A.N. This will be my first fan fiction story in several years and the first for GH. This story is Liz-centric, with Franco. Yes, Jasam will be in it and no, that does not mean there will be any bashing of the characters. I think we can all agree that everyone in Port Charles has made mistakes, whether monumental or miniscule. I do not want this to be a place to bash Liz or Sam or Jason.

A.N. #2: This will be AU in the sense it will not necessarily follow timeline or canon, though both may show up.

*** I ask that if you absolutely HATE Liz, please either leave the story now and do not review OR provide only productive criticism towards my writing or portrayal of ALL characters. DO NOT bash Liz. I know Sam fans and Liz fans are passionate, but I do not care to rehash who is better for Jason or who has done the worse offense on the show. ***

A CONVERSATION: PART DEUX

The key slid easily into the lock and turned without any effort on her part. It was one tiny change between her new Brownstone condo and the old house, no sticky locks. Probably because sticky fingers hadn't tried to unlock the door yet.

It was late, only one light burned on the mantle to illuminate the living room and welcome her home. The condo was quiet, Jake and Aden were at the Quartermaines (weird as that was for Liz to admit) and Cam out with friends.

She dropped her purse on the entry table and toed off her shoes, kicking them underneath it. She wanted a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine, preferably before any of her children showed up. She was off duty for dinner plans and wasn't hungry to attempt to cook for one person.

Her day had started off with Franco ending their friendship, then Jason had demanded Jake's art therapy with Franco to end, no matter that it was actually helping their kid recover memories from his time on Cassadine Island. To top it all off was learning Sam was pregnant with Jason's kid and may have contracted malaria while in Greece. And that was all before work started.

Liz didn't even want to think about her day on the floor at GH. She wanted to put it all behind her. The silence Sam asked her to keep about the pregnancy. Franco's dismissal of their friendship, perhaps the only true friend she had in all of Port Charles at the moment. Not to forget, the murders happening in the halls of GH.

With a sigh, she made her way to the kitchen, flipping lights on as she went, then pulled the lonely bottle of Riesling from the fridge and grabbed the opener from the drawer. She had just poured a generous glass and was heading towards the stairs to get the tub started when a hard knock sounded at her front door.

She stifled the urge to roll her eyes at the interruption. She set the wineglass down on the entryway table next to her keys and opened the door.

"Jason," she said with exasperated surprise in her voice, "what are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?" He asked, his gaze already moving past hers and into the condo.

"Jake is still at your mother's." Liz offered, even as Jason brushed past her.

"Good," he stated, his hands on his hips as he turned to face her. "I'd rather he not be here for this."

It was the first time Jason had been in her new place. It was cozier than the last house, the living room a bit smaller, but the furniture was kid-friendly and homey. Not like the stark leather of his penthouse. Pictures lined the mantle and tables, on the walls, including a framed print of artwork he recognized as Jake's.

"I was just about to take a bath while the boys are out. It's been a long day, Jason," Liz began and closed the door, giving herself a moment to take a deep breath. Eyeing the glass of wine, she picked it up and took a sip.

"This shouldn't take long."

They stared at each other. Liz waiting to hear what he had come to say. It couldn't possibly be about Jake because he had made himself perfectly clear earlier. Perhaps Sam had told him and he wanted her reassurance as a medical professional on what to do next.

"I wanted to continue our conversation from earlier," he started, "it feels like we didn't finish it."

Or not, she thought.

"I think we did," Liz replied flatly.

"See, you say that, but you didn't agree to end Jake's meetings with Franco," he said in a voice Liz was beginning to hate hearing from him.

"Because I won't agree to that, Jason," she said having to hold up her hand to stop his protest. "These aren't impromptu get togethers, these are specific art therapy sessions. Franco has been able to help Jake in ways that a regular therapist hasn't been able to."

"I don't want him around my kid!" Jason fairly exploded when she finished, throwing his hands up in the air in his frustration. "And he sees him outside of a therapy session. Franco was in your house making toast!"

"He's my kid too and that happened one time," Liz stated calmly in direct contrast to his outburst. "Jake has a regular therapist he sees twice a week and he does one session with Franco. You would know this if you had actually checked in with me while you were out of town. Dr. Waters agrees with the art therapy and encourages it. And yes, I have checked, there are no other art therapists around to switch him to."

Liz crossed her arms and waited.

"Then find a specialist. Don't worry about the cost, just find someone else," Jason suggested.

"He has a specialist . . . In Franco."

"Why are you fighting me on this? We're both his parents, we need to be on the same page for his sake."

Liz struggled with how to respond. She wasn't completely sure why she was fighting him on it. Lord knows Franco no longer wanted to be her friend or whatever it was they might have been moving towards. She only knew that her son was coming out of his shell and was forging friendships with his brothers, instead of holding himself apart from them. He even wanted to spend time with Danny, his resentment towards him fading.

Some could be attributed to his sessions with Dr. Waters, but she felt it was also in part due to his art sessions with Franco.

"Jason, I need you to realize that I'm not fighting you on this. You haven't been here to see the differences in Jake since he's been in therapy. He's happier than before, he no longer resents his brothers or their relationship with me. He's begun to unlock some of his memories from being held hostage on Cassadine Island. This is all because of Dr. Waters and his time with Franco," Liz explained with forced politeness.

"Liz, you know what he did to Sam, what he did to a lot of people in Port Charles," Jason replied with a tight jaw. "You can't possibly believe his story that he's a changed man!"

"Franco had a brain tumor and since his surgery he has done everything he can to turn his life around. He received certification in art therapy and holds a job at GH. He has contributed to the Nurse's Ball both in personal time and money to it. How long must one suffer for past mistakes?"

The question was asked quietly.

"Longer than he has." Came the blunt answer.

Liz nodded to herself, her heart breaking because it was obvious Jason was not going to budge.

"Then I guess we're at an impasse," she finally said. "I refuse to take away from Jake something that is working for him. If you don't believe me or feel like I'm looking at it through rose-colored glasses, then please contact Dr. Waters and confirm with her. She is working closely with Franco and Jake. She can provide you with her insight."

Jason watched her pick up the glass of wine she had put down on the coffee table and walk over to the front door. She opened it and looked at him expectantly.

He shook his head at her before heading over. He stopped just over the threshold and turned back to look at her. "I'll talk to Dr. Waters, but I doubt she'll change my mind about Franco."

Liz watched him storm down the front path, barely stopping to open the gate separating the front yard from the street. She flipped on the front porch light, closed the door and went upstairs to finally start her bath.