So sorry for the delay on this... There were a few folks that had taken all the fun out of it... and yet, I know there were some waiting for this... so I'm so very sorry for the wait. Here is the end of the story...
Epilogue
Elizabeth had been pleasantly surprised by a number of things in her life... her latest happy realization was that yachts don't make her seasick. The launch out to Nicholas's island was too short a trip to elicit much from her stomach, and the boat she'd been on when Lisa Niles had thrown her overboard hadn't been bad... but after that... she'd had a horrible time with boats.
Walking along the railing of the Seawind she trailed her hand along the cool metal and smiled. Yachts this big didn't have stabilizers for nothing... and all of her nightmares about Lisa Niles had faded the first time Jason had taken her into his arms and kissed her senseless with the sea air sweeping past them - a moment after he'd told her that he'd bought it for her... for them.
They'd spent the last four years together moving from one place to another, seeing the world side by side, and yet they always went back to the U.S. That was, after all, where their family was. Now as the galley door opened behind her, Elizabeth kept her eyes focused on the coast line up ahead. She leaned into Jason's embrace as he wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. He pressed a kiss to her temple and leaned against the rail. "You forgot your jacket inside."
She snuggled back against him. "It's not that cold." He shook his head and she felt the movement rather than saw it as she covered his hands with hers. "Besides, you do a good job of keeping me warm."
The two shared a smile. He'd done a valiant job just the night before pressed up against her back in their bed he's used his hand to 'warm' her until she'd turned around in his arms to warm him right back. Later, when she'd fallen back asleep he'd drawn a blanket around them both and marveled at the woman he held in his arms.
Her voice, softly speaking in the chill of the air about them, brought him back to the present. "What did Joseph say?"
Jason spared a glance up at the bridge and then he turned his gaze toward the coast. "Just a few more minutes. Anxious?"
She shook her head. "No, I spoke to Cam this morning on the satellite phone and he's already in town and," she gave him a look over her shoulder, "he's got someone he wants us to meet."
The significant tone of her voice made Jason smile. "Do you know who it is?"
She shrugged, but he heard her giggle even with the wind in his ears. "He's mentioned a girl a few times... I just wonder what they're going to tell us."
"What about Jake... and Emma?"
Elizabeth turned a bit in his embrace and looked up at him, cold blooming color in her cheeks. "I think Emma's met her before and apparently, according to my dear sweet girl, the two of them got 'into it' about Cam."
Jason smiled, imagining her feisty daughter riled up. "She does realize he's her 'older brother.'"
Her pointed look made Jason smile. "You do realize that doesn't matter. A little sister can be VERY protective of her brother."
"Okay.. okay," Jason agreed, trying to smooth her ruffled feathers.
"And Jake," Elizabeth reached up a hand to touch Jason's cheek, "he's giving his brother a horrible time... the teasing, or so Cam tells me, goes to ridiculous lengths."
The yacht docked without any problems and the moment the crew tied the boat to its moorings and secured the gangplank they had a full house. Cam playfully elbowed his brother and waited for him to go up first with Emma. The two almost-graduates found themselves nearly squeezed into unconsciousness by their mother and their cheeks covered with kisses. Jason stepped in next with a warm hug for Emma but when he turned to his son he stared down into his own blue eyes and smiled.
"Hey, Dad." Jake's grin was both sweet and irrepressible at the same time. "Nice to see your little 'boat.'" He looked at him mom with a wink and back to Jason. "When you said you'd bought a boat, I was thinking those little houseboat things... but then again-"
"Then again," Emma cut in, "this is Jason's boat and seriously, brother, you just don't get how Jason talks about stuff."
Jake rolled his eyes. "Listen to her... I'm sure she'll be tutoring me in all things Jason next week, a three class course complete with worksheets and powerpoint graphics."
Emma huffed at him over her crossed arms.
Turning back to Jason, Jake wrapped his arms around his father and they shared a close embrace. Elizabeth felt her own eyes prickle with tears as she watched the two of them. It never failed to amaze her how close they'd become even with thousands of miles between them.
By this point Cam had made his way on board and taken his mother in a hug and almost lifted her off her feet. "You look beautiful, Mom."
"And you," she wiped at an invisible lipstick stain on his cheek, "are still a very handsome youn- handsome man." She swiped at her eyes as the truth of her words nearly stole her breath away. "I thought you were bringing someone?" She looked around him at the pier and then back at his face. "Something wrong?"
He shook his head and looped his arm over her shoulders and drew her close. "There's plenty of time tomorrow... today... it's just for family."
Jason stepped up to Cam with his hand out and instead of shaking it, Cam gave him a hug. When they separated a moment later, Cam gave him a grin. "Good to see you."
Nodding his agreement, Jason grinned at Elizabeth's older boy. "Stan sent me the current numbers on the shop. You're doing well." Jason looked at Elizabeth and continued. "Very well."
Cam's expression turned serious for a moment. "I owe it to you, Jason... I owe you my life."
"And you're repaying me the right way, Cam," Jason cleared his throat to open up the knot that had formed there, "you're staying right where you should be... away from the 'business.'"
A steward appeared and Elizabeth gave him a smile. "Kids," all three of them groaned at her, "Brian will show you where your rooms are and the living and dining areas. We'll see you on deck in a little bit."
The three filed after the steward, making enough noise to reach Atlantis, if it still existed.
A car pulled up to the pier and Elizabeth leaned on the railing, narrowing her eyes to see the man stepping out into the sunshine. With a smile and happy laugh she met him halfway up the gangway and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug that he returned. Together they walked up to the deck and Patrick and Jason shook hands. Elizabeth looked back and forth between the two of them and relaxed.
One of the crew called over to Jason and he followed the crewman toward the bridge, leaving Elizabeth and Patrick together on deck.
She looked up at Patrick and smiled. "You look good."
His grin was broad and the graying hair at his temples certainly gave him a rakish air. "I feel good."
She smoothed the lapel of his suit with her palm. "It's one thing to talk to you on the phone, I like this version better."
Patrick drew her in for another hug, leaning his head down to take in the scent of her hair. "Me too."
When she leaned back in his relaxed embrace she looked up into his eyes searching them for the truth.
"You know," he started with a grin, "you can ask me the question and I promise to give you an answer."
"You'll give me an answer," she arched a look at her former husband, "but I'm not sure if it will be the truth."
His expression was pure shock. "You don't believe me?"
"You are not only a world famous surgeon, Patrick... you should have been a diplomat. You would tell me what you thought I wanted to hear."
The laughter in his eyes stilled and he gently swept a hand from her shoulder down to her wrist before lacing their fingers together. "I loved you... I still do..." he smiled slightly, "as a friend."
She nodded. "I love you, too."
"But we're both happier like this..." he looked around at the boat, "you on your floating palace and me in a hospital, working my way through the pretty nurses." He gasped in mock pain when she cuffed him on his upper arm. "Hey!"
"Careful... you'll have a harassment suit on your hands if you're not careful."
He shrugged. "I don't go where I'm not wanted... you know that." He smiled and smoothed back a lock of her hair that whipped forward with the wind. "You kept me in line so long... I have to get used to watching out for myself." He looked past her shoulder and gave a nod. "Like right now, I'm backing away so I won't give your husband reason to toss me into the harbor." With a quick kiss to her temple he crossed to meet Jason. "If I ever hear that you've made her sad... or upset... or if she gets a splinter..." Patrick's ominous warning lost its strength when all three of them started laughing together, "I'm going to find you and..."
"And?" Jason's amusement was as obvious as his curiosity.
"And... I'll hold you down while she kicks you in the-"
"Patrick!" Elizabeth pushed him gently toward the cabin and shook her head as he went willingly, his hands held up in surrender. A moment later she felt Jason's strong arms tug her closer and into his embrace. She leaned her cheek against the wall of his chest, listening to the strong heartbeat beneath her ear.
"Thank you." Jason's voice rumbled through his chest.
She leaned back and looked up into his face. "For what?"
He would have told her a thousand things in that moment. A thank you for every look and kiss... every smile and soft word... but none of it would really explain his meaning. Instead, he gently held her face between his hands and kissed her.