Matt was defeated. After months – no, make that years – of hard work, everything had finally paid off. With its ability to actually save lives, his research was making its mark. The entire oncology community was taking notice of the paradigm-shifting discoveries he had made over the past several months, culminating in today's announcement that he was the recipient of a very significant grant that would give him leverage, distinction and respect among his colleagues. All of this had happened, and his girlfriend couldn't be bothered enough to care.
It seemed like there was always something. Spinelli's recovery, Jason's accident, Sam's wedding, Kate's magazine crisis, Robin's insecurities, Mac's concerns – all of it ranked above Matt. He was supposed to be the one person she loved most, but he seemed to always be her lowest priority. Maxie had missed his celebration dinner, his issues with Patrick and pretty much everything else that had happened over the past month. He got that these people meant a lot to her; he really and truly understood. He just didn't know when he quit mattering to her.
He's thinking all these things when he spots a pretty brunette nurse making her way to where Matt was watching the rest of the wedding guests, with her easy smile and the causal way her hips swing in her dark red dress as she watches him watching her. Elizabeth was a good friend. She had been one to Patrick and then to Robin and now to him. He appreciated her willingness to always listen and the way that she confided in him and how comfortable she felt being not-so-perfect around him. He liked the way that she trusted him with secrets she couldn't tell anyone and how good it felt knowing that she was inexplicably, unconditionally, absolutely on his side. It just felt nice.
"Hey there, Dr. Hunter," she greeted him with a wide smile that reached all the way to her pretty green eyes. Matt almost felt at home in those eyes and understood how many of the strongest men of Port Charles had fallen victim to their allure. Elizabeth had that kind of innate beauty that wars were waged over. She had all this without knowing, and that only made it that much more sexy. "You look like you have the entire world at your feet. You get some good news?"
"Only the best," he acknowledged by tipping his champagne glass in her general direction. Elizabeth's eyes glittered with happiness and he knew that she meant it. She was genuinely glad for him without knowing what it was about. "What are you doing here? I didn't know if you would make it given the circumstances..."
Elizabeth looked down at her feet and then back up at Matt. He saw a little sadness dwelling in her gaze, masked by the feigned happiness she had for the bride and groom. "It's the second wedding I've watched this year where a man I loved committed his life to someone else. Funnily enough, it gets easier," she joked. Matt smiled at her before glancing toward Maxie, who was laughing openly at something Spinelli had just said as she adjusted his pale blue tie. "But this one was different. When Jason was having the surgery, I had this kind of epiphany. I know now that no matter what happened, he and I never were going to end up together. Not really, anyhow. I am so grateful for the time we shared, but it's not the fated love story I used to think it was... No matter how hard I try, Jason was never going to be Lucky."
"Speaking of Lucky, how is that going?" Matt asked as he took a long sip of his champagne. Elizabeth had a hard summer, to say the least. She was also the most selfless person he knew. Amidst her own grief, she had been strong enough to push it aside to help her former husband.
She nodded gingerly as she looked off into the distance. "Truthfully, I've barely seen him since he showed up on the docks," she shrugged. "He didn't even come with me to the hospital, you know? It kind of felt like you cared more than anyone else did."
Matt remembered the way his stomach had twisted when he had found out that Maxie and Elizabeth had been kidnapped. Elizabeth knew too much about everything that was going on with the drug ring, putting her in real danger. "Yeah, well, I'm just glad that you're safe. That you're both safe," he corrected himself as he nodded toward his girlfriend. "But enough about that. I have some big news, something that needs to be celebrated. Why should Jason and Sam be the only one to kick up their heels tonight?"
"They shouldn't," Elizabeth said decidedly before accepting the outstretched glass of champagne from Matt. "What are we toasting?"
"You are looked at the latest NCI fellow," he announced proudly. "I got the grant from the Institute!"
Elizabeth covered her mouth for a moment before launching herself in Matt's arms. "Oh, Matt, that is wonderful!" she exclaimed as she hugged him tightly. "I am so proud of you! That's amazing!"
Every word came out excited, and for the first time, it felt really great to have this accomplishment. Someone else cared beside him. Telling Elizabeth meant more than telling Robin, Patrick or Maxie could have. "Thank you," he chuckled as she pulled back and gazed up at him proudly. "I haven't told anyone else yet. I didn't want to take away from the happy couple."
"Well, we are definitely celebrating," she told him matter-of-factly. "You grab Maxie, I'll get Robin and Patrick. We can go over to Jake's for some drinks."
Matt glanced at where his brother was dancing with his wife. The two of them had had a rough time this past year. They decided a night of happiness. Maxie was still too wrapped up in Spinelli to even notice that he was still there. "Nah, they all look like they're having a good time. Besides, I'd rather just celebrate with you," he told her with a shy grin. Matt definitely had a way about him. Patrick wasn't the only one who had inherited their father's way with girls. "Why don't we just go back to your house? I am sure you would rather be home with the boys than at some bar. We could hang out with them, eat some cookies, drink some chocolate milk. And when they're in bed, I can tell you all about my grant. More than anything, I really just want to tell someone about it."
Elizabeth's stomach did this funny little flutter thing when Matt suggested spending time with her sons. It wasn't nerves about bringing someone new around Cam and Aidan or concern than Lucky would get the wrong idea or disappointment about having a wild night out. It was happiness that someone understood her. "Frankly, that sounds kind of amazing," she conceded. "We'd have to go by and get them from Gram's. Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Honestly, Elizabeth, I can't think of anything else I would rather do."