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Chapter 29
They spent the afternoon in their water taxi, as the driver conducted a private tour of the area. Not only did they see the Grand Canal, but they also got a chance to see some of the back alleyways of the city. The shortcuts that natives used to get from one place to another. Francis, Cody, Nikolas and Emily tagged along. Milo and Georgie had set off on a solo adventure earlier in the afternoon.
On the way back to the hotel to get changed for dinner Emily took advantage of the relative privacy to speak to Elizabeth. The guys were up front talking so the ladies sat in the back where they could talk in private. "I'm really sorry for what I was doing back in Port Charles. Pushing you to be with Lucky." Emily figured she should start there.
"Thank you Emily." Elizabeth was trying to move past this, but honestly she was still hurt. "Can I ask why you kept doing it even though I told you I wasn't interested?"
"I guess because I felt sorry for Lucky. What he went through was awful, and I just felt if he could be with you it would be like it was before." Emily explained. "I thought were all so happy back in high school."
"We were different people." Elizabeth told her friend. "Nothing will make it like it was before. Honestly Em, why would you think I would want to be the person I was back then again? That was one of the most painful periods of my life, and I wasn't as happy as you seem to think."
"I had that pointed out to me." Emily admitted. "Nikolas was the one who made me see just how bad of a friend I was being to you. I could have been Lucky's friend, and yours, without the match making. I didn't know what he had done."
Elizabeth nodded. "I did wonder." She admitted. "But I realized you wouldn't go that far."
Emily didn't blame Elizabeth for thinking that. "How come you believed I didn't help?"
"Because you were pushy, but not mean. What Lucky did was mean. Making me think I was sick was bad enough, but for eight hours I was terrified that I made Cam sick too." Elizabeth looked at her little boy who was happily looking around the boat from his father's arms. "You wouldn't do that to me. I can't ever forgive Lucky for that."
"You shouldn't. Even Nikolas has said he is done with Lucky. I can't be his friend anymore either." Emily felt genuinely sad at that. Lucky was one of the first people she met after moving to Port Charles. It was because of him she knew both Nikolas and Elizabeth. However what he had done, supposedly out of love, was wrong on every level imaginable. "So can we be friends again?" Emily asked cautiously.
"l hope that we'll always be friends." Elizabeth said smiling at her fellow brunette. It would remain to be seen how close that friendship was going to be.
"And sister in-laws now that you are married to my brother." Emily smiled and got a wide smile in return. "I was ready to strangle Nikolas when he told me. He knew for days, but didn't say anything." Emily huffed.
"It was tied up in hospital business." Elizabeth laughed. "How is the rest of the family taking the news?"
"They have been very happy since that emergency board meeting." Emily shared. "So I'm guessing there is a welcome to the family dinner in your future. Even Tracy has been smiling." Emily said in a tone that let Elizabeth know how rare that was.
"They would have been thrilled with anyone who wasn't Sam." Elizabeth guessed. Although she did have a good relationship with the Quartermaines.
"That's only a little bit true. While yes the family is happy Jason is no longer involved with Sam." Emily put involved in air quotes. "Not just anyone would make them this happy. Grandmother is over the moon."
"That makes me happy." Elizabeth loved Lila.
"She will probably be the first one to call you when you get back." Emily looked at her friend. "Where will you guys be staying? Since Jason gave the penthouse to Shawn." Emily was hoping to find out before anyone else in the family.
"Jason bought us a house." Elizabeth told her friend. "My furniture was packed up and taken over, so were Jason's remaining things." Elizabeth heard Jason order a new pool table since Shawn was enjoying the one at the penthouse. "So we'll be able to go right home from the airport. I'll still need to shop."
"I'd be up for that, if you want company." Emily offered a bit disappointed to not have been told about the house before now. She was surprised that Jason didn't tell her during their phone call. When you bought a house you told the people closest to you about it.
"I can't shop with your brother." Elizabeth laughed at the thought of dragging Jason through Wyndhams.
"No, you can't." Emily laughed picturing the same thing. She and Elizabeth were going to be alright, it would take some more time, but they would be just fine. "So tell me about this house." Emily requested settling into her seat.
"It's going well." Nikolas said looking into the back of the boat.
"Elizabeth is going to forgive Emily." Jason assured the younger man. It was just how his wife was. He did expect that it would take a bit of time, and some work on Emily's part.
"I never doubted it. Just like I knew she wouldn't sue. Elizabeth is a very forgiving person. I don't expect that forgiveness to be extended to Lucky." Nikolas said shrugging. "I told Emily that I'm done with him, and I suggested that she make the same decision."
"I won't ask Emily to choose." Jason said patting Cameron's back. Even if Lucky was going to be around a long time, which wasn't the case, Jason wouldn't ask his sister to pick between them. That was a decision she would have hopefully made on her own.
"No, you wouldn't. Neither would Elizabeth. But Emily needs to." Nikolas knew what he was going to say sounded cold, however it was also the truth. "He'll destroy her relationships with everyone else. The Spencers are users. I could see that from the first time I arrived, and met my mother's husband." Being a Cassadine made it so Nikolas could easily spot those who were manipulative and greedy. "Lucky had a chance to be better, and my grandmother took that from him."
"Seems like that would make it harder to walk away." Jason knew the power of guilt. He also knew how family obligations could push you down a path you didn't want to walk. Sonny had used both those things to get Sam into penthouse four. Jason's need to protect Carly and the boys had been a weak point the former mob boss exploited.
"I think if Lucky hadn't hurt Elizabeth the way he did, it would be hard choice to stick to." Nikolas looked out over the water. "Even now I'm not totally comfortable with the decision I made. I feel like I'm doing what Helena wants." The whole point of taking Lucky from Port Charles was to hurt Luke, and put space between the two brothers. "It was a shock to learn I had a brother. Once Lucky and I got past our parents issues we were doing well. This person who is walking around with my brother's face isn't the man I knew. He's like a parasite who invaded a host."
"That is a pretty ugly picture you're painting." Jason could see that Nikolas was hurting.
"It's a pretty ugly thing that Lucky has become." Nikolas conceded. "He's also becoming more dangerous. When Liz disappeared the only thing that kept me from thinking he had snapped and killed her was that you were gone too. Then I thought you were protecting Liz." Nikolas shared.
"I was." Jason looked over at his wife. He would always protect her and their family. "At the time I didn't know I was protecting her from Lucky." Looking over he saw Nikolas nodding.
"I never thought he would go this far." Nikolas thought that someone needed to rid the planet of Helena as well. Maybe she and Luke would kill each other. No one would miss them.
"Will you be able to stay in Port Charles?" Jason could see how helping to kill his brother might sour the younger man on the area.
"As long as Emily is there." Nikolas said smiling wide. "I'll probably try to talk her into spending a good portion of the year in Europe."
"I don't think that will be hard." Jason opened the baby bag and pulled out a teething biscuit for his son who was chewing on his hand. "Emily loves Europe, she can be a doctor here as easily as in New York."
"We will talk about it, after this week. This week is for celebrating you and Elizabeth." Nikolas said ending that part of the discussion.
Jason looked at Elizabeth again, this time she looked back and smiled at him. "Yeah It is."
"We'll be back at the hotel in about five minutes." Francis said loud enough for the ladies in the back to hear. Everyone started gathering their things.
Both ladies came forward. "Are we all eating together?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"Yup. I have something special planned." Jason grinned.
"I can't wait to see what." Elizabeth leaned up and gave him a kiss. It looked like the surprises weren't over.
Jason whistled as Elizabeth walked out of the bedroom. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you. I picked this up when Georgie and I went shopping." Elizabeth told him. They had a girls' day out in Florence. It was fun to just cut loose. She was in a mint green dress with a black lace overlay on the bodice and skirt. "The shoes too." Black lace peep toe heels that made her feel tall. "You are very handsome." She said coming over and kissing him.
"Thanks." Jason actually blushed a bit. The suit was one of his from back home. He had it sent over, along with his tuxedo and something special from his grandmother. Tonight he was in dark blue with a lighter blue shirt. "Are you ready to go out?"
"I am, when is the sitter arriving?" Elizabeth asked her husband. Tonight was probably the only time that Cameron wouldn't be watched by Georgie, or maybe Emily. The sitter had been selected by Francis, she was the younger sister of one of the extra guards and happened to live full time in Venice.
"Any minute now. We are meeting everyone else in the lobby." Jason told his beautiful wife. He was so excited for what was coming later in the evening. Hopefully he could stay calm and not ruin the surprise. While Francis, Nikolas and Emily knew what was happening tomorrow no one else knew what he had planned for tonight. When the knock came, announcing the arrival of the babysitter Jason snapped back the present. "I'll get that and then we can go."
They dined at Locanda Cipriani. The seventy-six year old establishment specialized in rustic Italian cuisine, and highlighted the best of local ingredients. While the restaurant had several private spaces to choose from Jason booked the private garden knowing that his girl would like dining under the stars. While the entire meal was delicious it was the chocolate soufflé Elizabeth raved over.
"We will see everyone in the morning." Jason told the group as they walked back to where the private water taxi awaited.
"I'll relieve the sitter." Emily told her brother. "The second bedroom in our suite also has a crib, so Cam can stay with us." Since her brother clearly had something else planned Emily would make it so they didn't have to rush back.
"Thanks, we'll get him at breakfast then." Jason gave his sister a hug.
"Sounds good. Have fun." Emily was hoping to get some details from Liz in the morning.
"So what are we doing?" Elizabeth asked as she waved to her friends. Instead of answering Jason just pointed. "A gondola ride?" Elizabeth said bouncing on her toes. "Under the stars no less."
"I think maybe that's good enough for a kiss." Jason said shamelessly.
"I think you are right." Elizabeth said leaning into him and pressing her lips to his. Pulling back she sighed at just how right it felt to be with this man.
"Let me get in first and I'll help you into the boat." Jason said as the vessel docked. Once they were seated Jason told the gondolier they were ready.
While most gondolas were plain black, this boat had gold swirls across the exterior. The interior was a vibrant red, and Elizabeth was surprised at just how comfortable the seating was. They started on the Grand Canal, but quickly moved onto the more private back canals. She snuggled close and looked up at Jason and smiled. "I was hoping we would do this."
"You can't come to Venice and not have a gondola ride." Jason had noticed that Elizabeth didn't request things. Just coming to Italy had been enough for her, if they had never ventured past Florence she still would have loved the trip. He knew that was because she was used to not having her opinion matter, a holdover from childhood. He was hoping in time she came to see that in his mind hers was the only opinion that did matter.
"It is just as romantic as I imagined." Elizabeth confessed.
"The gondolier will sing if you like." Jason had made sure to check when he rented the boat.
"No, I like listening to the sounds of the city." Even back here Venice's nightlife could be experienced. "How long are we staying out?"
"For as long as you like. I rented the boat for the night." They could stay out until sunrise if she wanted to.
"A few hours should be wonderful." Elizabeth saw there was a blanket in case she got chilly.
"I have something I'd like to give you." Jason said softly. He wanted to do this now, so for the rest of the evening they could enjoy it.
Elizabeth looked up, but didn't say anything. He had already given her so much, and he still wanted to give her more.
Jason's hand was trembling a bit as he reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket to remove the small velvet pouch. He pulled the ring from inside and held it out so that Elizabeth could see it.
"Jason, it's beautiful." Elizabeth could feel her eyes stinging.
"Edward and my grandmother are going to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary in a few months." Jason told Elizabeth. "When they celebrated their fortieth anniversary he gave this ring to my grandmother. He had it custom made for her. When I called home to officially tell my grandmother that we are married, and that I wanted us to renew our vows in Venice she asked if she could send me a ring."
"We are renewing our vows?" Elizabeth said softly.
Jason nodded. "Tomorrow, and that's all I'm telling you." He was really getting into this whole surprise thing. Elizabeth nodded meaning he should continue with his story. "I told her that I would love to have a ring of hers on your finger, and that you would love it as well. She and Edward picked this ring, together, for you to wear. I want forty years of marriage with you. More if I can get it. Will you marry me?" He asked softly.
"Yes." Elizabeth said not hesitating for a moment.
With a smile Jason slipped the ring on her finger.
"It's stunning." Elizabeth remarked looking at the ring. A large oval ruby, was surrounded by twelve nearly colorless diamonds in a halo setting. The pattern reminded her of a flower. It also went well with her wedding band, creating a unique and lovely set. "I am so proud to wear a ring that Edward had made for Lila. And forty years or more sounds wonderful to me."
"It looks perfect on your hand." Jason smiled at Elizabeth. The ring didn't even need to be sized. "I love you." He had never loved anyone more.
"I love you too." Elizabeth said softly before placing her head on his shoulder. They cuddled close enjoying just being together as they gondolier pushed the boat through the night.
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