A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you like the progression!
Chapter 48 – Perfect Fit
There was a knock on the door and Elizabeth answered it.
"Carly." She was the last person Liz was expecting.
"Hi. I was looking for Michael."
"He's upstairs."
She didn't move. "Is he okay?"
"He's messed up, but he's strong and I think he won't let it ruin his recovery."
Jason listened from the hallway.
Never in a million years would Carly have predicted that they would be in this situation. Having to be grateful to the Muffin was a little weird but she would do anything to make sure Michael was okay. She owed him that much. "Thank you for being there for him."
Liz was surprised but tried not to show it. "You're welcome. He is going to stay here for a while until he comes to grips with everything. Are you going to have a problem with that?"
Carly wiped a tear away. "No. If that is what Michael needs then that's fine. Look, don't tell him I was here okay. I'll catch up with him another time." She started to walk away.
"Carly."
Elizabeth shut the door and walked towards her. "I know you are not the biggest AJ fan, but whatever you do, try to support Michael decisions okay?"
Carly frowned. "I heard he was still alive."
"Yes, he is."
"This whole Helena thing is just crazy."
"I know."
Carly sighed. She really didn't have a choice if she wanted Michael in her life then that meant she'd have to get along with AJ again. "Alright, I will try to support his relationship with AJ."
She turned and walked towards her car and Elizabeth went back into the house thinking that maybe Carly could actually put her needs aside and do what was best for Michael and Morgan. At least Liz really hoped she would.
Jason watched her walk towards him. "What was that about?"
"Making Michael happy."
Jason pulled her into his arms. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know. He needs all the support he can get right now. He's staying with us for a while by the way."
Jason nodded. "Thank you for being there for him."
"I thought about what you said and he is family. He deserves to have people pulling for him."
It was amazing just how much his family had changed in the last few months. Not only did he have Elizabeth and the boys, and the Quartermaines, but he had found good friends and the Newmans still wanted to be a part of his life. After all the years of basically sequestering himself, it felt really good to have healthy relationships.
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Michael made one stop on the way back to the hospital. As he sat in an empty room, he wondered how the hell everything in his life had gotten blown straight to hell. If he could undo the past year, there were so many things he would do differently.
The door swung open and he looked up at his brother.
Morgan was surprised, but part of him was glad to be able to see Michael. "Hey."
Michael studied him. He looked really tired and his eyes were red from crying. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him."
Morgan looked down, knowing that Michael's tears would probably break him. "It's not your fault."
Michael really didn't think that was the truth. He partly blamed himself because he shouldn't have gone downstairs but on the other hand if he hadn't, both of them might be dead. "I was mad at him, but I didn't want him dead."
"Me either."
"Are you hanging in there?"
Morgan nodded. "Yeah. Francis found someone to protect me."
"Good."
If there was one thing Michael did understand, it was fear and that came with the territory of being in jail. "Michael, I want to take over the business."
Michael sighed. "Morgan, that is the last thing I want for you, but you are an adult and I can't stop you. It's just the pressure on you right now when you're just trying to get your meds straightened out and deal with having bipolar and dad's death might push you over the edge."
Morgan nodded. "I know. I thought of that, but I really need a purpose. Duke can teach me. He can run it until he thinks I'm ready. Are you sure that you don't want anything to do with it?"
"No." Michael had lost too much because of that business.
"I understand but part of me was hoping that we could do it together."
"Maybe a few years ago, I might have taken you up on that but now….."
"No matter what happens, I just want to make sure that we're okay." Morgan really didn't want to go back to fighting with Michael. He regretted so much.
"We're fine. He wanted you to know that he loved you."
Morgan made a face and sat down. "If he loved me then he wouldn't have killed himself."
"It wasn't about you. He just couldn't see past his pain."
"I'll never understand it."
Michael wished he could tell Morgan the truth but it would only make things worse. "They are going to kick me out of here soon. I just needed to know that you were okay."
"You're not going to drink are you?"
Michael shook his head. "Drinking is the last thing that I want to do."
"Good."
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Jason revved up the motorcycle as Danny and Jake's mouths dropped open. He laughed at their expressions which actually grew more shocked when Elizabeth came out of the house carrying a helmet.
"No fair," Jake said.
Jason watched Cam run towards him. "You up for a quick spin?"
Cam grinned. "Definitely."
Johnny put a helmet on Cam and Jason put on his. He wasn't happy about it but Elizabeth insisted that he had to be a good example for the boys. Besides, she really wanted to make sure his head was protected.
Johnny helped Cam get on the back and Jason felt his hands on his waist.
"Hold on."
Jason jetted off and Cam's laughter pierced the air. They made it down the driveway in no time and then Jason made a half circle and closed the distance between them and the house fast.
Elizabeth laughed when Jason turned around to go again and Cam yelled loudly. She had a feeling that her kids would definitely have the motorcycle bug.
Dylan and Georgie came out to watch.
Jason stopped and Johnny helped an excited Cam get off the bike. He looked over at Georgie. "Want to go for a ride?"
Georgie grinned. "Yes!"
Dylan chuckled.
Jason looked over at him. "Is it okay?"
Dylan nodded. "Go for it."
Georgie quickly put on Elizabeth's helmet.
Jason turned and looked at her. "Hold on."
He jetted off as Georgie screamed. She had his waist in a death grip as he turned onto the road and raced down the street. A few blocks later, he turned around and raced back and by the time they returned, Georgie was laughing and wanting more.
Dylan helped her off the bike and she put her hand over her heart.
"That was crazy," she said with a huge grin on her face.
Elizabeth smiled and put the helmet on and slipped behind Jason.
Johnny looked over at Jake. "Come on Jake. You want a ride?"
Jake squealed and jumped into his arms making them all laugh. Dylan put the helmet on him and then slipped him between Jason and Elizabeth.
"Hold on Jakey."
Jake held onto Jason's waist and he took off. He didn't go as fast as he had before but it was fast enough to make Jake squeal with delight.
"Faster daddy," he said as they turned.
Jason chuckled and went a little faster before dropping him off.
"Danny, do you want a turn?" Johnny asked.
Danny nodded. He wanted to be just like his big brothers even though he was a little scared.
Johnny put the helmet on him and Jason started out slower and Danny giggled as they turned around. He went a little faster on the way back as Danny laughed.
Johnny pulled him off the bike.
"Bye mom," Jake yelled."
"Bye," Danny yelled.
Cam waved as he listened to his mom squeal as Jason took off really fast.
Georgie would have never thought that Elizabeth would be a biker chick but she loved that she was. "You're taking me out on yours soon right?"
Dylan smiled. "Definitely."
The boys were jumping around with excitement so they decided to go play out back to tire them out.
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Jason pulled into Vista Pointe and parked.
"God I missed this place," Liz said putting her helmet down.
"Me too."
Hand in hand they walked to the bridge and Jason put his arms around her as they both looked out at the water.
"It just feels so right to be here with you right now," Liz said wistfully. "After all we have been through it's kind of like coming home."
Jason turned her around and kissed her. "It does."
Music started to permeate the air and Liz smiled.
"Dance with me," Jason said softly.
Liz grinned. She liked the role reversal. Her body molded against his and they rocked together.
So let's love like it's ours to keep
Love like we've always dreamed
And maybe this time
The fates will be kind to us
So let's love like it's ours to keep
They closed their eyes and savored how good they felt.
Jason pulled back and kissed her. "Elizabeth, I love you more than words could ever express."
"I love you too; more than anything."
He slightly smiled. She interrupted him a lot. Getting down on one knee, he watched her mouth drop open and her eyes glaze over. "Not only are you the most beautiful person I know inside and out, but after everything we've been through, you are the only person I want to wake up to every morning and fall asleep next to at night. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and making you smile. Elizabeth, will you marry me?"
She was crying and smiling at the same time. "Yes—yes—yes," she yelled as he grinned.
He stood and she attacked his mouth passionately. Fireworks started to go off and she pulled back and looked up at the sky. "Did you do that?"
His smiled. "I had a lot of help."
She grinned as she watched them for a while and then Jason put a box in her hand and she bit her lip as she opened it.
"I've had this ring for a long time. I couldn't part with it no matter what. I think I always hoped that someday we'd find out way back to each other."
Liz was crying again as she looked at the beautiful red diamond that was surrounded by smaller diamonds. "It's so beautiful."
He slipped it on her finger. "Now it's where it has always belonged."
She choked back a sob and then threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "Sometimes, I have to remind myself that you are real."
He kissed her forehead, then her eyelids, and then the top of her nose. "I feel the same way about you."
They swayed to the music as they held each other.
"You ready for the ride back?"
Liz grinned. "Yes. I don't think the kids will go to sleep until they see us."
Jason smiled. "Let's go."
They got on the bike and Jason gunned the engine as Liz got on and for a moment, as her hands met at his waist, he savored the feel of her body up against him before taking off. The perfect fit.
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AJ's eyes flickered open. Pain radiated through his leg but it was nothing like the pain he had experienced before. He blinked a few times until the room came into focus. Michael was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed. Various images flickered through his mind as he recalled what he had done. A tear slid down his cheek. It wasn't for Sonny. It was for his son who had seen the monster he had become.
Michael stretched and then yawned before opening and locking his eyes on his father. "Do you want me to get the nurse?" He could see the emotion playing out over AJ's face.
"Why are you even here?"
Michael sighed. "This is Helena's fault not yours."
"I should have fought harder. How are you ever going to look at me and not see what I made him do?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm a little fucked up right now, but that doesn't mean I'm going to turn my back on you or use this as an excuse to spiral out of control. I need you to tell me right now that you will try to do the same. I swear, after all we have been through, I just can't watch you do what you did the last time. It would destroy me."
AJ looked away. He was proud of Michael. Even in the midst of every bad thing that had happened, he was still fighting to not let the darkness swallow him up. He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking that he probably got that trait from Carly. God knows it wasn't him. "I'll try." It was all he could give at the moment. He was barely hanging on.
Michael reached over and touched his father's hand. "That's good enough for now. Rest."
AJ sighed. Jason and Michael had stood up for him and it was something that he'd never forget.
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Helena wasn't happy. They had found the chip before maximum damage could be done which was unacceptable.
Victor put his empty glass down on the table. "Plan B?"
Helena turned slowly to face him. "Awaken the sleeper."
Victor studied her for a moment. She was certainly calm under pressure. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. This is our last chance to do harm."
"What about Plan C?"
She smirked. "Oh, I was going to put them together—the one-two punch. They'll never see it coming."
Victor smiled. "As you wish."
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Elizabeth got off the bike and laughed when she saw the boys in the window. "Told you."
Jason smiled and took his helmet off and they went inside.
"Mom, how was it?" Cam asked.
"Where did you go mommy?" Jake asked.
"Love motorcycle," Danny said smiling.
Jason picked him up and gave him a kiss on the head.
"We went to Vista Pointe and it was fabulous. Boys, let's sit down for a minute."
Liz looked up at Dylan and Georgie. "You guys can stay."
They smiled and sat down.
"While we were at Vista Pointe, Jason asked me to marry him."
Cam smiled. "Way to go," he said holding out his fist which Jason bumped.
Jake smiled. "Are you marrying us too?"
Jason chuckled. "Yes. You are a package deal."
Liz held out her hand so they could see the ring.
"Bootiful," Jake said.
Danny repeated it and Georgie chuckled. "Congratulations."
"Ditto. You guys make a great family," Dylan said.
Jason smiled. "Thanks Dylan."
"When is the wedding?" Cam asked.
"I don't know. I guess I have some planning to do."
"I think it's getting late and Cam has school tomorrow." Jason had big plans for Cam the next night.
"Race you upstairs," Cam said taking off.
"No fair," Jake said jumping off the couch.
Danny squirmed and Jason put him down and he followed. Alexis had texted him that Sam was doing a little better, but would still be gone for a few more weeks.
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Michael watched his father fall asleep and then stood up and looked out the window.
Sabrina walked into the room. "Hey,"
Michael turned and took her in. God he needed her right now. He didn't even have to ask. She rushed into his arms and hugged him. When she had gotten to work and heard the news, she had been stunned and didn't even know how Michael was still standing. Pulling back, she brushed her hand against his face. "Have you gotten any sleep?"
"A little bit."
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
She gave him a look and he slightly smirked. He watched her go make the bed up for him and hold out her hand.
He took it and he sat on the bed and she took off his shoes and he laid down. Gently, she laid a kiss on his head. "I'll check up on you later. Please try to sleep. You need your strength."
"Thank you,"
She turned and left the room and Michael shut his eyes. If only he could stop seeing Sonny when he did."
