Elizabeth smiled to herself when she felt Jason reach under the table and take her hand. His thumb caressed her knuckles and he gave her hand a squeeze. When she turned to look at him, he smiled at her. Jason didn't have to say anything, because she knew what message he was trying to convey. Everything was finally going to be okay.

Abby sat across from her, beside Jason, at the long dining room table. The boys had recently helped move Elizabeth and the girl's into Audrey Hardy's house, after Jason was sure Philip Scarcella or Ronan Stryker would no longer threaten his family. Jason, however, stayed behind at Harborview, like him and Elizabeth had decided before. But there had been more than one morning when Elizabeth, on her way downstairs to start a pot of coffee, discovered Jason asleep on the couch with Abby stretched out across his chest.

The emotional reunion in the living room a month ago seemed to be the first of many emotional reunions. Abby still hadn't gotten the concept of Uncle Sonny, Francis, and Johnny. Much to Jason's dismay, she seemed to really take to Jax though. The Australian and his lady lawyer came over often, as well. The nights were roughest for them, though. Scarcella and Stryker both seemed to visit Abby in her dreams. While the child understood she wouldn't be seeing her Papa anymore, she still missed them. For two years, they were all she knew. As much as she would never admit it, in some ways Elizabeth was grateful to Scarcella for taking such good care of their daughter. She was healthy, well taken care of, and loved. She had to believe Scarcella genuinely loved Abby and that she hadn't been just another part of the job.

These thoughts had been running through Elizabeth's mind since her little girl had first called her Mommy. Elizabeth knew she would continue to have her doubts until Abby slept through the night and stopped looking so haunted. But for now, Elizabeth pushed them aside when Sonny stood and gently tapped his fork against the wine glass. She reached for her own water and turned to her old friend to listen as he made his Thanksgiving toast.

Sonny gave all of his friends a wide smile when they turned to him. He didn't know what he was supposed to say to them. Sonny knew he'd never be able to express to them how much he loved and appreciated them. How empty his life would be without them in it. He couldn't tell Jason that he was the first family, outside of his mother, he'd ever had. Couldn't tell Elizabeth he thought of her as a little sister and that her children lit up his otherwise dim life.

He knew he might one day admit to Alexis that her friendship had pulled him out of himself more than once. A phone call or just showing up to talk had saved him from self-destruction. But Sonny knew he'd never admit he thought Jax was good for her. The man he had hated for years for stealing away his one true love had saved the attorney from a life filled with loneliness. For that, Sonny would always be grateful to the man.

"First of all," he finally spoke, "I'd like to thank Elizabeth for hosting us." He lifted his wine glass and motioned towards Elizabeth before taking a drink.

"To Elizabeth," the others agreed.

She blushed as she took a sip of her water. "There's no need, Sonny. My home is your home." Elizabeth paused and looked around the table and then said, "You're all welcome here. Any time, day or night."

Sonny's eyes were shining with emotion. "Thank you, Elizabeth." He turned his attention to the other end of the table and smiled at Jason. "And to Jason. I'm glad you've finally regained your sanity." He lifted his glass to his friend and continued. "Of all the people sitting around us, you were the first to make me feel like family. It wasn't that you came to me years ago, needing someone. It wasn't that you needed someone to see you for yourself, not as someone you used to be."

"Sonny–" Jason interrupted.

"No, let me finish," he insisted, his voice hoarse with emotion. "This is family Jason, and there's no need to hide from them what they already know. You are my brother. Your wife—she's my sister. Your children call me 'Uncle.' When you were away, even though I know you had your reasons… it was like part of me was gone. I'm glad you're back."

Six pairs of eyes shifted to Jason, waiting to see if he would say anything. Elizabeth simply took his hand under the table as he had done for her earlier. She locked their fingers and squeezed to give him the strength she knew he needed.

Jason nodded at his friend and swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. He looked around to all of his friends, then to Isabelle who was gurgling away, oblivious to what was going on around her. Finally his eyes settled on Abby who was smiling at him. With his other hand he reached out and trailed the back of his hand down her cheek. "Baby girl," he murmured.

When he finally looked up at Sonny, he saw that the older man was still standing. "I…" he began, then stopped. He turned to face Elizabeth and smiled. "First, I need to say I'm sorry to you, Elizabeth. You are my life, my whole world, and I forgot that for awhile." He sighed deeply when he saw the tears pooling in her eyes. "You are an amazing woman and I know I don't deserve you. But I want to say thank you for never giving up on me. I love you, Elizabeth. With all of my heart.

"Sonny, I've said this several times recently, but again I need to say thank you. For taking care of them, of me, in all the times when I couldn't do it myself. "His eyes moved from the mobster's to the rest of the table's occupants, he smiled briefly. "To all of you, for taking care of Elizabeth. For being there when I couldn't… No, when I wouldn't. After my accident, my sister told me you don't get to choose who your family, but she was wrong. I got to choose after all. And I chose you."

After Jason finished speaking, Sonny shifted his eyes to Johnny and Francis. Both guards were sitting there, trying to blend in so they wouldn't be called out. Not wanting to embarrass them, Sonny lifted his glass again and said, "To my guards, who have been there to save me more times than I can count. My friends, my brothers, my family."

The adults lifted their glasses to his toast and drank. His attention then turned to Alexis and Jax, who sat to his left. Alexis was paying more attention to Isabelle who was playing with the snack crackers Elizabeth had given her. Jax's attention was trained on his wife, his blue eyes glowing with love as he watched them. "To my attorney," Sonny began. Alexis looked away from the small child and smiled at him. "Who has put herself and her reputation on the line more than once to save me.

"Alexis, I can't tell you how much you mean to me. Years ago, when we met, you were adamant about not helping me. You only helped because of Jason and I thank you for that. Now, we're more than just attorney and client, we're friends. In recent years, you've saved me from myself more than I can tell you. Just a telephone call or dropping by to see if I'm okay, you don't know how important you were to me. With Jason gone and Elizabeth in Buffalo…you were all I had," Sonny admitted. His heart warmed at the sight of tears flowing freely down her cheeks. He could have sworn he saw Jax's eyes soften towards him, too.

Sonny took a long swallow of his wine, leaving only a small amount in the glass. He turned to the Australian and smirked. "Years ago, when you arrived in Port Charles, I knew I hated you immediately. Not much has changed since then, Jasper."

"Is there a point to this, Corinthos?" Jax asked. He felt Alexis place a hand on his arm and he bit back his other comments.

"Like so many things, it was about a girl. One we both still remember and love. And I think in her memory, we should bury this rivalry between us. Sometimes I think about Brenda and I picture her in heaven. With angels on both sides of her, surrounded by others we've loved and lost in Port Charles. I like to think she has a family up there, and that she's not alone. That she's finally happy.

"I imagine that she peeks in on us once in awhile, Jax. She might just laugh at what she sees. After all these years, we still have this petty game of one-upmanship going on. It's time for it to end. We're in each other's lives. We didn't get to chose that, but that's how it will be." Sonny paused as he sat his drink on the table and walked to where Jax was seated. He extended his hand to the man and said, "Can we finally end this war we started all of those years ago? I'm not saying we'll ever be friends, but we can at least exist peacefully."

Silence hung in the room as all eyes were on the two men. Alexis held her breath, hoping the two most important men in her life would finally put their differences behind them. She couldn't express how proud of Sonny she was at that moment. Alexis could only hope Jax would take the offered olive branch.

Jax studied the face of the man he'd called 'enemy' to see if he was sincere before reaching out and shaking his hand. "For Brenda," he said softly.

"And Alexis," Sonny added.

After Sonny was seated, Elizabeth stood and began to speak, "Don't think you've been forgotten, Andrew," she said to her guard. "I purposely asked Sonny to not say anything to you.

"As hostess of this little get together, I'd like thank you for being here with us today. I know you're mother passed away recently and I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what it's been like for you, but please know if you need anything Jason and I are willing to give you anything you need." Elizabeth glanced down at her husband and he nodded in agreement. "A few years ago, I met this young, timid man who my best friend told me was my new guard. You knew nothing about guarding someone, and I didn't have much more experience in being guarded. Over the years, you've proved yourself time and again. You've been there for me and for Isabelle. I'm grateful for the times you've picked her up when she fell down. And I want to extend to you an invitation to join our family. Always know that wherever you go, you always have a home."

Elizabeth sipped her water and then slipped back into her seat. The bodyguard nodded towards her, but didn't say anything. Andrew didn't know the words he could say that would express to his 'assignment' how much he cared for her and her daughters, how much her friendship meant to him.

Alexis circled her finger around her water and sighed. She turned towards Jax, and he nodded at her. Taking his hand in one of hers, she squeezed it softly. "Since we're all sort of saying something here…" she shot a look at Johnny and Francis, "Well most of us are saying something, Jax and I have an announcement. We've known for over a month now, but first we wanted to be sure—the doctors tell you that the first three months…" she trailed off. She noticed Elizabeth's grin and she nodded her head. "We're pregnant."

The table erupted in the mandatory congratulations, instantly thrusting Alexis and Jax into the spotlight. Suddenly everyone wanted to know everything. Elizabeth watched as her friends glowed at the news of their expanding family. She felt Jason's fingers wrap around hers again and she turned to face him.

"I love you," he said softly.

Elizabeth smiled weakly at him, her tears resurfacing. "I know." She turned in her chair so that he was all she could see. Releasing her hand from his, she cupped his cheek. "I love you, too."

Jason leaned forward and kissed her softly. He was glad they had a moment to themselves and was grateful for Alexis' announcement. "I was thinking…that maybe, in a week or so, you and I could have dinner together. If that's okay."

"Jason," Elizabeth teased. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

His hand covered hers on his face as he absently began to tug on her engagement ring. It slipped off her finger easily and he held it between his thumb and forefinger. "I love you, Elizabeth. So much that it scares me. I lost sight of that once and I'll never forgive myself. I want another chance. So yes, I'm asking you on a date. What do you say?"

The tears began to fall as she studied his face. Elizabeth felt her heart expand with love for the amazing man sitting in front of her. "Yes," she choked out. Joining her hands with his, she leaned forward to kiss him. "Yes," she whispered against his lips.

Jason's hands came up to frame her face as he kissed her. His lips moved softly over hers in a caress. He tasted the salt from her tears and it made him love her all the more. How many tears had she cried for him, he wondered. How much sleep had she lost, how many times had she wondered where he was? How many times had she looked out into the night, remembering the way they were together?

He knew he didn't deserve her, or her love, but he felt empty without her.

Elizabeth sighed under his mouth and opened to him. When his tongue touched hers, she completely forgot where she was. It didn't matter that their daughters were watching, their friends were looking on, she even ignored the whistles from Johnny, Francis, and Andrew. Finally, it was her daughter's voice that broke through.

"Mommy's kissing Daddy!" Abby cried out. "Mommy's kissing Daddy!"

Elizabeth pulled back and smiled against Jason's lips. "We have an audience."

"So we do," he said before he kissed her softly again. "I love you," he said in a fierce whisper.

Elizabeth pulled back, looking thoroughly loved. Her cheeks were stained crimson as she turned in her seat to face Abby. The child's wide grin made Elizabeth smile, too. "Mommy loves Abby, too," she told her softly.

Abby nodded in agreement. "I love Mommy and Daddy, too."

"Sissy too!" Isabelle exclaimed. "Love sissy too!" Isabelle turned to her mother and began pulling on her sleeve wanting her attention. "Mommy," she tried.

Elizabeth looked down at her blond child and smiled. "Yes honey?"

All eyes were on her as she spoke. "Isa hungry, Mommy. Want food."

As if coordinated, Alexis' stomach growled and the table exploded in laughter. Jax said, "My child has spoken, so let's eat!"

As Sonny began to carve the Thanksgiving turkey, Elizabeth leaned over to Jason and whispered in his ear, so no one else could hear what she had to say. When she pulled back, he stared down into her beautiful face and was taken back in time two years. For as long as he lived, he knew he'd never forget what she'd just told him.

"I'm glad neither of us are still angry all the time, Jason."


FINIS

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Now I'd like to share a few things about this story. 

I started 'Angry' because of an inkling of an idea, and well, if not for the support I received from my readers, it would have remained what I posted as the 'prologue.'  It has been a true emotional roller coaster for me.  While I could continue telling the story of this Jason & Elizabeth, I do believe it's time to give them a break.  I plan on coming back with more, but at this time… since I'm going away soon, I want to put it on the shelf and let myself rest. 

Thank you all, for everyone who has read this story.  I hope it's touched you like it touched me.  – Calla, khala@vnet.net