IRREVOCABLE
A/N: Sonny's married to Carly to avoid her testifying against him in open court due to the drug charges she had caused him to have by trying to set up Sorel. He knows that she's obsessed with Jason, not believing its love in any way, but it doesn't affect him much. He's Sonny Corinthos, after all. If something doesn't fit, he'll just throw money at it or dimple them into submission and eventually things turn out in his favor. If money or his dimples don't work, he'll just move on to the next thing to catch his eye.
November:
Elizabeth's birthday
She wanted him to stay, at least for a few days, knowing her birthday would soon be upon them, but if Halloween was the only day they would get to spend together, Elizabeth's okay with that. He'll return, he had promised so, and she will just have to hold onto that. The morning of her birthday is spent in the country side, painting whatever her heart desired, something she had appreciated from the guys. She knows that Johnny had wanted to alert Jason to her birthday, but he respected her wishes and left it alone. He knew, as well as anyone, that Jason wouldn't exaggerate a situation. If he says that he only had that one night to spend with her, it meant he only had that much time. It wouldn't be fair to guilt him to staying a little while longer. Not with the danger level as high as he had claimed it to be.
"Ready to head home?" Johnny asks her with a look of understanding upon her face.
"Sure." she says, knowing she couldn't stay out until midnight like she usually did, especially when its only him. "Where's Marco?"
"At the house with Kyle." Johnny assures, holding open the passenger side door for her to get in. "They're getting dinner ready for you."
"You'll all join me, won't you?" she questions, knowing that they didn't particularly feel comfortable with it, not liking the vulnerability it creates with no one guarding the house.
"Its your birthday." Johnny says simply. "Of course we will."
"What about security?"
"Maximus Giambetti and his sons, Max and Milo, are here on business and he offered them for the night." Johnny explains as they make their way back to the villa. "They should be arriving at the house shortly."
"That was nice of him." she decides. "I'll be sure to send them home with a platter of brownies."
"Don't think Max will let that survive long enough to get to his father." Johnny chuckled at the thought of his friend devouring the brownies on the flight back home. "The guy has a definite sweet tooth."
"I'll just have to make enough for him, as well."
"Of course you will." Johnny smiles, having personally witnessed the depth of her generosity. "Here we are."
Getting down from the town car, they are met at the door by the Giambetti brothers, introductions being passed around. Though she really doesn't like the guys addressing her as Mrs. Morgan, she understands that it was just the way they were taught to address women, especially one with standing in their world, however small that standing was. Maybe if they find their way to becoming friends she'll be able to get them to drop the formality, but that its a topic for another day.
"Our father has sent this along with us." Milo steps forward with a gift box. "He sends his warmest regards."
"Thank you." she says as takes the gift with both hands. "I appreciate the thought."
"Okay." Max clears his throat, unable to handle much in ways of mushy moments. "You can go on in and enjoy your dinner, Mrs. Morgan. We'll keep watch for as long as necessary."
"Thank you both, again." Elizabeth says as Johnny holds open the door for her. "It means more than you know."
Making her way into the house, she couldn't help the look of amazement to grace her features when she enters into the dining room and finds it completely redecorated with party decorations. Tears welling up in her eyes, she makes her way over to the small feast that is laid out before her, gently running her fingers over the table cloth. She had not expected this in the least. For them to go out of their way to make her birthday something special, Elizabeth knew that she would always appreciate them for as long as she lives.
"I have a confession." Johnny says once she's done thanking the two guys for setting it all up. "You can't kill me, though."
"What did you do?" Elizabeth raises her eyebrow at him.
"I called Jason mid-flight." Johnny admits, pulling out a small wrapped gift from his pocket. "He said to tell you that he appreciates what you were trying to do, but next time remind him if he forgets."
"No promises." she says as she takes the gift into her hands. "Thank you."
Looking around, Elizabeth wonders how she could be so fortunate as to have such amazing men in her life. Never in her life would she have ever imagined she'd be this happy with people that loved her as much as she loved them. Never in her life would she have seen Jason coming. Growing up, her parents had always made her feel like the unwanted child, not worthy of their love. If her parents couldn't love her, she didn't see how anyone else could. Sitting there among these three men, Jason's gift resting under the palm of her hand, she now knows that she and her parents couldn't be more wrong.
December:
Christmas
Much like Thanksgiving, Elizabeth and her guys are invited to spend the Christmas holiday with the Giambetti family, an invitation that she readily accepted. After having spent Thanksgiving with them, she had found that she loved the dynamics of their family. It was nothing like what she was used to. She and Milo, given a more social atmosphere, had gotten along better than she had thought. Turns out that she shared a lot of interests in common with the youngest Giambetti. What started as a joke over their mutual inability in the kitchen had quickly grew into a friendship of sorts and she couldn't be happier about it.
She and Max had bonded over their shared desire of all things chocolate. While she had been in Palermo for Thanksgiving, he had talked her into baking a fresh platter of brownies almost every single day, not that she needed much convincing. She, too, loved the idea of brownies as a regular thing. Maximus had tried to scold his son for making her, a guest, work so hard in the kitchen, but he quickly retracted his statement after the first batch she had made specially for him.
"Elizabetta." Maximus greets her fondly in the foyer. "Benvenuto! Welcome!"
"Maximus." Elizabeth greets him with equal fondness, having learnt the hard way about calling him Mr. Giambetti, surprised that he had felt the same as her in regard to the formality. "Thank you for hosting us in your home, once again. I had been so lost as to how to celebrate the holiday."
"For as long as you call my beautiful country home, you shall fret no longer." Maximus assures as he guides her into the dining room for a late lunch. "You and yours are always welcome."
After one of the most delicious, not to mention filling, lunch she has ever had, Elizabeth agrees Maximus's suggestion that she make her way up to the room that has been cornered off as her own while she stays in his home. She had tried to, unsuccessfully, tell him that he didn't need to turn any room into hers, solely. Maximus had simply stated that that's how things are done in his home and sent her on her way. While in her room, she sits up on her bed, pulling out the letter that had been given to her from Jason.
Gently touching the envelope, she could see that the letter had been transferred through so many different countries, more countries than she had ever been to, before it landed in the Giambetti mailbox. Maximus had intended to send the letter to her in Venice, but had been struck with the brilliant idea of her returning to Palermo for the holidays, thus killing two birds with one stone. She gets her letter and he gets to keep his promise in ensuring that she would always have a place to go if the need arises.
Reading Jason's letter, she wishes she could return the favor and write back to him, but she knows its not possible. He was taking a big enough risk to send the letters to her and she didn't want to risk his life in any way just to write back. From his letters, it seemed as if she didn't really need to. He tells her of the moments, while the world around him is dead silent, that he thinks of their time together and how it helps him get through it all. He promises her that they will finish their conversation and that he couldn't wait to see her again.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth places Jason's letter in the small box with the rest of his letters before storing it in the top drawer of the vanity before making her way into the washroom for a well deserved bath. Knowing Maximus, she and the guys will be in Palermo until the day after they ring in the New Year together. He'd come up with some reason why it only seemed logical that she stay to celebrate the holiday since they were so close together and that she could return to Venice once the holidays were over, if that's what she wishes to do.
"Elizabeth?" Milo sticks his head in when she grants him access. "I'm heading to the market and I was wondering if you wanted to come with. I know you enjoyed it the last time you were here."
"I'd love to go." she agrees, rising to her feet. "Give me a few minutes to get changed?"
"Take your time." he says with a slight smile. "I'll wait for you in the foyer."
"I won't be long." she assures him.
As the door closes, she makes a silent prayer, hoping against hope that she never loses the connections she has made with the Giambetti family. Somehow, she couldn't really understand why, she always seems to lose connections like the ones she has made with them. When she was with Lucky, his family had helped fill the void that her own family had left and it pained her when she realized that she no longer had that. That she probably never really had that connection to begin with.
Shaking thoughts of the Spencers from her mind, she gets changed into something suitable for a trip to the market before meeting up with Milo in the foyer. As she had assumed, Johnny sends Marco and Kyle along with them, never one to slack off on her security detail. She tried to say that she would be fine, but even Milo insisted on their tagging along. She's Jason Morgan's wife. Though his father's name does carry its own weight, one could never be too safe.
January:
New Year's
It had been a holiday season filled with more blessings that she could ever truly hope for. The only thing that would have made this holiday season perfect were if Jason had walked through the door just as the clock struck midnight and kissed her with the dawn of a new year. As she prepares to leave the Giambetti estate, Elizabeth is met with a grand breakfast feast, a farewell from the Giambetti family until the next time she finds her way to their home.
"Elizabetta." Maximus says as he stands before her, holding out a manila envelope. "This is for you."
"You didn't have to get me anything." Elizabeth voices as she takes the envelope into her hands. "The pleasure of spending the holidays with your family was the best gift I could have asked for."
"I appreciate your kind words, but this is more a gift to you from yourself." Maximus explains. "An associate of mine had seen your painting that you made for my home and was immediately captivated, rightfully so. Take a few weeks to think over her proposition and give her a call."
"Thank you." she says with a grateful smile. "I appreciate this."
"Can I give you a word of advice before you decide?"
"Of course." Elizabeth says wholeheartedly. "I'd appreciate any advice you can give me."
"You have real talent. The kind that's pure and genuine." Maximus says firmly. "A gift such as yours deserves to be shared with the world. Take her offer."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"And, of course, I get first pick on any painting you create." Maximus says with a sly smirk. "After all, I will be taking credit for discovering you."
"Of course." she laughs softly. "But you may have to argue the point with Jason about having the first pick."
"Okay, so, maybe not the first pick." Maximus chuckles. "A close second."
"That I can guarantee."
After their farewell breakfast, Elizabeth and the guys thank the Giambetti family once more before making their way to the airstrip to fly back to Venice, all more than ready to be back home. As much as she loves being with the Giambetti family, she still loves the feel of being in her villa in Venice. It had quickly become her home and she couldn't imagine ever living anywhere else in Italy.
As they fly back home, Elizabeth looks over the proposition and she couldn't believe what she was reading. The woman wasn't only offering her a job, but she was offering her an apprenticeship, with the chance of showcasing her own artwork if she played her cards right. If the guys weren't all asleep, she probably would have squealed like a little school girl at the prospect of finally being able to follow her dreams. Silently thanking Maximus for showing her art to his associate, Elizabeth closes her eyes for a peaceful slumber, knowing it was a no-brainer. She's going to grab hold of his opportunity and see where it takes her.
Jason's Birthday
Nearly three months since she had last seen him and Elizabeth couldn't help missing him as much as she does. She has yet to receive another letter since Christmas and that only proved to make her miss him even more. She knows that he'd send a letter if he were able to and forces herself to remember that he would return to her once he's done. Being away from him for such a long time, however, made it hard to remember that he was doing what he had to do.
Today, more than any other day, she misses him the most. To think that he had to be working during his own birthday made her both angry and sad. More than anything, she just wants him to walk through the door and assure her that everything was alright. That he was safe and that they could finally find a way to be husband and wife in every aspect of the word. Sitting alone in front of a small chocolate cake that read Happy Birthday, Jason on it, Elizabeth lights the single candle atop of it and makes a wish for her husband.
"Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, please be safe." she whispers, closing her eyes as she blows out the candle. "I miss you, Jason."
In a few days she'll be preparing to host an art gallery all on her own, a test of sorts from her boss, just one more step towards showcasing her own artwork. If she can pull this off, selling at least ten percent of the art pieces, her boss will use the funds to pay for Elizabeth's first art gala, something she couldn't wait for. For now, though, she will take the time to miss her husband and celebrate his birthday with her three guys. They have planned a night out that would make Jason proud and she'll go along with it, knowing she needed to have some fun to take her mind off missing him.
"Ready to go?" Johnny questions as he stands in the doorway.
"Yeah." she replies, rising to her feet to place the cake in the fridge before allowing him to help her into her coat. "I don't know how much longer I can be without him."
"I miss him, too." Johnny admits as he guides her out of the house. "You sure you're up for a night out?"
"I'm sure." she shakes her head. "We have a birthday to celebrate, after all."
"He'll come back to you, Liz." Johnny says before placing a soft kiss upon her head. "Trust that."
"I do." she says wholeheartedly as he opens the car door for her. "Its one of the only things keeping me going."
A/N: There are so many familiar reviewers that it just warms my heart. I sometimes catch myself saying, hey, I know that pen name and then I read the review and I'm so touched by what you all have to say. I hope this chapter meets with your approval as we get brief looks into the months without Jason. Can't wait to hear what you all think and I hope to hear from as many of you as possible. Doesn't have to be a long review (though I really love those). I just want to know if you're enjoying it as much as I am. As always, tons of hugs and love to each and everyone of you.