Second Chances: The Funeral
Thanks to all of you who have responded so favorably to this story creation of mine. All of your positive feedback has made writing this even more enjoyable. I hope that you all enjoy this next chapter..I assure you there is more to come.
Lisa
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Elizabeth liked the way Jason's hand felt resting in hers. Briefly it brought back all those memories of the times they shared before she had so foolishly walked away from him. Yet as she looked ahead at the casket the reality of what her life was now suddenly came collapsing around her.
Elizabeth's steps faltered and Jason turned to look at her. He could see the tears pooling in her deep blue eyes as her gaze rested solidly on her best friend lying in among the satin folds of the coffin.
"Elizabeth," he whispered.
"I'm fine," she returned with a faint smile.
Jason had wanted nothing more than to guide her to the pew with him but he couldn't help but notice Carly's hard stare. He knew what she was thinking. Jason always knew what Carly was thinking. So rather than make everyone anymore uncomfortable than they already were, Jason guided Elizabeth to where Lucky and Nikolas were sitting. Both of them stared deeply into the others eyes. It was easy to see that neither wanted to let go of the other. Finally Jason made the first move to take his seat. Elizabeth held onto his grasp until their fingers were barely touching. Jason looked back as she sat between the two men and he pressed down the bit of jealousy that he had watching both of them easily drape their arms around her. He moved forward and took his place to the left of Carly and Sonny.
Once the congregation was focused on the front of the sanctuary, Ric took a seat in the last pew as the service began. He was relieved to see that Elizabeth and Jason were sitting separately. He knew that he wouldn't be able to contain himself if they had been sitting snuggled together.
The service was a beautiful one. It was as beautiful as Emily herself was. She looked as though she was sleeping peacefully with a sweet smile across her features. Those that loved her the most were still in a state of complete and utter shock, disbelief even. The minister began the service with Psalms 23:1. "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
"Today we are here to honor the life of Emily Quartermaine." The minister continued. "While she was taken from us too soon her life gave many great joy and love..."
Jason glanced back to where Elizabeth was sitting. He saw the tears silently fall on her cheeks as the minister spoke of Emily. He felt his own eyes grow damp as members of his family stood and shared their memories of his sister. He had wanted to do the same yet there was a part of him that couldn't. He watched as Zander stood before the group and recounted the great love that he and Emily shared. How she had saved him from himself when no one else had cared enough to even to know him.
Again Jason looked at Elizabeth. He had felt very much the way Zander did in terms of Elizabeth. No, she hadn't saved him in the manner in which Zander referred but she had given him back something he hadn't ever expected to have. She had given him the ability to love again, even if he hadn't had the nerve to express that to her. He wondered if his not going after her the day she left his penthouse when it was revealed that Sonny was indeed alive and that Jason had known all along had been the right thing to do. Ever since that day his world hadn't been right. He wondered if she had felt the same.
Lucky and Nikolas were now standing before the group speaking about their childhood friend. Elizabeth's sobs became audible. Each cry that Jason heard made him want to go to her more than the last.
'To hell with it," he thought to himself as he got up from his seat and walked back to where Elizabeth sat alone. Instinctively he captured her in his arms and again she felt of sense of being exactly where she belonged. They sat that way for the remainder of the service.
Ric grabbed the pew before him hard enough to make his knuckles turn white under the pressure. He clenched his jaw as his breathing came out in hard fast bursts. He felt his life spiraling out of control. Nothing had turned out the way that he had expected or wanted but he had always been able to hold fast to the idea of winning Elizabeth's love back. He wasn't going to let Jason Morgan ruin that for him. Elizabeth Webber had been the one good thing he had found in Port Charles and Ric wasn't ready to let that all die.
Jason and Elizabeth sat quietly as the funeral patrons made their way from the chapel. Neither was ready to leave.
"Jason," Carly reached out to touch his shoulder. "Why don't you come home with us?" she asked eyeing Elizabeth carefully. Carly was still unsure of how to feel about Elizabeth Webber/Lansing. She knew that it had been Elizabeth who had been instrumental in her being released from the panic room but that still didn't negate the pain she had caused Jason before. Carly was well aware of how much Jason had been hurt by her inability to understand the role he played in Sonny's "death". The last thing she wanted was for him to be hurt again by someone Carly felt was beneath her friend.
Jason looked at the people he regarded as his family now. He could see how badly they wanted to help him deal with this but he knew that they couldn't. Both Sonny and Carly had liked Emily but their relationship with her had been through him only. "You two go."
"Jason.." Carly began but Sonny cut her off.
"Carly, let's go. Jas man, you know where we are." Sonny rested his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Elizabeth," Sonny nodded toward her.
"Sonny." She felt extremely awkward talking to both of them. She would forever carry the guilt of what Ric, her husband, had done to them. She hated herself for how naïve she had been about it all.
"You okay?" Jason asked when Sonny and Carly were finally gone.
"I just feel.so.." She stumbled in search of the words to express how she felt.
"They don't blame you." Jason said as if he were reading her thoughts.
"How can they not? I lived in that house for weeks while Ric held Carly captive and I didn't have a clue, Jason!" Anguish filled her voice.
"Ric played you. He knew exactly what he was doing." Jason's voice turned stone cold the minute he mentioned Ric Lansing.
"What does that say about me?"
"It says you are a loving, trusting person." Jason reached for her hand.
"No it makes me a fool," she corrected him.
It killed him inside that Ric had been able to make Elizabeth doubt herself. In all the time they had been friends she had never doubted herself. It was just one more reason for Jason to want to wipe Ric Lansing from the face of the earth.
"You're not..." Jason began
"WAIT!" Elizabeth's frantic voice covered his words. She scrambled to the front of the church just as the funeral staff was about to close the casket. "Wait," she said again. Suddenly the thought of never seeing Emily again hit her like a brick wall and she dissolved into a fit of hysterics. Jason rushed to the front of the church also as she was about to collapse onto the floor.
"Shh.shh," he murmured as he rocked her gently in his arms. Elizabeth clung to him as she had never done before. She felt as though he was her last link to her friend. She knew that Jason loved Emily as she had and it felt right to be there in his arms.
"How am I supposed to get along without her?" she sobbed into his shoulder.
"I'll help you, Elizabeth." It was Ric's voice that brought silence to both of them. "I'll help you, sweetie," he said again reaching out offering her his hand. Jason promptly pushed it away.
Without a minutes hesitation Jason had them both on their feet never relinquishing his hold on Elizabeth. "Help her? You mean like how you helped her into the hospital?" Jason said as he recalled visiting her when Ric botched his attempt at keeping her from getting pregnant. Elizabeth nearly died. Jason tightened his embrace.
"She's still my wife," Ric said knowing how lame those words sounded as they left his mouth. To any onlooker it would appear that Jason and Elizabeth were the married couple not them.
"Not for long!" Elizabeth finally spoke. Being there with Jason gave her the strength she needed. "I filed for divorce, Ric."
Those words cut him deeply.
"Lansing!" Sonny's voice bounced off the high chapel walls. "You have the nerve to step foot in here again?" This was the very place that he had taken Carly from. She had been there to discuss the having the newest Corthinthos baptized and he had chloroformed her and whisked her away to the panic room.
"Sonny..." Carly stopped in mid step. The sight of Ric brought everything back for her. Her eyes darted between her husband, best friend, the man that had held her hostage and his wife.
"Carly, go to the car," Sonny instructed.
"What's he doing here?" she asked ignoring the directive.
"Carly go!" Sonny was more forceful this time. He wanted his wife no where near his lunatic brother even if both he and Jason were standing in the room. "MAX!! Get her out of here."
"Elizabeth too," Jason said walking her toward where Carly stood.
"Jason..."
"Please just go with them." He knew that was the last thing she wanted to do and he was more than sure that he would never hear the end of it from Carly but he needed to know that Elizabeth was safe. He couldn't concentrate on what was going on around him with her so close.
Both women let themselves be guided from the church by Max, Elizabeth looking over her shoulder the whole time as Jason and Sonny closed in around Ric.
Thanks to all of you who have responded so favorably to this story creation of mine. All of your positive feedback has made writing this even more enjoyable. I hope that you all enjoy this next chapter..I assure you there is more to come.
Lisa
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Elizabeth liked the way Jason's hand felt resting in hers. Briefly it brought back all those memories of the times they shared before she had so foolishly walked away from him. Yet as she looked ahead at the casket the reality of what her life was now suddenly came collapsing around her.
Elizabeth's steps faltered and Jason turned to look at her. He could see the tears pooling in her deep blue eyes as her gaze rested solidly on her best friend lying in among the satin folds of the coffin.
"Elizabeth," he whispered.
"I'm fine," she returned with a faint smile.
Jason had wanted nothing more than to guide her to the pew with him but he couldn't help but notice Carly's hard stare. He knew what she was thinking. Jason always knew what Carly was thinking. So rather than make everyone anymore uncomfortable than they already were, Jason guided Elizabeth to where Lucky and Nikolas were sitting. Both of them stared deeply into the others eyes. It was easy to see that neither wanted to let go of the other. Finally Jason made the first move to take his seat. Elizabeth held onto his grasp until their fingers were barely touching. Jason looked back as she sat between the two men and he pressed down the bit of jealousy that he had watching both of them easily drape their arms around her. He moved forward and took his place to the left of Carly and Sonny.
Once the congregation was focused on the front of the sanctuary, Ric took a seat in the last pew as the service began. He was relieved to see that Elizabeth and Jason were sitting separately. He knew that he wouldn't be able to contain himself if they had been sitting snuggled together.
The service was a beautiful one. It was as beautiful as Emily herself was. She looked as though she was sleeping peacefully with a sweet smile across her features. Those that loved her the most were still in a state of complete and utter shock, disbelief even. The minister began the service with Psalms 23:1. "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
"Today we are here to honor the life of Emily Quartermaine." The minister continued. "While she was taken from us too soon her life gave many great joy and love..."
Jason glanced back to where Elizabeth was sitting. He saw the tears silently fall on her cheeks as the minister spoke of Emily. He felt his own eyes grow damp as members of his family stood and shared their memories of his sister. He had wanted to do the same yet there was a part of him that couldn't. He watched as Zander stood before the group and recounted the great love that he and Emily shared. How she had saved him from himself when no one else had cared enough to even to know him.
Again Jason looked at Elizabeth. He had felt very much the way Zander did in terms of Elizabeth. No, she hadn't saved him in the manner in which Zander referred but she had given him back something he hadn't ever expected to have. She had given him the ability to love again, even if he hadn't had the nerve to express that to her. He wondered if his not going after her the day she left his penthouse when it was revealed that Sonny was indeed alive and that Jason had known all along had been the right thing to do. Ever since that day his world hadn't been right. He wondered if she had felt the same.
Lucky and Nikolas were now standing before the group speaking about their childhood friend. Elizabeth's sobs became audible. Each cry that Jason heard made him want to go to her more than the last.
'To hell with it," he thought to himself as he got up from his seat and walked back to where Elizabeth sat alone. Instinctively he captured her in his arms and again she felt of sense of being exactly where she belonged. They sat that way for the remainder of the service.
Ric grabbed the pew before him hard enough to make his knuckles turn white under the pressure. He clenched his jaw as his breathing came out in hard fast bursts. He felt his life spiraling out of control. Nothing had turned out the way that he had expected or wanted but he had always been able to hold fast to the idea of winning Elizabeth's love back. He wasn't going to let Jason Morgan ruin that for him. Elizabeth Webber had been the one good thing he had found in Port Charles and Ric wasn't ready to let that all die.
Jason and Elizabeth sat quietly as the funeral patrons made their way from the chapel. Neither was ready to leave.
"Jason," Carly reached out to touch his shoulder. "Why don't you come home with us?" she asked eyeing Elizabeth carefully. Carly was still unsure of how to feel about Elizabeth Webber/Lansing. She knew that it had been Elizabeth who had been instrumental in her being released from the panic room but that still didn't negate the pain she had caused Jason before. Carly was well aware of how much Jason had been hurt by her inability to understand the role he played in Sonny's "death". The last thing she wanted was for him to be hurt again by someone Carly felt was beneath her friend.
Jason looked at the people he regarded as his family now. He could see how badly they wanted to help him deal with this but he knew that they couldn't. Both Sonny and Carly had liked Emily but their relationship with her had been through him only. "You two go."
"Jason.." Carly began but Sonny cut her off.
"Carly, let's go. Jas man, you know where we are." Sonny rested his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Elizabeth," Sonny nodded toward her.
"Sonny." She felt extremely awkward talking to both of them. She would forever carry the guilt of what Ric, her husband, had done to them. She hated herself for how naïve she had been about it all.
"You okay?" Jason asked when Sonny and Carly were finally gone.
"I just feel.so.." She stumbled in search of the words to express how she felt.
"They don't blame you." Jason said as if he were reading her thoughts.
"How can they not? I lived in that house for weeks while Ric held Carly captive and I didn't have a clue, Jason!" Anguish filled her voice.
"Ric played you. He knew exactly what he was doing." Jason's voice turned stone cold the minute he mentioned Ric Lansing.
"What does that say about me?"
"It says you are a loving, trusting person." Jason reached for her hand.
"No it makes me a fool," she corrected him.
It killed him inside that Ric had been able to make Elizabeth doubt herself. In all the time they had been friends she had never doubted herself. It was just one more reason for Jason to want to wipe Ric Lansing from the face of the earth.
"You're not..." Jason began
"WAIT!" Elizabeth's frantic voice covered his words. She scrambled to the front of the church just as the funeral staff was about to close the casket. "Wait," she said again. Suddenly the thought of never seeing Emily again hit her like a brick wall and she dissolved into a fit of hysterics. Jason rushed to the front of the church also as she was about to collapse onto the floor.
"Shh.shh," he murmured as he rocked her gently in his arms. Elizabeth clung to him as she had never done before. She felt as though he was her last link to her friend. She knew that Jason loved Emily as she had and it felt right to be there in his arms.
"How am I supposed to get along without her?" she sobbed into his shoulder.
"I'll help you, Elizabeth." It was Ric's voice that brought silence to both of them. "I'll help you, sweetie," he said again reaching out offering her his hand. Jason promptly pushed it away.
Without a minutes hesitation Jason had them both on their feet never relinquishing his hold on Elizabeth. "Help her? You mean like how you helped her into the hospital?" Jason said as he recalled visiting her when Ric botched his attempt at keeping her from getting pregnant. Elizabeth nearly died. Jason tightened his embrace.
"She's still my wife," Ric said knowing how lame those words sounded as they left his mouth. To any onlooker it would appear that Jason and Elizabeth were the married couple not them.
"Not for long!" Elizabeth finally spoke. Being there with Jason gave her the strength she needed. "I filed for divorce, Ric."
Those words cut him deeply.
"Lansing!" Sonny's voice bounced off the high chapel walls. "You have the nerve to step foot in here again?" This was the very place that he had taken Carly from. She had been there to discuss the having the newest Corthinthos baptized and he had chloroformed her and whisked her away to the panic room.
"Sonny..." Carly stopped in mid step. The sight of Ric brought everything back for her. Her eyes darted between her husband, best friend, the man that had held her hostage and his wife.
"Carly, go to the car," Sonny instructed.
"What's he doing here?" she asked ignoring the directive.
"Carly go!" Sonny was more forceful this time. He wanted his wife no where near his lunatic brother even if both he and Jason were standing in the room. "MAX!! Get her out of here."
"Elizabeth too," Jason said walking her toward where Carly stood.
"Jason..."
"Please just go with them." He knew that was the last thing she wanted to do and he was more than sure that he would never hear the end of it from Carly but he needed to know that Elizabeth was safe. He couldn't concentrate on what was going on around him with her so close.
Both women let themselves be guided from the church by Max, Elizabeth looking over her shoulder the whole time as Jason and Sonny closed in around Ric.