"From Francis," Jason smiled as he handed her the bag of clothes.

Elizabeth took the bag from Jason and looked inside to see a pair of jeans and a plain white tee shirt. She blushed slightly when she noticed a pair of undergarments as well.

Jason cleared his throat, "I think Alexis helped him."

"Ok," she said with a relived smile and leaned down to kiss JJ's head, "This is why Francis is my favorite."

JJ frowned, "I thought you said Uncle Johnny was your favorite."

"That's what she tells them," Jason winked, "I'm really her favorite."

She turned her blushing face away from Jason and picked JJ up in her arms, "You are my favorite," she said before tickling him.

"Mama!" he laughed before he rested comfortable in her arms, "Do you think when you feel better that Michael can come stay with us overnight? He misses Uncle Sonny and I told him that Uncle Sonny was right here," he said pointing to his heart, "He said I made him feel better, that I made him smile and he wanted to come play at my house."

Elizabeth sighed as she pressed another kiss to JJ's forehead and risked a glance looking at Jason who was fully concentrated on their son. Michael had his mother's temper and emotionally he was like Sonny, shutting down at times, exploding at others. But when it came to caring for people, came to loving them, she knew he received that knowledge from Jason, when the bond had formed between them all those years ago.

That made her even more determined to keep him around in JJ's life. She wanted her son to care for people, to love them to protect them as much as his father did. She just hoped that unlike Jason, JJ would always love her.

"So, can he stay over?" JJ asked grabbing his mother's attention.

"I'll have your Daddy ask Aunt Carly," Elizabeth said as she looked back over at Jason. He nodded to her, aware that there may never be a time where Carly and Elizabeth would be able to be in the same room together without arguing.

"Why don't we let Mommy get dressed and then we can go get breakfast at Kelly's?" Jason asked picking JJ up from the bed and placing him down on his feet, "Well, we'll have to go get you changed first. Uncle Francis forgot to get you clothes."

Elizabeth smiled as JJ held onto the Italy book that Jason handed him. She was sure that the clothes Francis had provided were picked out last night, long before JJ was brought to the hospital. They tried to talk her into changing when she arrived at the penthouse frantic but she didn't want to hear any of it. She wound up throwing out the clothes when the nurse handed them back to her last night. They were stained with dirt, soot, and her own dried blood.

She shivered lightly as Jason opened the door, "We'll get the paperwork started. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Elizabeth said as she swung her feet over the side of the bed, "I just can't wait to get out of here."

"I know what that's like," Jason said as he picked up JJ, "Let's go buddy, see if Aunt Bobbie's working."

"Alright!" JJ squealed as he linked one arm around his father's neck.

Elizabeth gingerly made her way to the bathroom, getting use to the slight dizziness that was still occurring in her head due to the concussion. She placed the plastic bag of clothes on the counter and reached in, pulling out a pair of old, worn in blue jeans. She couldn't remember the last time she had worn them. It had to have been around four years ago.

When Jason left she was in sweatpants for the first few months, then it turned into maternity wear and then into the clothes of the woman living with and dating Sonny Corinthos.

Slipping into these jeans was going to throw her back into a time where she was still a young woman and the most important things to her were painting, learning to at least sink one ball against Jason, chasing the wind and embracing freedom.

Right now, she wanted nothing more than that.

"She'll just have to sign these," the nurse smiled at Jason, "Then she'll be free to go. Would you like a wheelchair to the car?"

Jason shook his head, "She will never allow that. Thank you." He looked over at his son who was swinging his legs back and forth from his position on the nurse's station. His mouth was all sticky from the orange lollipop that the nurse handed him. Not the best thing he should be eating in the morning but Jason didn't care, he'd feed the kid sugar all day if he smiled at him like he was now.

"Hey buddy, I want to let you in on a little secret," Jason said, "Today's a special day and I wondered if maybe you could help me with something. Can you keep it between you and me, not tell Mom a thing?"

JJ nodded excitedly, "Oh boy! What is it?"

Jason smiled as he leaned closer to his son and started to whisper something in his ear, JJ becoming more and more anxious with every detail.

"You think she'll like it?" Jason asked.

"Now I know why you're her favorite," JJ giggled before Jason took him in his arms and started to tickle him again.

"Really? Is that why?"

JJ laughed and was trying to unsuccessfully squirm out of his father's arms when he gasped, "Hi Sam!"

Jason nearly dropped JJ and had to hold him with a tighter grip. This couldn't be happening now, not when Elizabeth was just about to walk out and meet them. He wondered why God was doing this to him.

"Hi JJ," Sam smiled as she approached them, "Hi. I hope everything turned out okay last night."

"It did," Jason said placing JJ down at his feet, "Thank you for asking."

Sam smiled softly, "You don't seem like the type of person to run out in the middle of dinner unless it was important."

"My Mama bumped her head," JJ said as he pointed to his forehead, "She's okay now, Daddy made it all better."

"Really?" Sam asked looking down at JJ and then back up at Jason, "I'm glad she's okay."

"Sam, I'm really sorry…"

Sam smiled and reached out to take his hand, "Don't apologize, just make it up to me. How about dinner at my place?"

Jason let out a deep breath and sighed, "I can't, I'm sorry."

"Oh," Sam said releasing his hand again, "That's alright."

"I'm not trying to blow you off, Sam," he said as he leaned down and ruffled JJ's curls while the boy started flipping through his book of Italy, "I just…there's a lot of things I have to take care of right now. I don't think it would be fair of me to have to run off every time we went out on a date."

"No, that wouldn't be fair to either of us," she said and smiled down at JJ again, "You have my number, if things don't work out…"

"Oh, there's not, that's not…"

"Call me, anytime," she said as she bent down and smiled at JJ, "It was nice seeing you again."

"Bye Sam!" JJ smiled.

Sam stood back up and smiled at Jason, "Goodbye, Jason."

She then turned around and walked towards the elevators, her jean clad hips swaying a little more as he watched her step inside the metal box. She smiled at him once more and waved to JJ, leaning over just a little so Jason could see…

"Who was that?" Elizabeth asked coming up behind him.

Jason turned towards her, his eyes wide, "Um…"

"Sam," JJ said as he got up from the floor and stood beside his mother, "She came by to see if you were okay. Can we go eat now, Mama?"

"You have to sign this," Jason said pushing the form towards her. He just hoped, prayed that she wouldn't explode of the sight of the woman he was on a date with last night while she was out wandering around the warehouse.

"That was nice of her," Elizabeth said as she signed her name to the forms and then rubbed her head gently, "She's pretty."

Jason shrugged and bent down to pick up JJ again, "You ready to go?"

He wasn't even going to acknowledge her statement. He might not have been in a lot of serious relationships but he was smart enough to release what comments to avoid when a woman made them.

"All set," she smiled as she followed Jason and her son to the elevator. She was listening to Jason explain that they were going to the park after breakfast before her mind zoned out, recalling the scene she walked out on. Sam grabbing Jason's hand, Jason saying something and her smiling sweetly up at him. She didn't get a good look at her until Sam turned around and waved from the elevator.

If Jason were trying to give Elizabeth some competition he picked the right person. She knew there was no way she could compare with Sam's…assets.

But Jason wouldn't do that, he told her that he moved on, they couldn't be together. He was here for their son and that was it.

But was it?

Elizabeth smiled as she followed Jason and JJ off of the elevator to the penthouse door. Her son was exhausted but he was still awake and chattering as much as he could. They had made their way back to Bobbie's to get his clothes then over to Kelly's where they all enjoyed Mickey Mouse pancakes. Jason then drove back here so they could pick up JJ's bike and they walked back to the park, with JJ driving, where the spent the rest of the afternoon wearing him out.

She wanted to pinch herself, make sure this was happening was real. She never spent any real quality time with her own family and for her to be in a park with her son and his father seemed almost too good to be true. She was almost waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Where's Johnny?" she asked surprised as she took a step back from the door. Her back was facing Jason and her son. She missed his smile and JJ's suppressed giggle.

"Maybe he's inside making himself dinner," Jason quipped.

She looked over her shoulder and smirked, "Ha, ha."

The look she received back made goose bumps appear on her arms. The happiness in his eyes nearly took her breath away. She wanted to bottle it up and put it on a shelf for rainy days.

He motioned with his head for her to open the door and she stepped forward, turning the handle and walking into the penthouse which was decked out with balloons and a banner that hung from the ceiling reading Happy Birthday Elizabeth.

Her eyes found Johnny who was placing a large cake in the center of the table which was surrounded by all sorts of food that was ordered from Kelly's. He was smiling, saying happy birthday as was JJ who was squealing behind her.

She turned to see her son's arms outstretched, reaching for her and she took him, hugging him tightly as tears silently slid down her face.

Jason was staring at her, his blue eyes looking worried before a smile broke out on her face and she waved her hand at him.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she whispered as she squeezed JJ once more, "This is just…I didn't think…" she tried to laugh the rest of her tears away.

"Can I see the cake?" JJ asked as he wiggled from Elizabeth's arms. She put him down and he ran towards Johnny, who lifted him up in one of the chairs so he could get a better view.

"Francis, Max and Alexis are waiting at her apartment," he said quietly as he stepped towards her, reaching out to brush away a few remaining tears, "I know," he cleared his throat and looked around, "I know that you don't like being bombarded, especially on your birthday, and with you just getting out of the hospital and with all that's been going," he shifted, from one worn motorcycle boot to the other, "I didn't want to startle you with people jumping out and yelling surprise. I talked to them and if this is too much Johnny will go over there and tell them you're tired and that's that."

She laughed as she shook her head vigorously. All these years and he still remembered her sitting on the dock crying, telling him it was all just too much. She knew however that this night would end differently, there would be no motorcycle ride with the wind whipping through her hair reminding her of how beautiful life truly was.

She was not going to be melancholy, not tonight, not after Jason had done all this.

"JJ," she said as she turned to her son, "Go over to Aunt Alexis' and tell them to get their butts over here."

"I can really say that?" JJ asked, "Ok!"

Jason laughed as he scampered across the hall, Johnny watching him from the doorway. He then looked back at Elizabeth when he felt her reach out and grabbed his hand.

"Thank you for always knowing just what I need," she said softly and then she leaned towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into an embrace.

His arms fell around her waist as he held her tight against him, breathing in the scent that was Elizabeth.

For the first time in over four years he felt like he had finally come home.

"Oh, sorry," Alexis said as she stopped short of the door followed by Francis and Max. JJ squeezed between all of them and hurried back over to the table.

"Come see the cake!"

Elizabeth pulled back from Jason and stepped around him, hugging Alexis and then the rest of the guards. She couldn't look Jason in the eye, not right now, not when her very soul would be revealed. She laughed as Francis and Max fought over who blew up the biggest balloons and was nearly brought to tears when all her friends produced presents for her.

Alexis had given her a gift certificate to purchase a suit for her first day in court. Max bought her an engraved leather briefcase for next semester's court assignments. Johnny bought her a day at the spa and told her that he would be glad to watch JJ for her while Francis presented her with a basket from Bath and Body Works. He swore the lady at the store picked everything out.

They all laughed, smiled, and chatted well into the evening when Elizabeth noticed that JJ was curled up in her lap, his eyes drooping. She brushed the bangs out of his face and leaned down to kiss him.

"We should go," Alexis said standing up, "If you have some free time tomorrow, I have some cases you can go over with me if you're interested and up to it."

"I will be," Elizabeth smiled, "I just need a good night's sleep, that's all."

Francis bent down and kissed her, "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Bye and thank you."

Jason let everyone out, making sure they took plenty of leftovers and cake with them. He looked back to the couch where Elizabeth was trying to get up with JJ in her arms.

"Wait," he said as he took JJ from her, "Hey buddy, you still with us?'

JJ yawned and then blinked, "Hey Dad."

"You think you can give Mom her birthday present or do you want to wait until tomorrow?" Jason asked and laughed when JJ scrambled from his arms and darted into the kitchen.

"When did you find the time to…"

"I knew your birthday was coming up," Jason said, "The past few days I did some shopping. I wanted to make sure that this year was special. It's your first year without…"

JJ came in from the kitchen groaning, struggling with the small wrapped box on the floor. He was on his knees trying to push it as best as he could, "Help."

Jason smiled and walked over to his son, picking both him and the present up, "This is from JJ," he said as he handed it to her.

JJ leaned over and gave her a kiss on the check, "Happy Birthday Mama."

Elizabeth smiled as she sat back down on the couch and slowly started to unwrap the present before her. Her hands shook as she realized the familiar look of the brown kit in front of her. She unsnapped the metal clicks and opened it revealing every type of paint brush imaginable along with the primary colors of paints in their own little tubes, nestled against the fuzzy black material.

She closed it quietly, gently placing it on the table in front of her and reached out for JJ, "Honey I love it, thank you so much," she whispered as she kissed him.

"Daddy got me one too," JJ said, "We can paint together," he yawned, "My brushes aren't as nice."

"Time for bed," Jason said as he took JJ from Elizabeth's arms, "Say goodnight."

"Night Mama," he yawned before burying his head in Jason's neck.

"I'll be back down in a second," Jason said as he walked around the couch and then up the stairs. He was a little worried about Elizabeth's reaction to the paint set. He knew that she no longer thought of herself as an artist but rather a budding attorney. He could understand if she wanted to change career paths but he hated to see her give up something that she loved so dearly.

Elizabeth's fingers ran over the cool leather of the box that sat on the table in front of her. When was the last time she picked up a brush? How long had it been since she had paint in her hair, on her clothes? When was the last time she felt so inspired she knew that she had to pull out a blank canvas and paint until her fingers ached?

It would be four years ago this upcoming February. She had trouble sleeping, like she always did on Valentine's Day and she was alone at the penthouse with only Max guarding the door. Carly was still with Sonny and he was trying his best to make things work so he took his wife out to a lovely dinner at the No Name and an overnight stay at the Port Charles Hotel. Elizabeth wasn't going to explain to them that although it was subdued, when she was alone on that particular day, she still felt it. So she tried to stay awake, curled up on the couch with some sappy movies and a quart of ice cream but somehow she fell asleep, and instead of the nightmares came the dreams of her and Jason, sweating, panting, making love all night long. When she woke up she remembered that he was no longer in her life and that she no longer wanted to pursue the relationship that was so beautiful, yet so painful to her. She got up from the couch, stuck the ice cream back in the freezer, took out her pants and came up with the picture that hung in her son's room.

Jason on his motorcycle riding away, her letting him go without a fight.

She wondered after all this time if she still had it, had what her professor called a gift. If she were still able to make things come alive, still able to bring the color off the canvas. She wasn't sure if it was still in her, after all that had happened, she wasn't sure if she could still paint like the way she use to, but for the first time in four years, she wanted to try.

Jason found her with both a smile and fresh tears on her face. He cleared his throat as he came to stand next to her, "I'm a little nervous about what your reaction to my gift will be."

Elizabeth looked up at him surprised, her eyes growing wide, "Jason, you didn't have to…I know that you picked this out for JJ."

He walked over to the desk that once belonged to Sonny Corinthos and opened the bottom right hand drawer. He reached in and pulled out a small lightly blue bag with the word 'Tiffany's' written across it.

She felt butterflies in her stomach as he walked towards her, sitting down next to her and handing her the delicate gift. Jason had thought this much ahead, this much about her, to get her something for her birthday.

She smiled as she fingered the lacy bow that held it closed, "You've done so much for me today. Taking me home from the hospital, spending the day with me and our son, this party, this gift," she said rubbing her hand over the art case, "I don't know if I can accept this."

"Then accept it for all the years I haven't been here," he said quietly, "And know that I am expecting something very large in return."

She laughed. Who was she kidding? She had in her hand a Tiffany's bag and with all the jewelry Sonny had showered upon her he had never given her anything from Tiffany's. She smiled at him and tugged on the bow, reaching in her one tiny hand and pulling out the blue velvet box. She placed the bag down on the table and then opened the box.

"Oh Jason," she whispered.

It was a beautiful heart pendant that was hung from a sixteen inch platinum chain. The heart was made out of eight diamonds and eight ruby's, all gems sparkling brilliantly under the light.

"Will you put it on me?" she whispered as she gently removed it from the box. She handed it to him, her eyes never able to leave the jewels as she swept her curls out of the way, allowing him to hook the necklace in place.

She quivered slightly as she felt the brush of his fingertips against her skin. Then she looked at him, smiling radiantly, "It's absolutely gorgeous," she then looked down at the pendant again, "It's ruby's."

He nodded before looking away from her, "JJ's birthstone."

She reached over and took his hand, squeezing it gently.

"Will you tell me about him?" he asked softly before he turned back and looked at her, his own eyes looking a little glassy, "Tell me all about my son."