Tag Archives: short

February 7, 2014

Timeline

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.

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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.”

Inspiration

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.

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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…

January 30, 2014

Background
Alternate universe. Jason and Elizabeth have never met — he’s not from PC, he’s from Florida and he’s been running Puerto Rico for the past few years. Elizabeth is Sonny’s sister and Brenda and Sonny are married.

Rated NC-17 in some areas.

Characters

Chapters

  • Part One
  • Part Two

    • Inspiration

    This story begins on December 24, 2002. Everything up to that point happened.

    Ha. I just wanted to preserve the above line, because I’m pretty sure that that’s the background that’s been on this story since I posted it at the original Crimson Glass website in 2004. Good grief. I don’t really remember what inspired this story now, except a desire to make all the bad stuff of Fall 2002 go away and do it in a Christmas story while finally using some stuff from 1999. How young and innocent I used to be, believing that the crap that year was the worst the morons at GH could throw at us. Ha.

    Timeline

    This story picks up December 24, 2002. Crash course in Liason History: Elizabeth walks out on Jason that October, the ridiculous nonsense of Courtney and Jason has started but that’s not entirely relevant because it never comes up.

    Characters

    Chapters

  • Prologue
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
  • Part 5

    • Banner Here

    Timeline

    After a body was found in the wreckage of the hotel fire, it was suspected of being both Zander Smith and Scott Baldwin. It ended up being neither of them, but when they thought it was Zander, Elizabeth was responsible for his death. She’d hit him on the head, causing him to be unconscious and die in the fire. Nikolas was suspected of the crime, and Ric was trying to frame him in order to clear Elizabeth.

    Elizabeth wanted to come clean but ultimately, Jason agreed to sign a statement that cast guilt on Andy Capelli, the rogue detective that had died while trying to kill Jason after the fire. Elizabeth was in the clear, thanks to Jason. It didn’t matter since Zander wasn’t dead after all, so it was all a mess, to be honest.

    Inspiration

    I was extremely unhappy with the way the show handled Zander’s supposed death and Elizabeth’s part in it. It felt like she had zero POV in the whole thing, and was just a pawn. I also really hated how Nikolas and Emily were treating her during the whole thing. It definitely demonstrated to me why Ric was terrible for her. I’ve actually written two versions of the Elizabeth Murders Zander story — this one, which I wrote back in 2004, and Shadows, which I wrote a version of in 2004-05 then rewrote in 2014 as my first story back after five years.

    I’m not happy with this story and I actually tossed it in the Fiction Graveyard for a time, but it’s not super terrible.

    Characters

    null

    Chapters

  • Part One
  • Part Two
  • Part Three

    • noel

    Timeline

    This is set in December of 2005. At the time, Jason had lost his memory due to brain issue that I’m not super clear on. I had taken a break from watching GH when I got a job in 2004, and had really dipped in and out. Then, in October of 2005, I got a DVR and was able to keep up much better. Anyway, Jason had lost his memory, and Elizabeth had recently married Lucky. Manny Ruiz caused a train accident that left Lucky injured and angry.

    Inspiration

    This was a challenge response from The Canvas to write A Christmas Carol with Jason — it actually might be fun to revisit this challenge this year since it’s been sixteen years, and it’d be a very different version of Jason.  Anyway, I have zero memory who issued it, only that I wrote it.

    Characters

    robin aj

    Chapters

  • In the Bleak Midwinter
  • Home for the Holidays
  • Miss You Most At Christmas Time
  • Please Come Home for Christmas
  • Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

    • January 29, 2014

    Timeline

    In August of 2006, Patrick was exposed to end-stage AIDs after operating on a patient. He was eventually found to be negative. This is set after the black out that month.

    Inspiration

    I wish I could tell you. I wrote a lot in 2006.

    Banner Here

    January 10, 2007

    “You always think somehow, there’s going to be a miracle.”

    Robin Scorpio glanced over shoulder and smiled faintly as Elizabeth Spencer stepped up to her side. The two women both cast their eyes to the gravestone they stood over. “I guess you do. I mean, even though you know they don’t happen all that often and even when they do, they usually turn out wrong…it doesn’t stop you from believing in them.”

    “Would you have still treated her if you’d known how it would turn out?” Elizabeth asked softly. “Knowing that…it would end this way?”

    “That would be asking me…would I still have fallen in love with Stone if I’d known that he would die of AIDS, but before that, he’d give me the virus as well.” Robin sighed. “There are days my answer would be no. But most days, the answer is yes.” She met Elizabeth’s eyes. “Would you have still fallen for Lucky all those years ago if you’d known it would end like that?”

    “And that’s assuming you have a choice in who you love,” Elizabeth murmured. “But you don’t. I think we each know that better than anyone.”

    “If I had known that by treating April Gilbert, that my entire life and those of the people I love would change irrevocably, would I have still fought for her surgery?” Robin pursed her lips. “I suppose it really doesn’t matter what my answer is, does it?” She trailed her fingers restlessly over the stone, knelt on her knees and traced the letters. “Patrick would have fought for her anyway.”

    “That’s true.” Elizabeth hesitated. “But even if he hadn’t…would you have?”

    “Yes,” Robin stood. “Because I’m a doctor and my patient’s needs come first. They have to come first. But I would have thought twice. I would have hesitated.” She chuckled bitterly. “I suppose that doesn’t make me a very good doctor, does it?”

    “Maybe not,” Elizabeth allowed, “but it makes you human.” She touched Robin’s shoulder. “And there’s no shame in that.”

    “I’m glad April came into my life,” Robin said after another moment. “Not that Patrick…that what happened, happened. But that I met her. And that I was able to make a difference, at least in her life.”

    She tugged her coat more tightly around her and glanced over her shoulder where two cars waited, two men stood. Far apart, seeing as neither liked the other but there they stood nonetheless. “It’s strange how much everything’s changed since that day in the OR.”

    “You’re not kidding,” Elizabeth laughed, her hand straying down to the rounded belly that was covered by her black pea coat. “I never thought I’d be in this place.”

    “Are you sorry?” Robin asked, turning the tables on Elizabeth. “Are you sorry you went to him?”

    “There are days when I say yes,” Elizabeth nodded, echoing robin’s answer. “Days when I think this is all a mistake and that it can’t end any other way but badly. But most days, I’m glad. Because if nothing else, something good will come from it. And our friendship survived it.”

    “Friendship,” Robin sighed heavily. “That’s what it all comes down to in the end, doesn’t it?”

    Elizabeth looped an arm around the brunette’s shoulder and hugged her. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s not going to be easy, Robin. We’ve both chosen hard roads.” She glanced down. “Me with my being pregnant with the baby of a notorious criminal. And you…” her eyes softened. “If you need me, Robin, for anything. Night or day, sun or snow. Because I love him, too.”

    Robin’s throat swelled. “I know,” she said thickly. “And there are days when I think I can’t possibly do this again. That I can’t…” she closed her eyes. “But then there are days when I look at myself and realize that I’m proof. Right?”

    “Right.” Elizabeth took Robin’s hand in her free one. “And even it turns out for the worst, you’ll have had today. And tomorrow. And as many other days come after it.”

    “There are moments when it doesn’t feel real,” Robin said slowly. “And that I will wake up and it have been a dream. That he’s not…that he didn’t test…” she sucked in a deep breath. “That it’s all okay.”

    “And there are moments when I think that I couldn’t have possibly tested pregnant. That it was a nightmare and even if it was true, it could never be his child.”

    “It helps to say it out loud. That I’m scared and that I wish I’d never met April Gilbert, because if I’d never met her, Patrick would be okay right now.”

    “He will be okay,” Elizabeth said. “We’ll all be okay. We might have different definitions of okay, but, hey…it’s not a death sentence anymore.”

    “But it can be.” Robin closed her eyes. “I know that I’m strong. I know that I have lived through so many awful things and still came out standing but I have to wonder…”

    “Don’t we all have a breaking point?” Elizabeth nodded in sympathy. “If you feel yourself breaking, I’m here. I love you. You know that.”

    “I know.” Robin exhaled on a shaky breath and smiled weakly. “I love you, too. You know that. I don’t think I could have survived this last month without you. Since the moment we found out, you’ve been so good to me–”

    “Well, you never turned your back on me either,” Elizabeth pointed out. She tilted her head in the direction of the cars. “We should get back to them. Jason gets cranky if I’m out in the cold for very long. I think he picked it up from Sonny.”

    The two women turned and arm in arm, they made their way to their separate cars. Robin stepped up to Patrick and touched his shoulder.

    “How are you feeling?” Robin asked. “Did you want to go say goodbye–”

    “I said what I needed to say at the hospital,” Patrick said. He tucked her arm in his. “Robin, I understand if you–”

    “Don’t give me another out,” Robin interrupted. “I don’t need it or want it.” She opened the car door. “We should go.”

    “Yeah, I definitely don’t need to spend any more time in a cemetery than I need to,” Patrick said darkly. “It won’t be more than a year before–” he stopped abruptly, seeing the stricken look that flashed across her face. “You’re right, let’s go.”

    Jason hustled Elizabeth into the car but not before casting a concerned glance at Robin. “Is she okay?” he asked, once Elizabeth was settled inside.

    Elizabeth rested one hand on her belly, feeling her daughter kicking and entwined her other with Jason’s. “No,” she admitted. “But then again, none of us is right?”

    Timeline

    Another Patrick & Robin story set in the era of 2006, but not specifically tied to any story in particular.

    Inspiration

    I repeat: Patrick Drake and the dimples.

    Banner Here

    It was supposed to be temporary. A temporary affair that would last until he was tired of her. And Patrick was sure that he would get tired of her. Despite the fact that whatever he shared with Robin was different than everything that had come before, he assumed that once he’d charmed her into bed, he’d only want to stay there for two, three weeks top.

    Three weeks had turned into a month and without realizing it, a month turned into three. And pretty soon, everything about his life was different. He flirted less and he didn’t even realize that he hadn’t dated anyone else since the first time he’d slept with Robin. It didn’t even register that there was no one else that even remotely interested him on that level.

    He didn’t notice that how much time he was spending in her apartment–even after she’d cleared first one drawer for his things and then two. It didn’t occur to him that he had more clothing at Robin’s apartment than in his hotel room and when he’d gotten his monthly hotel bill in September, he’d laughed at the fact that he’d not charged one extra expense to his room. He joked that he might as well move in and save money all together.

    And eventually, that’s what happened, though neither of them commented on that fact when Patrick quietly gave his room up at the hotel in early October and his luggage joined hers in the hall closet or that they’d bought a second dresser and put it in her bedroom.

    And when they’d resigned her lease and added his name, he remarked it made sense since he spent so much time at the apartment, he should be helping her out with the expenses. He didn’t call it living together and neither did she. They ignored the obvious to first the amusement of their family and friends and then to their dismay.

    He didn’t really think about the fact that he wasn’t tired of her. And it more than the sex–though that was the best he’d ever had in his life. It was the after part of it. The waking up in the morning and arguing who would make the first pot of coffee and who would get the shower first. It was the way they each brought their work home–often doing their research together. It was the way she’d try to steal the remote when he wanted to watch hockey and she’d hide it until he kissed the location out of her.

    He could spend an hour just watching her read a medical journal and enjoy the way her nose would wrinkle when she read something she didn’t like and the way the corner of her mouth would curve when she read something she agreed with.

    He could ignore the fact that they had somehow entered an exclusive and committed relationship without intending to. And he could ignore that they’d been living together, even four months after he’d given up the hotel room. He could ignore all that because he couldn’t remember the last time life had felt this right. He had his career, which was going better than he could ever expected, he had his father, he even had a few friends. And he had this beautiful, intelligent and captivating woman that stimulated him, challenged him inside and outside the bedroom.

    But something happened just after anniversary of the death of Dr. Tony Jones, which was commemorated in a very sweet memorial. He’d been called in from the service for a tricky surgery–a risky surgery to be more exact and it’d been a roaring success. He’d become one of only five surgeons worldwide to complete the surgery without losing the patient on the table and one of only three surgeons who didn’t lose the patient at all.

    Job offers poured in from around the world and Patrick could no longer avoid placing a label on his life with Robin. He was being offered lucrative positions in hospitals he’d only dreamed of and he could basically write his ticket at any of them.

    But none of the positions were in Port Charles and he knew if he wanted his career to continue ascending, he couldn’t stay at General Hospital. GH had a decent reputation but if he stayed, his career would be stalled.

    He was studying the job offers when Robin came home from her shift and she sat across from him silently as he read through them a fifth time.

    “The one from Toronto looks good,” she said after a long moment. “They’re offering you a lot of money and a really good position in the department.” A weak smile spread across her face. “And you know how you love hockey.”

    “I was looking at the one at Columbia University Hospital.”

    “In New York,” Robin nodded. “You could probably even get a place in your old neighborhood.”

    New York was closer to Port Charles than any of the other offers, though if Patrick were asked, he’d never admit that’s why he was closer to taking that one than any of the others. Because then he’d have to admit that New York was close enough that Robin might consider going with him. Because then she’d still be close to her family.

    “And you’d be close to your dad,” Robin continued. She bit her lip and looked around the apartment. His basketball was next to the front door, his sneakers tossed in front of the couch where he’d kicked them off after a game in the park the day before. It drove her crazy when he did that.

    They had been creating a life together but how much of a life could it have been if neither of them were willing to admit it? It was better this way, better that Patrick would leave for his career because she didn’t think she could have survived him leaving on his own accord.

    “And the research they do there is incredible,” Patrick found himself saying. “They do a lot of studies there, more than most of these other hospitals.”

    “Mmm…” Robin nodded. “They were one of the hospitals I applied to get my grant for my drug therapy. They agreed but the hospital in Paris gave me more money.”

    He didn’t look up at her and made sure to keep his eyes on the table in front of him as he spoke. “You should, ah, you should apply again.”

    Robin blinked, but that was only reaction that showed physically. Inside her heart was racing and she was sure the palms of her hand were a little damp. “Are you…are you asking me to go with you?”

    Patrick exhaled sharply and stood. He stalked towards the windows and yanked the curtains open to stare moodily out at the harbor. “I can’t–I can’t not accept any of these offers, Robin.”

    “I know that,” Robin murmured, somewhat fascinated at his reaction to her question.

    “It’s not that I don’t want to work at GH,” Patrick continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “But you know what my career means to me–”

    “Patrick…” Robin stood and crossed to him. She put a hand on his chest and looked up at him with a tremulous smile. “Do you have any idea how proud I am of you? You’re a brilliant surgeon and it was only a matter of time before the rest of the world realized that.”

    “Robin–”

    “Of course you have to take one of these jobs,” Robin said. “If you had even thought about staying in Port Charles, I would have smacked you.” She licked her lips. “But I–I mean, we’ve–” She huffed impatiently. “Look, we’ve been dancing around this for months and I think–we can’t do that anymore.”

    “I know.” He licked his bottom lip. “Robin, we’ve been…well it’s been…” He dragged a hand through his hair. Why was this so hard to say? Why couldn’t he make the words come out? “Look, we’re basically living together…”

    “Patrick, we’re not basically doing anything. We’re living together,” Robin laughed nervously. “Your name is on my lease, too.”

    “Right, yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And I think–I mean we’re doing okay, right?”

    Her lips curved into an amused smile. He was so adorable when he was flustered. “Yeah, we’re doing okay.”

    “So–I mean, I don’t–I know you want to be close to your family. I get that. I kinda want to be close to my dad. So you know, New York is a good idea. It’s an hour by train and if there was an emergency, we could be back quickly–”

    “Patrick,” Robin interrupted softly. “Are you asking me to go with you?”

    “Ah, I mean if I go to New York, yeah–”

    “No, Patrick,” Robin shook her head. “Are you asking me to go with you wherever you decide to take the job?”

    He exhaled slowly and met her eyes…and saw her answer. “Will you go with me, no matter where I take the job?”

    “Yes, I will go with you,” she replied softly. She leaned up and brushed her lips over his.

    “But what about your job, your family?” Patrick said. He pulled back. “You have a career, too and it’s important to you and it’s important to me–”

    “I can do my research pretty much anywhere.” Robin’s smiled deepened into a smirk. “And you know, you’re not the only one who gets job offers.” She crossed to her desk in the corner of the room and withdrew a stack of envelopes. “Let’s see how many match and pick where we want to live.”

    Timeline

    This is set during the summer of 2004, shortly after Elizabeth returned from California with Cameron and had finalized her divorce from Ric. She was drifting a bit storyline wise for a while (I imagine because the show had given her an easy schedule since her maternity leave was pretty short), and she shared a few scenes with Sam.

    That summer, Sam had become pregnant with Sonny’s baby but Jason had claimed it for reasons that have never made sense to me other than Sam was a failed character within the first six months of her existence and she was on her third relationship. Anyway, I didn’t mind Sam much at first and I thought, under circumstances, she and Elizabeth could have been friends since they both disliked Courtney and Carly.

    Inspiration

    I wrote this just as an exploratory piece. What would Sam and Elizabeth be like friends? It’s also a little bit inspired by the song by Britney Spears.

    Banner Here

    Elm St. Pier

    Elizabeth Webber Lansing sat on the bench and lifted her two month old son out of his stroller. Cameron Webber gurgled and smiled at her. He had big brown eyes—Zander’s eyes and it broke her heart he would never know his father.

    Ric had wanted to be his father—but for all the wrong reasons and though he had been a good husband and would have been an exemplary father, she’d never forgive herself for exposing her child to the hatred that lurked in Ric’s heart.

    She had sold some paintings in California and would have enough money to live comfortably on until Cameron was a little older. Audrey was planning on retiring from the hospital at the end of the year and at that point, she would take care of Cameron while she helped to fund Elizabeth’s dream of opening an art gallery.

    Her life was firmly back on track. She was a mother, she was a granddaughter, a best friend. And soon she would be a divorced woman again. She just had to work up the courage to file.

    Emily had been encouraging her call Alexis almost since Elizabeth had left town and now that she was home—well maybe she would.

    She heard rapid footsteps on the dock steps behind her and the brisk no nonsense voice of Nikolas’s aunt. “You just stay away from me, do you hear me?” Alexis Davis snapped. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs—Elizabeth hidden from her view by a large bush. “I don’t want you near me or my daughter. You just—just stop coming around.”

    “Now now, Counselor, there’s no reason get so upset.” The smooth and charming voice of her estranged husband startled Elizabeth and she recognized the tone—one he’d used to soothe her on many occasions.

    Elizabeth clutched her son to her chest and blinked. She had thought Ric and Alexis hated each other. Should she step in? Save Alexis from whatever Ric was undoubtedly planning?

    “Whatever happened in the elevator—it just stays there,” Alexis continued, her voice fast and slightly thready. She was nervous and showing signs of some panic. “Don’t touch me!”

    Elizabeth frowned and was about to stand when Ric’s next words stopped her cold. “Alexis, don’t act like my touch repulses you. If that elevator hadn’t started to move, we’d probably be on round two.”

    Elizabeth closed her eyes and shook her head. No. He hadn’t—two months after she was gone. He wouldn’t. He had told her that he loved her. How did that go away in two months? She hadn’t heard correctly.

    “You kissed me,” Alexis hissed. “And I was about to push you away when the elevator—” her words were cut off so abruptly that Elizabeth knew Ric had kissed her quiet.

    He’d used the tactic on her numerous times to keep her from asking questions or pursing his strange behavior.

    Elizabeth was silent while they talked in soft whispers before going back the way they’d came.

    When she was sure they were gone, Elizabeth exhaled slowly and met her son’s quiet gaze. “What is it about me that is so forgettable?” she murmured. She set him back in the stroller and stared at him for a while. “Lucky replaced me with Sarah. Jason with Courtney. Ric with Alexis and I was never really with Zander. Why am I so easily forgotten? So replaceable and disposable?”

    Cameron seemed to sense his mother’s solemn mood and reached out his chubby hand to grasp at her fingers. She let him wrap his tiny fist around her index finger and sighed. “Just don’t ever find a new mother, okay, Cam?”

    A throat cleared behind her and she looked up to find a slightly pregnant Samantha McCall looking at her oddly. “Elizabeth, right?”

    “Right. Sam?” Elizabeth asked. She withdrew her hand from Cameron’s fist. “Congratulations,” she gestured towards Sam’s abdomen.

    “Yeah, it’s Sam and thanks.” Sam touched the small mound. “Just when I think I’m used to this, I come across a mother and their kid and I remember just…how bad I’m gonna screw this up.”

    “Yeah, I know that feeling.” Elizabeth patted the spot next to her. Sam sat down. “I was pregnant for about six weeks last spring,” she told the other woman, “and I only found out about it a few days before I had a miscarriage.”

    “Oh my God,” Sam murmured. “I’m so sorry.”

    “I had about five seconds to decide that I absolutely loved the idea of having a baby and being a mother. I’m only twenty-two but part of me just…woke up when I realized I was carrying another life.” Elizabeth smiled at Cameron. “And when I was pregnant again, I was just—so grateful to have a second chance. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

    “I thought about getting an abortion,” Sam admitted. “I had a crappy childhood and I figured—what do I know about kids, you know? How am I gonna know how to teach my kid right from wrong with the life I’ve lead and the life her father leads?”

    “Sonny’s—he’s a good man though,” Elizabeth said helpfully. “Up until this past year, I’d say he’s been a great father.”

    The lie was on the tip of Sam’s tongue. The baby is Jason’s not Sonny but instead she asked, “Why do you say until this past year?”

    “Carly and Sonny’s custody battles.” Elizabeth shrugged. “I have my issues with Carly but I felt for her when he kept from Michael and Morgan and then—they tried to use those children to destroy each other and I just—I can’t respect that.”

    Sam shrugged and looked away. “Sonny’s not going to be raising my daughter,” she murmured. “It’s too—for some reason, it’s too complicated so he’s not claiming her.” She couldn’t meet Elizabeth’s eyes. “So Jason is.”

    Elizabeth shook her head and laughed softly. “Super Jason to the rescue again,” she said with cynical amusement. “He’s just stepping in and letting Sonny take over his life. He’s so far from the man I knew.”

    Sam raised her eyebrows. “He’s saving my ass,” she said a little annoyed. “I can’t do this on my own—”

    “I’m not criticizing you and you couldn’t find someone who will love your daughter more,” Elizabeth assured her. “It’s just—Jason used to live his life for himself. Make his own decisions. He used to be honest. He wouldn’t lie—even if it was easier than telling the truth. He did what was right for him and now—he does what’s right for everyone else. He was so busy saving everyone else that when he turned around to have his own life, his wife left him.” Elizabeth shrugged. “I just—I hope he’s happy.”

    “He’s not,” Sam nodded. “Because every time he turns around, there’s Carly and Courtney like some kind of warped Doublemint twins on crack. He’s making a mistake, he’s ruining life. They’re always flapping their jaws and trying to run his life. And if it’s not them too, it’s Sonny. He made the decision not to be this baby’s father but he can’t seem to remember that and all he’s doing is reminding Jason that at any time he could change his mind and I know it’s killing him.” Sam sighed heavily. “But sometimes, I look at him, and I can feel how much he wants this. He wants to be a father again. I just wish—I wish I could give him some kind of guarantee.”

    “He loves Michael,” Elizabeth remarked. “It tore him up inside for so long after he lost him and I don’t care what he says, he’s never gotten over that.”

    “I know that, too,” Sam told her. “Because he gets this look sometimes with Michael and I just—I don’t love him,” she told Elizabeth quickly. “But when he’s like that, I almost wish I could. But he’s just—he’s not for me. And he’s definitely not for that Barbie Doll he married. She’s such a hypocrite. She’s all fine about moving on with that Australian candy ass but she’s giving him the third degree about me every time he turns around and all I want to do is just crack her across the face but I’m terrified she’d body slam me or something.”

    Elizabeth started to laugh and couldn’t stop even tears were rolling down her face. Pleased by his mother’s joy, Cameron gurgled and kicked his legs. “That’s incredible—so you despise her as much I as do, huh?”

    Sam broke into a wide smile. “Oh, you’re kidding right? How can anyone stand her? She’s almost as martyrish as Emily Quartermaine.”

    Elizabeth sobered and frowned. “Emily’s a friend of mine.”

    “Oh.” Sam hesitated. “Well—you were out of town for a while so you really haven’t…” She pursed her lips. “Emily’s a really—she’s…I don’t like her,” Sam said bluntly. “She thinks she knows what’s best for everyone—including me and her brother. She’s rude and thinks only about herself. I’m sorry—but she’s also breaking poor Lucky Spencer’s heart. He’s been falling in love with her and she’s just using him to get over Nikolas.”

    “Well—I haven’t been here, like you said. But I’ve known Emily since we were teenagers. We’ve been best friends forever—”

    “So you probably don’t see what I see. That’s fine. You’re blind to a lot of things,” Sam shrugged.

    Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

    “Yeah. You were married to Ric Lansing, weren’t you?”

    Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “That’s a good point. I do have a habit of seeing what I want in people.” She stared out over the docks. “Have you ever felt disposable?”

    “Constantly,” Sam remarked, pleased that her remarks hadn’t alienated Elizabeth.

    “Every major relationship I’ve been in….I’ve been replaced mere months after it’s ended,” Elizabeth told her. “Sometimes it’s less than a month and then others it’s six months but it—it never changes. I’m good enough to be around until problems start and things get tough but then they run and find someone who makes their life easier or gives them something I can’t.”

    “Sonny used me to get back at Carly and I think I knew that all along so it doesn’t surprise me he picked her over me. It hurts but it doesn’t surprise me,” Sam told her.

    “Lucky was my first boyfriend and we were together—wow, forever. From the time we were fifteen to about two years ago. On and off, really. But we had some problems—he was brainwashed and didn’t love me anymore. I can forgive him for what he did because he’d been tricked into not loving me anymore. But he slept with my sister just a few months after we were over.”

    Elizabeth sighed. “And then Jason and I had been dancing around each other for three years—a lot of my problems with Lucky stemmed from my feelings for Jason and I just didn’t have the courage to face them. When we finally got together, he lied to me—let me believe Sonny was dead and let be me terrified that he himself was out every night finding Sonny’s killer. So I left him and two months later, he screwed the Barbie Doll.”

    Sam gaped. “You and Jason? Sonny was dead? He did what?” She blinked. “I never would have pictured it.”

    “And then I met and married Ric,” Elizabeth continued. “But not until after he pretended to sleep with Carly, get engaged to Courtney and try to kill Sonny and Jason. He also tried to kill me but I stayed with him anyway because I thought he could change.”

    Sam raised her eyes. “I feel like I should be eating popcorn. And he replaced you, too?”

    “I left him in April and he’s already moved on with Alexis Davis.” Elizabeth snorted. “I thought she had better taste. And it hurts. Because he told me that he loved me. That I was the only person for him. That I was the love of his life. And it took him ten weeks to find someone else.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m just glad—you know, I’m just glad it’s not another dumb blonde. I really don’t think I could have taken it if I’d come home and he was with a blonde.”

    “Your sister was a blonde huh?” Sam said with some sympathy. “Yeah—that would have sucked if Ric had made it three blondes in a row.”

    “I was just thinking about going to Alexis to file for divorce and now—” Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “I feel like I keep getting knocked down. I am so tired of picking myself off the ground, Sam. You just—you have to start asking—when it’s your turn?”

    “When do you get to be happy?” Sam nodded in understanding. “When is it finally time for you to get what you want? You’re preaching to the choir, babe. But I think if I could get Sonny out of my life, I could get somewhere.”

    “Yeah, well…good luck with that.” Elizabeth stood and smiled at her. “I like talking to you, Sam. For a second—it almost felt like I had Jason back. Though—your comments are more colorful than his.”

    Sam grinned. “Yeah, he just doesn’t have the same way with the English language that I do. I liked talking to you. You’re the only person who knows about Sonny and—everything. I don’t know why but I just didn’t want to lie to you.”

    Elizabeth gripped the sides of the stroller. “You’d be the first person in my life to have that feeling,” she said with a sad smile. “I’d better get Cam home and to bed. See ya around, Sam.”

    She wheeled the stroller away and few moments later, Sam examined her nails. “You can come out any time, you know.”

    Jason stepped out from behind the shrubbery. “How’d you know I was there?” he demanded.

    “Please. I could hear those motorcycle boots anywhere,” she snorted. She stood and punched him in the arm. “You’re a jackass you know that? Sleeping with the Barbie On Steroid just weeks after that girl walked out on you. What’s with you, Jason? You have something wrong in your head?” She rapped his temple.

    “Hey—”

    “And I’m not referring to your accident,” Sam remarked scathingly. “That poor girl thinks she’s been replaced in everyone’s lives and all I could sit there and do was restrain the urge to yank you from the bushes and give her free shots.”

    “She was better off without me,” he muttered, sliding his hands in his pockets and staring at the ground.

    “Yeah, okay. Because giving her up for the Doublemint Twins and that Marlon Brando phoney and her ending up with the half-brother from hell…she was so much better off than with you.” Sam snorted and turned around to head towards the steps. “What is it about men who think they know better? If we think we can do better, trust me—we’ll go and find someone better,” she muttered, stalking up the stairs. “My daughter is gonna know how to kick anyone’s ass who tries to tell her what to do.”

    She whirled on the landing and poked Jason—who’d followed her up the stairs—in the chest. “And let me tell you something, mister, you just try to do it to me because I will wipe the floor with you and that crazy brood you call a family and if you had any sense in that head of yours—” again she rapped his temple and he scowled, “—you wouldn’t have let Elizabeth Webber get five feet out your door. Maybe you’d have an actual biological child rather than more of Sonny’s hand-me-downs.”

    Jason narrowed his eyes. “Wait a second—”

    “Because I’ll tell you—she seems more sensible than to run off to South America and jump into freezing water when she’s pregnant,” Sam told her. “And she seems like the sort who doesn’t judge you. You know that I talked trash about her best friend and she just sat there and let me have my opinion? I can’t remember the last time I had my own opinion.”

    “You seem to be having a hell of one right now,” Jason said dryly.

    “And stop acting like Sonny’s going to take this kid out from under you. To do that he’d have to claim her and he’s not going to do that. I told you—this is your daughter and you’d better damn well remember that.” Sam rolled her eyes and turned around to stomp up the rest of the stairs. “Men,” she snorted. “Just large children wrapped in hot packages.”

    “Is this hormones?” Jason asked. “Because—”

    “Hormones?” Sam narrowed her eyes. “Listen here—” she broke off and smiled sweetly and then he knew he was in trouble. “I’ve decided I should be friends with more mothers,” she said firmly. “Carly’s a bony brat who wouldn’t know how to be a good mother if she were handed a picture book and Elizabeth seems to actually spend time with her kid so maybe I should have her over to the penthouse.” She nodded. “Yeah, that sounds like a really good way to piss off the bony bitch and her gorilla friend.”

    “Bony—gorilla…” Jason trailed off and shook his head. “Sam—”

    She poked him in the chest. “You’d better learn to just deal with it because from now on, it’s you and me. No more of Sonny’s drop in visits. He made his bed and now he’s gotta lie in it, you got me?”

    “I’m beginning to.”

    “And we’re going to find Elizabeth a divorce lawyer who won’t screw her ex-husband,” Sam decided as they came out onto the street.

    “Wait, Alexis and Ric?” Jason said, trying to keep up.

    “And maybe I’ll even make her godmother of my kid,” Sam continued, on a roll now and loving it. She was in control again and she’d be damned if anyone would take it from her.

    “And Elizabeth can teach me how to not to screw up my kid and maybe I can convince her she’s not disposable and that she’s just got really rotten taste in men.”

    Insulted, Jason scowled. “Wait—”

    “I don’t mean you,” Sam said impatiently, “You’re an idiot but if you had any balls, it would have been okay. I mean that stupid idiot Ric. I mean, he has a wife and a kid. She loves him—well I think she does and even if she’s too good for him, he should have at least waited more than ten weeks before screwing her lawyer.”

    “I’m still insulted.”

    “It’s okay.” She patted his arm. “I’m going to work on you and in like a month—you’ll learn how to say no again. Well–I know you know how to say it, now we just have to work on meaning it.”

    “Wait—”

    “Back off, Morgan, I’m told pregnant women are not to be messed with.” Sam started walking briskly down the block towards Harborview Towers.

    “Sam?”

    She turned. “Yeah?”

    “I think you’re good for her,” Jason said after a moment. “She seemed—better after she’d talked to you. And that’s—that’s good.”

    Sam nodded. “Okay.”

    “She’s tried to prove herself to everyone in her life for years and I just think—I don’t think you would make her feel like that.” He shook her head. “I just think it’s time someone made her feel like it was okay to be herself again.”

    Sam stared at him for a moment. “Well, son of a bitch,” she murmured. “I am so glad to know it’s not the gorilla you’re pining for.”

     

    Inspiration

    Inspired by the sappy Christmas song.

    Timeline

    This is an alternate universe, so forget everything you know.

    Sir I wanna buy these shoes, for my momma please
    It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
    Could you hurry sir?
    Daddy says there’s not much time
    You see she’s been sick for quite a while
    And I know these shoes will make her smile
    And I want her to look beautiful
    If Momma meets Jesus tonight
    — Bob Carlisle, Christmas Shoes

    Nicole shifted her weight from one foot to the other and rolled her neck. How long did it take to get from Fifth Street to Forty-Eighth anyway? She was tired of standing on this bus.

    Her parents had always told her not to go on buses–but she couldn’t ask them for a ride today. Besides, they thought she was at Cathy’s house and Cathy had been instructed to make an excuse in case her father called.

    But he wouldn’t. Her father hadn’t left the bedroom in a few days. See, her mother had been kind of sick and he was worried about her.

    But it was Christmas Eve and seven-year-old Nicole was braving the Port Charles streets all by herself. She’d saved for weeks and weeks to buy her mother a pretty pair of earrings and she thought she had enough so she’d climbed the bus to head to Wyndham’s.

    The bus lurched to a sudden stop, sending Nicole flying forward. She landed in the lap of a young blonde woman sitting with a little boy. “I’m sorry,” she said, righting herself.

    “It’s all right.” The woman studied her and cast her eyes to the direction Nicole had come from. “Where’s your mother, honey?”

    “She’s at home,” Nicole said. “She got some kind of…” she hesitated, “lou-kem-cem…she’s sick.”

    “Leukemia?” the woman supplied.

    Nicole nodded. “Yeah. My daddy’s with her but I hope this bus gets to Wyndham’s soon because I wanna buy these earrings for her. I saw them in a catalog a-and I’ve been saving for weeks. I think I have enough but I had to come today because Daddy says she’s gonna be an angel soon and I think angels need pretty jewelry.”

    The woman’s eyes softened and she looked at her soon. “Scoot over, Kyle.”

    The brown-haired boy scowled but obeyed his mother and she moved over to create a small space for Nicole. “Thank you,” Nicole said gratefully.

    “What’s your name, sweetheart?” the woman asked.

    “Nicole Maria Emilia Morgan,” Nicole told her proudly. “The Emilia is for my aunt Emily.”

    “I’m Maxie and this is my son, Kyle.” The woman tipped her head towards her son. “Honey, say hello.”

    Not wanting to be outdone, Kyle sat up and puffed his chest out. “My name is Kyle Andrew Radcliffe, Jr.,” he said. “My daddy is police man.”

    “My daddy works with coffee and he always smells like it,” Nicole wrinkled her nose. “I’m seven and three-quarters.”

    “I’m eight,” Kyle boasted. He frowned. “What did you mean when you said your mommy was gonna be angel?”

    “That’s what my Daddy says,” Nicole told him. “He says that sometimes people get really sick and then they go to be angels and that way, my mommy can take care of me forever but I won’t be able to see her.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I want her to stay with me but Daddy says Mommy is too good and pure for this world and that’s why she’s his angel.”

    “Your daddy sounds like he loves your mother very much,” Maxie said. “He’s lucky to have such a beautiful and caring daughter.”

    “He says I’m an angel too,” Nicole said. She sighed. “I hope Mommy doesn’t become an angel until after tomorrow. She loves Christmas. She let me put the angel on top of the tree this year and I made paper chains. She calls my dad a paper chain expert but he’s really bad at it so I think she’s just being nice.”

    Maxie smiled. “I hope you get Christmas with your mommy. Hey, we’re coming up to Wyndham’s stop.”

    Nicole smiled brightly. “I’m kind of excited. I’ve never been there by myself.”

    Maxie matched her smile and took Kyle’s hand. “Tell you what. Why don’t Kyle and I walk you to the jewelry counter? And then we’re meeting his dad at the police station so maybe we can give you a ride home.”

    “Wow, really?” Nicole clapped her hands together. “That’s great! I don’t know which bus to take home anyway.”

    —

    Nicole pressed her face up against the glass case of the jewelry counter and her face crumbled. “I don’t have enough.”

    Maxie crouched next to her. “Didn’t you say you saw it in a catalogue?”

    Nicole nodded, her lip trembling. “But that’s the one I saw and it wasn’t that much then.”

    Maxie followed Nicole’s finger and saw a tiny pair of sapphire earrings in a silver settings with a price of three hundred dollars. She felt a pang in her heart. There was no way that the angelic girl had saved that much.

    She straightened and looked at the sympathetic salesgirl. “Were these earrings on sale at any time?”

    The girl nodded. “Yeah, they were on sale for fifty bucks back at the end of the summer but it’s Christmas, everything’s inflated.” The pretty redhead looked at the tiny girl staring forlornly at the jewelry. “Look, I have about twenty bucks on me. I can go ask my friend Joy if she can offer anything. Maybe between the three of us, we can make up the difference. She looks so sad.”

    Maxie nodded and lowered her voice. “Her mother’s very sick and I get the impression she’s not supposed to last much longer.”

    “Wait here and I’ll go talk to Joy.” The girl moved to find her friend at the other end of the counter waiting on an elderly woman.

    Maxie looked back Nicole. “Honey, how much money do you have?”

    Nicole reached into her pocket and took out a plastic bag full of bills and it jingled with change. Maxie took it from her and started to count.

    By the time the salesgirl and her friend Joy had rejoined them, Maxie had counted out forty dollars. For a seven-year-old girl to save that much money…

    “Between us, we have sixty dollars,” the salesgirl said.

    “Yeah, when Lea explained what was going on, I couldn’t help but give some money,” Joy told her. “Does it help?”

    Maxie bit the inside of her cheek. Nicole was still short two hundred dollars. The little girl saw the hesitation on her new friend’s face and smiled. “It’s okay, Maxie. I don’t have to have the earrings. My mommy is pretty without them and I guess angels don’t really need jewelry.”

    Maxie felt Kyle tugging at her jacket and she turned to look at him. “Yes, honey?”

    He reached into his pocket and took out the envelope full of his own money. Maxie’s eyes filled with tears. Kyle had saved over a year to get a new Xbox and he had a hundred and fifty dollars with him.

    She kneeled in front of him and kissed his cheek. “Oh, baby, I am so proud of you.”

    Kyle shrugged. “She just wants her mommy to look pretty when she becomes an angel and I think it’s sad that she won’t get to see her every day because I would miss you.”

    She took the envelope from him and gave him a tight hug. When he woke up the next morning, that Xbox he’d saved for would be waiting for him. She’d make sure of that. “I have never been more proud to be your mother than right this second.”

    She stood, set the envelope on the counter and reached into her own wallet to take out the remaining money.

    Lea smiled brightly, rung up the purchase and then even wrapped the velvet jewelry box herself. “Here you go, honey.”

    “Thank you!” Nicole said. She smiled again and looked up at Maxie. “Can you take me home now? I want to make sure my mommy didn’t become an angel while I was gone.”

    When the trio had exited, Joy sniffled and reached for a tissue. “Man, times like this, I’m glad I waited to quit until after the holidays.”

    —

    Kyle Radcliffe, Sr. frowned that night when he saw the credit card purchase receipt for the video game system. He looked at his wife who was arranging their son’s presents under their tree. “I thought we agreed Ky was going to buy this on his own?”

    “We did.” Maxie stood and sat down on her husband’s lap. “Your son gave the money away.”

    Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

    “You remember the little girl who we gave a ride home?”

    Kyle nodded. “Jason Morgan’s daughter. I know him–he used to work for Sonny Corinthos before he got married and left the business. I heard his wife was sick.”

    “Leukemia and it’s bad. Nicole said her father told that her mother was going to be angel soon.” Maxie sighed. “She wanted to buy he mother a pair of earrings for Christmas but she didn’t have enough. Kyle, she saved forty dollars. Do you know how wonderful that is?”

    “How much were the earrings?” Kyle asked.

    “Three hundred dollars. So the salesgirl threw in a twenty and her friend put in forty and then Ky put in his entire hundred and fifty dollars.”

    “He’s been saving that money for over a year,” Kyle said, surprised. “Birthday, allowance, report card grades…he wouldn’t even buy baseball cards. He gave it to a little girl he never met before?”

    “He said that he felt sorry for her because she wouldn’t see her mother anymore and that he’d miss me if that happened.” Maxie rested her forehead against her husband’s. “How can I not buy him that game system after that?”

    “I guess he earned it.” Kyle smiled at him. “And you were worried we’d screw him up.”

    —

    Nicole climbed up on her mother’s bed and rested her head on her mother’s chest. “I love you, Mommy.”

    Elizabeth Morgan’s hand slowly came up to stroke her daughter’s long blonde hair. “I love you, too,” she said softly before looking at her exhausted husband sitting at her side. “How was Cathy’s?”

    Nicole sat up and reached into her jeans pocket. “Mommy, I…I didn’t go to Cathy’s. I went and got your Christmas present.”

    “Aww, honey…” Elizabeth started to struggle into a sitting position. Jason quickly sat on the bed and helped her. “You know you didn’t…”

    Nicole sniffled. “Daddy says you’re gonna be an angel and I thought you needed pretty earrings. I saw them in a catalogue and I went on the bus to get them. I didn’t have enough but a pretty lady and her son helped me.” She held the neatly wrapped present out to her mother. “Here. You can open it tonight.”

    Elizabeth hesitated but saw the hesitant and excited look in her daughter’s eyes. She was so proud of herself for doing this–for apparently not asking her father for the money even though Jason could have taken care of it. She took it from her and pulled the wrapping off as fast as her exhausted body could handle.

    She tilted the box open and the sparkle of the sapphire stones took her breath away. Her vision blurred with tears and she looked at her daughter. “Oh, baby…”

    “I wanted you to look pretty,” Nicole said. She wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist and started to cry. “Please stay here. I know Daddy says you’re too good for this world but you’re my mommy and I need you. Someone else can be an angel.”

    “I don’t want to go,” Elizabeth said. She closed her eyes and held her tightly. “I love you so much and don’t listen to your daddy, he’s always thought I was too good for things. Too good to love him, too good to marry him. He’s very biased and I think he labors under the impression that I’m perfect or something.”

    She looked at him with a soft smile. “But I love him for it and I love you.” She kissed Nicole’s head. “No matter what happens, I will always be your mother and I will always love you. Please remember that.”

    “Okay.” Nicole kissed her cheek. “Will you wear the earrings tomorrow?”

    Elizabeth nodded. “Sure, baby.” She looked at Jason. “Why don’t you put her to bed? It’s getting late.”

    Jason nodded and picked their daughter up off the bed. He kissed his wife’s forehead. “I love you.”

    “I love you too.”

    —

    The next morning, Nicole woke up to see her father kneeling next to her bed, with tears in his eyes. “Hey, baby,” he greeted hoarsely.

    She sat up and her lip trembled. “Is Mommy an angel now?”

    He nodded and pulled her into a hug. “Mommy’s an angel now and she wore your pretty earrings to heaven.”

    “I wish she’d stayed here but you’re right, Mommy’s so good and sweet and pretty that everyone should get her to look out for them and not just us.” Nicole kissed her father on the cheek. “Now she’s your angel forever.”

    “Yeah.” Jason managed a smile. “But she already was anyway.”