Wow, more great reviews. Thanks everyone! Here is my next chapter. : )

Rated: M
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like writing about them

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There You'll Be

Chapter Six

He didn't know what awakened him, but when he rolled over and glanced at the clock on the bedside table it was just a little after six. It took a moment for his surroundings to register, realizing that he had slept more soundly than he could ever remember. The full sized bed covered with a dark blue gingham blanket wasn't his own king, but not uncomfortable. He found his bag sitting next to an oak dresser, matching blue curtains to a window pulled open to reveal the most stunning view of a lake he had ever seen. The rumble of a toilet flushing filtered through the walls and he figured out what had pulled him from sleep.

Elizabeth.

Last night, despite their argument, she had offered him the downstairs guest bedroom for the night so that he wouldn't have to drive into town. She made it clear, however, that he couldn't stay. At first he thought it was because they were angry with each other, but she had explained that she didn't think it was right to have him stay here with her and Cameron.

"His world is too confused right now, he was comfortable with Lucky and now he has to learn that Lucky won't be apart of his life anymore."

She had looked at him with pain in those expressive eyes and he knew she was telling the truth, not pushing him away because of their anger. She was hurting for her son and had to put his needs first. "I won't let Cam get too attached to you Jason because I don't know how we're going to handle this. But I won't let my other son be hurt in your need to be there for this child."

Part of him had been hurt that she could think that he would do anything to hurt Cameron, but then he realized those were his feelings and he needed to take Cameron's feelings into account. In clear and undeniable terms, Cam had lost the only father he had known; Elizabeth was just trying to protect him. Lucky's drug abuse hadn't just destroyed their marriage it had broken their family. Once he could see through to those facts, he found he could understand and respect her decision.

He kicked off the blanket and slid into a pair of grey jogging pants to check to see if Elizabeth was okay. She could handle the morning sickness, he didn't doubt that, but he still wanted to be there for her. It was part of the reason he wanted to stay so damned much. Only they weren't married. He didn't have those rights. Yes they were friends, and yes they were having a baby, but he wasn't in a position to be there for her in the way a husband would and after their conversation last night, Elizabeth had made it clear that marriage was the furthest thing from her plans.

Pushing open the door to the bathroom down the hall, he remembered the appalled shock on her face when he had suggested they get married. One moment they had been caught up in a passionate kiss, and the memory of how she felt, how it felt making love to her had pounded through his body like a shock of electricity and the next he was putting his foot in his mouth. She had apologized for the kiss, quickly explaining that she hadn't meant to allow it to go so far. He had apologized for taking advantage, but since it had happened maybe it had happened for a reason.

"A reason," she had sat back under the moonlight, a frown creasing her brow, "What does that mean?"

"What are we going to do Elizabeth? Are you coming back to Port Charles? You seem comfortable here, the new job, Cameron is in daycare, this house. What reasons do you have to go back? What's there besides the pain of old memories, facing the danger that comes with carrying my child? No one here has heard of Jason Morgan, you could start over."

"My family and friends are in Port Charles," she answered shortly, and he could tell from her voice that she was getting angry, "My life is in Port Charles. Things may be a little difficult for me right now, but I never considered running away even if it seems like I did just that."

"I understand why you left," he began but she cut him off.

"Do you?" she demanded, "Do you know what it was like for me to discover I'm pregnant by another man and married to another who's a drug addict? Do you know how terrifying it is to wonder if I'm going to lose this baby just like I lost the other two?"

"No," he shook his head, swallowing past the ache her pain caused, because this wasn't about him, "I don't. All I said was that I could understand if you didn't want to come back."

"And what about you Jason? What? Do you sneak down here every so often to check in on the secret child you're having with stupid Lizzie Webber!" she jerked from the swing and stormed to the other end of the porch. "If I'm here, no one has to know that you slept with me, no one has to know that I'm carrying your bastard!"

"Don't ever call our child that!" he shouted, rising as well. The distaste that word left in his mouth sickened him, "Don't you ever!"

"Why not?" She shot back, and through the disgust in her voice, he could hear pain. He remembered that the man she loved, married, had called her son that cruel thing. "It's the truth. It's what everyone will think. We had an affair! It doesn't matter that I was going to leave Lucky or that you and Sam had broken up. People are going to whisper and point and accuse. The cop's wife is the mob enforcer's whore."

Furious, he closed the distance between them, would have grabbed her arms, but something in her eyes stopped him in that last second, maybe a flicker of sorrow, he would never know, but he did place his hands on her face, lifting so that he could look into her eyes, "That night meant something to me," his voice cracked at the end and he watched tears brim in her eyes, "It started as the two of us trying to find some comfort in all the pain we were feeling, but it didn't stay that way. At least not for me."

"Not for me either," she admitted closing her eyes, when she lifted them, pain still lingered there. Her hands slid upward to rest on his waist.

"That first time, I was caught up in the moment," he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the heat and hunger of that night vivid in his mind, "And I came into you needing you so much. Then I looked into your eyes and remembered what we had before. How confusing it was, painful sometimes."

"They say timing is everything."

"Yeah and ours sucks."

The words didn't have to be spoken aloud for them to remember. "And we talked that night. I finally had the chance to tell you the things I should have long before but didn't know how to say. And we made love again. That time it wasn't about Sam being with Ric, or Lucky and Maxie. It was about us. So don't you belittle that night. You're not a damned whore! And this child isn't a bastard. I don't give a fuck what anyone says. I'm not ashamed that you're carrying our child. It isn't some dirty little secret that I want to cover up. You're a good mother; all you have to do is look at Cameron. And a good person. Loyal, generous. Kind. Everyone who knows you, knows that."

She sniffed as a tear ran down her cheek, her hands gripping tight at his sides, "So what are we going to do?"

Then he had gone and ruined everything by sticking his foot in his mouth and suggesting they get married.

He found her on the back deck standing in front of an easel and a small smile curved his lips as he leaned against the door way. On the canvas was a beautiful watercolor of the lake before them and though he couldn't tell if it was finished, he knew that the woman who had painted it was extremely talented. In the midst of chaos, Elizabeth had found her way back to her art.

Silently, he watched her push hear long hair from her face and walk to the edge, the growing morning light illuminating her face briefly and he could see the sadness. Hated that he was the cause. Dressed in that blue lacy tank thing and a pair of striped pajama pants that rode low on her hips, the wind gently fluffing her silky dark hair, she looked more delicate and ethereal than ever. Only he knew better. There was strength in Elizabeth, a toughness and determination that was a complete contradiction to the slenderness of her body. She had been through so much in her life, and it would have broken lesser people, but she had endured.

Even now, faced with a situation that had more complications than the latest Hollywood blockbuster, she refused to run away.

"Good morning," he said finally and watched her glance quickly over her shoulder, eyes bright with surprise. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"No," a tentative smile greeted him, "I didn't mean to wake you."

"How's the morning sickness?"

She lifted a shoulder, and he could tell that this was one of those bad mornings. She never complained, though she certainly had reason to. "I came out for some air, to clear my head. That usually helps. Cam will wake up soon, and we'll start the day." Nervously, she ran her hand through her hair again, as her smile faded, "About last night, Jason."

He stopped her with a raised hand, "My fault."

"I was cruel," she shook her head.

"No, you were honest," he walked forward, stopping in front of her to extend a hand in truce. "And you were right. The last thing we should be considering right now is marriage for the sake of the baby when our lives are so,"

"Screwed up?" she filled in for him, making him grin. She placed her hand in his allowing him to pull her into his arms. He closed his eyes, enjoying the breeze on his face, the light floral scent of her hair. He placed his cheek on her head, his hands caressed the planes of her back, and when his fingers reached the patch of silky skin at her waist they flinched slightly before he could stop himself.

"I do understand why you mentioned marriage Jason."

That was good. At least one of them knew why he had brought it up. "You made valid points. You haven't divorced Lucky and you don't want to rush into another relationship."

She stepped back, disappointing him because he was enjoying the way her fingers felt tracing absent patterns on his back, "And you're still in love with Sam. Let's not forget that. I won't marry a man who's in love with another woman, not even for the sake of my child. It would lead to nothing but heartache and misery in the end, and that isn't good for any of us. The last thing I want to experience is walking into my house and finding my husband in bed with another woman."

"I would never do that to you." He knew how that pain felt. Even thinking about Sam and Ric still had the power to hurt him.

"No, instead you would silently suffer in a marriage you wished you'd never entered for the sake of our child." She turned away, not waiting for a denial, "The best thing we can do right now Jason is agree that we both want what is best for the baby. I would never try to keep you away from the baby, but I want us to agree to be friends, that there won't be anger or hard feelings between us. We can be parents together."

"And our feelings for each other," he asked carefully, "There's no sense in denying them, because they're real." She stiffened, releasing a broken sigh, tipping her face upward. "I was standing in the doorway watching you and I wanted to touch you Elizabeth. I wanted to pull you into my arms and make love to you again. That isn't going to go away."

"You think it's easy for me," from her profile, he could see her wrinkle her nose and then shake her head again, "You standing there, all rumbled and sexy with no shirt, making me want to touch you. You're still in love with Sam and I refuse to put my heart through the wringer again. I'm still trying to survive the damage from my failed marriage. The last thing either of us should be considering is trying to start something between us."

"You're right," he admitted, taking a step forward. His fingers slid from her shoulder to her elbow and she leaned into him, tucking the back of her head into his shoulder as he slipped his arms around her waist. "Can we agree to take this one day at a time?"

"Living in the present? It's what I came to Brunswick for. I wanted to spend some time with Cam, enjoy the baby without the pressures from everyone else and just live for a while. No worries. So yes, we can take this one day at a time." she agreed placing her hands over his, lacing their fingers together, over her abdomen. Over their child. "The real world can wait a while longer."

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"I guess you and your husband decided to give things a second chance?"

Elizabeth glanced over at Mariah a clear frown on her face, "What are you talking about?" The last thing in the world she would ever consider doing is giving Lucky another chance. Since arriving in Brunswick, it had taken all of her energies to heal, to accept her part in the break up of their marriage and not take on blame for Lucky's actions.

Yes, she had neglected their marriage. Yes, she had slept with Jason. She had not forced Lucky to take those drugs and hide it from everyone. She had not forced her husband into the bed of another woman, despite his paranoid ranting about her and Patrick having an affair. Despite all of their problems, she had honestly tried to put their marriage back together. She could understand his anger about this new baby, but there was no way she could forgive the horrible things he said about Cameron.

Yes, he was suffering from the addiction, but even with drunks, there is always some truth to their words. Somewhere inside Lucky those unspoken feelings had lurked all along. His addiction simply freed his inhibitions and allowing them spill forth. Last week after a visit to a lawyer she had begun divorce proceedings. After barely two years, their marriage was over.

Yeah, Happy Thanksgiving.

"Jason," Mariah nodded in the direction of Jason and Cam who were standing in front of a pile of multicolored fallen leaves, "He seems like a good guy. I don't know what troubles the two of you were having, but I'm glad you're trying to work it out. Especially with the new baby on the way."

"Don't even think about you two," she called out, watching them whip around with guilty looks on their faces. Who would have thought that the infamous mob enforcer of Port Charles would be caught dead getting ready to jump into a pile of leaves with her four year old, "MY HUSBAND!" she practically shrieked as Mariah's words finally registered over her amusement, "Jason, my husband?" From the shock on Mariah's face it seemed she realized her mistake.

"I'm sorry," the red head immediately apologized, "I just assumed," she stopped cringing at her faux pas, "I mean, he's so great with Cam. And he's been here for almost three weeks now, though I should have known I was wrong when he stayed in Jerri's B&B instead of moving out with you," she rambled on then put her hands over her face, "I'm so sorry, you should be angry and tell me to mind my own business."

"It's fine," Elizabeth reassured her, though it certainly gave her something to think about. She knew that Brunswick was a small town. The fact that she had on a wedding band and the news of her pregnancy, coinciding with Jason's arrival was bound to have people drawing certain conclusions. She had been so intent on their little world away from the world, that she didn't think how it would look. Her failed marriage was still a touchy subject and though she had filed the divorce papers, she hadn't spoken of it to her newest friend. "No Jason is just a good friend that's all."

"Hmm," Mariah murmured, glancing back at Jason, "I'll take a good friend like that any day."

Elizabeth couldn't stop the small snicker, as she silently agreed. Jason was a man that a woman could definitely have all kinds of fantasies about. Maybe it was pregnancy hormones, but seeing him in those black jeans and that black tee beneath his familiar leather jacket was inspiring all kinds of naughty thoughts. It didn't help that he was so kind to her. He didn't push, or try to crowd her. It was kind of comforting the way he wanted to take care of her, but didn't want to make it seem like he was trying to take care of her.

And yes, he was good with Cameron just as she had always known he would be.

She figured after his first week, he would need to go back to Port Charles but he had assured her that he had nothing pressing waiting for him. He did hint that he had some business going with Edward Quartermaine, which was extremely surprising. She figured he would never have anything to do with ELQ, but he had confided that the company was in some trouble and he agreed to help. From the frustrated look on his face, she thought he was just as surprised as she that he had been drawn into the Quartermaine's business.

Somehow they had fallen into a routine, Jason coming over in the evenings when she got home from work. The three of them had dinner, which he had insisted on taking turns preparing so she could rest. They spent the evening together until Cam took his bath and went to bed. Normally he stayed a while afterwards and they would sit on the porch swing where he would ask how she was doing: fine, gaining weight displayed by the slight swelling of her belly. How was the morning sickness: not so bad and beginning to taper off. Did she have enough cucumbers and cherry tomatoes to satisfy her midnight cravings: of course he brought a shipment every time he noticed her supply in the refrigerator getting low.

They talked a lot, mostly about her fears of losing the baby. Now that she was getting close to the four month mark, she was feeling a little easier. She was even starting to wonder if she was carrying a boy or a girl. If the baby would look like her or Jason, or maybe a combination of them both. Unless genetics ran afoul, it was pretty certain the baby would have blue eyes. The times when she would contemplate those things, he would get a little quiet. She wanted to remain silent, knew it wasn't any of her concern what was troubling him, but her innate need to comfort Jason won out and she got more than she bargained for.

He was quiet because those were the things Sam used to do, wonder what their baby would look like. If they would have a boy and a girl. It made her feel guilty to remind him of the things that the wanted with Sam and he was forced to share with her instead. She knew that until Jason acknowledged his feelings for Sam and forgave them both for what went wrong in their relationship, those feelings would continue to haunt him. Which definitely reaffirmed her belief that marriage between them right now would have been a disaster.

"He's in love with another woman, but they're having problems right now." Elizabeth explained quietly, so Mariah could understand. And so she wouldn't go trying to hit on him. "I'm sure they'll find their way back to each other though."

And she would move forward from this idyllic moment in time, because it wasn't real. They weren't a real family no matter how wonderful he was with Cam, or how tender he was with her. The more she told herself that, the better she could protect herself when this all came to an end.

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"Mommy is making turkey for dinner tomorrow. And mashed potatoes because she said she hates stuffing," Cam kicked the pile of leaving scattering a few of them in the breeze.

They were in the park spending the last of the afternoon before going back to the cottage for dinner. Thanksgiving had arrived before any of them realized it. Three weeks he had spent in Brunswick, much to the dismay of everyone back in Port Charles. In the evenings when he returned to his room at the bed and breakfast, he was forced to wade through endless voice messages from everyone wondering when he was going to come home.

Sonny called with daily reports about the business and on that front everything was fine. The transition went well, everyone understanding that Sonny was back in power with his full support so there were no problems.

Carly called constantly. Where was he? When was he coming home? They all missed him.

Alexis had news from the doctors. Her surgery was a success and with the last doses of chemotherapy they figured they caught the cancer before it spread. She was due to leave the hospital today actually, and would be home with her family for Thanksgiving. The only problem that remained was for her to get strong. She would probably look back on the things she had said, promises she extracted, and regret them, so he figured he would get a call soon on that front.

Whether or not Sam chose to reveal that she and Ric had slept together, he couldn't even guess. The need for honesty aside, revealing the truth would only destroy the relationship that Sam and Alexis had finally shakily forged.

Jason glanced down at the little boy in the bright green hoodie and jeans who held his hand. Those problems seemed an entire lifetime away and strangely detached. Here in Brunswick with Elizabeth and Cameron seemed like his real life.

"I think she has a chocolate cake planned too," he watched the huge smile spread across Cameron's face and chuckled himself. The kid loved chocolate.

"And you're coming over?" He looked down at his scuffed sneakers, his quiet voice unable to hide the hope, "You don't have to leave yet do you?" He had already explained to Cam that he would have to go back to Port Charles soon, but he hadn't realized how much that had affected the little boy.

"No," he squeezed the hand in his gently, "I'll definitely be there. Now," he reached down and swung Cam into his arms making him giggle then switched him easily onto his back, "How about we go get your Mom and we can head home for dinner?" Thin arms curled around his neck and squeezed. A good feeling.

"Think she'll let me have cookies?"

Jason glanced back over his shoulder at Cam and pretended to think for a moment, "Well, only if you eat all of your vegetables this time instead of trying to sneak them under your plate."

A look of absolute disgust crossed his dark eyes as Cam curled his upper lip, "'Spargus is nasty."

"Yeah, asparagus is kinda nasty" he agreed, "But your Mom only wants you to grow up to be healthy."

"But 'spragus is reaaaallly nasty," Cam drawled out. "And I only hid the last three."

Jason brought his hand up to stifle the burst of laughter, this kid was priceless. When he was older, he was going to be a complete handful. "Well," he cleared his throat slightly, "I'll tell you what. Let me talk to your Mom and we'll see."

"See about what?" came the wry but indulgent question. Jason glanced around to see the Mom in question standing in front of them with her arms folded and a sweet musing look in her eye. He didn't doubt that she had heard the entire conversation. "What are you two conspiring about?"

"Just a little truce," he touched her cheek, not bothering to wonder about the good feelings she brought him. She had on a pair of dark jeans and a fitted purple tee-shirt beneath a denim jack. It wasn't noticeable unless you really looked, unless you knew that she had the tiniest waist but he could see the slight swell of her stomach where their child grew. It made him want to place his hand there all the time. To reassure himself that this baby was real and not the dream it seemed.

Her face simply glowed.

"UmmHmm," she licked her lips and he had to work not to stare, things were going well between them. He didn't want to screw this up. "Why do I have the feeling we're talking about those vegetables a certain little boy didn't want to eat last night?"

"I'm sorry Mommy," Cameron apologized and placed a small chin on his shoulder, "I'll be a good boy and eat my vegidebles and not put them under my plate again."

She reached out and tweaked his nose, an easy grin spreading across her face, "That's good to know, I would hate for someone to miss out on that chocolate cake I'm making tomorrow." She laughed, a bright joyful sound as she turned away, "Come on you two conspirators, it's time to go home."

By the time they made it to where his truck was parked next to her car, they noticed the person standing beside it. Judging from the glower on his face, Jason knew this conversation wasn't going to be a good one. He said nothing, acknowledging his presence with a simple nod, but he and Elizabeth looked at each other for a moment before he helped Cameron into his car seat. "I'll see you at the house okay?"

"'Kay," Cam waved before picking up one of those little hand held educational games that Elizabeth kept for him in the car. By the time he closed the door, Cam was totally absorbed and didn't notice the tension that had filled the air.

"Everything's fine," he placed his hands on her shoulders, lifting the hair off and pushing it back. "I'll just be a few minutes."

"If you have to take longer it's okay."

"I gave Cam my word. I'll be there." She nodded and crossed to the other side getting into her car.

Jason waited until she drove off before going back to his truck and the one person who waited there that he really didn't want to see at the moment. There was probably trouble and that's why he had tracked him down. When they were face to face, Jason shoved his hands into his jeans and waited.

"So while Sam is back in Port Charles eating herself up with guilt over sleeping with Ric, you're down here playing house with Elizabeth Spencer?" The cold dark eyes were angry and though Jason understood, it grated.

"What do you want Sonny?"