Part 8

Elizabeth and Jason:

After reheating and eating her meal, Elizabeth checks the time for when the boys will return. She picks up the phone and calls Jason.

Jason sees the caller ID and smiles, "hello"; he softly says. "I was hoping you would call."

Elizabeth says, "sorry, but this is the first time I've had to myself. I went to General Hospital and got myself checked. I was given a clean bill of health, including testing for any residual drugs aren't detected. I asked for time off and was hoping once the kids are in school, we could spend time together. We do have a lot to talk about."

Jason breathes out a sigh of expectation. "I'm glad you checked out okay. I'm also happy you want to spend time together. Nikolas stopped by to fill me in on your report to Dante and Robert. He told me about your conversation with Laura, Kevin, and Cameron. He also told me about your conversation with him about your relationship over the years with Lucky. How do you feel about everything?"

Elizabeth replies, "can we discuss all of that when I see you? It's been a lot to digest. Aiden and Jake will be back in school tomorrow and Cam has work and classes at PCU, so I should be able to get away for a few hours."

Jason answers, "sure, that makes sense. I do want to discuss if we decide to move forward what happens next. I think after we meet, I eventually want to reveal I'm alive. I've been strength training and am almost completely healed. I can't wait to see you. Please call when you are on your way."

Elizabeth replies, "I will, any meal requests, not from Kelly's of course." Elizabeth laughs.

Jason says, "surprise me, just no soup. I've got to go, see you tomorrow." Jason didn't want to say anything to Elizabeth about his project with Spinelli until he has unmistakable answers. He has his suspicions, and he doesn't want to cause Elizabeth any more unhappiness until he's sure. He wants to find Esme before the cops find her and do something stupid.

The following morning after the kids go off to school Elizabeth prepares to meet Jason. Her phone rings and it's Carly. Elizabeth takes a deep breath knowing she can't say a word to Carly about her best friend being alive and most likely will be on her hate list again. "Carly, hi! I've been meaning to call you. I'm sure Josslyn told you I was found, and I wanted to thank you for providing information about Esme. I don't know how much you've been told, but Esme is still out there, and you may want to keep Sonny's people watching Joss and Cam." (pause), "of course, meeting for coffee sounds like a great idea and I can tell you more, but I'm on my way out the door. Something tomorrow would be better for me. Can I call you in the morning?" (pause), "great! Thank you again for providing information about Esme." Elizabeth hangs up the phone.

She picks it back up and places a to-go order from a restaurant near the safehouse and calls in an order of items from a nearby grocery store to pick up. On her way out she grabs a bag of ground coffee and looks for the spare coffee maker. She can't afford to stop by the coffee warehouse for a couple of cups without raising eyebrows or having someone want to talk about how she is doing. She packs a few other things Jason might need. She hopes he won't mind wearing clothes of Franco's she hasn't had time to donate. She packs his shaving kit, toiletries, and some of her things. She hasn't thought yet how it could work, but she's hoping for something more with him. She packs up the car and, on her drive, she calls him to let him know she will be there as soon as she picks up their food order.

Elizabeth pulls up to the safehouse and honks her horn twice. Jason comes out and smiles when he sees her and hugs her before gathering everything from her car. She carries the meals and the groceries inside. She is putting the groceries away, setting up the coffee maker, and putting the food out on plates as Jason is carrying in a couple of suitcases. He raises his eyebrows and asks, "is this what I think this means?"

Elizabeth replies, "yes and no. Some of the things are mine. If you want to try again, it means I'll have some other things to wear. I also know you don't have a lot to wear yourself and if it doesn't make you uncomfortable or unable to deal with a reminder of Franco, there are things of his you could use."

Jason opens the suitcase and pulls out some of the clothes and lays them on the bed. He takes a deep breath and says, "I guess I could see them as nothing more than something to wear. They haven't belonged to Franco in over a year, and they are only clothes. Thank you."

After everything is unpacked, they sit down to eat. Jason wants to talk about everything she went through yesterday. "Nikolas told me what happened with Dante and Robert. He said you told them how you were rescued but left my name out of it. I hope that wasn't too difficult for you to embellish the truth."

Elizabeth laughs and replies, "I've had plenty of experience covering and lying for you. I don't have problems with that. It's the other lying I feel guilty about, but I'm trying to avoid those lies now."

Jason also asks, "Nikolas also told me of your private conversation with him about Lucky and Helena and even Esme. Is it true you feel guilty about holding on to him longer than you should have? Do you regret letting him treat you like his actions were your fault and feeling the need to protect him and that you owed him because of the rape?"

Elisabeth sighs and says, "sometimes I wish we would have told the truth sooner about what happened and wished you would have claimed Jake after he was born and we never called off our engagement, but if that happened you never would have had Danny and I never would have had Aiden. So, for me going through all that was worth it for Aiden. I wish I was stronger in not letting him make me feel I was to blame for his problems or allow him to call me those awful names. Names no man should call someone he claims to love. We tried to make it work, but in the end, we realized that we were better off co-parenting, but that never happened. He married his green card wife and when she later died at the hands of Anthony Zacchara, he needed saving again, and later he left. I honestly don't know if Helena put any of this in motion after we thought we de-programmed him. When we finally got to the point where we got married, I thought we were happy, but even before he hurt his back, he always felt inferior to anyone to who I showed attention. He wouldn't listen when you went to save Sam and he let Manny get away and I got taken. When he hurt his back, Helena couldn't have predicted that. Was his addiction part of her conditioning? Was he not strong enough to realize he didn't need the medication anymore? Helena couldn't have predicted Maxie would have fed his addiction, but he believed I was having an affair with Patrick. Remember how angry and moody he was whenever he saw us talking when he returned and attacked you? He went on to sleep with Sarah. That is how he was when he saw me talking with Patrick and he felt that justified his sleeping with Maxie. He kept sleeping with her to score more drugs. Did that level of programming never got broken? Luke was an alcoholic as was his father, so Lucky already had that in his genes. Could Helena have capitalized on that? "

Jason puts his hands on Elizabeth trying to reassure her, but he knows she has to talk all of it out.

Elizabeth continues, "Since you never claimed Jake at my request, he got clean. It cut me deep that he did it for a child he thought was his, but not for me or Cameron, but I thought I owed him. Why did I keep trying to reassure him that I still loved him and agreed to remarry him instead of deciding to be single parents raising our children jointly? I take responsibility for that. I even told Emily I was wrong to marry Lucky when I was in love with you. There were a lot of endless mistakes I made with him that I regret not being stronger. But having Aiden was not a regret I have. When you and I were together, I was never happier, but I felt guilty for having to hide things. I don't want to do that again. If we choose to be together again, we can see each other in secret until you are ready to show yourself. After a respectful waiting time, I don't want to hide anymore."

Jason says, "I want to be with you, and I don't want to hide either, but it was always about the danger. I respected that in you. One of the reasons Sam and I broke up was she was putting her kids first as did you several years ago. I can't promise you things will change. Sonny and his life are all I've known since my accident and I don't know if I can leave or do anything else."

Elizabeth replies, "everything is a risk. When we were friends several years ago, I was targeted. After you married Courtney and I married Ric the danger from your enemies went away, but there were other dangers. Ric hurt me in many ways. He was more obsessed with taking you and Sonny down, than loving me. But he was obsessed with me and was controlling. He was even that way when I was foolish enough to try again when Drew came to town, and he didn't even know who he was. Jerry Jacks took us, hostage, in the Metro Court. That wasn't your fault. There was danger from Helena and Lucky as you well know from everything, I've told you in the last few days and your first-hand knowledge. Lisa Niles almost killed me. Ewen kidnapped me and that was a result of Jerry Jacks and none of that came from your enemies. While you were being held captive, I was shot by Dr. Obrecht, there was Shilo, and Cameron was going to go through a memory transfer (like with you to Drew), but Franco took his place instead. I don't know what would have happened to Cameron if Franco didn't do that, but that wasn't because of you. I know now you will do what you need to do to protect me and my boys, I can't live my life in fear anymore. I will make these decisions for myself, but my kids are another issue. We would have to tell them everything and if they aren't comfortable, then we need to respect that. I know Jake will be thrilled to have you in his life and would be happy if we are together. I think out of all of them, he would accept having guards."

Jason asks, "what's next? Do we take a break and try again? At least for the next few hours before you must return home.

He leans over for a kiss and Elizabeth responds. She puts her hands on his face and pulls him in closer for a deeper kiss. He takes off his shirt and unbuttons her blouse and slides it off her shoulders and she lets it fall to the floor. He lifts her and carries her to the bed. They make love again for the first time in almost 14 years. Her head lies on his chest she says, "I need to leave soon, but I'm happy we did this. I know the police are trying to find Esme and I know you are trying too. I'm still processing that she is my daughter and Cameron knows and I need to talk with him about how he feels."

Jason kisses her and says, "I'm glad too. I've missed being with you and want to continue this. If I find Esme before the cops, I will let you know."

They both get dressed, Jason kisses Elizabeth, and after she leaves he shuts the door and his hand rests against the door for a few seconds longer. He looks out the window as she drives away. He picks up the phone and calls Spinelli.

Elizabeth makes it home in time to take a shower before Jake and Aiden get home from school. She asks about their day, and they head upstairs to do their homework. She calls Kevin and schedules an appointment for the day after tomorrow. Cameron calls and asks if they can grill tonight and have Joss, Spencer, and Trina over. Elizabeth says yes, happy to see everyone again. She prepares the ingredients and when everyone arrives, they grill and enjoy the food and company. Spencer is happy she is home safe, and everyone hugs her, and everyone leaves. Cameron offers to clean up and Elizabeth asks him if he is ready to talk about Esme.

He says, "tomorrow, I want to enjoy today, and I have the day off tomorrow."

Elizabeth replies, "I'd love to talk about anything you want to."

She heads to bed and falls asleep thinking about Jason.

After Jason's research with Spinelli, he makes dinner and heads to bed thinking about Elizabeth and the future.