Chapter 13: Homecoming
~ Port Charles~
They were about to land on Port Charles. Neither had said a word since they left Luke and Lucky in New Orleans. Nikolas was sitting across from Elizabeth, neither looking at each other and both thinking the same thing. What if they get hurt or Helena takes them? How were they going to be able to help if they didn't know what was going on. The only thing left to do was pray for their safe return, but that wasn't enough.
~ Brownstone~
Carly was about to go out when the telephone rang. She went and picked it up.
" Hello."
" Carly?"
She didn't have to ask who it was. It was the man she was in love with, her husband Sonny Corinthos.
"Sonny."
" How are you doing?"
" Am fine. You?" She tried to sound casual and cold.
" Ok."
" So, to what do I owe the honor of this call? Are you going to yell at me? Order me to come home? What?"
" I just wanted to know how you were doing. That's all."
" Well, nice of you to ask. Am doing great, you?"
After a long silence... " Ok. Aren't you going to ask about the kids?"
" I talked to Michael this morning, right before he left for school. I know he got an A on his math quiz and that Morgan is saying Dada and Tricia."
" So, you've been getting in touch with Leticia and Michael?"
" Everyday."
" Oh. So is just me you don't want to talk to. Is just me who you don't want to be around?" He was getting impatient.
" You know that's not it. I love you..."
" Nice way of showing it. Running away from home." His tone was getting harder.
" I didn't ran away. I told you what was going to happen and you chose to ignore me."
" I don't change my mind on command you know."
" Yeah. But I have to, don't I?"
" Look what you're doing is not healthy for a marriage. For less than that people get divorce."
" Are you threatening me?"
" No. Am just saying..."
" Well you say and do whatever you think is appropriate. Am not going home until Jason trust in me again."
" Look I didn't mean, I just want my family to be together."
" Me too."
~ Port Charles airport~
Emily and Jason were standing of to a side.
" What did he say?"
" Just that he and Elizabeth were coming home. He didn't sound good Jason. Something must've gone wrong. They were on their way to look after a clue and all of the sudden he says they're coming home."
" Just. Calm down. Maybe they didn't have to go at all, maybe Luke and Lucky thought they could take care of it alone."
" I don't know. I have a strange feeling about this."
~ Cassadine Jet ~
" Well here we are. Home."
Nikolas' voice brought her back from her thoughts.
" We are?"
" Yes. I called Emily and let her know we were arriving, she must be waiting in the gate."
" Good. I've been dying..." She stopped for a moment after mentioning the word. "... to see her."
" Look. I know what you're thinking."
" Don't please. I don't need a pep talk right now."
" They are going to be alright."
" Yeah, I really hope so. We better change before going out." They were still wearing the costumes of the Featherhead family. She stood up and went to the bathroom.
~ Docks~
Francis watched at the top of the stairs as Carly sat on the bench crying. After a couple of minutes when the blond woman had calmed down, he walked towards her.
" Mrs. Corinthos. Are you ok?"
" Yeah. I guess you saw me. Crying I mean."
" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
" It's ok. I wasn't really hiding it. It's just that Sonny called me this morning. Things are going to get worst before they get better."
" What are you going to do?" He sat down next to her.
" Nothing. Am not going back until I get Jason back. I want things to go back to the way they were."
" You know things can't go back to the way they were, don't you?"
" What do you mean?"
" Forget what I said. I shouldn't have."
" No. Tell me. Why things can't go back to the way they were?"
" Ok. But everything am about to tell you, is all about me. It's what I saw while I guarded the door outside of the penthouse, and when I drove you around, when we had meetings and things like that. You, Jason and Sonny used to be the best of friends. You treated each other with respect. But then things started to change. I noticed that Jason became just one more of us. Always second in command, but Sonny kind of treated him like an enforcer and not a friend. Since Luis Alcazar came to Port Charles, Sonny lost track of what Jason needed and asked him to do this things that made him lose things that were important to him."
Carly was confused. " What do you mean he lost things? That fall, we all went trough a rough time together. I even accepted his relationship with Princess Purity..." Carly trailed of as she remembered the fall of 2002 and its final outcome. Sonny and her were happy and together, better than ever. But Jason, he had to marry Brenda Barrett and the Muffin face walked away from him. But that was the best thing that could've happen. After all, Jason was more than happy with Courtney. Or was he? Jason never allowed himself to fully let go of whatever he had with Elizabeth. She knew that their relationship hadn't really ended, things kind of went into stand by. Was that what Francis meant by the things he lost?
The guard watched as the face of the woman changed as she went back to the fall of 2002. He could see her replaying things on her mind. And finally, realization. But as soon as she realized, her face turned incredulous.
" What are you trying to say Francis? That he's still got a thing for Goody-goody Muffin Face?"
" Who?"
" You know, Princess Purity. Is that what your saying? The things that Jason lost, is Elizabeth Webber one of them?"
" Well. Considering he is in love with her... yes."
Carly's face turned red and her eyes narrowed.
" What do you mean in love with her?"
~ Airport Gate~
Jason's phone rang. Emily listened to his end of the conversation.
" Morgan. Yes. Can't you take care of that? Where? Ok. Yes, I'll be there as soon as I can."
He turned off his phone and turned to face his sister with an apologetic look on his face.
" You'd think that now that you're the boss you shouldn't have to run every time the phone rang."
" How did you know?"
" The look on your face. And your end of the conversation. What's up?"
" Calvin. The new guy at the shop. He's alone and has to finish a Yamaha for today at five, but he received a call to go pick up a Harley at the Lot. He can't do both so..."
" You have to go."
" I don't want to bail, but I am the boss. I have to do this."
" They are already here. Can't you wait a few minutes?"
" I can't honey. The Lot closes at 3. It's 2:30 and I have to go get the tow truck."
" She'll want you to be here."
" I don't know about that. I do wanted to be here. But..."
" Yeah. Yeah, you have to go. So go, before I get cranky."
" I'll make it up to you, I promise."
" You can say that again."
" I love you." They hugged and then he turned to leave but stopped and turned to his sister again. " Would you do me a favor? Could you not tell her I was here?"
" Why not?"
" Just, don't. Please."
" Ok. I won't, but Jason she..." He didn't listen to her argument. And just walked out of the gate.
~ Docks~
" So answer me. Why do you think Jason was in love with her?"
" You are an intelligent woman, Mrs. C, I don't have to explain to you what was so obvious to everybody. Well everybody but the two involved."
" I don't think so. Jason liked her, God only knows why. He might've even had the hots for her. But he wasn't in love."
" Ok. So he spending all that time with her after Lucky died, accepting her help after he was shot, saving her from blowing up, saying goodbye to her, asking about her every time he called, taking her on rides, being there for her when Lucky came back from the dead, asking her to go away with him..."
Francis kept going pointing out every single thing Jason did for Elizabeth. But Carly was stuck in the "asking her to go away with him" part.
" Wait what did you say?"
" You know saving Zander's butt..."
" Not that. Before that."
" Saving her from the crypt."
" Before that. The "asking her to go away with him" thing."
" Didn't know that one?"
" When was that?"
" After Lucky attacked him."
" So he asked her to go away with him?"
" He wanted her to be safe. He knew that Lucky was out of it, and that she would be in trouble if she stayed. But she said no. She stayed with Lucky even though she had feelings for Jason."
" She told him she had feelings for him?"
" Yes."
" The little bi..."
" Whoa. Don't go there. She was just confused."
" Yeah. That's what she says. But any how. Jason got over her. He fell for Courtney. That's why he's so miserable right now. Because he was in love with her and had to see her die on his arms."
" Tell me something, when you were in love with Jason and he didn't want you, you just fell in love with Sonny after two weeks?"
" Of course not. Besides I wasn't really in love with Jason. It wasn't two weeks." Carly stopped. Oh God! Francis was right. Jason and Courtney started like a month after Liz walked out.
" Now you see it don't you?"
" No. Yes. I don't know. This is too complicated to handle all at once. Let me think about this a while. I'm gonna go for a walk." She stood up and Francis followed.
" Look. I have a whole theory about this. You might not like it, but we can compare notes and see what comes out. I maybe wrong, but who knows... I might also be right."
" I'll call you later."
~ Airport Gate~
The first face she saw as she walked out, staring up at the man in front of her, was that of her best friend. Emily Bowen Quartermaine - Cassadine. She was smiling, but tears slipped down her face the minute she locked eyes with her husband. As they set foot in the waiting area at the gate, Emily ran straight to Nikolas' arms. They embraced, kissed and murmured I love you's. Not wanting to intrude in the moment, Elizabeth busied herself looking around at the only people that were still waiting for their loved ones. There was a woman with her child. They might be waiting for a husband and father. There was a teenage girl, who might be waiting for her boyfriend or family member. And last there was an older man, who might've be waiting for his son or grandson to arrive so they could spend the weekend together. Other than that, the room was nearly empty. There was no one there waiting for her. Thinking about it she had no where to go now. Her grandmother was out of town, she had sold her studio and the only people she had considered family where somewhere facing the unknown. God she was afraid! What if's ran trough her mind hundred miles a second. A hand on her shoulder brought her back from her thoughts.
" Hey! Looking for some one?"
" No. Just... looking around."
" Come here." Her best friend hugged her tightly. " Oh! It's been so long. I was so worried about you."
" You didn't have to be. I was ok. And you? How are you?"
" Am ok. Everything is good. God, we have so much to talk about."
" Yeah. Well, we better get going. The bags most be in the car already."
" I can take a taxi out to the hotel. So you guys don't have to get out of your way."
" Hotel? What are you talking about, silly? You're staying with us. Isn't she, Nikolas?"
" Of course you are. Come on lets go."
" Look you guys, I don't want to intrude. I can stay in the hotel, while I find a new studio."
" Nonsense. Lets go. You know Wyndemere is huge. There's enough place for half the town."
" Ok. I'll stay with you. But first I want to go for a walk. I need fresh air. Can I meet you there later?"
" Liz, am not sure you should be wondering Port Charles streets alone." Nikolas was worried.
" I'll be fine. I just need some air. You know, to clear my head."
" Please, keep your cell phone on. And if you see someone suspicious you come home immediately."
" Yes, Dad. Can you believe this, Em? A year ago I didn't have a real father and now it seems I have three of them. Between you, Lucky and Luke..." Her face changed and she looked away trying to hide the tears that were about to spill from her eyes.
Emily turned to Nikolas and tried to joke around. " Come on Daddy. She's a big girl. You know she can take care of herself."
" Yes, I can. I'll just see you around." Elizabeth hugged them both and almost ran out.
" Something's definitely wrong. What happen to you guys?"
" I'll tell you later, baby. Lets just go home, please."
" Ok."
~ Docks~
The sun had gone down, the air was slightly chilly. She had her coat on, but still felt goose bumps on her skin. Her eyes were puffy for all the crying she had done over the last hours. She had walked around the city, the park and ended up in the docks. Sitting in her bench. In her and Jason's bench. God why did it always had to end up being about him? Get over it Webber. This last year has being such a trip. Literally. And now it's all catching up to you. She sighed and tears started to spill again. She closed her eyes and felt the cold autumn breeze graze dry her tears. Her arms were wrapped around herself, as if protecting herself from the world. She didn't hear the footsteps that were making their way down the stairs.
Minutes later she was still oblivious to the man that had his gaze fixated on her from across the pier...
~ Port Charles~
They were about to land on Port Charles. Neither had said a word since they left Luke and Lucky in New Orleans. Nikolas was sitting across from Elizabeth, neither looking at each other and both thinking the same thing. What if they get hurt or Helena takes them? How were they going to be able to help if they didn't know what was going on. The only thing left to do was pray for their safe return, but that wasn't enough.
~ Brownstone~
Carly was about to go out when the telephone rang. She went and picked it up.
" Hello."
" Carly?"
She didn't have to ask who it was. It was the man she was in love with, her husband Sonny Corinthos.
"Sonny."
" How are you doing?"
" Am fine. You?" She tried to sound casual and cold.
" Ok."
" So, to what do I owe the honor of this call? Are you going to yell at me? Order me to come home? What?"
" I just wanted to know how you were doing. That's all."
" Well, nice of you to ask. Am doing great, you?"
After a long silence... " Ok. Aren't you going to ask about the kids?"
" I talked to Michael this morning, right before he left for school. I know he got an A on his math quiz and that Morgan is saying Dada and Tricia."
" So, you've been getting in touch with Leticia and Michael?"
" Everyday."
" Oh. So is just me you don't want to talk to. Is just me who you don't want to be around?" He was getting impatient.
" You know that's not it. I love you..."
" Nice way of showing it. Running away from home." His tone was getting harder.
" I didn't ran away. I told you what was going to happen and you chose to ignore me."
" I don't change my mind on command you know."
" Yeah. But I have to, don't I?"
" Look what you're doing is not healthy for a marriage. For less than that people get divorce."
" Are you threatening me?"
" No. Am just saying..."
" Well you say and do whatever you think is appropriate. Am not going home until Jason trust in me again."
" Look I didn't mean, I just want my family to be together."
" Me too."
~ Port Charles airport~
Emily and Jason were standing of to a side.
" What did he say?"
" Just that he and Elizabeth were coming home. He didn't sound good Jason. Something must've gone wrong. They were on their way to look after a clue and all of the sudden he says they're coming home."
" Just. Calm down. Maybe they didn't have to go at all, maybe Luke and Lucky thought they could take care of it alone."
" I don't know. I have a strange feeling about this."
~ Cassadine Jet ~
" Well here we are. Home."
Nikolas' voice brought her back from her thoughts.
" We are?"
" Yes. I called Emily and let her know we were arriving, she must be waiting in the gate."
" Good. I've been dying..." She stopped for a moment after mentioning the word. "... to see her."
" Look. I know what you're thinking."
" Don't please. I don't need a pep talk right now."
" They are going to be alright."
" Yeah, I really hope so. We better change before going out." They were still wearing the costumes of the Featherhead family. She stood up and went to the bathroom.
~ Docks~
Francis watched at the top of the stairs as Carly sat on the bench crying. After a couple of minutes when the blond woman had calmed down, he walked towards her.
" Mrs. Corinthos. Are you ok?"
" Yeah. I guess you saw me. Crying I mean."
" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
" It's ok. I wasn't really hiding it. It's just that Sonny called me this morning. Things are going to get worst before they get better."
" What are you going to do?" He sat down next to her.
" Nothing. Am not going back until I get Jason back. I want things to go back to the way they were."
" You know things can't go back to the way they were, don't you?"
" What do you mean?"
" Forget what I said. I shouldn't have."
" No. Tell me. Why things can't go back to the way they were?"
" Ok. But everything am about to tell you, is all about me. It's what I saw while I guarded the door outside of the penthouse, and when I drove you around, when we had meetings and things like that. You, Jason and Sonny used to be the best of friends. You treated each other with respect. But then things started to change. I noticed that Jason became just one more of us. Always second in command, but Sonny kind of treated him like an enforcer and not a friend. Since Luis Alcazar came to Port Charles, Sonny lost track of what Jason needed and asked him to do this things that made him lose things that were important to him."
Carly was confused. " What do you mean he lost things? That fall, we all went trough a rough time together. I even accepted his relationship with Princess Purity..." Carly trailed of as she remembered the fall of 2002 and its final outcome. Sonny and her were happy and together, better than ever. But Jason, he had to marry Brenda Barrett and the Muffin face walked away from him. But that was the best thing that could've happen. After all, Jason was more than happy with Courtney. Or was he? Jason never allowed himself to fully let go of whatever he had with Elizabeth. She knew that their relationship hadn't really ended, things kind of went into stand by. Was that what Francis meant by the things he lost?
The guard watched as the face of the woman changed as she went back to the fall of 2002. He could see her replaying things on her mind. And finally, realization. But as soon as she realized, her face turned incredulous.
" What are you trying to say Francis? That he's still got a thing for Goody-goody Muffin Face?"
" Who?"
" You know, Princess Purity. Is that what your saying? The things that Jason lost, is Elizabeth Webber one of them?"
" Well. Considering he is in love with her... yes."
Carly's face turned red and her eyes narrowed.
" What do you mean in love with her?"
~ Airport Gate~
Jason's phone rang. Emily listened to his end of the conversation.
" Morgan. Yes. Can't you take care of that? Where? Ok. Yes, I'll be there as soon as I can."
He turned off his phone and turned to face his sister with an apologetic look on his face.
" You'd think that now that you're the boss you shouldn't have to run every time the phone rang."
" How did you know?"
" The look on your face. And your end of the conversation. What's up?"
" Calvin. The new guy at the shop. He's alone and has to finish a Yamaha for today at five, but he received a call to go pick up a Harley at the Lot. He can't do both so..."
" You have to go."
" I don't want to bail, but I am the boss. I have to do this."
" They are already here. Can't you wait a few minutes?"
" I can't honey. The Lot closes at 3. It's 2:30 and I have to go get the tow truck."
" She'll want you to be here."
" I don't know about that. I do wanted to be here. But..."
" Yeah. Yeah, you have to go. So go, before I get cranky."
" I'll make it up to you, I promise."
" You can say that again."
" I love you." They hugged and then he turned to leave but stopped and turned to his sister again. " Would you do me a favor? Could you not tell her I was here?"
" Why not?"
" Just, don't. Please."
" Ok. I won't, but Jason she..." He didn't listen to her argument. And just walked out of the gate.
~ Docks~
" So answer me. Why do you think Jason was in love with her?"
" You are an intelligent woman, Mrs. C, I don't have to explain to you what was so obvious to everybody. Well everybody but the two involved."
" I don't think so. Jason liked her, God only knows why. He might've even had the hots for her. But he wasn't in love."
" Ok. So he spending all that time with her after Lucky died, accepting her help after he was shot, saving her from blowing up, saying goodbye to her, asking about her every time he called, taking her on rides, being there for her when Lucky came back from the dead, asking her to go away with him..."
Francis kept going pointing out every single thing Jason did for Elizabeth. But Carly was stuck in the "asking her to go away with him" part.
" Wait what did you say?"
" You know saving Zander's butt..."
" Not that. Before that."
" Saving her from the crypt."
" Before that. The "asking her to go away with him" thing."
" Didn't know that one?"
" When was that?"
" After Lucky attacked him."
" So he asked her to go away with him?"
" He wanted her to be safe. He knew that Lucky was out of it, and that she would be in trouble if she stayed. But she said no. She stayed with Lucky even though she had feelings for Jason."
" She told him she had feelings for him?"
" Yes."
" The little bi..."
" Whoa. Don't go there. She was just confused."
" Yeah. That's what she says. But any how. Jason got over her. He fell for Courtney. That's why he's so miserable right now. Because he was in love with her and had to see her die on his arms."
" Tell me something, when you were in love with Jason and he didn't want you, you just fell in love with Sonny after two weeks?"
" Of course not. Besides I wasn't really in love with Jason. It wasn't two weeks." Carly stopped. Oh God! Francis was right. Jason and Courtney started like a month after Liz walked out.
" Now you see it don't you?"
" No. Yes. I don't know. This is too complicated to handle all at once. Let me think about this a while. I'm gonna go for a walk." She stood up and Francis followed.
" Look. I have a whole theory about this. You might not like it, but we can compare notes and see what comes out. I maybe wrong, but who knows... I might also be right."
" I'll call you later."
~ Airport Gate~
The first face she saw as she walked out, staring up at the man in front of her, was that of her best friend. Emily Bowen Quartermaine - Cassadine. She was smiling, but tears slipped down her face the minute she locked eyes with her husband. As they set foot in the waiting area at the gate, Emily ran straight to Nikolas' arms. They embraced, kissed and murmured I love you's. Not wanting to intrude in the moment, Elizabeth busied herself looking around at the only people that were still waiting for their loved ones. There was a woman with her child. They might be waiting for a husband and father. There was a teenage girl, who might be waiting for her boyfriend or family member. And last there was an older man, who might've be waiting for his son or grandson to arrive so they could spend the weekend together. Other than that, the room was nearly empty. There was no one there waiting for her. Thinking about it she had no where to go now. Her grandmother was out of town, she had sold her studio and the only people she had considered family where somewhere facing the unknown. God she was afraid! What if's ran trough her mind hundred miles a second. A hand on her shoulder brought her back from her thoughts.
" Hey! Looking for some one?"
" No. Just... looking around."
" Come here." Her best friend hugged her tightly. " Oh! It's been so long. I was so worried about you."
" You didn't have to be. I was ok. And you? How are you?"
" Am ok. Everything is good. God, we have so much to talk about."
" Yeah. Well, we better get going. The bags most be in the car already."
" I can take a taxi out to the hotel. So you guys don't have to get out of your way."
" Hotel? What are you talking about, silly? You're staying with us. Isn't she, Nikolas?"
" Of course you are. Come on lets go."
" Look you guys, I don't want to intrude. I can stay in the hotel, while I find a new studio."
" Nonsense. Lets go. You know Wyndemere is huge. There's enough place for half the town."
" Ok. I'll stay with you. But first I want to go for a walk. I need fresh air. Can I meet you there later?"
" Liz, am not sure you should be wondering Port Charles streets alone." Nikolas was worried.
" I'll be fine. I just need some air. You know, to clear my head."
" Please, keep your cell phone on. And if you see someone suspicious you come home immediately."
" Yes, Dad. Can you believe this, Em? A year ago I didn't have a real father and now it seems I have three of them. Between you, Lucky and Luke..." Her face changed and she looked away trying to hide the tears that were about to spill from her eyes.
Emily turned to Nikolas and tried to joke around. " Come on Daddy. She's a big girl. You know she can take care of herself."
" Yes, I can. I'll just see you around." Elizabeth hugged them both and almost ran out.
" Something's definitely wrong. What happen to you guys?"
" I'll tell you later, baby. Lets just go home, please."
" Ok."
~ Docks~
The sun had gone down, the air was slightly chilly. She had her coat on, but still felt goose bumps on her skin. Her eyes were puffy for all the crying she had done over the last hours. She had walked around the city, the park and ended up in the docks. Sitting in her bench. In her and Jason's bench. God why did it always had to end up being about him? Get over it Webber. This last year has being such a trip. Literally. And now it's all catching up to you. She sighed and tears started to spill again. She closed her eyes and felt the cold autumn breeze graze dry her tears. Her arms were wrapped around herself, as if protecting herself from the world. She didn't hear the footsteps that were making their way down the stairs.
Minutes later she was still oblivious to the man that had his gaze fixated on her from across the pier...