One more chapter!
Part VIII
The sharp winter wind grazed his skin as he stood unwavering in the small courtyard. The sun had begun its departure since his arrival. He was waiting patiently for their latest rival to arrive. The message had arrived at the warehouse for him to be present in Kelly's courtyard at sunset. He had arrived early more out of habit then the lack of business to take care of. The lapels of his leather jacket flapped in the wind as he waited patiently with his back to the entrance of the diner, his body stiff with the ever-existing tension in his muscles.
The last few weeks of his life had been hectic with one unbearable event after another occurring to only pull the rug out from under him over and over. The problems in his relationship with Courtney had only intensified since they'd gotten married. It didn't help that Brian Beck had entered their lives, stirring up even more trouble for them. The past only complicated things.
The soft jingle of the bell signaling the opening of the diner doors had Jason reflexively looking over his leather clad shoulder.
"Jason?"
A soft smile curved his lips at the petite form standing in the threshold of the courtyard.
"Elizabeth," he breathed.
She smiled tentatively at him.
Of their own accord, his azure eyes slowly raked over Elizabeth's petite frame. She was dressed in a pair of snug faded blue jeans and a lavender knitted sweater top with a scooped neckline. Her cheeks and button nose were ruby red from the cold. She was still small, but looked healthier. She was glowing, more than usual. There was something in her cobalt eyes that said she was happy, but there was something else there as well. Anxiety.
"Hey," she murmured, pulling her sleeves into a tight grip. Her cobalt eyes were on anything, but him.
He watched her as his thoughts struggled with his conscious to stay focused. "How are you? Do you get headaches any more?"
The young brunette's startled deep blue eyes finally connected with the enforcer's. "I-I don't really—If I do they're mild," she stuttered. "How do you know about that?"
Jason looked away. "I asked Emily to keep me updated on you."
A soft smile blossomed on Elizabeth's lips as her eyes ran over Jason's reserved face. "Thank you."
"None needed," he murmured, focusing his eyes on the ground. He had contacted his sister in the hospital after Elizabeth's accident to make sure that he was kept up to date on the brunette's condition. He had stopped by to see Elizabeth, but once he got into an argument with Ric, he stayed away to leave her stress free. After, Elizabeth had been released from the hospital and was recovered; he had Emily still keep him up to date on her best friend's health to make sure she was doing well. It was the least he could do after his fiancée at the time ran Elizabeth over.
The wind blew, swiping a few of Elizabeth's chestnut locks across her face. Their hands meet as Jason tucked the strands behind her ear. Her hand fell immediately, but his hand lingered for a moment before dropping forgotten to his side.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through that." There was a far away look in his eyes, but they were trained on her.
"Don't be, it wasn't your fault," her eyes shifted to the empty tabletops in the courtyard. Her eyes grew emotionless.
"It was," Jason insisted. "I should have known that Courtney wasn't stable and you got hurt in the process. It shouldn't have happened."
"They weren't your actions," Elizabeth muttered, rubbing her arms to keep warm. "They were hers. Things are back to normal now for everyone." She smiled weakly not wanting to continue speaking of the blonde woman that had caused her enough pain.
"Yeah, they are," Jason, breathed. "In some sense. Sonny and Carly are back to where they belong. And Michael," he chuckled. "He's up to his usual things. Morgan is going to be a real handful with his older brother's influence." Realizing, he was going off on a tangent—that always happened around Elizabeth—he turned his attention back the petite woman before him. "Anyway, how are things with you?"
Her arms wrapped around her midsection. "They're okay. I actually—I…" she trailed off. A look of apprehension filled her face.
Jason frowned.
"I-I," she searched for the right words. "I just got some news that I wasn't expecting."
His cerulean eyes filled with curiosity. "Is it bad news?"
Elizabeth chuckled dryly. "It depends on how you take it."
For the first time since they had bumped into each other, Elizabeth looked him straight in the eyes. There was not only anxiety there, but also shame fused with other feelings he wasn't able to decipher.
"Jason," she murmured taking in a deep breath that looked painful. "I think we need to talk," she paused, gnawing at her bottom lip. "To talk about what happened." Unconsciously, her hands began to rub circles on her stomach.
Instantly, Jason's face grew stoic and his body tense.
"I know that we haven't talked about it and I understand why," she made a face. "Trust me I do, but I think it's time that we did. I—"
"Elizabeth," her name was harsh on his lips.
At once Elizabeth's mouth clamped shut.
"That night is where it belongs—in the past. Let's leave it there."
She was pregnant then.
Elizabeth was carrying his child when she had tried to speak to him about the night they slept together and he had brushed her off. If he hadn't been so hell bent on forgetting that night, he could have been apart of his son's life earlier. He would have never missed the nine months that Cameron had been growing in his mother's womb and the first seven months of his life. If he hadn't been a bastard and pushed away the one woman he truly loved, he would have a family right now.
"There must be something really wrong with me," she spat. "After everything, I still love you. I shouldn't…yet I do."
There was nothing wrong with Elizabeth. There was something wrong with him. In reality, Elizabeth hadn't done anything wrong, but allow herself to be comforted by an old friend searching for soothing himself.
"You've been pointing the finger at me as if I've committed a crime."
He had committed the crime. He was the one to blame for the mess that their lives were at the moment. If he hadn't swatted her away, if he had let her explain, if he had simply accepted the truth then he wouldn't be going home to an empty penthouse at the end of the day.
"You could have come to me as well when you found out about my pregnancy."
He could have. He should have questioned her pregnancy the moment he received word she was expecting.
She gasped.
"Do you feel that?" She pressed his hand more firmly against her swollen stomach, her face full of joy. "Do you feel it?"
"Yeah," he sighed. A look of awe spread on his face as he felt the soft pressure against his hand.
"The baby's kicking."
He had felt Cameron's first kick, unknowingly taking part in one of his son's first moments. He could have asked then. He could have not missed out, if he had only uttered the words.
"I wanted to prove that I could create a perfect life for myself and my child, do at least one thing right."
She had nothing to prove.
"Prove to who?"
She sighed.
"Myself. My parents, my sister, my grandma, you."
She had nothing to prove then or now, especially to him. He had everything to prove now to gain back his place in her life.
"After everything, I still love you."
She still loved him.
"I still love you"
He still loved her.
Her confused words. Her lost, pained eyes. They all haunted him. He had confused her. He had placed the pain in her eyes. He was the cause of her withdrawal from the world.
Since the night Elizabeth had lashed out at him in her apartment, she avoided him. She informed Sonny, Carly, or Emily if there was a change in her schedule. If she couldn't reach one of the three, she called up Francis. She left Cameron with the guard that was on duty when it was Jason's time with their son. When, he went to pick up Cameron or drop him off at the apartment, Elizabeth always had everything packed and ready to go. She said her goodbye to Cameron and closed the door in Jason's face without a second glance.
If they were in a room together for more then a minute—they were rare—Elizabeth fidgeted. She picked a spot in the room far from him and stayed there. She never meet his eyes or spoke more then was needed. Everything she said to him was brief, to the point, and about Cameron—if she had to speak to him that was.
Who could blame her for being uncomfortable around him now. He had been a total jackass and would take up any of the guards even Sonny for one of them to punch him for his recent behavior. He was sure Carly and Emily would eagerly slap him silly if he asked nicely. He deserved any physical pain that his family could place him through. His pain would never compare to what he had placed Elizabeth through.
Elizabeth deserved none of the pain, she had—was enduring. He had been angry when she told him Cameron was his. Fear of losing Cameron; fear for Elizabeth had morphed into rage the moment the code blue rang through the chapel. His initial reaction when the code blue alarm entered his shocked mind in the chapel was anger at possibly never getting to know his son after losing a child no more then a month before. He let his anger be directed at the woman that was innocent and unknowing as well until Cameron got sick.
The rage he felt grow in him since the revelation continued to mount and he did nothing to prevent it even when Cameron was out of danger. Carly's words along with Elizabeth's from the other night cracked the barrier in his mind that kept him from seeing the truth. The truth that he was an idiot and that neither of them was really at fault except for never giving into their feelings in the past. The love was always there just denied.
It was different now.
They had a son now. Whether Cameron was an illegitimate child or not, he was the everlasting bond that could never be shattered. They were a family whether it was acknowledged or not.
It was time for him to redeem himself.
Time to make things the way they should be.
Time for him to get his family back.
Inhaling sharply, Jason ran his eyes over the small yet quaint St. Anne's Church. The garden area surrounding the perimeter of the Church was deserted; the heavy oak doors were closed with a flower piece adorning it for decoration. He was in some sense late as a member of the Bride's family, but on time at the same time as an invited guest. Silently Jason entered the church, carefully closing the door behind him, he turned back around to find the occupants of the church seated and turned around in their seats watching him. He fretfully tugged on the open collar of his pewter colored dress shirt and then pulled the sleeves of his charcoal suit jacket into place. He loved his sister, but not enough to wear a tie to her wedding.
A soft murmur began to fill the room as all eyes remained on Jason. Paying no attention to the audience watching him, Jason's piercing blue eyes anxiously scanned the crowd for a particular petite brunette. His heart grew cold as he searched the small space with no signs of her presence. About to give up hope he saw her.
Dressed in a burgundy, strapless gown, she had no interest in what the guests were intrigued by. Her attention more on the two sets of bouquets she held.
He took one step towards her, when she moved.
She looked over her shoulder for a moment at nothing in particular before disappearing through a set of oak doors located off to the side of the pews.
Stepping into the bridal suite of the small church, Elizabeth came to a sudden halt at the sight that greeted her. Emily looked breathtaking in the Cinderella gown she had selected. The bodice was satin with trinkets that sparkled. The bodice flowed into a tulle bottom that puffed around Emily's small waist. Her veil reached past her waist and settled on the ground besides her bare feet. The diamond crown that her veil descended from glittered in the soft light.
"How do I look?" Emily asked dropping her hands at her side.
Recovering from her awe, Elizabeth murmured, "Beautiful."
"Really?"
Elizabeth grinned, placing the bouquets down. "Nikolas will forget his name when he sees you walking down the aisle."
Her best friend giggled.
The maid of honor fiddled with her the bride's veil before retrieving a white shoebox from beneath an ottoman. Flicking off the cover to reveal white stilettos, Elizabeth looked up to find her best friend watching her intently with a soft mystified smile.
"What?" Elizabeth inquired, pulling out the shoes for Emily. "Thinking of the honeymoon already?" she joked.
The bride shook her head. "Nope, thinking of how it'll be you as the bride soon and me the maid of honor."
The young bride watched as her maid of honor's face fell and the feelings that ate away at her soul revealed themselves.
Elizabeth's eyes fell to the contents of the box she held. "I doubt that," she mumbled, picking up the shoes by the straps, she placed them on the floor and turned away.
Emily's eyes misted as she witnessed Elizabeth struggled to grasp control over her feelings. Things for Elizabeth had been difficult as of late and Emily knew without a doubt that the cause was her brother. She had watched the two walk around acting as if the world was unaltered, but their eyes spoke volumes. Jason seemed to try to reach out to the mother of his child, but Elizabeth brushed it off. After speaking to both Carly and Sonny she had been able to gather that Jason and Elizabeth had finally talked a few weeks ago, but things had gone wary with her best friend releasing her pent up emotions.
The drastic change between the two young parents was evident enough to affect Cameron. The child felt the negative energy in the room when his parents were together, but unspeaking. Emily understood that Jason had been angry and then that anger had formed in Elizabeth from his reaction to the news. Cameron's fraternity was mind-blowing for all of them, but neither of the two parents saw that they had much to gain and more to lose if they didn't settle their differences or at least speak honestly. She saw the pain that marred her brother's beautiful azure eyes whenever he handed their son over to a cold Elizabeth. She witnessed the rage in Elizabeth, but the longing was still there.
Ignoring the shoes that sat besides her feet, the young bride reached for her best friend. Turning Elizabeth around, Emily smiled warily. "You're going to be walking down that aisle someday and it's going to be sooner then you think."
The maid of honor didn't meet her eyes as she stared at the beige walls of the room. "A month ago, I would have told you that I dreamed of it. But today I can only say that it's not possible. It never really was."
"Elizabeth," Emily sighed. "I know things with Jason aren't so wonderful right now, but you can't just give up."
Elizabeth shook her head in defeat, her eyes still diverted.
"Neither of you can," the young brunette murmured firmly.
"It's too late for us," she whispered dejectedly. "It was too late for us the moment I let him kiss me."
Tucking a strand of hair back into its place in Elizabeth's elegantly done bun, the young doctor, exhaled deeply. "It's never too late for you and Jason. In the past the two of you fought for your friendship all the while falling in love. Life eventually tore you two away from each other."
A soft taint of red spread on Elizabeth's face.
"But life lead you back to each other." Emily reached out for Elizabeth's hand, and grasped it tightly. "Before Christmas, you went back to who you were to each other—yourselves. The love that was between you naturally resurfaced."
Tears rimmed the young mother's doe shaped eyes.
"Cameron—Cameron is a miracle that you both love, that only bonds you together forever." Emily gently brushed a tear that fell down Elizabeth's cheek. "It's time for you to fight. It's time for you both to fight for what you both deserve." She paused as she took a moment to observe her quiet maid of honor. "Fight for your love like you fought for it in the past. Fight for the family that you all deserve and need especially your son."
Elizabeth remained silent, the words soaking into her. Meeting Emily's eyes for a moment, she smiled weakly before grabbing the bouquet of red roses for the bride and the white roses for herself. Pasting a wide smile on her face she turned to Emily. "I'd better get you to Nikolas before he thinks you've run off or something," she kidded.
Reaching for the bouquet, Emily watched her best friend quickly stride to the door. Elizabeth put on an act for the world to see, but Emily saw right through it. Her eyes spoke the truth. The young mother's heart was broken without Jason.
She looked beautiful.
From the bun that all her chestnut tresses were gathered in to the graceful steps she took in her burgundy gown to the way she fidgeted with her simple pearl necklace took his breath away.
Jason watched her every movement. Watching her from the pew next to Sonny and Carly, Jason felt the air get knocked out of him as she moved down the aisle with white roses in her hand. She avoided his eyes as she had moved by him. Despite her cold shoulder, his eyes remained trained on her at every moment that she wasn't watching. He immediately could tell that she was putting on a smile for everyone's benefit especially for Nikolas and Emily.
Approaching her was impossible. Every time he got into reaching distance, someone came flying into his way. Even when she handed Cameron over to him after the ceremony—their son and Michael had served as ring barriers—a crowd was between them in seconds. It seemed like someone upstairs wanted to keep him apart from the mother of his child tonight.
Sighing, Jason watched as people began to gather around him in the reception area step up in the Quartermaine mansion—Elizabeth was nowhere in site. After the ceremony, the guests had traveled to the mansion to celebrate. He was happy for his sister. After everything she had been through Emily deserved a good life with Nikolas.
A nudge on his arm startled Jason. Looking up he found Sonny smiling at him. The older man looked relaxed in his silk Italian suit, while Jason couldn't wait to get out of his. Looking past Sonny a smile pulled at his lips at the sight of Carly tickling Cameron into a fit of laughter.
"I thought you'd be gone by now," Jason remarked to Sonny.
Sonny chuckled. "As long as Edward's at least twenty feet away from me, I'm good."
"The old man has been glaring at us nonstop," Carly commented from besides them.
Jason smirked. "He's just been dying to come and say something about Cameron, but Alan and Monica got to him before Emily could."
"Man, would I have given anything to see his face when those two cornered him."
"Me too," Jason murmured, his eyes still on his son's beaming face.
After light was shed on Cameron's paternity, the town of Port Charles had been shaken to the core, many not surprised while others were flabbergasted. The Quartermaine reaction was odd in some sense. They all offered him congratulations and also more. Emily said she would gladly be the official babysitter, Justus offered him legal assistance with any changes that would be needed, Dillon made one of his usual mobster smart-ass comments, Ned told him to stir clear of Edward and Tracy, and his parents formally introduced themselves to their new grandchild. It had all been an out of world experience, but he accepted it. Jason didn't want his son growing up with animosity around him just because he wasn't able to put aside his differences with his estranged family. Oddly enough all of them besides Tracy and Edward had spent time with Cameron—the rest had kept the loons of the family away—today and so far no outbursts had erupted.
If they had, Jason knew the situation between him and Elizabeth would have worsened and at the moment he didn't need that. He made sure that Cameron was with someone that would stay away from hostile family members.
His attention was diverted by Elizabeth's voice calling for attention. She was handing Emily the bouquet of red roses that the bride had carried down the aisle. Soon, Nikolas and Lucky were pushing her to join the crowd of women that had gathered in front of them.
"Come on Elizabeth," Carly called out. "There's no harm in taking part in the action." She winked at the maid of honor. Elizabeth gave up and joined them.
Jason was able to see the top of her head. Confused, he turned to Sonny with questioning eyes. "What's going on?"
"The bouquet toss," he simply stated.
"The what?"
Sonny gave him an amused smile. "Have you never been to weddings?"
"They're not my thing unless they're my wedding or yours and you know how they've all ended," he shrugged.
"Well," Sonny began to explain as Emily turned her back to the crowd. "As tradition goes the bride throws the bouquet over her shoulder before she goes off to her honeymoon and whoever catches it is next to get married."
Jason watched, fascinated as Emily swung the bouquet of roses over her shoulder and it landed in the front of the crowd. Utter shock covered his face when he realized that Elizabeth was the one holding the bride's bouquet.
Besides him, Sonny and Carly awed over the event. The women giggled while a look of uncertainty fell on Elizabeth's face. She silently walked over to Emily and he watched as his sister smiled softly at her maid of honor. Completely thrown back by the situation, Jason shook his head to only look up and become more confused at the sight of Emily sitting in the center of the room, Nikolas kneeling in front of her.
"What's he doing?" Jason snarled as Nikolas began to lift the skirt of his sister's gown.
"It's the garter toss, Jason," Sonny simply stated.
"The what?" Jason asked again as he's eyes shot wide open as Nikolas revealed his sister's thigh.
"I'd never would have been able to guess that you were married twice," Sonny muttered.
Jason glared at him.
"The groom takes the garter off the bride's thigh—you do know what a garter is right?" He snapped his mouth shut at Jason's darkened scowl. "Okay, well the groom takes the garter off and then he tosses it over his shoulder. According to tradition, the man that catches the garter and the woman that catches the bouquet will be next to get married—to each other." Sonny smirked at the look that crossed Jason's face—amazement. "It's a silly little superstition," he added, but Jason was lost in his own thoughts.
The enforcer nodded his head as he processed the words. Elizabeth had caught the bouquet. The man that catches the garter would marry her. Elizabeth would marry the man that catches the garter…
As the thoughts roll around in Jason's mind, the crowd erupted in a roar catching his attention in time. Moving his head, his hands reflexively caught the object that came straight at him. Looking down into his hands, Jason found a small scrap of lace—the garter.
During his time with his thoughts, the women had cleared away and men had lined up to catch the garter and he was the one that caught the garter.
The man that catches the garter married the woman that catches the bouquet.
Jason's eyes immediately searched for the cobalt pair of doe shaped eyes he had longed to look into. He found her behind Emily holding the bouquet, her eyes in his direction, but not on him.
Everyone watched them anxiously as Jason stared at Elizabeth while she avoided his gaze. Sheepish smiles played out on Sonny, Carly, Emily and Nikolas's—he had been recruited—faces as they watched the couple.
"Did Sonny forget to mention that tradition says the bouquet and garter catchers have to dance?" Carly asked offhandedly, while Sonny smirked at them.
"Yes, yes, he forgot to mention that," Jason muttered, his eyes never wavering from Elizabeth's face.
"Looks like it's time for you to show off your dancing skills," his best friend commented as the reception area was cleared for the dance floor. Jason scanned the reception area. There were people everywhere making it very difficult for someone to escape quickly. His eyes flashed back to Elizabeth as a thought filled his mind. He was going to talk to Elizabeth tonight even if it meant keeping her captive on the dance floor.
A soft note filled the air catching everyone's attention. All eyes flew to the musician. Dillon smiled cheekily as he strummed his guitar. Seeing his opportunity, Jason broke into a stride across the room to be only stopped by his son reaching out for him. Taking Cameron's hand gently in his, Jason kissed it before murmuring, "I'll be right back. I've got to go talk to your mommy first."
Ignoring all the eyes that were trained on him, Jason walked straight into the middle of the dance floor past a crestfallen Lucky. A soft rhythm filled the air now as the song came to a start. He didn't need to drag Elizabeth to dance for his sister had shoved her best friend straight at him. The brunette caught herself and came to a halt a few inches from him. She stared at his shirt rather then look at him. Cautiously he held out his hand like she had to him on the bridge a few weeks ago. She stared at his hand now as Brooklyn's gentle voice drowned out the murmurs around them.
Her soft petite hand took his larger one. He felt the contrast like every time he noticed from her touch. He grasped it tight pulling her to him. His hand automatically went to her hip. Carefully she placed her other hand on his shoulder. Lifting their clasped hands he admired the ease he felt twining them together. It felt wonderful to have her back in his arms.
The tension between them was there, felt by everyone in the room.
Slowly, Jason led Elizabeth in a dance. Her cobalt eyes stayed trained over his shoulder.
We lived our dreams and promises
Lowering his lips near her ear, he whispered, "We need to talk."
We shared the laughter and the tears
"I don't want to talk," she whispered back sharply.
And in the times of uncertainty
"You don't have to talk just listen, please," he pleaded.
You've been my shelter through the fear
She said nothing back, but the firm set of her jaw let him know she would comply.
And though I always thought
"You have every right to be angry with me right now," he murmured. "I-I should have listened, but when you told me, I was scared. Scared for Cameron and you."
The goal was somehow worth the cost
The rest of the world faded away as they swayed to Brooklyn's voice.
I've learned I'm not afraid to say…
"I didn't think…I didn't think of what you were going through when I found out about Cameron," his voice grew gruff. "Knowing that I had a son that at any moment I could lose, scared me. The fact that I had a son to love that could never be taken from me scared, me. It scared me even more that I shared my son with you. Someone that deserved him more than me." He tightened his hold on her. "I never meant to hurt you, but that morning when I woke up with you draped over me I felt things that I had long ago pushed away. It felt too right—I got scared."
You're the only one I love. The only one I love. You're the only one I love. You're the only one I love.
He searched her face looking for any signs of his words affecting her. He saw no emotion.
Oh there was a time I fled honesty
He continued on. "I left you in bed that morning not because I didn't want to see you again, but because you deserve so much and I knew that I wasn't the right person to give it to you."
Emotions are never shown
The brunette beauty in his arms shifted her head to leave him with only the profile of her face.
And restless dreams they kept haunting me
"I'm still not the right person," he murmured drawing circles on her hip. "But I want to be."
But I never let you go
"The penthouse is empty every night I go home." He inhaled the sweet scent of vanilla that was her. "It's dark and cold. I hate walking into the penthouse knowing that you were with Cameron across town. I want that to change. I want so much more then I ever imagined and I can only have it with you."
'Cause if I ever lost
"I want to wake up with you in my arms," his cheek brushed against hers.
The one and only heart I trust
"I want to kiss you good night." His nose bumped hers.
I could never find my way
"I want to tell you that I love you."
You're the only one I love
She looked up at him with startled misty eyes. The first time in over weeks that he had seen emotion on her face directed towards him.
The only one I love
He leaned his forehead gently against hers. "I want to be able to take you and our son home."
You're the only one I love
Kissing her forehead gently, he broke away from her. They stared at each other both frightened of looking away. Slowly, he held out his hand to her in offer like he had in the park so many years ago for a chance to prove he loved her.
You're the only one I love
The Only One I love
Adrianne Leon