Undoubtedly, everyone knows the darkness that surrounds Spoon Island, but Ewen Kennan considered that place to be his own personal hell. The Jacks family has been a part of his life for so long, undoubtedly he owed Jasper a lot, but he never imagined getting in this deep with his brother, Jerry.
Many have told him how Jerry had lost any trace of his heart long ago, but only now does Ewen understand what the had meant. Jerry is not only cruel, but meticulously demented. He has no remorse for the lives he has damaged, no care for the lives he came close to taking, no emotions register in that lug of meat.
Looking back now, Ewen regrets ever getting involved with Jerry. Admittedly, his stroke of conscience came with the infatuation he feels towards Elizabeth Webber. She simply put, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside of an enigma. Every time he thinks he's figured out that beautiful woman's mind, he learns something new, throwing off his previous figuration.
"Why the glum look?" Jerry steps out of the shadows, coughing harshly before regaining control of himself. "You're a hero, doctor. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I didn't want any of this." Ewen snaps, losing his cool completely. " A little girl could have died! Or do you just not care?"
"You're right..." Jerry looks remorseful for a second before snickering. "I really just don't care."
Rolling his eyes at his companion, Ewen turns his back to him, truly hating this partnership and the hell it has drudged into his life. Jerry watches as Ewen contemplates the life he has taken on since moving into the small quaint town of Port Charles. His conscience was starting to grow stronger, kicking him in the arse for what he has done, knowing that it has inadvertently hurt Elizabeth.
Dear, sweet, Elizabeth. She has opened his eyes to his terrible ways and all he wants is to become the man worthy of her, but it was too late for that. She'd never forgive him for what he's done. That much he's sure of. And Jerry knew that, which he was holding over Ewen because Jerry can see that he didn't want to lose her.
"Now's not the time for soul searching, Kennan." Jerry comments snidely, handing him a drink. "I compromised my position and allowed you to save those pathetic people. Now...now its your turn to compromise for me."
"What do you want now?"
"I thought you'd never ask." Jerry smirks, shoving the glass into his hands. "Because I've thought up the perfect task for you to complete."
Silence remains as he watches Elizabeth drive away in her car, heading to pick up Cameron from his party sleepover. He wanted to follow her. The silence almost deafening and he wanted - more like needed - her idle chatter to drown it out. When she gets to the point where she rambles, it brings him further and further back into feeling alive.
He couldn't go with her, though, and he knew that. She had her life and he had his. Part of that life is checking in on Carly, having learnt of Johnny's betrayal and all the lies she had believed. He had warned her, though he wouldn't point that out now, and now she needed him to be the friend he's always been and be there for her.
Making the venture to the hospital, Jason finds her with Jocelyn for one of her overreacting mother moments. He doesn't blame her for being overly cautious with her daughter, mostly because he'd do the same if it were him.
"Jason." she breathes a sigh of relief when she envelops her in a warm embrace, resting her head against his broad chest. "I was so afraid, but the doctors say that she's just warm because of the weather change. They're keeping her for today...just to be sure."
"She's going to be okay." Jason reassures her, taking in the information that she gave him. "What about you? Are you going to be okay?"
"Wha...of course." she pulls out of his embrace. "I wasn't in love with him...god, Jason."
"I know you cared about him...a lot." he points out, placing his hands on her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. "Don't fake it with me. You know I can tell when you're hurting."
Just like that, she caved, like he knew she would. Carly, though she presents such a strong front, he knows that's only to mask the vulnerable woman underneath. All her life, she has forced herself to put up the front that nothing and no one could hurt her, but there are times when she drops that shield and you get a glimpse of the vulnerable girl she grew up from.
"I trusted him." she mutters against his chest, finding herself back in his embrace. "I trusted him and he...how could he do that to me?"
"I'm sure he regrets it." he whispers, promising to make sure of just that. No one hurts the people he loves and gets away with it. Not even Johnny Zacchara.
Admittedly, Jason was slightly grateful to the younger man. He did something that Jason has wanted to do for so long. Johnny killed Anthony. The invincible was taken down by his own flesh and blood. That must have been something else for Anthony as the bullets entered his body.
More than once, Jason had wanted that old man's last sight to be off him as he stood over his dying body, but Johnny took that privilege and - in all honesty - he deserved that right. Jason could sympathize with Johnny, but he would never condone the hell he brought into Carly's life.
He stays for a while longer, listening to Carly as she tells him all the hurt she feels, both glancing over at a sleeping Jocelyn from time to time. Jason wanted to make this okay for her, but he knew that there wasn't anything he could do. She wasn't going to let him fix it for her and she won't let him get too involved, knowing how he feels about Johnny.
It didn't stop her from letting him listen to her and he appreciated that he could do at least that much for her. Soon enough, though, he kisses her forehead and hugs her once more. She needed time alone with her daughter, to remember that her life still held meaning, and he would allow her that.
"Thank you for stopping by, Jase." she says sincerely, standing in the doorway after he has walked out of the room. "I mean it...I don't know where I'd be without you in my life."
"I love you, too, Carly." he says softly, smiling slightly at her bright grin before walking off and leaving her to her daughter.
"I love you, too, Jase." she whispers, watching him leave before walking back into the room, setting herself up by her daughter, thanking the lord for another chance to do right by her.
Elizabeth picks her son up from the party, smiling as she takes in the pure joy on her son's face. He's happy. Slowly, but gradually, her son has been getting back to that kid she knew him to be before he lost his brother and Lucky.
She doubts he'd ever be the same, losing Jake had hit him hard, but he was slowly realizing that it was okay to be happy. That it was okay to have fun and just live his life. Something she will enforce at every available chance. She hurts everyday that they Jake, but she won't let Cameron shut down. Not if she can help it.
"Mom, can we got to Kelly's?" Cameron asks as he gets into the back seat, strapping his seat belt on.
"Sure." she smiles, starting up the car once she's sure he's secured. "After we pick up your brother from Gram's okay?"
"Okay." he relents, taking out his gaming device. "Do you think we'll see Spinelli? I really want to show him I beat the eighth level."
"Who knows?" she says softly, pulling out into the road. "Its possible."
"I hope so." Cameron mutters, working on slaying more zombies.
Glancing back at him, Elizabeth couldn't help but be thankful for Spinelli. She knows that he is a big part of Cameron allowing himself to have fun and enjoy spending time with friends. Driving the distance to her grandmother's house, she has Cameron get down with her. She doesn't fail to notice the subtle changes she has made since losing Jake.
Normally she'd just leave Cameron in the car while she runs into grab his brother, sometimes Jake and Aiden both, but not anymore. She makes sure that he gets down and she makes sure that he and Aiden are both secure in their seats before taking off.
She's stopped herself from getting distracted by her boys, tuning into the other drivers on the road, taking in everything and making sure that she keeps them safe. She couldn't afford to lose another child. She just couldn't. If anything were to happen to either of her boys...Elizabeth knows she'd never be able to survive it.
"We'll be fine, Gram, really." Elizabeth takes Aiden into her arms. "I called in and Epiphany said I could have today off instead of tomorrow. Mia needed the shift switch."
"I understand that, but things between you and Monica have been sketchy at best." her grandmother points out, not that she needed to. "I doubt she'll take this lightly."
"Monica really isn't my problem." Elizabeth says softly, not wanting to put much thought in the woman that would have been her mother-in-law at one point. "She can't do anything as long as Epiphany approved it."
"Okay, if you're sure." Audrey smiles softly, taking in the three of them, almost able to see the empty spot shape into the form of Jake. "Thank you for giving him to me yesterday."
"You don't have to thank me." she replies, noting the smile on her son's face. "You're a huge part of my boys' lives. I want them with you as much as possible."
"Drive safe, my dear." Audrey leans in, kissing each of their foreheads. "And call me if you ever need me to watch the boys again."
"I will." she promises, gesturing for Cameron to head to the car. "Bye, Gram...we love you."
"I love you all, too."
Audrey Hardy watches as Elizabeth secures her boys in the car before getting in and driving off. She wished that she could do more for her granddaughter, but there was only so much that she could do for those she loved. Stubbornly independent, her granddaughter would only accept so much help before she denied it.
Turning away from the door, once Elizabeth's car disappears out of sight, Audrey returns to her empty home, hoping that Elizabeth and her boys will be okay. Walking over to the picture of her and her husband, she makes a small request that he watch over Elizabeth. That she needed his guidance now more than ever.
"Breakfast first and then we can talk about dessert." Elizabeth says softly, but with authority. "Okay?"
"Okay, mom." Cameron relents, returning his focus back to his food and video game.
"Mini-Jackal." Spinelli's voice carries over to them from the door, causing Elizabeth to look up as Cameron bolts to him. "Breakfast of champs, huh?"
"Yeah." Cameron says with pride. "Are we really going to the comic thing?"
"Most definitely, Mini-Jackal." Spinelli says without hesitation before looking over at Elizabeth. "Of course, that's as long as your mom is still okay with it?"
"Mom?" Cameron turns his eyes on her.
"Yes. I'm still okay with you going to the comic thing." she replies, teasingly, seeing the happiness in her boy's eyes shine brightly. "Spinelli, would you like to join us?"
"I'd love to, Maternal One, but I'm afraid my visit is a short one." Spinelli admits, showing Cameron back to his seat before doing their secret handshake. "Just here for some orange soda boost before going on my way."
Elizabeth watches as the two of them converse for a moment longer before Spinelli goes to the counter to order what he needed. She watches Cameron for a moment longer, amazed at how much he has changed since Lucky walked away.
No longer closed off and shut down, her son is now smiling and having fun. Making friends, albeit that his only new one is Spinelli, but he's finally hanging out with his other friends and that made her happier than she could ever describe.
As Spinelli is on his way out of the diner, Jason comes sauntering in - finally realizing that he needed to get something in his stomach. The two men share a rather brief greeting, making sure the other is okay before Spinelli walks out the door and Jason walks further into the diner.
"Hey." he greets her, bending down and placing a soft kiss on her cheek. "Hi, Cam."
"Hi, Jason." Cameron replies, a hesitant smile playing on his lips. "Are you going to eat with us?"
"Would you mind if I do?" Jason counters, looking at him curiously.
The only answer he receives is Cameron hopping off to grab him a chair and situating in across from Elizabeth and next to him. The two adults share a slight smile, acknowledging what Cameron didn't say with words. Instead of question the boy further, Jason shrugs out of his jacket and joins the small family for breakfast. The family that could have been his a long time ago.
As Jason waits for his order, Cameron warms up to him further, showing him the game that he's currently playing and so close to mastering. Elizabeth's attention on Aiden as she feeds him. The moment seemed too perfect, a shadowing ache in both their hearts, knowing that moments like this would always be missing something.
Eyes locking with each other's, Jason and Elizabeth don't notice Ewen Kennan standing outside, looking in on the private moment that they seemed to be having. More than anything, he wants to have that deep connection with Elizabeth, but - from what he hears - that connection is thirteen years in the making.
Even though he can clearly see that deep connection between the two, Ewen wants to create one with her and - because of that - he hates what Jerry has forced him to do. This wasn't right. It would damn near kill him to do it, but he had no choice. He was in too deep and there was no turning point anymore. He could only hope she'd forgive him in the end. For, really, it is utterly out of his control.
A/N: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS! I'M SHOUTING BECAUSE I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE THEM!
Okay...I'm done. But, seriously, thank you! It means a lot. I hope you liked this update and I can't wait to hear what you thought of it.
-ROCkER