Note ---

Some things are different in this story than on TV.

Jason and Elizabeth told the truth about Jake's paternity when they were released after the MC Hostage Crisis

Connie/Kate and Amelia never come to town

Jake was never kidnapped

Jason was never on trial for killing Alcazar

ILY episode never happened

I don't own GH or the characters, just my little story.

Making A Memory

Chapter 1

"I can't believe you're actually marrying Elizabeth Webber." Carly Corinthos Jacks had repeated the statement for about the third time that day.

She watched as her best friend tried to knot his tie in front of the mirror. Jason Morgan had been her friend for, what felt like forever. He was her rock and the one true constant in her life. She couldn't even count how many times he had saved her life, or saved her from herself. Yet now, when it really counted, it seemed he wouldn't let her return the favor.

"Would you stop saying that? It's getting really old." Jason looked at her reflection in the mirror before him.

He loved Carly like family, but sometimes she could grate on his nerves. He knew she always meant well, but she had a bad habit of thinking that she was the only person who knew what was best for him.

Carly had been pacing back and forth for the last few minutes. Her mind worked feverishly to think of a way to keep her friend from making this huge mistake. The last time she'd looked, the grandfather clock in the corner of the room had read 4:15 pm. The ceremony was supposed to begin at 4:30. Time was running out.

She'd stopped in her tracks when she heard the impatience in his voice. He was staring at her through the mirror, and he didn't look amused. Immediately, she became contrite.

"Don't be mad at me," she implored. She shifted her focus to the floor in an attempt to look repentant, and wheedle some sympathy from him. When she slowly returned her gaze to his, it didn't appear to have worked. If anything, he looked more annoyed than before.

"Ugh!" Carly rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm not trying to tick you off."

Jason looked at her incredulously. "Well you're doing it anyway." He dropped both ends of his tie and pinched the bridge of his nose to relieve the pressure that was building there.

He was getting married today. It should be a happy occasion, but the mood of the day had been solemn so far. He didn't know how Elizabeth was feeling at the moment. The last time he'd seen her was at the restaurant the day before. His sister Emily had invited her, along with an assortment of friends and family, out for a pre-wedding lunch. He drove her there with an overnight bag and her wedding dress in a garment bag. Emily had asserted that it was bad luck for them to see one another before the ceremony. She suggested that Elizabeth stay at Windemere for the night so that she could help her get ready the next day. Jason didn't really get all of the things women thought about when it came to weddings, and he didn't believe that where you slept or who you saw could make any difference when it came to having a successful marriage. Only the people who were promising to be there for one another had any control over that. But he wasn't about to argue with a room full of excited women, so he'd simply agreed to drop Elizabeth off, and left it at that.

---

Jason stopped the SUV in front of the restaurant. He shut off the engine and turned to look at Elizabeth. She had on a sundress with pink and yellow flowers scattered over it, and her hair was pulled back in a French twist. As always, she looked lovely, but her face held an expression that didn't tone with a party atmosphere. There was no smile or even a look of amusement at all of Emily's fussing over the wedding preparations. Instead she seemed, resigned. As if she was doing something she had to do, while her head, or heart, was telling her something different.

"Are you okay?" He took in her expression and became concerned.

Elizabeth continued to stare out the windshield ahead of her. A young woman pushing a stroller had caught her eye. The woman sat down at an outdoor table at the bistro next door to the restaurant where Emily had arranged for the pre-wedding lunch to be held. After ordering something from the waitress, she pulled a box of animal crackers out of her bag and placed a few on the tray of the stroller. A small chubby hand grabbed one and began to gnaw on it happily. The woman smiled and looked up as the waitress brought her a beverage. After a few moments, a man came up behind her and took her by the shoulders. She turned to look at him and gave him a beautiful beaming smile. He gazed lovingly at her upturned face and gently kissed her on the lips. The toddler in the stroller suddenly banged his hands on the tray, rattling the cookies that remained there. Apparently he wanted in on the action. The man laughed and picked the child up, tossing him lightly in the air. The baby giggled and grabbed at his father's nose. They seemed to be a very happy family. But the entire scene just made Elizabeth want to cry.

Elizabeth knew Jason had said something to her, but she had been too distracted by the unfolding picture to know exactly what it was.

"Did you say something?" she asked, while keeping her eyes on the family.

"Yeah, I asked if you're okay."

"Of course," she shrugged in an attempt to appear nonchalant. "Why wouldn't I be?" She didn't dare turn to him; for fear that she might not be able to control the tears that threatened to fall. Blinking a couple of times, she managed to regain her composure.

Jason watched her profile and tried to get a read on her. It made him suspicious that she hadn't returned his gaze. He turned her chin toward him with a crooked finger. "Why don't you look at me when you say that? I might be more inclined to believe you."

No longer able to avoid it, Elizabeth looked into the eyes of the man she was about to marry. Those blue eyes. They had given her comfort, reassurance, and kindness over the years she had known this wonderful man. She saw them in her dreams, and wanted to look into them whenever she was awake. But at the moment, they were breaking her heart.

He looked worried, about her, and all she wanted to do was convince him that he needn't be. His whole life was filled with people that he worried about and stressed over. She didn't want to be just one more on his list of concerns. It was her hope that this marriage would relieve some of them. She knew he worried about her safety, along with that of their son Jake, and her son from a previous relationship, Cam. Though she was never made aware of their presence, she knew that there were always two guards watching out for her and her children. Jason made certain that they were protected, but was careful that it wasn't in an intrusive way. He never wanted her to feel trapped or closed in by the extensive security that his business required. It was his hope to make her feel more free and able to be herself than she had ever been. It was one of the many things that she loved about him.

Yes, she loved her fiancée. That shouldn't be such a strange thing. It should be completely natural and normal. It had been her greatest desire for a long time to be his wife. Yet, now that her fondest wish was about to come true, she had never been more miserable. Because, although she loved the man sitting before her with all of her heart and soul, he didn't love her.

An impediment like that would normally put a halt to any impending nuptials. However, Elizabeth was well aware of the fact before she said yes. The marriage that she was about to enter into wasn't a love match, at least not on the groom's part. Certainly Jason cared about her; that was obvious in the way he treated her, spoke to her, and looked after her. But she was under no illusions that it went any further than that. To go down that road of built up hopes and wishes would lead to nothing but disaster. Long ago she had accepted the reality that she and Jason were never meant to be more than friends. Time, along with a million other obstacles, had proven that to be so. Although she wanted more, and more than anything she wanted more, his friendship was vital to her. If it was to be that it was all he could give, she would treasure it, and secretly piece together her shattered heart.

She knew Jason's intention in proposing had been noble.

---

Elizabeth just recently received the divorce decree that officially ended her marriage to Lucky Spencer. They hadn't been married a year, when he developed an addiction to prescription drugs. It was the result of an injury he received in his work as a police officer. He became so dependant on them, that he began an affair with a young woman, who had always had feelings for him, and therefore happily supplied his drug of choice. Elizabeth became aware of this after awhile, but she loved her husband and wanted to give him a chance to turn his life around before giving up on their relationship. Lucky swore to her that he would give up the pills and the affair. As his wife she wanted to trust his word, but made keeping his word a condition of their reconciliation. If he broke it again, they would be over. Though they were trying, she didn't want to expose her son Cam to the uncertainty of the situation, and so she temporarily sent him to stay with her grandmother. Things seemed to go well, for a short time. Then, one day, she walked in on Lucky and his mistress having sex, in her home.

Elizabeth felt angry, hurt, and confused. The city of Port Charles was in the midst of a blackout, but that didn't keep her from venturing out to walk off her frustration. Her mind was so full of conflicting thoughts, that she couldn't focus enough to figure out where she was headed. Many options wafted briefly through her mind. But every name she thought of was someone who had previously convinced her to give Lucky a second chance. The idea of hearing that sentiment at that moment made her cringe. After a time she was feeling tired, and she stopped next to a mailbox to catch her breath. The darkness of the street seemed to envelop her. It occurred to her that she should probably be afraid, but she was so full of emotions, that conjuring up one more was impossible. But in an attempt to be smart about it, she looked around to see exactly where she was. Surprisingly, she recognized that she was a half a block from Jason Morgan's building. Just thinking about him seemed to calm her rattled nerves.

It was almost like she had ended up there on automatic pilot. Her longtime friend would listen to her, he wouldn't judge her, or tell her what to do or feel. He would just understand. Elizabeth walked towards his building; hope renewing itself in her wounded heart. When she arrived at the front entrance, she realized that the elevator wouldn't be working because of the blackout. The thought of turning around and walking back out into the lonely blackness was just too depressing to bear. She glanced at the door to the stairwell. Jason's penthouse was on the 15th floor; it would be quite a trek. Her eyes closed and she leaned her head against the wall. His image suddenly came into her mind. She saw his smile, and his kind blue eyes, and her mind was made up. She opened the door and began the climb. Each step she took didn't make her tired, but instead gave her more energy. It was as if she was going toward something. Almost as if she would find her breath again on the 15th floor. As soon as she looked into those blue eyes, her world would make sense once more.

When she arrived at his doorstep, she hesitated before knocking. It was crazy, considering how determined she'd been on the way up. But now that she was there, she wondered if it was fair to dump her marital woes in his lap. He had broken up with his girlfriend not long ago. Maybe he wasn't in the mood to hear about someone else's relationship troubles.

Then she remembered who this was.

Jason would think she was ridiculous for over thinking a knock. He would want to help her if he could. So, Elizabeth reached up and rapped on the door. After a moment, he answered. Their eyes locked. A sense of relief washed over her. The clenching pain that had built up in her chest released. He stepped back to allow her entrance. He didn't ask why she was there, or what she wanted, but just accepted her presence. That was who he'd always been. Jason was her anchor. She took a breath and walked inside. It was the beginning of a night that would change her life forever.

Elizabeth and Jason made love for the first time that night. Though they both had no regrets, it set in motion the chain of events that led to this marriage that she'd always wanted, but now dreaded.

Jason, it turned out, had witnessed his ex-girlfriend having sex with a married man that same night. He was distraught like Elizabeth. They saved one another from drowning in the pain. Out of that restoration of faith in life and how good it can be, came a miracle. That night, their son Jake was conceived.

The word surprise, when referring to her reaction upon learning she was pregnant, would be an understatement. There was a moment when the paternity of her child was in question. A test was done, and Elizabeth discovered that Jason, not her husband, was the father of her child. The news had the potential to hurt a lot of people, but she could not be anything but happy about the baby she was expecting.

Jason had reconciled with his girlfriend Sam, and Elizabeth had decided to give Lucky another chance. She had seen him desperately trying to change, for a baby that wasn't even his, and couldn't bring herself to take away his lifeline. Those weren't the only reasons, however, that she decided to keep her child's paternity a secret.

Jason Morgan's job was not your typical 9 to 5. He was a mob enforcer. His boss was Sonny Corinthos, the crime lord of Port Charles. Though Jason's job was in direct contrast to everything Elizabeth knew about him, it made him a dangerous person to know. She had seen people in Sonny and Jason's lives be hurt, and didn't want that to happen to her children.

Something happened a few months into her pregnancy that changed the course of all of their lives. A hostage situation erupted in the hotel of Jason's friend Carly Jacks. Elizabeth had been there having dinner, along with many other people she knew. The hostage takers wired the hotel to explode, should their demands not be met. Once the police arrived, with Lucky among them, things escalated and the bombs were detonated.

A few seconds before the explosion, one of the masked men grabbed Elizabeth from the floor and sheltered her from the blast in an elevator. At first she was afraid, but when he removed his mask, she found herself face to face with Jason. It turned out he had snuck into the hotel, with the help of a computer hacker named Spinelli, and managed to blend in with the masked gunmen. He had found a way to get Sam, who worked in the hotel, outside to warn the police about the bombs.

Inside the elevator Jason tried to keep her calm. It was what he always did, take care of people. There was a possibility that the hotel was on fire, and Elizabeth knew it. The idea that she and Jason would die, without him knowing about their child, made her confess her secret.

He was understandably shocked at first. Not only about the baby being his, but that Elizabeth kept that fact from him. She explained her reasoning, and prayed he would forgive her.

Jason returned the shock, by asking her to marry him.

He told her that he could see why she would be afraid of his lifestyle, and that any loving mother would be. His acceptance of her apology brought tears to her eyes. The proposal simply left her stunned. Jason gave many reasons that a marriage between them could work, but he never mentioned love.

Her first instinct was to say no. A marriage of convenience seemed unfair to everyone involved. Though she felt conflicted about his offer, he did convince her to tell everyone the truth about the baby's paternity. Elizabeth was afraid of what it meant for Lucky's sobriety. But Jason made her realize that keeping him in the dark was causing him to build his recovery on a lie. That was a formula that would prevent him from ever fully recovering. So the two of them agreed to be honest about their child with the people they loved.

Eventually they were rescued from the hotel. While in the hospital being checked out, Elizabeth told Lucky that he wasn't the father of her child. The look on his face was enough to make her regret her decision for a moment. But in the end she knew it was best for Lucky, for her, and most importantly, her child. A life built around a lie would bring nothing but unhappiness to them all.

Jason also told the truth to Sam. It was especially painful for her; considering she had recently found out she couldn't have children of her own. They fought about the baby quite a bit for the next couple of months. Sam wanted to raise the baby with Jason, but he wasn't willing to take the baby away from its mother. The tension and animosity caused a rift that never healed. Three weeks before the baby was due, they ended their relationship. It wasn't amicable.

Lucky was angry for a long time after he learned the truth. Many times he came close to going back to pills. His brother Nikolas and sister Lulu convinced him to get professional help, before he reached a point of no return. He agreed that it was a good idea, but felt it would be best to get away from Port Charles so that he could stay focused on himself. Nikolas helped him find an inpatient drug rehab facility in California. Once he was finished with his intensive therapy, he decided to stay there and start over.

---

Elizabeth soon gave birth to a beautiful baby boy that she and Jason named Jacob Martin Morgan. Jason was with Elizabeth when she gave birth. It was the most perfect moment she could have imagined, as she and the man she loved welcomed their child to the world. Jason was more emotional than she had ever seen him. He held his son with such care and awe.

There was one moment for Elizabeth that stood out from the others. Jake was sleeping in his bassinet. Jason came over to where she sat in her hospital bed and picked up her hands from her lap. He brought them up to his lips and kissed them reverently.

"Thank you for our son. I'll remember this moment for as long as I live." The tears glistening in his eyes would have brought her to her knees if she hadn't already been sitting. The sentiment touched her so, that she couldn't find words to respond. She merely nodded her head and smiled.

Elizabeth had been living with her grandmother since she split from Lucky, and so that was where she brought her new baby when they were released from the hospital.

Because of Jason's job, Elizabeth and Cam had been assigned guards ever since it was known who Jake's real father was. Francis and Joel both seemed nice, the one time she'd met them. After that initial meeting Jason had promised that she wouldn't be overwhelmed by their presence, and that they would stay as invisible as possible. They were there at her Grams' house that day, however, to meet their newest charge.

Her grandmother fussed over the baby for a while, and then gave the new parents some time to bond with their son. Cam was taking a nap, and so Jason took the opportunity to bring up something he'd been thinking about.

"Do you know how you want to handle visitation?"

Elizabeth looked at him questioningly.

"Jason, I would never keep you from our son. You can see him whenever you want." She looked down at the sleeping infant in her arms and smiled.

"We've known each other a long time. I'm sure this new aspect of our relationship is going to take some getting used to. But, we trust each other. Right?" She looked up into his eyes from her place on the couch. He returned her eye contact.

"Of course we do. I know Jake couldn't have a better mother. "

Elizabeth couldn't stop the blush that warmed her cheeks at the compliment. Jason came to her and picked the baby up from her arms. He took him over to the carrier that Jake had been brought home in, and gently placed him inside. When he was certain that the baby was comfortable, he returned and took a place next to her on the sofa.

"Thank you. Well, then, we can just feel our way through this."

Jason had wanted to speak to her about something else, but wondered how to approach the subject.

"Have you thought about where you and the boys want to live? Or do you plan to stay here with your Grandmother?"

Elizabeth gave a light laugh and leaned back into a more comfortable position. "Gram has been wonderful about us staying here. And I'm sure given the choice she would have us indefinitely. But, it's time for us to settle someplace else. I want to find a place where the boys will have room to grow and play. There has been so much upheaval in Cam's life. I don't want that for Jake too. I want to give them a real home. One that's permanent and safe."

Jason looked away for a second and then looked back.

"I can have the realtor who found Sonny's place come by. You could tell her what you're looking for, and she could show you some places."

"That would be great. I definitely need something that's not too far from the hospital. Getting the boys to day care on my own will be difficult enough without having to drive miles out of the way."

Jason rubbed his jaw, and decided to just dive into the topic that he'd been circumventing. "Um, you know that wherever you choose to live will have to be fitted for security, don't you?"

Elizabeth sat up again, the change in topic leaving her slightly jarred.

"Yes. I realize that everyone knowing that you're Jake's father makes it necessary to take precautions to keep him safe."

"Not just Jake, but you and Cam too."

She closed her eyes for a second and attempted to absorb the fact that her life would never completely be her own again. Guards, security systems, and guns were now a part of her everyday life. She imagined she was strong enough to handle it. But she didn't want it to adversely affect her kids, or take away all of the freedoms of childhood.

"I'm sorry Elizabeth. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but this is how my world works. The most important thing to me is that you and the boys are safe and happy. I know all of the precautions that come along with my job are scary, but they're important. I have to make sure none of it can touch you."

She looked at him and saw the regret in his eyes. It killed her to think that he was feeling like he'd cast a shadow over her world that she could never escape. She tried to reassure him.

"Jason, I trust you completely. I know that you would do anything to make sure that nothing happens to us. So, whatever you think is necessary, I'm not going to question it."

She was trying so hard to be tough and make him feel better about the fact that he would forever be turning her life upside down. Looking into her eyes, the same thought that occurred to him when he'd first learned she was pregnant, popped into his head again. He didn't want to scare her off, but he had nothing to lose by giving it another try.

"Actually, the safest possible thing for you, would be to move in with me."

Jason watched her face to gauge her reaction. If there was one thing he knew about Elizabeth, it was that she wasn't very good at hiding what she was feeling. Every emotion played across her face as clear as day. It occurred to him she would be a terrible poker player. She seemed surprised, but not disturbingly so. Instead she appeared to consider what he was saying.

"You mean, for me and the boys to move into the penthouse?" She shook her head at herself. "Well, of course that's what you mean. I'm sorry, I'm just … surprised."

Jason smiled to himself that at least he could still tell what she was thinking.

"I'm sure that it would be much easier for you to protect us if you could control the environment. It's just that … I really wanted the kids to have a house where they could run around and have space to …. well ... run around. I know you like the penthouse, or at least don't mind it because you don't care about that sort of thing."

He raised his eyebrows at her comment.

"You know what I'm saying. To you, it's just the place you sleep. I mean, Brenda turned one of your bedrooms into a pink palace. Most men would have stripped it and thrown everything in the trash the second she was out the door. But you left it the way it was because it didn't bother you. That's fine, but, I want Cam and Jake to have a real home. Somewhere they feel they belong, where they can be themselves. A place where they see their personalities expressed. An atmosphere that makes them feel … free."

She noticed that Jason was staring at her after her little speech.

"Did I mention I wanted world peace and to eradicate hunger?" She flashed him her best Miss America smile.

Jason ducked his head, and she could hear his soft laughter.

"Okay, I'm a big sap. So sue me!"

"Look, there's nothing wrong with wanting to give your kids the best life you can. I understand what you're saying."

Jason looked her in the eye again, and then turned so that he could fully face her on the couch. He'd suddenly gotten very serious, and it was making Elizabeth nervous.

"I can already see the wheels turning in your head, and you don't even know what I'm about to say."

"But you are about to say something."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Hopefully he would be able to get out what he wanted to without messing it up too badly.

"I do want to say something …"

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her before more than air could come out.

"But, I want you to hear me out before you answer. Can you do that?"

She was about to say yes, but thought better of it, and nodded instead.

"When we were trapped in the elevator, after the Metro Court explosion, you told me that you were carrying my child. Up until the day Jake was born, that was the best thing that ever happened to me. It changed everything I thought about life and what was important."

Elizabeth watched him struggle for words. Whatever he was trying to say, it was obviously important to him.

"That day, I asked you to marry me. You turned me down then, because of all of the complications and other people in our lives. But things are different now. I'm not with Sam anymore. You and Lucky are getting divorced. Most of all, our son is here now."

Jason looked over at the sleeping baby. The smile that she adored was just beneath the surface. But his declaration was obviously too serious for him to let it come out.

When he looked back at her, she had that look he'd seen before. "I see the wheels turning again."

"I don't know what you're talking about. You must have motorcycles on the brain or something. No wheels here."

She smiled at him to ease his apprehension, and make whatever he was getting at easier. "Why don't you just say what you really want to?"

"Okay. I want you to reconsider my proposal. I want you to marry me."

---

It hadn't been a difficult decision as far as her heart was concerned. Her poor foolish heart. It screamed at her in surround sound, YES! Her head was more aware of the damage her heart could sustain; being married to a man she loved who didn't feel the same.

Her practicality and love for her children had ended up making the decision for her. She accepted Jason's proposal that day. Elizabeth understood that Jason was right about how much safer they would be with him, and it would be wonderful for her boys to have such a loving and devoted father.

They decided that they would find a house that she liked and move there instead of into the penthouse. Jason wanted her to be happy, and like she'd said, it didn't really matter to him where he lived as long as they were all together.

After a couple weeks of looking, Elizabeth found a beautiful old stone cottage outside of town. It was larger than a cottage actually, but it was built to appear like it had been transported from an English countryside. The house sat on a 50 acre plot of land, and was surrounded by gardens and trees. One of the things Jason liked about it was the large, stone, walled in backyard. For safety reasons, it was perfect. The boys had a lot of room to run free, but it was in an enclosed area that was easy to secure.

It was a bit further from town than Elizabeth had wanted to be, but she fell so in love with the house that she didn't care. Jason could see she had her heart set on it and told her that she could have a driver to take her to work. At first she was reluctant, being unused to such things. But he convinced her that it would make it easier for her to get around with the boys if she only had to concentrate on them. She caved immediately, because the house was exactly what she had imagined for her boys.

"We'll take it," Jason had said. With such authority that the realtor simply pulled out the papers and began filling them out for the bid.

"Hold on a minute. Don't you even want to know what it costs?" Elizabeth looked at him in stunned disbelief.

"Is this the house you imagined yourself raising the boys in?"

Elizabeth looked at the cottage with a dreamy expression. He knew without her saying it, that it was exactly what she wanted, and nothing else would make her half as happy. She had spent so much of her life thinking about other people first and putting their needs before her own, that he was determined that this time she would have her hearts desire. He had plenty of money, more than anyone could spend in two lifetimes. And for once he was going to put it to good use. He was going to give his new family a real home.

"Yes. But we should know what it costs. Jason, I know you have money, more money than I care to imagine at the moment, but we're about to be married. We have to learn to start making decisions together. I really think we should know."

Jason glanced at the realtor and nodded his head. She pulled out a listing sheet and handed it to him. He looked at the number in the top corner, and nodded again.

"Okay, now I know what it costs. We'll take it."

Elizabeth stared at him indulgently. Then she put out her hand for him to hand her the listing sheet. Since it was obvious she wasn't going to budge on the issue, he handed it over.

She glanced down at the paper, and turned white as a sheet. Her eyes got big and her mouth started to work up and down, but no sound came out.

"Are you okay?" Jason put his arm around her shoulder, in case she might feel faint.

"Uh huh." Her voice came out so soft that he almost didn't hear her.

Elizabeth continued to stare down at the paper she was holding, and the seven figure number in the top corner. She had never seen that many commas and zeros in her life.

"Elizabeth, breathe!" Jason ordered her.

Unaware that she hadn't been, she took in a gulp of oxygen. Immediately she felt better. The rhythm of it came back to her, and she began to calm. She looked over at the realtor, who looked a little worried. Elizabeth figured she was imagining her commission disappearing before her eyes.

"Would you excuse us for a second?" Before the woman could answer her, Elizabeth was pulling Jason aside by the sleeve of his leather jacket. Once she was sure they were out of earshot, she faced him again.

He looked like he was about to start laughing.

"Stop it. This isn't funny. Jason you could feed a third world country with that much money. Are you sure about this?"

It was obvious that amount had shaken her. Jason knew about how much money he had, because his accountant insisted on telling him every time they met. It didn't occupy his mind that much. It just was what it was. He spent some when he needed to, and otherwise forgot about it. He considered that to a woman who had been a single mother it was a lot to take in, so he tried to ease her mind.

"You know that I have money. How much doesn't matter right now. But it is definitely enough to buy this house a few times and still have some left over. So if that's what your worrying about, don't. The money has always just been there and I never thought much about it. For the first time, I'm glad I have it. Because it gives me a chance to do something that will make you and our children happy. I know it's kind of overwhelming for you, but will you please just let me? If it makes you feel better, you can consider it a favor to me."

Elizabeth stared at him intently. She hadn't heard a word after "our children". It was clear he didn't realize what he'd said. It came so naturally that no thought was required. They were really a family. And this incredible man wanted to give her and their children a home. Who was she to refuse it?

She turned away from him and started back towards the realtor. Jason followed in her wake, slightly confused about what had just happened. When they were all together again, Elizabeth looked back at Jason. He seemed so adorably lost that she had to laugh.

"You heard the man," she said to the other woman, "we'll take it."

---

Elizabeth held Jason's gaze, and tried to sound more reassuring than she felt. "There is nothing to worry about. I'm fine. Now, I'd better get inside, before Em sends out a search party." She went to open the car door and felt a tug on her other wrist. Turning to face him again, she noticed the concern still on his face.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She came towards him, and kissed him lightly on the cheek; lingering a second longer than necessary. Just being close to him gave her strength, and made her believe that anything was possible. Even surviving the uncertain future that she was starting the next day.

No, that wasn't right. Her future wasn't uncertain. The man before her was one that she knew she could count on, and trust with the welfare of her children. She knew he would always be there when she needed him, and do everything he could think of to make her happy.

And if he couldn't love her the way she wanted, well, that wasn't really his fault. Elizabeth would just have to accept the gifts she'd been given, and not be so greedy as to ask for the moon and stars too.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll be the one in the monkey suit down front."

She laughed, and he relaxed a little at the sound.

"I'll be the one in the fancy dress at the back." She smiled at how easily he could soothe her nerves.

"I'll keep an eye out for you then."

Elizabeth nodded and exited the car before she said anything to betray what she was feeling. She saw her guard out of the corner of her eye as he took her two bags from the back seat, but continued to watch as Jason started the engine and eventually pulled back into traffic.

"You always do," she said quietly, as he took off down the street. When she could no longer see his SUV, she turned and entered the restaurant.

---

"Here, just let me do it."

Carly reached up and began to knot Jason's tie. He looked ridiculously good. Too good for the likes of Little Miss Holier than Thou, as far as she was concerned. She was absolutely certain that this marriage was going to turn out to be a disaster. No matter what she said though, Jason wouldn't listen. He was so stubborn sometimes. If he would only do what she said, his life would go much more smoothly.

It wasn't necessary to marry Elizabeth to raise his son. But somehow that witch had convinced him otherwise. Jason was too soft hearted, and was constantly trying to save everyone. Carly included herself in that long list. If only she could do the same for him today.

"There, now you're perfect." That had to be the understatement of the century. His dark blue suit fit like one from Sonny's tailor should. The pale blue shirt and dark gray tie brought out the extraordinary blue in his eyes, like she always told him it did. The only good thing that managed to come out of this fiasco was that it had gotten Jason to finally get a haircut. Not that it looked bad the other way. He could have it to the floor like Lady Godiva and still look unbelievable. But this was the Jason she had always known.

And he was about to marry Elizabeth Webber.

"I can't believe your actu …"

"Carly, I swear, if you say it one more time."

"Alright, alright! I'll stop." She moved away from him so he could check her handiwork in the mirror.

"And why do you keep calling her Webber. The last I heard her name was still Spencer. Unless she changed back to her maiden name and didn't tell me?"

Carly snickered softly at the use of the word maiden in reference to Elizabeth. But she kept the thought to herself, for the sake of self-preservation.

"No she didn't change it back, I did. After what that wit …" Carly caught herself when she saw Jason give her that look again. The one that said she was skating on thin ice and better get off, quick.

"After what that woman," she looked at him for approval of her change of moniker. When he didn't look like he was about to yell at her, she went on.

"… did to my cousin, I figured, why should she get to keep our good name? "

Jason looked exasperatingly at his friend. She was smirking at her little dig at Elizabeth, certain she had gotten the last word in. He decided two could play that game.

"You're right. There's no reason she should keep Lucky's name now that they're divorced." He checked his appearance for the last time before he headed out to start the ceremony. Carly's reflection was in his line of vision as he walked toward the door.

She looked satisfied with herself, like she had won her point.

"Well, at least her sharing your family's name won't be a problem for you anymore." She appeared confused by his comment, and he knew it was time to go in for the kill.

"Because after today, she'll have mine."

The expression on her face was priceless. He had definitely made his point. And if she could have seen his expression as he walked out of the room, she would have noticed that he was sporting her smirk.

To be continued ….