DISCLAIMER: DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS OR SETTINGS. ANYTHING REMOTELY FAMILIAR IS USED PURELY AS A FORM OF APPRECIATION TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD WE KNOW AS GENERAL HOSPITAL. UNFAMILIAR THINGS ARE OF MY OWN TWISTED MIND AND ONLY SERVES TO HELP US FURTHER ENJOY THE WORLD WE LOVE ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU.


TITLE: IF IT'S MEANT TO BE
MAIN PAIRING: ELIZABETH AND JASON
STORY TYPE: ALTERNATE HISTORY

P.S. CREATIVE LIBERTIES TAKEN, SO, BE FOREWARNED. NOT ALL THINGS ARE EXACTLY CANON. PROBABLY NO MOB BUSINESS IN THIS ONE.


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Standing in front of the full length mirror that hangs on her bedroom door, Elizabeth wonders why she even bothered to put on makeup today, there's really no one to impress. All romantic prospects that the town has to offer never seem to keep her interest for too long. Most conversations with the opposite gender these days are made up of her staring blankly at their faces, all the while wondering if it would be possible to paint a portrait of them without their faces on. Doesn't exactly make for the polite conversation that her grandmother's always going on about.

"Liz, you ready?" Emily, her best friend calls to her from the living room. "Come on, roomie, we've got a bar full of drinks with our names on it!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Elizabeth blurts out as she puts the finishing touches on her make-up. No sense in leaving the house looking a mess.

"Bout time." Emily says as Elizabeth walks out of her bedroom. "Its nearly eleven."

"Afraid the girls will drink the bar dry by the time we get there?" Elizabeth questions as she grabs her jacket from the chair where she tossed it.

"More like Carly." Emily says as she yanks the door open. "My brother finally kicked the slut's ass to the curb and she's not taking it well."

"Seriously?" Elizabeth replies in shock as they make their way to the waiting taxi. "I didn't think he'd ever dump the hurricane."

"Trust me, the family was just as surprised by the reveal as you are." Emily assures. "No one more than Carly, that's for sure."

"So, he went from goody-goody Scorpio to Hurricane Carly." Elizabeth comments. "Wonder what type of girl comes next?"

"Lord only knows." Emily sighs. "One can only hope its not another Carly."

"Don't think the world has another one of those." Elizabeth points out. "Last I checked, its barely surviving one as it is."

"True." Emily agrees. "Though I think she only happened because of mother's persistent desire for grandchildren."

"Could you imagine Carly having Jason's kid? Your mother would have a heart attack for sure."

"That's one nightmare I'm thankful never came to be."

"Okay, that's it, enough about the sea witch, its killing my vibe." Elizabeth says as the cab driver pulls into the parking lot of the bar. "Bad enough I don't even want to be out tonight."

"Oh, come on, its been nearly a month since you've gone out with us." Emily points out as they get out of the car. "It's gonna be fun, promise."

"And that's the difference between you and your brother."

"What?"

"He doesn't make promises he can't keep."

"Okay, harsh." Emily laughs, pulling open the door to the bar. "Talk about pulling a Carly."

"Ugh, okay, fine." Elizabeth smiles slightly. "Fun it is."

Walking into the bar, they found a sight they had pretty much guessed upon, Carly sitting at the bar while their friends watch on in satisfaction. None more satisfied than Robin Scorpio, who had taken great pleasure in Jason ending things with the sea witch, seeing as Jason had cheated with Carly while dating her. The two separated amicably, but Robin still itched for the day that Carly would get hers. You don't sleep with someone's boyfriend behind their back while pretending to be their friend to their face. Its just sickening.

"Enjoying the show?" Elizabeth asks Robin as she drops into a seat next to her.

"Immensely." Robin admits before setting a shot down in front of Elizabeth as Carly is escorted out of the bar by the bouncer. "Serves her right after the crap she pulled."

"No argument here." Elizabeth shrugs before licking, slamming, sucking. "Although, I'd love to know what brought on the sudden demise of Jarly."

"Did you really come up with a cute nickname for them?" Robin looks at her in disbelief.

"Nah, just something I heard Carly mulling over while she was deciding on one." Elizabeth says simply. "As if I'd put the effort into that."

"Fair enough." Robin replies as she takes a swig of beer.

"I heard it was because he caught her cheating with Sonny." Kelly Lee commented as she downed another shot.

"What?" Robin looks at her in disbelief. "She cheated on Jason with his best friend?!"

"That's the word on the street." Kelly shrugged as she waved over the bartender for more shots.

"Damn." Elizabeth mulls that over as she accepts the beer bottle from Emily. "Didn't think she was that stupid."

"Seriously?" Emily arches her eyebrow at Elizabeth.

"Okay, maybe I did, but that's just cuz I hate her." Elizabeth concedes. "I'll check you girls later."

"Where is she running off to?" Kelly questions as Elizabeth heads out the door.

"Where else?" Emily counters. "To see Jason."

"Why?" Kelly inquires further. "Were they like a thing or something?"

"Long time ago." Robin admits. "Before Jason and I got together."

"Shut up!" Kelly exclaims. "No freaking way! I always thought there was something between the two of them..."

"It ended before it even began." Emily explains. "They just didn't seem to click in that way. They're just friends now."

"What a shame." Kelly sighs, downing another shot. "They'd make the sexiest couple."

"And what exactly did you think of me and Jason when we were together?" Robin arched her eyebrow daringly.

"You were cute. No doubt." Kelly says reassuringly as she pat the top of Robin's hand. "But you were more puppy love than anything else. You and Patrick, on the other hand, now that's fire."

"Fine, you're forgiven." Robin sighs, downing another shot. "Just hope she's up for the hell storm that is Jason at this point."

"It's Elizabeth." Kelly shrugs. "She's hellfire when pushed to it. I should know, I witnessed it a couple times."

"More drinks, less talk." Emily says, a little put off that Elizabeth went running to Jason after she had to beg her to come out tonight.

"Ain't gotta tell me twice." Kelly said waving over Coleman. "I'm off tomorrow and the night's still young!"

As they continued their night out, Elizabeth catches a cab and heads straight for the bridge over Black Stone Canyon. Getting there, she pays the driver before walking over to the center of the bridge, finding Jason pretty much where she had expected him to be, standing atop the railing of the bridge. Walking over to him, she stands just beside him, looking over the edge.

"Fair warning, I can't swim that well." Elizabeth voices simply. "So, if you jump and I have to jump in after you, we're both pretty much going to die."

"Or I'd just have to save you." Jason counters before turning his head to look at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Little birdies told me about your break-up." Elizabeth replies with a slight smirk. "Thought I'd help you celebrate."

"Elizabeth."

"What?" she says innocently. "Too soon?"

"No." he says before hopping off the railing to stand in front of her. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well..." she drags out as she places one hand on his chest before meeting his eyes. "...that I leave to you."

"You sure about that?" Jason counters, taking a step closer to her. "Remember how it ended the last time?"

"Here's to hoping."

"I thought you weren't ready."

"I'm not." Elizabeth admits. "But its still fun while it lasts."

"Yeah." he smiles slightly, reaching up a hand to gently touch her cheek. "It is."

"So..."

"Okay."

Leaning in to place a soft kiss upon her forehead, Jason slides his hand into hers before walking her over to their bike and straddling it with her. Starting it up, they take off into the night, driving as fast and as far as they possibly can. Her vacation starts with the morning sun and he has no intention of dealing with Sonny anytime soon. So, for as long as they can manage, they will ride the open road and see where it shall take them. They make it two towns over before they pull off the road to a roadside motel for a night's rest before they make it back on the road again.

Having a quick dinner, the two fall back into familiar patterns, taking it nice and slow as they reacquaint themselves with each other. Jason hadn't seen it coming, its been so long since they've gone off together, but he wouldn't complain. She's there with him and they have the open road ahead to see what comes next. For now, he'll drown himself in her, forsaking all else for the night. As they end in each other's arms, laying tangled up together as they descend from the height of ecstasy, he asks her the same question he did before.

"When?"

"I'm still not sure." she says before kissing his lips tenderly. "You're asking for forever, Jason. I don't think we're quite there yet."

"Or is it that you don't believe I'm there yet?"

"After we took time apart, you went from Robin to Carly." Elizabeth reminds him. "Two completely different people. Two people completely unlike me."

"You went from Ric to Lucky." he points out. "They're nothing like me either."

"Exactly." Elizabeth counters. "Doesn't that tell you something?"

"It tells me there's only one you and one me." Jason says with ease. "And it didn't last with them because its meant to last with us."

"We have one week together, the open road, endless possibilities." Elizabeth whispers as she lays her head against his chest. "Can we just enjoy it, please? For now."

"For now." he agrees, hugging her close to his body. "But only if we'll talk at the end."

"Agreed." Elizabeth replies as she closes her eyes. "At the end. Goodnight, Jason."

"Goodnight." he says softly, gently tucking away the strands of hair that fell over her face. "Elizabeth."

STAY TUNED FOR MORE...
NEXT CHAPTER: JASON AND ELIZABETH HEAD BACK ON THE ROAD. PORT CHARLES FEELS THEIR ABSENCE.