Timeline & Inspiration

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

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

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Lizzie Does Thanksgiving

— Studio —

BEEP BEEP BEEP BE—

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Kelly’s —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He grinned and leaned down to kiss her—

BEEP BEEP BEE—

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

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

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

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

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

— Docks —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Kelly’s —

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

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

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

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

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

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

No. No Jason thoughts.

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

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

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

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

Ugh.

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

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

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

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

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

This was really weird.

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

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

Those days were long gone.

Right?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Courtyard —

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, the hell with it.

“I miss you, too,” she admitted.

He moved closer. “Can we try again?”

She found herself nodding. “Definitely.”

He grinned and leaned down to kiss her.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEE—

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What did you say?” Courtney demanded.

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

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

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

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

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

“Courtney, knock it off,” AJ said.

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

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

“I knew it,” AJ muttered.

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

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

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

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

“Are you okay?” Jason asked.

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

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

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

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

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

“I guess,” he admitted.

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

“Elizabeth.”

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

He smiled at her and leaned down—

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEE—

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

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

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

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

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

“Who wouldn’t?” Courtney finally said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Corky?” Courtney said, momentarily distracted.

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

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

Date. Elizabeth snorted.

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

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

“Hey!” AJ said, insulted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“B-blood?” Courtney stammered.

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

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

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

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

“Well, neither can you,” Courtney argued.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What’s up?” she asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sonny. Here we go.

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

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

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

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

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

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

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

What the hell, right?

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

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

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

“Lying?” he echoed.

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

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

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

He leaned down.

And she waited to wake up.

When his lips brushed hers, she jerked away suddenly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Elizabeth—”

She did it again. “Damn it, wake up.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He frowned. “On what?”

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

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

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

“Good,” Jason replied. “So…?”

“I need a favor,” Elizabeth said abruptly.

“Okay.”

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

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

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

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

She smiled. “I’ll never tell.”

THE END