Well guys it here! The last chapter. It's time for me to say goodbye to this story. It was fun writing you and I loved all the feedback I got from it. I hope you reviewers stick with me for my other stories also. Hope I did this story justice with the ending.
Chapter Twenty
Elizabeth closed her eyes against the sight of Jason. So tall and beautiful.
"I know you don't love me," she whispered.
"But pushing me toward A.J. isn't something that makes up for what you don't feel. I don't blame you, Jason. All you wanted was to make sure my child was provided for; that he remained a Quatermaine. My falling — "
"All I wanted was you. The baby . . . Cameron. He was icing on the cake."
She shook her head, disbelieving.
"You married me because you felt sorry for me."
"I married you because I looked into your golden brown eyes and saw forever."
Fresh tears collected in her eyes.
"But you didn't . . . why . . . we — oh dammit, Jason!"
She wanted to kick him.
She wanted to kiss him.
"Are you in love with A.J. or not?"
"No! I'm in love with — "
His tension suddenly penetrated the cocoon of misery surrounding her. An unexpected calm swept through her and she thought she might well contentedly drown in the depths of his eyes.
"I'm in love with you," she finished quietly.
"A.J. was the flash. But you . . . you were the substance. The real thing. And I knew it practically from the start."
He folded her in his arms.
"You deserve more."
His lips burned over her temple.
"I thought I could let you walk away, but I can't."
"Push me away, you mean. You can spend the next few years paying for it."
She twisted her head around until her lips found his.
"Say it, Jason. Give me the words. Just once and I'll never ask again."
He kissed her. Long and deep. And when he lifted his head, his breath was ragged and her head was filled with stars.
"I love you. Always have. Always will."
"Then why do you keep saying I deserve more? All I want is what I have. You. Cameron."
"And babies. You told me once you wanted a houseful of kids."
He gently captured her face in his hands. He pressed his mouth to hers. Then let go of her, stepping away.
Elizabeth reached out for him, but he'd turned away and didn't see her outstretched hand.
"I can't give you that houseful." His voice was rough.
"You stay with me and Cameron is all we'll ever have."
It was a good thing there was a chair nearby, for she sank weakly onto the arm of it. Having Cameron would have been enough, she thought faintly.
"Why would you think that?"
"I had the mumps when I was younger. The doctor said I could write off . . . well, you know."
She settled her hand on her abdomen and sent up a prayer of thanks.
"You never had a test to be certain."
"What was the point? Just more proof that I can't father a child."
"Oh, Jason," she whispered.
"Do you know what tomorrow is?"
"Our wedding anniversary."
"Hmm."
She pushed to her feet and moved over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She pressed her cheek against his strong back.
"Do you know what tonight is?"
She felt the deep breath he drew.
"Six years ago was the first time we made love."
"That night was when I truly felt like Jason Quatermaine's bride. I knitted you a sweater for our wedding anniversary," she murmured, and practically felt his reaction to the seemingly odd comment.
"I bought you a bottle of that perfume you're always drooling over."
She smiled faintly and, still keeping her hands on him, slipped around to face him.
"But I have another gift for the both of us. For our true anniversary."
She took his big hands in hers and pressed them to her flat belly.
He looked pained.
"Elizabeth — "
"I'm pregnant, Jason. You and I . . . we've made a baby together. That is why I fainted the other day."
"But . . . how — "
She tucked her tongue between her teeth, trying very hard to contain the joyful laughter bubbling inside her. Oh, she loved him so! She stretched up, wrapping her hands around his shoulders, pressing her breasts against him. And now that the truth was out between them, and she planned to tell him she loved him on an exceedingly regular basis.
"In the usual way," she assured gently.
"If you'd like a reminder of the process, I'll be happy to show you."
Jason swept his hands down Elizabeth's back and stepped back, staring incredulously at her.
"You're serious?"
She nodded. Smiled and the brilliance lit up every corner of his soul. He swept her against him, kissing her, swinging her in a circle. It seemed A.J.'s return hadn't been such a bad thing, after all.
"It's a miracle," he whispered.
"You're a miracle."
"It's love. And I have only one more thing I want."
Elizabeth tilted her head back, looking up at her husband, feeling the love in his eyes like a warm glow.
"Anything."
"Let's go get Cameron," she said.
"And then let's go home."
"Yeah."
Jason's smile was long and slow and utterly sweet. If she hadn't already loved him, she'd have fallen for him just for that smile alone.
"Let's go home," he said.
"Where we all belong."
The End
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