Do not own General Hospital or any of the characters.


The Flame of Franco

I love you...

Neither spoke as Jason walked slowly towards where she sat. He hesitated for a brief moment as he looked down at her. Her eyes were red he noted as he continued to lock eyes with her.

"Sit," she whispered towards him, patting the empty space beside her.

Doing what he was told, he slowly took a seat on the porch swing. He was much heavier then she was, causing her to slide into him as the swing responded to his weight. The light touch of her hand on his thigh for a brief second as she tried to balance her self as the swing moved suddenly cause the hairs on Jason's arms to rise. Her brief touch had felt extremely intimate to him.

Sam blushed slightly as she removed her hand and shot a quick look over at Jason, before looking away. She was suddenly felt very shy. Nervously playing with her hands in her lap, she bit down on her lower lip. Silence once again swept over them as they sat on the porch swing. Jason wanted to say so much to Sam at that moment but he didn't know where to start really. Playing around with a few phrases in his head, he finally decided on the most simple. Something he had been wanting to say for some time now but hadn't gotten the chance until now. "I'm sorry Sam," he whispered turning to face her. "I made a mistake last night. A fucking stupid mistake and I'm truly sorry!" As he spoke these words, he couldn't help but think back to something Franco had told him once. How the two of them were the same. This was something he didn't want to think about but he couldn't help himself. He had hurt Sam badly , just as badly as Franco had. In this way, he was similar to his enemy. "I was not better then him! I'm still no better! I wasn't thinking at all last night, Sam! "

"Jason," whispered Sam, "You are not like Him! Don't say that!" She cried out suddenly, locking eyes with him. He was in no way like Franco.

"I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF YOU SAM!" he cried out suddenly, standing up. "I took advantage of you just like that BASTARD HAD! I am no different from him! I hurt you like, he had hurt you!" He didn't want to yell but he couldn't help himself. His body was pulsing with rage and hatred for himself.

Sam didn't say anything for a moment or two as she watched as he walked away from her. He had his back to her now as he stood over the railing of the porch, looking out onto the still water of the lake. She knew he was blaming himself over more then just had happened last night. That he was also blaming himself over what had happened with Michael. He had been trying to protect both of them and in the process had ended up hurting them instead. However, in no way did Sam see Jason like Franco. They were two separate people. Jason needed to see this.

Slowly getting up, she walked bare foot along the wooden floor boards of the porch, she approached Jason. Reaching out, she placed a comforting hand on the crook of his arm. He jumped slightly at this but he did not turn around to face her. "You are not like Franco. You are not like him in any way. You are cut from two different cloths. He is a psychopath. A creep," she was now leaning against the railing, looking over at Jason who was still not meeting her eye. She knew he didn't want to hear this. That he rather blame himself, punishing himself like he though he deserved. But she pushed on. "You, Jason are different, so very different. You are the sweetest, most loving man I have ever met. You protect the people you love. You have never made me felt unsafe. What happened last night does not change anything. You are still the man I love," she stated. She meant every word she spoke. What had happened between them last night had yes upset her and she didn't know were to go really from here. But it did not change the fact that she loved him and wanted to be with him.

Jason glanced over at Sam at this. There were tears in her eyes as she stared back at him. He knew this wasn't the moment to loath himself. Sam still needed him. And he didn't want to fail her like he already had and like he felt like he had with Michael. But apart of him couldn't let the anger go. He still blamed himself for what Franco had done to Sam and what had happened last night just added to the flame of rage burning inside of him.

"Come back to me, Jason," whispered Sam towards him as she reached out and touched his hand which rested on the railing. She needed Jason to stay sane and not retreat to a dark place like she knew he was on the edge of going too. She needed him. "I love you," she added as raised her self up onto her tip toes and cupped both sides of Jason's face. She then pulled him to her so that their face's were inches apart. "I love you too," responded Jason as he tried to calm down the fire inside of him. He was now turned fully towards her. He wanted badly to wrapped his arms around her waist and pull her closer to him but was afraid to do so. So instead he just stood there his arms hanging by his sides. He closed his eyes as he felt Sam's lips pressed softly against his.


It was much later, as Jason and Sam lay in bed together. After their talk on the porch, they had gone back inside for cake and presents. After their talk, Sam had finally allowed her self to smile and enjoy her birthday for once. She knew that her and Jason still had a lot to work out and she still had issues, she was feeling excited for the future as she lay against Jason's bare chest.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked towards him as she turned slighty so she could see his face in the darkened room. She knew he was thinking hard about something, she just wasn't sure what.

"I'm thinking about how I never wished you a happy birthday or even gave you a present," replied Jason with honesty.

Sam just shrugged at this. "You don't have to get me anything, you have already given me so much Jason," she answered and this was true. She didn't need or want any fancy gifts from him. His love was enough.

Jason, however didn't seem to hear this or chose to ignore it as he continued on. "After all you had been through, I had wanted to make this day special for you. I had it all planned out. I had hunted high and low for the perfect gift to give you, " he explained slowly as he shifted his weight slightly as he reached over to something on the nightstand.

Sam watched his every move as she lifted her head off of his chest and sat up straight. Her eyes falling immediately onto the box now in Jason's hands. she had not noticed it before sitting on the nightstand. "But we both know I fucked up major. And I'm sorry once again Sam. And I know I can't quite make it up to you. However, your birthday isn't over yet," he explained as he turned his body towards her. His blue eyes locked with hers in the dark as he slowly opened the box in his hands. "I have been wanting to do this for a while now since last summer in Mexico. But didn't want to rush you and I still don't Sam, " he paused briefly before continuing on. "I have wanted to make you my wife for a while now. And each day that has gone passed, I can't image my life without you in it. I need you, Sam. Will you marry me?"

Sam's brown eyes widened in shock as she looked from Jason to the ring and back. She was taken back by this. Not once since getting back together had they discussed getting married. Of course she had known for a while that she didn't want to ever be apart from Jason. Both had seen what life was like without one another and it wasn't the most prettiest thing. "Jason," she stated.

"I don't want to push you into anything Sam. That is the last thing I want," interrupted Jason quickly. "I just want to let you know how I feel and that I am here not matter what. and I wanted to show you that in some way that I am committed to you!"

"Yes!" she whispered locking eyes with him.

"What?"

"Yes Jason, Yes, I will marry you!" she whispered a smile appearing on her face.

"You will?" he asked, slightly taken back by her answer.

"Yes," she repeated reaching out and cupping the side of his face. "I love you! And would love to be your wife!" Yes she was scared of what the future held and if things would return to normal for her. However, she did know that Jason was there with her, no matter what happened in the future. And this just proved that even more. Even know her brain was still a little foggy over resent event, she knew what was in her heart. That a man loved her. And that she loved him and that they would get through things together.

The couple then shared a long kiss before pulling apart. Jason was surprised at how emotional he felt as he gently took the ring out of the box and placed it on Sam's left ring finger. "Happy Birthday Baby!" he whispered, blinking back tears as he slide the ring on and stared into Sam's eyes. She was smiling back at him.

And in that moment everything was perfect.


More to come soon! Thanks for reading!

Julie