Elizabeth shifted nervously and bit her lip as she stared out the window of the airport. Their plane had been delayed and as a result, she, Jax and Jerry were waiting in a private lounge. She’d never really understood the perks of having money until she’d moved to Port Charles and saw the way the Quartermaines, the Cassadines, Sonny and now Jax used their fortunes.

She just couldn’t believe that she was standing here, waiting to meet her grandparents. The whole thing seemed surreal. She hadn’t even talked to Audrey about this yet–had been worried that she’d cut her even further out of her life when she found out that Elizabeth wasn’t a Webber. Audrey already pretended she didn’t exist–she could only imagine the cold shoulder she’d get when she wasn’t family. Audrey had never fully understood Elizabeth’s choices–why she’d hang out with Jason, even after the kidnapping or why she’d be friendly to Sonny–but apparently the most unforgivable had been her moving in with Jason all those months ago. She and Audrey had had a huge blow out and the older woman hadn’t spoken to her since. Elizabeth couldn’t very well explain that she’d been shot at and was staying there for her own protection. Somehow she figured that wouldn’t go over all that well.

Now, she had a whole new family. A father who actually cared about her–even if he was going a little overboard. An uncle she could actually relate to, rather than Rick Webber who’d been in town for the entire summer without hardly a word to his niece. An aunt who took her shopping. And grandparents who everyone told her she was absolutely going to love. It was a lot to take in and she still wasn’t sure how she was feeling about everything else. About how being the granddaughter of a former mobster, her mother being killed in a mob hit, knowing her aunt had almost married Luke Spencer and that Laura Spencer had been prosecuted for her uncle’s murder. It was strange how things in Port Charles always seemed to come full circle.

And then there was Jason. Her early morning conversation with Nikolas not withstanding, she was still reluctant to give him another chance. She sensed that he wanted one and truth be told, she wanted to be with despite his life. She’d always felt that way–but his life had never directly affected the way he’d treated her before. But Nikolas was right. She could either spend the rest of her life alone with only Nikolas to call a friend or she could take another chance–try again with love. She’d been burned badly by Lucky–one could hardly argue that. But if she never let it go–if she never fully forgave both Lucky and Jason for their mistakes–she might end up regretting it. And so what if it didn’t work out with Jason? She’d still be all right. Hurt and upset, of course. But she was strong–she’d always survived before.

Bolstered by the new decision, Elizabeth took a deep breath and turned around to face the men. “So, Jax, did you talk to Skye last night?”

Jax frowned and Jerry smirked. “Yes and he did a smashing job of it, didn’t you little brother?”

“Shut up,” Jax muttered.

Elizabeth sighed and took a seat next to him. “You told her you loved Brenda didn’t you?”

“Probably a mistake,” Jax said. “Hindsight’s a bitch.”

“When you’re trying to tell the person you love that they’re the one you want to be with, never…and I mean never…tell them you love the other person. Not a good thing.”

“You did that?” Jax asked.

She nodded. “Every single time I opened my mouth to tell Jason what he meant to me, ‘I love Lucky’ came out instead. I just wanted to beat myself every time–but it was like it was an automatic response. Like if I didn’t say it out loud, I was denying that it was true. But by saying it out loud, I was only hurting Jason more.”

Jerry snorted and Elizabeth threw him a dirty look. “Sorry, princess.”

“Listen, sit down with Skye and tell her that you love her. That you know you’ve made mistakes but you’re willing to do whatever it takes for her to forgive you. Make it clear that she’s want you want to be with and make sure she understands and believes that before you open your mouth about you still feel about Brenda, and make sure to tell her that while you love her, you’re not in love with her anymore. I think if you do it that order, you’ll be all right.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Jax said. “I apologize, I tell her I love her and that I want another chance.”

“Right.”

“And you think Skye would forgive me.”

“I’d think you’d have a shot.”

“Would you forgive me?”

“Yeah. Because I’ve been there.”

“Uh huh. But you won’t forgive Morgan.”

Jerry punched him in the arm. “Hey, we’ve discussed this. You’re not supposed to encourage her!”

“Jerry,” Elizabeth warned. He at least looked sheepish. “We’re not going to have the discussion about why I’m not going to kick Jason out of my life again are we?”

“No,” Jerry grumbled.

Elizabeth smiled. “Good.” She turned back to Jax. “Jason is a completely different situation.”

“He made a mistake, he’s apologized, he told you he loved you and I think he definitely wants you back. This is a completely different situation?” Jax asked, raising her eyebrows.

“You know what?” Elizabeth asked. “First Nikolas and now you. At least I know Carly Corinthos will always be on my side. She’d never up and tell me to get back with him.” She frowned. “Not that I was technically with him, but that’s beyond the point.”

“Nikolas told you to forgive Spawn?” Jax asked, surprised.

“Yeah, and I’ve been counting on him to remind me why I don’t,” Elizabeth muttered. “Nikolas was always good for a ‘Jason is a thug’ or ‘You deserve more.’ He says that’s still true for him, but he knows how I feel and that’s what matters.”

“He’s right,” Jax said.

“Stop encouraging her!” Jerry hissed.

“Jerry.”

“Sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Elizabeth said, stubbornly.

“Why not?” Jax asked.

“Because it just doesn’t.”

“I think it does.”

“I think you ought to but out.”

“I think–”

“I think Mum and Dad’s plane has arrived,” Jerry cut in.

—–

John and Jane Jacks were the first people off the plane. They rushed right through the crowds towards their sons.

After they’d hugged them, they turned to the nervous brunette beside them. “This must be Elizabeth!” Jane decided.

“Hi,” Elizabeth said, trying to sound a lot more confident than she was.

“I finally have a granddaughter!” Jane said, grinning widely. She pulled Elizabeth into a tight hug and she was then hugged by John. “You can call me pretty much anything you want,” Jane said.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. “What would you prefer?” she asked.

Jane and John exchanged glances. “Grandma and Grandpa sound all right to me,” John said. “Welcome to the family, Elizabeth. I hope our sons haven’t frightened you too much.”

“Not at all,” Elizabeth said. She couldn’t help the wide grin that covered her face. They were such happy people and it was clear that they adored their sons. She wondered what it must have been like to grow up in a family like that.

“We better get your bags,” Jax said. “We can get acquainted at the house.”

“Oh, darling where’s Skye?” Jane asked.

“Uh…” Jax hesitated.

“She had a meeting,” Elizabeth supplied. “She hoped she’d be back in time, but it ran late. She might be out the house waiting.”

“Well, by all means, let’s go!” John said, leading the way towards the baggage claim.

Jerry put an arm around his daughter as the four of them followed John. “What do you think? Not bad, eh?”

“No,” Elizabeth said, smiling up at him. “Not bad at all.”

—–

Once they were settled at the hotel, they headed over to the lake house for a late lunch. Skye hadn’t arrived home yet.

“So, Elizabeth, tell us about yourself,” Jane said, sipping her iced tea.

“Well, I’m just finished a semester at PCU,” Elizabeth said, fidgeting. “I’m an Art major.”

“Art?” John said, raising his eyebrows. “You paint?”

“I dabble,” Elizabeth said.

“Don’t let her fool you,” Jerry said. “She’s wonderful.”

“You’ve been in my studio for about eight seconds,” Elizabeth said.

“I know talent,” Jerry boasted.

“I, on the other hand,” Jax said, “have T-shirt somewhere that Elizabeth designed for the Nurse’s Ball. I’ll have to dig it out.”

“Oh my God, you still have that?” Elizabeth groaned.

Jane smiled. “See, he was a proud uncle before he knew any better.” She turned back to her granddaughter. “Now, anyone special?”

Jerry snorted and Elizabeth thwacked him. “Hey!”

“I take it Jerry doesn’t approve of him,” John said, amused.

“Damn right,” Jerry grumbled, rubbing his arm.

“Jason’s just a good friend,” Elizabeth said, flushing.

Jane nodded. “Uh huh. I understand.”

“You might have met him,” Jax said. “Jason Morgan, Sonny Corinthos’ right hand man.”

“Ah,” John said. “The quiet fellow.”

“He’s very good looking,” Jane said. “You’re a lucky girl.”

“We’re not together,” Elizabeth protested.

“He’s a lucky thug,” Jerry corrected.

“Jerry!”

“Sorry, princess.”

“You keep saying that–stop calling him a thug,” Elizabeth said, irritated. “Who got arrested on his wedding day?”

“How long are you going to keep bringing that up?”

“Until you leave Jason alone. That means no more name calling, no more interrogation and I don’t want you answering any doors with shotguns, are we clear?”

“Shotguns, eh? Hadn’t thought of that.”

“Jerry!”

“As you can see, Morgan has endeared himself to Jerry,” Jax said, grinning. “He’s not all that bad.”

Elizabeth gaped at him. “Are you serious?”

Jax shrugged. “You could do worse.”

Jane smiled. “Jerry interrogated him? That poor boy.”

“Boy?” Jerry snorted again. “He’s twenty-eight, Mum.”

“Ah, a mature man.”

“Yes, a mature man who at the age of twenty-five fell in love with an eighteen year old.”

“Jerry,” Elizabeth protested. “Leave him alone.”

“You know, your father and I marred when he was thirty and I was nineteen,” Jane reminded her sons. “Age means nothing.”

“Ha!” Elizabeth crowed.

“Age means plenty when you were barely legal,” Jerry grumbled.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Jerry. You’re being ridiculous. Just because he felt a certain way–it means nothing. I was twenty before anything happened.”

“Oh, please don’t. I can’t take details,” Jerry groaned.

“So, is he still just a friend?” Jane asked, her eyes twinkling.

Elizabeth flushed and shifted uncomfortably. “Okay, so he’s a bit more than just a friend.”

“You’re in love with him,” Jane deduced.

“Darling,” John said, putting a hand on her arm. “I can see where Jerry gets it from.”

“Mum, don’t encourage her,” Jerry said.

“Have you seen Bobbie?” Jane asked, swiftly changing topics.

“By all means, let’s discuss the thug. What sort of coffee does he drink?” Jerry asked, ignoring his mother.

“Jerry!”

“Sorry, princess.”

—–

Sonny hung up the phone and turned to Jason. “That was Roy.”

“Did you tell him what’s going on?” Jason asked.

“I told him that we needed him to fly in briefly,” Sonny replied. He made a mark on some receipts and flipped a few pages. “Told him it was important.”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “You consider it important?”

“Yeah. Don’t you?” Sonny asked, glancing at him.

“I know I do. I just didn’t you did.”

Sonny closed the folder. “Look, I promised Elizabeth that I’d help her get answers. If DiLucca can provide them, than good. If not, we’ll try another angle. I feel bad about how everything went down this fall–and I’m just trying to make it right.”

“You can’t fix this,” Jason said.

“You’re not doing such a great job of doing it either,” Sonny reminded him.

“I’ve made some progress,” Jason said, slightly defensive.

“Yes, yes you have,” Sonny agreed. “I’m just trying to help Elizabeth in anyway she needs.” Shrugging, he continued, “I just can’t believe she’s Frank’s granddaughter. Kind of puts a spin on things.”

“What things?” Jason asked.

“Kind of difficult to push her away because of danger only to find out she was born into it, huh? With Jerry as her father and Frank for a grandfather? She was bound to get into trouble.” Changing tack, he said, “Do you want me to give her a call and tell her about Roy or do you want to stop by tonight and do it?”

“Um, actually, why don’t you call her?” Jason suggested. “We had… a slight disagreement last night.”

Sonny shook his head. “All right, I’ll do it.”

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