Easing the door closed as quietly as he could, Jason moved just as quietly to the couch and spread out tiredly, finally feeling the effects of the long ride and equally long day. He kicked his boots off and got comfortable but just as his eyes eased closed, he sensed that he wasn't alone. With his eyes still closed, his nose picked up the scent of the woman of the house.
Placing a hand across his forehead and squeezing his eyes even tighter, he asked dryly, "Why aren't you in bed?"
Elizabeth fumed quietly from the armchair in the corner where she hadn't taken her eyes off him since he snuck in. He didn't even have the decency to go up the stairs to check to see if she was home, if she was safely in bed.
"Why do you think? You care to tell me what this is all about, Jason? What exactly happened tonight?"
Sighing resignedly, Jason shifted on the couch, still with his eyes closed, wishing she was a mirage. He just wanted to sleep.
"Can we talk about this in the morning? I'm tired, Elizabeth."
That got her really angry, jousting her from the couch to reach him in two strides, yanking the arm that was covering his face from her. "It's morning now, dammit! You've been gone all night…after leaving here with Sam's filthy lingerie. Where the hell were you, Jason?"
He knew he wouldn't get a wink of sleep now. Sighing again in frustration, he moved to a sitting position, finally looking at her…really looking at her. Her face was stony hard as she glared at him, her eyes almost crazy in the dimness of the room. In that moment, he couldn't find a single thing he normally found so beautiful about her.
"I returned something to Sam, then I went for a ride."
Elizabeth's fury was mounting. His matter of fact attitude towards her state of ire was not helping. How dare he act so cavalier after the miserable night she'd had.
"That's it?" Her voice was incredulous and angry. "You've been gone all night, you're running around giving women underwear, and that's all you have to say to me?"
He was still looking at her, his dazed, sleepy mind comparing her current look of consternation to that of a shrew. He didn't know why he found that a little bit funny.
"It's the truth…what else do you want me to say?"
She sank sadly beside him on the couch, getting weepy when that was all she found she had left.
"I want you to make me understand! What is your sudden fascination with Sam, and why are you buying her lingerie? Jason, how could you?"
He was exasperated again. Struggling to control the shortness he was feeling, he thought it better to explain.
"Are you listening to yourself? Why would I buy Sam lingerie? First of all, she's not like that…Sam would never accept something that personal from a man in my position. Second of all, I'm not like that either…I thought you knew that?"
"I thought I did too, but Jason, I saw it at her apartment. You took it there!"
He sat straight and looked at her sternly. "What were you doing at Sam's?"
"Don't change the subject! You still haven't told me…" That's when she realized something she'd missed before. The corset had no tags on it! It wasn't a new purchase! For one split second, relief washed all through her…he didn't buy it for her! Then hope got dashed in the very next. The corset had no tags…it wasn't new…it meant something to them - that's why he was so angry when he found her with it. That's why the slut reacted so strongly when she'd picked it up off the couch. Had Jason remembered being with her in it? She realized he was saying something.
"This is pointless, Elizabeth. I had something of Sam's - it got caught up in some things of mine I collected from her place, I returned it - end of story."
"Why didn't you come home after? Where've you been all night?" She knew her troubles were far from over.
"Riding…I needed to clear my head."
"Why, Jason? We've been so happy - what is suddenly weighing on you so heavily that you disappear all night? You wouldn't even take my calls or answer my texts! What am I supposed to do with that?" She sobbed out the last sentence, throwing her full force behind the tears that she worked to pull the usual guilt from him. She knew it was working when he sighed and his voice softened.
"Please don't cry, Elizabeth. Everything is fine - I just needed some air, that's all."
She threw her shoulders into the cry, burying her face inside her hands as she let them fly freely. When his arms circled her, she went willingly into their depth. "You said you love me, Jason. Did you change your mind? Are you leaving me and the boys now when we need you?"
Jason ground his teeth as he drew her close. He hated to see her cry, hated even more, being the reason that she did. "Of course I'm not leaving. You're making a big deal out of nothing. I'm right here."
She sniffled and buried her face inside his neck, hugging him closely as he held her. If that bitch thought she'd ever allow her to weasel in between them, she'd be sadly mistaken.
She eased slightly from his arms, staying within their confines still, smiling through the tears. "I know how you can make it up to me." When he wiped a tear from her cheek, she continued, "You can make our trip into our wedding." When his eyes opened a bit, she hurried out, "Let's elope, Jason. Let's get married at the cabin tomorrow night - as soon as we arrive. Then our week together will really be our honeymoon!" She grinned and batted her big brown eyes at him, knowing he was always putty in her hands when she did. "What do you say?"
Jason eased back into the cushions, essentially pulling away from her and dropping her hands slowly. "What do you mean, tomorrow night? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve."
Her smile grew wider. "I know! Think about it…a Christmas wedding…isn't that the most romantic thing you ever heard? You didn't forget our trip did you?"
His eyes squished as his brain attempted to wrap her words. "No…but why would we leave on Christmas Eve?"
She chuckled and grabbed both of his hands to squeeze between hers. "That's when I booked the trip for, silly. Remember the reservations I showed you last week? We leave tomorrow night for a glorious week alone…just you and me…a cabin upstate in the snow…it's going to be so romantic. Then if we turn it into our wedding, all the more…"
She trailed off when he pulled his hands from her and stood to his feet, backing up from the couch as he continued to study her.
"You planned a trip for Christmas Eve? We've talked about spending Christmas with the kids…all of them. Why would you choose that date?"
She stood to even out the height disparity some. "I know we did, but when I checked the bookings, those were the only dates they had available. I had to jump on it - I didn't think you'd mind!"
"No? What about the boys? You don't think they'll mind spending Christmas alone, while we're off on some romantic getaway?"
"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Jason. They won't be alone - they'll be with Grams! Surrounded by all those presents you got them…plus Laura and Lulu will have them for a couple days after Christmas…they won't even notice we're gone!"
He was trying not to get angry, certain that she wasn't purposely being insensitive. "What about Danny?"
She looked genuinely puzzled. "What about him?" Her voice was a tad cold for his comfort too.
Jason took a step back and eyed her quizzically. "He's expecting to spend Christmas with me. I told you this…this will be the first Christmas with my son since I found out I'm his father. I'm not about to disappoint him and I'm really looking forward to it."
Her tone got placating. "Danny will be fine…he's a child…all he cares about is getting presents for Christmas. I promise he won't even miss you when we're gone."
Was he hearing her right? Who was this woman and what had she done with his angel? "I'll mind, Elizabeth. I want to spend Christmas with my son - with both of my sons! I'm not disappointing them."
This time, when her lips quivered like a little girl's and her Bambi eyes filled with unshed tears, it sparked anger inside him. "Don't do that! Don't try to manipulate me into leaving my children on Christmas - it won't work, and as a matter of fact, it's starting to piss me off."
She wasn't used to this. Jason didn't get mad at her - he got mad at other people on her behalf! He never turned her down…never! 'No' was not a word Jason Morgan used to her, ever! Feeling her hold dangerously slipping, she realized she needed a new strategy. Standing there quietly, she wiped the silent tears and watched as he turned from her and headed towards the kitchen.
"I need a drink of water and then I'm coming back to sleep. We can finish this tomorrow…right here in Port Charles."
Feeling like she may have overplayed a dangerous, delicate hand, Elizabeth stared blankly at the swinging door that parted her from his receding back, then took herself slowly up to bed alone. She would let it rest for now…but they were getting married in a matter of days…even if she had to work every minute to convince him to make it happen.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Christmas Eve at the Davis' house was bustling and festive. Julian had gotten the largest tree on the lot, much to the delight of an excited Daniel Edward Morgan, who got the pleasure of placing the star at the very top - with the help of his grandfather and a step ladder. He got a real kick out of turning the switch on the little ornaments that played Christmas Carols and the sound of chirping birds.
Sam watched her baby beaming as he earnestly shook every present beneath the tree with his name on it.
"Hey you…what are you doing?"
She noticed he'd been separating them into piles. Sparing the quickest glance her way before he looked back to the huge blue square he'd shake next, he laid it down and pointed to the farther pile he'd made. "Those are clothes. I'll leave those for last."
"What?" Alexis feigned surprise as she joined them and ruffled her grandson's hair where he knelt to reach for the gold paper wrapped rectangle one. "Santa would bring my grandbaby clothes for Christmas? I don't know…maybe you're losing your touch kiddo."
Danny laughed at her joke. "Grandma, they're mostly from you. You always buy me clothes."
Sam laughed out loud at the funny look of shock when Alexis' mouth fell open. "Wha…? I do not!" She ruffled his hair some more. "Watch you eat those words when you see what I really got you this year!"
That got his attention. "What did you get me? Can I open it now?"
Sam chimed in, "No, you can't open it…it's not Christmas yet."
"But we always open one gift on Christmas Eve, Mommy - pleaaaase? Can I please open Grandma's this year?"
"Hey…how about mine?" Molly placed a large bowl with salad on the table and walked over to the tree. "How about you open one of mine this year, Danny?"
Alexis and Sam exchanged knowing looks, laughing when Danny said what they knew he was about to. "No thanks, Aunt Molly. You always get me books." He pointed to the pile he'd been setting aside. "They're over there - next to the clothes from Grandma."
Laughing quietly, Alexis moved to answer the knock at the door. Smart little tyke - just like his mother!
"Nikolaus!" She greeted her nephew warmly with a kiss on the cheek and drew him into a tight hug. "Welcome home - I'm so happy you decided to stop by tonight."
"Alexis. Good evening everyone." Nikolaus handed Alexis the bottle of something rare before removing his coat and handing it to Molly, who was holding her hand out to take it. He walked up to his cousin and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Hi, Sam."
Sam smiled at her cousin warmly. "Nikolaus. I heard you were back - glad you could come tonight. Where's Spencer?"
"With his grandmother and Aunt…he sends his greetings of the season. I'll be joining them shortly but I had to come see you all first. How've you been, Sam?"
Sam walked ahead of Nik to the couch and sat, turning her body towards him when he took the seat next to her and patted her hand where it laid on the cushion at her side.
"Honestly, I've been better…but I've also been worse, so I'm really not complaining." She smiled reassuringly. "But that's enough about me - how was Greece?"
Nikolaus shrugged nonchalantly. "The same it always is…beautiful country, lousy compound." He patted her hand again. "But I'm serious…tell me how you really are. One minute I'm getting ready to walk you down the aisle, the next you called everything off. Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine Nikolaus. Everything that happened was for the best."
"How can that be, when you're alone again, Sam? Are you sure it's really over…there's no saving your relationship with Patrick? You two were so perfect together - Danny finally had the right father in his life and you finally had a partner who would put you first."
Shaking her head, Sam really wanted a change of subject, not wanting dark thoughts to mar what had been a very pleasant evening thus far.
"Really, Nik, it's over and forgotten. What about you? Who's the lucky lady making you smile these days?"
His signature dimple showed up when a smile turned his lips. "I'm like you right now, I'm afraid…taking a pouter on love. Haven't been quite so lucky in that department…not since my beloved Emily."
It was Sam's turn to pat his hand softly. "I know the feeling…knowing there's only one person in the whole entire world who will ever truly get you…understand you, love you in a way no-one else ever could…it's a pretty special feeling when you have it and really lousy when it's gone."
Nikolaus looked at Sam in dismay. "Sam! No!"
"No, what?" Sam was genuinely surprised.
"You're not still carrying a torch for Jason, are you, Sam?" When she glared at him he cocked his head at her. "So, Elizabeth was right? There's still something between you two?"
"The only thing between Jason and me is that little gem over there." She pointed to where Danny was just wrapping up his investigations, having decided on which gift he wanted to open first. "Save it for after dinner, Bud!" Sam rose from the couch and went over to her son, bending over to give him a warm hug when he stood up.
"Okay, Mommy."
He was such a good little boy. She kissed his nose and hugged him again, rocking him within the confines of her arms, even as she wondered what the older image of him was up to at that moment. You know what he's up to, Sam…he's with his family…and you are with yours!
"Speaking of which…" Kristina descended the stairs and smiled hello to Nikolaus before turning to her mother, "…dinner here yet - I'm starving!"
"Here yet…Alexis, you didn't cook?" Nikolaus pulled his aunt's leg and her daughters broke out into laughter around her.
Pointing a forefinger at him in warning, Alexis walked again to the door to answer a knock. "Everybody's a comedian - ha ha ha!" She swung it open and started when Carly Corinthos breezed through the doorway, smiling widely at the room, her open coat swinging as she strode in. "Carly!"
"Merry Christmas, everybody." Carly smiled hello then turned back to Alexis. "Don't look so shocked. I was on my way out when I saw that the kitchen had a delivery for your place…"
"…And let me guess, you just thought you'd deliver it personally, Carly?" Sam drew near the woman and eyed the blonde suspiciously. "What are you up to now?"
Carly actually managed to look offended when she answered, a little too quickly, "Nothing! I can't just want to spread some holiday cheer? Why is everybody so suspicious of everything I do?"
"Because there's usually a highly questionable disaster in the making, that's why!" Alexis led the servers into the kitchen to show them where to place the myriad of food containers.
Carly flicked Sam's hair playfully. "Shows how much you know…I'm on my way home to Sonny and the kids right now, but I had to make sure that one special little boy remembered that he had to come to my house tomorrow for something equally special." When Danny beamed from where he was standing in front of his mother, Carly laughed and hugged him tightly, "Think you can manage that, mister man?"
"Mhmmm!" Danny nodded excitedly, obviously happy at the thought of more presents to unwrap.
"Okay, good!" She turned back to his mother. "Sam, you should come too! We haven't caught up in awhile…we can raid Sonny's good scotch and get some girl talk in."
Still suspicious and knowing with each passing second that she needed to be, Sam merely nodded and agreed. Sometimes going along with Carly was the less painful option. "Sounds great - wouldn't miss it."
"Awesome…I'll see you then." Carly kissed Danny and wave goodbye as she left. "Night y'all - enjoy your dinner!"
Kristina waved goodbye. "Tell Dad I'll see him tomorrow." When she left, Sam and Kristina exchanged looks. "What was that?"
Sam shook her head and turned back towards the center of the room. "Sometimes with Carly, you just don't wanna know."
Kristina wrapped her arm around Sam's shoulder and gripped. "You know what I think you should know, though, Sis? How to get back on that horse!"
Sam side eyed her. "What?"
Kristina squeezed her again. "It's time to put the gorgeous smile back on your face. I'm going out with some friends tonight - you should come. Maybe you'll meet someone new - get your mind off of the old for a little bit…what do you say?"
"That you're crazy. I'm fine, Kristina - I don't want to date anyone right now."
Kristina sat with her when she sank onto the couch. "Who said anything about dating? I'm talking about letting your hair down for one night - being carefree and buck wild - let go of the tightrope, just for tonight."
"Buck wild? Tightrope? What the hell are you talking about?"
"She's telling you to have a one-night stand!" Molly sat next to them and handed Sam a glass with eggnog. "Really, Kristina - is sex all you ever think about? Sam has known real, passionate, lasting love…she's alot deeper than casual, meaningless encounters with disease ridden strangers - so stop."
"Yew! Why'd you have to put it like that? Way to stamp a damper on a perfectly good stress reliever, you prude!"
Sam looked around anxiously for Nikolaus to save her but he'd disappeared into the kitchen with Alexis and Danny. She was on her own, stuck in the middle of the conversation from hell. She put up both hands to quieten the bickering siblings.
"I'm not going to sleep with anybody and I'm not in love with anybody…but thanks though…warms my heart you're both thinking of me." She went over to the liquor cabinet, suddenly parched for a shot of tequila, immediately discarding the eggnog that barely had any rum in it. That would just simply not do!
She heard the chime from her phone and looked over to where she'd left it on the sofa table as Kristina reached for it, smiling when she read the name on the screen.
"Speaking of whom you love…Sam…you have a text!" She opened the message as Sam just shook her head at the invasion of privacy and continued to pour.
"Who is it Krissy?"
When no immediate answer followed, she looked over again to see a knowing smile. "Would you like me to read it?"
Gesturing, whatever, Sam threw back a shot of tequila and bit down on a slice of lime.
"Hey! How early can I come by in the morning? I don't want to wake you, but Santa would like to see firsthand results of his elves' hard work."
Molly gasped audibly and looked from Kristina to Sam with a pleasant smirk on her face. "What? Is that from Jason?"
Kristina twirled the phone as she quipped, never taking her eyes off Sam, who approached her with palm out for her phone. "The one and only!"
"Give me that - you damn troublemaker!" As she swiped the phone from her sister, she cleared up the message. "He's coming to see Danny open his presents, that's all. It's something they want to do together and I'm not going to stop them."
"Oh, how sweet! Danny and dad's first Christmas together - oh, Sam you have to record it! I so wanna see that!"
"And I wanna see Mommy and Daddy's. Yes, Sis…please do run that recorder!" Kristina laughed and ducked when Sam threw a pillow at her head.
She tried to ignore her sisters when Alexis and the others returned from the kitchen, announcing dinner was ready, but her heart skipped an unmistakable beat when she replied to the text nonchalantly. It thumped again, at the heady realization that he hadn't left town afterall…that he really was keeping his promise to make their son a priority at Christmas. Suddenly, she too was looking forward to Christmas morn.
