A VERY SHORT ENGAGEMENT

Jason and Cameron were out early that morning, as Jason looked for the perfect engagement ring. Showing the little boy the next ring, he laughed when Cam wrinkled up his nose. "No, your right, not that one."

Seeing the next case, Jason said "May I see the ring dead center."

Showing him the ring, the salesman said "This isn't an engagement ring."

"No, but is Elizabeth. Cam, what do you think?" he asked lifting the little boy who nodded enthusiastically.

"Would you like it sized?" asked the man behind the counter. Then looking at the small ring in Jason's hand went in back and found what he thought he should see. "Let me show you something."

Jason looked at the ring, it was similar to the one he had originally chosen but had a bit smaller dimensions. "The cut, the clarity is perfect and will do much better for the smaller hand."

As he lifted the ring, the diamonds surrounding the stone, made it look more green then blue. Walking over to the window, he was amazed as the color changed yet again to am almost bright blue. "We will take this one."

Cam grinned then said "We needs to eat now."

Smiling at the little boy who had been so patient with his father, the salesman said "There is a gelato shop just around the corner."

"Ice cream!" said Cam while Jason said "He is learning Italian one food word at a time."

After paying the man and getting Elizabeth's ring as well as the matching wedding set, Jason took Cam to get his 'gelato'.

Elizabeth was wandering the small streets around the bridge, looking for a present for Jason. Seeing the dusty old shop, she couldn't resist entering it. Smiling at the owner, she wandered until she saw the item on the back shelf. With a bit of mime, the man behind the counter took down the box and the item on top.

"How much?" she asked then showed him her credit card. He laughed and wrote down the price.

"Please, wrap it?" she asked showing with her hands what she wanted.

Smiling he used plain brown paper to wrap the box and then placed it in a shopping bag just as she saw the other item. Turning to the man she showed it to him and he just held up his hand and grinned then they repeated the steps while both smiled.

When Jason saw his 'fiancee' he was amused to see her carrying a shopping bag almost as big as she was. "Here." she said "I need to run across the street."

"I uh, already did that." he said showing her the contents of his bag. Her eyes widened as she said "Jason, we only need one."

"I know, I just wanted to be sure." he said before offering up a spoonful of the ice cream. "Cam is getting tired."

"I see that." she replied as her son's head drooped. "Can you carry him, I will get the bags."

Walking back to their small hotel, Elizabeth said "We have to come back, before it sinks."

"We will." he said kissing her. "We will."

PAWN STARS OF PORT CHARLES

Sam was getting desperate when she saw the man fingering her ring. "How much?"

She had come in here to buy not sell. Jason was hurt and she had to get to him. She had already tried to talk to Carly but the blond had just stared at her then said "Stay out of it Sam. You should know when your not wanted."

Looking at the ring, she said "Give me an offer?"

"The fake cards, and I will toss in a couple grand." he said.

"Fine." she said. "I want two Amexs then." Calling the airport, she was told that she had been placed on the no fly list. "My mother is the DA, do you really think I am a threat to national security?"

"Sorry, mam, you will have to take that up with the government. We at United wish you a good day."

Glaring, Sam decided to see if she could sneak on Sonny's plane when it left today. Calling Lulu back she asked "Did they say where he was?"

"No, just that Jason needed his parents." she said. Then hanging up called for Alice to bring her a fresh cup of coffee then grimacing changed it to some cold juice.

~~*~~

Lucky walked out of the pawn shop with the five hundred dollars. Nik would never miss the items he had filched, besides he was his brother.

Walking to the corner, the dealer told him no. "I have the right to refuse service to anyone I don't want to do business with."

"Who the f-k do you think you are?" asked Lucky. "The damn supermarket?"

"Look, Spencer you are bad news. An ex-cop is bad enough, but Tiger went missing after selling to you, I ain't going to be the next one sinking to the bottom of the harbor."

Driving down the Watertown, Lucky got his drugs and the dealer made a call. The man on the phone called another man then the middleman called his boss who called Sonny.

"Spencer purchases some pills."

Swearing, Sonny called Luke and told him then said "We are now even."

As he left town, he looked over at his own jet and hoped that Sam had a nice night as his pilot tested the new engine by circling the runway for a couple of hours. For a woman who claimed she could survive in this world, she certainly was an idiot. Did she really think they would not be watching her.

The man she had done business with had called him mere minutes after she left to give him the names and the credit card numbers.

TWILGHT IN TUSCANY Two days later

Elizabeth was in her bedroom, trying to find something appropriate to wear for her wedding that was to take place at dusk. She had picked up several dresses while in Italy and has them all spread out on her bed.

Lifting her favorite, she couldn't help wishing she had given in to Jason's request to buy her the matching sandals, but she said the cream colored ones would do. "That will be perfect."

Turning, she saw Alexis standing there with the woman she had met briefly. "Uh, hi." she said. "I uh, Alexis, I am uh, sorry..."

With sad smile, Alexis said "Don't be. You know I made some assumptions, I think most people are going to do the same. When Diane filled me in on the truth, I just have to say about time the two of you figured it out."

Seeing Elizabeth smile then glare at the lovely moss green dress, Diane asked what was wrong?

"I can't wear the shoes I have to make this perfect."

Showing them to her, she saw the no nonsense woman take them and toss them in the closet and said "Let me see your feet."

With a small chuckle, Elizabeth showed her newly painted toes and freshly soothed feet. "Why?"

"Go barefoot." she said "You are getting married in the backyard right?"

Nodding, she smiled and said "Good idea."

Walking to the room with Jason in it, she was amused to see her boss wearing khakis and a cream colored dress shirt. "No shoes."

"What?" he asked then saw her expression and said "No, I can't."

"Why are your feet deformed in some way?" she demanded only for Jason to sit down and Sonny to glare when she said "You too."

"Finally, but only at the last minute." he said. "I need to see Elizabeth for a little bit."

"Do it now, before she puts on her makeup." then looking at the little boy entering the room dressed just like Jason, she said "Oh, you are so handsome, are you my date?"

"Nope, I am giving Mommy away." he said. Jason and Elizabeth had been slowly explaining things to Cam and he was now able to get that Lucky wouldn't be around any more.

~~*~~

Sonny entered the room and asked Alexis to leave for a few minutes. "Elizabeth may we sit for a few."

Nodding, she was pleasantly surprised. "I am so sorry. When I faked my death, I was wrong. I told Jason to keep things from you. Things that if I kept from Carly she would have gone ballistic and raised holy hell. I was wrong."

Elizabeth didn't say a word, she didn't know what to say. "I messed up three maybe four lives. Yours, Jason's and my brother and sister's."

Seeing her interest he said "Ric was jealous of Jason's relationship with me, but more of his relationship with you. Same with my sister. I know it is no excuse, but I honestly didn't think about you when I asked Jason to watch Courtney. I knew he didn't want to, I pushed hoping it would send AJ into a tailspin. It did and then ruined your life. And I can never make up for my mistake."

"Then later, I resented you for something that wasn't your fault. My life was going to hell, Jason was acting strange and I am not talking about his lying about Courtney but about how he was in pain. I knew it and didn't care. I just wanted him to fix things for me." he said sadly. "You never should have HAD to ask me for help with Ric, you shouldn't have HAD to ask me to walk away. I let you down in ways I can never make up for."

"I just threw you under the bus to save my relationship with Courtney. Funny thing was, she didn't want a relationship with me, it was all about using me to hurt someone I cared about and to get to Jason who was just going on barely living life."

"I just let you drift away, out of shame and embarrassment of my treatment of you." he said hoarsely. "I know you have no reason to believe me, but please know this, I am sorry."'

Elizabeth stood then walked to the window. "You hurt me, more than I can ever explain, but honestly Jason and I are past this."

"I know, Diane told Alexis and I the whole story. It was quite a shock and not what I had expected." he said with amusement. "I want to be there when several people in town find out."

"Including Carly?" she asked turning around to look at him.

Wincing he said "Uh, about that. I owe you an apology there too."

"Carly is a big girl and she is responsible for her own actions." Elizabeth said gently.

"Actually, she slapped the hell out of me three days ago on your behalf." he said dimples showing. Giving her the low down, he saw her stunned reaction and said "She told me that if she had been you, she would have been furious and I think Jason is going to be hearing it too."

"I know you can't be bought, but I found this diamond necklace, I bought it intending to give it to you as a peace offering." he said then saw her frowning. "Relax, it is back at the jewelers, I realized you weren't really the diamond sort. Trust me, this is perfect."

Seeing him offering something she said "I am not sure Sonny, I just don't feel..."

"Please and if it makes you feel better, I will have Bernie charge it to Jason." he said with no intention of doing that. Putting the box in her hands and having her open it. Elizabeth did so rather reluctantly then felt her mouth drop.

"Sonny, I can't..."

"Is that how you are wearing you hair?" he asked seeing the curls piled up on her head. When she nodded, he removed the pearl necklace with the jade cameo. Putting it on, he said "Perfect."

Touching it, she said "Sonny, I just don't know what to say..."

"Just let me hide behind you when Carly learns I am here for this." he said with a smile. "Now, I will leave so you can get ready."

When Diane and Alexis returned to help, Elizabeth slipped on her simple cotton Chloe original sun dress. There were only a few frills at the bust line but other than that it was a straight line dress that came to her lower calves.

"Your cameo matches." said Alexis as she spun the bride to the front of the mirror. Diane was amazed at the moment that almost seemed mother/daughter. When Alexis whispered something in Elizabeth's ear, she walked over and said "We have three men waiting for us ladies."

"Three?" asked Elizabeth.

"Cameron, Jason and the priest. Sonny doesn't count as a man, yet." she said with a sly grin. "He has a little more growing up to do."

Alexis gave a small chuckle when she kicked off her shoes and walked onto the freshly mowed grass, standing next to Sonny, she saw Diane stand on the other side of the Cuban as Jason joined them in front with the priest.

"Flowers, we forgot flowers." said Diane as she walked over and hit pause on the CD player.

"Taken care of, Diane. I have waited long enough for this, so hit play." ordered an impatient Jason just as Elizabeth and Cam showed up at the edge of the stone patio, Elizabeth carrying delicate peach roses.

"WAIT!!!" They all heard and Sonny and Jason glared at the blond who was saying something to Jax. When they had removed their shoes, Jax joined the others along with the twosome who had remained in the shadows while Carly approaching Elizabeth.

"We have to talk later, I owe you a big apology." said the tall blond. Then with a grimace she said "More than a few. But that can wait. For now, just know, that I am glad you two are doing this."

Rushing to stand next to Jax, she saw the death glare on Jason's face and seriously wanted to stick her tongue out at her friend.

Diane hit play and Cam giggled as his bare feet hit the grass. When he arrived at the front, he stepped over to Diane who took the bouquet the little boy had while Elizabeth turned to face Jason.

"Dearly beloved, we are here to witness this union. If there is one who would protest this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace."

After the prayer, the priest asked "Do you Elizabeth take Jason as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward. In sickness or in health...."

"Yes. I do." she replied her eyes not leaving Jason who gave a relaxed smile at the answer.

"Do you Jason, take Elizabeth as your lawfully wedding wife, to have to hold from this day forward. In sickness and in health..."

"Yes. I do." he said back his hands tightening on hers.

As they repeated their vows, all Carly could thing was that if she had just asked questions several years earlier, things might have been so different all these years. She came back to earth just as the priest announced you may kiss the bride.

Jason suddenly found himself feeling shy. His hands shook as he pulled Elizabeth closer and leaned down to kiss her on the lips. When he felt the warmth of her soft plush lips, Jason gently deepened the kiss keeping it PG for Cam.

"I love you." Elizabeth whispered. Jason said "I love you more."

The priest announced "May I introduce Jason and Elizabeth Morgan."

Amid the clapping and kisses, Jason was shocked by Carly's grabbing him then saying. "You are so in trouble for not telling Elizabeth about Sonny faking his death and that you were watching a certain someone who should remain nameless on this day."

Looking at her, he suddenly got it and felt sad. "I know, and I gather you just learned."

"Yes, I went from unwillingly admiring Elizabeth then to hatred. You were so broken, I had no idea all this time that it was because of my ex-husband." she said growling. "We will be talking."

"Carly, I forgave Sonny, and Jason and I worked this out before we even left for Italy." said Elizabeth as she came over. "Let it go, okay?"

"For now." she said before going to stand next to Jax. He had been stunned when she had told the Quartermaines and him why she had loathed Elizabeth for so long. He knew there was more that he was unaware of, that she wanted to talk to Elizabeth first about, so he just greeted the happy couple and slowly pulled Carly away leaving the newlyweds with his parents.

Approaching Sonny, Jax couldn't help smirking and saying "Bare feet, really?"

"Thank you for coming." Jason said to Monica. Then looking at his father, he said "You too."

"I was glad that Carly invited us. We however had no idea until we pulled up that she wasn't invited already." said Monica with a shake of her head.

Sonny called out to them that dinner was ready as the group settled down. Carly grinned when she saw the awkward tableau and decided to break the tension between the guests by saying. "Thank god, Sonny cooks for an army."

Cam and his parents were sitting at a separate table thanks to the additional guests, talking quietly to the youngster who soon yawned as the early evening slipped away. "Here, I will take care of him." said Alexis only for Jason to say. "No, this is my first official night as his dad. I get the pleasure."

Elizabeth and he returned as Diane explained about the adoption paperwork she had filed the same day as Lucky was given the restraining order. Walking up to them, Carly asked Elizabeth for a minute. Handing her a small box when they were alone, Elizabeth opened it and saw the diamond earrings.

"Carly what is this?"

"My most prized possession." she said quietly. "Well at one point. I was staying with Jason after Tony kicked me out, I wanted them, he was annoyed but bought them. To me there were a symbol, that I would never go back to being that girl who grew up in a trailer with a drunk for a mother."

"Carly I can't accept these" she said trying to give them back and slightly amused at how she and Sonny tried to apologize the EXACT same way.

"Please. I moved on, they just became a pair of earrings to me. Then when we were coming here, I found them and knew... see I ruined Jason with Robin. Oh, don't get me wrong, they wouldn't have lasted. They were totally wrong for each other. But anyhow, I just... when Sonny faked his death. You were nice to me. I knew. I get them not telling you about that, because Sonny was losing it then. But he made Jason keep Courtney a secret and that was why you left. You felt like you weren't important. You were, you always were." she said. "I am sorry, I made you feel like you didn't."

Taking the box, Carly said "These, these were my first symbol of feeling good about myself. Then I learned some things when I was locked up with the other crazies. Something I forgot when I came home and fell into bad habits again. I saw Luke and his family this month, I saw myself." she said. "And how they were talking about you is how I act about Jason. I am just nicer to him then they are to you."

At that Elizabeth gave a quick laugh. "So anyhow, please?" she asked. "When I fell for Jax, know what I learned?"

Shaking her head know, afraid to talk. "I learned that I loved him in spite of how rich he is. That Money is great, but knowing the man you come home to every night is calm and loving is more important than power. I know what people say about Sonny and I, that we are some sort of sick fate. We aren't. I just let myself believe for a long time that if I wanted happiness, that equated money and power. It doesn't."

Touched, Elizabeth said "How about this, you keep them for now. When Jason and I have a little girl we put them in a hope chest for her. As a symbol of how money doesn't give you self esteem."

Looking down, then closing the box, Carly said "Okay, wait, what if you only have boys?"

Laughing, Elizabeth went over to reassure Jason that all was well.

THE LAND OF THE DAZED AND CONFUSED

Sam was waiting at the airport wishing she had found a way to go to the man she loved. She had been keeping track of landing jets, sure that since both Carly and Sonny went Jason was badly hurt. Instead she watched as Alan and Monica got off the plane along with the blond couple. Approaching them, she wiped the tears and begged. "Please, please tell me he isn't dead."

Jax looked at the woman and said "He isn't dead."

Walking to their cars, both couples drove away. Jax and Carly to check on the Alexis and her kids staying at Bobbie's and the Quartermaines to break the news to Tracy that the Spencers were to be packed up and out of her mansion by dinner time.

Arriving at the house, they interrupted the usual arguments and got what what going on. "Since it is my gatehouse, doesn't someone thing that maybe Dillon should be asking me if he can move into it once they are married?"

Turning, Dillon asked his Aunt. "Would you mind if Lulu and I moved into the Gatehouse?"

"Yes, you can if you want. Your fiancee or wife, whichever it is, is not welcome on this estate."

Ignoring the cries and protests Monica said to Edward. "I don't want to hear one word about the precious heir she is carrying. Buy them a damn house if you are so worried about them living on the streets. Just make sure that Lulu can't get her gold digging hands on it when the marriage fails."

Tracy hid her smirk at Monica's comment, she didn't want Dillon marrying the blond, she had struck a deal with the girl. She didn't marry Dillon and gave her baby up for a million dollars. Lulu had asked for time to think about it, not realizing that even saying no now instead of immediately was going to sink her chances with her son.

"While I am cleaning the house out. Tracy I want Luke gone as well. You can stay if you want, but your husband isn't welcome here."

"Mother would be disappointed with you." she said standing and heading to the door.

With a smile, Alan said "Not this time. I think in this instance she would be doing his packing."

Emily entered the quiet room and asked what was going on. Hearing the news, she frowned and said "I get Lulu with the way she is acting but why Luke?"

"I have some news that will explain the why." said Monica. "We just came from Italy where we were attendees at Jason's marriage to Elizabeth Webber."

When Lulu stood up and started raving, calling her ex sister in law a tramp and a whore. Then she added home wrecker, Tracy snorted and said "Pot meet kettle."

"And we have been invited to get to know Cameron and we don't want anything to ruin that. So there are some rules you all will be following." glared Monica. "Emily, you and I are going to be having a long talk. We will be having a secret guest at this talk who will probably shock you, but you are going to listen with open ears or so help me I will take you over my knee and tan your behind."

Certain it was Elizabeth, she just nodded in agreement, she had a few words for her friend about how she was ruining her brother's life by marrying him like this. Hadn't they already tried to be together once and Elizabeth had hurt him so badly he had slept with AJ's nasty wife.

Lulu slammed out of the mansion, got into Dillon's car, enjoying the feel of the leather as she sped out of the drive and ran into a tree.

Everyone at the house heard the crash and Monica felt sick when she saw it was the exact same tree that AJ had crashed into. When the medic arrived, Monica rode with them to GH. "I don't get any noise from the baby."

There was no reading on the medics' equipment either as they rushed to GH where Kelly Lee was on standby. "Lulu Spencer, I understand she is your patient?"

Taken back, Kelly said "No, not since I told her she wasn't pregnant."

Stunned, Monica looked at the blond getting her cuts stitched up and said "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Lulu thought she was pregnant after a home test but she wasn't." said Kelly. "What is this about?"

"My question exactly." said Monica grimly as the rest of the family came rushing in. "Dillon, I need a word."

"No, just tell me." he said. "Did she miscarry?"

"There is no baby." seeing him breakdown, she regretted her choice of words and said "There never was a baby. Kelly Lee just told me that Lulu was not pregnant."

"But the condoms, she knew. She came to me." he said. "How?"

Turning to her mother, he saw her brain working then she said "I told father at the house a few days before she claimed to be pregnant that Enduro's were going to be a lawsuit waiting to happen."

"I destroyed my marriage, I lost Georgie, because of a lie." said Dillon sitting down on the waiting room chair holding his head in his hands. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he saw Nik entering. "Your sister is fine. There is no baby and I want her out of my aunt's house. NOW!"

"She miscarried and you are treating her like this?" he asked stunned.

"No, she lied. She was faking being pregnant." said Alan looking around, he saw the wrecked expression on Edward's face and knew the man had been looking forward to a grandchild he got to see regularly.

Nik entered the room and saw his sister's stubborn expression. "Why?"

"I wanted him and after giving him my virginity he was going to go back to that big brained, no class twit Georgie Jones. He should have been mine." she retorted. Diego and Sam had both given her some great advice, but Lulu hadn't thought about the dangers from a damn oak tree.

"How?" he asked.

"Diego helped me, he wanted revenge for his father making him work for Sonny at the coffee warehouse. Georgie had been complaining to his father about how he was always around."

"So he did what?"

"Broke into the hospital and we used Maxie's sonogram to fake things." hearing him swear, she pouted and said "I thought it was rather poetic myself."

Going into the hall, Nik came back in and said "You are going to school in Switzerland, Lesley is going with you. I am done, you are not going to turn into your father. Our mother would be ashamed of you."

Carly had come to GH when she heard about Lulu and soon got the news. Entering the room, she said "No man is worth losing your self esteem over."

"Go away, Carly. I have already got lectured by everyone else, so leave it be. 'Sides, I thought you would be up in arms, Jason married that bitch Elizabeth Webber. I doubt her marriage to Lucky was even over five minutes."

"That marriage should have never happened." she said. "I have to go, write to me, I will miss you."