I guess we're pretty much midway through this story now! Thank you all for being such amazing readers. I appreciate that a lot.

7

Friday, September 18, 2020
General Hospital

Elizabeth is wheeled into her place of work first noticing the front desk, then the beige stairs leading up off to the side, and finally three boys dashing towards her. Her gurney halts when Cameron reaches her and gingerly embraces her. And all the anticipation during the ride of seeing them again floods out the moment she smells the warm vanilla scent of her first born. The tears come fast and easy as she curls her arm around him and reaches out blindly, feeling the smooth hair of her baby Jake. Cameron pulls away with a sniffle and she tugs Jake's head to her chest pressing her cheek to his crown. Aiden is lifted by Cameron and hugs her just as soft. A little sob escapes her as she buries her fingers into his dark curls and presses a kiss to his hair. "I love you boys so much," she warbles through her tears.

The teary chorus of, "We love you too," melts her heart and she reaches for them all uncaring of the flash of pain that travels through her chest; she just wants to hide them all inside her where they'll be safe, protected, and loved eternally. But eventually she does have to let them go so she can breathe, and that's when Jake spots something she can't see.

"Dad!"

The paramedic is kind enough to turn her gurney in time for her to see the reunion. And despite Jake being 11 now, Jason still hauls him up into his arms in a tight embrace, tucking Jake's head into his neck where he places a soft kiss to the side of Jake's head. Elizabeth's heart swells at the tender sight, and more tears drip down her cheeks. She watches as Jason whispers something for only Jake to hear, sees the adoration in his eyes as he strokes their son's head, and feels regret eat away at her insides. Jason has so much love to give to his kids and those not even his own that it's downright cruel for him to have to stay away.

A hand encircles hers and she smiles up at Franco and starts to dry her tears, when dark curls hurry by out of the corner of her eye. Her jaw drops as Jason sets Jake down and squats before Aiden who in her recollection she hasn't really introduced him to since Jason's return.

"Mr. Jason! I'm glad to see you're okay!" Aiden greets with a little bounce.

Jason laughs lightly, smiling with genuine happiness shining in his eyes. "Hey, I'm glad to see you're okay too."

"I had made you some oatmeal raisin cookies last week but you and mom went missing. Ms. Monica was really nice and helped me make some more since you were coming back today," Aiden explains while reaching into the pocket of his sweater, revealing the saran wrapped cookies in question. "I think you're gonna like them."

Elizabeth covers her mouth as tears run freely. It was him?

Jason takes them with soft warmth twinkling in his eyes.

"You're going to love them," Jake insists with a proud grin.

And Jason gives a short laugh. "I know I will. Thanks Aiden," he says with sincerity before pulling her little boy into a hug.

Her shoulders shake from her silent cries and her ribs protest keenly but she doesn't care. Jason helped her baby without her even knowing.

He looks over Aiden's shoulder meeting her gaze and begins to herd her boys to her. She lets go of Franco's hand and practically yanks Jason into her arms when he's near enough, tucking her face into his shoulder as her emotions spill messily from her grasp. Gratitude, elation, want, and so much love she shakes from it. "Thank you," she weeps, trying to convey just how much she appreciates everything he's done for her.

"Shh," he soothes, brushing his fingers through the back of her hair. "Can you calm down for me?" he breathes and she nods refusing to let go as her staggered breaths gradually even out, comforted by his scent.

When her fingers finally ease their grip on his leather jacket, she feels utterly sapped. He pulls from her arms, seeming to tuck her hair behind her ear without thought before stepping further back. His hands go into his jean pockets. "I'm going to let the doctors tend to you now, okay?"

"I'll see you later?" she asks in a tone thick with emotion, waiting to see him catch her meaning. He may be gone from her life for a while, but this isn't goodbye.

He looks down as a lopsided grin overtakes his lips, and when he looks up his eyes warm pools. "I'll see you later, Elizabeth."

She watches him make his way back to Monica who's quick to embrace him with Carly and Joselyn happily watching the reunion off to the side before her gurney is wheeled off. Her boys follow along, asking questions her mind is growing too fuzzy to catch. What she does note before she drifts off is the quiet manner in which Franco watches her with his hand curling around hers.

—

Friday, October 2, 2020
Webber-Baldwin Living Room

In the week that was required of her to stay within the hospital, her boys and Franco had visited her everyday. It was during their first visit that she was able to find out how Jason and Aiden had met.

Aiden had been sat beside her on her bed, tucked against her right side - the side that hurt less - as he told his story. "I was sitting away from the other kids waiting for the bus to go home and I noticed this guy approaching. He was huge, like one of those action movie stars or something!" he had exclaimed with wide stretched arms that had made Jake and Cameron snicker.

She honestly hadn't been able to withhold a giggle either, but she had noticed Franco's lack of amusement out of the corner of her eye before Aiden had continued.

"But then I recognized him from some of the pictures you have, mom. But really it was something about his eyes or, I don't know, he just felt safe," Aiden had shrugged and looked down almost as if curling inward in shyness about admitting such a thing.

"Hey, I felt the same way when I first saw him too," Jake had confided with a smile, leaning closer from his chair on her left side.

"Yeah, Jason's the kind of guy you can trust if you need him," Cameron had added with conviction.

It had made her heart light and fluttery as she hugged Aiden and kissed his forehead. "If you ever need help and Jason's around, he'll help you and keep you safe, baby."

"I don't think it's a good idea-I mean, shouldn't the authorities be their first priority if they get in a bind," Franco had voiced with a firmness that had rankled a nerve.

She had snapped her gaze his way, fixing him a look that introduced the dead of winter to her room. The silence had been thick as he sat unwavering under her glare. "Are you saying the authorities would've saved Cameron that night?"

"You did kind of waste time calling Jason first, so we wouldn't know." His tone had been clipped, certain.

"I called them within two minutes after Jason and, from what I understand, they arrived well after the fact-you know what? You and I will discuss this later," she had bitten out while turning away from him, not wanting her blood pressure to get out of hand at him implying such a ridiculous thing.

Instead, she had stroked Aiden's head and addressed her boys. "Yes, the father of one of my beautiful boys," she had swept Jake's hair back and it fell back in place in disarray, thawing the tension as she and her boys laughed, "is someone you all can trust wholeheartedly," she had told them with pride, ending that discussion.

She had been relieved to finally go home and get to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of three rambunctious boys again. But there was, and still is, a Jason sized tension between her and her husband. Because, in spite of Jason's complete absence in their lives as promised, he's very much present in her thoughts all the time.

And for her first week back, she had been able to ignore the suspicious sweep of Franco's gaze around their house after returning home from giving art therapy at GH. She was alone for hours - plenty of time to have an affair, right? He never said anything, never verbally accused her of such a thing like her former husband Lucky who couldn't go two breaths without doing. But Franco's insecurities had made his worries obvious regardless.

Everyday he had brought her either flowers or a sweet she enjoyed or even a sketch of her he'd done that day. He would massage her feet or put on a movie she loved and overall do his best to pamper her. And the romantic gestures would normally be sweet. But knowing the reason behind them had made her smiles stiff and their closeness awkward.

It made her thoughts drift more towards Jason than away.

Like, what would it feel like to lie on her couch with Jason on the other end with her feet in his lap? And how would it feel to have him beside her with her head on his shoulder as she listened to him talk to her about how his life has been recently? Would he hold her close while drawing tingling patterns up and down her arm? And the things he said before, about missing her eyes and her voice... Would he want to kiss her?

She had tried to forcibly bury such daydreams, knowing it's not fair to Franco and that even though Jason is on the outs with Sam, they would overcome this new hurtle as they always do. But at the start of week two of being home from the hospital, she'll realize that trying to pretend her feelings for Jason are in the past is pointless.

Franco has a legitimate reason to worry.

Grabbing her burgundy pea coat and tying the belt around her waist, Elizabeth steps out into the blustery air, feeling her breath catch as the October wind cuts into her. It's probably not the best thing to do, heading out into such chilly conditions while recovering from a chest wound, but it's just a walk down the driveway to the mailbox. Besides, she's supposed to be increasing her stamina a little each day and she's never been one to rely on others if she can absolutely help it anyway.

The morning is gray and crisp, broken up by the brown, orange, yellow, and red of fallen leaves. She reaches the black box and pulls out a few envelopes, casting a stealthy glance at the house across the street before turning to head back in. Once inside, she places the heel of her hand on her forehead as a wave of vertigo sways her on her feet. When it passes, she groans, quickly taking off her coat and parking herself on the coach. "At least I managed a little over an hour on my feet today," she grumbles and begins to look over the mail with the morning news droning on in the background.

She sets two pieces of mail aside for Franco as words from the female news anchor starts to filter into her mind.

"...explosion of three warehouses on the waterfront. Several casualties have been reported so far as police canvas the area."

She jerks her head up seeing the charred remains of the warehouses in question as her heart strains.

"This is the third incident of violence taking place on the waterfront property in the past week. With the recent release of the alleged criminal Cyrus Renault, it's believed these are the makings of a mob war. Mayor Collins has urged citizens of Port Charles to avoid the waterfront, if you can, and remain indoors at night. The police are doing everything they can to—"

She switches the TV off and stares at her darkened reflection in a daze. Each heartbeat is filled with anxiety as her hands begin to tremble. There were casualties. What if one was him? She scrambles to grab her cellphone on the coffee table in front of her. The screen is lit up, her finger about to descend on number two of her speed dial when she takes a deep rational breath.

"He wanted to stay away for a reason. To protect us and to focus," she whispers and takes another slow breath. She navigates to her photo app and finds a picture taken over a month ago. He and Jake face the camera with identical smiles and radiant eyes tugging on her heartstrings with ease.

She sets her phone face down, controlling her breathing and blinking back worried tears. "He's okay. He's okay damn it. He wouldn't want you to drive yourself crazy over this," she mumbles, then collects her fallen mail in hopes of a distraction.

An invoice from her insurance company turns up in her hands simultaneously giving her something to focus on and outright dread. Tearing it open, she quickly searches for the grand total, wanting to rip the bandaid off. When she sees the near three figure number, the paper almost falls from her grasp as her heart goes into overdrive.

"It-it shouldn't be that much!" she gasps in horror, scanning the paper to find the error, because there has to be one, only to find out that's not the case. Because her surgery and ICU stay took place outside of the country, it wasn't covered by her insurance. The money owed is correct.

"Oh god." There's no way she could ever hope to pay this back on top of the mortgage already due. "What're we going to do?" she whimpers. Temples throbbing as it feels like she's sinking into darkened waters, she picks up her phone and begins punching in the number to her insurance company. There has to be something we can do. I have to go back to work. Maybe Epiphany will let me do paperwork-wait. What? So busy focusing on the amount due, she missed the three most important words of her life written beneath it.

Paid in full.

Mouth gaping, she's a few seconds off on her cue to respond to the woman over the phone. "Uh, hi this is Elizabeth Baldwin. I was wondering if you could tell me who paid for my latest hospital bills?"

After confirming her personal information, the woman gives her a cheery answer. "Okay, Mrs. Baldwin, it says here that all medical expenses for your care are being paid for by a Mr. Jason Morgan."

Elizabeth rests her forehead against the heel of her palm trying to settle her nerves as relief floods through her. Of course this is his doing. "Oh, okay," she breathes positively winded from her whiplash of emotions in a matter of minutes.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No, that's all. Thank you." She ends the call. With her head resting in both of her hands now, she sits with her elbows on her knees trying to process everything. There's no way she can let him do this. It's too much money. She won't feel right until she can pay him back, which she will. She tosses the paper down on the coffee table and brings up the dialer again. In the back of her mind, she knows this is just an excuse to hear his voice and know that he's safe, but she goes through with it anyway.

Heart hammering in her throat, she listens to the trill of the ringing tone.

"This is Jason Morgan. Leave your message," is his bland message followed by a beep.

Caught off guard, she sputters a bit. "Ja-Jason I, um, I need to see you. It's important. I know you said it's not safe to be seen together right now and I understand, but," she wets her lips, fingers curling into her thigh as the need to have him in front of her overrides all sense of reason. "Last week we got new neighbors across the street. The boys and Franco didn't notice, but I could tell from the way the men carried themselves and the alertness of their eyes that they were guards. I would be a fool not to recognize that after being around you for nearly half my life."

When she realizes she's rambling she squeezes her eyes closed through the rise in heat in her cheeks. "What I'm trying to say is maybe if you're sure it's safe enough, you can come over… and be as discreet as they are. Day or night, I don't care, I just... need to see you. And please be safe." She ends the call before she can sound too much like she's mooning over him.

"I think it's a little too late for that," she murmurs and twists the simple silver band Franco got to replace her damaged wedding ring, wondering when the guilt of what she's doing will come. And it's there like a stone upsetting her stomach - regret for how this will hurt Franco, but not for what she wants. She'll never feel guilty for wanting Jason.

Balling up and tossing the invoice in the kitchen bin, she climbs the stairs, intent on taking her daily nap a little early today.

—

She's roused by the most incredible sensations of a wandering hand. It trails over her collarbone, then feels over her breasts in unhurried exploration. She quivers as bolts of heat pool down low.

"I've mapped your body out over and over…" he rumbles with his lips teasing the shell of her ear. His hand splays over her stomach, his thumb rubbing circles over a spot beside her navel. She gasps at the sparks flaring out from his touch. "This mole right here," his fingers slide over the inside of her hip, "these beautiful marks here," her heart flutters before she chokes out a keen moan when his hand dips between her thighs, his middle finger now tracing sharp circles over her clit, "and your pretty, pink slit… it never gets old," he groans, his heavy breathing filling her ears driving her wild.

His urgency crackles through her as he nudges her legs apart, grinding his cock against her aching slit before sinking in. Her face contorts as an unbridled moan of ecstasy is torn from her, the pleasure blinding. "I keep wanting more," he says roughly before guiding her face towards his and claiming her lips with his own.

Elizabeth gasps awake, wound tight and pulsing with heat until she realizes Jason's not there. It was just a dream. In fact, she had turned in for the night with Franco.

It takes her several moments of steady breathing before she's able to curb her libido. That's when she covers her face with an internalized groan of shock at how wild her imagination is. She's in bed with her husband dreaming of another man. She's grateful Franco didn't wake up so she doesn't have to explain it or remind him that sex is out of the question for at least another four weeks. With a sigh, she slides her hands down from her face, wondering if calling Jason was a mistake—

A hum vibrates through the air, grabbing her attention.

Her phone on her night stand. She picks it up, recognizing the vibration must've been what woke her up. Careful to keep the light from her screen from disturbing Franco behind her, she notes it's after midnight and reads the message.

Come out to your backyard.

Her breath catches. Jason.

Franco inhales deeply and she stills. He turns over, removing his arm from her waist. She waits several heartbeats to make sure he's settled before pulling up her keyboard.

I'll be right there.

—

Wrapped tight in her coat, she steps out through her backdoor. Immediately, her breath forms clouds and she wraps her arms around herself. While the air is no longer windy, it's still pretty icy and she feels it slicing in her lungs. She looks to her right, seeing the house across the fence with darkened windows, ahead of her is her yard filled with leaves that need to be racked and the trees beyond the fence which extend around to the left where she sees no one. Brows creasing, she feels worry begin to twist her stomach. I was only off by a few minutes. He couldn't have left already, right?

"Jason?" she doesn't dare call out too loud, not wanting anyone in her house or her neighbors to hear.

"I'm right here," his voice is soft and to the left and she sees him peeking out from over the closed railing of her porch.

She's quick to descend the steps and make her way around the side of her house and into his arms. She holds him tight even though it hurts, cheek pressed against his chest through the opening of his leather jacket as she takes a deep breath of his scent. His hold is lighter, more careful, but no less warm as his hand cups the back of her head. She feels a light kiss pressed to the top of her hair. Two tears burn down her cheeks. An ache she hadn't even registered inside fills up with him. He's warm and alive and she feels whole.

"Hey," his breathy voice melts over her and she shivers. "What's wrong?"

She sighs with fondness. Of course he would notice her tears. "I was just really worried about you," she tells him above a breath. She leans back, wanting to see his eyes after so long, only to freeze. A gash about an inch long held together by steri-strips rests above his left brow. A surge of concern nearly sends her nerves into overdrive until years of medical experience wrangles her emotions into check. As light as a feather she prods around the wound. "What happened Jason?"

The air between them clouds with his exhale. "I was just grazed by shrapnel. I'm fine."

Shrapnel. He was 'just' grazed by shrapnel. She doesn't stop her examination, doesn't take her eyes off the crimson line cut into his flesh. "Did you have someone look at this?"

"Yes—"

"Someone with medical experience?" She glares, feeling antsy. She wants to properly look at it herself, make sure it doesn't actually need stitches. What if he's hiding some other wound? It wouldn't be the first time—

"Technically, Jason Quartermaine has medical experience," he mutters under his breath and she goes to grab his wrist with the intent of yanking him inside, until he captures her hand and rushes out, "But yes, I did see Sonny's doctor."

There's laughter in his voice she doesn't like and shows her displeasure with a firmer glare, finally meeting his eyes. His look is gooey warm and tender, the blue of his eyes beautiful and intense. His laughter fades as she swallows around her heart dancing in her throat, realizing his arm still curls around her waist. His fingers slowly thread through her own. "Don't worry, I'm fine," he seems to whisper absently, looking as entranced as she feels.

She trembles from head to toe, mouth tingling as they inch closer. This isn't what friends do. But we've never been just friends. He's my more than friend. The love of my life. Just as her eyes begin to flutter shut, dangling on the precipice of something irrevocable, Jason tilts his head up and kisses her forehead instead.

The air rushes out of her and she wants nothing more than to turn and run. God, how could I be so stupid?! He doesn't want me. He'll never choose—

"Don't," he breathes, firm, and she feels him shaking his head, feels his arm tightening around her waist. "Don't... Just don't leave. Stay. Please," he begs in a raspy voice and she feels another lingering kiss on her forehead.

She melts into him, fears erased once she realizes why he didn't kiss her. It wasn't because he doesn't want her. Far from it - they sway to some unknown tune with their hands twined and his arm cradling her close. It's because her husband is upstairs asleep in bed and a mob war is just beginning. It's not time yet.

She lets out a shaky breath, nodding. "Okay."

He kisses her forehead again, then tucks her head under his chin.

She sinks into his calming presence and the steady rocking motion between them. Safe, warm, and content she's nearly asleep on her feet when he breaks the silence.

"How have you been?"

She hums. "I feel better each day." She nuzzles his chest with a sigh. "You know I'm going to pay you back for my medical bills, right?"

He groans and she giggles, knowing he's getting ready to try and refuse her. "So that's why you called."

"That and I wanted to make sure you were safe," she admits feeling a pleasant buzz when he swishes his thumb over the back of her hand.

"You know that's not happening right?" he says, all humor lost. "You were shot because of me. There's no way I would let you pay for that."

"But Jason, I wouldn't feel right—"

"I think you're getting pretty cold," he cuts in with an abrupt change of topic.

She huffs and gently removes her hand from his in order to delve her hands into his jacket and encircle his waist, stealing more of his warmth. "I'm fine."

"Elizabeth..." She suppresses her moan at the caress of her name on his lips. "You could get sick and that won't do you any good."

"You're dead on your feet. Besides, what good would it do for us if you got sick?"

"Elizabeth?"

She jolts, a little confused as she feels his hand curved to her cheek, his eyes laced with concern. It felt like she zoned out, but... "Uh, yeah. Sorry, it just felt like you said something like that to me recently," she answers faintly, then, before she can lose her nerve, leans up and presses her lips to his cheek in a lingering kiss. She draws away and lands in his heated gaze, feeling her stomach swoop in response. "You're really sweet for caring."

He brushes his knuckles over her cheek. "You mean a lot to me."

She tugs around his waist and he moves closer, touching their foreheads together. "I know. And that's the only reason I'm going back inside." She doesn't move immediately, memorizing the unique blend of blues that make up his eyes in order to fight saying the truth in her heart. "I'll... see you later?"

His lips tilt up on one side. "I'll see you later."

Feeling the separation like the loss of an integral part of her, she slips from his arms and makes her way to her back door. Sharing one last look of what she can feel in her soul is mutual longing, she shuts the door between them and presses her head against the wood.

Any doubts or denials she had about her and Jason evaporate. He wants to be with her and she with him. A giddiness bubbles under her skin stretching a wide smile across her lips. This time feels different. This time we're going to get it right, I know it.

She turns and rests her back against the door and trains her eyes towards the living room where the stairs lead up to her bedroom. "Now I just have to figure out how to handle Franco."