The Play's the Thing
Chapter 10
January 2014
The weather remained cold and icy into the new year but Jason didn't care. Life was just too good. He held his fiancée's hand as they walked into Dr. Lee's exam room. Today he was going to see his child. Elizabeth promised to help him.
Kelly spoke as soon as she opened the door. "Okay, Mom and Dad, let's get this show on the road. Lay back, Liz, and lift your shirt."
Jason watched as the doctor squirted gel on Elizabeth's stomach and pushed some buttons on the machine. The ultrasound soon picked up the heartbeat and he found himself enthralled.
For several minutes Kelly watched the monitor as she carefully checked their growing child. "Healthy as a horse. Now do we want to know the sex?"
Elizabeth nodded and turned from watching the baby to watching Jason. They had missed sharing so much with Jake and she wanted to see his face when he heard this. He felt her stare and looked at her. This woman had given him more than he deserved and she just kept giving. It was no wonder he loved her so much.
"Congrats, you're having a baby girl!"
Kelly's announcement brought happy tears to Elizabeth's eyes and Jason kissed them away as Kelly slipped quietly from the room. He pulled her into his arms, forgetting the gel waiting to be wiped from her stomach. The coolness penetrating his shirt caused him to jerk back and they both laughed.
Elizabeth grabbed a towel and cleaned herself up while Jason used another to get as much off him as he could. Watching his efforts, she knew exactly what she wanted. "Marry me."
Jason stopped with his towel mid-air. "Isn't that my line?"
"No, I mean, marry me today. Right now. I don't want to lose another minute."
Jason would have agreed if she hadn't firmly attached her mouth to his.
-gh-
On a hunch, Milo went to Liz's studio. He was running out of real estate to search for Franco and wanted resolution so Jason and Elizabeth could put this whole mess in the past. He found Franco's body lying on the paint splattered floor. The coward had killed himself and left a note detailing great pleasure in denying his brother the chance to kill him. Max arrived and they disposed of the body but took the note to show Jason later.
-gh-
Carly walked into the den and observed Sonny for a few minutes before he noticed her. "Hey."
He cleared his throat. "Hey."
She joined him by the patio doors and watched the snow continue to fall. "It's so beautiful out there and yet if you stay too long it just ends up hurting and you freeze. So you go outside, you enjoy it for a while, and then you come inside to warm up. Sonny, it's time to come in and let her go."
He swallowed. "I'm getting there."
She took his hand and leaned into his shoulder. They continued watching the flakes drift down.
-gh-
Jason called in a favor and had the marriage license within the hour. The ceremony was intimate, just them and their sons before a justice of the peace. When they went home the boys were quickly put to bed.
Jason followed her into their room. He was feeling so much and wanted to share it all with her. "I always wanted this. I wanted you when we were young and riding my bike for hours to escape. I wanted you when we were living together at the penthouse. I wanted you so much the night we made Jake. And then when I found out about him, God, Elizabeth, I wanted you even more. Now, now we're here. You're mine and the kids are mine and, and I don't deserve any of you but I love you. I'll always love you."
Elizabeth was dry-eyed and focused as she replied. "I've always loved and wanted you, too. You are my hero and my friend and my safe place. I made so many mistakes and yet you're still here and we have this amazing life. I'll never take it or you for granted. Thank you." She eagerly moved into his embrace and lifted her lips to his.
Much later, they lay in each other's arms and stared at the ultrasound pictures. Elizabeth made sure Jason saw every detail. He spent a long time just staring at his daughter's face. "She's as beautiful as her mother."
That earned him a long kiss. "She needs a name. I know we have four months but I want to decide now."
Unable to refuse her, especially when she had such a great idea, he suggested naming the baby after his sister and her best friend. "I think Emily would have liked it."
"Liked it? She would have loved it!" Elizabeth caressed her rounded belly. "Hello, sweet Emily." She raised her eyes back to her new husband. "What do you think of Emily Caroline?"
"Carly would be over here all the time. We'd never get any peace and she'd try to plan Emily's whole life like she owned her."
Elizabeth chuckled. "I can handle Carly. She's been your best friend for years and she's been pretty good to me the last few months. Plus I love the way Emily Caroline flows."
Jason knew he was going to give in but decided to make her wait a couple of weeks. He figured he would enjoy her attempts to persuade him.
Note 1: I know you're disappointed I didn't write the wedding scene. There are just so many ways you can say I do and I thought it was more meaningful vows when it was just the two of them.
Note 2: This is where the original story ended and the next 9 chapters were the sequel. I wanted 2 stories because the focus changes from S/E to Liason. I'm combining them because I think it might be easier for you, gentle readers, to keep up with. And it's all about you! There's no point in writing if you're not reading!