The End
Elizabeth couldn't be sure how long it took Sam to come rushing back into the room, moments, minutes, hours, they all seemed to take up the same amount of space in her mind now. However, eventually Sam did run back into the room with another man and began to unlock Elizabeth's handcuffs pulling her up to her feet. Then Sam noticed the blood and dropped her arm.
"What have you done?" Sam said disgusted. "You're useless to me now." The man looked at Sam confused. "Leave her," Sam said as she raced out of the room. Elizabeth placed her hand on the wall and tried to walk to the door. Something about being freed opened up her senses; she could hear the scuffle outside and the eerie silence that followed it. As she neared the door it swung open letting in light. The strong arms she'd been waiting for instantly appeared at her side. She clung to him, tears running down her face.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," she rambled. "I tried, I--," but she wasn't able to finish, finally her body felt safe enough to rest, safe enough to began repairing itself, safe enough to let go of consciousness.
The week Elizabeth laid in General Hospital still and lifeless were the most frightening days Jason had ever had to live through. He brought the boys back from the island and tried to explain as best he could what happened and why mommy was sleeping for so long. After the fourth day Jason nearly cracked, terrified that the doctors were wrong, that she would never wake up. Epiphany walked in on him sitting next to Elizabeth with tears running down his face, begging her to come back to him. He apologized for not being there and swore that this would never happen again, that he would let go, he would leave for good this time, his life would never touch her, never hurt her ever again if she just came back for the boys. Of course, while the mother nurse sympathized his position, she gave him a sound thrashing for even thinking that leaving her and those boys was what Elizabeth wanted. After that Jason returned to his stoic place beside Elizabeth's bed, waiting, always waiting for some small flicker of life. Finally on the tenth day Elizabeth awoke with a start. She recoiled back and took in her surroundings. When she saw Jason she began to cry hysterically. As soon as she woke up alarms and beeping started going off all around the room.
"I'm so sorry Jason, I was so calm for so long," she said looking down at her hands. "I just, I don't know, I lost it and I lost our baby, I'm so sorry." Jason was unsure how to handle this so he just got into the bed beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Her tears and sorrow shook her entire body.
"It's okay, everything is fine now, you didn't lose the baby," he said. That just made her cry more.
"But don't you see, it is my fault. I taunted her and I apologized to her, I wouldn't let Jamie come in the bathroom with me, I did this and I couldn't save our little girl--,"
"I'm not just saying that I don't blame you. Although, none of what happened is in any way your fault. Sam was a monster. I'm saying that you didn't lose the baby," he explained looking up to Dr. Lee for help as Elizabeth's team of doctors and friends came in.
"You're still very much pregnant, Elizabeth," Kelly said smiling.
"But," Elizabeth responded staring at them all with bloodshot eyes. "that's not possible, I was only in my sixth month, there was so much blood."
"Yes, well. That's one strong little girl you have in there. You shouldn't still be pregnant, all of medicine is against you, but sometimes medicine is wrong," Kelly said with a slight shrug.
"With you in the coma we were able to perform a few intra-uteral exams and procedures, the rest we'll have to asses when she comes out. This isn't going to be easy, you have two and a half more months," Robin added.
"You're on strict bed rest for your final trimester. For most people we would suggest remaining in the hospital for that time, but Jason has assured us that you will get the best care possible and be in every week for a check on your progress," Kelly explained.
"You've done so good Elizabeth and that little girl has had quite the fight, we promise to get you the rest of the way," Robin finished giving her friend a squeeze of the hand before both doctors and their colleagues left the room. Elizabeth laid her head on Jason's chest. He was careful not to cover or touch any of the cords attached to her. They sat there silently for a moment each one ecstatic to be together again, that one day felt like months, years, ages. They let the calm happiness wash over them.
"You said Sam was a monster," Elizabeth said. "Does that mean she's…"
"Yes," Jason said simply. "She can never hurt you again,"
"Part of me is relieved," she said carefully picking her words. "The other part of me is really sad for her,"
"That's what makes you, you," he said. Elizabeth simply nodded, she knew that it was all too fresh for him to know how he felt and far too soon to share it. She pulled in close to his chest and drifted off to sleep after promising to wake up soon this time.
The next two months passed by slowly. Elizabeth was going a bit stir crazy and the boys missed having their mom be the one to pick them up and drop them off as well as go to the park and other places with them. Jake often slept in the bed with Elizabeth and Jason and Cameron obsessively checked to make sure Elizabeth was still at home whenever he came into the penthouse. Every once in a while the little boy would walk up to his guard with big eyes and ask "no more bad people, right?" It broke Jamie's heart to think that he'd failed at his job of keeping the bad people away from the family. However, Jason assured him that while he was giving him a partner to make sure that everything stayed calm, it was in no way his fault that Elizabeth was taken. Sam had been desperate and angry; she would've gotten to Elizabeth somehow, sometime.
It was three in the morning when Elizabeth's contractions hit, at first she ignored the discomfort and tried to continue sleeping. Then she sat up in bed turning on the light to look at the clock. She carefully timed her contractions waiting for them to be bad enough to wake Jason, they were still seven minutes apart when she tapped him, but the pain had started increasing in intensity.
"Jason," she whispered. "Jason, I'm in labor," she said. At that he shot up instantly sobered.
"What, how long? I'll grab the bags and pull the car around. Do we have the wheel chair?" he asked jumping out of bed. He woke Rose as they left telling her to bring the boys when they were awake. When they arrived at the hospital Jason was angry with her for not waking him sooner and she was so focused on the contractions that all she could do was nod at him. As he led her out of the car her water broke all over his feet. He looked down with wide eyes, as she sat in the wheelchair smiling.
"Come on, Jase, I think she's ready to come out."
It was a few tense, terrible hours before the doctors decided that their hopes for a natural birth weren't going to happen. Jason stood next to Elizabeth's head throughout the cesarean section whispering words of courage and hope to her. He watched as the baby was pulled out, their little girl, and rushed into another room. He saw Elizabeth's face grow worried and fearful as she didn't hear the little girl's cry. He tried to quite her anxiety as his own washed over him. The team that had remained finished
Elizabeth's procedure and suggested with sad eyes that she try to sleep. Elizabeth gave Jason frightened questioning stares as he kissed her firm on the lips and begged her to get rest. She fought and refused, but eventually her body won out against her mind, she was exhausted and it showed.
Jason felt ripped in two as he ran between Elizabeth's room and the OR where baby Emily was still being worked on. Jason spent the few moments he had to himself calling Carly and Sonny as well as Monica, Nicholas, and anyone else he could think would make a surprise appearance at the hospital. He decided this was no time for visitors, accepted their condolences and they all promised to keep the baby in their prayers. However, no one promised not to come, which is why at eleven in the morning when Emily was finally breathing strongly on her own and Elizabeth was sleeping peacefully sure that her daughter would be okay, Jason stepped out to the waiting room to get some coffee and found them all sitting with balloons and other pink and purple "Welcome to the world," items: teddy bears, blankets, banners, pillows, etc. Jason laughed and shook his head when he saw them.
"You shouldn't have come," he said.
"When has anything you said ever stopped me," Carly said moving to hug him. "How's the princess?" Jason took a deep breath before responding.
"Stable, she's breathing on her own. She's so tiny, but perfect and beautiful," he said. Everyone smiled at him. It was a relieved smile, a cheerful smile, a knowing smile.
"Can we see her or Elizabeth?" Nicholas asked his eyes downcast. He hadn't been around nearly enough for his friend in the last few months, but was trying harder every day to make it up.
"Yes, one at a time please though, she still exhausted from everything, she may be sleeping," Jason said. Any other day he would've tried to keep Nicholas and any reminders of Lucky away from her, but he knew that everything they'd gone through was a part of where they were and that Nicholas would always be Elizabeth's friend, a reminder of youthful exuberance and the best friend she wished could be there, the sister Jason longed to tell how happy he was. Jason stayed with the others, he decided that now that the worst was over and it would be okay to bring the kids over sometime in the afternoon.
When Nicholas got to Elizabeth's room she appeared to be sleeping so he placed the flowers by her side and turned to leave when she called his name.
"Nicholas," she said quietly. He turned and sat beside her.
"Hey there," he said softly.
"Hey," she said smiling.
"I heard that your little girl is doing good."
"Yes, she is. We named her Emily," Elizabeth said watching is expression. "I wanted to tell you the second we thought of it, there was never any question, Jason suggested it… she was just so important to the both of us, and now she'll never be far from our thoughts." Nicholas simply nodded a tear rolling down his face.
"She would've liked that, although she'd say you gave her too much credit, that you should've named the little girl after someone who was more than she was,"
"Yes, she probably would've" Elizabeth said smiling sadly.
"I'm so sorry I haven't been around for you Elizabeth. Things were just--,"
"Hard. Lucky is your brother Nicholas, I understand that you couldn't choose sides,"
"Yes, but Emily would've called me weak, sitting back and watching as he hurt you. She would've gotten in the middle of it, she always wanted you and Jason together, saw it, this future, far before anyone else could,"
"She was an extraordinary person; we can't continue to judge ourselves by her standards."
"A true musketeer, through and through," Nicholas offered.
"Yes she was, although it would appear that the musketeers are no more."
"I think there are still two here. I know it usually split between the brothers and the best friends or the two couples, but I do miss you Elizabeth," he said. At that Elizabeth smiled and put out her hand.
"Two musketeers!" she said as they shook on it. "You should bring Spencer to the penthouse some time, and we can get together." He gave her a look that said to that mobsters home, I'd rather send him to Switzerland. Elizabeth sighed as he began to respond to her proposition.
"Well, it's just that I--," she silenced him with her hand.
"That's the catch Nicholas, this grudge you have against Jason, it can't continue. We are a package deal, these are our kids, that little girl with Emily's name and strong heart is our little girl, you cannot love me and my children and hate Jason. You cannot blame him for whatever you blame him for, and accept me. It's all or nothing. Are those suitable terms?" she asked in the most professional voice she could muster. He simply nodded. She smiled at him and opened her arms wide for a hug. Nicholas left the room and Jason came in with presents from the others.
"Have you seen her?" Elizabeth asked excitedly. Jason nodded.
"She's so beautiful," He added coming to take her hand in his.
"Did they, do you, is she--,"
"She's fine, out of the woods, you both will be able to go home tomorrow. They just want to keep an eye on her, if you feel up to it we can go see her…" he said. Her eyes grew wide with excitement as she made to step out of the bed. He stopped her and pulled over a wheel chair. She begrudgingly got in as they headed to pediatrics.
Elizabeth picked up the little girl slowly smiling as she saw the patch of dark hair on her head and the pair of blue eyes staring up at her. Jason took in the scene around him and felt like the luckiest man on the planet, he had Elizabeth and their children, he had a life and dreams that he never thought he would. Sure things would be hard and frightening at times, but they would get through it together, for theirs was a forever love.