Back To Life

~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~

Waking up in the middle of the night, Elizabeth glances over at a sleeping Jason, unable to fathom how it was him, of all people, that found his way to her. Wrapping the blanket around her, she stands by the window, staring up at the moon. Its been such a long time since she's seen the moon through clear eyes and she can't explain just how beautiful it looked to her in that moment. Even with all the things that have changed in her life, all the ways that those she cared so deeply for has changed, the moon and the stars remain just as she remembers it.

Its been a long hard week since Francis and Johnny left them to return to Port Charles, her body readjusting to life without injections. There were a couple times she believed Jason would just leave her there, where she believed that she would prove too much for him to handle, after all he owed her nothing, yet there he remained. He bundled her up when her body would start freezing out of nowhere. He'd help her eat even when her body was too weak to do so. Everything she needed, he did and much more. She couldn't describe the kind of person he must be to have done all this for her.

"Elizabeth?" he voices groggily just before he turns the light on. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay." she says softly, tightening the blanket around her. "Just couldn't get warm enough. Thought if I got up and moved around a bit..."

"Did it help?"

"Not really." she admits. "But its not as bad as usual."

"Come on." he says as he rises to his feet. "I'll make you some hot cocoa. That usually helps."

And, of course, there's the hot chocolates. When the nights are rough, he makes a cup of hot chocolate with just the right amount of marshmallows and a pinch of cinnamon atop the whipped cream. As they sit down with their choice of beverages, his being coffee while hers is the hot cocoa, Elizabeth takes a moment to really look at him. As hard as it will be for her, she knows that its time, having kept him from his life for long enough. Through all their long nights awake, she began to realize that she was keeping him from home, from his life, from whatever awaits him back in Port Charles.

"Jason?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm ready." she says carefully. "To go home."

"You sure?" he questions, watching her response as she cradles the hot cocoa in her hands.

"I think so." she replies. "Its been a week and I'm sure Sonny misses you..."

"Don't make this about me." Jason counters. "Sonny can handle not having me around. So can everyone else. If you're going to choose to go back, make it about you. Are you ready to go back?"

"I'm ready." Elizabeth says firmly, knowing there was no point in hiding there any longer. "Its time for me to go home."

"Good." he smiles slightly. "Because your Gram has been calling Sonny non-stop since he told her you were alive. She can't wait to see you."

"I didn't know you told anyone."

"Just your Gram." Jason assures. "We can deal with bringing you back to life for the rest of the town when we get back home. If you're really ready, I can have the plane fueled and ready to leave by morning."

"I'm ready." Elizabeth assures. "I'm actually starting to miss Francis and Johnny."

"Okay. I'll make the arrangements." Jason says after finishing the rest of his coffee. "We can talk specifics once we take off."

"Okay." she replies. "You said something about living in a safe house when I get back to town..."

"That's an option, yes." Jason admits. "I've made up a room in my penthouse for you, as well...like I said, you can think about it and we'll talk more on the plane ride home."

Finishing up the last of her cocoa, she watches as Jason washes out the cups before walking back to the room with her and wishing her a good night's sleep. As she went to bed, Jason stayed up making the final arrangements for the flight home in the morning. He had to admit that he hadn't seen it coming. He thought she'd take at least another week before deciding to go back home. As he makes the arrangements, he realizes that now is as good a time as any. He just hopes she's able to handle the fact that Lucky's officially married now and the rest of the town's reaction to her being alive.

~ . ~

Watching the elder lady pacing back and forth in his penthouse, Sonny couldn't help the slight smile on his face, realizing just how much his life has changed since Jason and the guys found Elizabeth in Puerto Rico. When people like Audrey Hardy start regarding you in a brighter light, regardless of your career, you know you've done something right. Normally, the elder woman wouldn't be caught dead in his home and now she paces eagerly as they await her granddaughter's return.

Thankfully, for both their sake, Jason called ahead and told him they'd be there soon. Their plane had just landed and Johnny was already at the airport waiting for them when they arrived. With any luck, there won't be much of any traffic at this time of the morning and they'll get there a lot sooner than either of them anticipate. It wasn't until the door of his penthouse opened up and Jason stepped aside, producing the girl that had been believed to be long dead. The elder woman stopped frozen in her tracks as tears welled in her eyes at the sight of her granddaughter, alive and well.

"Gram." Elizabeth whispered, causing the elder woman to let out the breath she had been holding the moment Elizabeth came into view.

"Elizabeth." her Gram replied as the tears fell from her eyes. "Its true. You're alive."

"I am." she says softly as her Gram came closer, close enough to wrap her arms around her, a chance she took without hesitation. "I'm here."

"Its really you." Gram whispered as she shut her eyes and held her tightly. "The Lord has answered my prayers."

"Mine, too." Elizabeth replies, glancing at Jason, who moved to stand by Sonny, silently thanking them before returning her attention to her grandmother.

As the two women get reacquainted with each other, Jason and Sonny excuse themselves to the kitchen, needing to discuss what happens from here. Obviously there was something going on, something neither of them had known about, something that needed to be stopped. If something like this can happen in their territory without them knowing about it, clearly they hadn't set up enough precautions to prevent it from happening. For someone to step into their territory and pull this off, it took someone with a big enough backing and a hell of a lot of guts. Regardless of all that, Jason makes Sonny one solemn promise, they will pay and they will pay with their lives.

~ . ~

After promising her grandmother that she would see her again soon, Elizabeth and Jason left Sonny's penthouse for Jason's across the hall. Once they step inside, Jason gives her a quick tour of the place, not having much to really show her by any means. He lived a minimal life, only having things in his penthouse that was absolutely necessary and nothing more. Given his lifestyle, he was hardly there anyway, so, rearranging and changing things seemed pretty pointless.

"Once you get settled in, we'll have lunch." Jason says as they stand outside her room. "Then we can talk about seeing Emily."

"Okay." Elizabeth smiled slightly. "I can't wait to see her."

"I'm sure she'd feel the same way." Jason says honestly. "And about the living arrangements..."

"Could be worse." Elizabeth voices when he doesn't continue. "Trust me. I've lived worse."

"If you need anything, all you have to do is say it." Jason says without hesitation. "I want you comfortable while you're here."

"Already am." she admits truthfully. "I mean it. Thanks, Jason."

"Go on." he says with a slight smile. "Lunch won't take too long."

From the moment she stepped off that plane and right into Port Charles, Elizabeth finally felt a sense of freedom, of home. No matter what has gone wrong in this town, it will always be home and she can't wait to finally feel it again, to feel at home and safe. As she unpacks the luggage of clothes they had bought for her before they left Puerto Rico, she takes a moment to appreciate clothes that fit her. Not that she didn't like Jason's clothes or anything, but it was nice to wear something that didn't threaten to fall off her all the time.

After they had lunch, they discussed the protocols that would be in place while he searches for the people that did this to her. He refuses to take any chances when it comes to her. They have caused her enough problems, they've hurt her more than enough, and he refuses to allow them to cause her any more harm. She wonders why he's trying so hard instead of just leaving it to the police.

"I can't explain why." Jason voices after a long moment. "All I know is that I have to. I don't think I can take anything happening to you again."

"Jason..."

"If you believe anything I say, believe that I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe." Jason promises, knowing that she still fears being taken, her nightmares evident of that.

"Jason..." she starts to say but is quickly silenced by the knock on the door. "Emily?"

"You ready to see her?" Jason questions as he rises to his feet.

"I am." she assures, rising to her feet as well.

"Okay." Jason says before pulling open the door to the curious gaze of his sister. "Hey, Em."

"Hey." she returns his greeting. "What's going on? You didn't really explain that much over the phone."

"Do me a favor?" Jason asks carefully.

"You need a favor?" Emily looks at him in surprise. "Okay, sure...anything."

"Don't scream."

"Scream? Why would I..." Emily started to say before Jason stepped out of the way and Elizabeth came into view. "Oh my god..."

"Hey, Emily." Elizabeth voices carefully, smiling softly when Emily rushes over to her, throwing her arms around Elizabeth. "Miss me?"

"M-miss you?" Emily scoffs as tears well up in her eyes, pulling away to meet her eyes. "Are you kidding me? Of course I missed you! H-how is this possible?"

"Long story." Elizabeth replies as they move to sit down. "Lets just say that I was kidnapped and my death was faked. For what reason, we're not sure...but Jason's working on finding out."

"Does anyone else know you're alive?" Emily questions curiously.

"You and my Gram, so far." Elizabeth replies. "I was hoping you could help me set up a way to ease Nikolas into it."

"Of course! I'd love that." Emily says wholeheartedly, unable to take her eyes off her. "I'm sorry...I just can't believe you're really here right now."

"I know the feeling." Elizabeth admits. "We just had lunch, but I was hoping you'd stay for dessert, maybe tell me about all that I've missed..."

"As if you could get me to leave." Emily laughs softly. "Its been a really hard year without you."

"Jason?" Elizabeth questions when he opens the door.

"Just going over to Sonny's." he assures her. "I'll be back before dinner."

"Okay." Elizabeth takes a deep breath before shaking her head.

"I'm guessing your year was a lot harder." Emily says once the door shuts behind Jason.

"You can say that." Elizabeth voices, tearing her gaze away from the door. "But we're not talking about that. We're talking about home and all that's happened."

"But...eventually, right?"

"Maybe." Elizabeth replies. "Its hard for me right now."

"I understand." Emily smiles slightly. "So...you will never believe what I got Nikolas to do..."

A/N: Thanks, Lovelies! I am really trying to get chapters out. I hope you enjoyed this one. As always, thank you for your comments and messages. It all means a lot!