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Chapter 49
"You are glowing, my dear," Audrey said as Elizabeth walked over to where the older woman was sitting. "The boys look like they're about to float away."
She looked over at Cameron and Jake who were running around the restaurant that had been closed for the day for Jason's family. The little boys were darting around tables, laughing and chasing each other, not entirely caring about who was winning; they simply wanted to run.
"They're happy," the young mother agreed. "They had such a good time on the island."
"They did," the great-grandmother smiled lovingly. "It was such a delight to watch them down there. So relaxed, so happy...I loved watching them."
Elizabeth put her hand on Audrey's arm and asked, "How are you doing, Gram? Watching the boys wasn't too much for you, was it?"
"I'm fine," she insisted, not liking when her granddaughter frowned. "Steven and Monica hardly let me do anything."
"It's because they care," the young nurse said. "And we worry. You...you look pale, Gram. Now, I could accept that two plane trips made you tired, but that was also days ago. You didn't look this pale on the island...so I'm concerned."
The older woman sighed. "You truly are a good nurse, Elizabeth. Compassionate, caring...observant. We should have known better than to think you wouldn't notice."
"We?" she asked, lifting her brow. "Who? And notice what?"
"I did feel more tired after the trip back. I saw Dr. Mojavarian and he ran some tests. We're adjusting my medication, but I'm still feeling tired. Monica is consulting with him."
Her granddaughter's brow now drew low and she pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. Audrey reached out and placed her hand on the younger woman's arm and tried to comfort her. "Darling-"
"They ran tests?" Elizabeth asked briskly. "What did they find? What did they change your medication to?"
"Elizabeth," the older woman shook her head. "Darling, this is a happy day. This is a day for your family. Monica and Dr. Mojavarian are taking very good care of me and now that I've been on the new medication I am beginning to feel better."
With a frown, the young nurse said, "You are family, too, Gram. And I'm glad you're starting to feel better, but of course I'm going to worry. This is why Jason and I offered to get married here; we didn't want to impact your health."
"And I would gladly feel tired for a few days to be there once again for you, my dear. You were beautiful and so happy and I would not have missed it for anything. Nor would I have had you get married in the hospital chapel like you suggested. It was my choice to go and I do not want you to feel bad at all. I know I can't tell you not to worry, but I want to tell you that I'm not worried."
She tilted her head and said softly, "I am sick, and I know that. I am being treated and I'm hopeful, but you and I both know medicine doesn't have guarantees. So please, my dear…let's enjoy this day. The boys are so excited and looking forward to this wonderful meal."
"I think they're excited about the cake Francis told them about," her granddaughter laughed, the worry in her eyes fading, but still there.
"They are your sons," Audrey teased. "You never passed up a piece of cake when you were younger. Especially if it was chocolate cake."
Elizabeth laughed, "I still love it."
She smiled as she nodded. "I know, darling. Now go make your grandmother happy and go over with your husband and sons."
The younger woman leaned over and kissed her cheek. "All right. Will you be okay here?"
"I will," she assured her.
The young woman walked towards her family and Audrey let out a sigh, leaning back against her seat. Monica appeared a few minutes later and gave her a glass of water. She took it and said, gratefully, "Thank you."
"How are you?" her friend asked in a concerned tone.
"I'm tired," the older woman admitted.
"More or less since you started the new medication?" the doctor asked.
"Less," Audrey told her friend. "It just...it just feels like I can't completely get on top of it. I know it's normal, but it's hard to accept just because it's normal."
"I know," the other woman nodded. "We don't want to accept we're only human and have frailties. But as long as you're not getting worse then we just have to be patient."
Audrey nodded her head. "I know. But Elizabeth was so worried and I felt so bad that it's because of me. This is a happy day...a wonderful day for them. Cameron's adoption...changing Jake's birth certificate. I don't want her worrying about me."
"She loves you," Monica smiled.
"Yes, but I still don't want her to worry about me," she stated. "Especially now with this trip Jason is planning for her. I don't want her to feel like she shouldn't go because of me."
"So you're putting on a brave smile and acting like you feel better than you do," the younger woman nodded.
"Yes," she confessed. "Because Elizabeth will get her dream trip; I won't see her lose it."
Cody looked up when the door to the office opened and Jason stepped into the room. He closed the file he had been going through as he asked, "Are the boys down?"
"Yeah," the father nodded. "They were wiped out and both of them fell asleep on the way home from the restaurant."
The former soldier smiled. "Good. They were so cute at the restaurant. And happy. Congratulations, Jason."
"Thank you."
"We've received congratulations from some of the other families," he told his boss. "Bernie and I are keeping and compiling them, along with the gifts some of them are sending, and we'll give you the list so you can send your thanks."
Jason nodded his head in acknowledgement of the formalities he would have to go through. But that wasn't what either man was here to discuss or what they really wanted to deal with. Of course Jason would acknowledge and send his and Elizabeth's thanks for the well-wishes, and the few gifts that were sent, but that could be delayed until after they returned from Italy. But to get to Italy was their main objective; so they needed to go through the necessary business affairs so Jason was free to enjoy his trip.
"Okay," Jason said. "How have things been here?"
"Our guest was sent home," Cody smirked, showing a little of his pleasure in that statement. "Extremely unhappy, and...I imagine that when he got home he was even more unhappy."
When his boss raised his brow in question the enforcer took delight in saying, "We've finally made a contact in the Greek government. After discussing our concerns with him, he said he was going to look into things with the Cassadine family. Last I heard, it's been discovered that the Cassadines haven't paid their property taxes or inheritance taxes from when Stefan and Stavros died. And now with Helena's death...the prince has just been hit with a very hefty bill."
"That he can't pay," the older man smirked with understanding.
"Nope. So he'll have to sell off a few pieces from his collection, or risk having the Greek government seize his entire property."
"And the prince officially becomes a pauper," the mob boss said. "But he's too proud to let that happen. He wants his legacy protected for his son, so he'll sell as few of things as he can to get the money he needs."
"Too bad we've found an antiquities dealer who's put it out there that he gets the Cassadine property and everyone else better pass and send Nikolas to him."
"Then he'll low ball the value?" the other man asked.
"Pennies on the dollar," the enforcer confirmed unapologetically with a shrug. "Economic hard times all around, you know."
"Buy the pieces from the dealer once he has them and then donate them to museums," Jason ordered. "Anonymously. Make sure Nikolas will never get them back."
Cody nodded and then said, "He may reach out to Alexis for help, but the word our contact in South Africa reports is that she and Ric are fighting and drawing some attention to themselves. I don't think she'll be able to be much help to her nephew."
Leaning forward, the boss asked, "Our back-up plan is in place?"
The former soldier nodded. "The files are in place and if they're needed, they'll be given to the FBI, Interpol and the local authorities. Ric had it explained quite clearly to him and they know we're not going to tolerate anything. Alexis is making a fuss, but hopefully self-preservation will win out. If not, she'll learn that it's unwise to try to implicate you in anything."
"Good," the older man said. "Call me if it gets to that point; before you deliver the files."
"I will," the enforcer assured him. "Hopefully it won't get there and they'll just plague each other and make each other miserable."
"Okay," Jason said, his tone indicating they were moving on. "Laura Spencer and her mother?"
"Back in Port Charles," he answered. "After finding the last assassin we told them they were free to go wherever they wanted. We would assist them, and we'd keep someone watching out for them just to ensure the safety we're confident they have now. They decided to come back to Port Charles."
Cody shrugged, "I don't know what they intend to do. They might sell the house...there have been a couple of realtors stopping by. We have someone just keeping an eye on them and who's around in case they ask for anything...but otherwise..."
"They're fine and on their own," the mob boss concluded.
"Right," he nodded.
"So that's taken care of," the older man said. "If they ask, we won't ignore them, but we have other things to concentrate on."
"Like Max and Milo," the second-in-command stated. "I've watched them since Corinthos' death and they both seem eager to work for you now and be loyal to you. But I gotta be honest with you...I've got problems with them."
"Why?" Jason questioned, his brow furrowing as he leaned back on the couch they were sitting on.
"I don't like that they transferred their loyalty to Sonny," he said bluntly. "Max asked you to let his father believe he was running the territory...and all the while he was working for Sonny and stayed working for him. Then as soon as Corinthos is dead they come back to work for you and expect all to be forgiven."
"I wanted someone to keep an eye on Sonny."
"You've said that before," he said, his skeptical tone clear.
"And you've still got problems with Max," the other man countered. He pressed again, "Why?"
"Because who's to say he won't transfer loyalty again?" Cody challenged. "John and Francis are more loyal to you than they were to Sonny, but they had a reason. They'd seen Sonny's erratic, disloyal actions and so they stayed, but leaned towards you because you were stable. Max had a first hand view of everything Sonny did, and he chose him over you. He claimed Sonny hired him so he owed the other man his loyalty, but Max lacks conviction. He was a fool anytime Carly batted her eyelashes at him and he let himself get played.
"I asked him," he continued, "what he would do if he heard someone like Grant talking to someone outside the organization. He immediately said he'd tell us; let us know we had another rat. Then I asked him what he would do if the rat was about to hurt your family and he said he'd take the guy down. Then I asked him what he would do if he had heard Sonny order the hit on you. He balked...said Sonny would never have done something like that."
Jason raised his brow and the enforcer went on. "When I showed him proof, he was just sure that Sonny wouldn't do that. Even with proof he was sure there was a mistake; that it was only because Sonny was sick. Then I asked him what he would have done if he'd heard Sonny. He tried to play it both ways; wouldn't condemn Sonny or say he would have done everything to stop him, all the while saying he would do everything now to protect your family. If he can't condemn that and believe the truth when there is proof...then I have a hard time trusting what he'd do if someone else came along. What if Morgan comes back in ten years and wants his dad's territory? What if Max's father tells him some associate of his feels you aren't up to running the territory? I don't want to spend the rest of my time with you watching this guy because I don't trust him not to stab me in the back."
"And if I say I trust him and I'm keeping him?"
The younger man licked his lips and calmly said, "Then I'd have to say this is where we part ways. I respect you, and I will never betray you...but I'd have to move on."
The mob boss was quiet and looked contemplative, but then shook his head. "No. It's time for Max to move on. I like him; I'm not going to retaliate against him, but I think he's going to have to move on. Especially if he can't see that what Sonny ordered was wrong. I have to admit I've wondered as well what he would have done if he'd heard Sonny order the hit."
"What about his brother?"
Jason sighed heavily, "I'll talk to both of them and I'll call Maximus. Make sure they understand there is no recrimination coming; we'll even take them to Italy. But Max's place in the organization is over. My guess is Milo will choose to go with Max."
"It will probably be for the best," the younger man agreed. "There isn't really much rumbling about Max having worked for Sonny and now for you again, you took others that worked for Sonny into your organization after he died...but I think if you'd promoted him there might have been."
Both men were quiet and contemplative, and then the older man let out a heavy breath. "What about Bobbie and Jax and the boys?"
"We talked with them," Cody answered. "We'll keep guards on them and we've made sure Bobbie has accounts she can access for their care. They know the threat from Helena is gone, but Bobbie said they don't want to come back. Michael is in treatment and they don't want to move him and with all the killings...they just don't want to come back to Port Charles."
"Yeah," the other man nodded. "The times I've talked to her...I felt they would stay there regardless of what happened here. But I am committed to making sure the boys are taken care of. Regardless of what Sonny did, the boys will be looked after."
They fell quiet again and then Jason said, "I'll talk to Elizabeth once we're there, but maybe we'll go over to Switzerland and see them."
"I'm sure they would appreciate that," the enforcer said. After another pause he asked, "Is there anything else you want to discuss? Anything you feel we need to go over to have in place while you're gone?"
"No," the mob boss shook his head. "You and Bernie have things in hand. I just want a couple of days to settle the boys down at home, and then Elizabeth and I will go. Get Max and Milo together for tomorrow. I'm going to go back to the house and spend the rest of the day with my family."
"Enjoy," Cody told him. "Unless something happens, you won't hear from me until I let you know when I've got the brothers ready to meet with you. You deserve some time with your family."
"Good," the older man said, as he stood and prepared to go. "Thank you, Cody for taking care of it."
The enforcer gathered his files and then left as well. This office in Sonny's old penthouse was for Jason's convenience; to be able to meet close to his family and not have to go all the way to the warehouse. Cody, however, preferred to be at the warehouse when he wasn't meeting here, because he could be closer to the men and see what was going on with the organization. Plus, he needed to send word to the Giambetti brothers that Jason wanted to meet with them tomorrow.
"After all that cake and their long nap, I was afraid the boys would never fall asleep," Elizabeth laughed as she finally dropped down onto the couch beside Jason. He set aside the file he was reading and pulled her close for a kiss. Then he shifted her around easily and lifted her feet into his lap and began to massage them.
"Oh," she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the cushions. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said with a smile in his voice. "The boys were wound up today."
"Well...it isn't every day you get adopted and make your father officially your father," she said, opening her eyes to look at him with love. "It was an amazing day."
"It was," he agreed deeply with her. "I waited so long for this day. The boys, you, me...all a family now. It's what I wanted forever."
"I know," she replied. "It was the dream I could barely let myself think about and never thought I would have. It's our life and it's real and it's...wonderful. And one day...maybe we'll have another baby...or two. Who knows what the future will bring for us, but I know we will have a future together and will face whatever comes our way."
"We will," Jason nodded. "You made my dreams come true, Elizabeth, and I want to make yours come true."
Sitting up, she crawled over to him and took his face into her hands, kissing him soundly. "You did, Jason. And you always will."
He reached for the folder beside him and said, "I hope to."
"What's this?" she asked curiously, taking the folder he handed her.
"A dream you've had for a long time and one I've wanted to give you for almost as long," he told her, his voice thick with emotion.
"Oh," Elizabeth gasped out as she opened the folder and saw the front cover of an Italy guidebook. Moving the cover she saw a picture of Rome, followed by one of Venice. Looking up at him through misty eyes she asked, "Italy?"
"We're going," he nodded.
Hardly believing she asked, "We are? When?"
He leaned forward and kissed her, erasing her memories of the time she sat in the airport and watched the plane leave while she wondered and worried where he was. When he pulled back he answered, "In a couple of days; after the boys are settled in. Steven and Monica will help watch them. One day they'll see Italy through their mother's eyes, but the first time...that is just for us."
Her eyes swam with tears as she breathed out, "Oh, Jason."
"We're going," he promised her, his breath puffing across her lips. "We're going to Italy and we're going to see what you've always wanted to see."
She kissed him, pouring her love into it. "Thank you. So much. I-I've always wanted, but I..."
"I know," he said softly. "I always wanted to give it to you, and now I am. We're going, Elizabeth...and it's going to be wonderful."
"It will be," she agreed fervently. "Because you will be with me. You're the only person I ever wanted to see Italy with...and now we will."
Chapter 50
Italy was beautiful. Jason had been to the country before, but it was whole new, glorious experience now. His wife had dreamed of this day for years, had thought about where she would go and what she wanted to see most instead of trying to see everything and barely appreciating it. So they picked a few places that they could spend their time in and not feel so rushed. There were museums and paintings to see and marvel over, but they also wanted to explore the countryside and have the freedom to go where they wanted to when the notion took them.
For three glorious weeks they began in the south and went north. They could have spent just that time in Rome and not seen it all, but Elizabeth didn't want to be away from the boys for too long and she wanted to see a variety of the country, accepting that they couldn't see it all now. He promised they would come again, bring the boys, maybe even get a villa so they had a home instead of living out of hotels. She had turned down having a villa this time, wanting instead to have a little more freedom to move.
But next time, they would definitely get a house and explore a region, and the next time explore a new region, and so on. And maybe when they found their favorite region they would buy a place that would be theirs forever. Jason had promised Elizabeth all of this, yet she still insisted on seeing as much as she could now because they didn't know what the future would bring. They may decide they didn't want to travel with a little baby, if they were lucky; or they might have an easy, love-to-travel baby. She just wanted to take life as it came, which meant enjoying Italy now.
Currently, the joy of Italy was an afternoon nap. He looked down at his sleeping wife, the late afternoon light falling across her and illuminating golden strands in her chestnut hair. He reached out and gently pushed a strand back, then let his hand float in the air over her. He was close enough to feel the warmth of her skin, but he wouldn't disturb her sleep. He paused when he reached her waist and then slowly lowered his hand to rest on her stomach. Her skin was soft and pale, a direct contrast to his tanned and calloused hand and he had to resist the urge to caress her; to wake her and stir the passion that was close to the surface for both of them.
He reflected over the fact that it had been over a month since their wedding, and not once had they had to suspend their lovemaking. He knew there was no guarantee, but he couldn't stop the hope that began to build in his chest. Ever since they talked about children that night before the wedding, it had been in the back of his mind. Elizabeth had seen her doctor, been declared healthy, and they had decided they would stop using condoms then. She'd had her period before the wedding, but hadn't since then. Perhaps it was too soon to say, but he wondered.
Could she be pregnant? Could it really have happened that soon? He had always thought Jake had been a beautiful miracle; a perfect alignment of one glorious moment. Their next child, if they were blessed, couldn't come that soon. Could it?
He couldn't stop his hand from gently rubbing her stomach; the place where their child even now may be resting. His beautiful wife stirred slightly and her eyes fluttered open. They were soft and sleepy, but as they focused on him a smile diffused over her face.
"Hey," she said quietly.
"I didn't mean to wake you," he said, though he couldn't fill his voice with too much regret. "But as I was watching you...thinking...and...
"I love you so much," he said, lowering his head to kiss her lips. Elizabeth wound her arms around her neck and moved close to him, pressing her bare skin against him and winding her leg around his. They rolled so she was on top of him and she pulled back, looking down at him.
"I love you, too," she said. Then she frowned slightly, studying him. "This is something more though, isn't it? What is it, Jason?"
He licked his lips, tucking a piece of hair back behind her ear and asked, "Are you...are you late?"
She looked at him in surprise, but then she looked thoughtful as she closed her eyes and said softly, "Maybe."
"Do you want to find out?"
"I don't know," Elizabeth said as she rolled to the side and shrugged one shoulder. "I...I didn't want to get my hopes up too much, too soon. Sometimes I'm late. We're going home in a week and if I haven't started by then...then I'll get a test."
"Do you want to get one now?" he asked her, not able to completely hide a frown.
"I'm afraid to," she confessed on a whisper after a long pause. "What if it's false? I...I...it's almost easier to live with not knowing than to know for certain that I'm not. I want to enjoy the rest of our trip; not be sad."
His brow furrowed as he asked, "Why do you think it'll be negative?"
"I don't want to be disappointed," Elizabeth said, her voice betraying her nervousness. "Or disappoint you. I didn't expect it to happen this quickly...and what if I'm not?"
"You could never disappoint me," Jason told her fiercely as he rolled them over and he framed her face with his hands. "If you're pregnant now, later or never you could not disappoint me."
He kissed her and then said, "I told you, Elizabeth; we are in this together. We will do this together. Always."
She looked up at him and then asked, "You want to know, don't you?"
"I do," he nodded, letting out a breath.
"Then we'll go get a test," she promised him sincerely.
"Later," he told her as he lowered his lips to her and rolled his hips into the cradle of her thighs. "Later."
Her hand trembled and her eyes welled with tears. Two blue lines. Two. Indicating a positive test. Positive. She was pregnant.
Jason came up behind her, his hands coming around her waist to rest under her navel. Right where their child was.
"There was no reason to be so doubtful," he said, his chin resting on her shoulder. "I knew it was going to be positive.
"I wanted it to be positive," she whispered as two tears overflowed and traced down her left cheek. "I was just afraid to hope too much."
She leaned back against her husband and closed her eyes. "But I hoped...and it's true."
His strong, protective hands pressed against her stomach and he said, "I know. Now we know, and we will be together every step of the way."
"I want to go home," she said, opening her eyes and meeting his in the mirror. "I want to see Kelly."
He turned her to face him and frowned. "You're scared?"
"I know she said there's no reason to believe that what happened with Jake will happen again," she answered. "I'm a nurse; I know that my odds are high, but that's not a guarantee that it will happen again. But I'll feel better being watched by Kelly."
"I want you to have peace of mind," he told her. "But I don't want you to be ruled by fear for the next eight months, Elizabeth. I wanted to show you Venice; I wanted you to know and be happy, not scared."
She pulled her lip in between her teeth and he continued, "We were going to go to one other place before Venice, but let's go there. I want you to experience it. To see the canals and the bridges, the light reflecting off the water so you can see just how truly beautiful it is. I want to have that picture in your mind to inspire you to paint."
"How can I let my fears keep me from that?" she said through tears, moved by his loving desires for her. "You were right about getting a test; I trust you will be right now."
With a shake of his head he said, "I'm not dismissing your concerns, Elizabeth. If you want to go home, we'll go."
Rising up on her toes she kissed him. "No. A few days...I do want to see Venice. It's why we saved it for the end; so it would my last beautiful memories of this trip."
"Then we'll go. We'll spend a few days and then we'll go home." Jason wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closed. "And then we will prepare for the next phase of our lives."
"Epiphany."
The older woman looked up at the sound of her voice and smiled, but it was tempered. It made Elizabeth slightly uneasy, because she had put this off before and now she was here to resolve the issue. She sat down and took a deep breath to prepare for the conversation they needed to have. Her intentions were forestalled when her friend asked, "Were you looking for information on your grandmother?"
"My grandmother?" she asked with a frown. "What about my gram?"
"You didn't know she was in the hospital?"
"No," she breathed out with a shake of her head. "We just got back from Italy and I...I came to see Kelly."
The other woman lifted her brow with a hint of a smile. "Oh?"
Elizabeth couldn't keep her own smile hidden now that she'd had her pregnancy confirmed and many of her worries understood and comforted by Kelly. "Yes. I'm pregnant."
"Congratulations," the charge nurse told her sincerely.
"Thank you," she said, then she sobered. "However, it...Jason and I talked in Italy after I took a test. I like being a nurse and I like helping people, but..."
"Your life has changed," Epiphany stated. "You are married to a man who wants to protect you and the security personnel he has would be difficult to accommodate here. Plus, you are going to have a new baby; a beautiful change. It's understandable you'd want to focus on your family now."
She nodded. "Yes. I...I was coming to give you my resignation. I'm so sorry, Epiphany. I feel like I'm letting you down."
The older woman shook her head and reached out to cover Elizabeth's hand. "Don't be. I suspected this might happen. I'm sorry to lose you, Elizabeth, because you're a good nurse. However...you have a new focus now."
"Thank you," she breathed out. She suspected this conversation had gone easier because of the next subject she was about to broach. "Now, what about my gram? Is she in the hospital?"
"She was admitted last night," her friend told her, sobering as she relayed the news. "Monica found her collapsed at her house."
"She's in the cardiac unit?" Elizabeth asked, feeling anxious and needing to get to her grandmother.
The older woman shook her head and answered, "ICU."
"I..."
"You need to go," the nurse said with understanding. "I haven't seen much on her case, but I know her doctors are doing everything for her. She was unconscious when she was brought in, but I believe she regained consciousness shortly after arrival."
Then she looked at the former nurse and said gruffly, "So get out of here, Mrs. Morgan, and go see her."
As she exited the staff room she saw Jason waiting anxiously for her. She started towards him and she pre-empted anything he might ask by saying. "My gram is in the ICU. She was brought in last night by Monica."
He nodded gravely. "I just got an update from her guards and Monica's been with her all night. She knows we're here and she's waiting for us. I was just waiting to tell you until you were done with Epiphany."
"What happened?" she fretted as they boarded the elevator. "At the courthouse she looked tired and pale, but she said she was fine; just a little tired but getting better."
"We'll find out," he promised her, putting his arm around her in comfort. "Monica is with her and you know she will do everything she can to help Audrey. She'll be able to tell us what happened. It will be okay."
As they stepped off the elevator Monica was there to meet them and she pulled Elizabeth into a hug. She felt her eyes burn and her throat tighten as the older woman held her close and rubbed her hand over her daughter-in-law's back.
"She will be okay," Monica said as she pulled back and she directed them into a staff room. "She regained consciousness shortly after we got her here. She's tired, but we've got her on an IV and she's back on her medication."
"Back on her medication?" Elizabeth demanded.
"She was tired after returning from the island," the doctor said. "She saw Dr. Mojovarian who tried a new medication to see if it would help and she began to feel better. We thought we just had to give it time and she would improve."
The worried granddaughter felt the heavy fist of dread settle into her stomach. "But?"
"She began to have some side effects and we monitored her and tried to help her. We changed her meds, but she was in a cascade by then." Monica shook her head in self-castigation. "Audrey went off her meds. She made that choice and we didn't know. I stopped by her house, just to check on her and see how she was doing. I found her unconscious and called 911. We put her back on her original medication because she needs to be on something and it seems to give her the least side effects."
Licking her lips, the former nurse nodded her understanding. "Okay. Okay. So what do we do next? Do we look at surgical options now?"
The older woman shook her head. "She doesn't want surgery. She knows the recovery process and she doesn't want to go through it. She would rather be comfortable."
"Until she dies," the younger woman said on a choked sob as Jason wrapped his arm around her.
"Yes," Monica said. "She would rather be comfortable than deal with all the attendant pain and long recovery of a surgery that may only give her a few extra months."
With a desperate shake of her head Elizabeth she looked at her mother-in-law and then up at her husband. "No. No, she can't die. I need her. She has to be here. She wanted to see us with a girl. What if it is a girl? She has to be here when the baby's born to see if we have a girl. I...I was looking forward to telling her. To showing her the sonogram.
"Jason," she gasped out, feeling on the edge of panic. "She can't die. I'm not ready for it."
"Shh," he said, pulling her to him and cradling her head against his chest. His broad hand rested on her hair and she could hear his heartbeat in her ear. "Shh. Let's see her. We'll talk to the doctors; see what they say. It will be okay. Monica is here and she'll help."
"Oh, Monica," she said as she whirled around to see Jason's mother standing there with tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I...I just...forgot...I wasn't meaning to ignore you...or discount you..."
The older woman shook her head and stepped forward to rest her hand on the younger woman's arm. "No. I understand. Let me just say congratulations. I'm so happy for you both. And Audrey will be as well. And maybe this wonderful news will help her; give her something to look forward to."
Her voice caught slightly as she continued, "Something to fight for."
"I hope so," the young mother said. "I hope so."
"Go see her," Monica urged her. "Jason and I will talk for a few minutes and let you have some time with Audrey."
"Thank you, Monica," she said. The looked at Jason and leaned into him as she closed her eyes. "Thank you," she said softly.
"Go see your grandmother," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I'll be in soon."
Audrey looked up when she heard the knock on the door and she straightened, expecting Monica to return from wherever she'd gone. Instead, Elizabeth poked her head inside and asked, "Gram? Are you awake?"
"Elizabeth?" asked in surprise. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Italy."
"What are you doing here?" her granddaughter challenged as she crossed to the bed. "And why did you never say anything to me? When I talked to you while we were in Italy you would always say you were fine."
She hooked a thumb over her shoulder towards the door and said, "Monica said you were in a cascade and anything but fine."
Sitting down in a chair she looked at her grandmother with a shake of her head and asked, "Why would you do that, Gram? Why would you lie to me?"
"I wanted you to enjoy your dream, darling," she said. "I didn't want you to rush home on my account."
"Well, that is just ridiculous," Elizabeth said with a shake of her head. "Yes, Italy has been my dream, but you are family. Italy will always be there; you are more important."
Tears flooded the younger woman's eyes and the frustration that had filled her drained away, leaving a worried and shaken person in her place. "Don't you know that, Gram? No trip is more important than family."
Audrey reached out and took her granddaughter's hand, hoping to soothe the agitated young woman. "I know, my darling; I know. But my grandmother heart wanted you to have this wonderful trip. You've wanted this for so long and I wanted you to have this beautiful honeymoon with your husband."
Elizabeth pressed a kiss against her grandmother's weathered hands and Audrey felt tears drop onto her skin. Looking up, the younger woman said, "I know you did, but please don't do anything like this again, Gram. Please don't hide things from me. I love you."
The older woman smiled softly and said, "I know, dear. Now, enough of this...tell me, how was your trip?"
"Beautiful," her granddaughter breathed out as her face lit up from within. "It was wonderful. I saw so much and I feel like I just scratched the surface of all we could have seen. Oh, I bought you something so beautiful, but it's in my suitcase and I need to unpack."
"It's alright, sweetheart," she replied. "I appreciate you coming to see me; I am just sorry you cut your trip short because of me."
The younger woman looked down and bit her lip as her cheeks went slightly pink. "Actually...I came to the hospital for something else, and then I heard you were here."
Audrey frowned and asked, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I am," her granddaughter smiled. "In fact, I'm wonderful. I'm pregnant."
The great-grandmother's eyebrows went up in surprised delight and she said, "Oh, darling. I am so happy for you. How wonderful for you and Jason."
The door opened and the expectant father stepped in, followed by Monica. Audrey smiled at the young man who was looking at her granddaughter in concern. "Congratulations, Jason," she told him.
"Thank you," he replied. "How are you?"
"I'm better than I was," she answered sincerely. "Still a little tired, but I am feeling better. And my heart feels lighter knowing there is a brand new baby coming. It gives me something to look forward to."
"And hopefully something to fight for," Elizabeth said pointedly. As Jason put his hand on his wife's shoulder and nodded in agreement she continued, "Because we want you here with us."
Elizabeth sat on the couch with Cameron and Jake on either side clamoring for her to listen to their stories while also wanting to hear all about Italy. She was laughing and glowing, kissing them and hugging them and they were all happy to be reunited. It was beautiful; they were all beautiful.
"It's good to see her back and so happy," Steven said. "She's relaxed and it's clear she enjoyed her trip."
Jason nodded as he looked at his wife. "She did. It was a good trip, but we missed the boys. Next time we're taking them with us.
"Thank you," he said, turning to his brother-in-law and shaking the man's hand. "Thank you for looking out for the boys and letting your sister have this."
"She deserved it," the doctor replied.
"She did," he agreed. "But she didn't deserve her family keeping her in the dark. Her grandmother is more important to her than a trip. So I'm asking you to please not do that again. She loves Audrey and she worries about her. She doesn't need to worry any more than she already is, not right now."
He licked his lips and said, "It's not good for her or the baby. After everything with Jake we want to keep stress low...we can't spend the next eight months buried in fear and worry. That means we can't be kept in the dark to spare her."
"Point taken," the older man said. Then he smiled and said, "And congratulations."
Walking over to his sister Steven leaned down to kiss her cheek. He must have whispered her congratulations to her because she blushed in surprise and looked at Jason before saying thank you. He rubbed the boys' hair and said, "This has been fun, but I'm ready to go home and get some sleep. It's good to have you home, Lizbits."
"Thank you, Steven," she smiled up at him before her attention was once again demanded by the boys.
Once the other man left, Jason joined his family on the couch and gladly let the boys climb all over him. Anything he did from this point on, any enemy he faced, any battle he fought would be for the protection of his family. It wouldn't be for power or money or more territory; it would be to ensure their safety the best way he knew how so they didn't have to look over their shoulders and live in fear.
Maybe one day he would find a way to distance himself from this life and ensure greater stability and safety. But for now, he would shore up his organization and power base so that he did not appear weak and invite an attack. His wife was pregnant and he would protect her and their children with everything he had. Because nothing and no one was going to take him away from his family.
Leaning over to kiss her, he smiled at her and hoped she knew just how much he loved her. The look she gave him in return told him she did. This was their life now; everything they had worked for, and he would hold onto it with everything he had.
Epilogue
One year later...
Jason walked up behind his wife and gently slipped his arm around her waist so he wouldn't startle her. He pressed a kiss to her temple and asked, "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing okay," she answered with a wistful sigh. "I just didn't expect to be back here so soon."
"I know," he agreed softly, resting his head against hers.
When Audrey had passed away two months ago it had not been unexpected. Her health had been declining, though she had done all she could to take care of herself and be with them as long as possible. They had been able to spend time with her, and prepare the boys for what was happening and her death that would come. It hadn't entirely made it easier, but they had been preparing for the moment. They had not been prepared for the next death, however.
Elizabeth rubbed her hand over his arm that was securely wrapped around her and asked, "How are you doing?"
He let out a troubled sigh. "I don't know. I know he was old, but he'd survived heart attacks before. But..."
"I know," she said. "Edward seemed like he'd live forever."
"Yeah," he said heavily. He was always there; blustering and bellowing, demanding and pushing, aggravating and irritating, but he was always there. He'd outlived Lila and Alan and was such an entrenched part of Jason's life, even when they were arguing and at odds and the younger man had declared he'd wanted nothing to do with the man who was his grandfather. To have him suddenly die had been a shock to them all.
"I'm glad he got to meet the kids," he voiced, but it was filled with a measure of guilt. "I just wish..."
Elizabeth turned to face him and clasped his face between her hands and firmly said, "No. No, I will not let you do this, Jason. I know you and Edward had more than your share of differences and right now you're feeling a lot of sadness and guilt, but stop. Do you remember what he did when he found out I was pregnant?"
Even though they were standing in front of the family crypt having just interred him, Jason couldn't stop the clenching of his jaw as he remembered. Edward had been relentless. He had hounded Elizabeth and the boys, trying to bribe them with toys and treats and ingratiate himself to them. He ignored the guards, and made such an annoyance of himself that even kind-hearted Elizabeth simply had reached her breaking point. She'd begged Edward to leave her alone, asked Monica and Audrey to intervene and make him see reason and when it failed she told Jason she just couldn't do it anymore.
When the angry husband's last warning went unheeded, they had shocked Port Charles by taking out a restraining order on Edward Quartermaine and then having him arrested when he violated it. A scion of the community was led away in handcuffs and then had to spend the night in jail because Monica refused to bail him out. Tracy wouldn't help him either because she'd been forced out of ELQ by him and remained bitter against her father.
However, that hadn't stopped his determination to force Jason into capitulating and he'd fought back. Edward had tried to stop the purchase of the young family's home, raised questions over Nikolas Cassadine's downfall and even thought he could outbid Jason on business deals. Monica refused to support his actions and evicted him from the mansion and the board refused to seat Edward at the hospital and he was even voted out of ELQ when Ned and Dillon came home and fought on behalf of their cousin.
It wasn't until the birth of Emily March Morgan that the old man had finally stopped fighting. Their little girl had Jason's eyes, but was in every other way her mother's daughter. Having a little girl in the family seemed to change something in Edward. Jason had Lila's eyes, and even though Jake had the same eyes, seeing them in a girl, and having her named after Emily had softened the man. It was as if a switch had turned and he suddenly remembered Lila's beliefs on family and all the times she had tried to soften him or chided him for his behavior.
"Yes," Jason breathed out. Then his features softened and he admitted, "And I remember how he changed after Emily was born. I...I didn't want to believe it was real at first, but he proved he was sincere."
Elizabeth reached out and brushed her fingertips over the stone of the crypt and nodded. "He did. And the boys were glad to get to know him; once they finally stopped being scared of him."
Jason hadn't wanted to trust Edward's overtures at first; he believed the older man's apologies had been just a ploy. But he didn't force his way, he was just consistent and sincere. And it was Monica expressing her belief that Edward had changed that helped them to begin to have limited contact with him. They had been hesitant and wary, but as each visit on neutral ground passed and he didn't push them or try to get his way, either directly or passively, they began to believe that he might be genuine.
When Audrey died, he had been there supporting the family and doing all he could to comfort Cameron and Jake. He spent time with the family, reached out to Tracy and didn't fight the fact that Ned was in control of ELQ. Perhaps he'd known then that his health was failing and he just wasn't up for the fight anymore, instead deciding to focus on family. It developed to the point where he saw the children twice a week, sometimes even more, which was why the boys were now so devastated by his death. The man who had been there for them when Audrey died and became such a big part of their lives was now suddenly gone. It had shaken them deeply.
They were home with the nanny right now, but Jason and Elizabeth were anxious to get back to them. The boys hadn't wanted their parents to go, and now that they had said good-bye to Edward the couple was ready to leave.
"Come on," Elizabeth said softly. "Let's say good-bye to your mom."
He nodded and the pair turned, walking towards the family that was gathered around Monica. She looked at them as they approached and smiled sadly at them.
"Thank you for coming," she said as Elizabeth hugged her.
"We're sorry to leave, but we want to get back to the boys," Jason's wife said. "Plus Emily will need to eat soon."
The older woman nodded with acceptance. "I understand. Maybe I'll stop by in a couple of days; I don't want them to feel uncomfortable coming to the house. They can do that when they're ready."
"They would love to see you," the younger mother said. Then she turned towards Ned and Dillon and Jason stepped into her place beside Monica.
"Thank you, Jason," his mother said as he hugged her. "It means a lot that you came."
"Of course I would," he told her. "I'm sorry he's gone. The boys will miss him."
Taking her hand, he said, "Come by whenever you want. The boys will be happy to see you...and I know it will help you."
She squeezed his fingers and whispered through her tears, "Thank you. I...I don't know what I'll do in that house by myself. Dillon's heading back to California soon and Ned insists on a penthouse near the office."
"We'll talk," he promised her, knowing he would need to help her so she wasn't all alone.
"Okay," she said and hugged him again. "Now get back to your family and give the boys and Emily a kiss for me."
"I will," he promised. "And I'll call you tonight."
Elizabeth said in the rocking chair in the nursery, gently pushing it with her foot even though Emily was asleep. She rested her head against the back of the chair with her eyes closed and just breathed deeply as she tried to relax from the day. The boys had been clingy and sad ever since she and Jason returned from the funeral and didn't stray far from their sides for the rest of the day. Jason had taken them to put them to bed while she fed Emily and she suspected that she had the easier task tonight.
Emily snuffed in her sleep and Elizabeth raised her head to look down at her daughter, rocking a little more and gently bouncing the little girl in her arms, "Shh, little one."
She had been their little angel, and Elizabeth knew it was because of Emily that her gram had been with them as long as she had. Once the sonogram showed they were having a girl the older woman had been determined that she would survive to see her great-granddaughter born. That her gram had lived to meet Emily and spend two months with her was simply a beautiful miracle as far as Elizabeth was concerned. She was sad that Emily wouldn't know her great-grandmother, or her great-grandfather Edward now, but they would tell her about her family.
The little girl was named for wonderful women, and they would make sure they told their daughter about the family that loved her, even if they were no longer here. Elizabeth was sad that more family wasn't around, but the family that was near would love her and spoil her. Steven and Ned were completely enchanted with Emily and presents were sent in from other family members. However, the person who loved her and spoiled her the most was Jason. Elizabeth had thought her heart would burst when she'd seen him holding Jake that day in the hospital before he placed their son in her arms, but nothing had prepared her for the love that filled her when she saw him holding their daughter.
He was overwhelmed by the little girl in his arms and the look on his face was full of such tenderness and love that she had filled sketchbooks trying to capture the beauty of that moment. Jason was an amazing father and having a girl had brought out something special in him. He played with Jake and Cameron; getting dirty and muddy and sweaty and just as enthusiastic as they were over whatever game they played. Then he would turn such infinite love and tenderness toward Emily and handle her with such gentle affection that it was beautiful to behold. It wasn't that he loved her more than the boys, but there was a difference in the way he treated her, and Jake and Cameron were picking it up as well. They were so kind to their little sister, and Elizabeth knew it was because they saw the adoration their father had for the little girl.
The door to the room slowly opened and Jason poked his head inside. Seeing that Emily was asleep, he stepped in and walked over to the rocking chair. "Do you want me to take her?"
"Sure," she nodded, and helped transfer their little girl to him.
Then she stood and joined her husband at the side of the crib as he covered their daughter with her blanket. Jason put his arm around Elizabeth's waist and she leaned into his side. Their girl was beautiful and they all loved her so much. Cameron and Jake had been disappointed after the sonogram to learn they were getting a sister, but by the time she was born they were excited. Their father and uncle had talked about how important big brothers were to look out for little sisters and each man told the boys how much they had loved their sisters. However, it wasn't until they saw Emily in the hospital that they fell in love with her and declared she was their baby.
Emily was going to grow up loved, protected, and probably spoiled. Elizabeth thought she might have to be the person to temper all the indulgence the little girl would experience, even though she herself was thrilled to have a daughter to put in cute clothes. She would always think of her best friend and how the two of them would have loved to coo over the little girl. Elizabeth had no doubt that if her best friend was alive, her daughter would have a closet full of clothes and more arriving every time her aunt dropped by to see the family.
Elizabeth blinked as her eyes misted over and she brought her hand up to catch a tear that she couldn't hold back. Jason looked over at her and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I miss Em," she whispered, looking down at her friend's namesake.
His arm around her tightened and he leaned his head against hers. His voice was husky as he said, "I do, too."
He brushed his fingertips over their daughter's soft hair and then led Elizabeth out of the room. They went down the hall to their bedroom and he directed them out on their private terrace. They sat down on the double chaise lounge and Elizabeth rested her head against his shoulder.
"I miss them," she said thickly as tears once again came to the surface. "Especially after a day like today. I just think about all the people who are gone and that our kids won't get to know. Everyone that we won't get to spend time with. I think of the time lost and I don't want to lose any more. I want to make every moment count, to let everyone know how important they are and how much I love them."
"You do that," he told her as he pressed a kiss to her temple. "Our children, our family...they know.
She looked up at him and asked, "Do you know, Jason? Do you know how much I love you? How important you are to me? How vital you are to my life?"
"Elizabeth," he began, his voice deep and husky.
"This isn't some hyperbole that I would die without you, but I love you. I love you so much," she told him, bringing her fingertips up to caress his jaw. "I've lived without you, but I don't like it. I'm not as happy; I'm not as complete; I'm not as at peace. We have walked through hard times, scary times...and because we were together we came out stronger on the other side.
"I am thankful for every day I have with you and our children," she told him, gazing deep into his eyes, "and I hope you know that."
He kissed her deeply, stealing her breath and another little piece of her heart. "I do," he said as he pulled back. "I do, because you show me every day. And you make me want to be a better man; to be the best man I can be for you and our children. You give me purpose and hope and are the reason I do everything that I do. You give me a purpose to come home to."
"We will always be here," she promised him.
"I know," he told her. "And I promise I will do everything I can to make sure I come home, because you are my home. I love you, and I am thankful for you and our children."
"I love you, too," she said. "You are my home, you are my heart and you are my love and I will treasure each day I have with you."
She snuggled into his side and pressed a kiss to his chest over his heart. He pulled her closer and told her, "I love you, too. And I am so glad I had you here with me today; you made it possible for me to get through the day."
"Let's go inside," she said. She needed to hold him and be held. She needed to be close to him and just feel the reassurance of his love in the most intimate way possible. He nodded and stood, picking her up and taking her inside their room, their home, where their love would always flourish because they had learned that they could face anything, as long as they were together.
The End
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