Surprise?
Epilogue
Kisses.
Hot sweltering kisses.
A smile tugged at her lips as she awoke to the kisses running down the side of her neck.
A calloused hand caressed her silk covered hip, slowly sneaking under the hem to make its way up her torso to cup her bare breast. Instantly, her nipples puckered and her muscles convulsed. Teasing digits drew circles around her areola, tantalizingly close to the straining tip that begged for attention. A moan escaped her pursed lips at the gentle flicker against her breasts.
Her eyes fluttered open to stare straight into smoldering blue eyes.
He smirked just before he rolled her over in bed and leaned in to take her lips. He covered her lips with his own supple ones. His kisses never ceased to leave her breathless and longing for more. They were demanding yet loving. They swept over hers before his tongue came out to play and sought entrance into her mouth. He grasped one of her thighs and threw it over his hip. He fit perfectly against her like he always did.
Every nerve ending in her body came roaring to life from a simple touch of his. The man's hands were made to seduce her. They tortured her as well as cherished her in every way possible. It amazed her in so many ways. They were hands that were capable of destruction, but loving as well.
Her hands trailed up his back, her nails dragging against his bare skin. She was sure to leave marks, but she would remind him afterwards that she had been simply marking her territory.
She gasped against his mouth as he tugged on her nipple.
She got pay back and a deep groan by yanking on his hair.
His lips moved away to travel down her neck to her collar bone, leaving a trail of kisses in their wake. Levering his weight onto his elbows, he lowered his mouth onto her neglected breast. He ran a teasing tongue over her covered nipple. In return, she wrapped her hands around him. She smiled wickedly at the low hiss that escaped his lips.
Her hands found the band of his boxer briefs just as he bunched up her nightgown. She met him half way, raising her hips to meet his as he entered her in one smooth thrust. She mewed in pleasure, welcoming his invasion. He lingered, remaining perfectly still inside her. She dug her heel into his back demanding his attention. He withdrew to only ease into her in the leisurely manner that he knew drove her insane.
His heavy breathing mingled with her own as she joined him in the enticing dance they had perfected. Her nails sunk into his shoulders as she held onto his well-built body. His mouth muffled her moan when she finally found the release her body craved whenever his talented digits wrecked havoc on her senses.
He wasn't far behind her. The powerful muscles under her palms constricted before she felt the tremors pass through his body. His weight pressed her smaller body down into the mattress, but there was nothing about the moment she would change. Their bodies were laced together as one. The air dense with the musky scent of their lovemaking. Their labored breathing in sync as the first light of the day spread across the sky.
Shifting, she angled her face to stare up at the man who covered her possessively. The corners of her lips pulled into a beaming smile as she took in the sight of the sweat glistening on his tan skin. His stubble yet to be shaved covered his strong jaw. His electrifying blue eyes studied her with arrogant satisfaction.
With a smooth movement of his head, he took her lips in a tender kiss.
He pulled back to hover over her. "Happy anniversary, Mrs. Morgan," Jason murmured.
She smiled widely. "Happy anniversary, Mr. Morgan."
Her eyes lifted to his. Her smile only grew as he stared down at her, his azure gaze dancing with mirth. She would never tire of walking to eyes watching her with love or the feeling of his warmth cocooning her protectively in the middle of the night.
Her hands trailed over his collarbone, tracing the abstract curve until her fingers stumbled. Her eyes fell to the distorted skin that marred the smooth plane of his chest. The scar was a splatter that spread from his collar bone to his right pectoral. Lovingly, she raised her head to kiss the wound that had nearly stolen him from her and Lil.
She pressed a damp cloth to his chest, gently dabbing at his golden skin, careful of the bandages that covered his right side. His skin was still feverish to her touch, but the perspiration that streamed down his face reassured her that his fever had indeed broken. They had survived the worst of his recovery.
She listened to his breathing, steady and strong.
"It's not going to get any different than this," he whispered, his eyelids slightly parted. "And I'm sorry. I know this can't be easy on you." He paused to draw in a painful breath. She felt the shudder run through his well built body. "I'd understand…"
Running the cloth down his chest, Elizabeth paused to frown at Jason's still frame. "You'd understand what?"
She watched the muscles constrict in his throat as he swallowed. "I'd understand if you didn't want to be here right now," he rasped. "Or…"
"Or what? Or if I didn't want to be here at all?" she raised an annoyed eyebrow at him.
He sighed, his chin dropping to his chest, eyelids following the same motion. "I wouldn't blame you."
She shook her head more in amusement than anger. "I might take the Four Musketeers up on their offer to set you right."
His damp forehead furrowed deeply.
Tilting her head to the side, her eyes ran over the sweat and pain that were sprawled over his face. A gunshot wound to the shoulder and abdomen and the man was still more concerned about her and Lil than himself. A corner of her lips quirked up in a bittersweet smile. It amazed her how selfless he was. Lacing her fingers through his, she carefully leaned over his bare chest to avoid the gunshot wound to his shoulder and gently brushed her lips against his pale ones.
Slowly, he dragged his eyelids open and watched her intently with tired blue eyes.
"I'm right where I want to be, Jason."
"What are you thinking about?" Her husband's deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
Shaking away the memory, Elizabeth focused on Jason. He rested his head on her chest, careful not to suffocate her with his weight. Absentmindedly, her hands combed through his thick hair.
She shrugged. "Just thinking about how lucky I am."
Jason moved his head, grazing her bare flesh with his hair. Staring down at her, he gifted her with one of his gorgeous smiles.
He kissed her sweetly, stealing her breath. "I'm the lucky one," he said softly. "You agreed to marry me." Grasping her hand, he kissed her wedding rings roughly.
"We'll be back in time to tuck you," Elizabeth promised Lil as she hugged her. "Be good for Aunt Brenda, okay?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Aren't I always?"
With a soft laugh, Elizabeth shook her head and kissed the child one last time. She came to a halt when Lil grasped her hand. "What is it, sweetie?"
"Say yes, okay?"
"Lil!" Her father objected from the door.
"Just say yes," the five year old urged.
"Say yes?" she repeated in confusion.
Lil nodded her head adamantly, her golden hair bouncing in the air with the movement.
Puzzled, she just went along with it and nodded her head in return. She released Lil with one final squeeze and moved towards the door, which Jason held open for her. He placed a gentle hand on her lower back as they stepped into the hallway separating the Morgan and Corinthos penthouses. She let him guide her to the elevator to only realize at the last moment they were heading straight for their penthouse.
"Jason, I thought we were going out?"she asked over her shoulder, stepping through the door. It was then that she noticed Jason's appearance.
He was in his usual attire of jeans and a t-shirt under his leather jacket, but it was the pallor of his skin and the obvious anxiety written across his face that had her frozen in place. He was almost as white as snow, a line layer of sweat covering his forehead. He stared at her like a man lost in the Amazon, searching frantically for a path home.
Carefully, she cupped his face in her hands and searched his eyes for answers. "What's wrong? Please tell me what's wrong, Jason."
He covered her hands on his cheeks and gazed down at her. She saw the love reflected there, laced with trust and tenderness. "Nothing's wrong," he murmured. "I'm not good with words and I want to give them to you. I want you to know that I love you," he whispered.
"I know," she replied cautiously, watching a variety of emotions play across his features. Doubt mingled with hope and longing weaved with contentment. "You know I love you."
"I know," he paused to swallow. "I never thought it was possible that someone could walk into my life and bring me such happiness. Bring my daughter happiness," Jason at her softly, running a trembling hand through her hair. "I didn't know what was missing—everyone else did, even Lil, but I didn't until I almost lost you," he said roughly.
Tears sprang to her eyes watching him struggle to speak. She didn't understand where he was going, but the vulnerability she witnessed took her breath away.
"You were missing. You were the missing piece of our family—Lil and I weren't complete without you." He closed his eyes for a moment. Breathing in deeply, his eyelids fluttered open and he looked down at her with raw sparkling blues eyes. "We both love you and will always want you to be a part of our lives."
With baited breath, she let him go when he released her and reached into his pocket to retrieve something.
A small crooked smile pulled at his lips. "I'm trying to ask you," he paused, holding out his fisted hand to reveal a little blue box in the center of his palm.
Slowly, Elizabeth took the little blue Tiffany's box with an overflowing white ribbon. Her eyes flickered to his for a moment.
"Open it," he urged her. His voice hoarse.
With one tug, she released the satin ribbon. Carefully, she took off the lid and turned the box upside down for the second velvet box to fall out. Jason took the original box from her and waited patiently as she stared at the black velvet box. "Jason…" she whispered.
"Open it," he urged her again. "Please."
With trembling hands, she flicked open the lid and found herself staring at a stunning ring. Her artist eyes roamed over the pain-stacking detail circling the flawless round cut center stone. It was flanked by simple square cut diamonds.
"Will you marry me?"
His soft words enveloped her as her mind grabbed hold of the moment.
"No prongs?"
Startled by the question, he stared at her for a moment before clearing his throat roughly. "Yeah, Lil kept repeating no prongs. I had no idea what she was talking about, but the saleswoman did." He rubbed the back off his neck and continued rattling on. "She explained that you would have trouble cleaning paint out of a ring with prongs. I wonder where she picked that up, but she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. It's a bezel setting so you won't have paint problems with it."
Tears blurred her vision as she listened to him ramble on. Her habit of going off on a tangent had really rubbed off on the normally quiet Jason. It was endearing on him. It amused everyone.
"The ring was perfect for you. Simple, elegant, yet unique and absolutely stunning." He smiled, a hint of doubt in his light blue eyes. "Just like you. I thou—"
Without hesitation, Elizabeth cupped the back of his neck and pulled him down to her, effectively cutting him off with her lips. The tears freely trailed down her face as she kissed him with everything she had. She felt the beginnings of his five o'clock shadow against her chin. She felt his strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her closer. She felt the gentleness in his lips as he took control of the kiss and teased her with soft grazes. She felt loved and protected. She was right where she was meant to be.
Reluctantly pulling back, she gasped for air, her forehead resting against his. Her hand trailed down his collarbone until it rested against his galloping hear. She listened to his steady heartbeat and rapid breathing.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yes," she whispered breathless. "Yes, I'll marry you."
A year later, they were celebrating their first anniversary and she knew without an inkling of doubt that there would be more to come.
Without warning, her husband flipped their positions.
"Jason!" she gasped in surprise from the sudden movement as she planted her hands on his chest to hold herself up, the insides of her thighs clasped the outsides of his heavily muscled ones.
She watched his Adam's apple bobble as he swallowed roughly. "You looked bored just lying there," he said hoarsely.
"I wasn't bored," she murmured, deliberately lowering her voice. She wiggled and he stirred back to life where they were joined.
"Elizabeth," he groaned. "Don't move."
She widened her eyes and deliberately pulled down the corners of her lips. "Why not?" she asked innocently.
His hands dug into the soft skin of her hips. "Mrs. Morgan," Jason barked.
She moved the pad of her thumb over one of his bare nipples. "What?" She squirmed, knowing exactly what she was doing to him. She could feel exactly what she was doing to him.
Biting her bottom lip, she used her knees to slowly raise herself off him. A moan escaped her at the sweet friction that swept through her. Fastening her eyes on him, she observed the effect she had on her husband through hooded eyes. A muscle ticked in his jaw. Just to a reaffirm her control over him, she leaned over and kissed the pulsing muscle, making sure to brush her breasts against his bare chest.
"Tease."
She loved the desperation she heard in his voice.
"Why yes," she drawled. "Yes, I am."
With a loud kiss to his lips, she pulled back and resumed torturing him. She felt the strain in his body as he remained still under her. His heavy breathing echoed in their silent room, each exhale and inhale hinting at the patience he possessed. She felt the coiled tension in his muscles as he relinquished control to her as she set the pace.
He moved only once to slide his hand up her spine and pulled her down to stretch over him, breasts to chest. She found a new rhythm as his lips found hers in a tender coupling. She felt his grip on her thighs tighten as he peaked and she followed. He arched off the bed, muffling his shout of completion in her tussled hair.
Two years ago, her life had changed in so many ways, but she wouldn't change any moment of it for the world.
"I'm asking you to stay," he rasped. "I'm begging you to stay."
She heard his words. They roared in her ears, but her heart still clung to its crumbling walls.
"Why?" she mumbled.
His desperate eyes locked with hers.
She took a step backwards toward the stairs.
"Why should I stay?"
"Why should I stay?"
She sounded so broken and he was the one who had broken her.
He swallowed past the lump in his throat and reached out for her. He wouldn't lose her now because of his own stupidity.
"Because," he grasped her small artistic hands in his and held onto her like a lifeline. "Because I want you to stay as my something more," he dipped his head. "Not as my nanny. I want you to stay, so I can come home to not just my daughter, but my something more." He ran his thumbs back and forth over the soft skin on the back of her hands.
He cleared his throat, his eyes running over her. He saw the raw wounds in her cornflower blue eyes as she stared at him in a mixture of awe and caution. "You should stay so I can take care of you," he continued. "There will be times when I will keep things from you and be unreachable." His grip tightened on her petite hands. "But I promise," he whispered, closing the distance between them. "I promise to protect you and Lil," he pledged. "Stay so we can be a family."
Two years ago, she stayed, giving them a chance to be a family. A year later, she vowed to be his wife. It was a gift he would forever be grateful for.
Releasing a long breath, his wife laid her cheek against Jason's chest, sweat on sweat. Tilting her head back to watch him, she smiled mischievously. "Do I look bored now?"
His chuckle vibrated through his chest. "No," one hand weaved through her soft locks as the other rubbed the back of one of her bare thighs. He grinned. "But you're still a tease."
She laughed against his chest. "But you still love me?" she said coyly, her sapphire eyes twinkling.
"Yes," he breathed. "Yes, I do love you."
"I know we went into this together, decided we—you and I," she emphasized her words by gesturing at him and then herself, "would communicate, which I thought meant we would use the roughly three pounds of cells known as our brain to move our jaws and open our mouths to put our feelings into words, so neither one of us would ever doubt the other."
Jason stood off to the side watching as his something more than a girlfriend marched around their penthouse throwing a tantrum and wondering how she even knew the weight of their brains. Silently, he watched her practically slam dunk Lil's scattered toys into the toy chest.
"I get it," she huffed. "I get that you're the strong and silent type so sharing your feelings isn't the easiest thing in the world for you to do. I get that, I really do," she sliced her hands through the air. "But what I don't seem to understand and you might want to enlighten me on this," she gave him a appointed look, "is why you won't talk to me. Last I checked, I was here for you unless things have changed and you want me to go back to being the nanny," she flicked her hand in the air. "Because that can be arranged, Mr. Morgan."
He winced at her brisk tone. He was really in trouble and he should have known better than to have gone AWOL on her the last few days.
Things had escalated with Lorenzo Alcazar in the past week, placing the Corinthos-Morgan organization in a precarious position, either they took out the target immediately or risked letting the Venezuelan arms dealer continue breathing for the time being. Alcazar just had perfect timing arriving in town in the middle of a dispute between the Five Families when every law enforcement agency on the East coast was on high alert. Jason's reaction to the situation was to distance himself and in the process had landed himself in hot water with Elizabeth. He wasn't really looking forward to sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future.
"Eliza—"
"I want to believe Taggert is a clueless dimwit when he calls you quarterbrain or dumb as a box of rocks or Sonny's lap dog," she rattled off, her cheeks continuing to color as she continued to rip him a new one. "He even calls you Sonny's lackey and I want to believe he's the idiot, but I have to say Taggert got something right when he called you dumb as a box of rocks because that's exactly what you are right now. As dumb as a box of rocks!"
Jason's eyebrows shot right up to his hairline. Now, that stung.
"Or I might just be the stupid one in all of this," Elizabeth shrugged, grabbing her afghan to fold when really it looked like she was swiping the air with it. "I've been the one laying alone in our bed for the last four days wondering where the man I love is," she said casually, but the grim set of her lips and the fire in her eyes said otherwise. "All the while telling our five year old that her father was fine when really I was scared he wouldn't be coming home myself."
He couldn't help, but smile as he listened to her now. Despite how concerned she was, she never let Lil see it. She always remained strong and brave for their daughter. It wasn't official, but they both knew Lil was Elizabeth's daughter as much as she was Jason's. His heart swelled to know that she had been waiting up at night for him when really he deserved to be punched for making her worry. He could have gotten word to her that he would be home late.
"No phone calls. No emails. Not even a measly text message," Elizabeth shrieked, slamming the books she had only just collected back onto the coffee table. "You walked in and you walked out of the penthouse. It was like you didn't even leave here. And listen here buckoo, there's something wrong with that. Extremely wrong and cruel," she pointed an accusing finger at him.
A full blown grin graced his lips as he continued to listen to her give him a dress down. Who was he kidding, he deserved it. The fact she was concerned enough to rip him a new one reconfirmed all that he loved about her. He loved how fiercely she defended him and despite the short falls of being in his life she was still there and refused to leave, despite all the reasons he had given her to walk out the door.
"I should have the Musketeers water board you!"
"I love you."
The words slipped through his lips on their own accord and he was glad they did. The anger and confusion seeped away and immediately surprise took over her face, but it didn't last long. The woman actually glared at him.
"Are you trying to sweet talk me?" She planted her hands on her hips and scowled at him. "Because you have another thing coming to you, Jason Morgan. It won't work."
Jason's smile only grew wider.
Hooking an arm around her waist, he pulled her to him and kissed her frowning lips.
"I love you, Elizabeth Imogene Webber," he repeated.
"Oh."
"Uh huh," he murmured before leaning in to kiss her again.
"You're still in trouble," she argued against is lips for a moment before melting in his arms.
Lowering his head, he caught her lips in a lingering kiss. "I love you."
"I already know that, silly."
He laughed at her cheeky smile.
"How long do you think we have until Lil wakes up?"
Tilting her head to the side, his wife gave it some serious thought. "I give her a half hour tops." A sporadic knock followed her announcement. "Or a few seconds," she laughed.
She pushed at his chest and bit down on a whimper as he reluctantly withdrew. Sitting up, she pulled up the straps of her nightgown. Jason followed suit, jumping out of bed to reach for a pair of sweats he always kept handy for mornings like this. He pulled them on and turned to Elizabeth as she made sure her skirt was back in place under the covers. Spreading their duvet over the bed to hide anything their daughter shouldn't see, she gave him the nod that she was decent.
He kissed her hard one last time before pulling open the door to their master bedroom.
Stepping to the side for the grand entrance their morning guest always made, Jason grinned widely as Lila Amanda Morgan barreled through the open doorway in her bright yellow pajamas with her trusted confidante flopping in her arms. He mentally counted down to five before Lil's much livelier sidekick came trotting into the bedroom.
The miniature goldendoodle pranced through the door and barked at him in greeting as Goldie Locks obediently waited for him to pet her as he always did. Ruffling a hand through the dogs soft locks, Jason had only a second before Goldie Locks jumped onto the bed.
"You got her a dog?" Jason yelled at the top of his lungs, completely disregarding all the Corinthos rules.
"Yes," Brenda answered him calmly.
"What for?"
"As a wedding present, duh."
He flashed her a scathing glare as his wife patted his shoulder.
"We're going to let you two battle this out," Elizabeth said, abandoning him. She grabbed Sonny and hustled them into the kitchen.
"Let us know when World War III is over," Sonny threw over his shoulder before he disappeared.
A man went away for two weeks for his honeymoon and he came home to a dog. A puppy from what Lil had told him over the phone last night. Inhaling deeply, he observed his best friend's wife. She was being irritatingly calm, which meant she had something up her sleeve.
"Why couldn't you get your own kid a dog? Why my kid?"
"Are you insane?" she gaped at him. "Have you seen my Persian carpets?"
Jason rolled his eyes, a retort on his tongue when Lil came flying down the stairs.
"Daddy!" she shrieked, rushing to him. "Daddy, look!"
He frowned at the bundle of golden hair. "Where's the dog?"
"This is the dog, Daddy," Lil gave him an incredulous look. Raising the sleeping puppy against her chest, she cradled it lovingly. Over the top of her head, Jason spied Mr. Floppy also staring up at him from Lil's back pack. "I named her Goldie Locks because of all her gold hair. Isn't she pretty?"
Gazing down into his daughter's hopeful blue eyes, his resolve faded away. "Yes, she's beautiful, Lil."
Brenda flashed him a triumphant smile before she skipped into the kitchen.
"Happy anniversary," Lil hollered, jumping onto her parent's bed.
"Thank you," Elizabeth laughed, grabbing for their daughter who had disappeared behind a pillow. "Come here, shortie."
Lil kissed her cheek and wrapped her arms around Elizabeth's neck. Settling into her mother's lap, their six year old pulled Goldie Locks and Mr. Floppy onto her lap. She giggled as Goldie Locks barked at Elizabeth and snuggled her face into Lil's neck.
Standing back, he watched his family with a tender smile. A family, he thanked his lucky stars for everyday.
Vaguely, Jason was aware of the priest's deep timber as he eloquently opened the ceremony, but his attention was held captive by the delicate hands that held onto his. The small hands were engulfed by his, but a reassuring warmth swept through him at the thought of how freely she had taken his hands and stepped forward before Father Coates with him.
He raised his eyes to gaze into stunning cobalt orbs. She smiled at him and in her eyes he saw the years to come of a life full of random moments and laughter. He knew like any other marriage they would have their rough spots, but they had made it this far and had too much to lose to give up. He accepted her just as she was and she did the same for him. He couldn't think of anyone else who wouldn't have blinked twice at walking down the aisle to a man dressed in faded blue jeans, white t-shirt, and bare feet. Only Elizabeth had and always would. He returned her smile just as Father Coates said his name.
In the distance, he heard Father Coates repeat the vows he had already memorized by heart, eternal vows he would be making to his future wife.
"I, Jason, take you, Elizabeth, to be my lawfully wedded wife," he recited in a thick, but steady voice. "My constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward." His eyes held hers as he made her promises he would never break. "In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and health, in good times, and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow." His voice grew hoarse as he continued. "I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
His hands tightened around hers as she drew in a deep breath and smiled at him. They didn't need the vows, with or without them they were a couple, a partnership, a family. The vows were just a formality for them.
"I, Elizabeth, take you, Jason, to be my lawfully wedded husband," she repeated to him. "My constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward." Tears glistened in her eyes as she cleared her throat before continuing. "In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and health, in good times, and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise," Tilting her head, she smiled at him, her blue eyes twinkling with joy. "I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
On cue, he turned for the ring his best friend held out to him. Sonny flashed him a dimpled grin as he placed the ring in his palm and clasped their hands. For a moment, Jason's eyes fell to his friends' bare feet and he couldn't help smirking at the sight of Sonny shoeless on the beach. With a warm encouraging squeeze, Sonny let him go. Over the mob boss' shoulder, his eyes connected with each member of the Four Musketeers, each glance one of congratulations and friendship.
Returning to face his bride, he grasped her hand and peered into her sparkling eyes. His heart beat at a galloping tattoo as he took in her beauty in the fading sunset. She was dressed in a simple strapless sheath that fell right under her knee, the silk arranged to hold at her back as the dress flowed over her slender frame. She was absolutely gorgeous, bare foot and beaming at him.
For a moment, his eyes flickered to the petite brunettes standing behind his wife-to-be. A tearful Brenda smiled at him as Emily wiped away her tears and stuck her tongue out at him. Shaking his head at the two, he locked eyes with Elizabeth.
"With this ring," he slipped a glittering wedding band onto her ring finger. It locked into place under her engagement ring. "I thee wed."
Elizabeth grasped his left hand. The contrast between his tanned and her milky white skin caught his attention, to this day still amazed him. Her dainty hand placed a white gold ring decorated with simple milgrains running parallel to the edges on his hand. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Her beautiful Mona Lisa smile spread across her lips as his heart erupted with happiness.
"Don't forget about me!" Lil yelped, jumping up and down in the sand.
They all laughed as Jason squatted down and picked up his daughter. Lil grinned at the both of them. She waited patiently in his arms for Elizabeth to give her hand to her. The five year old then proceeded to gift her mother with a token of her pledge.
"With this ring, you're my mommy," she announced happily, placing a band encircled with aquamarines, her birthstones, after the ring her father had just placed on Elizabeth's hand.
Elizabeth laughed through her tears.
"You may now kiss your bride, Mr. Morgan" Father Coates declared, amusement apparent in his tone.
His daughter still in one arm, he drew his bride close and kissed her sweetly. Pulling back, Jason gazed into his wife's eyes and smiled. "We did it."
She grinned. "We did."
Together, they faced their applauding friends and family.
Jason smiled freely as his eyes ran over the small group that had been invited to the island for the wedding. A feeling of contentment grew in his heart as he watched his old friends and new family celebrated the event.
"Francis, time to pay up, buddy," Steven said clasping the guard on the shoulder.
"I swore they would take another year before they got hitched."
"Yeah, right, numskull," Johnny muttered.
"My money's on Johnny and Emily next," Brenda yelled.
"I want in on that," Sonny, Steven, and three of the Musketeers joined in.
Leaning in close so that her mother could only hear, Lil whispered. "Did you tell him yet, Mommy?" But it still caught Jason's attention.
Pulling back, Elizabeth shook her head ever so slightly.
"What are we whispering about?" Jason asked playfully.
With a soft smile, she studied their beautiful daughter before shifting her attention to him. "Come here," Elizabeth gestured him over to the bed.
Settling onto the bed, he wrapped his arms around his wife and laid his hands on his daughter's knees. Resting his cheek against Elizabeth's soft unkempt hair, he tightened his hold on his family. Closing his eyes, Jason enjoyed the silence that drifted through their penthouse.
Elizabeth shifted, her head resting on his shoulder, her lips right by his ear.
"We're pregnant," she whispered.
His eyes snapped open and slowly turned to Elizabeth in a daze. A lump formed in his throat as he searched her eyes. His wife's eyes sparkled with unrestrained joy as watched him watch her.
"You sure?" he forced out.
Wordlessly, she nodded her head.
"We're pregnant," he repeated, his voice stronger.
"Yup," Elizabeth said, laughter in her tone.
"It's a boy!" Lil shouted at the top of her lungs, Mr. Floppy swinging in the area to emphasize her words. Goldie Locks barked as well.
He kissed his wife on the lips, a quick ecstatic brush before he grabbed his daughter and peppered her face with kisses. Joy more than he ever thought was possible to feel burst in his heart when it suddenly dawned on him what Lil had said.
"Is it really a boy?"
Elizabeth threw her head back and laughed. "I don't know yet," she shrugged. "I'm only seven weeks along so we have another eleven weeks before we can find out."
He nodded his head, hundreds of questions racing through his mind. When did she find out? Had she gone to the doctor yet? Had her morning sickness started yet?
His wife's hand against his cheek brought his attention back to her. "Stop worrying," she scolded him. "Everything's fine."
Smiling, he kissed her. "I'll do my best not to."
"All right," Lil said, grabbing their attention. "The baby needs a crib," she began pacing on the bed. "A high chair, swing, bassinet, what are those anyway?" she asked as she plowed on before her parents could answer. "I'm not sharing my room after the stork delivers," she declared.
Resting his chin on Elizabeth's shoulder, Jason laid one hand on her still flat stomach and wrapped the other arm around her waist. Sitting just as they were, he watched his daughter continue prepping them for the baby on the way.
And in that moment, he gave thanks for the life he had never thought he'd have. It may have taken a two weeks' notice for him to sit up and pay attention, but he was glad he had. Two weeks had turned into so much more.
El fin.
I'm going to spare everyone one of my long winded rambles and make this short and to the point. I wanted to end this story with a few words of gratitude. I know this story has lost and gained many readers in its long, drawn out lifetime, but I am thankful for every single person who has ever read. I have made many friends through this story and I am eternally grateful for that. So thank you all for reading, commenting, and encouraging Two Weeks Notice until the end. I couldn't have done it without you all.