Note: This chapter contains smut, but I edited it out for this version. If you would like to read the original epilogue the way it was intended to be told, please visit my archives. You can find Safe Haven there by clicking the link in my profile. Thank you for your support throughout this story.

Safe Haven – Epilogue

"Elizabeth, you're my hero."

The brunette giggled into the receiver as she burrowed comfortably into the couch on the Corinthos-Morgan jet. "Why, thank you, thank you."

"And my future sister-in-law."

"EMILY!"

Halfway across the world in sunny California, her best friend could only laugh. "Oh, please – don't tell me that you honestly think Jason's going to let you go. He's waited for you forever. He's not going to wait any longer and I bet you anything we'll be real sisters before too long."

Elizabeth blushed, covering her face with her hand and peeking at the closed door of the bathroom where Jason was washing up. "You're terrible."

"Ah, but my advice works – admit it."

"Clearly, I have no other choice."

"Damn straight! So…tell me."

"Tell you what?" Elizabeth teased, playing with her silky chocolate locks.

"Was Lucky pissed?"

"Very," Elizabeth admitted. "Basically, he called me Jason's little whore and ranted and raved for a little while before I shut him up."

"And you told him you loved Jason….aw!"

"Emily!" Elizabeth leaned back on the couch, grinning. "Yes, I did."

"Man, I'm so proud of you. Atta girl! And now you two are off to Italy…Oh, Elizabeth, it's perfect."

The brunette didn't hear the bathroom door click open or the soft shuffle of Jason's socked feet on the carpet. "It is. I still can't believe he got us tickets. I completely lost it, Em."

"It's okay, you know."

"Oh, I do," Elizabeth assured her. "I think I freaked Jason out for a minute there with my crying, but…I couldn't help it. He asked me to go to Italy with him at the same place he did last time, and when he held out his hand for me…God."

"Okay, stop it – you're making me tear up, too!"

A smile spread across Elizabeth's lips and she played with the hem of her t-shirt, still not noticing Jason as he crept up behind her. "Sorry. You just have such a wonderful brother, Emily. I hope you know that."

"Honey, you're preaching to the choir over here."

A grin flickered across Jason's lips as he stepped into her view, and a matching smile bloomed on Elizabeth's face. She slid over on the couch and allowed him room to sit, silently mouthing to him that she was talking to Emily. Jason nodded disinterestedly and as soon as he was comfortable on the couch, he reached for her and pulled her into his lap.

"So where are you guys going first? Venice?"

"Uh-uh," Elizabeth answered, letting Jason tug her small body onto his legs. She cuddled up against his chest and sighed softly as his arms wrapped securely around her. "We're saving the best for last. First stop – Palermo."

"Ooh, cool. Send me a postcard, will you?"

"Sure," she answered, playing delicately with the shell of Jason's ear as he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "I'll bring you back a pretty little souvenir and air-mail it out."

"Even better. So…I have to ask you: was it really hard?"

"What?"

"You know, telling Lucky that you didn't love him anymore."

Elizabeth frowned thoughtfully, the corner of her mouth lifting when Jason nipped at her earlobe. "It…wasn't as hard as it seemed. Telling Lucky that I didn't love him was something I should have done a long time ago." Her eyes and voice had softened and Elizabeth had said the last sentence more to Jason than to Emily. The enforcer's eyes shined and his large hand skimmed her waist, causing goosebumps to rise on the smooth skin. He kissed her jaw and Elizabeth leaned into him, closing her eyes as Emily's voice broke through the soft haze that enveloped them.

"Good. Good, I'm glad. I mean…I still feel a little guilty about this. I watched you and Lucky fall in love for the first time, and part of me wishes that you didn't have to let go of your first true love just because of some vendetta Helena had, you know?"

"Emily, first love is just that – first." Jason's hot breath fanned out across her neck and he lowered his head to nip at her collarbone as his fingers inched under the soft cotton of her shirt. "I outgrew Lucky – I'm not the same person that fell in love with him. And I know that as angry as he is with me right now, as much as he still thinks we're supposed to be together-" Jason's fingers tightened around her waist and Elizabeth reached down to twine hers with his, squeezing hard "-he'll outgrow us soon, too. That's just the way it goes. I changed, and for the longest time, I didn't want to believe that he did, too. The things he said to me today, Emily – a couple years ago, I never would have thought Lucky Spencer was capable of using those words."

Jason growled low in his throat at that, pulling her closer and trailing soft kisses down the side of her neck. Elizabeth's fingers speared through his hair as she listened patiently to her friend. "I just want you both to be happy, Elizabeth. Lucky's been my best friend since we were kids, and I just…I want the best for him. But I want the best for you, too."

"Hang up on her," Jason purred, smoothing one hand up her back and then down again as he buried his face in her neck and inhaled her scent. "She talks too much."

Elizabeth giggled and squirmed, batting away his exploring fingers. "Thanks, Em."

"And the best for you right now is definitely my brother. You know, sometimes I really can't believe that you two…happened, you know?"

Jason groaned, sensing a long, heartfelt conversation on the horizon and Elizabeth could only laugh at his childish pout. "We happened, all right."

Her best friend laughed. "Well, I know that – just spare me the details, okay? It's just that…he's my big brother. And you're my best friend."

"Now that we know who everyone is, hang up," Jason instructed, pressing closer to kiss her collarbone. Elizabeth squirmed and tried to lean her back against his strong chest.

"And even though it's kinda weird…I don't know. It doesn't have to be weird, does it?"

"No," Elizabeth answered, her breath catching in her throat as Jason raked his teeth over her earlobe. "It doesn't."

"Right – as long as you don't tell me about your sex life," Emily clarified.

Jason buried his nose in her hair, whispering low in her ear. "If she keeps this up, there won't be anything to tell."

Elizabeth stifled a laugh and elbowed him in the stomach. "You don't have to worry about that, Em. I promise I'll keep you blissfully unaware."

"Good! That's good. So what's my brother doing right now? Where is he?"

"He's – Oh! Jason!" He had just begun suckling on the soft, warm porcelain of her neck, fully intent on marking her as his own, and Elizabeth's fingers were trembling so much at the sensations he was creating in her that she almost dropped the phone she had just yelped into.

"What? Are you all right? Elizabeth? Oh, wait…ew!"

"Jason Morgan-" Her indignant little cry turned into a whimper as he bit down gently on the spot he had just bruised, and Elizabeth's fingers curled into the denim of his blue jeans.

"Oh, God, Elizabeth – ew! Is he touching you? That's nasty, Jason! Do you hear me? Nast-"

Jason broke away long enough to grab the phone from Elizabeth's hand and held it to his ear. "Goodbye, Emily." With that, he clicked it off and threw it over his shoulder before pulling the panting brunette into a long, hard kiss.

When he set her free, Elizabeth's lips were swollen and bruised. She leaned her forehead against his as he tried to work his hands under her shirt, and a small smirk rose to claim her lips. Letting out a little huff, she reached behind her and grabbed his wrists, shaking her head when his blue eyes snapped open.

"Not so fast, Morgan."

He couldn't tell whether she was joking or not and instead just stared at with a look of pure bewilderment on his face. Quirking a brow at her, Jason tried to gently break free and resume his mission but Elizabeth held him fast.

"What did I say, Jason?" Her blue eyes sparkled as she pretended to scold him.

Jason's lips formed a perfectly delectable pout that Elizabeth couldn't resist kissing sweetly. Her lips lingered over his, teasing him, and their fingers twined together. Her breath mingled with his and their noses were touching as the brunette slowly forced her heavy eyes open and looked straight into his.

"You've waited two weeks, Morgan – you can handle two more hours."


Dusk had fallen over Palermo when Jason and Elizabeth arrived at their hotel. A dark-haired bellhop carried Elizabeth's duffel – Jason had instantly grabbed his own without waiting for the young man – and led them to their room.

Elizabeth was yawning as he opened the door, but she stopped midway as soon as her eyes fell on the room she and Jason would share for the night. It was an elegant suite and they had just been led into the main parlor. The bellhop set her bag on the floor where Jason motioned and after receiving his tip, scuttled off. Jason closed the door behind him and glanced at Elizabeth, who was taking in her surroundings with wide eyes.

Smiling softly, Jason grabbed both their bags and took them to the bedroom. The sight that awaited him met his satisfaction. The room was large and modestly decorated. A simple armoire stood in the corner and he found a handsome, ornate dresser of dark wood nearby. The carpets were pale and thick, embroidered in dark, rich colors. A king-size bed sat against the wall and a mischievous smirk claimed his lips. He'd be putting that to good use tonight.

Elizabeth had finished exploring the rest of the suite and now entered the master bedroom behind him. She fingered the carvings on the dresser, pulled open the armoire and sniffed inside it, a little quirk that amused Jason tremendously. Her hand skimmed over the baseboard of the large bed as she set off to explore the bathroom.

She flicked on the light and almost gasped. The bathroom was gigantic, fully equipped with two sinks and tons of counter space, enormous mirrors, heated tiles, a luxurious shower, and a spacious bathtub with jets and bubbles that she knew she wouldn't mind trying out later. Jason had followed her in and was now pulling out his razor and aftershave, placing them on the counter along with their toothbrushes for easy access in the morning. Elizabeth slipped past him and pulled open a tiny closet in the bathroom, curious to see what was inside, and Jason watched her in the mirror. The petite brunette's face instantly flooded with color as she opened the door to reveal two silk robes – one long black one, and one short pink one.

Jason let out a chuckle as he zipped up his travel pouch and dropped it in one of the drawers, and Elizabeth's startled eyes met his in the mirror. "Don't worry," he smirked, sauntering out of the bathroom. "We won't need those." And it was true – he didn't want anything hiding her glorious body from his view.

The enforcer was pulling his gun out of his duffel bag and checking it, making sure the safety was on, when Elizabeth entered the bedroom once more. This time, the little brunette headed straight to the sprawling balcony where hundreds of tiny stars twinkled merrily at her. Jason looked up, watching as she stepped into the warm night air and leaned her arms on the ledge, and quickly placed his gun in the nightstand drawer for safe-keeping. He waited a moment before slowly following her out.

Her back was toward him and her eyes were closed, and a soft smile graced her lips as he slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Jason nodded softly. "Yeah, it is."

The entire city stretched out beneath them. Their hotel provided a marvelous view of all of Palermo, and Jason could see everything he had read about in his favorite travel book. Twining his fingers with hers, he raised their hands together and pointed into the distance.

"You see that, there?"

She nodded once, nestling back against him and tucking her head under his chin. "Yeah?"

"That's the Teatro Massimo," he murmured, squeezing her fingers. "And see all that right by it? That's the Vucciria Market."

She surveyed it all, captivated, and Jason's breath rustled through her dark hair. "Can we go down there tomorrow?"

Jason nodded immediately. "Yeah, sure. We can check out the Cappella Palatina, too, if you like."

She tilted her head, gazing up at him with wide eyes. "What's that?"

His nose bumped innocently against hers. "It's a beautiful chapel full of glass mosaics. You'd like it."

"The way the light shines through the glass?" she smiled knowingly, her soft fingers gently tickling his chin. "Would I like that?"

Jason's cerulean eyes smoldered as his gaze bore into hers. "You'd love that."

Something shifted in the air between them, and Elizabeth gulped quietly. Jason's grip on her waist tightened and she felt his muscles tense. Heat radiated off of his body, seeping in through her clothes, and her fingers on his jaw now traveled back to his neck, intent on pulling him closer.

He didn't need much coaxing. Their lips met, mingled, and finally seized one another. Jason's hand spanned her waist, easily turning around so he had better leverage and was able to deepen the kiss. She opened her mouth slowly for him, blooming under his purposeful lips like a closed flower blossoming for the first warm rays of the morning sun. The tip of his tongue skimmed her lips, experimenting before entering, and Elizabeth mewed softly under his advances.

She pulled him in completely, standing on her toes now, and Jason backed her up against the wide ledge of the balcony. Wrapping his arms securely around her, he forced her head to tip back as she sucked on his tongue. Fingers tangled in her soft brown hair, and Elizabeth's hands bunched up in the cotton of his t-shirt. Their tongues mated softly, engaging in a sensual dance in the sweet, warm recesses of her mouth.

When he pulled back, Jason was entirely out of breath and Elizabeth was starry-eyed. She lifted her gaze to his and Jason's heart thundered in his chest as he watched her dark pupils eclipse the cobalt blue of her incredible eyes.

"Jason?" His name was whispered across his lips and he could feel himself being sucked deep into her bedroom eyes. "Take me inside."

His long fingers gently closed around Elizabeth's shapely calves as he guided her to wrap her legs around his waist. Sucking in a deep breath when their foreheads touched, Jason reached around to cup her bottom in his large hands and gently lifted her off the stone ledge of the balcony.

Her heat seeped in through the denim of his jeans instantly, causing him to harden in the cradle of her thighs. Elizabeth mewed into his mouth, her clipped nails biting into his neck, and Jason blindly walked them back to the bed.

The curtains billowed softly, dancing in the gentle breeze, as Jason finally managed to find the bed. He set her down gently on top of it and that was when her small fingers fisted in his shirt and pulled him right down to her. The night was vibrant and pulsating around them, blanketing them in its soft warmth as Jason and Elizabeth lost themselves in each other.


It was a long while before either of them could move. Jason had collapsed to Elizabeth's right side, careful even in the unbridled intensity of his pleasure not to hurt her, and her fingers were splayed out over his heart. The vital organ thundered under her hand, pulsing with the renewed life she brought to his body and his world.

Her eyes were still closed when she felt him pull her close, into his side. Elizabeth blindly kissed his chest, her soft hair falling in lacy tendrils across her cheek. Jason gazed down at her lovingly and brushed it away, his limbs still numb and shrouded in the residual haze of his climax.

"I love you, Elizabeth."

He could see the tears in her eyes when she finally opened them, gracing him with the brilliance of her sapphire orbs, and the brunette's fingers cherishingly traced his jaw. "I love you, too, Jason Morgan. And I don't ever want to be without you again."

He turned on his side, facing her, and pressed a kiss to her lips, assuring her without words that they wouldn't be apart as long as they held onto what made tonight so special. As long as they held onto the love and friendship and trust that had brought them together in the first place, they'd always find each other. They'd always find their way home.

A smirk claimed his lips. "If I had known that 'glass mosaic' was the magic phrase, I'd have used it a long time ago."

A pretty blush stole across her cheek. "It was more than that and you know it."

Jason laughed and pulled her close, tucking her head under his chin. "Admit it, Elizabeth – something about glass turns you on." He glanced down at her. "Do you still have that red glass I gave you?"

The light in her eyes dimmed and her fingers dancing across his chest stilled. Noticing the silence, Jason shifted to get a better look at her. "Elizabeth?"

She wouldn't meet his gaze. "I broke it."

"What?"

The brunette closed her eyes and cursed herself. A perfect night – perfect in every way – and she had to ruin it like this. "I…I was so angry with you, and I…broke it."

He didn't say anything and instead just stroked her hair. Tears welled up in Elizabeth's eyes and her lower lip trembled. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Jason."

The enforcer shook his head and pulled away, a movement which caused one fat tear to fall from Elizabeth's lashes. Certain that he was getting out of bed, the brunette angrily swiped at her eyes and sniffed. But Jason didn't leave the bed – he only scrounged around in his jeans which lay on the floor by the bed, and when he finally found what he was looking for, he scooted closer to her again.

The tears on her smooth porcelain cheeks startled him, and he quickly wiped them away with the pad of his thumb. Elizabeth didn't notice the small black box he held and instead, the little brunette opened her mouth in an attempt to make him understand what had been going on in her mind at that time even if she didn't herself.

"I thought that you had hurt Lucky and then lied about it," she got out, tucking her hair behind her ear and pulling the sheets up over herself. "I…I didn't know what was going on – you had never lied to me before, even though I know now that you didn't, Jason. And I just went to the studio and saw the glass and the next thing I knew, I was throwing it and…"

"Elizabeth." He placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look up at him. Jason's eyes were soft and tender as he just gazed into the wet and glistening blue orbs he loved so much, and gently brushed a feather-soft kiss over her lips. "This is for you."

She gulped past the lump in her throat when she finally noticed the little box he held. When he deposited it in her hands, she realized it was made of velvet and her confused eyes met his. "What's this for?"

"For you."

Still confused, she could only sniffle away her tears and compose herself before opening it. Jason watched her eagerly with baited breath as she eased the lid open, and then her soft gasp met his ears.

"Oh, Jason…"

Nestled in the small jewelry box lay a stunning pendant on a silver chain. At first glance, she thought it was the same kind of red glass he had given her on Valentine's day. But as she pulled it out, she discovered that it was double sided. The pendant bore a circular sliver of red glass on one side, and then a silver plate separated the red from an identical piece of blue glass on the other side.

"What-"

He gently took it from her hand and undid the clasp. "I saw this in Verona while I was…gone. This old woman had made a bunch of them and was selling them in the marketplace. I saw the blue first and…" Those intense cerulean orbs met hers and sparkled, "it reminded me of your eyes. And then I saw a red one and I asked her if there was a way she could put them both in one necklace."

She closed her eyes, thanking her lucky stars that twinkled above for bringing this wonderful, loving man into her life. "Jason…"

His finger pressed against her lips and he shook his head. She leaned closer and brushed her hair aside, letting him slide the necklace onto her neck and clasp it in the back. Jason pulled back and they both looked at it, admiring the way it sparkled and glittered in the moonlight.

When Elizabeth's gaze met his, the delight and love shining in the depths of her warm sapphire eyes was undeniable. "I love it. I…I still can't believe you did all this for me."

His long fingers combed through her velvety locks. "Elizabeth, I would do anything for you."

The whispered confession brought tears to her eyes and the brunette pulled him forward, letting her forehead rest against his. "After everything, Jason-"

The enforcer's long finger found her lips once more. "No, Elizabeth. Everything that happened between us – it's behind us. I know why you did what you did –" His voice was as rough as sandpaper, thick with emotion, "-it doesn't hurt anymore, Elizabeth."

She pressed a hand to his heart as if to confirm his admission. "I don't ever want to hurt you again, Jason. I don't want you to be hurt."

"I know." His lips brushed against hers. "And I don't want you sorry. You can't let this eat away at you, Elizabeth – let it go." He pressed his mouth firmly against hers. "Let it go."

A choked sob escaped her and she pulled him close, sliding into his lap and letting him wrap his arms tightly around her. "I want to, Jason."

His fingers delved into her hair, stroking her nape. "Good. Because we have so much more to live for, Elizabeth – there are so many things I want to show you, so many places I want to take you. This is just the beginning, Elizabeth. We're going to do it all."

She peeked up at him with a shy smile. "And we're gonna live through it slow."

His heart swelled up with pride and a warmth that only she could bring to him, and Jason gazed reverently down into the eyes that revealed her soul to him. A shaky breath escaped his lips as Jason leaned down, seeking hers. "We're going to live, Elizabeth."

The End.