I'm not a lawyer, but things on GH just seem so easy yet so difficult to fix.
Chapter 12
Elizabeth was standing at the hub of General Hospital showing pictures of her recent getaway to Epiphany and Robin. There were giggles between Robin and Elizabeth looking at the pictures of Jason and the boys. Both commenting on how happy and relaxed he looked. Robin caught a glimpse of the glowing rock on Elizabeth's finger, but before she could comment, the elevator dinged and a very distraught Lucky came barreling off.
"Where in the hell have you been? I have been calling you all weekend. You don't answer your cell. I go by your house and all I found was a bunch of Jason's flunkies doing god knows what. Where have you been Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth glances at Epiphany and gives her a knowing glance to take care of this before she does.
"Lucky, my cell didn't ring all weekend. Oh, jeez. I have a temporary cell until I get my new one in."
"Would have been great for you to give me that bit of information."
"Go sit down over there, before you get tossed out of here or worse get me fired."
Elizabeth huffed and grabbed her pictures and charts and joined Lucky on the couch.
"My cellphone fell in the harbor. I ordered a new one, my number will be the same. Had you stayed around the house longer I would have given you the temporary number and I would have told you that Jason and I took the boys out of town this weekend for a getaway and so some work could be done to the house. And I swear to god before you start going off on my decisions, keep them to yourself. I don't want to hear them."
"Where did you guys go?"
"Niagara Falls. Now, what did you want?"
"I wanted to talk to you about Jason. I don't think you are thinking clearly about this Elizabeth. He is too dangerous and I can't just sit here and keep quiet about it."
"Lucky, please don't do this. Don't do this to those boys. They love you and I don't want that to change, but you have to let me move on with my life. I love Jason, can't you just understand that?"
"No. I can't. I can't understand how you would willingly and openly be with a man that almost got your children killed. Now everyone in Jason's line of work is going to know who you are, making you and the boys a target."
Elizabeth turned in her seat, rapidly getting frustrated with Lucky. As she did, all of her charts and her pictures from the trip spilled out onto the floor. She bent down to pick them up as did Lucky.
"News flash Lucky. I was in the paper labeled as Jason's girlfriend. It's not news anymore and if you think I'm going to sit around and be miserable and wait for someone to come get me because Jason was or is apart of my life you are sorely mistaken."
"So your staying with him so he can protect you?"
"Lucky are you dense. Let me spell it out for you. I love him. He loves me and he loves the boys. We will do everything possible to make a life together work and to keep our family safe."
Lucky said nothing. He sat in silence, staring at what was on the floor and in Elizabeth's hands. Pictures of the boys. Pictures of the boys with Elizabeth and Jason, pictures of Jake and Cam in Jason's arms – smiling. His boys with another man. And then he saw it. Their picture. The picture Jason and Elizabeth had taken shortly after getting engaged. There staring at him was the sign that she was truly gone. The ring on her finger.
"What the hell is that?"
"Uh, Jason proposed to me while we were gone."
"So much for taking thing slow. Whens the wedding?"
"Don't act like that Lucky. I'm not doing this to hurt you. I'm happy. Happier than I have been in a real long time."
"Thanks a lot. You get the perfect life with the man that will more than likely get you shot. And in the mean time, he is stealing my children away from me." Lucky throws a picture of Jason and the boys at Elizabeth.
"Lucky. He is apart of their lives and has been for a while now. He has every right to spend time with his son and really get to know him. No one is taking the boys away from you. We told you, nothing is going to change. That depends on you and you alone."
"Nurse Webber, Dr. Drake needs you to scrub in. You are going to have to continue this conversation another time."
"Thanks Epiphany, tell Patrick I'm on my way. Lucky, please try and be happy for me."
"If you want to spend your life with Jason, then I can't stop you. But I'll be damned if I will let him ruin those boys lives. You will be hearing from my lawyer."
"For what!?"
"I'm suing for full custody."
And with that Lucky left Elizabeth as she fell into a heap on the floor. Determined that he wasn't going to beat her. She picked herself off the floor and walked towards the O.R. where Patrick was waiting for her. On her way, she pulled out her cell phone and called Jason.
"Hey sexy, how is your first day back."
"Jason, we have a problem. Where is the guard?"
"What are you talking about? What problem, what guard?"
"Don't play cute with me Morgan. Lucky was just here and he said he is going to sue me for full custody of the boys, so where is the guard?"
"What! That son of a bitch. There is a guard on your floor and one stationed near the daycare. Why?"
"Tell the guard at the daycare to get the boys out of there and take them to you. I don't want Lucky to be anywhere near them. He wants a fight. He just got one. Call Diane, figure out what our options are. I'm heading into surgery and soon as I'm out I will call you and we can meet for lunch. I love you, gotta go. Bye."
"Bye." Jason closed his cellphone and threw it against the wall watching it smash in tiny pieces. "Shit." He picked up the phone in his office. "Marko, it's Morgan. I need you to gather up the boys and bring them to my penthouse now. And if you run into Lucky Spencer, you tell him if he has any problems, he needs to come to me. No don't worry, Elizabeth has cleared it with the daycare. Just be careful. Call me when you get there. Thanks. Bye. Damn him. Diane, meet me at my penthouse NOW. I don't care if it is your day off. Bill me triple if you have to, just get over to my house. Spinelli, are the new phones in yet? They are, good. Get mine set up now. I'm on my way home and I don't have a phone."
"Boss, you got a visitor."
"Cody, I don't have time for this, I got to get to the boys, tell them to come back later."
"It's Sam McCall."
Great. I can only wonder what she wants now. "Fine, send her in."
"Hey, what's up?"
"Sam, I don't have time for small talk, so either walk out with me or spit it out now."
"I just wanted to see how things were going?"
"That's rich, coming from you. I'm sure this was your idea?"
"Wait, what idea? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, I'm sure you didn't put Lucky up to it?"
"Put Lucky up to what. Jason, what are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about Lucky suing Elizabeth for full custody because she is with me."
"Jason, I had no idea. Honestly. I didn't. I haven't spoken with Lucky since he dropped me off after leaving Elizabeth's."
"I don't have time for this. I gotta go."
With that Jason was out of his office and racing towards his boys. He was determined that no was going to take them away from their mother and no one was going to hurt them. Minutes but what seemed like hours, Jason was throwing his car in park and tossing the keys to the Valet and rushing into the lobby of Harborview Towers. He pushed the button to the elevator and waiting anxiously for it to open so that he could get up stairs to his family. He stepped off the elevator and heard children's laughter emanating from his penthouse. He relaxed slightly at the sound. He stopped in front of his door and took a deep breath. He knew he needed to relax or the boys would sense something was wrong and start crying. He opened the door and his heart melted at the sight in his living room. Two grown men where on the floor with a baby and a toddler. While that was a sight, it was the two children and the look of pure contentment and joy plastered on their faces.
"JAYSUN. Your here, your here. Hold me."
Marko and Spinelli quickly shot from the floor, embarrassed by what their boss had just walked in on. Two grown men on their hands and knees playing barrel of monkeys.
"Hey Cam, how are you doing buddy?"
"Good. Why did we leave Mommy's work and come here?"
"She asked me to, is that ok?
"Uh-huh. Can I play with Spelli now?"
"Sure buddy."
"Omm bu gwau. Up"
"I heard up. Come here little man. How is daddy's little guy this afternoon?"
"Stone Cold's progeny is most certainly is a pleasant mood this fine day. But the Jackal is too curious as to why the Maternal One's offspring have graced the Casa de Stone Cold."
"Don't worry about it. Where is my phone?"
"Ready and functional. What happened to the toss phone you had earlier."
"I tossed it – into a wall."
"Dire news Stone Cold?"
"Lucky is suing Elizabeth for full custody of the boys because she decided to be with me."
"Well I hope Detective Spencer is braced and ready for the fight of his life. Because this one will be easy to win." cocked Diane Miller. "But you do realize that it will come out that Jacob is your son, which will in turn mean that Ms. Webber lied on the stand?"
"Thanks for getting here as fast as you did. Spinelli, is the penthouse across the room ready yet?"
"Stone Cold is correct. The former abode of Mr. Sir has been transformed into a never ending playhouse for the young progenies."
"That's great, can you take the boys over there to play. Marko, can you stand guard outside please. I expect that when Lucky can't find the boys, this will be the first place he comes and I don't want my boys to be scared or exposed to any yelling. Now Diane, Elizabeth and I had fully intended on meeting with you about all of this. We just didn't think it would have to be under such rushed terms. We would like to have Jake's birth certificate refiled with me listed as his father. Now what can be done about Elizabeth and perjury charges? I don't want her to face jail time. And we both agreed that we wanted Lucky to still have a life with the boys."
"Is Ms. Webber going to be meeting us?"
"She is in surgery right now. This is her first day back to work since Jake was returned."
"Well then. Having the birth certificate refiled will not be a problem. I can't say however, that it will be that simple in regards to Ms. Webber's testimony. The positive is that Ric is no longer the DA, Alexis is. And while Alexis might have some sympathy for Ms. Webber's situation, the state may not. In the meantime, what are your intentions with Ms. Webber, if I didn't need to ask."
"She and I are engaged."
"Well congratulations Jason. But I don't know if the intent to get married will be enough to allow Ms. Webber to retain custody."
"Are you saying Elizabeth and I have to get married now? No. Hell no. I plan for this to be mine and Elizabeth's final marriage. We haven't even discussed plans, let alone told anyone. She deserves to have the wedding of her dreams. Not some rushed event to prevent losing the boys."
"Jason while I understand your sentiments towards your wedding day, a judge isn't. A judge will see that a decorated Police Detective is filing for full custody of his children. The judge will only see Ms. Webber as the single nurse betrothed to the town mobster who has frequented his courtroom on more than one occasion. So what are your intentions towards Ms. Webber and her children?"
"Diane, Jake is my son."
"Precisely. Once that information is corroborated and deemed truthful, Mr. Spencer's claim to the child will be limited, such is his claim to Cameron Webber."
"Wait, I don't understand. Lucky isn't Cameron's father, Zander was and Zander's name is listed on the birth certificate. So how can he claim the child?"
"Mr. Spencer has been a shared care provider since the child was born as well as your son Jacob. The courts will take note that while Lucky is not their biological father, he has raised them as his own children and wishes to do so."
"Are you saying that I could lose custody of my own son? That Elizabeth could lose both of her children?"
"If a judge believes that it would be in the best interest of the children. But you and Ms. Webber may have to play dirty in court. Det. Spencer has publicly be outed with his drug use and his infidelity to Ms. Webber not once, but twice."
"I don't want Elizabeth to have to relive all the horrible things from her marriages to Lucky."
"Jason, do you understand the severity of this situation. Lucky Spencer is raw at the fact that his ex-wife has decided to move on with a life with someone he has arrested on more than one occasion. His motives are clear, to protect his children, biological or not. Now, while I don't doubt your love for Ms. Webber-"
"Elizabeth."
"I'm sorry."
"Her name is Elizabeth. She hates that formal shit, just like me."
"Fine. If you and Elizabeth don't play dirty like you know Spencer is going to, you will lose your children. The two of you are going to have to prove to a judge that you can provide a safe and stable home for those two boys. One of the ways is to be married. The other is to petition the courts to adopt Cameron."
"What. Diane, while I absolutely love and adore Cameron and he is just as much my son as Jake. Elizabeth and I agreed that Lucky could still have shared custody of the boys. If I adopt Cameron, then Lucky will really think that I'm trying to take them away from him. Look I don't like the guy, but he has been there for those boys. He has protected my son when I couldn't. Our main concern is that the boys don't get hurt in all of this."
"Well, Jason I'm sorry. Because I'm afraid that no one is going to come out of this unhurt. Especially those two children. I get started on things right away. You need to talk to Ms. Web. Elizabeth as soon as possible. I will meet with the two of you in the morning to discuss our options. I will be in touch."
Jason sat on his couch, his hands clenched and his face hardened. He could kill that bastard for everything he was going to put her through. Why was Lucky being such a shit? Because Jason had everything Lucky could never seem to hold onto. Jason got up and walked over to the fire place. He pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing the migraine that was there, wasn't leaving anytime soon. Not as long as Lucky caused problems for his family. Jason picked up the picture of Emily.
"I will you were still here Em. You would know the right way to handle this. I can't leave her, not this time, not after everything we have been through. But I can't be the reason that she loses the boys. I wish you were here to knock some sense in Lucky's dumb ass. Because I'm telling you, if I do it, I really will go to jail, cause I'll kill him."
"MORGAN. OPEN THE DOOR!"
Great timing. Jason took a deep breath, replaced Emily's picture back on the mantle in its rightful place and walked to the front door to the man that was frantically pounding on the other side.
"MORGAN. OPEN THE …..door."
"Lucky, get in here now."
"Where are they? What have you done with my boys?"
"They are across the hall, playing. But before I even agree to let you go over there, the two of us have some things to discuss."
"I don't got jack-shit to discuss with you, and who do you think you are, you can't keep my boys from me."
"You maybe right. But I do have to follow their mother's orders when they are in my care. And let's not forget, Jake is my son. The birth certificate may not say so as of yet, but believe me. I have a say when it comes to my child. And Elizabeth's children are a package, so that includes Cameron."
"Elizabeth would never keep me from the boys. That was the agreement remember? Or did your accident cause short term memory loss?"
"OK. That was low even for you, considering my accident was over fourteen years ago. Secondly do you recall that Elizabeth's agreement included you suing her for full custody of the boys, because I'm pretty sure it didn't. So until Elizabeth gives me the ok, you don't get to see the boys. So I suggest you go home, go see Sam, go to work. I don't care where you go, but you don't get to see the boys today. Not after the stunt you pulled."
"You can't keep me from my children."
"Lucky your right I can't. But news flash, I'm not – you are. Now leave."
"This isn't over, I will have Mac down here so fast to arrest you for kidnapping your head will spin."
"I'll be here. Just let me know how that goes."
With that Lucky stormed out of Jason's penthouse only to hear the sounds of laughter coming from across the hall. Lucky's heart broke in that hallway to hear his children so happy and not because of him. Jason slammed the door and began to toss everything off his desk. He picked his coffee table up and threw it over his shoulders as it bounced off the pool table and into the patio doors, causing glass to shatter everywhere. "Shit"
"Stone Cold is everything....ok?"
"Yeah, um. MARKO, call the guys and get this mess cleaned up and the doors replaced. I don't want Elizabeth to see this and get worried. Spinelli, help me with the boys, we're taking them to Kelly's to have lunch with Elizabeth. She should be getting done with her surgery anytime now."
"Sure thing Stone Cold."
Elizabeth exited the OR, chart in hand as Patrick Drake gave her post op orders. She felt her cell phone buzz in her pocket and pulled it out to see a message from Jason.
"We are at Kelly's. Boys are hungry and miss mom. Smile please. I love you."
"Nurse Webber, is there something more important on your phone than the post op orders I'm giving?"
"I'm sorry, what did you say? Patrick, I'm sorry I just have a lot on my mind. Not exactly how I imagined spending my first day back. I have recorded all your post op information in Mr. Dexter's chart and I will make sure to notify Epiphany and Leyla to keep an eye on him while I'm on lunch."
"That's good to know, Elizabeth. I guess I will let you get to your lunch."
Elizabeth spun into the other direction and jogged towards the hub and dropped off Mr. Dexter's chart at the nurse's station before grabbing her purse and heading towards the elevator.
"Hold the elevator, hey thanks. How have you been Elizabeth?"
"Um fine. How is Emma, Robin?"
"Perfectly in love with her father and out of love with me."
"Robin don't be silly. Emma loves you. I think you are just putting too much pressure on yourself to be this perfect mom."
"And I think you are stalling. So are you going to explain that absolutely beautiful ring on your finger?"
The elevator dinged signaling Elizabeth's floor and she rushed out but not before answering Robin.
"Uh, Jason and I are engaged and Lucky is suing for full custody, see you later."
Elizabeth did not even wait to hear Robin's response. She rushed to her car and drove to Kelly's where her family was waiting. While normally she would love to sit with her friends and gush about how happy she was, like clockwork, something was getting in the way and for the first time, it wasn't her or Jason. She hadn't even noticed that it took her no time to get to Kelly's. She parked her car and ran desperately to the door and saw her boys. She entered the eatery and Cameron came running to her.
"Mommy, mommy – Jason made us a huge play room. It has a ball house, a slide, a Chuggin Charlie, and a bunch of baby toys for Jake."
"Really baby. That's wonderful. Did you have fun in your huge playroom?"
"Yes."
"Did you tell Jason thank you?"
"No."
"Don't you think you should?"
The little boy walked over the rather large man in the leather jacket and tugged on his sleeve.
"What's up buddy?"
"Jaysun, Mommy says I should say thank you for the play room, so thank you."
"Your welcome buddy. Hey now why don't you sit with Spinelli and your brother while Mommy and I talk, ok."
"OK."
Jason set the little boy next to Spinelli and stood from his own seat and walked towards the woman trembling before him. Elizabeth collapsed in Jason's arms unable to will the tears from falling. Jason just held onto her tight while her body was racked with fear.
"Jason, I can't lose them."
"Ssh. I promise you, you won't lose anyone. But there are somethings we need to talk about. How do you feel about getting married sooner rather than later?"
