A/N – Thanks for the comments! ghfan51184 – I responded at the bottom.

Chapter 33

The next day, Elizabeth got to Jason's room right after he had taken some tests.

"How do you feel today?"

"The same—tired."

She put her coffee cup down and sat. "Sam is gone."

"I was surprised she helped."

Liz rolled her eyes.

"What's that for?"

"Nothing… You don't see her the way I do."

He sighed. "Elizabeth, say what you want to say."

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

She sucked in a breath. "I just hate her smugness. She hurt you and then does something to try and play the hero like you're just supposed to forget she was a bitch."

His brow rose.

"You know I'm right. That whole saving Jake thing with the Russians excuses everything still pisses me off and yes, I know I forgave her." She made a face making him slightly smile. "But I never forgot, Jason. Sometimes, I'm able to not let it influence me, but other times, the anger just bubbles up. Just because she played the hero doesn't mean it wiped away all the mean and vile things she said and did to us. One doesn't negate the other. I saved her ass in that cabin, but that certainly doesn't mean I get a pass for the DNA test and the other things I did around that time or the lying later."

"You're right. I just never looked at it that way."

"I should have told you how I felt instead of kissing your ass."

"Elizabeth…"

"No, it's true. I did want you to be happy, even if it was with that vacuous maneater. Does she ever smile? She always looks constipated."

His eyes lit up with amusement. "I wanted you to be happy too, even if it was with that pansy-ass loser Lucky."

Liz giggled. "God, we suck."

"I will make it a mission not to suck so much. When did you get so sarcastic?"

"When I started acting more like myself instead of the people-pleasing, ass-kissing, poor excuse for a woman I became after the rape and Lucky years."

"Damn… I thought you were pretty great."

"Yeah, well, you had shitty judgment too."

He gave in and smiled. "Webber, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You overcame so much. I always admired your strength."

"I wasted too many years putting everyone else's needs before my own. I'm over it."

"I feel the same way about Sonny and Carly."

"Hallelujah!"

She can't help but see how sad he looks. "Jason, I'm sorry. I know you loved them. You came home and lost everything."

"I still have you, right?"

"Always…"

"I just feel so empty." His eyes fluttered shut.

She held his hand. "I know that feeling and it sucks. It's like everything around you has drained you and you have nothing left, but maybe all of this happened for a reason that you just don't know yet."

"To blow my life apart?"

"I hate to say it, but yes. Maybe all those bad things will lead to something good."

"I hope you're right."

"Sleep…"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Johnny sat next to Jason. "It's about time you woke up."

"What's going on?"

"He's pissed." A smirk lit up Johnny's face.

"Good. What about her?"

"Carly didn't take the news well and doesn't listen as usual."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Is he wearing the ring?"

"Yeah."

"Cut off his finger and send it to her."

Johnny's head tilted. "Seriously?"

"Yes. She'll get him back little by little. It will drive her crazy."

He grinned. "Done. Does this mean you want her taken?"

"Yes. Make sure she has no phone and limited television. I want to do some damage eventually and Sonny and I need to talk. Have the doctor sew him up." If necessary, he'll do a face chat to speed up the plan, but Jason's not mentally and physically up to it right now. He needs his energy to get stronger.

"Okay." This assignment he'll do with pleasure.

Elizabeth entered the room. "Am I interrupting?"

"No. I was just leaving."

Once he was gone, she sat. "Was that about Sonny?"

"Yes."

"Can I hurt him?"

"Now you're just trying to freak me out."

"I'm serious. I want in."

"Elizabeth…"

"Don't make me beg, Jason."

He smiled. "You're kind of hot when you're feisty."

"Don't try to change the subject but thank you. He chased me away from my home and wanted me dead."

"I know, but you just said maybe coming here was a good thing."

"Yes, I did, but that doesn't change the fact that he wanted me dead. That he wanted to take my children's mother from them because I am a distraction."

His gaze softened. "You were, but a good one."

She smirked. "Those blue eyes are not going to save you on this one."

"I didn't realize they are some kind of weapon."

"Oh, yes you do."

He smiled. "Tired… Can I think about it?"

"Yeah."

"Go bake, Elizabeth. You know you want too."

She sighed. "I haven't been back there."

"Then go. I'll be fine. I'm never alone for long."

She watches as his breathing even out and then decides that maybe he's right.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jake laid on a blanket next to Sophie.

"It's nice out here."

She smiled. "I love the outdoors."

"Tell me what else you like."

"Well, believe it or not, I program video games on the side."

His eyes grew big. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I'm kind of a nerd."

He laughed. "You're the hottest nerd I've ever seen."

A blush graced her face.

"It relaxes me. My little brother likes being the tester. He's two years younger than me."

"Any other siblings?"

"Nope. It's just me and him. We get along pretty well."

"That's good. Anything else you like?"

"Yes. I love sweet and salty combined and scary movies."

He smiled. "I think we're going to get along just fine. I like speed."

"You'll have to take me for a ride on your bike. I've only been on a Vespa."

"You don't know what you're missing."

Her hand reached out to play with his hair. "I feel like you came out of nowhere."

"I kind of did. Why are you living with your grandmother?"

"My family is in Tuscany."

"That's where my mom wants to live."

"I was planning on heading back there after school is out."

"Maybe I can change your mind if I decide to stay."

She smirked. "You think you have it like that?"

He grinned. Before he came here, he was upset, agitated, and annoyed, but now, he's surprisingly content. "Thanks for inviting me. I needed the break."

"I hope you're hungry."

She sat up and pulled some sandwiches out of a cooler and then grabbed some drinks.

"That looks good."

"I made it myself."

"You like to cook?"

"Yup. I'm sure Aidan and I will get along just fine."

Jake smiled. "Thank you."

"Anytime…"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth had just put a batch of brownies in the oven. It felt good to do something normal. The bell on the front door dinged and she moved forward.

"Buongiorno."

Elizabeth smiled. It is her neighbor. "Buongiorno." She likes their chats because she gets to practice her Italian. She motioned for her to sit.

"Can I get you anything?"

"No, I am fine. I read about all the trouble and wanted to check on you."

Liz sighed. "It was a mess."

"Max Giambetti?"

Liz chuckled.

"They say there is trouble in paradise because your son's father returned from the dead. I hear a lot, but I don't discuss your business with anyone else."

"I know. It's complicated."

"So, Jacob's father, is he a possibility? I can't imagine this situation. It's like a soap opera."

Liz nodded. "Jason is important to me. He always has been, but our timing is horrible."

The woman grinned. "Ah, but sometimes you cannot put a time limit on true love. I love Max and he likes my food, but I am having trouble picturing you together. What is this Jason like?"

"Well, people fear him, but to me, he's gentle, kind, protective, and loving. He's a great listener."

"That is very important. Are you and Max getting an annulment like the papers say?"

"Yes."

"That's a good start."

"Alessa, there is no me or Jason anymore. We have been through a lot and are friends, but we aren't considering a reconciliation."

"Why not?"

Liz stared at the woman for a moment making her smile.

"You are playing it safe. Nothing is worth it unless there is some risk involved. Are you afraid he will reject you?"

"Maybe that is part of it, but also, I don't think I can live through another failure with him."

"Why does it have to be a failure? Life is hard enough. You don't have to go at it alone. Maybe you just need to be honest with yourself about his place in your life. If you truly don't think he belongs in your life romantically, then you can open yourself up to loving someone else, but if there is a chance that this man is the one and you let it go because of baggage, it will be something you regret forever."

"I don't know if he is willing to love me like that again."

"Has love ever been a problem?"

"No."

"Well, maybe there is your answer. Sometimes, you need to just get out of your way. I have to go before they burn down my café."

Liz smiled. "Thank you for the conversation."

Alessa left Liz to her thoughts.

Sighing heavily, Liz went to check on her brownies. Jason will have to make the first move if they are going to explore something more because he has always put that choice on her, but times have changed, and she is not willing to bear that burden alone. How can she say that they are way too forgiving and need to change but then expect each other to just get over it? Maybe it's asking too much.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason's eyes blinked open and he slightly smiled. "Hey, Jake."

Jake looked up from his book. "Hey."

"What are you reading?"

He held up a travel book that his mother had left for his dad.

"Your mom must have left it."

"She told me about how you would like to read them."

"I like getting the layout before I go."

Jake put it aside.

"You look like you have something on your mind."

"I do—several things."

"I'm listening."

"Sophie and I have been talking a lot and meet sometimes, but I'm nervous about asking her on a date."

"Do something more casual first. Take a stroll in town and then ask her if she's hungry."

Jake smiled.

"Romance is just not something I'm the greatest at, but I try to make the person I'm with feel loved and taken care of. It's what I know. I listen to them and pick up what they like and don't like. I used to listen to your mother ramble for hours."

Jake laughed. "Did you take her on dates?"

"Well, we were always keeping a low profile, but I'd take her on bike rides because she only wanted me for my bike."

Jake couldn't stop smiling.

"We just spent time together and that was enough. Your mom isn't into fancy overtures, but I think how I listened and heard her was more important to her than anything."

"It's probably why you fell in love."

"It helped. What's Sophie like?"

Jake's eyes lit up. "She's accepting and smart. I like her sense of humor and she isn't negative which is a plus. And amazingly enough, she's a computer nerd and likes to program games."

Jason smiled.

"I've been all about being you so much, that I didn't bother figuring out who I am. She helped me see that."

"Good, because you need to be your own person."

"Don't get me wrong, I do like being in the organization. After all that I've been through with Helena, I need to feel safe and have a protective structure around me."

Jason is amazed at how mature Jake is for his age in some ways. "Talk to me about her and what happened."

Jake blew out a harsh breath and stood. "It seems like a lifetime ago but at the same time, I can think about it and go right back there and feel the fear."

"I don't want to force you to talk about it, but I think you need to."

"I didn't think anyone but you would understand."

"I get why you think that, but your mom has been through a huge trauma and had to crawl her way back. Everything changed for her after that and she was different. She also lived the damage Helena did to Lucky and even drank poison to save him from her, so she would understand."

"I never thought about it like that."

"I just want you to know that you can come to both of us."

Jake nodded. "When I woke up on her island, I was scared and just wanted my mom and Cam, but she told me that my mom couldn't take care of me anymore, so she gave me to her. I didn't believe her, but the more I fought her, the more she would do things to hurt me. I learned pretty quickly that being good and agreeing with her was the way to go if I was going to survive."

"Did she physically hurt you?"

"Sometimes, but there was a lot of psychological damage done. She was trying to brainwash me, but I fought it the best I could. Sometimes, I still can hear the words repeating over and over, but I've learned to shut it out. She taught me to hate and crave revenge. I was just a kid and she messed with my head."

"What did she want you to do?"

"Serve her in any way she saw fit. She was grooming me to be by her side and eventually, go back to Port Charles and kill her enemies and mine."

"Who did you want to kill, Jake?"

"I wanted to kill Lucky and Luke, and she tried to get me to hate you and mom, but I refused. Sometimes, I pretended I did to make her back off. I was ashamed of that."

"You did what you had to do to survive."

"I know that now, but it felt like a betrayal then. If I didn't pretend, she would punish me for hours. Sometimes, it was watching fake videos of my family being slaughtered. That is why I had such a need to protect them and still do."

Jason wishes he could have ended Helena. "I'm sorry, Jake. You shouldn't have to carry around this burden. I feel partially responsible for leaving you."

"You and mom thought you were protecting me. I get it even if I don't agree with you being separate. Unfortunately, Helena was a greater threat and she was ignored."

"We didn't take her seriously enough."

"You were stuck on the mob being the threat instead of Lucky's past."

"And I'll never be able to make up for that."

A/N - ghfan51184 – I meant settling after he went back to Sam after Jake. Liz had gone back to Lucky like 6 months before. After that, he fell back in love with her (gag infinity). They've been doing a lot of negative with Sam. From how stupid she was with Shiloh, Krissy nailing her to the cross, all the stupid stuff with the parole officer and how she could care less about her actions and how it affected her kids. People have been disgruntled with her for a while now. Who beside Sonny/Carly is propping Jasam? Obviously, their friends and family are going to root for them. Is Liz really still getting a lot of flack re: the lies? I've watched some scenes and I'm not seeing that. Maybe she is re: Franco, but she deserves that. If anything is propped, it's Friz or at least Franco. Jake is still pretty young on the show, so will see if they ever address anything on the show when he's older. I doubt it. As far as resolution with Liz and Jason, what is left to resolve aside for maybe the DNA switch and her manipulations which they could have addressed after he came home and I missed it. I just wish he'd have a closer relationship with Jake, but they don't like to have him around Liz a lot. They get negative feedback when they do. Just would be weird to be discussing the romantic past at this point. Unfortunately for TPTB, it is all about Franco.