"Mommy, Mommy."
Elizabeth swiped at the hand on her nose. It was too early and she didn't want to wake up yet. She'd just closed her eyes. Elizabeth shifted in her bed and hit the arm of the rocking chair.
She'd been having a wonderful dream. She, Jason, and Isabelle were in the nursery, sleeping. Before she'd fallen asleep, she'd kissed Jason and their daughter goodnight and then wrapped herself up in his leather jacket.
"Mommy."
Wait…the arm of the rocking chair? What was she doing in the rocking chair? Elizabeth swiped at the hand on her nose again. She sighed when she realized she was going to have to wake up.
She opened one eye and gave her daughter a lopsided grin. "Morning honey."
"Mommy," Isabelle grinned.
Elizabeth's other eye opened and found Jason holding Isabelle. The previous night came flooding back to her and she remembered why she'd been sleeping in the rocking chair. On instinct, Elizabeth pulled the little girl down to her. She pressed their faces cheek to cheek to see if the fever from last night still lingered. "How's my girl this morning?"
Jason smiled at Elizabeth's mothering skills. He remembered when she'd pressed her cheek to his own the morning she found him in the snow. Jason's hand went immediately to his side and the scar he had there. It was that winter in her studio when his feelings began to change. At one time, he never believed he'd have a chance with this amazing woman. Now, she was his wife.
"She doesn't seem to have a fever," Elizabeth commented. She returned her attention back to the child in her lap. "Are you still not feeling well?"
"She had a cough last night." Jason reached around and felt her head for himself. He did admit, she felt normal. "I was worried she was getting some kind of bronchial infection."
Elizabeth smiled at his overprotectiveness. "Is that why you put her in the bed with you?"
"No," he answered quickly. Jason smiled down at his wife and their daughter.
"Are you going to tell me why you put her in the bed with you?" When Jason moved back, Elizabeth stood with Isabelle in her arms.
"I just wanted to spend some time with my daughter…kind of like making up for lost time?"
"Oh, I see." Elizabeth went to leave the room, before the guilt she knew he wasn't trying to make her feel started to seep in. Except, in her mind, she didn't have anything to feel guilty for. Yet she was. "Ready to take a bath, honey?"
"I've already given her a bath," Jason said from behind her.
Elizabeth stopped walking and turned to face him. "You didn't have to do that. You should have woken me."
"I can give her a bath," Jason assured her. "Besides, you looked so tired. How'd you end up in the nursery anyway?"
"I woke up around four to check on her. You were sleeping so peacefully I didn't have the heart to put her back in the crib. I did some sketching and I guess I fell asleep in the chair."
"I see."
Elizabeth turned and continued to the kitchen. Once she was there, she sat Isabelle in the high chair, but turned to find the child had already had breakfast. "Did you leave anything for me to do?" she questioned Jason.
"Not really," he told her. Jason scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. "I wanted to spend one morning with her. Every morning, you get up and you bathe her, feed her, dress her. I just…needed to feel like her father, I guess."
"You are her father, Jason," Elizabeth said quietly. She turned to face him again and smiled. "No matter what happens with you and me, you'll always be her father. I won't try to keep Isabelle away from you."
Jason took a step closer and lifted his hand to touch her cheek. "I know that. But I've missed so much with her already."
"I'm sorry," Elizabeth apologized. She wasn't sure why she was apologizing, but felt like she needed to. After all, she'd keep Jason from their daughter for the first two years of her life. That was her fault. "It's just–"
"I know," he finished for her. "I don't want you to apologize. I don't want you to feel guilty. That's not why I'm here. After I left you, I have no right to know this child at all. And you've given me the chance, even if I don't deserve it. I've missed so much and I want to make that up to her."
Elizabeth nodded. "Okay," she agreed. "So why don't you and Isa bond some more while I take a shower. And then…"
"Then?"
"I don't know if you remember, or not–"
"Today's the day…" he trailed off at the bad memory. "I remember."
"Will you come with me?" she asked. "Not…not as my bodyguard, but as someone who lost their daughter. Do you think we can put all the anger aside for today and just be two parents who lost their child?"
Jason closed his eyes and took a breath. He wanted that more than anything. It was important they get back to the people they were before. "I'd like that," he said quietly.
"Thank you," she said in the same tone. Elizabeth stood in the kitchen and stared at him. Jason held her gaze and something passed between them. She couldn't name it, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to name it, but it was something. "Okay…I'm gonna go get ready then." Jason nodded his head and she turned towards the stairs that would take her to the second floor.
Once Elizabeth was out of sight, Jason sat down at the table across from Isabelle. The little girl was happily playing with some blocks Elizabeth had given her. "How's my girl?" he asked.
When Isabelle heard his voice, she looked up at him. "Dada."
The words still melted his heart. Of all the times he'd dreamed of having another child with Elizabeth, he'd never fathomed that it would actually happen. Not only that, he didn't think he deserved another child.
Elizabeth had kissed him last night. He remembered hearing her come into the nursery and turn the light on. She'd stood over him and Isabelle before she finally went back to the rocking chair. He'd listened as she mumbled to herself and fought hard to not let her know he was awake. After she'd finished sketching, she'd stood over them again. He must have drifted off to sleep, because he woke again when her hair brushed his face. And then, she was kissing his forehead. It was sweet and simple.
It also made him realize he had to let her go.
Jason's attention was pulled back to Isabelle when she threw the wooden blocks to the ground. "Dada," she said again. Isabelle wriggled in the high chair and Jason stood to lift his daughter from the seat. He pushed his chair back under the kitchen table and sat down on the floor with her in his lap.
"So Isabelle," he said in a soft voice, "how much do you know about your sister Abby?"
Elizabeth wasn't sure when her tears began. But sometime while she was watching them from the stairwell, tears had started falling. No matter how angry she was, it didn't compare to the love in her heart for him as a father. Jason was an amazing father and she knew she'd only hurt Isabelle by not telling him.
And Isabelle was what made her determined to make their marriage work. She loved her husband. Elizabeth glanced down at the ring she still wore. She hadn't taken it off since he'd put it back on her finger four days ago. She didn't want to take it off. Elizabeth was being completely honest when she admitted to herself she wanted to be with Jason. And now that she was sure, the only thing left to do was tell Jason.
What this meant for them, she didn't know. They could call off the divorce, that was for sure. But it wouldn't change the fact that they'd had problems. And it certainly wouldn't change the fact that Jason chose to leave instead of work through their problems. It was going to take a lot to work past that, but Elizabeth knew she could. Loving Jason made her feel like she could do anything. And, she told herself, Isabelle deserved to have a real family.
Jason, Elizabeth, and Isabelle Morgan. The Morgan Family.
Elizabeth smiled at the memory. The Morgan Family. Could they make it work, she wondered. There would always be the doubt and Elizabeth wasn't sure she could live with it. But she had to try.
She smiled again and reached up to wipe the tears away. Sonny was right, Jason had come home for her. Because he loved her and wanted to be with her. Isabelle hadn't been in the picture for Jason. He hadn't known about her when he put the engagement ring back on her finger. His actions had been motivated by his need to be with her, not because they had a daughter.
Elizabeth made her presence known when a knock came from the living room door. "Is he spoiling you, Isabelle?"
Jason smiled as his wife took his place on the floor. "I'll get the door."
Elizabeth nodded. "Tell Francis were in the kitchen."
Jason didn't question how she knew it was Francis, but simply left the kitchen. He returned a minute later, Francis following behind him. The shorter bodyguard dropped to one knee as soon as he saw Isabelle and pulled the doll he had behind his back for her.
"Frannie!" Isabelle exclaimed. The child's face lit up with joy as Francis scooped her up in his arms.
Francis stood, still holding Isabelle, and looked between his boss and Elizabeth. "How are you?" he asked.
Elizabeth nodded. "We're good." She looked past him to Jason and nodded. "We're doing okay, Francis."
"I'm glad," he said.
They left the kitchen and Elizabeth picked up the bag she'd packed for Isabelle and hooked it over one of Francis' shoulder. "Are you sure about this?" she asked again.
"I don't mind watching my goddaughter," Francis assured her. "Besides, I don't get to see her as much as Johnny."
"Okay."
"I don't have to tell you to take care of her," Jason said.
"No. You don't," Francis replied, sharply. He quickly turned away from his employer and sighed. He'd never meant to take that tone with Jason, but some of his own feelings were bubbling to the surface.
"We should get going," Jason said. "We've got plans."
Elizabeth nodded again. She gave Isabelle a kiss on the cheek and wiped the lipstick smudge off. "Be good for Uncle Frannie, honey. Mommy'll see you later."
"Bye Mommy," Isabelle said softly.
Jason was the next to say goodbye to Isabelle. He placed a soft kiss on her temple and then turned his attention back to Francis. "Thanks for doing this."
"I'd do anything for Elizabeth," Francis assured him.
Jason just nodded. "Bye Isa. Have a good time."
"Bye Dada."
Once Francis and Isabelle were gone Jason turned to look at Elizabeth. "How'd you do that?"
"What?" she questioned.
"Find a babysitter so quickly."
"Ah," she smiled. "That's one of the perks of having three godfathers. One of them is always available."
Jason laughed at her comment. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah," she answered him. "Just let me grab my jacket."
"Okay."
Elizabeth returned wearing a black leather jacket and shoved her keys in her pocket. "Let's go."
"Okay." Jason followed her out of the penthouse, making sure he locked the door. Johnny was at his post on Sonny's door and Jason nodded at him. The bodyguard nodded back and smiled at Elizabeth as they stepped on the elevator.
~*~
They'd decided to walk to the cemetery, since it was only a few blocks from the Towers. Elizabeth had wanted to stop at a flower shop on the way so they'd have a gift for their daughter. Jason looked distinctly uncomfortable as she ordered the bouquet of pink carnations for Abby. He surprised her though when he added two long stem white roses to their order. The florist just smiled at the couple and got their flowers ready.
"Why two?" she asked when they were outside again. Elizabeth held the bouquet in one hand and the roses in another.
"One for each year I was gone," he told her.
"I see." Elizabeth lifted the roses to her nose so she could smell them. She could remember the first time Jason had brought her flowers. It was the first night they were in Geneva and he'd finally admitted to her he wanted more than a friendship. He'd left mysteriously that afternoon so she could think over what he said, but returned before dinner with six white roses and a hopeful expression on his face. Elizabeth knew then she'd never be able to turn him down for anything.
"Why white?" she asked.
"You don't like red roses," he answered. Jason turned to study his wife as they walked towards the cemetery. "Or do you?"
"You're right, I don't. But I still think it's interesting you chose white."
"Why's that?"
"Well, it's what the white roses mean." When he looked at her confused, she continued. "White roses generally mean 'I want to get to know you better.' While pink mean 'I like you' and red 'I love you.'"
"I see." Jason reached down and took the roses from her hand. They stopped walking and she turned to face him. He kept one of her hands in his and then took the bouquet from her other hand. "Elizabeth?"
"Yes?"
"I want to get to know you better."
"You do?" she asked.
Jason nodded. "I do." He gave her the carnations and the roses back, but he never let go of her hand. They didn't speak again until they were at Abby's grave.
Elizabeth pulled her hand from his and kneeled in front of the grave. She closed her eyes and let herself miss her daughter. Elizabeth opened her eyes again and traced her finger over Abby's name on the stone.
Abby Lynn Morgan
July 4, 2002 – October 11, 2002
Beloved Daughter
Jason crouched beside her and gently placed his arm over her shoulder. He pulled Elizabeth to his chest as she cried. He felt the tears come to his own eyes and squeezed them shut, willing them away. They slid silently down his face anyway.
"Hey there, baby girl," Elizabeth said finally. "How've you been?"
Jason smiled as his wife talked to their daughter like she was standing there in front of them. He closed his eyes again and let a picture of what Abby would look like if she were still alive.
Long brown hair, big blue eyes. The dimple on her chin would still be there. He knew she'd be running everywhere now and getting into trouble, just like Elizabeth when she was younger. Jason imagined Abby would be spoiled rotten by both him and Elizabeth. She'd play with Isabelle all day and then insist on sleeping with the baby at night. Or she'd insist on crawling in the bed with her parents after she'd had a bad dream. Jason could see the image in his head as the four of them lay in bed together.
He and Elizabeth were turned towards each other. Isabelle would be snuggled into her mother's side and Abby would have an arm thrown over Daddy's stomach. Both Jason and Elizabeth were awake and their hands were linked, lying on top of their children.
He left his eyes closed another minute to burn the image into his memory. It was the only thing he had left of Abby now.
"Jason?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Do you have anything you want to say to her?" Elizabeth shifted to her feet and stood behind him. Her hand rested lightly on his shoulder and he reached up to squeeze it.
"Hey Abby," Jason said softly. "I'm sorry it's been so long since I've come to see you. Daddy wasn't doing so well for a long time."
The tears quietly slipped down Elizabeth's face as she listened to Jason explain to Abby why he'd been gone for so long. She smiled at the top of his head and squeezed his hand again.
"But I'm home now," he continued. "I promise I'll be by to see you more often." Jason took the flowers from Elizabeth's hand and placed them gently at the foot of the headstone. "We brought you something, honey."
He did what Elizabeth did earlier and traced his finger over her name. Finally, he stood and took Elizabeth's hand in his. "We love you honey."
"That's right," Elizabeth said. "We love you so much Abby. We miss you."
His hand wrapped around her shoulder again and she leaned into him. "We'll both be by to see you more, Abby. And we'll bring Isabelle with us next time."
Elizabeth looked up at him, a smile on her face. She knew Jason would know exactly what to say to Abby once they were here. She nodded her head and took his hand as they turned to walk away.
"Well, well. Isn't this a pretty little scene we have here." Stryker said as he stepped out from behind a tree. In his hand, he held a bouquet of lilies.
Jason's face turned to stone when he heard the voice. His grip tightened on Elizabeth's hand and he stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. "What do you want?"
"I'm here to pay my respects," Stryker told him. "Today is the three year anniversary of Mr. Sorel's death."
Elizabeth eyed the lilies in his hand. "I didn't realize Sorel liked flowers."
"No, no, I'm sure he doesn't." Stryker held up the bouquet and smiled at her. "The flowers are for Baby Morgan."
It was Elizabeth's turn to grip Jason's hand. The anger that coursed through her was unlike any she'd ever known. "Stay away from my daughter," she warned.
Stryker didn't say anything for a moment while he stared at her. "You're right," he finally said. He eyed the roses in her hand. "These will go so much better with the roses you already have."
Elizabeth watched as he held out the bouquet to her. He released his grip on the stems and they fell to the ground. It was then that she stepped in front of Jason and stomped the lilies into the ground. "I don't want your flowers."
Stryker's eyes narrowed as she destroyed what he'd given her. "You little whore–"
Jason's fist connected with his face before he could finish his sentence. Stryker hadn't seen the fist coming and didn't have time to protect himself. He took a step back to steady himself. His hand reached up to touch his lip and his fingers came away bloodied. "You son of a bitch!" he roared.
Jason easily missed the punch he threw. He grabbed Stryker's arm and twisted it around so that he was behind him. Jason kicked his knee and the older man fell to the ground. Jason stood above him, glaring down at him. Stryker's upturned face was one of fury as Jason twisted his arm harder and harder.
"I'm gonna tell you this once," Jason said in a low tone. He jerked his arm again and felt the bone began to strain. "Stay away from my wife. Stay away from my daughter. Stay away from Abby's grave. I'm not going to warn you again, Stryker."
"Morgan, you just made a mistake," Stryker threatened.
"No, I didn't. I'm just telling you. You've already come after my family once and I've let you live this long." Jason twisted the arm again and was satisfied when the bone gave a loud crack. Stryker's face contorted with pain and he shouted loudly. "Remember that you're only alive because I let you live."
Elizabeth saw Taggert approaching the group and she touched Jason's arm to warn him. "Jason."
He stepped back from Stryker and let him fall to the ground. Stryker's face landed on Jason's boot and he moved back and watched Stryker wallow.
Taggert rushed over and helped the man up. From the way his right arm was hanging, the police commissioner knew his arm was broken. He turned to face Jason and Elizabeth.
"I should have known you'd be back causing trouble," Taggert started.
Elizabeth took a step in front of Jason and glared at the African American man. "Jason didn't do anything wrong."
Taggert's gaze shifted from Jason to Elizabeth and he sighed. He'd always hoped sweet, young Elizabeth Webber would get away from Jason Morgan, but when they'd returned to Port Charles they'd been married. "Elizabeth," he began.
"Listen to me," Elizabeth said coldly. "Jason didn't do anything. Stryker fell down."
Taggert snorted. "You expect me to believe that, Elizabeth?" He pointed to the arm and the blood coming from Stryker's busted lip. "He got a broken arm from falling?"
"Believe what you want," she said quickly. "It's the truth and you've got no one to tell you different, correct Mr. Stryker?"
The mobster shifted away from Taggert and glared at Morgan and his wife.
Elizabeth reached up to touch the bruise on the side of her face, as if to remind him what he'd done to her. "We all have accidents, don't we Mr. Stryker?"
"She's right," he told Taggert. "I fell."
Taggert rolled his eyes at the obvious lie. It seemed to him that Jason and Elizabeth had something to hold over Ronan Stryker's head. Or at least Elizabeth did. "What exactly are you doing here Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth reached back and took Jason's hand. "Our daughter died three years ago today, but you knew that already. We're putting flowers on her grave."
Taggert nodded his head. "And you Mr. Stryker?"
Stryker looked away from the man and sighed. In truth, he'd come here to make trouble, but he would never admit to that. From the warning Jason had given him earlier, he knew they knew what he was up to.
"Mr. Stryker was visiting Mr. Sorel's grave," Elizabeth answered for him. "Or that's what he told us."
"Why were you doing that?" Taggert questioned.
Stryker shook his head. There was no way he was going to tell this police officer the truth. He wasn't going to admit he and Joseph Sorel were step-brothers and he wanted to pay his last respects, finally. He wanted to vow he'd get retribution over his death and he'd finally be the one to bring Corinthos and Morgan down.
"It's none of your business," he said finally. "It's still a free country and I can come to the cemetery any time I want to. If you aren't going to arrest me Commissioner, I'd like to go now."
Stryker moved past Taggert and the mourning couple, trying to not wince when he moved his arm. He knew it was broken.
Taggert watched as Stryker left the cemetery. He turned his attention back to Jason and Elizabeth and sighed. "Is there a reason you're still here?"
"No," Elizabeth answered. "There isn't." She took Jason's hand and began to turn towards the gate. "My husband and I were just leaving."
Taggert watched as Morgan and Elizabeth left the cemetery. He looked back at the grave they'd been standing at and sighed when he saw the bouquet of pink carnations. They'd been telling the truth. They were here visiting Abby.
But they were also lying to him. Because there was no way in hell Ronan Stryker fell down and broke his arm.