Alright guys. I was having a hard time deciding which direction to take the story in next but I talked to my sister and after a request from Lady Anata, it all just came together. I am so glad you guys like this story. I have a surprise in this chapter and a few more on the way. Since I don't have to worry about availability and salaries and the such I can make this story whatever I want it to be. So expect some more returns in the future. I will probably continue to reference events that are happening on the show without actually having to write them down.
Elizabeth was just getting the boys ready for an outing to the movies when her phone rang. She and AJ had made plans to spend some time together after Thanksgiving. It was so sweet the way he had asked them all out to go see the latest family movie at the Cineplex. She had of course agreed and they decided that they would stop after the movie to get burgers and fries at Kelly's. When Elizabeth looked down at the caller ID she frowned a little. The was only one person she knew there. The conversation was brief and it completely changed Elizabeth's plans for the day. She couldn't believe it. She would have to cancel her date with AJ. This was much more important than that. Her good friend was coming home.
How AJ wound up taking two young boys to the movies by himself was beyond his comprehension. All he knew was that when he had pulled up to Elizabeth's house, she was very excited and had to do a big favor for a friend. She was sorry that she would have to cancel on him. But AJ instead offered to take the boys with him for the day so she would be free to take care of what she needed to do without having to bother Audrey. Which is why he was currently standing in line at the concession stand while Cameron systematically went through the pros and cons of each type of candy while Aiden threw his small popcorn on the ground. AJ was trying to balance his own drink and Aiden in his arms and order another popcorn when Cameron finally decided. He turned quickly around not realizing how close AJ and Aiden were and his flailing arm caught AJ square in the groin. The teenager behind the counter grimaced in sympathy while the girl behind the counter laughed out right. It took all of AJ's strength not to drop Aiden, the drink or the new popcorn. Cameron apologized and grabbed onto AJ's leg.
"You won't leave now will you? I'm really sorry. Honest. I didn't mean it." Cameron hugged AJ's leg.
AJ pulled the boys to the side of the concession stand past the smirking concession girl. "No, Cam, I wouldn't leave you" he said delicately squatting down beside Cameron taking Aiden down with him. "Why would you think that?"
"Dad left." He said matter of factly. "People leave, Daddy left, Uncle Nickolas left, Aunt Emily left, Matt left, Jason left. Everybody leaves us. I know they don't leave mommy so I must do something wrong like when I accidentally hit you."
AJ was choked up. He couldn't believe this little boy. This wonderful little boy actually believed that there was something wrong with him. It made him angry that all those people simply walked out of Elizabeth's life without thought to her two young sons,. With the exception of Emily, who was taken from them, none of those people gave any thought to the collateral damage they left behind. No wonder Elizabeth had been reluctant to start something new. She had these two amazing boys to think of.
"Cameron, not everyone walks away. Sometimes adults get wrapped up in their lives and there are so many things going on that they need to take a break for a while. It doesn't mean that you did anything wrong."
"I don't want mommy to cry anymore. So if you are going to leave, could you not leave and then mommy won't cry anymore. I know she's sad sometime because Jake went to heaven but I want Mommy to be happy again. She smiles a lot when you are around so you must make her happy and Aiden needs Mommy to be happy too. Since Daddy left, she cries a lot."
"You're a good older brother. You know that Cam. You're a much better older brother than I was."
"Why do you think you aren't a good big brother?"
"I did something wrong and I let my little brother get hurt "
"I wasn't too good."
"Why do you say that?" AJ asked.
"Cause I let Jakey get hit and then he went to heaven and never came back. Don't tell Mommy but it's my fault. I told him to go away and he did and now I won't ever get to play with him again." Cameron started to cry.
AJ couldn't believe any of this was happening. He walked the boys over to a bench and set them both down. He then squatted down directly in front of Cameron but keeping an eye on Aiden. This poor kid had spent over a year blaming himself for the death of his little brother. This little boy who had done nothing wrong. No one knew that Cameron felt this way he was sure of it. AJ hadn't been around when Jake had died but Steve had told him about it. How it had almost broken his sister. How the men in her life had left her to flounder on her own, swimming in grief while one of them got married, one left the country and Jake's real father had walked away to marry the woman who had once tortured Elizabeth after watching Jake get kidnapped out of the park. AJ knew so much more than anyone thought. What Steve hadn't told him, he had learned through private investigators.
"Cameron, your mom wouldn't want you to blame yourself for what happened to Jake. You couldn't have known what would happen." AJ wrapped his arms around the small boy. "Jake will always be with you. He's your guardian angel. He's watching out for you like you watched out for him. He'll take care of you and your mom, and your baby brother."
"He will?" Cameron asked hope in his voice.
"I know he will. He loves you very much. And nothing can change that." He stood up and picked up Aiden. Now are you ready to watch the Guardians?"
"Yeah!" Cameron laughed. Before AJ could grab his soda he felt Cameron wrap himself around his legs and hug tightly. He wrapped his arm around the small boy while he held onto his little brother. Cameron looked up at AJ innocence shining in his eyes. "You can be my big brother. It's okay. I won't run out the door and get hurt I promise." Tears filled AJ's eyes as he hugged Cameron back. He figured even if he had to take a shot to the groin this was the best afternoon he had had in a long time.
Elizabeth was so excited. She couldn't believe the turn of events. She straightened her at jacket and her purse over her arm as she walked into the building. She was checked in and led to a room to wait. When she saw her friend she ran around and gave him a hug. He was smiling from ear to ear.
"Elizabeth!" he said. "It is so good to see you. I am glad you came. I tried calling Patrick but Epiphany said he was in surgery and it was going to be a long time. Is it okay that I called you?"
Elizabeth smiled. "Of course it's okay that you called me. I am a little confused why you didn't call your wife"
"It's over." He said, the smile leaving his eyes for the first time. "I should have known better. I did know better. I guess I couldn't get past what she did."
"And you are free and clear?"
" Yep. Everything is done. I am just waiting for some paper work and we can be on our way. You've always been there for me, Elizabeth. I know I hit on you and messed up our friendship-
"Matt." Elizabeth said. "I consider you a great friend. One of my best friends. There is so much to tell you. So much has happened since you were gone."
"Well we have the whole ride back to Port Charles; you can tell me all about it."
"I just can't believe that the Governor gave you a full pardon."
"Alexis got him to review the case somehow. Also, she showed him my research. And since there is a history of cancer in his family, maybe that is why."
"Maybe it's because Lisa deserved what she got."
"Yes, it could be the extenuating circumstances. You know," he said changing the subject, "you and Patrick were the only ones to come up here to visit me and Alexis of course."
"I find that hard to believe. I mean Maxie must have-"
"She came up here twice. Once to talk to me about splitting up so she could pursue Spinelli and the second time to give me divorce papers. She showed me how she really feels. It's time for me to move on. Ironically, right after she left Alexis came by to tell me she might have gotten the pardon for me."
"I am so glad you are coming home" she said holding onto his hands. "Does anyone know yet?"
"No. I really want it to be a surprise." He smiled at that.
It was another thirty minutes but they were soon on their way back to Port Charles. Dr. Matt Hunter was a free man. Elizabeth loved Matt in a strictly platonic way. Matt was a good person. He didn't deserve what happened. Matt told her all about the wrangling Alexis had done to get him released. She had pled his case to the governor and he having seen all the evidence actually gave Matt a full pardon. Erasing all charges and restoring all his rights including the right to practice medicine.
Elizabeth told Matt what he had missed for the last six months. About AJ returning, Edward's passing. All the new people who had moved there. She told him about Sabrina the new nurse at the hospital that Elizabeth had taken under her wing. How the two of them decided to honor Robin's memory by bringing back the nurse's ball if they could find the funding. She told him about Britt the new doctor who was actively perusing Patrick. Elizabeth wasn't too sure about her. She seemed awfully aggressive at times. She told him about Thanksgiving at her house with Emma and his brother and the rest of the people.
"So" he said. "Tell me about AJ"
"What ?" Elizabeth said blushing to the roots of her hairline.
"Ahh I knew it! There is something going on there." She had missed Matt's teasing.
"Yes, we've been seeing each other. He really has changed. He's not the same person he was when-"
"He faked his own death and left the country to avoid charges."
"Well, yes." Elizabeth was chagrined. "He's really good with my boys. They really like him. He even got Monica to apologize."
"Really" Matt was genuinely surprised. "How did he do that? I thought she'd never let it go. I mean the way she treated you wasn't fair. Everyone at the hospital thought so. I thought Epiphany was going to knock her out one time."
"He got Jason to admit the truth about not telling her about Jake."
"Well it's about time. I'm glad you are starting to see Jason for what he really is. And if it takes this guy AJ to do it then I am all for it. Now about that cheeseburger..."
"Alright there's Kelly's now." Elizabeth pulled in and smiled over the roof of her car at Matt. He had grown his beard back a bit. It was still in the stubble phase. He had gained some weight too like he had been hitting the gym in the yard. It was good to have him back. Patrick would be thrilled. They walked over to Kelly's and opened the door.
"Mommy!" Elizabeth smiled and looked over as Cameron came running towards her. He was telling her all about the movie that he had seen with AJ and Aiden. It took him a minute to see who was beside her. "Matt!" The little boy hurled himself at his friend and started to talk non-stop about the Avengers. Matt laughed and talked back assuring him that Hawkeye was indeed a good guy and always would be.
AJ's heart stopped when Elizabeth walked in. She was so beautiful it took his breath away she looked happy. So did the young man walking in next to her. AJ felt a twinge of jealousy and had Elizabeth not told him where she was going when she left that morning he would probably be extremely jealous of the guy who Cameron was hanging onto. He walked over to where the stood pushing Aiden's carriage with him.
Elizabeth saw him coming and asked Cameron if he would mind playing his game while she talked to Matt and AJ. He reluctantly agreed and grabbed his game and ran back to their table. AJ leaned down to give Elizabeth a quick kiss on the lips.
"Hi" She said looking into his eyes. He kissed her again. He couldn't help. It this kiss was a little longer and a little more intimate. He broke away when he heard a discreet cough come from beside him. "Sorry" He whispered to Elizabeth. "I just missed you"
Elizabeth laughed. "You had my boys all day. I bet you missed me." She turned to Matt. "Matt Hunter I want you to meet AJ Quartermaine. Matt is the friend I was telling you about."
"Nice to meet you. Congratulations." AJ shook Matt's hand. There was no animosity at all between the two.
"You had Cameron and Aiden all day?" He asked. AJ nodded in return.
"I'm impressed." Matt said. "I am also very, very hungry can we please get a burger now?" He asked Elizabeth.
"Of course" she replied. The three of them moved over to the table AJ and the boys were sitting at and ordered more food and they talked for a long time. Matt filled up on two burgers, fries and milkshakes. Aiden began to nod off in his stroller and Elizabeth said it was time to go home. Matt couldn't wait. He was excited to see his brother and Emma. They all drove back to Elizabeth's place and Matt thanked her for the ride and shook AJ's hand before walking across the street to his brother's house. Patrick was floored when he answered the door. Wrapping his brother in a huge hug, Matt thought he was going to break his back. Patrick turned and introduced Matt to Sabrina who had been watching Emma until he came home from work. Sabrina was a little overwhelmed. She had a crush on Patrick but seeing Matt just sent shivers down her spine. She said she'd leave them to her reunion and left. Patrick and Matt sat down and talked until the wee hours of the morning.
Across the street, Elizabeth and AJ did much the same talking and talking all night. He told her about his conversation with Cameron and held her when she cried. He told her not to blame herself when that was her first instinct. It was late and AJ kissed her goodbye. He had a board meeting the next day. Someone from the hospital had managed to schedule some time with the board to make a proposal. He asked her if she was working. She replied that she had surgeries in the morning and a meeting with the board in the afternoon. He assumed she meant the hospital board. He kissed her goodnight and wished more than anything that the two of them could go upstairs and say goodnight and fall asleep in each other's arms. But he also knew it was too soon to even be thinking about that. He kissed her again and walked away into the night.