A/N – Thanks for the remarks.

Chapter 36

A tear falls down Isabel's cheek. The pain etched onto Elizabeth's face is heartbreaking. Moving next to Liz, she touched her face and then paused to think of the right words. "When you see that baby's face for the first time and know that it's a reflection of you and him and how you felt for each other, your heart will burst with love again. I promise you that at that moment, nothing will be more important than making sure that child knows that it's loved. You'll be holding a piece of Jason in your arms."

When Liz breaks down, Isabel holds her. "We'll be there for you. You're not alone, Elizabeth."

"I have never felt so lonely in my life."

"You lost part of your heart. It's normal. I will come around so much you'll be sick of me if you let me. I would love to be an honorary Grandmother."

Liz retreated. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"No, thank you. God knows I'll be old and gray before Enzo produces a child."

Liz chuckled as she wiped at her tears. "He'll find someone special."

"If your heart wasn't elsewhere, I would have used every trick in my book to get you together, but I think Emily Quartermaine just might do."

"So, you're in?"

"All the way…"

"Let's plot."

Isabel laughed. "Where do we start?"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Carly moved into a large room. Jason's picture is in the front, and center and she can't help but feel sad even though she knows that he's very much alive. The mood in the room is somber, but she feels no guilt that people that love him are mourning. All of them are hypocritical jerks who thumb their noses at people when they have done far worse. Jason should be able to talk today, so she had been gearing up to answer any questions that he may have. Her eyes rested on Elizabeth who is wiping a tear away. Once Jason is fully in her corner, Elizabeth and that child will need to go. She already has a vague outline of what she wants to do.

"What are you doing here?" AJ asked.

"He was my best friend. I love him."

"He wasn't in your life anymore."

She glared at him. "That doesn't mean that I still didn't love him. He loved me too, he was just mad."

AJ shook his head.

Monica hurried toward them in case they got in a fight.

"I'm not here to cause any trouble. I just want to say goodbye."

"Fine, but if you start anything, I will have the guards escort you out, and stay away from Elizabeth."

Carly's jaw is clenched. "Fine…" She slipped into a back pew and waited for the ceremony to start.

Alan is standing off to the side and waits for everyone to be seated. The family hasn't given up hope that Jason will be found, but they have to make whoever may have taken him believe that the family thinks he's gone. While the likelihood that he will come back is slim, since three weeks have already passed, they are choosing to hold onto that glimmer of hope.

Alan stepped up to the microphone. "Thank you for coming. This is the second time that I've had to mourn our son, and the finality is never easy to cope with. On the outside, Jason shut off his emotions to most people, it was how he had survived, but on the inside, he had a heart. I remember when the doctors told me that he wouldn't be able to feel. They were so wrong. If anything, Jason felt too much. I miss him." Alan's bottom lip quivered. "We all do." He couldn't go on and instead returned to his seat.

Monica went up. "Things were complicated when Jason came into our lives, but over time, I grew to love him like he was my own. I hate that he suffered as much as he did, but I'm so happy that he met the love of his life and let Elizabeth in. I don't think that I truly saw his capacity for love until I saw the way he looked at her."

Elizabeth wiped away a tear.

"I physically ache for him. There is a hole in my heart that will never be filled, but Jason wouldn't want us to be miserable. I'm trying to think about the good times, and I wish there were more after the accident. If I could go back and change anything, it would be our relationship. I love all my children, so losing one is unbearable. He was a beautiful soul." She started to cry and then made her way to Alan's side.

AJ got up. "Me and my brother—it was complicated, but underneath it all, we did care about each other. I wish he were still here so we could settle things. He always tried to help me because he has a big heart. Watching him love my son was evidence of that. He was there for Michael when my demons held me back. I hope he has found peace, but I truly wish he was here instead. I love him despite our difference. That is what family does."

Emily perused the room as she stepped in front of the mic. "Jason and I had a special relationship. He was the best listener and always gave me great advice. I'm going to miss him so much. Despite what people believe, he could be so gentle and loving. And those eyes… He said so much with them that sometimes it was hard to gaze into them because you could see all his hurt and vulnerability. He could say so much with his gaze or a nod. I may be young, but he never treated me like I was a child or talked down to me. He also gave the best hugs, maybe not as good as Lila, but it was close." Lila smiled. "I want to make him proud. He'll always be in my heart." She glanced at one of his pictures. "I love you, Jase."

Elizabeth took a deep breath and stepped into the aisle. When Enzo moved next to her, she is relieved because her legs feel like noodles. With arms linked, he led her to the front and then stood off to the side.

A tear fell down her face before she cleared her throat. "When Jason Morgan loves someone, he is all in. There is no middle ground. He makes you feel like you are the most special person around, and that no one else exists. I miss everything about him." Her eyes closed for a few seconds. "He completed me in such a profound way that it was like God sent him to show me what true love could be. He was complicated, yet so simplistic, but to me, he was just Jason—the man who took me for motorcycle rides so we could feel the wind as it blew all our cares away. He encouraged me to just be me and feel confident in doing so. The list of the ways he gave me unconditional love is endless." Her hand settled against her stomach. "He gave me the greatest gift and I will always make sure this baby knows how much their father loved them." She starts to cry, so Enzo moves next to her and puts his arm around her shoulders. As she gazed at Jason's picture once more, she whispered. "See you later. I love you."

Enzo led her back to her seat and Micah handed her a bottle of water.

Sonny moved to the microphone. "Jason was a brother to me. While he came into my life under unfortunate circumstances, there are no words to describe what his loyalty and friendship meant to me. I've thought about a lot of "what ifs" the last few weeks. What if I had turned him away? What if I had insisted on him having a guard? Jason always lived in the moment and did what he wanted to do. He didn't have regrets for the most part. Elizabeth helped him want a future and made him see that he could have it all. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him, and I don't think that will ever change."

Several other people spoke and then Robin came up and talked about him, and at the last minute, Carly stood before them. "I love Jason with all of my heart. He was the only person that saw more in me than I knew existed." She wiped a tear away. "He put up with my crazy antics because he understood the anger, hurt, and pain that enveloped me, and he became my rock. I made so many mistakes, and he always said I was my own worst enemy. His support meant everything to me, so much so that I didn't know how to function without him when it was rescinded. I still don't." Her lip quivered. "I will always love him. He was everything to me, and I know he loved me despite what people think."

To everyone's relief, she left it at that and walked out.

After everyone left, Liz stayed in her seat with a worried Enzo watching her.

"How is she holding up?" Francis asked.

"I feel like she's going to implode any minute. She tries so hard to make everyone think she is coping."

"You don't think she is?"

Enzo shook his head. "She's going through the motions. If she wasn't pregnant…"

Francis sighed. There had been no sign of Jason anywhere, and no one had stepped up to claim they killed him. It just doesn't make sense. Mac had dragged a section of the lake, but there was nothing found, and they received a call the prior day from Delores that forensics were done and doesn't suggest that he was dumped into the water. The trail that led to the edge of the docks wasn't from being dragged or carried.

"I bugged Carly's car in case we need to find her later," Paulie said.

"Sounds good…" If something happens to Liz, Carly will be the first suspect. At least they'll know how to hunt her down.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason's eyes fluttered open, and Carly rushed toward him. "Hey…"

He tried to talk but a croak came out, so Carly gave him some water.

"What happened?" His body doesn't feel right like he's having an out-of-body experience.

"You were shot, and I found you."

Everything is fuzzy, but he can barely keep his eyes open.

"You're healing well. I will always take good care of you."

He can't remember anything, and then Liz's face popped into his head. Why isn't Carly mentioning her?

"Before the shooting, we had made up, and you forgave me. Do you remember?"

The last memory he has is killing Sorel. "No."

"Well, we did. We were going to give things a try again."

Jason didn't respond as he tried to school his features. He's not sure what game she's playing, but he might as well play along. "Did I break up with Elizabeth?" He can't imagine ever leaving her.

She hates that he remembers the stupid twit. "Yes. She couldn't handle your lifestyle. When you were shot and disappeared, she left. I would never leave you though, Jase. You believe that don't you?"

Realizing he is restrained, he eyed her warily. "Why?"

"You're having spasms and seizures. The doctor thinks it's best to leave them on." There is no way in hell she'll trust him yet. He'll have to prove himself.

"How long have I been here?"

"Three weeks…"

He's surprised.

"The doctor was keeping you heavily sedated so you can heal."

He can't understand what the hell is going on. "Sonny?"

"It's safer that your enemies think you're gone. Sorel is the one that hurt you."

Now he knows she is lying.

She leaned closer and kissed him on the mouth. "You need to rest. Once you're healed, Michael will be joining us."

He shut his eyes as his internal alert goes off. Carly is delusional, and he's not sure if she had a breakdown or she's just being a calculating bitch. Maybe it's a little of both. Time will tell.

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Johnny rushed into the mansion. "Where is she?"

Monica pointed to the door leading to the deck. Johnny and Georgie can reach Elizabeth the fastest, so if she's struggling, that's who Monica calls. Enzo will do in a pinch too.

He spotted her sitting in the grass staring at the lake.

"Elizabeth?" It's a little chilly out, so he takes off his jacket and wraps it around her before sitting next to her.

"I wish I had gone with him, Johnny. Is that horrible?"

"Yes, because that would have been ridiculously painful."

She leaned her head on his arm. "My heart just aches. I know you all want to believe he's still here. I want to believe that too. I still feel him in my heart, but if he's not alive, it will break whatever resolve I have left. I don't know if I'd survive that."

"You are the strongest person I know. I miss him too. In my mind, he was invincible. I've had people die around me before and it just didn't emotionally register. I cried in Georgie's arms on and off when I had a chance to process it. I have so much anger inside me that I don't know what to do with it."

She gripped his hand. "I'm sorry. I should have asked how you were doing."

"It's okay. I have people I can talk to. You have enough to deal with. Besides, there is still hope that he's alive." He'll never stop looking.

"You're my friend, Johnny. That's what friends do."

"I don't want you to worry about me."

"I worry about you, Sonny, Enzo, Micah, Francis—all of you. I feel like I'm jinxed."

"You're not."

She sighed heavily. "I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Can you go with me? It's an ultrasound and I'll find out what I'm having."

"I would be honored. Are you sure you want me with you?"

"You're Jason's best friend. Yes, I want you there."

"I think you are trying to get rid of me."

She frowned. "Why?"

"Because the Q's will put a hit out on me. They'll probably all be there driving Epiphany crazy."

Liz chuckled. "You're probably right. If it's too much…"

"No, it's not."

"Am I leaning on you and Georgie too much?"

"We love you, Elizabeth. You're not a burden."

Tammy moved onto the deck. "Don't make me have to get you and ruin my shoes in that grass."

Liz's brow lifted. "I think I'm in trouble."

"I'd say I'd protect you, but I think Tammy could kick my ass."

Liz giggled.

"I know you hear me." She put her hands on her hips for effect.

"Help me up?" Liz said.

Johnny stood and tugged her up.

"I'm coming."

As they neared the deck, Tammy is tapping her foot on the wood.

"What did I do?" Liz asked.

"I had Mike make a perfectly delicious chocolate cake. He slaved over it last night. Are you going to let those people in there eat it up?"

Liz slightly smiled. "Well, I guess if you put it that way, I could eat a slice."

"Good, let's go. I saw Tracy eying it before I came out here. I think I can take her though."

Liz shook her head. "I would like to see that fight."

"You know I'd beat her with my shoe to make sure you get your chocolate fix."

Johnny grinned. "Ever beat Francis with that shoe?"

She winked. "You'll never know."

They went inside where the mood is somber, and Tammy led her to the dining room.

"Are you trying to steal my cake?" Liz asked.

Tracy eyed her. "I don't see your name on it." She scooped a slice onto a plate. "I'm only giving you this because it will probably make the baby happy. Once you pop it out, it's on. I'll fight you over Cook's cheesecake."

"Bring it," Liz said taking the plate from her. Tammy handed her a fork and Liz wasted no time woofing a piece down. "Mike has outdone himself."

"If I could fire Jimmy and replace him with Sonny, I'd sell out of everything every day."

"Yeah, I don't see that happening. Where is Sonny?"

"He left about five minutes ago. Edward kept staring at him, so he was giving him a complex."

"Sonny Corinthos is scared of Edward?"

Tammy nodded as she tasted a piece. "Edward does kind of have beady eyes, and that scowl is lethal."

"He's a mushy teddy bear."

"Maybe that possessed snuggles bear from the commercial."

Liz cracked up. She hadn't laughed like that in what seemed like ages. It seems foreign especially on a day like this. "Thank you, Tammy."

Tammy grinned. "Stick with me, kid. We'll get through this."