A.N. I wanted to thank all of you who have taken the time to reply to this tale of mine, it does inspire me to write faster. It is because of all of you great people, this story is getting told. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

(A.N.2. Okay, I know most of you will want to kill me for this chapter, and while I say this is not the end, the end is near. This was always meant to be a part of the story, I just never knew when I was going to add it. I hope you won't be overly angry at me and will see that I was going for something different. I know short chapter, but it had to be. Enjoy.)

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Elizabeth woke early, Jason was still sleeping, so she quietly got out of bed, heading to Alan's room. She could hear his quiet gurgles and cooing from her bedroom door. Not wanting to pass up on some alone time, she picked him up and carried him down the stairs.

Once he was changed and fed, Elizabeth sat with him for awhile, enjoying the serenity that the morning offered. Except of course for the four children growing inside of her. They were very active, her ribs and bladder could attest.

Not bothering to turn around, she spoke, "I know you are watching us, why don't you just come down here and give me a kiss."

"Do you always know when I am around?" Jason asked, still unsure as to the extent of their bond.

"I don't have to see you to know you are there. It is very simple, my entire being calls out for yours, and whether you are near or far, I feel you, I am no longer a single person, we are a couple joined forever, not just because of marriage vows, but by our souls. It's a permanent lock. Remember, first, last and always. No matter where we go, we will always find one another." Elizabeth said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Besides, I am a woman, I don't have to question our bond or closeness, I just feel it and let that be enough, no point in stealing all the mystery life has to offer."

"I couldn't agree more, it just is!" Jason said, bending down and capturing her lips with him.

Jason's hand slowly slipped from her cheek, tracing her neck, then slipping seductively beneath her t-shirt. Her silken skin still warm from sleep. His hand began to slip lower, but Alan decided to try out his lungs, unhappy about something. With a sigh of longing and regret, he extracted his hand, mentally guaranteeing himself that they would continue this later, once Lulu was awake.

"Don't worry Hun, it will only be another twenty-two years or so before the house is ours again, of course I guess that depends on if you stop knocking me up, because if you continue this way, we are going to be old and grey before our kids fly the coop." Elizabeth said, playfully, but she too was mentally kicking herself for not remaining in bed.

Jason plucked Alan from her arms and head towards the kitchen, one of his teething rings was in the fridge. As soon as the child grasped the ring, he began gumming it happily.

Jason placed Alan in the swing that stood in the left corner of the kitchen, it was positioned so Alan could see whoever was in there where ever they went. With Alan happy, Jason set about making breakfast for his family. Cameron would be awake soon and while Lulu had a habit of sleeping in, Jason knew she was already up, she had class in an hour.

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Elizabeth laid back enjoying Alan's cooing coming from the kitchen and the sound of water from Lulu's bathroom, it all caused a sort of calming ambience. Without knowing it, she had slipped from wakefulness into a deep sleep.

Her face was relaxed, no sign of bad dreams besieging her. About five minutes after falling asleep a dream began to form, a small smile gracing her face, alerting anyone who might be watching that for all intents and purposes, her dream was a good one.

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Jason heard Cameron's feet pounding down the stairs and quickly looked into the living room, to see what his son was up to, but it was his wife that drew his attention. In the few minutes that he had been beginning breakfast, she had fallen asleep. So before Cam could wake her up, Jason rushed into the living room, quietly picked Cameron up and carried him into the kitchen.

Cameron loved to help make breakfast, so Jason would allow him to help. Even though that meant more work for him in the long run, he really didn't mind, this time they spent together was truly wonderful. They had bonded almost instantaneously after Elizabeth had moved them in, but these father son moments were what really made life worth while.

"Daddy, what we making?" Cameron asked, his voice quiet, so as not to disturb his mother.

"I was thinking pancakes and French toast, what do you think?" Jason asked, settling Cameron on the counter.

"Yummy!" Cameron said, a little loudly. "Sorry, yummy!" This time said a little quieter.

"Okay, you stir the pancake batter." Jason said placing a plastic bowl to the left of Cameron and a wooden spoon.

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Elizabeth was still asleep but she had begun to shiver, a single tear tracing an invisible line from the corner of her eye, down her cheek, then slowly it disappeared down her neck.

It was obvious her peaceful dream had evaporated, in its place something that was bothering her. Her hand even in sleep, instinctively found her swollen stomach, and with gentle fingers, she soothed her children.

Suddenly Elizabeth was jolted from her dream, her eyes found it difficult to adjust. The light wasn't right, nor was the temperature, there was no sound wafting to her from the kitchen, only an undisturbed silence that chilled her even more than the cold.

Then it all came back to her, rushing with the speed of a freight train. She pulled herself tighter into her self, looking down at her stomach and seeing what she was wearing, it all compacted what she know knew had happened.

She wrapped her arms around herself, crying tears for everything that was lost. This was not how it was suppose to be, she knew how it was suppose to end. This, well it was just a cruel joke. Hoping beyond hope that she was still dreaming, she tried to convince herself to go back to sleep. But three words pulled from her the last vestiges of sleep, chilling her to the bone, and pulling a strangled cry from her lips.

"Good Morning Love." Ric said, as the sliding door closed behind him. "I hope you slept well. Today is a big day, and much needs to be done. So lets get on with it."

A flood of tears coursed down her cheeks, the anguished sobs tore from her, breaking something within.

When any form of thought was capable, she sat unable to move, one thing repeating over and over in her mind. 'It was all just a dream, how could it all have been just a dream. On that thought another one raced in, demanding her attention. How long have I been here, my God, Jason, he must be frantic.'

Her mind could not fathom the possibilities. In her dream, months had passed, so much had happened, but they had reached a happy place. How could she possibly believe that it was a mere fantasy.

"How, how long have you had me Ric?" Elizabeth asked, unable to keep the warble of fear from her voice.

"I don't see how that should matter, but to appease you, it has been ten days. You were out of it for awhile, I think you went into shock or something. A doctor friend of mine checked you out, said you would be fine, you just needed rest, and rest you did. You must feel a million times better now." Ric said, his voice cheerful, as if he wasn't holding her against her will.

"You have to let me go Ric, Jason needs me, my sons need me. You need to see what is so very clear. I don't love you, perhaps I never did, I was foolish. But if you ever loved me, you would let me go, before you forfeit your life, because Jason and Sonny will not stand for this." Elizabeth said, regaining some of her composure.

And while things were still muddled, she would not allow a mere dream, however real it felt to distort the facts of what was happening now. So many things rested on her getting out of there, and that was exactly what she planned on doing.

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