A/N – Thanks for the comments. This chapter is very emotional. You'll see that Sarah and Liz had quite a different experience growing up. This fic wasn't supposed to be really long. There are two more chapters after this and then I have a story I'm really excited about called Long Road Ahead. It's different because Jason is broken (in a different way) and Liz is the one who saves him. So, it's a little dark in the beginning but I'm really excited about it.

Also, I wrote a song with Liason in mind when I was writing the current two fics. If you want to check it out, just type in LPDNFvqk1Yg in youtube search box.

Chapter 21 – Old Wounds

It was two more days until Jason was released and they headed home to Port Charles. He was doing much better. The doctor said he still might have some headaches and his back might hurt for the next week. But, other than that, he had a clean bill of health.

Carly and Sonny had left a day earlier so that they could get home to the boys. Besides, Bernie was going crazy running things, so Sonny decided to put him out of his misery.

"Are you nervous to see your family?" Jason asked.

Elizabeth shrugged. "A little bit. Sarah says that it's more my mother we have to worry about. My dad seems to get that you are it for me."

Jason smiled. "I like how that sounds."

They had spent a lot of time talking about what happened and where they wanted to go from there. Jason wanted her to move in with him. As far as he was concerned, they had already lost too much time. Elizabeth had agreed. She didn't want to be separated from him anymore.

She looked over at Sarah and Johnny who were playfully arguing and smiled. She had never seen Sarah be that happy with someone. Johnny's lightness was definitely good for her.

"What are you thinking about?"

She looked up at him. "I'm just happy that Sarah found someone."

Jason glanced over at the other couple. "She'll keep Johnny in line. God knows I'm tired of doing it."

Liz chuckled. "Who are you kidding? You two are like two peas in a pod. In the movies, they would call that a bromance."

Jason frowned. "That sounds way to intimate."

Liz laughed. "It just means you're besties and like to hang around each other."

"Besties?"

Liz grinned. "Yes."

"Johnny." Jason said loudly.

Johnny turned and looked at him.

"If I ever call you my bestie, will you promise to shoot me?"

Johnny grinned. "I would do so on principle."

They all laughed.

The pilot let them know they were landing and Liz grabbed Jason's hand.

"Do you want to go straight to the hotel and get it over with?"

Liz nodded. "Yeah, that would probably be better."

Jason looked out of the window. He wasn't looking forward to the parental confrontation. He still wasn't happy about how they had pushed Ric on his girl. Letting her make her own decisions didn't seem like something they were used to. But, they would have to adjust because he wasn't going to let them bully her.

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They met her parents in the restaurant. Jeff swallowed up his little girl in his arms and they both stood there were tears in their eyes for a few minutes.

"I'm so happy to see you." He said as he held her face in his hands.

"I missed you too." Elizabeth said smiling.

Jeff moved onto Sarah and Andrea gave Elizabeth a hug. There were a lot of tears shed.

"I'm so glad that you're safe and healthy."

"I'm glad too."

Andrea hugged Sarah and then they all sat down.

The waitress brought them their drinks and they placed their order. There weren't a lot of people in the restaurant and they were off in a corner.

"Elizabeth, we're so sorry for pushing Ric on you. We had no idea what he was capable of." Jeff said emotionally.

Elizabeth touched his hand. "I didn't know either. I knew he had some issues but nothing like what he ended up doing."

"I guess we're not used to letting you live your own life." Andrea said softly.

"And I don't get that in a way. Do you think I'm weak?"

Jeff shook his head. "No, it's not that. We just want the best for you both. Sarah always fought us when we'd tell her what to do but you never did."

"Trust me, that's a mistake I won't make again. I'm with Jason and I'm staying in Port Charles."

"But Elizabeth…" Her mother started to say.

"Mother, I'm so happy here. Jason is everything to me and I've met such great friends."

"They are all criminals."

"Ric wasn't a criminal and he ended up being far worse. I don't think you understand that you just don't get a say. Maybe Jason's profession is not ideal but he is everything to me. He took a chance loving me when he found out I was dying. All he wanted was to make sure that my last days were happy. He gave me unconditional love and I felt so special and fulfilled. You should want that for me."

"I do. It's just—his life is so dangerous."

Liz smiled. "And my life with Ric wasn't? Jason will do whatever he can to protect me. I don't doubt that even for a second."

"I would give my life for her."

"You don't seem to be upset that Sarah is with Johnny." Liz said pointedly.

Andrea looked over to the other couple. "I guess I didn't think it was serious."

Sarah shook her head. "Because you don't think that he'd stay with me right?"

"Sarah." Jeff said frowning.

"It's true. You think that he couldn't possibly really care about me because you don't think I'm very loveable."

Johnny took her hand. He really didn't like what she was inferring and glared at her parents.

"It's not that Sarah."

"Then what is it then?"

"You are just more brash that's all and you tend to self sabotage your relationships. " Andrea said.

Sarah shook her head. "Look, I know I'm not your favorite kid. Everyone thinks I'm this strong person who doesn't need as much attention. So you doted on Elizabeth and Steven. I did bad things to get your attention and instead of trying to understand my behavior, you just chalked it up to me just being Sarah and looked down on me." She stood up. "And I will not tolerate it any longer. I am worth loving and I am done letting you affect my choices. I'm moving to Port Charles with Elizabeth." She said throwing down her napkin. She quickly walked out to the balcony and Johnny started to get up.

"Please, let me." Jeff said following his daughter.

Elizabeth felt like shit for directing the attention to Sarah like that. But, she was glad that Sarah finally told her parents how she felt.

"I guess this just proves we're just crappy parents." Andrea said putting her head in her hands.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Mom, you made some mistakes. It's not too late to try and make amends. I don't want you out of my life. I just want you to let me live mine. As far as Sarah is concerned, you both have some serious apologies to make. She's hurting deeply because she thinks that you don't love her. You need to make that right before it's too late."

Andrea nodded. "I know. I'm sorry for so much. I'll make the effort with her. We're going to stay around for the rest of the week. Hopefully, she'll let us spend some time with her. I'm so sorry Elizabeth. I hope you can forgive me and accept that I am willing to let you make your own choices. I might slip up from time to time but I hope you will correct me when I do. Sometimes, old habits are hard to break."

Elizabeth wiped a tear away. "I love you mom." She said standing up and walking around the table so she could hug her.

Johnny looked over at Jason. "Brutal." He said softly.

Jason nodded.

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Jeff walked up behind Sarah. "Sweetie, talk to me."

Sarah spun around. "You made me feel like I wasn't good enough; that I could never measure up. I even went to med school for you but you would still find some way to criticize me." She clenched her fists. "I have made so many bad choices because I was so hurt by something either one of you said to me. Do you know that for my first time, I slept with a boy because mom called me a whore? She had caught me in the mall in an outfit that wasn't appropriate and somehow that translated into me sleeping around. She said it in front of my friends."

Jeff grimaced.

"I gave my body to some stupid boy who didn't give a shit about me because that's how damaged I was. I was so pissed off at her that I figured, if you think I'm a whore, than fine I'll be one."

"Sarah."

"That is how hurt I was." She said as tears streamed down her face. "I hated myself for it." She said sobbing. "And I hated her."

Jeff grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. "I'm so sorry." He said crying. "I wish I could go back and make it all better for you but I can't. All I can do is love you now and I do love you Sarah."

Sarah cried as she listened to her dad whisper he loved her over and over. It was all she had ever wanted.

Johnny walked up to them as they pulled apart.

Sarah looked over at him. "I'm sorry. I'm such a mess."

He handed her some tissues. "You're my mess." He said opening his arms and she rushed into them.

Jeff wiped his face and walked back to the table. The waitress had put the food down but none of them really had an appetite anymore.

"How is she?" Elizabeth asked.

Jeff shook his head. "The things she just told me will break my heart forever. I don't even begin to know how to make it up to her." Jeff said softly.

Jason sighed. "She might try to push you away but don't let her."

Jason was thinking about his experience with his family.

"Just give her a little space right now but keep letting her know that you'll be there and you love her. Don't be judgmental. It's her life and her decisions to make. But, you have to accept her for who she chooses to be not who you want her to be. If you don't, she'll just lash out and it will end up hurting her far more than it hurts you." Jason said as Elizabeth leaned her head on his arm.

"Thank you for saying that Jason. I'm sorry if I gave you a hard time before. You're a good man. My daughter is lucky to have you."

Liz smiled at her dad.

Johnny walked back to the table. "Listen, I'm going to take Sarah back to my place. She just needs some time to calm down."

Elizabeth stood up and gave him a hug. "Take care of her Johnny."

"I will. She said she'd talk to you tomorrow." Johnny said to Andrea and Jeff.

He went back to get Sarah and they left.

"I guess lunch is over." Jeff said. "We have a lot of talking to do." He said to Andrea who nodded.

Jason threw some cash on the table and they all stood and went to the elevators. Elizabeth hugged her parents before they got off and then Jason pulled her into his arms.

"You okay?"

"That was intense, but it needed to happen." Elizabeth said softly.

Jason nodded. He felt bad for Sarah. He hadn't realized how badly she had been treated. "I'll talk to her if you want me to."

Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled. "You don't have to Jason. If the conversation happens, then by all means talk to her. But, I do appreciate you offering."

"I want both of you to be happy. I got to know Sarah a little bit while we searching for you. She's different but not in a bad way. She's really strong but underneath of that she's vulnerable. I think that is why Johnny will be good for her. She can handle him but he'll make sure she knows she's loved and feels secure. He has a big heart."

"He does. But then again so do you." She said sliding into the car.

He smiled and got in next to her. "As long as you don't let my enemies know that, it will ruin my rep."

Liz smiled. "God forbid I ruin your street cred."

He kissed her. It wasn't gentle like the kisses in the hospital. It was hot and demanding and let her know what his intentions were when they got back to the penthouse. And just that alone made her wet.