him. He’ll assume it means I want to be married to you because I need to be connected to Sonny or because I’m actually in love with you. And since we both know the second’s not true and I’m pretty sure the first one isn’t either, I’m just not in the mood to explain to him again why I want to take this slow. He never listens to me—he always get jealous right away…you know, it’s almost like he’s Sonny.

Jason: Why are you still with him?

Brenda: Force of habit, I suppose. No, look, I really do love him. Even if it can be exhausting.

Jason: It’s your life.

Brenda: Yep. So if you didn’t get lucky, where have you been all day?

Jason: I don’t really want to talk about this.

Brenda: Oh, come on. I’m the reason you made it this far. The least you can do is tell me if she threw you out or at least let you talk.

Jason: She let me talk.

Brenda: And?

Jason: (sighs) You’re not going to let this go are you?

Brenda: Damn right.

Jason: Fine. I talked to her. She listened. I told her I loved her, we agreed to start over as friends. She needs time…she’d just broken up with her ex-boyfriend when I got back in town. He’d slept with her sister. Adding on everything else that happened…

Brenda: She’s a little skittish about jumping back in the saddle.

Jason: Yeah, I guess.

Brenda: Smart girl.

Jason: I agreed with her. I want to make this right for her.

Brenda: Makes sense. You’re not half bad, Jase. (takes a deep breath) I called Alexis. We can start the annulment proceedings tomorrow if you want.

Jason: I thought you were fleeing the country.

Brenda: I’ve rethought my position. I’m going to calmly explain to Jax how I feel.

Jason: And when he doesn’t listen?

Brenda: He won’t have a choice. Think you can loan me a guard or two? I need to tie him up and tape his mouth shut.

Jason: (smirking) I can arrange that.

Brenda: Wow, really? I was just kidding, but now that I know it’s a possibility, it doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.

(There’s a knock on the door.)

Jason: You worry me sometimes.

(He opens the door. It’s Elizabeth.)

Elizabeth: Um, hi. I just…I needed to tell you something I just realized that I didn’t before.

Jason: Sure. Come on in. (after the door is closed) You know my wife from hell.

Brenda: Hey! I thought you said no name calling!

Jason: I said you couldn’t call anyone names. I never said I couldn’t.

Brenda: Ugh. Men. Hello, Elizabeth. I suppose you’d like me to leave.

Elizabeth: Yes.

Brenda: (grinning) Oooh…I like this one. I’ll just go upstairs. If Jax comes by, tell him I’m having hot wild sex with one of the guards.

(She goes upstairs.)

Elizabeth: She’s…strange.

Jason: That’s one way to put it.

Elizabeth: Um, I guess I should tell you what I came here to tell you. (takes a deep breath) I want you to know that what I said originally is still true. I still need time.

Jason: Right.

Elizabeth: But you know…you were really good enough to tell me how you felt so I figured I should like return the favor. I love you.

Jason: (just stares at her for a minute before answering) Oh.

Elizabeth: (flushes) Yeah…so I thought you should know. I’m going to go. Bye.

(She’s gone before Jason can recover enough to say anything.)

Brenda: (from upstairs) I told you so!

Jason: Go away!

Brenda: You know you love me.

Jason: Let’s not start that again.

Inspiration

If you follow my writing, you know the last time I was obsessed with the GH teen scene was back in 2003 when Scott Clifton joined Lindze Letherman (Georgie) and Robyn Richards (Maxie) as Dillon Quartermaine. I fell in immediate love with Dillon. He’s one of my four ride or die favs (AJ, Patrick, Dillon, and Elizabeth can do no wrong). I also had a huge crush on CJ Thomason and Andrew St. John who played Lucas Jones and Kyle Radcliffe.

I wrote quite a few GQ episode tags back then (Dillon & Georgie), but a lot of them were lost in when my computer crashed in July 2003. This story was meant to be part of a series, but the second story is lost. The title was retained, lol — It was going to be The Sweetest Thing with several stand alone stories. This was the first.

Timeline

This is set in the spring of 2003, probably late April, early May. Dillon has arrived in Port Charles, and Georgie has a huge crush on Lucas. Elizabeth is working at Kelly’s.

Banner

I can do this. I’m strong. I’m independent. I’m a woman.

Okay, I’m fourteen.

But I’m still all of the above.

With those thoughts in mind, Georgie Jones took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and reached for the door handle to Kelly’s.

She pulled the door open and entered the small diner. You can do this, she chanted mentally. It’s not like you’re asking for much. You just want a job application.

She spied Elizabeth Webber working quietly behind the counter and after glancing around the diner, she determined that the manager, Bobbie Spencer, was not there. So, she’d deal with the only waitress she saw.

Besides, the way Georgie figured, Elizabeth Webber practically ran the diner. She was always there, always keeping everything calm. If a fight broke out, Elizabeth solved it. If a waitress called out sick, Elizabeth covered the shift.

Elizabeth Webber, Georgie decided, was one of the best people she knew. Although technically Georgie didn’t know Elizabeth all that well…but hell, everyone knew Elizabeth in some way.

“Um, excuse me,” Georgie said. She nervously tugged at the sleeve of her soft pink button down sweater. Pink, Georgie had decided, looked good on her. It complimented her dark blonde hair and lightened her brown eyes. Pink made her feel professional.

“Hey, Georgie,” Elizabeth greeted. “Can I get you anything?”

Georgie chewed her lip and took a deep breath. “A job application?”

Elizabeth widened her eyes. “A job application? You want to work here?”

“Um, yeah,” Georgie replied. She smoothed a hand over her light brown cords. Light brown, Georgie had decided, went well with a pink sweater and by not wearing jeans, she’d shed her teenage image and hopefully looked older.

At least sixteen.

Elizabeth looked around, hunted underneath the counter. “That’s great!” she said. “You know, I started working here when I was fourteen. God, I was such a horrible waitress. Spent far too much time looking at Lucky Spencer and too little time paying attention to what people ordered.” Elizabeth pulled a piece of paper out and handed it to her. “If you want you can fill it out now and I can give it to Bobbie when I drop off the night’s receipts later.”

“Sure,” Georgie replied. She slid onto a stool and opened her small purse. Small purses, Georgie had decided, looked more professional than big clunky ones. She fished out a blue Bic pen and uncapped it. “So, are you guys hiring?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “We’re always losing someone to college or better jobs.” She smirked. “I’m personally hoping we lose someone soon.”

Georgie grinned. “Courtney?” She regretted her word almost immediately when she saw Elizabeth’s face close off. Great, she offended the best chance she had at getting this job. Damage control. “I only say that because…well…um, you know…you hear things.”

Elizabeth folded her arms. “What kind of things?” Her tone had gone as cold as ice and Georgie was now miserable. She set her pen down. There went this job.

“Well…just that two of you don’t like each other,” she replied, dully. “I mean…she’s dating your ex-boyfriend and my sister told me that he broke up with you for her.” Georgie sighed and pushed the application away. “I’m sorry. I…I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Elizabeth sighed and the tension drained from her body. “No, look, don’t worry about it. You’re right, we don’t like each other but it’s not because she’s dating Jason.”

Georgie must have looked skeptical because Elizabeth continued. “I just don’t appreciate the way she constantly runs out on her shifts and calls out sick.”

“Oh.” Georgie shifted. “I still shouldn’t have said anything. I mean, I don’t want to remind of you…anything. Because, you know, I really admire you.”

That surprised Elizabeth and she smiled. “Really? Why?”

Georgie shrugged. “Everyone does,” she replied easily. “My sister thought you were great, the way you handle that Lucky thing last summer and I remember Roy DiLucca talking about how brave you were when Jason shot you last summer.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Jason did not shoot me. Zander did and it was a complete accident. Besides, the bullet didn’t really hit me.”

“It didn’t?” Georgie asked.

“No. Jason and Roy were fighting, and Zander, being the completely moronic hothead that he is, picked up a gun. Then Jason and Zander were fighting over the gun and the trigger was pulled.” Elizabeth slid the sleeve of her cornflower-blue shirt up to reveal a light pink scar on her upper left arm. “See? The bullet just grazed me.”

“Oh. Did it hurt?” Georgie asked, cringing as soon as she realized how stupid the question was.

“Well, I didn’t feel anything at first,” Elizabeth replied. “I think I was a little shocked. But it kicked in and I almost passed out. Jason caught me and he managed to bandage it.” She smiled and leaned forward a little bit, lowering her voice. “I’ll tell you a secret.”

Georgie, feeling much better about this right now, leaned forward eagerly. Being confided in by Elizabeth Webber! Take that, Maxie, she thought smugly.

“I didn’t feel anything until I got to the hospital because I was too busy looking at Jason,” Elizabeth told her, smiling.

“He is cute,” Georgie agreed.

“Uh huh. And it was just really easy to get lost in his eyes, you know?” Elizabeth said. “They’re an incredible shade of blue.” Her cheeks flushed and she leaned back. “But none of that really matters now. Anyway, go ahead and fill out that application. I’ll put in a good word for you.”

Georgie watched as Elizabeth headed onto the main floor to take care of a customer. She then turned in her attention back to her application.

“Whatcha doin’?”

Irritated, she looked up at the interruption. “I’m filling out a job application, Lucas,” she told him.

Lucas Jones frowned. “For Kelly’s?”

“Yeah. Why not?” Georgie asked, defensively.

Lucas smirked. “Why would you want to work here?”

“Because I like this place,” Georgie replied. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing. I just thought you had higher hopes than being another Elizabeth Webber.”

Georgie narrowed her eyes. She might like Lucas, but no one insulted her idol. “And what’s wrong with that?”

“Come on. She’s nice and all, but she’s twenty-one and still working in the same place as when we were kids.”

“Maybe she likes it here. Maybe she enjoys her job,” Georgie said hotly.

“And maybe she’s got no place else to go,” Lucas said pointedly.

“Can I get you anything Lucas?” Elizabeth asked from behind him. He spun on the stool to look at the unhappy waitress.

“Elizabeth.” Lucas swallowed. “I, uh…”

“For the record, I work here because I enjoy my job,” Elizabeth told him. “I like seeing the people I care about on a daily basis. It pays well and I have a flexible schedule so I can go to school and work on my art. I’m sorry if people think I’m pathetic because I have worked in the same place for the past five years, but I can’t be responsible for small-minded people. Now, I’ll ask you again. Can I get you anything?”

“I was just stopping by,” Lucas said quickly. He slid off the stool and passed her, his head ducked down.

“Sorry about him,” Georgie apologized as she signed her name and completed the application. “He thinks he knows what’s best for me and tries to tell me.”

“It’s fine,” Elizabeth replied, smiling briefly. “You get used to it after a while.” She took the application from the young girl and perused. “I’ll drop this off with Bobbie and I’ll call you when she makes a decision.”

“Thanks, Elizabeth,” Georgie said, sliding down from the stool. She put the pen away and smiled one last time at the waitress before leaving.

….

Elizabeth handed Bobbie the receipts and the day’s earnings so that Bobbie could drop it off at the bank on her way to the hospital the next morning.

“Georgie Jones dropped off a job application,” Elizabeth reported as Bobbie examined the receipts.

“Hmm…do we need another waitress?” Bobbie asked, making a note in the account book.

“We could use the help,” Elizabeth said honestly. “One of the waitresses tends to be slightly unreliable, so I’m sure Georgie will come in handy.”

“Which waitress?” Bobbie asked, even though she already knew.

“Courtney,” Elizabeth said. “But it has nothing to do with my personal feelings towards her, I just—”

“Elizabeth, it’s okay. I’ve had the other girls complain as well,” Bobbie interrupted. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to speak with you about.”

“What?” Elizabeth asked warily.

“I’m rarely at the diner these days between the hospital and Lucas, so I was wondering if you’d like to come on as assistant manager,” Bobbie suggested.

“Really?” Elizabeth asked. “Are you serious?”

“Definitely. So you can make decisions like this and not worry about me. I trust you, Elizabeth. You’ve been working there longer than anyone and you really understand the way it works.”

“Wow, I’d love to,” Elizabeth replied, smiling. “Thanks, Bobbie.”

“So, I’ll let you make the final decision concerning Georgie and Courtney. I’ll see you tomorrow, same time?”

“Sure,” Elizabeth replied. She picked up the receipts, intent on calling Georgie Jones first thing in the morning.

February 12, 2014

Inspiration

By the time Nikolas lost his memories in April 2004, I was completely over the Nikolas/Emily storyline, although I had liked them initially. Emily, as a character, was a complete loss for me. I didn’t enjoy the actress and I hated the way they trashed Zander as a character in order to build them up.

So when Nikolas first started sharing scenes with Mary Bishop, I kind of liked it. I liked the actress, as well. But the writers never gave them a chance, and it annoyed me. So I thought about going back to do something with it, but I never really picked up steam with it. It was going to be a series of stories, but I’ve decided to combine them into one.

Timeline

In 2004, Nikolas was presumed dead, but had lost his memory, and there was this ridiculous storyline in which Mary Bishop pretended he was her dead husband, Connor. I really liked the actress and thought she had good chemistry with Nikolas, but the show made her insane and she ended up killing Sage Alcazar, another character the show drove to uselessness. So, this picks up.

Childhood sweethearts. Destined for each other. Soul mates. Mary Bishop had heard it over and over growing up in Ithaca, New York. She and Connor were meant to be together. Since he’d pulled her hair and she’d pushed him into the sandbox when they were five years old.

Picture perfect. Junior Proms, Homecoming Dances, Senior Prom, Graduation, College. Every step of their lives, they were together.

He’d proposed when they were eighteen but decided to wait until they were out of college to get married. He’d gone into the service during college and after their wedding last spring, he’d been transported to Iraq.

And he’d been shipped home that summer.

She’d left Ithaca to get away from those faces. Those well–meaning family members and friends with their expressions full of sympathy and sorrow. At first, she’d welcomed it. Welcomed the chance to wallow in her misery.

But as the months passed and her tears did not subside and her depression became more and more pronounced, she heard them whisper about doctors and how “poor dear Mary wasn’t coping well with her loss.”

Her loss. She was twenty–three years old and eighteen years of history with Connor had been reduced to her loss.

Those looks of sympathy and sorrow gradually faded into pity and disappointment. She was such a pretty girl, her aunt had said. She shouldn’t be dwelling on her loss.

She’d moved to a small town where no one knew her. Where she hadn’t been Mrs. Mary Bishop. Here, in Port Charles, she was Mary Bishop, the new kindergarten teacher at the elementary school.

She’d been living her new life a week when he appeared at her door. At first, in the dark with the shadows on his face, she’d wanted to believe that it was Connor returning to her.

But he was a stranger. And she was so lonely…

She could almost make herself believe the fantasy world she’d weaved. He was her husband, her Connor returned home. She could tell him all about their love and how it had once been.

She could destroy the photos of Connor…

She held the double frame in her hands. One side, Connor. So handsome and poised in his uniform and to the right, herself, smiling. Happy. About to embark on the greatest adventure in her life.

She couldn’t do it. This man—-this beautiful man lying unconscious in her bedroom—-he could never be her Connor.

Someone knocked on her door as she stared at the photo. She set it aside and stood to open it. “Hello?”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry to bother you but I’m Officer Lucky Spencer and I’m looking for my brother, Nikolas Cassadine. He was in a car accident and wandered away from the scene.” The dark–haired man thrust a photo of a smiling version of the injured man in the other room. “Have you seen him tonight?”

Mary nodded slowly. “Yes. He collapsed outside my door. I brought him inside but I didn’t have a phone. He doesn’t appear to remember anything.” She stepped back and took a deep breath. “He’s in my bedroom.”

Lucky Spencer nodded. “Thank you,” he said in a hurry as he unclipped his radio from his belt to notify the search teams.

Mary stepped back and her eyes caught the pile of frames she’d been about to burn. She was lonely—-so lonely she’d almost burned her life with Connor and lied to a strange and helpless man.

Tears burned her eyes and she closed them. “Connor,” she whispered, softly. “How could you leave me…”

Mary Bishop entered Kelly’s Diner and managed a smile as she watched a young mother herd her children out the door. Today was the day she began her new life.

It’d been a week since she’d hit rock bottom and nearly burned Connor’s pictures but she’d pulled herself back from that edge. She was stronger than she’d given herself credit for. Nikolas Cassadine had returned to his home, his family–his fiance–and Mary praised the heavens he hadn’t remembered her silly ranting about being his wife.

She stopped at the counter and waited for the middle–aged man to stop berating a younger blonde man standing next to her. She just wanted some coffee to start her day and she’d never been very good at making it herself.

“Mike–I really don’t have the time to listen to this again.” The man next to her sounded slightly irate and Mary slid a few inches to her left.

“Well, you’d better make the time,” the man named Mike shot back. “That’s my little girl and you took vows–”

“She took the same vows I did–why aren’t you having this conversation with her?”

Mary stared at the counter, wondering how long this family argument would go on and if it would make her late for work.

“Mike, I’m sure Bobbie would appreciate if you spent a little more time with the customers and not yelling at your son-in-law,” a new voice said. Mary focused on the counter again to find a pregnant brunette smiling at her. “Hey, what can I get you?”

Mike finally seemed to notice her and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Miss. Did you need something?”

“Elizabeth? I thought you quit,” Mike’s son-in-law remarked.

The girl named Elizabeth shrugged. “Gotta pay the bills somehow. I don’t know when the alimony will start.”

“Jesus, do marriage vows mean anything to anyone anymore?” Mike threw up his hands. “I can’t remember the last marriagein this town that worked.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Can I get you something to eat, to drink?”

“Coffee–black. To go,” Mary finally said. She slid her hands in the pockets of her dark gray overcoat and focused on the girl Elizabeth.

Elizabeth poured the coffee into a Styrofoam cup and placed a lid on it. “One dollar and fifty cents.”

Mary slid two dollars across the counter. “Keep the change.” She took the coffee and exited the diner, eager to be away from what looked like a strange family argument. She’d lived in a small town before–but everyone had kept to themselves. No one aired their private business outside their own homes.

It seemed to be quite the opposite here.

She crossed the docks and sipped her coffee. In just an hour, she’d be starting her first class on the first day of her new life and she was terrified. She’d been lucky to find a position at all and now she wondered if she’d be any good at it.

“You’re Mary Bishop, aren’t you?” a voice called out from behind her.

She turned and saw a police officer at the top of the stairs. She’d never been fond of a man in uniform. After all, it was a man in a Marine Corps uniform who’d knocked on her door one night and shattered her entire world.

“Yes,” she answered cautiously. “Why?”

The man walked down the stairs and as he came closer, she realized he was Officer Lucky Spencer, the brother of Nikolas Cassadine. “I remember you–you’re that man’s brother.”

Lucky nodded. “Nikolas still hasn’t regained all his memory but he’s recuperating back home.” He gestured towards the house in the distance, surrounded by mists and fog. “Spoon Island.”

Mary nodded. “I’m glad to hear he’s all right.”

“Well–I just wanted to thank you again,” Lucky remarked. “I–I ran your name and found out you’re a veteran’s widow. I was sorry to hear that.”

“Connor died last summer,” she said softly. “He was in the Marines and one of the few soldiers who was a casualty of the actual war.”

“How long were you married?” Lucky asked curiously.

“Just a few months. We were married in May and he shipped out shortly after that. He was sent home in August.” Her throat felt thick and she despised this man for bringing this all back to her.

But she was starting a new life and in order to avoid the pity and sympathy she’d barely survived back home–she had to pretend that this was in the past and she was over it now.

“Man…” Lucky shook his head. “I’m really sorry.” He hesitated. “Am I keeping you from something?”

“I have work, so yes,” Mary admitted. “It’s my first day Port Charles Elementary School, I’m a kindergarten teacher.”

“Oh–well, the good luck on your first day and welcome to Port Charles.” Lucky held out his hand. She shook it and took a step back.

“Thank you.” Mary nodded and then turned–hurrying to get away from the sympathy in the officer’s eyes.

——

Her first day went as well as could be expected. The children were sweet enough but she wondered if that would wear off with the first day over.

Her fellow teachers were nice enough but like in the diner, everyone seemed to know everyone’s business. Someone had told someone else about Connor and by lunch time, she could see the pity in their eyes.

It was almost as if Mary could hear them saying, “There goes the war widow. What a shame.”

But she didn’t want to return to that house just yet. Didn’t want to face those rooms with the pictures of Connor everywhere. Mementos of a life she wanted to forget but couldn’t bring herself to begin the process.

The diner was almost deserted–the after school crowd was gone and dinner rush hadn’t begun. If Mary was lucky–she could be in and out before another sympathetic soul set in on her.

The pregnant brunette was still working behind the counter but there was no sign of the irritating Mike or his stand–offish son–in–law. She hesitantly approached the counter and reached for the menu.

“Hey, welcome back,” the brunette greeted. “Glad to see our coffee didn’t scare you off.”

Mary smiled weakly before hiding her face behind the menu. After a moment, she heard the girl’s voice again. “Now I know why you look familiar.”

Mary frowned and lowered her menu. “I do?”

The girl nodded. “Yeah–Emily Quartermaine is my best friend and Nikolas is like a brother to me.” She extended her hand. “Elizabeth Lans–” she stopped. “Elizabeth Webber.”

“Mary Bishop.” Mary hesitated. “Can I ask why you changed your last name?”

“Divorce,” Elizabeth waved her hand in dismissal. “I’d rather eat dirt than carry his last name. But I’m sure you heard Mike bemoan the lack of morals this morning.”

“I did,” Mary admitted. “But I didn’t want to eavesdrop. How long since the divorce?”

“Two weeks since it was finalized and a month since I left him,” Elizabeth replied. She hesitated. “I–I know you must be sick of hearing this but…Lucky told me about your husband.”

The warmth fled from Mary’s eyes and she drew her shoulders back. “Yes–it seems everyone knows about Connor.”

Elizabeth bit her lip. “I’m sorry–look, I’ve been where you are and everyone always has something supportive to say and it feels like they’re always saying how sorry they are when you all you want is to be alone.”

“So why bring it up at all?” Mary asked coldly. “If you’ve been where I am–” she stopped. “I’m sorry.”

“No–I am. You don’t even know me–everyone knows everything in Port Charles so I’m used to people remembering when we thought Lucky was dead,” Elizabeth told her. “See–we were high school sweethearts and he was believed dead in a fire. It devastated me.”

“How long–how long did you think he was dead?” Mary asked curiously, having never heard of someone coming back from the dead.

“About a year. The first six months–they were dreadful. I started pretending that I was okay because–if Lucky’s girlfriend, the love of his life–if she was okay, then it was okay for his family and friends to be okay, you know?” Elizabeth sipped her water. “But I wasn’t and I was bottling everything inside me–and I got so sick of hearing Lucky would have wanted me to do this, or he would have wanted me to do that…and I just thought–what the hell do I care what he would have wanted? He’s dead, I’m all alone and nothing is going to make me feel better.”

Mary nodded. “You really have been where I am,” she said a little surprised. “I moved from my hometown because I got tired of hearing about how I shouldn’t wallow. About how Connor wouldn’t have wanted me to give up. They said that I wasn’t dealing with my loss well.” She rolled her eyes. “My loss. Connor and I had been friends since we were five, dating practically all our lives and…suddenly, just because he’s gone, I’m supposed to be magically okay?”

“And you came to Port Charles where every look is one of pity or every word is how sorry someone is.” Elizabeth nodded and smiled. “I know that phase. It’s the anger phase of grief. You just want to lash out at the world and when that doesn’t work, you think…why don’t I just…try to find something that hurts worse?”

“Right before I decided to leave Ithaca, I…” Mary hesitated, realizing she was about to tell this woman something she’d never told anyone. She blinked. “I’m sorry–you must have other customers.”

“I’m not really on duty,” Elizabeth informed her. “I live upstairs right now and pitch in when I have to. Why don’t I put your order in and we can grab a table to talk some more?”

“If it’s not a bother…I’ll just have the chicken fingers and fries.” Mary slid off the stool and headed towards the first empty table. A moment later, Elizabeth sat across from her and set an iced tea down. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Elizabeth fiddled with the silver bracelet around her wrist. “You know–my rebellion was actually pretty mild. I dressed up and went to a bar, hoping someone would bother me and I could just unleash my anger.”

“Did someone?” Mary asked curiously.

“Yeah–but Jason…he’s the guy Mike was yelling at this morning–that used to be his kind of hangout and he took care of the guy before it got too serious. I was furious with him though–because I really wanted that outlet.” Elizabeth shrugged. “But he sat me down and he let me ramble for like an hour about how much I missed Lucky, and how nothing would ever be okay again–and he just listened and I realized that I needed that a lot more than I needed a fight.”

Mary nodded. “You were lucky to have a friend like him. Where I grew up–everyone always assumed they knew better and less than three months after the funeral, women from the church were setting me up with their grandsons.” She stared at her hands. “Right before I left Ithaca, I attempted suicide.”

Elizabeth didn’t blink, didn’t gasp–didn’t do anything that Mary had expected so she continued. “I took a whole bottle of anti–depressants and went to sleep but my mother stopped by unexpectedly. I got my stomach pumped and everyone decided that I had just forgotten I had already taken some.”

“They didn’t realize what it was?” Elizabeth asked curiously.

Mary shook her head. “They ignored it, pretended it was something else. But I knew I couldn’t be there anymore. So I started applying at schools–I’m a teacher–and here I am.”

“I thought about it after Lucky died. I thought about it a lot but I never hit rock bottom.” Elizabeth reached out and squeezed Mary’s hand. “I was lucky that I had someone like Jason and no one understands more than I do that sometimes you just want someone to listen.”

Mary nodded and drew in a shaky breath. “When we were five, he pulled my hair so I pushed him out of the sandbox.” She tried to laugh but it came out a strangled sob. “Everyone said we were soul mates…”

Elizabeth squeezed her hand again and nodded for her to go on and for the first time, Mary remembered the joy of having been with Connor rather than the pain.

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