A/N – Thanks for the comments! Did a drive-by of the ocean yesterday for my anniversary and got fabulous gifts from my husband. It was a good day. Hope you had a nice weekend. Sorry for the lateness, I have a deadline. I'm still working but took a quick break to post.
Chapter 52
Lucky tripped as he backtracked and went crashing to the ground and Jake followed. "Jake!"
Jake growled. "I hate you for hurting my mom and dad. You need to die."
Lucky grabbed his arms and tried to hold him off, but Jake got a good punch in, making Lucky's jaw ache.
"Jake!" Jason yelled getting everyone else's attention as he and Cam headed toward the chaos.
"Die!"
Jason grabbed Jake and tugged, but Jake wouldn't let go. "You need to stop."
"Must obey the queen." His voice is full of venom and torture as he tries to complete his mission. Memories of the brainwashing slammed into his head and hatred shook his body.
Lucky growled and said something in Latin and the air whooshed out of Jake, making him go limp and Jason caught him and pulled him back, so he is sitting on the sidewalk.
Jake starts to cry. "I'm sorry. I couldn't control it."
Cam helped Lucky up.
"Are you okay?" Gillian asked. She is shocked that Jake had gotten so violent.
"I'm fine, but he's not." His gaze met with a worried Elizabeth.
"What happened?" Liz asked.
"He said must obey the queen."
Her eyes teared as Jason held his son and rocked him. The fact that Helena had done so much harm to Jake crushed her.
Drew motioned for everyone to leave the family alone and they headed up to the top, but Lucky stayed behind.
"We were talking, and I apologized and told him about how Helena had brainwashed me and that I understood and would listen if he wanted me too, but he just lost it."
Jake calmed and Elizabeth knelt and moved his hair off his face.
"You're going to be okay. Now we know what to do and Lucky knew how to stop it. They can undo the damage now."
"I'm sorry, mom. I couldn't stop."
"I know, baby, but it's going to be okay."
"It's alright, Jake. I'm fine," Lucky assured him.
Jake's attention went to Lucky and he can already see the bruise starting to develop on his face. "She wanted me to hate you and destroy your family. If I kill you, she'll make the torture stop and I'll be free, but I can never be free from this. She'll always be in my head."
"You can be. I'll admit that it changed me, but I can live a normal life."
Jake wiped his face. "I don't even think you realize how much she messed you up. I'm going to catch a cab and go back to the hotel."
"Jake—please. I don't want you to be alone. If you go back, you're just going to be all twisted. Please, stay," Liz begged.
"What if I go off again?"
"Then I'll say the words to stop it before you can do anything," Lucky said solemnly. "I know you don't trust me anymore and I deserve that, but just give me a chance to show you that I have your back."
Jake sucked in a shaky breath as Lucky moved closer.
"I may have a shitty way of showing it, but I love you, Jake. I wasn't always noble where you are concerned, but I did love you and still do. It crushed me when we thought you had died. Unfortunately, we share the same bad experience, so I want to help you. I think if I had received more treatment, then maybe the damage wouldn't have been so bad. You're going to be okay. You just need some help. I promise."
Lucky hugged him and Jake returned it. "Now, let's get up there and see the city."
"Okay."
As they started to walk, Jason threw his arm around his son as Liz and Lucky walked ahead of them.
"I'm proud of you."
"For kicking his ass?"
Jason smirked. "No comment."
Jake grinned.
"You didn't let her win, Jake. That has to feel good."
"Yeah."
Liz entwined their arms. "Lucky, thank you for helping him. Maybe you can record the words and send them to me."
"I will."
"Did it bring back memories?"
"Not the way you think. I just have regrets where he and Cam are concerned. I abandoned them and I can't take that back. I made you deal with everything and I'm sorry." He's already dealing with his regrets regarding his son, but he had also considered Cam and Jake as his sons before. He doesn't think about Helena anymore. It's too painful and Jake is right, he doesn't acknowledge how much what Helena did changed him fundamentally. That's what scares him about Jake. They don't know to what extent she hurt him. He should have stayed and helped after he brought Jake home and instead, he left.
"Well, I can't say that I wasn't mad and disappointed. I blamed myself for pushing you to not wanting to be near me."
"You have always been stronger than me. I've done worse to you, but you didn't run and hide."
"You're wrong. I hid way too much inside. I had been running for a long time, but it's all in the past. The boys are doing well for the most part, and I think you know where Jason and I are headed."
"Yes."
"Does it upset you?"
"It makes me a little jealous, but I'm fine with it; not that you need my permission."
"We're going to be around each other, and he'll be around your son a lot. I just want us all to get along."
"Well, I do my part. Jason and I were friendly in the past. We'll be fine."
"And me?"
"A part of me will always love you. We both made mistakes, but we're happy now and I'm willing to move forward."
She stopped and hugged him. It feels like the old Lucky is back and she cherished the moment.
"Should I be jealous?" Jason asked.
Jake snickered and moved past them as Aidan ran toward him and hugged him. If his mom every considered going back to Lucky, he'd kidnap her and hire a therapist. There is no way in hell that is ever happening again.
Liz and Lucky chuckled. "Yup, we're running off and getting married again. You know that permanent lock? Of course, lightning bolts will probably strike us, so we need to pick out a plot on top of the hill first," she said.
"Very funny…"
"I thought so."
Lucky shook his head and then winked at Gillian who is glad he seems to be okay.
Danny grabbed Lucky's hand and pulled him closer to a statue. "Cam said your middle name is Lorenzo, so is his." Danny isn't sure how to interpret the drama, but Lucky is Aidan's dad, so he's family too.
Lucky squinted to read the writing. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Liz held Jason's hand and pulled him toward the edge, and they gazed at the landscape. "It's beautiful up here."
"Yes. Are you worried?"
"I was at first, but now, I feel calm. Lucky and I talked and we're good."
"I'm glad to hear that, but if he hugs you again—"
He is cut off by her mouth.
"Eww," Aidan said making the adults laugh.
Liz pulled back. "I told you fourteen is an annoying age."
"Shouldn't he start to like girls soon?"
"He better not. I will have to chase them off with my little gun."
Cam snickered.
Liz eyed him and then darted, and Cam lost his balance and ended up on the ground as Jake cracked up.
"Why do you always fall for it?"
Cam grinned. "I let her get away with it." He jumped up and ran when Liz started chasing him.
Drew chuckled. "Do you see them, Alana?"
She kicked her legs, so he let her down and she tried to run toward Cam and almost fell. He scooped her up.
"She is never going to get better at walking if you keep carrying her."
"But she's so cute," Cam said tickling her. When her laughter filtered through the air, everyone smiled.
Gillian glanced at her man. "You okay? We probably should have iced it."
"It will fine. I'm more worried about him though."
She glanced at Jake. "He's laughing and horsing around. That's a good thing, right?"
"Yeah."
"You can't go back and change the past. Just be the man I know you are now going forward." She has no blinders on regarding Lucky. They had talked about the past and it was rough, but he's doing well, and they are happy.
Lucky smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too." She is certain that Lucky is the man for her and hopes that they can have at least one child. Her friends think that he will propose over the holidays and she is praying they are right. "I'm proud of you. Jake needed you today and you came through for him."
He kissed her. "Thanks." She is always frank with him. When he screws up, she has no problem telling him, but it always feels good when he pleases her. Elizabeth was a huge part of his past, and he's glad they buried the hatchet. Gillian is his future.
The group got someone passing by to take a picture of them and then they went back down the hill.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi
Dinner was fun and Jake seemed more like himself. They found an arcade and played some games and then milled around before heading back to the hotel. The adults went downstairs to the bar, and Karissa stayed with Danny, Aidan, and the baby and they watched a movie in the room.
Jake tasted his dad's beer. "Ugh."
Jason grinned. "It's an acquired taste."
Cam is drinking some vodka concoction and Drew and Lucky are drinking beer as well. Liz and Gillian are drinking lemon drop martinis.
"I think I spotted a dartboard. You game?" Drew asked Lucky.
"Sure."
They headed toward the back.
"So, do you and Lucky live together?" Liz asked.
"Not yet. We had planned on it, but I wanted him to have time with Aidan this summer."
"He would have been fine with it. He thinks you're nice."
Gillian smiled. "I think he's great in and out of the kitchen."
Liz chuckled. "He is the next Food Network star."
"With his personality, I can see it."
"Is Lucky happy?"
Gillian nodded. "Yes. He likes his job and we're good. I think leaving the boys has haunted him, but I'm glad he is dealing with it and trying to make amends." They sipped their drinks. "So, how was it to be a boss?"
Liz laughed. "It was crazy, but exciting too. I don't want to do it again, but I would do anything for my family. Do you want to have kids someday?"
"Yes. Do you want more?"
Liz groaned. "Jason jokes about it, but I don't know. Part me wants a little girl, but I'm getting older."
"Well, you look fabulous. Just don't waste a lot of time."
"We're trying to take it slow, so we'll see."
"I can't believe that Drew used to look like Jason."
"I know. I'm kind of glad Drew's face is different. That would have been awkward. I can't imagine how confused Alana would be."
Gillian chuckled. "True. They are so different though."
"That's for sure. I'm just so glad they are friends and have bonded."
"Lucky told me about what happened. I can't even imagine it. Port Charles seems insane. I don't think I want to go there."
Liz cracked up. "You have no idea."
Jason sat next to her. "What are you laughing about?"
"Gillian thinks Port Charles must be a crazy place to live due to all the drama."
"You would be right."
Gillian smiled. "Hopefully, his family will come to visit instead of us having to go there." It was hard to get a read on Jason because he's quiet and observes a lot, but he's very loving towards Liz and the kids, so she likes what she sees.
Cam and Jake had joined Drew and Lucky at the dartboard.
Liz looked at her phone and gasped. "Drew!"
His head jerked toward her.
"Alana just said, Daddy!"
He grinned. "That's my girl." She had just been saying, Dada up to this point.
"I was hoping she'd say, Jason first."
"Well, technically speaking, she said Ja first, but that was for Jake," Liz said.
"Maybe she doesn't know the difference between me and him."
"Oh, I think she does."
Gillian enjoyed their teasing.
Drew came back. "I'm going to go check on my baby. Good night."
"Later."
Lucky sat next to his girl. "The boys are cons."
Liz laughed. "Yes. Don't bet money. They are ridiculous when it comes to games." She can tell they are smack talking by the smirks on their faces.
"Aidan told me. Does Cam really have a Ferrari?"
Liz groaned. "I almost broke a tooth when I realized what Maximus did, but Cam was so excited."
"Maximus seems like a character."
"You have no idea."
"What are Max and Milo up to?"
Liz filled him in.
Gillian focused on Jason. "I hear you like motorcycles."
"I do. I might need to get one soon."
"I only used him for his bike when we were in Port Charles," Liz added.
Gillian smiled.
"At least she was upfront about it," Lucky said.
"True," Jason said.
They chatted for a while longer and then Jason noticed the time.
"We have to get up early tomorrow."
"He won't tell me where we're going," Liz said.
Lucky grinned. "I know." Jason had told him earlier. The kids will love it.
Her eyes narrowed. "Stupid secrets…"
Gillian chuckled. "Well, it was nice meeting you."
"Ditto." They embraced.
Lucky shook Jason's hand. "It wasn't that bad, was it?"
Jason smirked. "No. I guess I didn't have to bring my gun and torture equipment after all."
Lucky chuckled. "Aidan looks up to you."
"He's a great kid and he wants to have a relationship with you. I think we both have learned what's important in life."
"Definitely."
Liz hugged Lucky. "I'm glad you came."
"Me too. Please call me if you need advice about Jake. I sent you the voice text."
"Thank you. That is going to be very helpful."
"If you want to visit Ireland, we'll be tour guides."
"We might take you up on that."
They headed to their rooms and once inside, Gillian embraced Lucky. "I like them."
"Jason isn't that bad. He's quiet, but there was just a lot of history there and I couldn't see past my jealousy."
"I get it. Liz is nice. Given what you've told me, she's changed. I thought she seemed very confident." From what Lucky had described before, she let a lot of people dictate her life.
"Yeah. She put up with way too much—me included. I'm trying to grow up too."
She smiled. "Well, you're doing an excellent job."
He kissed her passionately. "Let's go to bed."
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi
Jason slipped under the covers and turned onto his side. "You okay?"
Liz smiled. "Yes. Lucky and I cleared the air. Gillian is nice and I know she'll be good to Aidan if the relationship progresses. You managed not to shoot him, so all in all, I think it was a great night."
He chuckled. "When Lucky isn't being pompous, he's fine."
"Well, to show my appreciation that you showed such restraint, I think a kiss is in order."
Jason didn't need to be told twice. Their lips met in a torrid kiss as their bodies gravitated together.
"You are so hot," Liz said trying to catch her breath.
"Ditto."
Her leg slid between his.
"Behave…"
She smirked.
"If you don't, we're not going to make it to tomorrow morning let alone your birthday."
"I think I hate that rule."
He grinned. "I plan on making you hate it."
"Evil…"
Their lips find each other again and soon they are moaning. Separating, Liz pretends to fan herself making him laugh.
When he flops onto his back, she chuckled.
"That's some tent you have there," she said eying his pants.
"Elizabeth…"
"I can take—"
His hand finds her mouth. "Not another word…"
She giggles and then fluffs her pillow. "Fine."
