IRREVOCABLE
A/N: Okay, okay. I get it. You all want a reunion before I make the time jump. Well, if you all feel that strongly about it, so be it. Not much of a jump in this chapter, just a little skip and a hop, bringing us to the time Jason found Emily at the Canadian border before deciding he'll take Sonny's place in going to Puerto Rico. Okay...so, without further ado, a chapter from me to you.
Hearing his parents thank him on any level always sent a wave of anxiety surging through him, especially when it deals with his sister, most especially now. Taking in a deep breath, he gives them a silent nod before making his way out of the estate, needing to be free of the place as fast as possible. Saving his sister had nothing to do with any of them. It had been a purely selfish thing. His connection to Emily and Lila are the only things that make him feel normal. Having them as his family, his true family, is a connection he just can't live without.
Straddling his bike, Jason's gaze drops to his wedding band that's resting on his left ring finger, smiling softly as he remembers the conversation he had with his sister on the way back to town. He hadn't expected that conversation, least of all in that moment as he's taking her home after being kidnapped, but he finds that he appreciates the effort she had put into having it. Knowing how she felt when she thought they had been romantically involved, he never thought he'd gain her blessing. A part of him wanted to confess that it wasn't what it looked like, but the words never formed.
"Jason..." she had said tentatively. "I know this probably isn't the time to have this talk, but can we talk about your marriage to Elizabeth?"
"What about it?" Jason dared to ask, glancing over to her before returning his gaze to the road. "I don't expect you to approve, Em."
"That's the thing...I didn't expect to either." Emily admitted. "I wanted to be angry. I wanted to hate it. Hell, I wanted to track Elizabeth down and get her to annul the whole thing."
"What changed your mind?"
"This whole thing with waking up next to a dead body and then getting kidnapped..." Emily sighed, knowing she never should have gone to that rave with Juan and Nikolas. "All I wanted throughout this whole ordeal was to have you and Elizabeth there. I didn't care that you were married, I didn't care about any of that, I just wanted both of you there."
"Emily..."
"If being married to each other is what you both want...if you really do love each other...that's okay with me." she said firmly, waiting for him to look at her before saying, "I'm really okay with it, Jason."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." she said sincerely. "Since I know I haven't said it already, congratulations."
"Thank you."
"Will you tell Elizabeth, as well?"
"I will." he promised. "Get some rest. We still have a good amount of time before we hit town."
"I love you, Jason."
"Love you, too."
Pulling into the garage at Harbor View Towers, he puts thoughts of Emily and Elizabeth out of his mind before heading up to check in with Sonny. He needed to let him know that he had gotten Emily home safe and sound before he retires to his own penthouse for a well deserved slumber. Being let into the penthouse, however, Jason could see that the couple was in the middle of yet another argument. Not that they were saying anything to each other, of course, they are merely staring each other down. As if either of them weren't too stubborn to back down.
The moment she realizes he's there, Carly starts to lay in about his marriage, clearly needing a distraction from her own marital dispute. Not having time for another rendition about how she plans to find Elizabeth and force her to divorce him, Jason turns his attention to Sonny, not wanting to rip into Carly, yet again, so soon after finding his sister. Right now he just wants to be thankful that it hadn't been anything worse than what it was, knowing it could easily have been.
After telling Sonny that his sister was home and safe, he listens to what the current dispute is, a decision forming in his head the moment that Sonny reveals that trouble between the two. Sending Carly out of the room, making Ritchie take her upstairs and guard the door to make sure she stays put, Jason tells Sonny that he will be the one to head down to Puerto Rico. Right away, his friend states that it was his place and not Jason's, but logic wins out in the end, as it always does between them.
"You can't tell Carly." Jason says seriously as he prepares to leave the apartment. "We both know that its better for her to not know."
"What do I tell her?" Sonny questions, looking at him seriously. "You don't think it'll be obvious?"
"As far as she or anyone else is concerned, I left town to be with my wife." Jason says simply. "I was heading out of town to see her in a couple days anyway."
"So, you think telling her that you've gone to be with your wife is safer than telling her you left on business?"
"The less people that know I'm in Puerto Rico, the better." Jason states. "At least this way she'll be focused on my marriage and not arguing with you about letting me taking your place."
"I'm not going to thank you."
"You don't have to." he replies. "I'm not doing this for you. I have a family of my own to protect. This can't come to Port Charles, Sonny."
"I know it can't." Sonny sighs, knowing there was no other way to handle this. "Come home when you're done."
"Understood." Jason says wholeheartedly. "Take care of Michael. Let him know I left, will you?"
"Of course."
Glancing at the stairs, he takes a deep breath before making his way out of the penthouse, needing to get his travel bag before heading to the airstrip. Knowing Carly, she's bound to lose it over him leaving to be with his wife, but she needs to understand that there's no future for them. If he has to use Sonny in order to get the point across, so be it. Anything that could have happened between them is long gone. There's no hope left for them and she has to get that.
Informing the pilot that they'll be making a stop in Venice before heading to Puerto Rico, he relaxes into the chair for the long flight ahead, a little anxious to see Elizabeth again. From the pictures that she had sent him as well as the letters they wrote and their all night conversations, when they could manage it, he just couldn't help feeling the anticipation of laying his eyes on her again. He knows that he's going to have to tell her about Puerto Rico, but he hopes that they'll still be able to have a good time before he leaves Italy.
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She had just spent the entire day painting the Piazza San Marco and she couldn't wait for tomorrow to come so she can continue painting all the beautiful sights that Venice had to offer. Settling into the backseat of the town car, Elizabeth lets out a sigh of satisfaction as she allows the guards to take her home.
Once she has dinner, she plans on spending the rest of the night finishing up the sketches of her home, having more than enough inspiration. Jason's choice in villas left nothing to desire. It was beautifully perfect in all the right ways.
"Stop the car." Elizabeth blurts out when they pull up to the villa. "Johnny, stop the car!"
Waiting long enough for him to stop the car, Elizabeth thrusts the door open and runs up the pathway, throwing herself into the waiting arms of her husband. Holding onto him tightly as he returns her embrace, Elizabeth's lips turn up into the biggest smile she has ever smiled before, relishing in being able to hug him. They had been talking about the possibility of him coming to visit, but they never really set a date. For him to just show up out of the blue, Elizabeth couldn't hold back her enthusiasm.
"You're here." she whispers, barely noticing as the guys file into the villa. "You're really here."
"I've missed you." he admits, hugging her tightly.
"I've missed you more." she counters, pulling away to meet his eyes. "How long are you staying?"
"Just tonight." he admits sadly, watching as the light slightly dims in her yes. "I'd stay if I could, Elizabeth..."
"But you can't." she says with understanding. "Its okay."
"Things are escalating with the business." he explains, knowing he can't elaborate further than that. "Until I say otherwise, I need you to keep the guys close, okay?"
"How dangerous is it?"
"Its dangerous." he says solemnly. "Please, Elizabeth. I couldn't take it if anything happened to you."
"I'll stay safe." she promises. "You just worry about getting back in one piece."
"I get to worry about you if I want." he counters, smiling slightly. "I don't have to leave until tomorrow morning."
"Then I guess we better make the most of it." she says wholeheartedly, slipping her hand into hers. "Come on. You can help me make dinner."
All the joy she had felt in seeing Jason is replaced with the heartache that she would have to say goodbye soon. It wouldn't be a problem if he was going back to Port Charles and only had a night to spare with her in Italy, but that's not the case. No. After he leaves her, he'll be going away on business and risking his life.
Glancing into the living room as they pass by it, her eyes connect with Johnny's, a look of understanding gracing the guard's face. Granting him a slight smile, she continues her venture into the kitchen with Jason. As much as she doesn't want to have to say goodbye, she'll make it okay for him, knowing he had enough to worry about as is. He didn't need to worry for her, as well.
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Everything's always easier when he's with her. All the worries that had been plaguing his mind in regard to Carlos and the threat hanging over them just isn't weighing him down in that moment. Helping her make pasta while she rambles on and on about her time in Venice places him in that familiar tranquil state. Simply existing as she tells him all about the place she now calls home. When its his turn to talk, Jason tells her about the pictures and how he had them all framed before placing them around his room.
After dinner, they take a walk in the backyard before settling down beneath an old willow tree, both thankful for the calm that has settled over them. For a moment, he simply watches her as she lays back on the grass, staring up at the stars above. The look that graces her face as she relaxes into the grass causes Jason to say something he hadn't intended to say, but just couldn't help voicing.
"You're so beautiful." he says, smiling sheepishly when she turns to look at him. "I mean, you always look beautiful..."
"Lay down with me." she voices softly, giving him the out that he needed. "Please?"
Moving his body to lay down beside her, Jason finds his breath caught in his throat as she turns to nestle into his side, her arm draping over his abdomen. In that moment, as they lay there together, Jason starts to feel this strange feeling deep within, a feeling that this marriage wasn't as fake as he had initially thought it was. Holding her in his arms, feeling the most relaxed he's ever felt in such a long time, he starts to wonder if there was more to them than he had allowed himself to see.
"Will you come here before you head back to Port Charles?" she questions. "You know, when you're done with what you have to do."
"You'll be my first stop." he assures, holding her close. "I promise."
"Good." she says after a long moment. "I'll hold you to that."
They remain in that position for the rest of the night, Elizabeth refusing to go to sleep until after he's on the private plane, not wanting to miss a single second of being with him. She tells him all about being offered the opportunity to interview with one of the leading curators in the country. She's nervous about having her first interview, but she just couldn't wait to experience it. She knows that its a long shot, getting hired in Italy of all places with so many talented people, but she was offered the opportunity and she'll take it. All it takes is one yes.
"Thank you." she says softly as they stand at the steps that lead to the plane, knowing it was her turn to say goodbye to him. "Thank you for last night."
"I'll come back." he promises, holding her hands firmly within his. "I don't know how long it'll take, but I will come back."
"You better." she says seriously, fighting off the tears that threatened to form. "I'm not ready to lose you."
"You're not going to lose me." he promises, reaching up one of their joined hands to wipe away the tear that fell down her cheek. "I'll just be away."
Watching as a look flashes through her eyes, Jason fixes his lips to question it, but is cut off swiftly by her lips as they come crashing into his. She moves their hands behind her back, successfully wrapping his arms around her as she takes claim to his lips. He tries to move his hands to frame her face, but her hold is just to tight that he could do nothing but let her control the kiss.
"Elizabeth..." he tries to speak once she pulls away, but she simply cuts him off with a short kiss.
"Save it." she says firmly. "You can tell me when you come back to me."
"Okay."
Standing frozen to the spot, Jason watches as she quickly makes her way to the town car, barely glancing back to look at him before she gets in and tells Johnny to take her home. Forcing his feet to move, Jason climbs the steps and tells the pilot that he's ready to take off, knowing that he had a job to do and he couldn't stay there any longer than he already has. They'll see each other again and he'll tell her exactly what he had been thinking in that moment. For now, he'll have to oblige her request and save it, returning his focus on the job at hand.
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Getting home, Elizabeth tells Johnny that she'll be in her room, the fatigue paired with the emotions flooding through her, she just needed to get to bed. Jason is a man of his word, she reminds herself as she crawls into the comforts of her bed, needing to believe that now more than ever. With the image of him laying in the snow coming to mind, she forces herself to not do that to herself, to not let the past create fears in that moment.
If she's certain of anything in this world, she is certain of Jason and the fact that he would never make a promise that he didn't intend to keep. He will survive whatever dangerous situation he has found himself in and he will come back to her. No matter what happened in the past, no matter what fears they had created within her, she has to believe that he'll come back. She'll settle for no other outcome. She just won't.
When she agreed to marry Jason, it had been about wanting to escape the trappings that the Spencers and her grandmother had created and helping Jason out of a bind he seemed to be in. Nothing more, nothing less. She hadn't believed for even a moment that it would ever be more than that.
She never believed that it would be more than two friends who happened to be married to each other. That was, of course, until he started opening up to her, letting her see parts of him that she had never truly seen before. Somehow, between the conversations and letters, she had fallen in love with her husband and she'll be damned if he's taken away from her before she gets the chance to show him that they could have a real marriage. One filled with understanding, acceptance, honesty, trust, and - above all else - love.
A/N: Thank you all for your kind reviews as you continue to welcome me back to writing. You are so sweet to say that I write such great stories, it means more than you could ever truly know. Thank you, so much, for continuing to read my stories even after I had taken such a long time away. I'll always be grateful for having such amazing people reading and reviewing my work. I hope this chapter meets with your approval as we continue this beautiful journey into creating a world for our lovely couple. As always, a ton of hugs and much love to each and everyone of you.