Therein it is related that in the alignment of the planets, occurring only once in the span of a millennia, there shall be a holy union of two. The male, in the first quarter of his life, shall be of flaxen hair and rigorous of body and mind; the female, having celebrated no more than twenty years, small and dark, of pure heart and blood.
Signaling their meeting, a flash, whereupon day will turn to night and then return swiftly.
Upon the binding of the chosen two, a thousand years of blessed light follow and come upon this world on that night, the eve of the fifteenth month. If conditions be not met, damnation will fall upon the land until the planets align once again.
Aurora Dawning is a full-fledged fantasy story with legends, magic, sorcerors and enchantresses. At one point, I had planned a sequel but it has mostly fallen off my radar. I hope you enjoy this odd bit. Thanks to LeaB for being my original beta all those moons ago, and to Pia for writing the legend above.
Just a few words too many/In my head A few words too many/In this bed A few words too many/Left unsaid Oh, I wish that we were strangers/We could start again
Inspiration
A Few Words is the rewritten version of Poisonous Dreams, written in 2003-04. It’s based a spoiler that began to circulate in April 2003 that Elizabeth was going to become pregnant with Ric’s child. At the time, I could not conceive a way Elizabeth and Ric would reunite in the wake of his kidnapping Courtney, pretending to sleep with Carly, and all that other nonsense. Instead, I decided to write what I thought was the logical conclusion to the Ric storyline. It seemed like they were setting Ric up to be mostly psychotic, but then they changed his character. Rick Hearst is so amazing that I’ve learned to forget most of 2003.
Background
This story begins in April 2003, but nothing that happened in 2003 happened the way it did on the show, particularly Ric’s storyline. So, just assume that Ric has done nothing beyond date Elizabeth, pretend to sleep with Carly and work for her at the club, and defend Jason and Brenda (along with Alexis) during the Alcazar trial in January 2003. Sonny never fired Jason (because dude, stupid) but Jason and Courtney are dating. That asinine confrontation in Kelly’s between the three of them did not happen because…well…no. Emily returned in March as scheduled, but she doesn’t have cancer.
This story is now completed. Thanks to Cora for proofing the last four chapters.
Another 2004 episode tag. This one is set after Lila’s death and her subsequent funeral.
Timeline
Anna Lee passed away in May of 2004. She last appeared on the show in May of 2003 — that story is tragic. Her son actually blames the show for her decline, stating that being taken off contract when she’d been promised a lifetime contract by Gloria Monty. Lila’s death was devastating for everyone. One of my biggest regrets about this story was that John Ingle had also been taken off contract and he’d left GH for about a year to appear on Days as Mickey Horton. Jed Allan came on and did a decent job, but the story lacked some punch for the recast.
This story is set after her funeral (during which we saw Robin for the first time in five years, setting up a return in late 2005). Jason and Elizabeth didn’t share any scenes which wasn’t a surprise, I guess, since they were setting up Jason and Sam at this point but it was a bit disappointing with Elizabeth’s connection to Emily and the Quartermaines. This episode tag, set after July 16’s episode, gives us maybe a cut scene.
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. — Robert Frost
He was in the Quartermaine gardens when she found him at the reception afterwards. He was in the middle of Lila’s rose gardens, his hands in his pockets and his head bowed.
“I’ve never seen roses anywhere else that were this beautiful,” Elizabeth said softly. She touched one of them, breathing in the soft scent.
Jason turned to her and her heart broke at the bloodshot red eyes. “She spent a lot of time out here.”
“She was proud of this garden and I can see why.” Elizabeth shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “I’ve been trying to get a rose bush to bloom like this at Gram’s since the first time I came here but well, I’ve never had much of a green thumb.” She shifted her weight from one foot to another. “It never blooms much but I do get some flowers every year so I guess it’s been worth the effort.”
“It means a lot to Emily that you’re here.” Jason cleared his throat. “And to me.”
“She’s my best friend in the world. There’s no where else I could think of being today.” Elizabeth hesitated. “I know how much you loved her, Jason. I wish that I had the words to tell you how sorry I am but I don’t—I know there aren’t any.”
He exhaled slowly. “This is the first time someone so close to me has died. I didn’t—I thought it would hurt like losing Michael did. But…it’s different. I’m never going to see her again. Never going to see her smile or hear her voice. At least with Michael—I knew he was okay. That he would be okay.” He looked at her. “Do you remember that day in the park when we were talking about him and you said…that one day, you never know?”
“I remember,” Elizabeth said softly.
“I didn’t think I’d have him in my life again but he’s there. A daily part of my life and I’m just so grateful for that.” Jason sighed heavily. “But she’s not. She won’t ever be again.”
“That’s not true,” Elizabeth protested. “She’s in your heart, in your head. You have memories. You have her words, her presence in your life. You don’t have see a person to feel their love, Jason. That person doesn’t have to be in your life to love you.”
She stepped towards him and put a hand on his cheek. “Bodies die. But who that person was—they’re always inside you. I realized that when I thought Lucky was gone. Remembering him tore me up inside because I wanted him with me and if you think about never seeing her again, it’s just going to do the same to you.”
She pulled him to one of the stone benches and made him sit down. “Almost five years ago, we sat at a table and you let me talk until my face turned blue about Lucky. You didn’t know me as anymore than Emily’s friend.”
Elizabeth took Jason’s hand in hers. “You gave me back my memories, Jason, when you hardly knew me at all. Since then, you’ve become so much more to me than Emily’s brother or Lucky’s employer. You’ve been a friend…you’ve been more.” She smiled faintly. “I want to do the same for you. Let me do the same for you.”
“I don’t—” Jason exhaled slowly and closed his eyes. “I don’t know what you want me to do.”
“We can talk. We can just sit here. We can go take a ride on your bike and go around the turns so fast that we almost touch the ground. I just want the chance to help you the way you helped me.”
He nodded and managed a weak smile. “The last one sounds like a good idea but I’m not surprised you suggested it.”
“Yeah?” Elizabeth asked, smiling in return.
“You always did like my bike better than me.”
She laughed then, and her smile was bit brighter and was more genuine. “Well, who can resist it?”
He stood and held a hand out. “Come on. We’ll take the cliff road.”
This is an episode tag to October 24, 2005. At this point on the show, Lucky and Elizabeth were preparing for their wedding (it aired a few days later), and Jason had lost his memory due to a brain issue that required Patrick Drake to come and operate on (thank you Jason for bringing me Patrick). Manny Ruiz was also in Port Charles and he’d grabbed Elizabeth from the hospital because he’d been injured.
Inspiration
Manny grabbed Elizabeth as the cliffhanger, and I remember thinking what if he learned that Elizabeth was connected to Jason? How would he react? How would Jason react when he didn’t remember Elizabeth at the time? I’m not super happy with how this story turned out, but it was also the first story I wrote after taking almost a year off from writing so I can’t be too mad at it.
Banner Here
The room was small—the walls were closing in on her. Every second felt like an eternity. Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried to imagine that she was home, watching Cameron try to walk—watching him smile and laugh.
She couldn’t remember what laughter sounded like—what the air felt like on her skin. How much time had gone by since Manny Ruiz had tied her to a chair, gagged so she couldn’t scream? How long since he’d left her in this cold, dark room? Did anyone know she was gone? Had anyone missed her yet?
Would they even know where to look?
Tears slid down her cheeks and she closed her eyes. What if Manny didn’t just kill her? What if he…hurt her first? Oh, God. Please don’t let it happen again. Please.
The Next Morning…
“A heavily tattooed man was seen entering General Hospital late last night,” a guard told Sonny. “He hasn’t left but I checked with one of the admissions clerks. No one’s been admitted with his description.”
Sonny wiped his hand over his mouth. “Sam must have landed the shot. He must have gone for medical attention,” he told Jason.
Jason nodded slowly. “Yeah—but no one’s seen him since. How did he get treated if he didn’t get checked in?”
The guard cleared his throat. “A nurse is missing from the hospital—along with some medication and surgical supplies.”
“Luis Alcazar did that once,” Sonny muttered. “Yanked Monica from the hospital. Do you know which nurse?”
“Elizabeth Webber—she was working in the ER last night but never clocked out. Her fiancé reported her missing this morning but the PCPD’s not taking it seriously yet. Even though Spencer’s a cop, they’re treating like a case of cold feet,” the guard reported. “They’re getting married in a few days.”
“Jesus,” Sonny sighed. He leaned against the desk. “Elizabeth Webber. As if she hasn’t had enough to deal with in her life.”
Jason shook his head.
“You smell like snow.”
“Snow doesn’t smell.”
“Yes it does.”
“Elizabeth,” he said slowly. He met Sonny’s eyes. “I know her.”
“Yeah,” Sonny confirmed. “You were shot once, would have died if she hadn’t found you and taken care of you. She had a bomb put in her studio for her trouble, too.” He shook his head. “She was kidnapped, shot and then shot at. She married Ric, has had two miscarriages—one of them just last month.” He straightened. “We have to find her now.”
“The DVD recording equipment,” Jason said, still shaken from his memory—it was the first memory with dialogue instead of an actual flash and he couldn’t shake the idea that there was more to it. “He didn’t bring it with him—he must have rented it, bought it. We can try to track him from there.”
Sonny nodded to the guard. “Get working on it.” When the guard left the room, Sonny exhaled slowly. “We’ll get her home, Jason. Back to her son, where she belongs.”
“How would you know? You never had one good thing in your life and you lost it. You never had someone come along who made you understand what the point was—the point of being alive at all — and then proved it by being gone and leaving you with nothing. Do you know what nothing feels like?”
“Yeah. That’s pretty much where I live.”
That Afternoon
“You know, I’ve been saving myself.”
Oh, God. Elizabeth whimpered. He was back. She wanted this to go away.
“For this sweet little thing Morgan’s dating,” Manny continued. She squeezed her eyes shut. But the footsteps came closer.
“But you look kind of like her, you know.”
Oh, God, she could feel his breath on his neck. His hot, disgusting breath.
“That dark hair, pretty skin, tight little body.”
Oh God, oh God.
He took the gag away from her and took her chin roughly between his fingers. “Open your eyes, Angel.”
When she didn’t comply, he grabbed her pony tail and yanked her head back. Elizabeth cried out. She opened her eyes and nearly fainted when she saw Manny’s face right up next to hers. She had to get out of this, she had to get think. Think!
“I used to date Jason!” she blurted. “He’ll want me back—he won’t want me hurt. I swear it!”
Manny frowned. He let go of her hair and took a step back. “Is that a fact, Angel?”
Elizabeth nodded, trembling so hard she could imagine the chair shaking. “I used to live with him. Across the hall from Sonny. I swear.”
“Well, that is an interesting turn of events.” Manny leaned against the table and smiled at her. His teeth gleamed in the dim light and Elizabeth felt a shiver go down her spine. “I do believe I have been smiled upon from above. Of all the nurses to walk into my room, I pick out Jason Morgan’s ex-girlfriend.”
She licked her lips nervously. Would this work in her favor? Or would her distant connection to Jason only doom her? She decided not to mention her fiancé was a cop—that would probably be a point against her.
“What are you going to do to me?” she asked.
Manny stood and crossed to a video camera that she hadn’t noticed before. “We’re going to play a little game.”
That Evening
“Well, I just — you know, I needed to be able to see you, make sure you still want a post card from me.”
“Having a connection with you — I know it was selfish, but it’s something I never stopped wanting.”
“The DVD equipment is a dead end,” Sonny snarled. He crumpled up the piece of paper the guard had handed him and hurled it across the room. “He bought it with cash, no one remembers him and he didn’t have it delivered. I don’t know where he is, or even where to look.”
Jason crossed from the windows to Sonny’s desk. “Manny doesn’t know that Elizabeth has a connection to us. He won’t—” he swallowed hard. “He won’t keep her around if she’s not useful.”
“There’s something else that’s been plaguing me,” Sonny said quietly. “He’s made it clear he intends to…have Sam. To—to rape her.” Sonny met Jason’s eyes. “He’s targeted Sam, he’s fixated more on her than on us right now. And what worries me is that Elizabeth has dark hair, is tiny…they almost have the same coloring. Jason, he might—” Sonny exhaled slowly, dragging his fingers through his hair. “He might hurt her.”
“Last year, I was raped. For a while, I thought my life was over. I couldn’t imagine being normal again. But I had to fight my way back.”
Jason’s face paled and he looked away, troubled. “It happened to her before,” he said roughly. “I remember—I’ve been remembering snatches of things we’ve said to each other. And I remember that she told me that it had happened once before.”
“I know. And she came back from that—” Sonny shook his head. “But I can’t—I won’t be able to live with myself if it happened to her again because of me.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve been keeping this from Emily—they’re best friends. And I won’t tell Ric because I know he still cares for her and he’ll just make this all the more difficult.”
“We have to find her before Manny hurts her,” Jason said, though he was no longer convinced they would be able to do that.
“Boss,” Max opened the door and held up an evelope. “This was left outside the compound gates.”
“Can I please have my clothes back?” Elizabeth whispered. Her teeth chattered and she felt dirty—violated as Manny’s dark eyes swept over her bra and panty clad figure.
“No, Angel, I much prefer this view.” Manny grinned. “And I’m going to enjoy what comes next.” He licked his lips.
“Please,” Elizabeth whimpered. “Please—I have a son. He needs his mother.”
“And I needed my brother but that didn’t stop Morgan from putting a bullet in him.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with that!” she cried. “I haven’t spoken to Jason in a long time—he probably doesn’t remember me.”
“Now, see—that’s not a nice thing to say. You should give yourself more credit, Angel.” Manny dragged his eyes up and down her body and Elizabeth wished she weren’t still tied to the chair—wished she could put her arms around herself and hide from his disgusting eyes.
They found another DVD in the envelope along with Elizabeth’s ID from the hospital. Sonny slid the disc into the player and grimaced when the screen filled with Manny’s leering grin.
“Hello there. It appears that I had a bit of good fortune last night.” Manny folded his arms. “I took the first available nurse and spirited her away to my little studio. And just as I was about to do away with the nosy angel, she tells me a piece of very interesting news.”
Sonny and Jason exchanged troubled looks before looking back to the television. “Apparently, she dated Morgan once upon a time. Now, I’ve been having a little frustration that I can’t have Sweetness just yet but I suppose my little angel here will have to in the interim.”
The camera started to pan the room as Manny’s voice continued. “I thought I’d offer you once last look at her before I’ve finished with her, Morgan. Sweetness is lovely of course, but now I wonder why you let the little pretty one go.”
The camera focused on Elizabeth’s small form. She was blind folded, gagged and tied to the chair—and wearing only her bra and panties. Sonny felt nauseous.
“Any words for lover boy, Angel?” Manny appeared in the frame again and yanked the gag away. “Go ahead, this will be your last chance.”
“Please—please find me,” Elizabeth cried. “And if you don’t…” she swallowed hard. “Take care of Cameron. Please.”
The screen went dark and Jason clenched his fists at his side. “She probably thought he’d keep her alive. That he might try to make a deal with us for her return.” He looked at Sonny. “That’s what happened the last time.”
Sonny frowned. “You remember that, then?”
“We found her in a crypt—she almost died,” Jason said softly. “I tried to walk away from her, I told her it was too dangerous. But she didn’t listen. She wouldn’t listen.”
“She never did,” Sonny remembered with a weak smile.
“You know how I feel about you.”
“That’s just it — I don’t. I don’t think you ever really told me. You’ve saved my life. You’ve taken me riding. You’ve helped me, you’ve — you’ve listened, you’ve cared. And now you’re pushing me away. Tell me why again.”
Jason exhaled slowly. “Play it again. There might be something on the tape that tells us where he is.”
Late That Night
“Please let me go home,” Elizabeth begged. Manny untied her legs and arms from the chair and kept them bound. “Please don’t do this to me!”
He pushed her towards the cot in the corner. “I bet you’d even like it if you let yourself, Angel.”
“Please—would you want someone to do this to your sister, to your wife?” she cried. She struggled as she lay on her back. He’d blindfolded her again and she had no idea how close he was to her—what he was doing.
“I don’t have a sister or a wife.” Manny stepped back and started to unbutton his shirt. “But I would hope they would know what was good for them and when to stop fighting.”
“No!” Elizabeth shrieked. “Somebody help me!”
“There’s no one to hear you now.”
She screamed again—a long, blood curdling shriek and Manny slapped her. “Shut the hell up—”
The gun shot cut him off and he choked, pressing a hand to his throat. “What—” he coughed.
“What’s going on?” Elizabeth cried. She thrashed her head from side to side. “Somebody help me!”
Jason lowered his gun and looked to Sonny. “Go,” Sonny said quietly. He raised his own gun. “I’ll take Manny outside and finish this.” He turned and nodded to Max. “Help get Manny the hell out of here.”
Jason rushed across the room and kneeled next to the cot, ignoring the weakened Manny as he hurriedly untied Elizabeth’s bonds. “Elizabeth, calm down—it’s me.”
“Jason?” Elizabeth whimpered. She turned her head towards his voice. “Is it really you?”
“It’s me,” Jason murmured. He took his jacket off and tossed it over her before removing her blind fold.
“Jason!” Elizabeth sprang up and wrapped her arms around him. “I was praying you’d find me in time.”
“So was I,” he replied softly. He cupped the back of her head and breathed the first easy breath in nearly twelve hours. “So was I.”
“I think part of me knew you’d come,” Elizabeth said, her voice hoarse. She drew back and smiled faintly. “Even if you don’t remember me.”
“Then what is it about?”
“Us. And how much you matter to me. I want to be with you, too. ”
“Finally, we agree on something.”
“You’re the first person that I really do remember.” Jason smoothed her hair away from her face. “I don’t think I could have lived with myself if Manny had—” he stopped. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Elizabeth buried her face in Jason’s shoulder. “You always manage to save me.”
During the Port Charles Hotel fire — the first of what I’d like to call the disaster sweeps stories — Elizabeth was kept mostly on the sidelines which was not an issue for me. Rebecca Herbst was pregnant in real-life and likely would have been around six or seven months pregnant (I believe her daughter was born that April). Jason was, of course, in the middle of things, and he was nearly killed at the end of it by rogue Detective Capelli (a heel turn that devastated many because his portrayer was pretty). There was a cliff hanger, and I was inspired to write what if Elizabeth shows up.
Timeline
This was an episode tag to February 18, 2004’s episode as the hotel fire was winding down. Most of the survivors had been evacuated from the roof by helicopter (leading to one of the most epic NEm scenes in their story — Emily being carried away as Nikolas looks on, trapped). Nikolas was left behind and believed dead for several episodes. (On another note — Nikolas and Emily had some serious super couple writing in that they were constantly being reunited and separated — the stories themselves weren’t so great, but the trope was there, and i think one of the last true supercouples the show launched).
At the same time, Jason had escaped but was stopped by PCPD Detective Andy Capelli who had been ordered by Lorenzo Alcazar to kill him. (I think — this is a bit fuzzy and it’s been a long time since I’ve rewatched). Elizabeth was married to Ric, and that marriage looked relatively stable (their breakup was welcomed but weirdly out of place with the way they’d written them over the previous six months).
Anyway, the scene is this — Jason is trapped by Capelli with a gun on him, facing certain death, and Elizabeth is somewhere on the grounds. I have no earthly clue how this worked out when it actually aired, lol.
“Could you just…please check for me? One last time?”
Her best friend’s heartbroken voice echoing in her ears, Elizabeth Webber-Lansing stepped out of her car and pulled her jacket more tightly around her protruding belly.
Emily was back at Wyndemere but unable to let go of the possibility that Nikolas had been found or was still trying to get out. She’d begged Elizabeth to check just one more time and Elizabeth—the memory of the night Lucky died in a fire all too vivid in her mind—couldn’t bear to refuse her.
The ruins of the once luxurious hotel were still standing up to about the tenth floor. She knew that plans were already being made to tear it down but it ripped at her to know Nikolas’s body might never be recovered.
As she approached the entrance to the building, she heard raised voices. She rounded the corner and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Detective Andrew Capelli holding a gun on Jason.
“It’s called a preemptive measure, Morgan,” Capelli hissed. “Take you out before you can take me out.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jason remarked stiffly. “You handcuffed me to a pipe to die. Seems to me you already had your shot.”
“And you won’t get a chance to retaliate,” Capelli declared. He cocked back the hammer.
Elizabeth took a few steps back and took a deep breath. “Hello?” she called. “Is anyone here?”
Capelli whirled around and Jason used the opportunity to tackle him the ground. But Capelli kept control of the gun and Jason ended up on the ground.
“What’s going on here?” Elizabeth demanded.
“Elizabeth, get out of here!” Jason ordered.
“Detective Capelli?” Elizabeth asked, ignoring Jason’s words. She crossed her arms tightly. “Are you in the middle of an arrest?”
“Yes, Mrs. Lansing, so please vacate the premises,” Capelli said, keeping his foot on Jason’s chest.
“Why are you arresting him?”
“This is official police business,” Capelli replied coldly. “Please leave.”
Continuing to ignore the request to leave, Elizabeth strode towards them and stood on the other side of Jason. “So you routinely shoot suspects who are unarmed?” she demanded.
“Mrs. Landing, why do you give a damn about a criminal who’s tried to kill your own husband numerous times?” Capelli said scathingly.
“And who are you to decide who lives and dies?” Elizabeth challenged. “I’m not leaving until you do. So step back.”
“I don’t think so.” He raised the gun to her face. “You either leave or I make you leave.”
Her skin drained of color but she didn’t blink. “If you shoot me, you’re going to find it a little more difficult to get away with that than you will if you shoot Jason. Because my husband will find out and you will pay for it.”
“What makes you think they’ll find your bodies? Maybe I’ll write your spouses a nice note telling them how you ran away together.”
With Capelli’s attention and gun firmly on Elizabeth, Jason used the opportunity to knock him off balance, the gun flying in the air.
Jason tackled him and held him to the ground. He contemplated pulling his gun from his waist but with Elizabeth standing right behind him, he wouldn’t put her in the position to having to see that. “Call the police, Elizabeth,” he directed.
“They’re already on their way,” Elizabeth said in a shaky voice. “I called Ric on my cell and he’s been listening in the whole time.” She removed the phone from her pocket. “Ric?”
“We’re en route, Elizabeth,” Ric told her. “Can Jason hold him down for another five minutes?”
“They’ll be here in five minutes, can you hold him until then?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah,” Elizabeth repeated. “I’ll see you then.” She closed the phone and put it back in her pocket.
“Why didn’t you leave when I told you to?” Jason demanded, his arm pressed firmly into Capelli’s windpipe.
Elizabeth snorted. “Yeah, walk away when someone’s got a gun on you. Dream on.”
If you were watching back in 2003, you were probably as confused as I am with Emily’s return to Port Charles in March of that year. Natalia Livingston joined the cast, and for the first few months — it was like she and Elizabeth were complete strangers. I honestly could not tell you what scenes they shared between March and August 2003 (Elizabeth got more involved when Emily’s cancer was revealed to the rest of the world.)
And one of the most truly strange turns of Emily’s first few months was the way she supported Jason and Courtney’s relationship, despite Emily’s friendship with Elizabeth and Courtney being AJ’s ex-wife.
When Emily was first rumored to come home, a lot of us who were still holding out Liason hope thought she might kick start their reunion. (HOW COULD LIASON NOT BE THE STORY WE KEPT SCREAMING INTO THE VOID).
And then, uh, she didn’t. Anyway, I wrote this as an episode tag to one of Emily’s first episodes.
Timeline
Emily has returned home from California to find that Jason and Courtney are dating, and that Elizabeth isn’t even friends with Jason anymore. She’s not satisfied with the first round of answers.
Banner
April 3, 2003
Emily Quartermaine studied her best friend working silently behind the counter. She hadn’t spoken to Elizabeth in a few weeks, not since…that didn’t matter anyway. What mattered was the strange sharp retort Elizabeth had thrown out a few moments ago.
“Excuse me a minute,” Emily said, interrupting Courtney.
“Uh, yeah sure.”
Emily stood and crossed the room. “Elizabeth, can we talk for a minute?”
“I’m busy,” Elizabeth replied in a clipped tone.
Stung, Emily frowned. “What’s wrong? Did I do something to offend you?”
Elizabeth looked up at her friend and Emily was taken aback at the coldness in the normally warm blue eyes. “I can’t believe you’d just turn your back like that.”
“What?” Emily shook her head. “Elizabeth, I thought we discussed this yesterday. You are over Jason, right? I mean you were talking about Ric so much…and Jason just seems like he’s moved on…”
“He’s moved on all right,” Elizabeth muttered. “I just didn’t realize you loved Jason more than you loved AJ.”
“AJ?” Emily repeated. “What does AJ have to do with anything?”
“Didn’t it tip you off when you heard her last name?” Elizabeth asked pointedly.
“Matthews, right?” Emily asked, completely mystified by the entire situation.
Elizabeth stared at her for a moment. “That’s her maiden name.”
“Maiden name.” Emily’s eyes widened. “Oh my God! Jason’s Courtney is…holy hell, AJ’s wife?”
“You mean you didn’t know?” Elizabeth asked surprised. “I didn’t mention it?”
“No, I guess not.” Emily glanced over her shoulder at the blonde at the table. “Are she and AJ even divorced?”
“Nope.” Elizabeth sighed. “Look, Em, I’m sorry I came off like such a bitch. It’s just…I thought Courtney was my friend. I confided in her after I left Jason…and I trusted her. She lied to me. Every time she was ducking out on a shift or late for another, she was with Jason. And she lied about it. This has nothing to do with Jason.”
“Nothing?” Emily prompted, a smile on her lips.
“Almost nothing,” Elizabeth allowed. “I don’t really know what happened between AJ and Courtney. I know AJ did something stupid out of his insecurities about Jason. He was worried Courtney liked Jason more or something and I guess…well, I guess he had a reason to be afraid. Because not more than two months after Jason and I…ended…and a month after AJ moved out, they started seeing each other. I guess AJ and I were right all along.”
“Whoa, whoa…” Emily stared at her. “You don’t think…you don’t think my brother was interested in Courtney while he was with you?”
“I don’t want to think that,” Elizabeth said softly. “But the evidence is hard to ignore. I wanted to be with him, I was willing to do just about anything. Keep it hidden, whatever he wanted. And Jason didn’t want to do any of it. I constantly saw them together…and then…” Elizabeth shrugged. “They got together. What am I supposed to think?”
Emily slid off the stool. “I think…I need…I’ll see you later, okay?”
She found her brother at the hospital.
He was sitting in the waiting room like before and smiled when he saw her. “Hey. You’re back.”
“When I asked you about the woman you were in love with, why did you fail to mention that she was still legally married to AJ?” Emily demanded. “And that she left AJ for you?”
Jason’s face fell and he looked away. “Em—”
“I went to Kelly’s to talk to her. To tell her I was glad she made you happy.” Emily’s brown eyes bore into the top of his head as she glared at him. “And when Elizabeth seemed upset that I so readily approved of Courtney, I was curious. Because Elizabeth isn’t like that.”
“And she told you about AJ,” Jason said quietly.
“She told me about that,” Emily nodded. “She told me that Courtney lied to her time and time again about leaving work to sneak out to be with you. She told me that you were seeing Courtney while the two of you were together.”
Instantly, Jason leapt to his feet. “That is not true!”
“Well, I guess Elizabeth didn’t get that memo. Can’t blame her I guess. From what she tells me, you and Courtney got together pretty quickly.” Emily sighed. “You know…I never…I never wanted to see the way she felt about you. I thought it was wrong, I thought it was betraying her perfect relationship with Lucky. But anyone who had eyes saw the way Elizabeth felt about you. And I knew how you felt about her.”
“Emily, I don’t—”
“What I want to know is how you turned those feelings so off so quickly? How were you able to give up on Elizabeth, someone you’d been in love with for years…for Courtney, your brother’s wife?”
“AJ is not my brother!” Jason replied, defensively. “And I never said I was in love with Elizabeth.”
“You didn’t have to.” Emily folded her arms. “I love you, Jason. You’re my brother. But so is AJ. And Elizabeth is like my sister. I’m having a little troubled deciding where my loyalties lie.”
“I don’t want you to take sides,” Jason replied. “This is a difficult situation—”
“Yeah, it is. Jesus, Jason, she’s still married to him, for Christ’s sake. What were you thinking?”
“Emily, I don’t—”
“How could you do this to Elizabeth?” Emily asked, switching tacks. “You know, I thought she was over you. So I thought I could be okay with you moving on. But either one of you is lying to yourself or you both are. But with what Elizabeth told me about the way it ended, I don’t think either one of you has a freaking clue.”
“You’re taking her word over mine?” Jason demanded.
“I only have her word, Jason. And if you remember, Elizabeth is not exactly a liar. Not about you. She’s made mistakes with you, she readily admits that. But she never lied about you.” Emily glanced around. “Look, this is not the place for this conversation. Let’s go somewhere. Because god help me, I’m getting the story out of you if it kills us both.”
“I can’t leave—”
“Why?” Emily demanded, arching her eyebrow. “Carly’s going to be fine, right? Courtney told me.”
“Yeah, but—”
“No buts,” Emily replied. “Let’s go.”
Courtney pressed her hands against the counter and glared at Elizabeth. “What did you tell her?” she demanded.
Elizabeth smirked. “That you’re married to one of her brothers and sleeping with the other. You know, nothing that’s not common knowledge.”
“You’re such a pathetic little bitch,” Courtney spat out hatefully. “You just hate that Jason and I are happy together, don’t you?”
“I hate that you decided you wanted him and stomped everyone who got in your way,” Elizabeth tossed back “Now if you don’t excuse me—”
“AJ and I have been separated for months! What does it matter?”
“It matters to Emily that you’re messing with the people she cares about—”
“So, I take it my sister found out about my wonderful slut of a wife.”
Courtney sighed and turned. “Go away, AJ,” she said scornfully.
AJ smirked and slid onto a stool. “Can I have a coffee to go?” he asked Elizabeth.
“Don’t serve him!” Courtney snarled.
Elizabeth tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned a hundred watt smile on AJ. “Hey. Black?”
“Nah. Two creams and one sugar,” AJ replied. “So, Courtney, how’s life screwing Jason?”
“Bite me!” Courtney retorted.
“Oooh, how mature,” Elizabeth murmured, handing AJ his coffee. “Do you have any leads on Kristina yet?”
AJ sighed. “No. Not yet.”
Courtney snorted. “Like either of you care. God, you’re both pathetic. AJ with his stupid insecurity about Jason and Elizabeth with her little puppy love for him. You’re both ridiculous.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” AJ replied, shrugging. “I figured since you know, you actually left me for Jason, that my insecurities weren’t that far off.”
“You were using me!” Courtney shot back.
“Hey, be fair,” AJ replied, irritated. “You used me, too. You wanted out from under Sonny’s thumb. What better way than to marry his mortal enemy?”
Courtney shifted and looked away. “That’s not true.”
“Oh, please. You’re just as manipulative as I am,” AJ replied. “I was a perfect catch. I mean, eventually my family would take me back, right? But then you saw Jason and figured well, the Quartermaine golden boy and Sonny’s little stooge. What better way to get everything you ever wanted?”
“That’s not fair, AJ! You stalked me!” Courtney cried.
“And I have apologized!” AJ shot back. “Over and over again. I know it was a stupid move. I know it was ridiculous and all that. I just wanted to scare you a little. Just so once, I’d be the hero instead of my damn brother.” AJ snorted. “But you called Jason anyway. You always called Jason.”
Courtney looked away. “AJ, look…I…things…”
AJ shrugged. “Doesn’t matter anyway. You didn’t love me. I see that now. You think you did. And you probably think you love Jason. But eventually, Prince Charming is going to going to fall of his high white horse and you’ll realize it was just another hero worship. He’s not perfect Courtney. He’s got his good points, but he’s got his bad and the longer you think he’s perfect, the more it’s going to hurt in the end.” AJ slapped a five on the counter. “Keep the change, Liz. And steer clear of the succubus over here. She’ll suck you dry.”
AJ left the diner then, leaving a speechless Courtney in his wake.
“You know, he may be an idiot,” Elizabeth murmured thoughtfully, “but I think he’s finally growing up.”
Emily sat across from her brother at Jake’s, nursing a soda. “Okay, go.”
Jason sighed and took a sip of his beer. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Emily.”
“Fine, I’ll start.” She took a deep breath and sat straight in her chair. “I talked to Elizabeth a lot of the summer. In fact, I had a call from her sometime in August. She was crying her eyes out about how she’d betrayed me, betrayed you and all that.” Emily studied him. “She told me about Zander.”
Jason shifted in his seat. “Didn’t think she would,” he finally said.
“She wasn’t going to at first. But she decided she wanted me to find out from her.” Emily took a deep breath. “It was hard to hear about it at first, but her explanation, it helped me to understand. Did she ever explain to you?”
“Yeah. She told me it was a mistake,” Jason answered.
“But did she tell you why?” Emily asked.
“I didn’t want to hear it,” Jason admitted. “She tried…but…”
“She was scared to death,” Emily jumped in. “The lights went out in her building and she was trapped in the stairwell. Apparently, she had a panic attack because of the kidnapping—”
“You know about that?” Jason asked, his brow furrowed.
“She told me after it happened. Anyway, she was panicking, banging on doors trying to get out and Zander got her out. They went back to her studio and Elizabeth told me that she was still shaking. She was scared and she wanted to feel anything but the fear. So when he kissed her, she let him.”
“I didn’t…I didn’t know about any of that,” Jason said slowly.
“No, I guess not. I bet you thought she was choosing Zander over you, just like she chose Lucky over you,” Emily replied. “But anyway, Elizabeth came to her senses, she managed to convince you to be with her, she was living in the penthouse. What happened?”
“Elizabeth told you, so you already know,” Jason told her stubbornly.
“I know Elizabeth’s reasons for leaving yes,” Emily allowed. “Reasons, by the way, I totally agree with. So, what I want to know is…why do you think she left?”
“Because I lied to her,” Jason said simply.
Emily stared at her brother for a moment. “You really are a sad person, Jase. You used to know her so well. You knew her better than anyone else in her life. You saw right through her when she tried to lie, you made her light up with life when no one else could. How could you think that Elizabeth…after everything you’ve been through together…would leave you because of a lie?”
“I…Wait…” Jason frowned. “She didn’t?”
“She left because you never came home. Never called. Never let her know you needed her. From what Elizabeth tells me, she stayed in the penthouse for days without seeing you or hearing from you. Half the time, she was worried sick that you were hurt or even worse. She got tired of coming in dead last on your list of priorities.”
“She told you all this.”
“I told you, Liz and I are sisters. I got her back, she’s got mine. I just wish she’d told me more about Courtney earlier or I might have been home sooner.” Liar, her mind chanted but she silenced that pretty quickly. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter why Elizabeth did what she did. You obviously didn’t care about her half as much as everyone figured or you wouldn’t have moved on so quickly.” Emily sipped her soda. “So, have you traveled to anywhere that I don’t know about?”
Jason stared at her for a moment. “Emily, I cared about Elizabeth. A lot. You know that.”
“I thought I did,” Emily replied. “I thought I knew how much your friendship meant to each other. But I guess I was wrong.”
“She meant a lot to me Emily,” Jason argued. “She was important to me.”
“Did you ever tell her that?” Emily asked pointedly.
“Em—”
“Jason, look, it’s obvious that whatever you felt for Elizabeth is in the past. I mean, you’d never start with Courtney if you weren’t over with Elizabeth, so don’t worry about it. Elizabeth is strong, she’ll bounce back. I guess she can’t forget as easily.”
“I didn’t forget!”
Emily smirked. “Really.”
“She won’t talk to me.”
“Have you tried lately?” Emily asked.
“Well, no…but…” Jason trailed off. “Emily—”
“Just answer me one question honestly,” Emily said, “and I swear I’ll shut up.”
Jason sighed. “Okay.”
“Are you over Elizabeth?”
Jason stared at her for a moment, looked away, his eyes falling on the pool table where he’d taught Elizabeth to play. He remembered the way she felt in his arms, how sweet her hair smelled. He remembered that day upstairs when she’d come to him all dressed up and he’d washed her face.
He’d wanted to kiss her so badly back then. All the time, every time he saw her, he’d had to fight himself not to pull her to him.
He remembered the look on her face when he’d entered the penthouse that fateful night. The dull and glazed look in her eyes. The dried tearstains on her cheeks. He remembered the way her eyes had glimmered with tears that day in Kelly’s when Elizabeth had told them both to go to hell.
He took a deep breath, looked his sister straight in the eye and answered her question. “No. I guess I’m not.”
The door swung open and Elizabeth turned to look at him. “We’re closed,” she said quietly. “Courtney left hours ago.”
“I know.” Jason swallowed hard. “I need to talk to you.”
“I’m not in the mood,” Elizabeth said shortly as she turned another chair over and put it on the table.
“I talked to Emily today.”
“That’s nice.”
“She’s very loyal to you.”
Elizabeth sighed and looked at him. “Jason, do you have a point?”
He exhaled slowly. “She asked me if I was over you and I told her the truth.” He studied her face for a moment before continuing. “That I wasn’t.”
She just stared him, a little dumbfounded. “What?”
“I’m not very proud of what’s happened to our friendship,” Jason told her. He moved away from her, towards the door a little. “I think we’re both to blame. We both ran, and neither of us listened to each other.”
“I guess that’s true,” Elizabeth murmured. She watched Jason fish in his jacket pocket. “What do you think we should do about that?”
He withdrew a handful of change. “What’s your favorite song?” he asked.
She frowned. “What?”
“Your favorite song,” he repeated. “On the jukebox.”
“Oh. Um…” she thought for a moment. “I’m With You. Avril Lavigne.”
Jason scanned the machine and punched it in. As the first chords of music washed over the room, he extended a hand to her. “Dance with me.”
Her eyebrows shot up, even as she took his hand and he pulled her close. They formed the traditional dance pose, her other hand on his shoulder, his hand around her waist. “Why?”
I’m standing on a bridge
I’m waiting in the dark
I thought that you’d be here by now
“I guess I’m trying to recreate one of my favorite memories,” Jason told her.
Elizabeth smiled as she remembered the night in question. “You really didn’t mind it?”
There’s nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I’m listening but there’s no sound
“Nope.” Jason chuckled. “Do me a favor this time, though?”
“What?” Elizabeth asked, tilting her head back to look at him.
“Don’t pretend I’m Lucky.”
Isn’t anyone tryin to find me?
Won’t somebody come take me home
It’s a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Elizabeth didn’t laugh until she saw the amusement in his eyes. “I never could pretend you were anyone else but who you are,” she told him, her eyes showing her honesty.
“Good,” Jason decided.
Wont you take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don’t know who you are
But I… I’m with you
I’m with you
Emily peered in through the window to see her best friend and brother dancing like old friends again. She smiled, glad that she’d righted that wrong. It’d taken her mind off of…other things. She sobered and stepped away from the window, fading into the night.
Inside, the song was winding to a close and Elizabeth was marveling at how comfortable she and Jason suddenly seemed to be. Almost like old times. Maybe…
Maybe they couldn’t go back. And maybe they would never be more than friends. But Elizabeth figured it was better than nothing.
Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don’t know who you are
But I… I’m with you
I’m with you
I’m with you…
In June 2003, shortly after Carly was kidnapped, there was a rumor Sonny would order Elizabeth kidnapped in retaliation. I wrote the first story in response to that, and kept writing. I’m not really sure why it’s in series, but that’s just how it worked out.
Timeline
This is set in June 2003, right after Carly was kidnapped from Jason and Courtney’s aborted wedding. Jason and Sonny have already searched Ric and Elizabeth’s home once.
In January 2004, there was some asinine story with Carly being at either Shadybrooke or Ferncliffe and for some reason, she stabbed Jason with a needle (I think it was an accident) and this particular stuff in the needle was supposed to make you go where you felt safe. Jason went to Courtney, but I (in all my Liason fan glory) thought it might be fun to write about his going to Elizabeth and the studio. So here we are. If anyone remembers the ridiculous story that actually set this series up, please let me know. I have no clue.
I went back to Liason Underground where I originally posted this story, and got a kick out of reading the old feedback. I had originally intended this to be a one shot, the first part, and then someone asked for more. And I wrote one more part. And then Cathy gave me the idea for setting up a crib. Every time I posted a new part I kept swearing this was it, but it eventually became Good Associations: The Incomplete Complete Fic. Thanks to the ladies at Liason Underground, circa 2004. You guys made those crappy days worth watching.
Timeline
To be more specific about this story, this takes place during the time Carly was struggling after Sonny shot her in the head (AND THEN GOT MAD AT HER BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T FORGIVE HIM FAST ENOUGH–I’m fine). She checked herself into a mental health institution. Somehow, Jason ended up there and Carly was struggling with medication (I don’t remember the full details). Jason got the injection instead and left. The doctor told Carly not to worry, that he’d go some place he felt safe. Yeah, that sounded dumb in 2004 but considering the quality of writing we’re getting in 2021, I’ll allow it.
At the time, Jason and Courtney were on the rocks for reasons I no longer care to remember. Elizabeth and Ric were relatively solid at this point (despite the panic room, pushing to bring back vision incident–and the poison and embolism and attempt to smother–okay, lots of unresolved feelings here, obviously). Let me know if there are any questions!
I’m standing on a bridge/I’m waiting in the dark/ I thought that you’d be here by now/There’s nothing but the rain/ No footsteps on the ground/I’m listening but there’s no sound Isn’t anyone trying to find me?/Won’t somebody come take me home?
Inspiration
The inspiration for this story came, ironically, from listening to an Avril Lavigne song, and I’ve quoted the pertinent lyrics above. I remember thinking at the point Ric pretended to sleep with Carly (and let’s just call it what it was–an emotional rape) that Elizabeth was so isolated on the canvas of the show at that point, where would she go if she, a rape victim, discovered she’d been dating a rapist? The show never really delved into that part of the storyline, and they missed an opportunity I think. But anyway 😛
Thanks to the girls at LU for all their wonderful encouragement in writing this, particularly Cathy, Pia, Waheeda, Maja, and Nicole. This is some of the best writing I personally think I’ve ever done.
Timeline
This is a set of stories that begins in late May 2003. Ric has been revealed and taken care of. Elizabeth learns she was just part of the plan. Emily has learned about Zander and Elizabeth’s one night stand and left her alone. Lucky and Elizabeth have spent a lot of time together while Jason and Courtney are still dating.
I’m not sure now what inspired this story, but it’s definitely up there as one of my best early pieces. There are things I would do differently today, but I’m still really happy with it overall.
Yesterdays is really close to my heart. When I started writing it, I had never met anyone who had divorced parents. I’m from a small town and we were mostly lower middle class for the majority of my childhood. People would fight, maybe spend nights at different places, but divorce was too expensive. How could you set up two households when just having one was so difficult to afford?
So, I wrote this story without any real experience. About halfway through, I received a message from a reader who told me that this story touched her because it made her think of her own experiences, and I’ve never forgotten that.
Background
This is an alternate universe in which Elizabeth and Jason are the children of jet-setting wealthy parents who travel the world. They met and married young, then bitterly divorced shortly after the birth of their first daughter.
Story Notes
Some of the cast photos might be foreign or odd. That is Brooklyn Rae Silzer, who currently plays Emma Scorpio-Drake, but I adore her to pieces so she’s cast as Olivia Morgan in this. Holly Marie Combs’ picture is Jessica Spencer (the same Jessica from Intoxication, ha) and there’s Senait Ashenafi as Keesha Ward, Jason Quartermaine’s first girlfriend on the show.
