AN / Written by request as a continuation of 'Auld Lang Syne'. Not sure if I'll keep this going. I make no promises, but I might. We'll see where the show goes with AJ/Liz or Quiz as some call them.
"Mom what does redemption mean?" Cameron asks his mother.
Elizabeth settles Aiden into his crib and considers that it might be time to put him in Jake's toddler bed before responding to Cameron. "Where did you hear that word?"
"I didn't hear it. I read it, so what does it mean?"
"It has several meanings. You could be atoning for guilt or it can mean rescue, or salvation, it can even mean to buy."
Cameron looks down at the paper he's holding and says, "Well that's boring." He drops the paper on the floor of Aiden's room and heads for his own room.
"Cam, pick that up please." Elizabeth calls after him. Cameron comes back, quietly picks up the paper and tosses it in Aiden's trash can. He flashes his mom a guilty grin then hops off to bed. Elizabeth shakes her head after him. She remembers that it's trash day tomorrow, so picks up Aiden's trash can and reads the letters ELQ on top of the paper that Cameron tossed in. She picks out the paper and sees that is ELQ letterhead, a half-sheet meant for personal notes. Scanning the strong, masculine hand-writing she notices the words 'redemption', 'stocks', and 'buy-out'.
She sets down the trash can and goes to knock on Cameron's door. "Cam, come out here please."
Her son, now dressed in his pajamas, slowly opens the door. "Yes Mom."
"Where did you get this?"
"I found it."
"Where did you find it?"
"Tonight, on the floor by Mr. Quartermaine's jacket."
"Why didn't you return it to him?"
"I don't know. I forgot I guess. Am I in trouble?"
Elizabeth reaches for his head to hold it as she kisses is forehead. "That's up to Mr. Quartermaine. It's his letter. I'll have to call him and make sure he gets it back. Now it's past your bedtime, so we'll discuss this in the morning. Goodnight Cam. Love you."
He grins goodnight and closes the door on her.
Elizabeth empties all the trashcans before heading downstairs. She pulls AJ's letter out of the pocket she stowed in it and sets it next to the telephone. She glances at the clock, it's nearly eleven. She wonders if it's to late to call or if she should wait until morning. She doesn't know how important the letter is to AJ, so decides to call right away.
AJ parks the car in the garage, after dropping his mother and Aunt Tracy off at the front door where Alice was waiting to escort them safely inside. The Nurses Ball had been more fun then he thought it would be and he can't stop thinking about Elizabeth Webber and her son Cam. Asking her to join his table had been inspired. She and her son added life to the Quartermaine table.
He opens the trunk to get his locked brief-case and remembers the note that never made it into the case because he was running late for the Ball. He reaches into his pocket and finds it missing. He curses and looks frantically under and drivers seat, even under the car. "Dammit, if Tracy gets hold of it." He debates going back the Metro Court to look for it when his cell phone rings. He pulls it out and sees, Elizabeth Webber's name scroll across the screen.
A giant grin takes the place of the scowl on his face, as he can't help but be pleased that she called, so quickly after leaving him this evening. He answers, "Elizabeth, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Elizabeth explains to him about Cameron picking up his letter. AJ is immediately relieved that Tracy didn't have the letter. Now there was no urgency to retrieve it, but he hears himself telling Elizabeth that he'll be right over to get it from her, if that's alright. He barely hears Elizabeth's nervous, okay, because he's closing the trunk on his brief-case and hopping back into the driver's seat.
Pulling into Elizabeth's driveway he notices the living room curtain close. She was waiting for him at the open front door before he made it up the steps, "Would you come in?"
"Please." The world he enters is a strange one to him. The only word he could think to describe it is 'homey'. In amongst the pedestrian decorations were children's toys. He found it comfortable and he liked it.
"It must be pretty important for you to come all this way and at this time of night," she says.
"Yes, very," He says, forgetting about the letter.
"It's still by the phone. I'll get it for you. I put a pot of tea on while waiting for you, would you like a cup?"
He accepts and wanders around, exploring the room while she fetched the tea.
"It's nothing fancy, just some bagged tea that I had on hand," she says from the kitchen.
"I'm sure it will be fine. That's all we got at the clinic in Switzerland."
She brings in the tea tray. "I never thought about that you know, those years you were presumed dead. They must have been hard on you, not being able to talk to anyone in your family."
"The first few years were the hardest. Mostly because of the rehabilitation for my back and from trying to stay sober. After that it got a bit easier, I found something to fill my time. Of course I still talked to mom, but very infrequently and I'm learning that she kept things from me. I didn't know that Michael was in prison for example."
"That's terrible, not knowing about your child. It's my worst nightmare." She tries changing the topic. "Obviously your back is doing better, how's the sobriety," and looks embarrassed. "Not that it's any of my business."
"It's okay. I don't want you to ever be embarrassed about asking me questions." He looks her directly in the eyes. "You can ask me anything. And to answer your question, I've been sober 4 years, 3 months, and 5 days. I fell off the wagon once in Switzerland. It was just one drink but it was enough. I don't like that AJ, the one on alcohol. I much prefer myself sober. Not that I don't get tempted, but so far I'm good."
"Good," she responds and searches for something else to talk about. She notices the letter on the tray and say. "Cam asked me if he was in trouble for not returning the letter to you. I said as it was your letter, his being in trouble was up to you."
AJ grins. "Now this is a new situation for me. I'm used to being the trouble maker, not the one in charge of discipline. Well, since he did me the favor of finding the letter we should just let him off with a thank you."
Elizabeth laughs, "Tough guy. He held onto it, until he threw it away. It's only by happenstance that I found it before throwing out in tomorrow's trash. I can see you need more practice at this parenting thing. …. I'm sorry."
AJ puts his hand lightly on her wrist. "It's okay. Stop apologizing. It's true I can use practice at this parenting thing. I missed a lot with Michael and I can't change that, I can only work on my relationship with him now."
"Have you thought about what I said the day I patched you up – about staying away from Sonny."
"Yes I have. And I would except that Port Charles isn't big enough for the both of us to live in and never meet. It's made worse by the fact that we share a son." He laughs ruefully. "How's that for growth? I'm sharing Michael with Sonny, not that I really have a choice. Michael is a grown man, he's not a child anymore. You don't have to worry, I won't go out of my way to antagonize Sonny, but I also won't run from him. Port Charles is my home and I won't let anyone run me out of town again. I'm done hiding. My life is here, my family, my history, and my future."
Elizabeth gets up off the couch and walks towards her fireplace mantle. She fondles Jake's Christmas stocking. "Sonny has never been a good man, but without Jason he's worse. Believe it or not, Jason had a way of keeping Sonny from going to far. 'To far' being relative to Sonny of course. Monica and the other Quartermaines have lost a lot in recent years. She shouldn't have to worry about her last surviving son. But then, I'm just thinking and feeling like a mother right now. You are a grown man in your own right and don't need me trying to mother you."
AJ agrees, "Let's agree to leave the mothering to my mom, Monica."
Elizabeth smiles, "Sounds good to me. I already have enough on my plate."
"I didn't realize how late it is, I should let you get to sleep," AJ says getting up and reaching for his coat.
Elizabeth looks at the clock, "It's nearly midnight."
AJ walks to the door, "Thank you for the tea and the conversation good night." He slips out as Elizabeth wanders over to her TV remote and turns on the TV. She's just in time to catch the New Year's Eve countdown. She sees AJ's letter, still on the tea tray and runs to the door. She opens it to see him heading towards his car. She yells after him, "AJ your letter!"
He comes back for it and takes it in his hand just as the countdown reaches one "Happy New Year" can be heard coming from the TV.
He looks at her, not leaving, he appears to be listening to the TV, "I'd forgotten what day it is. There's a tradition at New Years, do you mind?"
She looks like she's thinking about it but answers, "No, I don't mind."
He bends his head and she lifts hers and their lips touch for a brief kiss. AJ lifts his head, but brings it back down so his lips can caress hers a bit longer. She finds herself returning the caress. AJ is the first to pull away … he exhales a slight moan and turns to leave.
"Happy New Year Elizabeth" AJ says at his car door.
"Happy New Year … AJ" she responds shutting her front door only to collapse against it and weep.