First, Last, Always


Early morning, the day of Sonny's funeral, Elizabeth sits with her legs up on the club chair with a cup of her favorite Belgian hot chocolate, simply admiring the painting hanging over the mantel. Jason had told her he'd hang it soon, but she hadn't believed he'd hang it in such a public place where anyone could see it.

When he explained his reasoning for doing so, Elizabeth couldn't help but make love to him well into the night. He had kept his love for her in the dark for so long that he just doesn't want to hide it anymore. Placing the painting there is a symbol to him of their love being out in the open for all to see. When Jason puts his mind to it, he can damn well give any romantic a run for their money.

Glancing down at the checklist that Carly sent over the night before, she lets out a low chuckle, knowing that she had her work cut out for her today. Since Jason is the only one that knows she knows the truth, Elizabeth will have to put on one hell of a performance at the funeral just like Carly. There can't be any doubt that Sonny's dead, none at all, and it would be more than a little suspicious if she's completely fine at the funeral.

Fortunately for her, she's got a fail-safe that will get her through the funeral in tears, the memory of finding Jason in the snow. Till this day, the mere thought of it puts her in tears, remembering how afraid she had been and how swiftly her heart broke when he didn't immediately respond to her pleadings. Taking a deep breath, she reminds herself not to go there, not just yet. She still had more than a few hours left to go.

Just as she was about to relax further into the club chair, the sound of the phone ringing breaks through the silence, causing her to let out a deep sigh. As much as she wants to answer the phone and prevent Jason from waking up, she knows better than to answer his landline.

After three rings, the ringing stops abruptly in the middle of the fourth ring, which meant that he was awake. Rising to her feet, she walks into the kitchen to make him up a cup of coffee, certain that this will be the start of his day, hoping that the call isn't Sonny adding more pressure because no one deserves to start off their morning like that. Though she'd never voice it, she's starting to feel like, if it were to fall apart, it would most definitely be at the hands of Sonny.

"What time did you get up?" Jason questions her as he accepts the cup of coffee she holds out. "Your side of the bed was already cold when I woke up."

"Not sure." Elizabeth admits, reclaiming her spot on the club chair with her hot chocolate. "Do I have to ask?"

"Sonny." he says plainly before shaking his head. "I have to head out. I'll see you at the church just before the funeral starts."

"Sounds good." she replies. "I have to head there in a couple hours to make sure everything is set the way Carly wants it. Courtney was supposed to handle it, but she called to say she couldn't."

"You know, you don't have to do all this." Jason says as he sits down on the coffee table in front of her. "If Carly needs the help, I can assign some of the men to assist her. It doesn't have to be you."

"I used to question your loyalty to her. I just couldn't understand why you would put so much on the line for her." Elizabeth admits, reaching out to take hold of his hands. "I get it now. And, even if I don't technically have to help her, I want to. No one deserves to plan their husband's funeral alone. Real or not."

"Never thought I'd see the day." he says with thought before rising to his feet and placing a gentle kiss upon her forehead. "I'll see you soon."

"Be safe."

Though it would make his life easier in a sense for them to get along, he just isn't all that sure how he feels about his girlfriend and his best friend being good friends. Grabbing his jacket and his gun from where he stored it the night before, Jason makes his way out of the penthouse and down to his bike. With the day upon them, he had to make sure that everything is set, security and all.

Nothing can go wrong today or it will all be for naught. From what the coroner had to say, it seems as if the police are still poking around Sonny's death, not that he minds it. In this one instance, Taggert's curiosity just may play right into their plans perfectly. What better way to prove death than for the one cop that hates Sonny beyond belief to believe he's dead?

Letting himself into the office, Jason gets started on making sure that everything stays off grid until they handle this situation. With Sonny's death, going off grid for a while won't raise any suspicions as he continues to make himself at home as boss. The families will assume that he's rerouting shipment lanes and dates as well as personnel management.

As long as they have Sonny's death as a veil, they should be able to get a handle on this situation in no time. That's assuming that Sonny doesn't blow it with his constant calls to check on progress. The man just doesn't get radio silence all that well. You'd think he could handle it better, being boss and all, but no. If he's not careful, Jason just might make his death a little more permanent if he doesn't quit it with the micromanagement.

"What?" Jason states when he answers his cellphone.

"Shift change update." Johnny's voice comes on over the line. "Marco is taking over. Things have been quite, per usual, nothing noteworthy to speak of."

"Location?"

"66th." Johnny replies. "The bastard's taking her out before the funeral. Get her mind off things, I guess."

"You tired?"

"I'll sleep when I'm dead." Johnny says simply. "What you got?"

"Liz is heading to the church soon. Security's not set yet."

"On my way." he assures. "Who's on her detail?"

"Francis should be starting by the time you get there."

"Got it." Johnny chuckles. "Coffee and donuts it is."

"Keep her safe and keep me updated."

Ending the call, Jason turns his chair around to pour himself a cup of coffee before getting started on the task at hand. There aren't two men on this earth that he trusts more than the two currently tasked with protecting his girlfriend. Though Sonny has it without much means of earning it, the other two have earned it by saving his life and having his back whenever the need arises. After all they have done for him, Jason knows without a doubt that they will always have his back without question. Something every man in his position needs.

While he's hard at work, Elizabeth makes her way over to the Corinthos abode to check in on Carly before she heads to the church. With Jason at the warehouse, she needs to make sure that Carly's set before she heads over to make sure things are set for the funeral. Sonny's body will be transported from the funeral home to the church by eight o'clock, an hour before the funeral starts, where a private viewing will take place before the rest of the guests arrive.

"Muffin." Carly grumbles before plopping down on the couch in her two hundred dollar pajamas. "Have you gone to the church yet?"

"On my way there." she assures. "Just wanted to check in, see how you're doing."

"Kill me now." Carly grumbled before lifting her gaze to Elizabeth. "I'm fine. You can go now."

"Carly..."

"My husband's dead!" Carly snaps. "Forgive me for not being hospitable at the moment."

"I'd start being suspicious if you were." Elizabeth counters. "I just wanted to ask if you wanted me to order breakfast for you and Michael before I go."

"Right." Carly sighs. "No. I'm fine. Ritchie's got it covered."

"Okay." Elizabeth pulls open the door. "I'll see you at the church then."

"Sure."

"You know I'm only here to help, right?" Elizabeth voices with an arched eyebrow before heading out. "Just saying."

"That's kind of the problem." Carly states as Ritchie shuts the door. "Out of all the people..."