A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you are loving the family dynamic. leasmom – I guess I see it differently, Jason wanted Jake he just felt Liz and the kids would be better off without him and she did too. That's different than someone just not wanting a child at all and having no remorse for it. In a way, it was like Jason gave Jake up for adoption to Lucky. Jason didn't discard Jake like he was nothing. We got to see how hard it was for him and how he cherished the moments he got to hold and talk to Jake. In the end, yes, it was a form of abandonment, but it was a painful choice to make. It wasn't as bad as what Lucky did.

Chapter 37

The next morning, Liz was up early and peeked into the room and smiled. Jake is sleeping a little wild as usual. His body is on an angle, but his head is leaning against Jason's arm.

She quickly went and retrieved a sketch pad and a pencil and then crept into the room and sat in a chair in the corner and began to draw. About a half-hour later, Jason's eyes fluttered open and he looked down and smiled when he spotted his son. A few times during the night, Jake had stirred and fought a bit, but luckily, he was close enough where Jason would touch him, and he'd settle.

His gaze went to the corner and Liz smiled and put her finger to her lips.

His eyes filled with amusement.

Jake turned over and Liz helped Jason out of bed, and he followed her and used the bathroom in the hallway that the boys shared so he didn't wake up Jake and then they went downstairs.

"You were drawing us?"

She nodded. "I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't resist. I snapped a picture with my phone and sent it to you."

"Stalker…"

She grinned. "How did you sleep?" She placed a cup of coffee in front of him.

"Good."

"And Jake?"

"I had to calm him a few times. When does he see the therapist again?"

"I think next week. I went for three years."

"You stopped?"

She nodded. "I got tired of re-hashing everything and started focusing on changing the way I think. I have a journal I keep about what I'm thankful for. I had to come to terms with why I'm too forgiving and made the decisions I did. A lot of it came down to self-worth. I'm not going to say that I'm completely okay, but I understand the ramifications of my actions and don't want to repeat the same mistakes."

"That's good."

She smiled. "I'm proud that I finally could be honest with myself and move forward."

"I'm proud of you too. I guess it's my turn to improve."

"You will. You already are and I'm proud of you for doing what is right regarding Sonny and Carly. I know it's hard because you loved them. Do you feel forced to do this?"

"Yes and no. I have to because they are a threat and he was going to kill you. It has to be done and it's what they deserve. Does it hurt? Hell yeah. I feel like a fool for forgiving them after they slept together back then."

She gripped his hand. "You felt so alone then. I get it."

"Honestly, I should have never forgiven her after what she did with Michael and saying I kidnapped him. That whole thing changed me."

"She latched onto you pretty hard and I know why."

His brow furrowed.

"When you think you have nothing and someone like you comes into your life, it's a game-changer. You were raw and represented strength and protection. Your loyalty was otherworldly. You listened and was a rock to those who leaned on you. I know for me, the energy of standing up for what you want and that freedom it represented was enticing. Carly was a fighter, but she was also a train-wreck. You were like her anchor so she wouldn't go adrift. Your strength and willingness to protect her made her feel invincible. She never worried about you walking away and knew you'd accept her warts and all."

"She took advantage of that. Do you see that as a weakness for me?"

"I think your weakness was thinking that they were it for you and that no one else would accept and fight for you like they did. You carry a lot of guilt." She had a toxic relationship with guilt for too many years as well.

"I don't know how to change that."

"Maybe you should start by trying to accept that you deserve more. You have a lot of people around you who care about you and who are truly loyal. That is an indication of respect."

"I'll try."

She smiled. "Good. You can't always think of the negative. Sometimes, you have to think about what you have to offer and all your good parts."

He smirked making her shake her head.

"Get your head out of the gutter, Morgan."

"Why did you assume it was in there?"

"Don't try to play a playa. You're going to have to get used to Lizzie."

He grinned. "I like Lizzie, but just so you know, despite everything you thought was negative about Elizabeth, I still loved her because underneath it all there is a light that can't be snuffed out. Your heart is beautiful. Some of us may have stomped on it, but it's still beating and you're still compassionate even though so many people took advantage of that. I know you probably see loving Lucky no matter what as a bad thing, but the funny thing about that is it made me want to be loved like that. It made me want to love hard and have faith. I get that it became unhealthy, but I think in a way we have to embrace the good and bad to learn from it."

She got up and kissed him on the cheek. "Said only like you can. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Cam plopped next to Jason on the couch. "You look confused."

He had been home for a few days and finally rebelled and took the sling off. "When did these games get so complicated?"

Cam chuckled and took the remote from him and pointed out the buttons and then grabbed another one. "Alright, the last one to the finish line smells like Jake's socks."

Liz groaned from her place on the smaller adjacent couch.

"Go!" Cam said.

Jason pressed the button and moved the remote to make a turn. He spun out on a banana making Cam laugh.

"Try to keep up with me, old man."

"You've had more practice."

"Excuses…excuses."

Jake entered the room. "You want me to take him out back?"

"Jake! You can't kill your brother," Liz said putting down her sketchpad.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm the best thing in your life," Cam said as he jerked his controller.

"Keep thinking that…" He sat on the other side of his dad.

Cam was close to winning when Jake whispered. "Shoot the shell."

Jason pressed a button and then laughed when Cam's car was flicked into the air and he drove by him.

'Later sucker…"

"Why you…"

Jake laughed when Jason won and did a fist pump.

"That was exhausting," Jason said leaning against the cushions.

"Beaten by an oldie," Cam said.

"Keep calling him that and he'll take you out back," Liz said.

Cam laughed. "You got lucky."

Jason smirked. "Keep telling yourself that."

Jake and Cam played and were funny, but when Liz jumped in and kicked Cam's ass, Jason had gotten a kick out of their smack talk.

The boys went to the store for their mom and Liz joined Jason on the couch.

"That felt good, didn't it?"

"They are great, Elizabeth. You did a good job."

"Not always, but luckily, they survived when I didn't. The teenage years weren't the easiest, but there was always love. That is what held us together."

He looks sad, so she surprises him by sitting on his lap so she could hold him.

"I'm sorry you missed so much. I really am."

Tears prick his eyes as he relaxes against her and when she feels his body tremble and he sniffed, she is glad he is finally let out his emotions.

"You're safe with me. Let it out, Jason."

He gripped her tighter as a tear trickled down his face. The realization that he can't go back, and life had gone on without him hurts more than he cares to admit. Despite what was taken from him, it made him even sadder that he might have missed everything anyway because of his fears and mistakes. That hurt even more. Last night, he thought about how he had missed all of Jake's early life; the cuddling and watching him grow and it had cut him like a knife.

The boys looked in through the window and can tell from the tears on their mother's face that she is comforting Jason, so to not embarrass him, they sat on the porch.

"He's hurting," Jake said.

"He has a lot to process."

"Is it horrible that I want them together?"

"No, but it doesn't mean it will fix anything."

"Maybe mom's heart…"

Cam sighed. "Jake, you should prepare yourself just in case they don't go there."

Jake stood and moved away. "I feel like I need him to breathe right now. Maybe it's unhealthy but having him back is so huge for me. Wouldn't you give anything to have your father back?"

Cam shrugged. "I don't know." He doesn't have a connection with his father at all. Jake hadn't either, but due to all the circumstances, he had latched onto Jason and wanted to be like him.

Jake studies his brother. "I don't mind sharing."

Cam smiled. Jason is pretty cool. "I'll see how good he gets at Mario Kart and then I'll let you know."

Jake grinned. "Deal…"

Liz peeked at them. "What's going on out here?"

"Jake is offering Jason's services."

Liz frowned as she sat next to Cam and Jake plopped next to her. "Do I want to know?"

The boys laughed.

"It's not sinister, mom," Cam said. "I'm not calling out hits."

Her brow rose.

"I just said I was willing to share," Jake said.

Liz's gaze went to her other son. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, mom. Jake just asked me if I'd do anything to get Zander back."

"Oh…"

"It's not a big deal. I just don't have much reference for him."

She gnawed on her bottom lip.

"There were men in my life, but I guess I just learned not to depend on them. Instead, I just looked to you."

She squeezed their hands. "I wish it would have been better for you."

"Look at it this way, we learned what not to do."

Jake cracked up as Liz elbowed Cam.

"Ouch."

Liz laid her arm on Cam's shoulder and the guys eyed each other. When they heard a sniffle, they are alarmed.

"Mom, it's okay," Jake said.

"No, it's not. I'm sorry I'm so emotional right now. Jason is struggling and I hate it when he's upset. I wish you had a strong male in your life."

"We do now, and Maximus and the guys have been great," Cam said.

"They taught us about respect and honor," Jake said.

"We're fine, mom. All we needed was you."

They took turns hugging and comforting her.

"Sorry I cried all over you."

"Once I get my Ferrari, I won't hold it against you," Cam quipped. Jumping up when he knew she would try to get him.

Jake cracked up as his mom wiped her face. "How is dad?"

"He fell asleep."

"Sitting up?"

She nodded. "I came out so you can help me move him."

Jake got up and they followed her inside. He put his hands under Jason's arm, careful not to touch his wound and Cam grabbed his legs and they adjusted him. Once he was situated, Liz threw a blanket over him and the family dispersed.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason got up and went to the bathroom and then found Liz on the porch.

She smiled. "Hey."

"How did you move me?"

"Jake and Cam did. I can't believe you didn't wake up." She is so used to him sleeping lightly.

"I guess I was tired." He sat next to her. "Sorry, I got upset."

"I'm not. You needed it." Their hands intertwined. "Jake told Cam that he would share you with him."

Jason's brow rose. "Really?"

"That led to a whole Zander conversation and I don't know, I kind of lost it."

He pulled his hand away and put his arm around her.

"They, of course, were wonderful to me, but I do have a little guilt left there." She doesn't dwell on it, but it exists.

"They are great boys, Elizabeth."

"I know, but I think that's their doing. It could have ended much differently."

"But it didn't, so don't go there."

"Okay, Yoda."

He grinned as she snuggled against him.

"This is nice."

"I'm not missing the hospital smell. Do you miss being a nurse?"

"Sometimes, but I like my life."

"I guess I need to figure out what to do."

She smiled. "The possibilities are endless. We can put in a pool and you can be the pool boy."

He shook his head. "You're ridiculous."

"Grocery delivery person? Maybe a cleaner?"

"Why do all these jobs seem to benefit you?"

She shrugged. "If we're going to go there, then do you remember how to stretch a canvas?"

"Webber…"

"It's March now."

"It will always be Webber to me."

Cam poked his head through the doorway. "Hey, I loaded a fighting game. Care to lose?"

Jason sighed and cracked his neck. "You're on."

Liz chuckled. "Don't go easy on them because they won't on you."

He got up. "Good to know."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

The next few days, Jason relaxed and tried to take it easy, but today, he's all business.

Johnny opened the car door and Jason slipped out.

"How is he?"

"Pissed off and whiny," Johnny said as they headed inside.

Jason rolled his eyes.

"Liz said if I let you do anything, she'll bust a cap in my ass, so direct only—no action."

"Fine, but she is just ruining my fun."

Johnny grinned. "He's in there."

Jason opened the door and went inside. His gaze locked on Sonny who has big circles under his eyes and then his focus went to Sonny's hand which is taped up.

"You come to finish me?"

"Not yet. You'll be alive when your plane goes down—barely."

"Then why are you here?"

Jason sits across from him. "Why would you ever think you'd get away with this?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"From a five-foot-two brunette?"

"She weakens you, Jason."

"That's Sonny-speak for if you're not kissing my ass, then something is wrong with you." Jason shook his head. "You're going to die, and I wanted you to know that it was by my command. Your territory is no longer yours. You bought out my half and then sold it to someone else."

"Who?"

"None of your business."

"What about Michael?"

"What about him?"

Sonny glared. "You know what I mean."

"He can have the island and what is leftover. It won't be much because of his siblings, but it's enough for them to be comfortable."

"You're a bastard."

Jason smiled. "I'm your worst nightmare. Carly is going down too. Where do you think your body parts are? The look on her face when she saw your ring finger was priceless."

Sonny growled. "I wish I had never met you."

"Me too."

Jason stood, never taking his eyes off Sonny. Fury bubbled underneath. He had given up most of his personal life for that asshole and been at his beck and call for years and the jerk has the nerve to act like he got the short end of the stick. A thought popped into his mind and it promptly rolled off his tongue. "Cut his dick off and send it to Carly."

Sonny paled as Johnny snickered.

"I'm not touching it."

Carlos rolled his eyes. "I'll get the doc to write a Viagra subscription and I'll wear gloves."

"Elizabeth might want to cut it off."

The men laughed further infuriating Sonny.

"Burn in hell," Jason said before turning to leave.

"Enjoy being in between that whore's legs. Just remember that Lucky, Nikolas, Zander, AJ, Ric, and God knows who else were there already. Hell, even Tom Baker got a shot before you."

"Fuck," Johnny said as Jason moved so fast, that he couldn't stop him.

Jason's fist sent Sonny flying onto his back and he was knocked out. Jason grabbed his chest as pain shot through him. so Johnny steadied him.

"Are you crazy? Liz is going to kill me."

"Then don't tell her."

"You better not have pulled your stitches."

Carlos moved forward. "I'll take care of Sonny, just get him home."

Johnny cursed all the way to the car and then they got inside.

"I had to put on a good show in case Liz asked Carlos. I bet that felt good."

Jason grimaced because he's regretting it now. He should have just grabbed a tool and not use his body. "Yeah."

"Let's go face her. I'm just going to push you out of the car when we get there and keep going."

Jason sighed as Johnny pulled onto the road.