3 years later...... ...

Jason slowed the pace of his Porsche as he neared the former Malucci compound. He hadn't cared to ever see that place again but lately something drew him there time and time again. He didn't know if it was some sort of morbid curiosity or if perhaps he just needed the reassurance that that part of his life was finally closed. The events from years before at times were still a vivid memory for Jason. So vivid that it felt as though he was reliving them.

He let his eyes be drawn to the thick gold band that encircled the third finger of his left hand. Instinctively a broad smile filled Jason's face. Indeed the calamity that had been Anthony Malucci was only a memory. He and Elizabeth had been married for almost two years and had finally been able to put the past in the past where it belonged. There were instances though when Jason still couldn't believe that after all they had been through to be together that they finally were. It amazed him. He had found the happiness that he had been craving for so long and now that he and Elizabeth no longer had to hide in the shadows it just made the happiness that much sweeter.

Jason looked again at the sprawling Malucci mansion and wondered who lived within its walls. He wondered if they would make the house into a home filled with love and laughter rather than a place of deceit and hatred it had been. Joseph had helped Elizabeth with the sale of the estate. She had been resistant at first. She explained that she felt if she sold Rocco's house it was like somehow selling him. Jason wasn't sure if she would ever completely be over the part she felt she played in Rocco's death. Joseph had been sensitive to Elizabeth's ties to Rocco, since he had them as well. He didn't push the issue in the beginning. He kept the Malucci mansion running even though Elizabeth no longer lived there. Finally Joseph approached her with an idea he was sure Elizabeth would find appropriate. He suggested that she sell the house and surrounding grounds and he would help her use the money to set up a foundation that would cover the medical expenses of those patients that didn't have health insurance. Joseph explained that he was sure that was something Rocco would have strongly been in favor of. Elizabeth agreed. Once he was given the go ahead, he put the house on the market and with a matter of nine months the sale of the house closed and Elizabeth and Joseph began work on the Malucci Memorial Foundation. He schooled her in the working of the organization and with the help of Dr. Harold Johnjulio they began reaching out to those in desperate need of medical attention but had been turned away due to lack of medical coverage. Jason was a bit surprised that his father enlisted the assistance of Dr. Johnjulio. However he was even more shocked that Don Morgan cut the ties that bound Harold Johnjulio to the darker side of the Morgan family. Joseph explained his actions to his son as necessary. He said that Harold had served his purposes well and that it was time that he was released from his 'family' obligations. Secretly though Joseph had done it as thanks for saving Elizabeth's life, yet no one, not even Harold Johnjulio would know that to be the true reason for Joseph's actions.

Jason looked at his watch and realized he was already running behind schedule. He could almost see Elizabeth tapping her foot peering out the window that overlooked the driveway as she waited for him to return. He shifted the transmission from neutral to first gear as his eyes caught sight of the huge arrangement of spring flowers that adorned Rocco's grave. Joseph had made sure when the mansion and grounds were sold that the portion that was the Malucci family crypt had been preserved as a place that he and Elizabeth could go to visit with Rocco anytime they so desired. By the looks of the flowers, Jason knew that his wife had been there recently. In the beginning Elizabeth made daily visits to Rocco's grave site. He found himself protesting the action saying that she needed to move on with her life, yet Joseph made him realize that she was. That she needed to make her own sort of peace with Rocco. As time wore on the visits became less frequent but still even now a week didn't go by without Elizabeth going there to visit at least once. Jason had grown to understand and on occasion went with her. He too had some thanks to give to the man who hadn't stood in the way of Elizabeth's happiness and knew that his son wasn't the man for her.

It was hard for Jason to imagine that he was good enough for her as well. With all that Elizabeth had endured in her life she still shone with a great human spirit. She was loving, kind and would lend a hand without so much as stopping to think about it. It was funny how in the beginning she had masked those qualities. How living with Anthony had forced up walls and barriers of protection. It was those things that had kept Elizabeth her sanity. Yet when Jason entered her life she dropped those defense mechanisms with him. He was keenly aware now that her letting go of those protective measures is what forced her over the edge that fateful night. It had taken him nearly a year to come to grips with the fact that he had played a role in Elizabeth's need to end her life. To this day it was still something that gnawed at him every now and again. Jason pushed those negative thoughts from his mind. Today was a celebration not a time for regret. He looked over at the large box perched on the passenger seat. Through the thin cellophane he could read the sprawling script painted in icing.

Happy 1st Birthday

Matthew Xavier

Jason couldn't help but grin. It was his son's first birthday. His son – that was an idea that he had never let himself dream about until Elizabeth and even then he never expected it to be fulfilled – but it had been.

"There you are – finally," Helena said with annoyance in her voice as she attempted to hide a faint smile.

"The bakery was a mad house," Jason fibbed as he placed the large sheet cake box on the counter. He watched as Helena busied herself with removing the large cake from its container. There had been a time not long ago when he would have never imagined having a former Malucci employee in his own employ but Helena was a completely different story. From the very beginning her only concerns had been for Elizabeth. She had been Elizabeth's confidant and at times even her keeper so when the Malucci estate was sold and the rest of the employees were given a letter of reference and modest severance, Jason asked Helena to help him plan his own house as he and Elizabeth planned to be married. The gesture touched both Elizabeth and the older woman. Quickly she became much more than an employee to Jason. She became his friend just as she had always been his wife's. When Elizabeth found out she was pregnant, Helena easily assumed the role of caretaker when Jason hadn't been able to do it himself. He recalled how the pair had nearly driven Elizabeth crazy until the day that Matthew entered the world.

"Thank you," Jason said as thoughts of all Helena had given and done for his family rushed him.

"For what?" she eyed him curiously. "Keeping Elizabeth from chasing you down this afternoon?" she joked.

"Well yes – for that," Jason laughed. He knew that that had to have not been an easy task. If anything his wife was headstrong. "But more for being Elizabeth's friend – my friend," he added. "Thanks for caring about what happened to her then and what happens to her now," Jason spoke softly as he choked a bit on an escaping tear. Every once in a while the notion of how close he had come to losing Elizabeth engulfed him.

"Don't thank me. She's easy to love, but I am sure you already know that. Don't you?" Jason smiled. "So are you. It's I who should be thanking you. You gave this lonely woman a home, a family and a beautiful baby boy's life to be a part of. So, thank you, Jason, thank you." Helena rested her hand gently on Jason's cheek and kissed him softly. "Now go fine Elizabeth, before she sends out the troops in search of you."

"Yes ma'ma!" Jason jokingly threw Helena a mock salute.

Jason stepped across the threshold of the great room and was bombarded by balloons, decorations and party favors. It looked as though there should have been a whole army of kids there rather than just his own son and two nieces. One of which was barely three months old.

"No ... no ... no!" Jason glanced sideways to see Zander chasing after Becca as she toddled around the kids table sampling all the treats. Emily's laughter filled Jason's ears as she giggled at her husband and daughter's display. He watched her cradle Gracie, the newest addition to their family. She was a natural mother. Jason could see it in her posture. It was hard to believe how young she truly was. Many times he had watched in secret as Elizabeth and Emily tended to their children. His heart would swell at the gentle way both women had with the small creatures, while he and Zander were all thumbs when it came to even the simple things.

"Becca tearing up the place again I see," Jason stated as he kissed his sister.

"Looks that way," Emily chuckled. "It looks like Zander could use my help. Would you mind?" she asked as she handed over Gracie without waiting for a response.

Jason wondered if he had truly ever thanked his sister for all she had done to help him get to this point in his life. It didn't matter how many times he denied his feelings for Elizabeth, Emily hadn't let him. She played dutiful matchmaker even when it had been against her better judgment. She had put herself in harms way so that he could have his heart's desire. Jason crossed the room to where Emily stood crouched down wiping chocolate smears from her daughter's cherub face. "I love you," he said as he rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Huh?" Emily was caught off guard by his remark.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Jas. What's this all about?" she questioned.

"What – can't a brother just tell his baby sister that he loves her?" Jason feigned a dejected expression.

"Yes," Emily returned slyly, "but I know that look and you want something. What – you want me to explain to Elizabeth why you have been absent for most of the party?" She punched his arm playfully.

"NO – then again that might not be such a bad idea," Jason laughed. "I just want you to know that I appreciate all that you did to get me here."

"What I did?"

"Yes. You were smart enough to see the love before I did. Thanks for thinking I deserved a shot at it. And I am sorry that I wasn't the best brother at times through it all... ..."

"Jason," she stopped him. "that's water under the bridge. You have Elizabeth but more importantly you are a happier man in all aspects of your life. That's what I always wanted for you. I love you too."

Jason and his sister shared an embrace. "Looks like she's off and running again," he said as he pointed to Becca who had made a mad dash for the other side of the room.

"Will you keep her a minute longer?" Emily asked about the sleeping baby in Jason's arms.

"Go – go before she destroys my house," Jason laughed. "Would you like some practice?" Jason asked as he offered a sleeping Gracie to his brother.

"Sure," AJ replied. "I will take all the practice I can get."

Jason noted that his brother seemed to have a glow brighter than his pregnant wife. Courtney was only a month or two away from delivering their baby. The couple had come a long way since the miscarriage. It had been an uphill battle for them especially as they watched the other members of their family having babies. It had taken nearly as long for AJ and Jason to come to some understanding as well. Both harbored a deep resentment towards the other for what they believed that the other had and they did not.

When Jason found out Elizabeth was pregnant with Matthew was when he decided it was time the brothers make amends. Jason had told AJ everything about his life, how much he despised him for leaving him holding the 'family' bag so to speak. How as a young man he watched as AJ and Emily were allowed to have lives while he was forced to be a man well before his time. It had amazed Jason to listen to the flip side of things from AJ's point of view. How he saw Jason as the chosen one, the one their father loved best. It was funny how a person's perception gets skewed along the way. By the end of the night, Jason had told his brother about his impending child and AJ revealed Courtney and he were finally at a point where they wanted to try for another baby. The brothers still had a great deal more road ahead of them but they had finally begun to see what it was like standing in the others shoes. "How's she feeling?" Jason asked as he motioned to Courtney.

"To quote her," AJ began, "Like a beached whale."

"Ah... ...," Jason laughed. "I remember those days. Why don't you take Gracie over to her so she can see that it's all worth the wait," Jason suggested.

"Excellent idea." AJ smiled and headed in the direction of his wife.

Jason smiled as he finally caught sight of his own wife. She and Helena were bringing out the cake and ice cream to the head table. To him she was still as breathtaking as she had been the first day that he had laid eyes on her. She juggled her role as wife, mother and corporate benefactor for the foundation with such ease that Jason was in total awe of her.

"We have come a long way haven't we son?" Joseph said as he placed his hand on Jason's shoulder.

"Yes. Yes we have," Jason responded as he scanned the room one more time. Joseph did the same. His once sullen family had finally been replaced with the happiness he had been longing for. His sons were friends again. He and Jason had reached a compromise. Their relationship had grown into a mutual respect rather than Don and underboss as Jason had always seen it. In fact Joseph had distanced Jason from the day to day operations of the business yet knew he could call on his son when a show of united strength was needed. Joseph happily turned Morgan Enterprises over to his youngest son. Jason had no problem turning a profit in the legitimate business world to the point where Morgan Enterprises was quite the mogul, nearly Fortune 500 status.

"I'm proud of you, Jason," Joseph stated.

"Thank you... ..."

"There you are," Elizabeth smiled broadly as she joined the father and son.

Jason pulled her into his arms and kissed her sweetly. "The bakery was crazy... ..."

"So I heard," Elizabeth laughed. "You think you are up to helping your son blow out the candles on his cake?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Jason took Elizabeth's hand in his as they walked toward where Helena was standing holding their boy. "Whoa – hey what are you doing?" Jason questioned as Elizabeth pulled him into the kitchen. "We're going in the wrong direction, don't you think?"

"Not at all," Elizabeth said with a sly smile as she placed a tempting kiss on his lips. Easily Jason let himself melt into the embrace and in turn deepened the kiss. "I love you, Mr. Morgan," she said breathlessly when they both came up for air. "You restored my faith in that emotion." Elizabeth laid her head against his chest. The commotion of the party just beyond the doorway fell away leaving them to revel in one another for the briefest moment. "You know I never expected to ever be this happy," she sighed.

"Neither did I," Jason agreed as he tightened his embrace around her tiny waist.

"I don't know where I would be right now if I had never met you," Elizabeth paused as she looked deep into the eyes of the man who had seen her through the worst possible times in her life. "Yes I do," she continued, "I'd still be stuck in a loveless marriage... ..."

"Shhhhh... ..." Jason silenced her words as he pressed his finger against her lips. "Don't – today is a celebration. Today is for our son. Today is for Matty and us." Jason kissed Elizabeth once more.

"I love you, Jason."

"And I love you. I think we better get back to the party. One parent AWOL for most of the event was enough don't you think?" he said as he joked about his own earlier absence. The couple made their way to where Helena started to light the large number one candle in the center of the cake.

As the chorus of voices finished the last bars of Happy Birthday, Jason lifted Matthew up in the air, put his free arm around his wife's shoulder as they blew out the candle. There was no need for either of them to make a wish for their greatest wish had already come true.