Epilogue - Six months later...
Elizabeth stood on the balcony of the hotel room overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Naples. The view was breathtaking. In the three weeks since they had come to Italy, Jason had shown her sights she had only imagined before this trip - the Rialto Bridge from a gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice, the statue of David by Michelangelo at the Accademia in Florence, Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' at the Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' at the Sistine Chapel in Rome. She was still in awe of the legendary artwork she had seen.
And then there were the sultry Italian nights. Evenings spent sampling incredible native cuisine in intimate, little restaurants, and making love under magnificent starry skies with warm sea breezes caressing their heated skin. Falling asleep in each other's arms and waking to begin another day exploring the wonders of Italy.
Particularly memorable for Elizabeth, was the visit to the glassblowers in Venice. Jason had remembered her wish to obtain a vase made from the same deep red glass as the piece he had given her for Valentine's Day - the one she had destroyed. They would take the vase home and treasure it as a symbol of the obstacles they had overcome to be together.
Now they were staying on Capri Island. Just this morning, they had gone by motorboat to view one of the most spectacular sights Elizabeth had ever seen - the Blue Grotto. It was so inspiring she had rushed back to their room to paint her impression of it. Jason had gone out on a mysterious errand several hours ago, and she hoped he would return soon so they could watch the sun set on the Mediterranean together.
The one thing they hadn't been able to see was the Palio in Siena. They had taken the trip too late in the year to experience it, but they hadn't wanted to leave Port Charles before the birth of Sonny and Carly's baby. Jason promised that they would attend next year instead.
Thinking about the Corinthos' baby made Elizabeth smile. Sonny had been proven right. It was a girl and they named her Abigail, meaning 'source of joy', because she was theirs. They called her Abby for short and she had her daddy wrapped around her little finger already. Carly was revelling in her 'new mother' role. She felt she had missed those special early moments with Michael so she planned to enjoy every second of this stage with Abby. When asked what he thought of his baby sister, Michael had replied, "She's all right, I guess, but I still think she looks funny."
As for the Corinthos' houseguest, Michelle Lafontaine, she returned to Paris with Justin St. Amant as soon as Taggert had found Cranton's forged suicide note and verified her story. According to Chloe, Michelle was finally giving Justin a chance to win her heart.
Philippe Lafontaine had been able to leave the 'organization' through Sonny's efforts on his behalf. The disk he had smuggled in from Paris had, in a sense, bought his way out and had helped Sonny's allies regain control of the territory involved. After this situation was resolved, Philippe had remained in Port Charles and pursued Chloe relentlessly. He had finally convinced her that he was serious about spending his life with her. When he decided to move Lafontaine Shipping's head office to New York, Chloe chose to open an office for Chloe Morgan Designs there as well. That left Elizabeth in charge of the Port Charles branch - with the possibility of a full partnership someday.
Nikolas and Gia were doing well. Gia continued to be successful as the FOD and Nikolas had finally accepted his role as head of the Cassadine holdings. He was doing new, creative things with his inheritance and he had Stefan's full support. From Nik, Elizabeth had learned that Lucky had chosen to remain in Europe running one of Luke's investments and that he had met someone. She really hoped he was happy.
Elizabeth's musings were brought to a halt when she heard the hotel room door open. Just thinking about Jason could still make her heart flutter in anticipation. Her love for him grew deeper and stronger every day. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her head.
"So did you do whatever it was you had to do?" she asked curiously.
Jason smiled. He knew she was dying to know what his errand had been. "Yeah. I did. So how did the painting go?" he asked, changing the subject.
"It went fine, but I haven't captured the exact blue of the grotto yet. Oh look, Jason. You made it back in time for the sunset," she said excitedly. She sighed. "The light really is different in Italy. Isn't it beautiful?"
Looking at the beauty of the sun setting over the Mediterranean, Jason answered, "Not as beautiful as you." He dropped his head and kissed her neck lingeringly.
She shivered and turned to face him, placing her arms around his neck. "You sure do know how to make a girl feel good, Mr. Morgan. Have I told you how special this trip has been for me and how much I love you?" she asked huskily.
"Yeah, you have. I loved sharing Italy with you. I want to share everything with you, Elizabeth," Jason said hoarsely. When he looked into her eyes, he knew, without a doubt, that this moment had been predestined. "I'm not someone who plans ahead - you know that. The only thing I know about the future is that I want you in it. You're my heart, the other half of my soul. I want to spend every day of my life loving you, if you'll let me." He paused to pull something out of his pocket. He opened the little box and said, "Marry me, Elizabeth."
She gasped when she saw the ring in the box. It was a lovely, oval-shaped ruby in an antique gold setting. It reminded her of the Renaissance jewellery they had seen in a museum in Milan. Her eyes filled with tears. "It's beautiful, Jason. I love you, too, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So yes. Yes, I'll marry you," she laughed happily, the tears slipping down her cheeks.
Jason's heart swelled with the love he felt for her as he removed the ring from the box and slid it on her finger. "I will love you forever, Elizabeth Webber - in this life and beyond."
"You have my heart and my soul, for now and always, Jason." When he leaned in and kissed her fiercely, Elizabeth responded with everything that was in her, knowing that she and Jason had found what everyone looks for and few ever find - a love so strong, so pure it would endure for all time.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elizabeth stood on the balcony of the hotel room overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Naples. The view was breathtaking. In the three weeks since they had come to Italy, Jason had shown her sights she had only imagined before this trip - the Rialto Bridge from a gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice, the statue of David by Michelangelo at the Accademia in Florence, Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' at the Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' at the Sistine Chapel in Rome. She was still in awe of the legendary artwork she had seen.
And then there were the sultry Italian nights. Evenings spent sampling incredible native cuisine in intimate, little restaurants, and making love under magnificent starry skies with warm sea breezes caressing their heated skin. Falling asleep in each other's arms and waking to begin another day exploring the wonders of Italy.
Particularly memorable for Elizabeth, was the visit to the glassblowers in Venice. Jason had remembered her wish to obtain a vase made from the same deep red glass as the piece he had given her for Valentine's Day - the one she had destroyed. They would take the vase home and treasure it as a symbol of the obstacles they had overcome to be together.
Now they were staying on Capri Island. Just this morning, they had gone by motorboat to view one of the most spectacular sights Elizabeth had ever seen - the Blue Grotto. It was so inspiring she had rushed back to their room to paint her impression of it. Jason had gone out on a mysterious errand several hours ago, and she hoped he would return soon so they could watch the sun set on the Mediterranean together.
The one thing they hadn't been able to see was the Palio in Siena. They had taken the trip too late in the year to experience it, but they hadn't wanted to leave Port Charles before the birth of Sonny and Carly's baby. Jason promised that they would attend next year instead.
Thinking about the Corinthos' baby made Elizabeth smile. Sonny had been proven right. It was a girl and they named her Abigail, meaning 'source of joy', because she was theirs. They called her Abby for short and she had her daddy wrapped around her little finger already. Carly was revelling in her 'new mother' role. She felt she had missed those special early moments with Michael so she planned to enjoy every second of this stage with Abby. When asked what he thought of his baby sister, Michael had replied, "She's all right, I guess, but I still think she looks funny."
As for the Corinthos' houseguest, Michelle Lafontaine, she returned to Paris with Justin St. Amant as soon as Taggert had found Cranton's forged suicide note and verified her story. According to Chloe, Michelle was finally giving Justin a chance to win her heart.
Philippe Lafontaine had been able to leave the 'organization' through Sonny's efforts on his behalf. The disk he had smuggled in from Paris had, in a sense, bought his way out and had helped Sonny's allies regain control of the territory involved. After this situation was resolved, Philippe had remained in Port Charles and pursued Chloe relentlessly. He had finally convinced her that he was serious about spending his life with her. When he decided to move Lafontaine Shipping's head office to New York, Chloe chose to open an office for Chloe Morgan Designs there as well. That left Elizabeth in charge of the Port Charles branch - with the possibility of a full partnership someday.
Nikolas and Gia were doing well. Gia continued to be successful as the FOD and Nikolas had finally accepted his role as head of the Cassadine holdings. He was doing new, creative things with his inheritance and he had Stefan's full support. From Nik, Elizabeth had learned that Lucky had chosen to remain in Europe running one of Luke's investments and that he had met someone. She really hoped he was happy.
Elizabeth's musings were brought to a halt when she heard the hotel room door open. Just thinking about Jason could still make her heart flutter in anticipation. Her love for him grew deeper and stronger every day. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her head.
"So did you do whatever it was you had to do?" she asked curiously.
Jason smiled. He knew she was dying to know what his errand had been. "Yeah. I did. So how did the painting go?" he asked, changing the subject.
"It went fine, but I haven't captured the exact blue of the grotto yet. Oh look, Jason. You made it back in time for the sunset," she said excitedly. She sighed. "The light really is different in Italy. Isn't it beautiful?"
Looking at the beauty of the sun setting over the Mediterranean, Jason answered, "Not as beautiful as you." He dropped his head and kissed her neck lingeringly.
She shivered and turned to face him, placing her arms around his neck. "You sure do know how to make a girl feel good, Mr. Morgan. Have I told you how special this trip has been for me and how much I love you?" she asked huskily.
"Yeah, you have. I loved sharing Italy with you. I want to share everything with you, Elizabeth," Jason said hoarsely. When he looked into her eyes, he knew, without a doubt, that this moment had been predestined. "I'm not someone who plans ahead - you know that. The only thing I know about the future is that I want you in it. You're my heart, the other half of my soul. I want to spend every day of my life loving you, if you'll let me." He paused to pull something out of his pocket. He opened the little box and said, "Marry me, Elizabeth."
She gasped when she saw the ring in the box. It was a lovely, oval-shaped ruby in an antique gold setting. It reminded her of the Renaissance jewellery they had seen in a museum in Milan. Her eyes filled with tears. "It's beautiful, Jason. I love you, too, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So yes. Yes, I'll marry you," she laughed happily, the tears slipping down her cheeks.
Jason's heart swelled with the love he felt for her as he removed the ring from the box and slid it on her finger. "I will love you forever, Elizabeth Webber - in this life and beyond."
"You have my heart and my soul, for now and always, Jason." When he leaned in and kissed her fiercely, Elizabeth responded with everything that was in her, knowing that she and Jason had found what everyone looks for and few ever find - a love so strong, so pure it would endure for all time.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*