Response to Reviews

Shamira: I'm glad that you are still reading!! I'm glad that you like the
Jason and Courtney scenes. I'm glad that you liked all the Emily and Zander
parts of the story!!
You will just have to read and find out why Courtney said no.

Brittany: I'm glad that you think this is a great story, thanks!! You will
find out in this chapter if Courtney say yes or no to Jason's proposal.

On with the chapter….


Through Thick and Thin

Chapter 17

Courtney walked around the block. She didn't know why she left Jason like
that and she felt bad, but she couldn't say yes to him, not yet. Suddenly her cell phone
rang. She reached into her purse and grabbed her cell phone.

"Hello," she answered.

"Hey Courtney. It's me, Elizabeth."

"Oh hey," Courtney said as she sat down on the bench, "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing really well," Elizabeth replied.

"I got your letter. You said that you were in Paris. Are you still there?"

"No, I'm in Italy right now. It was the best thing for me to leave
town. Anyways, how are you?"

Courtney sighed into phone. "A lot has happened since you left; I am going to have a baby."

"Oh that is great news! So, why don't you sound happy about it?" Elizabeth
questioned her.

"It's not that I'm not happy, I am. It's just everything is happening so quickly. I didn't think I would have a baby in my life right now, and  then Jason had to go and ask me to marry him. I know the only reason that he did was because I am having his child."

"Did you say yes?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, I couldn't," Courtney replied, tears threatened her eyes. "I really wanted to say yes, but something stopped me."

"I know that I haven't known you that long, but can I give you some
advice? I think you are just freaked out from all the changes in your life. The
two most important things of your life are happening all at once. Just take some time to think about what you want, and I believe that you will see that you do want to marry Jason."

Courtney smiled. "Thanks for the advice; I guess I just need to talk to
someone."

"I know what you mean, that is why I called you. I just needed to talk to
someone, too. It's a little lonely here; not many people to talk to..." Suddenly
Elizabeth went silent.

"Are you okay, Elizabeth?" Courtney asked concerned.
  " I got an idea. Why don't you come visit me for a few weeks to get your mind off everything. You have been through a lot these past few weeks; you need a vacation, don't you?" Elizabeth asked.

Courtney laughed. "I guess I have had a hard past few weeks with
everything and I've always wanted to go to Italy."

"Then come," Elizabeth said, "I have a two bedroom cottage; there is plenty
room for you."

"Okay, I think about it," Courtney said.

A half an hour later, Courntey finished talking to Elizabeth and knew what
she needed to do.

**
Courtney walked into the loft and saw that Jason was still there.

"I didn't think that you would still be here," she said in a soft voice. Jason looked up at her.

"I thought that you would come back."

"I'm sorry I ran out like that, but I was just really surprised with your proposal,"
she said as she sat down next to him.

She smiled at him, "Jason, I love you, that isn't why I said no. These past few weeks, I have been through a lot. With the kidnapping and I've never really had time to get over
it. I talked to Elizabeth today and she asked me to came and stay at her place in
Italy for a few weeks. I really think it's what I need to do."

Jason looked up at her. "Are you sure that this is what you want to do?"

Courtney smiled and nodded. "Yes it is and when I get back I will give you my answer."

"Okay, if that is what you want to do, then okay," Jason said as he leaned
over and kissed her. Courtney smiled to herself as she put her hand on her
stomach, where her and Jason's baby was growing inside her.

Jason looked at Courtney.

"Thinking about the baby, aren't you?" She smiled and nodded.


"Yes, I can't believe that we are going to be parents. I didn't think it was
going to happen this fast. I thought that we were going to get married
first, and then have a baby in a few years, not the other way around."

"I wanted to marry you, but not just because you are having my child, but because I want you to be with my wife for years to come."

Courtney smiled. "I know, but I still need to think of my answer, Jason. I'm tired, I think I am going to go to bed," Courtney said.


**
A week later,


Emily was sitting in Zander's hospital room.

"When do you think you are going to get out of here?" she asked.

"I think I can answer that," Monica said as she walked into the room. Both
Zander and Emily looked up at her.

"It looks like you will be able to go home tomorrow, Zander. But you are
still healing from your surgery, so you still have to be careful and take it easy."

Emily looked at him. "I will make sure that he gets all the care he
needs, Mom," she said and leaned over and kissed him. Monica smiled.

"I'm sure you will, but Emily, you need to get some rest; you haven't left
Zander's side since he woke up."

"I don't need any rest; I'm fine," Emily reassured her mom. Monica nodded.
"Okay," she said and left the room.

"You should listen to your mom, Emily. I'm fine; you don't need to be by my
side all the time. Go home and get some sleep," Zander said. Emily laughed.
"Trying to get rid of me, are you?"

Zander laughed. "Of course not," She took a hold of his hand.

"I'm so happy that you are okay. I'm not going to let anything ever happen to you again
or to us."

Zander and Emily then started to talk about all times when suddenly Emily
went into her bag.

"Remember these," she said as she pulled out some pixie sticks. Zander laughed.

"Of course I do."

"You know, I think that was when I fell in love with you when you got me
these," Emily laughed.

Zander smiled.

"Oh you did," he said as he put his arms around her, "You mean when I kidnapped you, I never thought that it would ever turn out like this. I thought I could get away from the police, I never thought that I would fall in love with you."

"That's how love is," Emily smiled.

A nurse then walked into the room.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Quartermine, but visiting hours are over, you are going to have to visit your boyfriend tomorrow."

Emily smiled. "I'll come back tomorrow to pick you up," she said as she hugged and kissed him goodbye.


**
Meanwhile in Italy,

Courtney was packing up her stuff when she heard a voice say.

"Do you have everything?" Courtney turned around and saw Elizabeth standing in the doorway.


"I think I packed everything; if I forgot something you can send it to me, right?" Courtney asked with a chuckle. Elizabeth chuckled and nodded.

"Of course," she smiled.

"Thank you again for letting me stay here," Courtney said as she walked over and hugged Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled. "It was nice to have you here."

"So how is everybody in Port Charles doing?" Elizabeth asked as she sat down
next to Courtney on the couch.

Courtney looked up at Elizabeth. "You miss it there, don't you?" She smiled.
"I do miss my grandma."

"Why don't you come back with me?"

Elizabeth smiled. "I can't not right now they still haven't found Ric's
body, if I go back, Faith might figure out that I killed Ric.... So how is
Emily doing?" Elizabeth said, trying to change the subject.

"I don't know if you talked to Emily lately, but she and Zander were shot."

Elizabeth looked shocked. "She is okay, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is fine; she wasn't hurt that bad, but Zander was hurt badly. H0e
was in a coma for a few days, but when I last saw her before I came here,
Zander had just woken up. She really loves him; I hope everything works out
for them."

Elizabeth smiled. "I know she tried to forget about him, but she couldn't."
Courtney looked at the time.

"I better get to the airport to catch my plane."

Elizabeth stood up. "Can I drive you to the airport?"

"Sure, that would be great," Courntey said as she picked up her suitcase.

**

The next night,

Jason was sitting in the living room, when Courntey walked in. She looked over
at him and smiled. She knew exactly how she felt about everything now.
Jason stood up and hugged her.

"Jason, we need to talk," she said in a serious tone. They sat down on the couch, "I have
thought about a lot of things while I was away. I love you, Jason Morgan.
I was scared to say yes to your proposal, because I thought you were only
marrying me because I am carrying your child, but now I realize that that isn't true and
you love me. So my answer is yes, Jason, I will marry you."

Jason pulled the ring out of his pocket and put it on her finger.

"I'm going to be Mrs. Jason Morgan," she smiled as they walked to the
bedroom.

As Courtney was lying down next to Jason in bed, she couldn't stop thinking
about everything. She was finally getting everything she'd always dreamed
of: a lovely husband and a baby. My life couldn't be any better, she thought to herself.

To be continued!!