A/N – Thanks for the comments. It will be a bumpy ride.

Chapter 33

Alexis moved into the sitting room in the mansion as her stomach flipped. Every eye is on her, so she is a bit nervous considering the subject of this meeting.

"Thank you for coming," Lila said.

Alexis nodded and then sat on the only empty chair in the room. "First, I'm sorry for the reason we are here today. I know you are dealing with a lot, so I'll try to get right to the point. In New York, they have a three-year requirement before a missing person is considered deceased. Considering that two witnesses can attest that Jason wasn't breathing, you could apply to the court for a death certificate before that." She paused because of the grim expressions.

"What about the police? Do we have to report him as missing?" Alan asked.

"You should so the timeline will start. I will talk to Mac before we go there and maybe he can come here to take Johnny and Elizabeth's statements."

Liz averted her gaze, but Johnny, who is standing in the corner, nodded.

"Did he have a will?" Tracy asked.

"Yes."

"Who is the executor?" Monica asked.

There is a movement in the doorway. "That would be me," a tearful Brenda said from the doorway along with Robin.

Monica held out her arms and the women cried as they hugged.

"I came as soon as I could. I'm so sorry for interrupting."

"No offense, but why you?" Johnny asked. Everyone is aware of Jason and Brenda's volatile relationship.

"He called me and said he didn't want any fighting and knew I wouldn't put up with it. He didn't think it was fair to make any of you do it." She had been shocked when his voice bellowed through the phone and was even more surprised when he made his request, but it made sense to her.

"I thought he'd ask Sonny."

"Because of the business, that wouldn't be advisable," Alexis said.

"What if Elizabeth needs money for the baby?" Johnny asked.

Liz started to protest, but Lila interjected.

"We will give her what she needs. Jason has a substantial trust fund which has gone untouched." Lila had forbidden her husband from dissolving the account and felt it shouldn't have ever been taken away from him.

Brenda is stunned.

"A baby? Robin asked.

"Yes," Liz whispered. "I'm three months pregnant with his child."

The women don't know what to say but it makes the events even more tragic.

Suddenly, there is a disturbance in the foyer.

"What in the world?" Monica asked.

Carly barreled through the doorway. "Is it true? Is he gone?" Tears are streaming down her face as Tracy rolled her eyes.

"Yes," Monica said.

"How? Where is he?"

Johnny sighed. So much for peace.

"Didn't he kick you out of his life?" Tracy said.

Carly's nostrils flared. "I loved him and—"

"Save the best friend crap, Carly. Jason wasn't even speaking to you," Emily said. The woman is a stalker.

"It doesn't matter. He would have forgiven me eventually. He always does."

An angry Alan stood. "Get out! You're just here because you want Jason's money."

"Jason would take care of his son."

Monica growled. "It's not his son, you guttersnipe. The day he walked away from you was the best day I've had in a long time, and I'm sure Jason felt the same way."

"You don't know anything about me and Jason."

Liz stood. "I do."

"You bitch!" Carly went to move forward, but Johnny was two steps ahead of her and stood in front of her.

"You touch her—if you breathe on her, I will make your life a living hell."

Liz suddenly grimaced in pain while holding her stomach.

"Elizabeth!" Emily said putting her arm around her.

Carly rolled her eyes. "What, did she break a nail?"

Monica had Alice get Liz some water and then took her pulse.

"Where is my son?"

"Shut up!" Tracy yelled. "No one wants to hear your big mouth anymore."

"I know AJ took him and ran."

"You left him," Alan said.

"I left AJ a message. I didn't abandon Michael. You have twenty-four hours to produce my son or I will make sure he goes to jail for kidnapping."

"What if something is wrong with the baby?" Liz asked.

Carly focused on her. "No… No! Please don't tell me that she is having Jason's baby." This is too perfect. Everything is going exactly as she had planned. They will be so distracted by Elizabeth, that she'll be in the clear to disappear with Michael when AJ returns. As for Liz's child, one way or another, she won't be having it. No child will ever take Michael's place.

"That's it! If you don't get out, I will drag you by your pathetic dye job and throw you out," Brenda said getting in Carly's face.

"It must kill you that I had Sonny."

It was smack heard around the world as Brenda hauled off and made Carly stumble back a few steps. She had no idea that Sonny slept with Carly, and will be questioning her ex at some point to find out what the hell happened because the last she had heard, Jason was with Carly. Before she could retaliate, Johnny grabbed her and dragged her away.

"Twenty-four hours!" Carly said before the door slammed in her face.

Alexis blew out the breath she was holding. "There's never a dull moment in the mansion," she muttered.

"Alexis, is that all you had to say?" Alan asked.

"You can have the memorial service without declaring him dead. Should I speak with Mac?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll call you in the morning."

Monica stood. "I think we should take her to Kelly for some tests just to make sure."

"I'll get the car warmed up," Johnny said. He'll also alert the other guards.

Liz gripped Emily's hand. The only good thing about this meeting is that Carly had woken her up to a degree. Nothing can happen to this baby and she'll do whatever Kelly says to ensure the baby's safety.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Kelly sighed as she eyed Liz's blood pressure reading. "Elizabeth, your blood pressure is too high."

"I'm sorry. It's been rough. I'll try harder."

Kelly understands that the younger woman is in mourning, but she has to do better. "You need to eat more, and walking will help as well. I'm not saying you can't cry, you just need to be more aware of your body and the signs it gives you. For now, the baby is safe. We need to work together to keep it that way."

"Okay."

Monica moved inside the room. "Is she okay?"

Kelly nodded. "I want her to stay awhile longer. She needs healthy meals and her stress level needs to lessen."

"We will help her," Monica said.

"Good. I'm going to check on a few patients. I'll be back in a half-hour to see how she is progressing."

When she was gone, Monica sat next to the bed.

"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt the baby. It's just—"

"I understand. What you went through was horrible and it will have a lasting effect. Are you happy about the baby?"

"Yes, but I'm just scared. I'm not even twenty and I have to do all of this without him."

"Do you think he's still alive?"

Liz wiped a tear away. "I keep trying to convince myself to hold out hope, but the thought of him suffering somewhere kills me! I know he wasn't breathing, but I won't truly believe he's gone until I see his body."

"Then, we'll do everything we can to prove this one way or the other. You concentrate on the baby and let the rest of us worry about that."

Liz squeezed her hand.

"Elizabeth…"

Liz gasped. "Grams."

Audrey moved forward. "Monica, may I speak with my granddaughter, please?"

Monica eyed Liz to make sure it was okay and when Liz nodded, she left the room.

"I heard about Jason and the baby. How are you holding up?"

Liz sniffled. "It has been hard."

"I'm glad you weren't hurt."

"My heart is broken, but the rest of me is intact."

Audrey sat. "Where are you staying?"

"The Quartermaines moved me in. They're worried about me and the baby."

"I'm glad you're in good hands."

"You hated him."

Audrey grimaced. "Hate is such a strong word. I didn't know or understand him."

"He was my everything. Not only did he believe in me, but he made me such a stronger person. We were in love and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. He was such a beautiful soul."

"I don't want to fight with you, and I want to know my great-grandchild. Do you think that you can work on forgiving me?"

"Yes."

They hugged as Elizabeth cried. Now, if she could just have Jason back.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Monica offered Audrey some tea.

"Thank you."

"I know you were against this relationship and on some levels, I understand why. While Jason's job may not be ideal, he is not defined by it. There are plenty of people in this town who use their power to do whatever they want, and people look the other way. Jason has always borne the brunt of all wrongdoings. My grandson has a big heart and is capable of deep love. He doted on Elizabeth and would give his life for her," Lila said.

Audrey put down her cup and folded her hands. "He shouldn't have to."

Lila nodded. "Audrey, are you going to be able to find a way to reconcile their relationship if it turns out that Jason is alive?"

Audrey sighed heavily. "I don't know Jason very well. He's different around Elizabeth than he is around others from what you say. All I see is a cold exterior and read about his criminal activities."

"Alleged…" Emily said.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Look, I hate that Sonny sucked my grandson in when he was vulnerable, but we can't undo that unless Jason finds a way to leave, which to my understanding is difficult now that he is so entrenched in the business. I worry about him every day, but at some point, you must let them lead their lives. I may voice my dissent, but deep down we are a family and Elizabeth is a wonderful person. I would like to think that the fact Jason could get someone like that to love him means he's not a lost cause."

"I'm scared for her. She could have easily been shot that day, and now she is pregnant, and we don't even know if she is still a target," Audrey said as she gripped her hands together.

Enzo moved into the doorway. "May I speak?"

Alan waved him in.

"I'm Enzo, your granddaughter's guard. She is like a sister to me. I won't leave her no matter what. I'll protect them with my life. You have my word. I don't think that she's currently in danger. They got Jason, so there is no need to go further. However, we don't want to take a chance, so I'm not going anywhere."

"How do you know Jason was the target? Helena Cassadine is still alive," Emily said. As young as Enzo is, he has a maturity about him that she admires. If Jason trusted him, then she will too.

"We don't know and are looking into her whereabouts." They have to do it quietly, so the old woman won't be alerted. They don't need to be on her radar.

Brenda entered the room after going shopping. "I'm staying. Jason was the protector, and he did it often to his detriment, now we have to protect his family. We didn't see eye to eye on most things, but I won't let anyone hurt her or the baby either."

Audrey is impressed by the number of people who care about her granddaughter. "Am I in any danger?"

"I hope you're not upset, ma'am, but there's already a guard watching your house," Enzo said.

Audrey's jaw dropped for a second. "Well, do I at least get to meet this person?"

"I can arrange that."

"If need be, you can always stay here," Lila said.

Audrey focused on Lila. "You're being more generous than I deserve."

"We understand your position, Audrey, but we lost Jason because we wanted him to be someone he isn't. Don't make the same mistake with Elizabeth," Monica said.

Enzo left the room and went back outside.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Brenda knocked on Elizabeth's door.

"Come in."

She slipped inside with a few bags. "How are you feeling?"

"I never knew I could feel this tired."

Brenda nodded. "I hope you won't be upset, but I bought you and the baby a few things. Shopping helps me cope. Okay, I'm an addict." Even though she and Jason argued relentlessly, it hurts that he's gone, especially because it's hurting the people she cares about the most.

Liz gazed at her for a moment. Under that beautiful façade, she can tell that Brenda has been through a lot. She sat up and is surprised to see several bags.

"I tend to go overboard."

Emily snorted from the doorway and then sat on the floor next to the bed. "What did you get?"

Brenda handed Emily a little bag and she looked up at Liz to get permission to look inside which she received.

"Aww, it's so cute," Emily said pulling out a tiny elephant and a bear.

Liz's eyes pricked with tears. "It's very cute."

Brenda handed Liz a bag. "This is for you."

"Brenda…"

"Please, I won't take no for an answer."

Liz tentatively opened the bag and gasp at the beautiful maternity top.

"Just because you have a bump doesn't mean you can't look fabulous."

Emily shook her head as Brenda smiled. Even Liz slightly smiled which made them happy.

"It's beautiful. Thank you."

Liz and Emily opened the remaining gifts which consisted of blankets and rattles, along with some cute pacifiers and two books.

"You're making this more real. I think I needed that."

"I know it's tough right now, but we'll help you get through it," Emily said.

"Count me in on that," Brenda said.

"Brenda, you don't even live in this country," Liz said.

"Well, I'm planning on sticking around for a while. Maybe I need you guys as much as you need me."

Emily's eyes narrowed. "Alright, spill."

"I just had a bad breakup. I was going crazy there. Being around here has put a pep in my step."

"Brenda…"

"I'm fine. Being with people I care about makes all the difference."

"Sonny is single."

Liz thought Brenda had stopped breathing.

"Hell no! That ship has sailed."

Liz watched as they gossiped, and then focused on the baby stuff wondering how she could be in a house full of people and feel so utterly alone.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Mac entered the mansion. He had been warned that Liz is struggling, so he thought it was best he came instead of Taggert, and he had sent Officer Padilla to question Sonny. Alice led him into the sitting room where Elizabeth is wringing her hands on the couch and Johnny is sitting next to her.

He sat across from them and then cleared his throat. The somber mood in the room was a contrast to the celebratory tone in the squad room when it spread that Jason is probably dead. "You know why I'm here."

Liz wiped a tear away as she nodded and then Johnny grasped her hand.

"Elizabeth, can you walk me through what happened?"

If she could make herself any smaller, she would. "We were on the docks talking and there were gunshots."

"Did you see anyone?"

"No. Jason pushed me to the ground." Her lip began to quiver. "The bullet pierced his chest, and he went down. I couldn't stop the bleeding and he wouldn't open his eyes."

Mac couldn't even look at her because she's so raw and devastated as if she was reliving the moments.

"Blood was everywhere. The ambulance wasn't coming, so I ran as fast as I could to get help. Johnny took me to his apartment, and that's it."

"Okay."

Johnny started to talk, and Elizabeth jumped up and ran from the room.

"I'll go," Enzo said following her to the bathroom.