The meal was delicious and everyone had their favorites. There was so much happiness and joy at their table that they all felt very lucky and blessed to know each other. Everyone took their turn saying what they were thankful for and everyone agreed that this was the best Thanksgiving ever.
"Okay, I will start by saying that I am very blessed to have everyone here with us. We are all family whether by blood or love. It doesn't matter because we all seem to fit. Thank you Sam for allowing Danny and you to come with us to New York. I know it was not an easy decision but I am grateful that you did it. I am grateful for my wonderful sons and how proud I am of them. They are the best and that includes you too Danny. You are a very special part of our family. Milo and Max are the best guards and friends that we could ever ask for. Your father is very special to us too. I know he is here in spirit even though he is home in Italy. I am most thankful for Jason. He has my heart and I am very happy that he was come back to us. When we go to California, I am going to have to thank Robin again for bringing you back from the dead. I knew when you woke up even though you didn't remember who you were, my heart remembered you before my brain did. I knew there was something special about you and that we connected somehow. Okay, I am also grateful for our meal, so let's eat."
The meal was far from being quiet but there was no better dinner anywhere in the city. After they ate that big dinner, Sam and Danny went across the hall to take a nap. The boys were also taking a nap so Elizabeth and Jason decided it was time for their nap too.
When they woke up, it was dark outside and very peaceful. The boys tried to figure out where they wanted to go and what they wanted to see for the next two days. They were going back home on Sunday but knew that Friday and Saturday were supposed to be learning days. There were plenty of museums to see but what the boys wanted was more history than art. One of the places they wanted to go was to World Trade Center. There is a memorial for the people who were killed on 9/11. They wanted to go see that museum and take a tour of the Statute of Liberty and see the top of the Empire State Building. They also heard about the Observation Deck at the Rockefeller Center. They were taking photos of the places they were going and putting it into a Power Point for their class room work. Jake was great about power points even more so than Cameron was at it. Cameron loved to photograph everything so the two made a great pair. The only problem was who was going to do the writing. They both thought the other one was better because they both hated that part of schoolwork.
Elizabeth and Jason heard their boys and headed downstairs to see what they were up too. Aiden was watching the two brothers argue over who was the better writer. It was like watching a ping pong match. Elizabeth brought Aiden over to the balcony and they could see all the snow that had accumulated since early that morning. It was a beautiful sight but hopefully in the morning the roads would be clear so they could do some sightseeing. Jason had gotten them signed up for several tours on both Friday and Saturday. They were going to see the Empire State Building for both the day and night. The same for the Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center. He heard that they were both great but he wanted to see for himself.
Sam and Danny came over for a few hours and they talked about what Sam had planned to do and if he could help her get settled in when she moved. They needed to find two guards that she and Danny both liked and trusted. He didn't want to get too involved in it because he knew that Julian would want to have a say too being her father and Danny's grandfather. There is only really a month for me to find a place but I think that Brooklyn would be the best of both worlds. She could start her own office and also be close enough to the city that she could take Danny whenever they wanted too.
"I think that you are right about Brooklyn. I would love to help you find a place and get settled in. Even though we are getting divorced, I want you to know that you still mean a lot to me and so does Danny. We are going to be a part of each other's lives because of our son. I also want you to know that if Danny needs anything, do not hesitate to ask me for help. I want to make everything amicable because that is what is best for our son." Sam looked up at Jason with tears in her eyes. She knew that she wanted more from him but that was not going to happen. She was just going to have to live without him and hope that she can find someone else to love.
"Danny, why don't you and Aiden pick out a movie to watch or find us a fun place to see before we leave. I know where the older boys want to go but I also want to find a place that you and Aiden would like to go see." Danny went over to Aiden to see what their older brothers were doing.
"I was about to order dessert. I think that we should get some pumpkin pie, apple pie and chocolate cream pie up here with some hot chocolate and plenty of whipped cream. Does anyone else want to join me or do you think that I should eat it all myself?" The boys ran to Elizabeth and jumped all over her. Even Danny got into the fun. Of course, Jason had to come save his soon-to-be wife. Max made the call downstairs before Elizabeth could get up to do it.
A little while later, there was a knock. Room service brought up their desserts and Max gave the waiter a great tip. The stomachs were soon filled from the pie and hot chocolate. Elizabeth was enjoying herself more than she thought she ever could. A year ago, so many things were different except the fact that Jason was alive and no one except Helena knew who he was. This was even before Nicholas found out. He was Jake then and Elizabeth loved him then and loved even more so now because they were one big family.
Everyone said their good nights and went to bed. The next morning, the sun was out and the roads had been plowed. Shopping was out of the question since it was the day after Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The deals were to be had but of course the smart ones knew to just shop on-line. The boys wanted to go to a couple of museums, including the one for the World Trade Center and the American Museum of Natural History. Spinelli had shown Jason how to get passes for these attractions so they did not need to wait in long lines.
Sam had Danny, Elizabeth had Aiden and Jason had his two older sons. The seven of them made a great day and night of it seeing the different sights. Sam had Spinelli check out some properties for her and he found her the perfect space for her new life. He gave Sam the directions to her new home in Brooklyn. Jason wanted to go with Max and Milo to check it out. He wanted to make sure that it was safe for Sam and their son. Elizabeth offered to watch Danny and Sam thanked her for it.
It took a couple of hours but Jason really loved the home that Spinelli had found. It was in a quiet neighborhood and there were a lot of things that Sam could do with Danny. She could have her office in the same building that she and Danny were moving into. The only problem was finding someone she could trust to keep her and Danny safe. Jason found the realtor and paid for the building. He was going to have his security contractors come down to check out the building in a few weeks. Hopefully by then, there would be some security for Sam and Danny and they could become acquainted with it before Sam moved there after Christmas.
Saturday afternoon the places the boys had wanted to go but didn't make on Friday, they were going that afternoon. Elizabeth was going to do some shopping and take in the city with Sam. Jason and Max had the four boys. Milo was going with the girls. Milo was not that happy but he knew that Jason didn't have much time to spend with his four boys alone so he knew that Elizabeth and Sam were letting him bond. The sales were still going on but the stores were not as crazy as the day before. Elizabeth finally was able to just relax. Once they got their fill of shopping, they went to the spa that was in their hotel. The massage was fabulous and that was when Sam saw someone that was going to change her whole future.
There are times in your life when you meet someone for the first time that you feel like you have known them all of your life. Sam saw that man and he was the one giving Elizabeth her massage. "Tony, I don't know how you do it but you are the best. I think Sam is looking over here wishing that you were her masseuse too." Tony laughed but he looked at Sam with a little more interest than Sam could have known. He knew that she was going to be his wife. He just had that feeling.
"So, Sam how long are you in town? I would like to get to know you a little more."
Sam just laughed because she was thinking the same thing but she knew that she would never see him again.
"I am leaving tomorrow to go back to Port Charles but I have bought a piece of property in Brooklyn and I am moving there permanently after Christmas. Maybe we could bump into each other later on." Tony looked at her and nodded. Sam and Elizabeth soon left afterwards.
"The boys and I are headed to the top of the Empire State Building. Do you think that you and Sam could meet us there in an hour? I thought maybe we could all go out to dinner afterwards."
"Sam and I would love to meet you men over there. I am not sure about Milo. I think he overdid it at the spa. I think he says he can't move." Jason laughed and told her that he loved her.
Sam, Elizabeth and Milo got ready to go meet the rest of the gang at the Empire State Building. They took a taxi and was there pretty quickly. They showed their passes and were on the elevator a few minutes later. "I am going to give Spinelli a great big hug for these passes. That is like the best thing to have when doing the tourist thing. I will also have to bake him some brownies."
The view was beautiful at night. Elizabeth walked over to Jason and he lovingly put his arms around her. She turned slightly and gave him a sweet quick kiss. The boys started to go over to their parents leaving Sam with the guards. They used their phones and took some pictures from the observation deck. Elizabeth took a few selfies of her and Jason. Then there was Jason with his boys. Elizabeth with the boys and Sam with the boys. Milo and Max also got into the mix with the pictures. Elizabeth took one of just Sam, Danny and Jason. She knew that it would make a great Christmas gift for both parents. She just wanted it to be fun and casual so no one will really notice why she did that.
That night they went to a nice Italian restaurant that was known to the locals. Max had called in a reservation earlier so when they arrived, they had an area all to themselves. The food was as great as the atmosphere. The family who owned it were longtime friends of Sonny's from Bensonhurst. In fact, Sonny was a silent partner. That was how Jason and Max knew about the restaurant.
The owners came over to meet Jason and ask him about Sonny. They all had a few laughs and told some stories about what Sonny was like when he was younger. Jason knew how hard Sonny had it growing up but it did help Elizabeth understand Sonny a little bit better.
Their last night together in NYC was bittersweet. Jason knew it would be the end of one part of his life and a new beginning on the other. The only thing that he knew was going to really hurt was when Danny moved to Brooklyn.
