Just a quick note, things may off from the storyline told in 2002, author's prerogative. I had to switch a few things up to make them fit the story I wanted to write.

Switching Places

Chapter 2

Life is but a dream.

Jason walked out of Carly's hospital room to see Elizabeth talking to his mother, hesitating about walking over; Jason just waited until she left before joining Elizabeth.

"Is Carly okay?" She asked.

"She is asking to speak to you. In fact she is insisting on it, claims that if she doesn't speak to you a life will be in danger." He said while sticking his hands in his pockets to keep from touching Elizabeth. All he ever seemed to want to do while in the same room as he was touch her.

"Okay." She said apprehensively. She had never gotten along with Carly, but they had been just ignoring each other since Jason's return a few months ago. Entering the room, she saw the annoying blond lying in the bed with equipment hooked up monitoring her.

"Thank god." Said Carly when the petite blond entered. "First, I need you to do something for me, could you please remove this needle from my hand, it itches."

"I can get a nurse to do it, for you. If you will wait a minute." Elizabeth said but stopped talking when she saw Carly glaring, then to her amazement the insane woman started laughing.

"I forgot you aren't a nurse yet. Look just pull it out then take an alcohol swab and rub the spot it was in my skin. We need to talk it is very important for us to talk. I need your help."

"What do you want Carly?" She asked suspiciously.

"To stop you from getting kidnapped. I think if I do that, the rest will not happen. At least that is what I am hoping. Then we have to stop Alexis from getting pregnant with Sonny's baby. Trust me, this isn't about me, she will regret it in a couple of years. Have they gone to the Island already? I couldn't recall the exact date. Also don't sleep with Zander no matter what. You don't really want him but sleep with him out of fear."

"Also I think I made a mistake when I throw Courtney at Jason, he is in love with you and you break his heart when Sonny makes him lie about faking his death and that Brenda is alive. We need to make sure that the fire at the hotel doesn't happen. Though I will regret not getting to own the Metrocourt. I also have to get pregnant with Morgan, but keep Sonny from finding out. Let's see, what else?"

Elizabeth just stared at Carly, not sure what to say to the woman. Her next comment made Elizabeth want to pass out. "Oh, you might want to go seduce Jason now, instead of doing this insane dance you are going to do. That way Jake is born now instead of later. He is really cute. We have to find a way for you to have Cameron without sleeping with Zander, plus we have to keep Slick Ric from doing damage. You know the way Jason is, you are going to have to tell him you love him first. In fact you should go do that right now, but don't sleep with him today, I need you to please go and find Alexis, this is the most important part."

Elizabeth just stood there staring at her. "GO! NOW! We have to save Alexis as well."

Staring at the insane blond, she asked "Just how do you want me to help you save Alexis?" She had always been told to humor a crazy person.

"Stop her from sleeping with Sonny. I know she is infatuated with him right not, but trust me; she will come to regret that. Go now, please. Bring her here, I need to talk to the two of you. If I'm right stopping all three of our mistakes will correct mine. GO! NOW!"

Jason came into the room at the sound of the raised voice, "Carly calm down. We are leaving now. Would you like me to get Bobbie for you?"

Carly was still annoyed with the Jason from her time, so she just snarked at him while mimicking what he just said to her. The enforcer just glared at his friend in the hospital bed. As they left the room, he asked her what time her shift was at Kelly's and did she have time to go for a ride.

"That depends on what your opinion is on her mental status. Because according to Carly, I need to sleep with you immediately. Wait that's wrong, I need to stop Alexis from sleeping with Sonny, then sleep with you so that we can have the child she says we have in six years" with that she kept walking unaware that Jason had stopped in the middle of the hallway at her second sentence.

His mind doing crazy things, Jason realized she had walked through the doors to the parking lot. Catching up he tried to slow down his heart at the idea of a child with the woman he had loved for so long. Grabbing her hand as she reached for the helmet to his bike, he asked "Did you just say you have to sleep with me. That Carly ordered you to sleep with me so that we can have a child?"

"Yes, your self-proclaimed best friend just said that she is from the future, and that we have a son named Jake. Who is apparently cute. Also Sonny has a child with Alexis sometime soon, and she really wants to stop that from happening because Alexis is going to regret it."

"Also you're supposedly in love with me as much as I'm in love with you and she is going to be upset about it and will send Courtney after you. Let's see what else was there, someone named Ric is going to do damage and I sleep with Zander because I'm afraid of something. I know she is upset about her divorce but really." Elizabeth rambled on as she as she placed her hands at Jason's waist.

Realizing that Jason hadn't moved, Elizabeth leaned onto his shoulder, "Jason is everything okay?"

Making sure she didn't see his smile, Jason reminded himself to by something expensive for Carly as a gift. Her scheme to keep Sonny and Alexis apart had given him some good news. Starting the bike, he yelled back "Hang on, I'm going to take the cliff road."

Two hours later, they pulled into Kelly's, excited and flushed from their ride. Jason stood by as Elizabeth removed the helmet, then leaned over and whispered into her ear. "Remind me to thank Carly for her latest scheme. I really owe her one. In fact I think first thing tomorrow we should go to Wyndhams and get her something."

Looking up at Jason confused she lead the way into Kelly's. Seeing Courtney talking to Penny she went over to join them. "Courtney, I will be back in a couple of minutes, could you please pour Jason a coffee to go."

As Elizabeth returned from fixing her hair and washing her hands, she saw Jason grimace and realized what had happened. Grabbing another Styrofoam cup she poured a large black coffee and handed it to him. "Why am I going with you, Carly will hate anything I pick out."

"Just make it expensive and shiny, she will like it. Besides you owe her as well."

"What could I possibly owe Carly, she is the one in who made me listen to her insanity for no other reason than--. Wait, why did she make me listen to her. She wasn't warning me away from you like usual, in fact she was saying to seduce you immediately and to that I will have to tell you I love you first, that you are too chicken to say the words until after I do." Hearing the bus pan dropping behind her, Elizabeth sighed and said to Jason "Tell me quick, then I have to go and help Courtney before anything else breaks."

Elizabeth gathered the coffee cups on the bar and was walking to the other end of the counter when Jason leaned over and said "Carly is wrong, by the way, I love you." As he walked out the door leaving a stunned Elizabeth standing there with empty hands and broken coffee cups.

"Uh, Elizabeth, are you okay?" Asked Penny as she and the brainless one walked out of the kitchen at the noise. Seeing the petite artist standing there with a silly grin on her face, she asked "Elizabeth? Hello? Is anyone in there?"

Courtney sighed; she wanted to get out of here before Jason left, she was hoping to get him to drive her home so that she wouldn't have to take the smelly bus again. Grabbing a glass of water she tossed it in Elizabeth's face, soaking the brunette. "What is your problem?" She asked.

Just smiling at the annoying blond that she was trying to give the benefit of the doubt, she started to answer then recalled what Carly had said. "Nothing, I just remembered that I left an open tube of paint in my jeans. I was just imagining what they look like. That's all." She lied with impunity to the not so smart one.

"Good, can I get out of here now? I need to find a ride home and was hoping to catch Jason since he drove you here."

"Too late, I heard his bike pull out of here a few minutes ago." Said Penny. "But I saw Max's little brother whom just started working for Sonny outside. Maybe your brother's guard will give you a ride home."

Almost snarling, Courtney replied "That's okay. I'm friends with Jason. I wouldn't ask anyone I don't know." Stomping out, she grumbled to herself that Elizabeth had done that on purpose so that Jason wouldn't spend time with her since she was prettier and closer to Jason than she was.

The young Asian waitress waited until the blond had left then turned and asked "What was the real reason for the grin?"

"Jason just said he loved me. I don't know how he meant he loves me, but he said it." With that the grin was back. Penny watched the rest of the evening shift as her co-worker floated through the restaurant for the rest of the evening.

Just as they were closing, Elizabeth locking the doors, someone slipped through and asked if they could please grab something quick. Seeing Alexis, Elizabeth debated whether or not to tell the attorney what Carly had said.

"Elizabeth, do you mind if I go ahead and leave?" Asked Penny.

"That's fine. I can wait on Alexis, things are done except locking up and turning off the lights."

"Alexis, I need to tell you something, it's going to sound strange but it involves Carly so you should expect strange." Said Elizabeth as she let the dishwasher go home saying she would wash the coffee cup and dessert plate that Alexis was using.

As she told the attorney what the blond had said and what Bobbie had told her when she had stopped in earlier she had expect the woman to join her in laughing at the idea. That was not what happened though.

"Repeat for me, word for word what Carly said again." She heard. Alexis reached into her briefcase and pulled out a legal pad, sighing as she wrote down what was said. "Elizabeth what are your plans for the evening?"

"I was hoping on talking to Jason." She said.

"That can wait, please follow me." The attorney tossed down a twenty and waited for Elizabeth to close down the register. Seeing Jason entering looking so happy, she said to the man "If you want me to continue being your attorney of record. Leave and come back tomorrow. I think I know what you want to say to Elizabeth, and what she wants to say to you so let me summarize real quick then we have to leave."

Alexis waited until all was done with closing then said "Elizabeth, Jason wants you to know that he has been in love with you for years, that is why he has left and come back so many times. Jason, Elizabeth has been in love with you since you stayed with her when you were shot. The rest like you doing the selfish self-absorbed egotistical bastards bidding can wait. Same with her feeling obligated to save Lucky. Now the rest of this after school special can wait."

Elizabeth had no idea what to say when Alexis grabbed her by the arm and brought her over to stand in front of Jason, then the woman elbowed her in the ribs and said "Tell him."

"Tell him what?"

"No wonder it takes years for the two of you to get together. Tell him how you feel."

Elizabeth blushed and said "I love you, I'm in love with you and you will always be more than my friend."

Jason reached down and did something he had always tried to keep himself from doing. As he kissed her lightly on the lips that had haunted his dreams he said "I love you too, now I think you had better go with Alexis before she embarrasses us anymore. I will wait for you at the Penthouse, please come there when you are done. No matter what time that is. Please." He asked again rather intently.

"I'll be there as soon as we are done." She said with a smile. Turning to Alexis she saw the tears in the woman's eyes before she wiped them away saying allergies.

Chapter 3

Otto Rank: What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality

Carly was pretending to sleep, she was stewing inside hoping that even if she thought she was insane Elizabeth would do what she asked. When Sonny had came to visit, it had taken all she had not to scream at the man. He had taken her anger as being the result of their current divorce not knowing she was no longer in love with the man.

She was upset to realize that he had been down on the Island with Alexis, now it was too late to prevent the nightmare to come for the attorney. Turning over she got up to stare out the window grateful they had removed all the monitors. Looking out she saw the Port Charles hotel, Sonny's warehouse and a few other buildings that were no longer there including the old silos down by the docks.

Looking at them, she realized she missed them in her current life. As she had come to realize that this time it wasn't a dream, but that in fact it was reality she had come to terms with what must be done. First she had to let certain things happen. While she wasn't fond of Elizabeth Webber, if things had gone differently with Jason and her then the past might not have been so screwed up. Alexis as well. So they were a necessary part of the plan.

Making a mental list of all the things she had to stop, she just became overwhelmed, knowing she needed help from the two woman she had always despised because they represented some sort of ideal for the good people of the world.

Hearing a noise, she turned around expecting to be scolded by a nurse for being out of bed, instead the two people she had been thinking of stood there staring at her. Elizabeth was still looking at her like she was humoring a two-year-old. Alexis looked suspicious, but for some reason she got the feeling the woman would listen to what she had to say.

"Carly how did you know that Sonny was taking me to the Island and that I would sleep with him?" She asked abruptly.

"I'm telling the truth, I have lived six years into the future. My current husband in 2008 is Jasper Jax, Sonny is going to kill someone and I will cover for him, ruining my marriage. I have been given a second chance to prevent me from losing the man I love so I need your help."

"You love Jax?" Asked a skeptical Elizabeth. "I just don't see the two of you together."

"Well it all happens when Luke Spencer brings back a monkey infected with a virus that kills Courtney. We lie to Nik about the little boy's true parentage to protect him from Helena. I have a way to prove I'm telling the truth. Alexis, I'm sorry for what I'm about to bring up, but you have a child that is a few years younger than me, you were told it was a boy and that it died."

Alexis paled and started to sway, the other two women helped her into one of the chairs then when she had drunk some of the water placed in the room for Carly's convenience she said "I was fourteen, no one knew. Tell me what you know Carly."

"I can't. At least not yet. Alexis, you child is still alive but things are going to change for the better I promise. How soon will you know if you got pregnant? If you are I will tell you what I know."

"Carly, I only slept with him once last night, we used condoms and I'm using a diaphragm."

Carly thought back to what Sonny and told her and closed her eyes. "You didn't have sex with him this morning? Are you sure?"

"Yes, he got a call about your accident, why?"

"That's great, you might be safe after all. Things are changing already. Sonny told me that you didn't use a condom in the morning, in my timeline."

"So I had a child with him?" She asked sitting down.

"Yes, a daughter, it's a shame because Kristina is a lovely girl; we need to find you someone else to sleep with so that you can have a kid. What about Ned?" She asked.

Alexis shook her head and said "Are you sure that you are not just reacting to an injury?"

"Then how did I know about your baby? Also, I knew that you would go with Sonny to the Island."

"Carly why are you telling us these things? Let's face it you and I will never be friends and the same thing for Alexis and you."

"I think that if I want to get together with Jax and be happy and have that little girl I have dreamed of, I need to change some things. You two are the biggest thorns in my life. Jason is still chasing after Elizabeth six years from now. Alexis regrets that Sonny and her have a child. Elizabeth, one thing we agree on in the future is the safety of our children. Sonny is going to get Michael shot; my son is going to be in a coma for the rest of his life if I don't make changes. The three of us may not be able to get along but we need each other, whether we want to be friends or not things have to change for our family's sake."

The other two sat stunned. Alexis wanted to say it was a lie, that Carly was pulling one of her plans, but there was something in her eyes that convinced her she was telling the truth. As for Elizabeth, she was still just humoring the insane person.

"Carly, what are we going to do and please tell me that you don't have a plan?" Said a weary Alexis.

"No, that is why all three of us are here. Together I think we can prevent some of the things from happening. Apart, I can't do it by myself. They are letting me out tomorrow. I faked getting better when they brought Michael to see me, right now he is with his father but I want to get home and take care of my own son. Let's meet tomorrow afternoon, but we need a place no one would expect us to be."

As she thought about it, Carly smirked at them. "Elizabeth's studio, tomorrow at 1:00pm. I will bring us some lunch. Make sure no one sees you Alexis."

"Carly, what about Jason." Asked Elizabeth "I don't want any secrets from him." She said firmly.

Sitting down Carly knew that this was the first test of her newfound reality. "Do it, he will probably tell you to just humor me. Did you tell him you loved him yet? That blush says yes, did you get any?" She asked curiously.

"None of your business." She said firmly.

"So either you did and it was awesome or you didn't and want to. So which is it." She said as Elizabeth as Alexis left. Carly hoped that in saving Michael she didn't sacrifice her younger son. She loved Morgan and knew that it would kill her to save one to never get to have the other.

Jason could hear the soft knocking at the door, opening it he saw Elizabeth standing like she was getting ready to flee. "I'm glad you came."

Johnny watched the door close, then looked at his cell phone, seeing it said twelve thirty, he called Francis saying "The muffin is in the breadbox."

Alexis got off the elevator with Elizabeth's apron, not sure if the brunette would need it in the morning just in time to hear Johnny's remark. "I would not let Jason hear you referring to Elizabeth as a muffin and who were you calling?"

"Francis, the guards have a bet about those two. Francis has them telling each other about their feelings then sleeping together, I say it will happen the other way around. Max says that it won't ever happen that Jason is too much in love with her."

"Francis won. Pay up." She said tossing the apron to him, "Let Elizabeth know she dropped that. See you later."

Elizabeth followed Jason as he showed her around the penthouse, when they returned to the living room, she asked about upstairs.

"Just the one bedroom has any furniture. Sonny arranged for it, I haven't even been up there yet. I slept on the sofa last night and then showered at the office.

"Jason, where do we go from here?" She asked as she leaned against the pool table next to him while looking around the sparsely decorated apartment.

"Wherever we want to. I meant what I said earlier, I love you. Alexis was right that I have loved you for years. Where do you want to go?"

With a soft smile on her face, she said I want to go upstairs and see your bedroom."

His heart stopping Jason bend down to pick Elizabeth and said "Wrap your legs and arms around me."

Giggling she did as he asked then stopped him halfway up the stairs to kiss him. "I have wanted to do this for years." As their lips finally met, Elizabeth was amazed to realize she was right about how soft his lips were.

Turning so that he was sitting down on the stairs, Jason wrapped his hands in her long curly hair to hold her head so that he could plunder her lips. Brushing soft kisses again and again in between deep soul-searching kisses all he could think was that this was better than anything he could have imagined.

Elizabeth moved her knees so that she was statically wrapped around him; she pushed back so that he was resting on the landing behind him. "I don't think I can wait. Jason do you have any condoms?" She asked as she placed soft kisses on his chin.

Jason groaned and it wasn't the groan of a happy man. "Elizabeth, we have to stop."

Lifting up she glared at the man she was in love with and said "You have got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was, but I had a plan and this thing with Carly has sort of moved things up a bit." He admitted. "I wasn't planning on getting this far until at least July or August." He admitted with a soft grin.

"Really you had plans for us having sex?"

"I made a plan the night we almost slept together in your studio. First I was going to make you fall in love with me, then I was going to romance you some more, then hopefully spend a weekend someplace with no phones."

"So far it sounds like fun, but if Carly is telling the truth, we won't have time for that. So how about running down to the nearest store and getting us some condoms before I decide I want to meet this Jake sooner than she mentioned." Elizabeth laid back down on top of the prone Jason and kissed him deeply.

"I can't. I sent the bike to the shop and the only car available right now is Sonny's limo." He said as he tried to recall the nearest store that was open twenty-four hours.

"Fine, but don't make any plans for tomorrow and if Sonny tries to make plans shoot him." She said not entirely kidding. After listening to Carly some part of her was starting to believe the woman.

"Stay the night; you can use the bedroom." He said.

"Only if you join me." She said bending down to kiss him.

"Will you keep to your side of the bed?" He asked.

"No, but I promise to behave other than that."

TBC