Chapter Ten
"We have to talk."
Jason sighed, shaking his head as he resumed staring out at the water. The last thing he wanted to do was talk. The last thing he wanted to do was open his mouth and be expected to form a coherent thought.
"Go away."
AJ set his jaw, his hands fisting at his side, and edged closer to the bench his little brother was occupying. "Jason-"
"I said get the fuck out of here." Jason remained unmoving, staring out at the water with a concrete mask. His large hands were clasped in his lap, so tightly that AJ could see that his knuckles were alarmingly pale.
After hesitating for a moment, AJ quickly slid onto the bench next to him, hoping that his brother wouldn't give way to a sudden burst of animation that would leave his own butt against the planks. He glanced at Jason in apprehension, but the young man had yet to move or even acknowledge his presence on the bench.
"Look, I-I have to tell you something."
"I won't say it again – fuck off."
AJ swallowed nervously. "It's about Elizabeth-"
In a flash he was met with Jason's intense blue eyes, eyes blazing with anger and ferocity. "Don't talk to me about Elizabeth," the mobster growled, the muscle in his jaw ticking as he ground his teeth.
He turned away, resuming his silent contemplation as he studied the water without actually seeing it. It was an overcast day, and a thick gray and purple fog blanketed the water. Tiny lights blinked in the distance – Spoon Island.
Elizabeth loved islands.
Sonny sent her to his private island a few years ago during the Spencer/Cassidine war. Jason didn't know why, and he never asked. Nor did he ever work up the courage to visit her.
But he did know that she loved it.
Francis was with her on the island. It was him who Jason got all his information from. Elizabeth loved it there – the sunshine, endless expanses of wheat-colored sand and topaz waters, exotic wildlife that crept in the recesses of lush vegetation. She absolutely adored it and almost hated to come home.
Yachts.
She loved yachts.
Big, white yachts to sail the Mediterranean.
She had told him that in his penthouse, back when she lived there with him. God, it seemed like ages ago. And it was only a little more than a year. He'd be kidding himself if he said that the four walls of his gloomy penthouse could hold her in. Her presence invaded it, took it by surprise. Took him by surprise.
And it felt wonderful.
It was like a godsend to hear her waking up in the morning, thumping and cursing as she tripped over her clothes and various accessories that were always strewn about the floor of the guest room. To walk into the bathroom and see her tampons tucked way back in the cabinet, her ginger-and-white-tea lotion on the shelf, her curling iron in the drawer. Even her Midol had found its place in his medicine cabinet, next to the rubbing alcohol and his aftershave. He loved coming home at night and finding the sandwich and brownie she'd always leave for him, along with a personalized note. It made his evening – the thought that she'd leave him a little note in her scrawling cursive literally pulled him through his assignment.
And that afternoon when she had gazed out on Alcazar's yacht…She was so at ease, and it floored him. It made his heart swell that she could have been that comfortable in his home. It meant that he was at least doing something right.
What were her exact words?
If I had a yacht… White…Mediterranean…
He'd buy her every single yacht in the world if she'd just wake up and be his Elizabeth again.
AJ cleared his throat. "We have to talk, Jason." His voice was low and strained. "There's something I have to tell you."
"I don't give a shit," Jason stated matter-of-factly. "So go stuff it."
AJ rubbed his throbbing temple. "Jason-"
"You don't take hints very well, do you?" Jason asked, his voice even and drawn. "Do I need to write it in my blood for you, AJ? Leave me the hell alone."
In an instant AJ was on his feet and standing in front of Jason, blocking his view of the water. The affront had Jason leaping to his feet as well and the two brothers stood toe-to-toe, glaring at each other, nostrils flaring. Even though Jason towered over AJ, the older man refused to back off.
"I'll leave you alone after you listen to what I have to say."
"For the last time, you little shit-" Jason's voice was cut off by the shrill ring of a cell phone.
Both men instantly reached for their pockets, pulling out their own phones and flipping them open.
"Hello?"
"Morgan."
The words were spoken in unison, and Jason's brow furrowed when AJ continued with a conversation while he was met with only a dial tone.
"Yeah – no, I'm not far. What? Louder! I'm on the docks. Yeah – I know where he is. He's right here."
This time Jason's phone rang, and he turned away from his brother to answer it.
"Jason?" A woman's trembling voice greeted him.
"Mo-" He caught himself before he called her mom. "Monica?"
"Get to the hospital. Hurry. She's awake!"
Elizabeth or Emily? He didn't get a chance to ask because his mother hung up and the dial tone invaded his ears once more.
Without a word to his brother, Jason snapped the slim phone shut and dropped it into his pocket before taking off for the stairs, jumping over them in a single bound.
As he ran, he could hear AJ's footsteps echo across the wooden planks as well.
Room 124 was a-buzz with happiness. Gone were the tears of sadness and disbelief – in their stead were tears of joy and relief.
Emily Bowen, the light of the Quartermaine family, had opened her eyes and welcomed the world in.
A soft smile graced the brunette's face as she gazed around the room. Her entire family was there. Edward and Lila were both seated by the bed with her parents and Reginald. On the other side were Luke, Skye, and two of the four musketeers.
"It's a miracle," Monica kept repeating, squeezing Alan's hand as he pressed a kiss to her temple. "I don't believe it – Alan, it's a miracle."
"It is, sweetheart," was all her husband could say. "We've been blessed."
"You really scared us for a minute, there, Emmie," Lucky grinned, sweeping her long locks behind her ears. Some of her color was beginning to return to the brunette's face, distinguishing it from the pale sheets. Even her warm chocolate eyes were sparkling.
"Don't ever do it again," Zander whispered as he pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. Emily smiled, her eyes darting over to her grandfather. But instead of snorting with disgust at the public display of affection, the Quartermaine patriarch could do little but smile affectionately at the two youngsters.
"My dear," Lila began, placing a weathered hand trembling with age on Emily's soft one. "We never stopped believing and praying for you. You're our angel, love – we'd do all that we could for you. And you didn't disappoint us – you fought to get back to us just as hard as we did. We're so terribly overjoyed, my darling."
"Oh, grandmother," Emily smiled as the tears crept into her eyes. Lila's hand cupped her cheeks and stroked gently, and as she gazed into the older woman's eyes, so full of love and affection, her words died in her throat.
"Where are your brothers, I wonder," Edward mused, one finger tapping his upper lip. "I just spoke with AJ not ten minutes ago. They should be here by now. Oh, I hope traffic isn't too bad. It's been abominable ever since they closed up Harrison for repairs."
Monica smiled at the old man's serious ramblings. Sweeping a gaze around the room, she felt a fresh wave of tears assaulting her eyes. It was remarkable, all of it – Emily's victory over her coma, the hopeful recession of the tumor, the way the entire family pulled together during this time of need…It was more than she could believe.
Lucky, Nikolas and Zander were perched precariously on the bed, their long legs straining against the floor to brace their bodies, as there wasn't enough room for all of them to sit comfortably. As it was, they were sitting rather closely, and every now and then Lucky would shove his older brother further and further toward the edge. Luke and Reginald had abandoned any hopes of sitting close to the brunette and were pacing in front of the bed, talking and laughing together. From the snippets Monica heard, they were trading stories of Emily in her younger years. Luke was becoming acquainted with the time Emily dumped green-jello mix in the pool to celebrate St. Patrick's day, and was introducing Reginald to the beauty of the Foster-Annabelle affair.
Skye was seated with Edward and Lila on a plastic chair next to Lila's wheelchair. Days without sleep had left their mark on the fiery redhead, but had not extinguished the energy that fueled her ecstasy over her little sister's hopeful recovery.
Sonny, Carly, and Courtney sat in the uncomfortable plastic chairs by the windows, not wanting to intrude on a precious family moment but honored to share in the joy nonetheless. For a few moments, it was as if all the animosity between the Corinthos family and the Quartermaines was forgotten, and Monica had a hard time believing such a thing were possible.
She and Alan were seated on the bed close to their daughter, and neither could have been happier over the truly miraculous turn of events.
The only two people missing from this joyous scene were Emily's brothers.
No sooner had her thoughts turned to her sons than the two came bursting through the door.
Edward was the first to exclaim when they entered. "Boys!"
"Hello, my darlings," Lila echoed, her smile illuminating the room.
"Jason," Courtney whispered, her eyes following her boyfriend as he swallowed up the distance between him and his sister. He didn't even realize that the three of them were there.
AJ's grin was the widest Monica had ever seen, but his eyes didn't sparkle as brightly as they normally did when he was happy. He raced over to the beds and wrapped his arms around his little sister, lifting her an inch off of the bed. Carly shifted uncomfortably, the sight of AJ still being enough to make her skin crawl. "Em."
She giggled when his nose tickled her ear. "AJ."
He stood back, his eyes wet and shining, to let his brother pass. Jason stood still for a moment, just gazing down at his little sister. She gazed back up at him, a hint of a smile curving her lips.
When he finally bent down to hug her, Emily's arms were waiting for him.
"Hey, kiddo." The words were lost in her hair. Sonny smiled as he watched the scene before him, leaning a little closer to Carly.
Emily smirked. "That's the best you've got, Jase?"
He pulled back, not sure of what to make of her comment. "Not good enough?"
She shook her head, holding her arms up for another hug. "Always good enough coming from you, big brother."
He smiled and kissed her on the forehead, turning back and shooting Edward an apologetic glance when he bumped slightly into the older man. It was then that he noticed that Sonny, Carly, and Courtney were seated in the room as well, watching him. He tipped his head in greeting and Sonny did the same. Carly smiled warmly at him, her eyes telling him how happy she was for him. He glanced at Courtney, surprised at how he hadn't even thought to contact her ever since he found out about the accident, but there was nothing he could do at the moment. She smiled at him and he tipped his head again.
Emily was watching him and AJ when they turned back to her.
"I'd like to say I knew you'd be okay," AJ began, his voice soft and raspy. "But I wasn't that strong."
Jason nodded. "For the first time, I agree with him."
It took all Carly had not to snort.
Emily blinked, beckoning AJ to continue.
"But you were," AJ added. "You were more than strong enough. You made up for all our weaknesses, Em. You fought your way back, even when we were too scared to think you would. You're amazing, little girl," he added, watching her playfully crinkle her nose because she hated it when he called her little girl. "And I don't know what we'd do without you."
"Amen," Edward burst out with a stiff nod of his head. "But hopefully it won't come to that. Not in my lifetime, at least."
"Grandfather," Emily admonished, batting her hand at him. "Don't talk like that."
Whereas he would normally argue with her about the inevitability of death and age, Edward just smiled and complied. Courtney found herself wondering how such a vicious, unforgivably cruel old geezer could be such a lamb simply by being with his granddaughter.
"She's right," Jason agreed. "You still have a long life of trying to get Sonny out of ELQ, and chasing Zander out of the house, ahead of you."
AJ snickered. Had Jason just cracked a joke? Unbelievable.
Edward twisted his lips into a sour smirk, shaking his head at his grandson. "I shall never forgive myself for letting that oily Cuban snake his way into my company." Sonny could do little but smile – dimples and all – as Edward glanced furtively in his direction. If looks could kill, Carly thought. Still, she knew better than to call Edward on his rudeness at this time.
"Now, dear," Lila scolded. "Don't you say anything about Mr. Corinthos. He is a charming man."
Edward's eyes widened as Sonny turned his dimples onto his wife, who smiled engagingly back. "But, Lila-"
The matriarch just shook her head. "Edward, I won't have any of it. I am rather fond of Mr. Corinthos and don't mind his company at all."
"But I'll always be the first in your heart, right, m'lady?" Luke teased, his eyes trained on Edward as the older man sputtered.
"Well, I never-" Not knowing who to turn his wrath on, it was all Edward could do to glance menacingly at first Sonny then Luke, daring both of them to make another move on his wife.
"Edward, calm down."
"Lila, don't you see-"
"Calm down. You are making a scene and I shan't stand for it. Edward, do not test me."
Luke couldn't help but shoot the older man a victorious grin as he mumbled under his breath. "Mobsters and hooligans – my own wife prefers them to me!"
Emily was laughing, and even Edward's sour mood dissipated at the gentle sound of her melodic laughter. It just felt so wonderful to hear her laughter after so many days of silence.
"Nothing's changed, has it?" the brunette smiled. "Except that Jason's found a sense of humor."
Courtney smiled. It was the first time that she, too, had heard Jason joke around.
Lucky laughed. "We wouldn't dream of changing without you, Em."
Emily quirked an eyebrow at his smarmy tone. "Oh, yeah, sure," she scoffed, shaking her head at his sycophancy. "I believe that, Spencer."
Carly shook her head. The little cowboy was definitely his father's son. Smooth talking seemed to come naturally to all the Spencers.
Nikolas smiled, stretching slightly in his awkward position on the bed. Next to him, Zander was also grinning. "So, am I about to see the famed Musketeers in action?"
"Perhaps," Emily smiled. "Although I'm not sure it's something you'll want to see."
"Actually," Lucky interrupted, raising his hand. "I make a motion to change our name from the Musketeers to the Fab Four."
"Fab Four," Nikolas repeated. "Not bad. But I'm not sure if I like the idea."
"You're just resistant to change," his brother tossed back, rolling his eyes and not seeing how Nikolas scowled at him.
"Fine," he agreed immediately, his voice testy. No harmonica-playing, boy-band-highlight-sporting, punk kid was going to tell him that he was resistant to change.
"No," Emily replied with a firm shake of the head. "Absolutely not. I veto it."
Zander smiled at the scene playing out before him. For the first time, it didn't really seem to matter that he wasn't part of this tight group, that he was on the outside looking in.
"You can't veto it," Lucky exclaimed. "It's two against one, blondie – learn to count."
"I'm not blonde!" Emily cried, grabbing a lock of her hair. "Do you see this? Red! It's red, man!"
"Are you sure? Maybe you dyed it for the fiftieth time and forgot," Lucky jeered. "Brunette, blonde, redhead – what the heck are you?"
"I'm sick of you, that's what I am!" Emily cried, trying to kick him but finding that her foot was tangled in the hospital blankets.
"Uh oh, Lucky," AJ broke in, clucking his tongue. "Looks like you stepped over the line."
"No kidding," Emily huffed. "Watch out, or I'll have my brother kick you out."
"I'd do it, too," Jason added, trying to hide his smirk. Monica watched his eyes twinkle at the banter between Emily and her best friend, and it made her heart flutter. If only for a few moments, Jason Morgan was part of the family again. And she was going to do her best to hang onto the feeling.
"We're the Four Musketeers and that's that." The brunette crossed her arms over her chest, daring Lucky to contradict her.
The blonde didn't disappoint. "Fab Four."
"Musketeers."
"Two against one. Eat it, midget."
"No way – Elizabeth'll side with me. Guys against gals, you know. Never fails."
The room descended into an uncomfortable silence. Reginald and Luke stopped pacing, both of them frozen in place. Edward withdrew a step, loosening his tie and averting her gaze. The smiles dropped off of the boys' faces, and even Skye began to study her fingernails. Sonny and Carly bowed their heads, leaving Courtney to pull at her sleeves and avert her gaze. Shit.
Monica watched as a heavy cloud descended over Jason's countenance, the twinkle in his eyes retreating as his body tensed.
With a sigh, she reached for Emily's hand, looking straight into her daughter's bewildered eyes.
"W-what's going on?" Emily's gaze darted apprehensively from one family member to another. No one answered. "Guys? You're scaring me." She tried to chuckle, but the sound that escaped her lips was pitiful and did little to mask her growing anxiety. "Where's Elizabeth?"