He's crazy. That had to be the only logical reason for him to be sitting in his car, in the parking garage of Harborview Towers, debating whether or not he should ride the elevator up to the top floor. When did his life become such a complicated mess? Sure, it was always complicated, but he always had a handle on it. There was never a situation he couldn't handle or find a solution to. But this...a sister that he never wanted to know...he didn't know how to handle this.
"Why am I doing this?" Jake asks Emma after he calls her up.
"Because you're a good guy." Emma says softly. "Robyn's your sister. No matter what Jason has done, she's not to blame."
"I wish you could've come with me." Jake sighs, forcing himself to get out of the car. "I really have no idea what I'm doing."
"Don't think about it." Emma suggests. "You're amazing. Just be you and everything will be okay."
"Have I told you lately how amazing I think you are?" Jake questions, walking onto the elevator. "Thank you. I know you must have answered these questions a hundred times these last two days."
"I'll repeat myself a million times if that's what it takes." Emma assures, pushing around the book cart. "I have to get back to work, but I know you'll do great. I believe in you."
"That means everything." Jake takes a deep breath, pushing the button for the top floor. "I seriously wouldn't be able to do this without you."
"I know how that feels." Emma couldn't help the smile that touched her lips. "I'll see you tonight."
"Count on it." Jake says before ending the call as the elevator doors open up on the top floor. "Here goes nothing."
Robyn stood in the living room with her mother and she couldn't understand why she was so mad about her wanting to know her brother and sister. For the last two days, her mother has tried to talk her out of getting to know Jake and Lily, which made Robyn want it that much more. She couldn't understand why her mother was so against it, but her father was completely for it. They've never been on opposite sides before when coming up with answers to her questions.
"They're family." Robyn looks at her mom curiously. "You always told me that family sticks together."
"Families do, but its complicated." Sam tries to explain. "Our family and theirs...things aren't good right now."
"When is it ever good?" Robyn countered. "I'm eleven years old mom. When will it be good for me to know my own brother and sister?"
"Please stop saying that." Sam runs her hands through her hair, frustration setting in. "You don't know those kids. Neither of them."
"Exactly! I want to know them, mom." Robyn blurts out. "I want them to know me."
"What's going on?" Jason asks, walking downstairs with the file he was going over. "I can hear you two arguing from upstairs."
"Mom says that I can't hangout with Jake or Lily." Robyn says, folding her arms across her chest. "Its not fair. I should have the right to choose."
"You're right." Jason says just as a knock sounds at the door. "You should have the right to choose."
Jason walks over to the door and pulls it open to find Jake standing on the other side. Both father and son aren't sure what to say in that moment, neither really being in that position before. Jake wanted to turn around and just walk away right then, but he knew he couldn't. He didn't come there for his father. He went there because an eleven year old girl deserved the benefit of the doubt and, like she said, she's his sister after all.
"You said you'd let me." Jake finally says, seeing the confused look on his father's face. "Here I am."
"You have good timing." Jason steps aside. "Robyn, Jake's here for you."
"Me?" Robyn questions, walking to the door. "You're here for me?"
"You wanted to get to know me." Jake says simply. "I've got time. You up for it?"
"Are you kidding?" Robyn takes her jacket from her dad. "I'm so up for it."
"Lets go." Jake waits for her to walk out before looking at Jason. "I'll keep her safe."
"I know you will." Jason assures. "Have fun."
"Sure." Jake turns away from his father to walk over to the elevator where Robyn is walking in. "Where to?"
"I've always wanted to go to the skate park." Robyn admits. "Can we go there?"
"You skate?" Jake arches his eyebrow.
"No." Robyn shakes her head. "But I'd like to learn. Can you teach me?"
"Sure." Jake concedes. "If you want."
Elizabeth walks around her house, fixing up the Christmas decorations. Her body was almost fully recovered and soon they'd be pumping her full of toxins yet again. Robin seems to be really hopeful about this one and she couldn't help but feel it as well. Satisfied with how her living room looks, Elizabeth grabs her keys and slides into her jacket. She's on her way out when the house phone rings, prompting her to answer it.
"Webber residence, Elizabeth speaking."
"Its me." Johnny replies. "How're you feeling?"
"I'm much better." Elizabeth assures, walking over to sit on the arm of the couch. "I missed you last night. When are you coming home?"
"With the way things are going, I should be on the first flight out in the morning." Johnny promises. "I missed you last night, too."
"I'm about to go over to Jason's penthouse." Elizabeth concedes, running her fingers through her hair. "The sooner I know if they're coming over, the sooner I can plan this dinner."
"Okay. I'll call you tonight before bed." Johnny wishes he could be there with her. "Let me know how it goes."
"I will. You just focus on coming back to us." Elizabeth says seriously. "I'll be here waiting."
"I'll be home soon." Johnny says with conviction. "Promise."
Ending the call, Elizabeth hangs it up before walking out to her car. Starting up her car, she backs up out of her driveway and makes her way to Harborview Towers. She wasn't sure about this whole having Christmas together thing, but Johnny seems adamant about it, so she'll give it a chance. Even though she'd rather burn down her house than spend a holiday as significant as Christmas with Sam, she'll put her own personal feelings aside for Johnny and for her kids.
"Hey." Elizabeth greets him. "Got a minute?"
"Sure." Jason steps aside. "How're you doing?"
"I'm okay." Elizabeth assures, glancing around. "The wife home?"
"No. She's out." Jason says simply. "Jake was here earlier. He took Robyn out for the day."
"Um, yeah, he told me about that." Elizabeth shakes her head. "I think its nice that he wants to get to know her."
"So...is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine." Elizabeth takes a deep breath. "Can we sit? I'm still a little woozy on my feet."
"Sure." Jason waits for her to sit on the couch before sitting on the club chair.
"Much better." Elizabeth sighs, running her hands through her hair. "Its taking a little getting used to...not being able to stand on my feet for too long, I mean."
"I really hate that I haven't been there for you." Jason hears himself say. "I can't imagine what these last six months have been like."
"Don't feel bad." Elizabeth says simply. "I've had a lot of help and a lot of people on my side. Johnny's been helping me with the kids and Cameron's been doing a lot more than any child should."
"Johnny?" Jason looks at her intently. "You two are, what exactly?"
"We're dating." Elizabeth concedes. "He moved in a couple days ago. Which brings me to why I'm here...how would you and your family like to spend Christmas at our place?"
"You want us to have Christmas together?"
"Johnny thinks it'll help give you and the kids a neutral place to start." Elizabeth says, taking a deep breath. "What do you say? You up for a shared family holiday? Robin, Patrick and Emma will be there too."
"You and Johnny...is it serious?"
"Yeah." Elizabeth says sincerely. "He's good to me and the kids. I never thought we'd ever be together, but somewhere along the line...it got serious."
"I'm happy for you." Jason manages to say. "And I'm glad that someone was there for you and the kids."
"So...about Christmas...will you guys be there?"
"Sure." Jason stands up as she does. "I won't speak for Sam, but Robyn and I will be there."
"Okay." Elizabeth walks over to the door, allowing him to open it for her. "I know why you married Sam...but I also know that you fell back in love with her over the last twelve years. Don't mess it up over me having cancer."
"This wasn't what our lives were supposed to be like."
"I know." Elizabeth shakes her head. "But this is our lives and I'm happy with Johnny. I never thought I could love anyone after you, but I do...I love him. It may not be perfect, but he accepts what I can give him and he loves me regardless. I want you to have a part in our children's lives, but your place in my life doesn't exist anymore. I'm sorry."
Before he could say anything, Elizabeth walked out the door, closing it behind her. Getting in her car, she started it up and went home. Now that she has invited them, she can focus on preparing for her Christmas dinner and making sure that everything ran smoothly. Parking her car in her driveway, Elizabeth took a few minutes to catch her breath. Being around Jason brings back the memories from the past and it overwhelms her sometimes.
"You're not that bad." Jake says as they hop onto the cement bleachers. "Maybe a few more lessons and you'll be out there with the other kids."
"Is that an offer?" Robyn counters, taking the gatorade from Jake.
"Sure." Jake shrugs. "I'll teach you."
"Cool." Robyn smiles, downing some of her drink. "So, what else do you like? Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Yeah." Jake concedes. "Her name's Emma. We've actually been best friends all our lives before we started dating."
"Wow. That's really sweet." Robyn comments. "Best friends turning into something more. Its almost like one of those romance novels my mom reads."
"You know, my mom's inviting you guys over for Christmas." Jake says, downing half his drink. "I'm gonna be busy till then, but if you show up, I'll teach you a few moves on my halfpipe in my back yard."
"I heard your mom's sick and..."
"Word to the wise, if you want this thing to go well, don't talk about my mom being sick." Jake says seriously. "I'd really rather not make you cry again."
"I just wanted to say that I hope she beats it."
"She will." Jake says, hoping down. "Come on, I should get you home."
Robyn follows after him, not sure if she just made him mad or not. The drive to her house was done in silence and it made her feel like she really did say something wrong that upset him. As they got out of the car and made their way onto the elevator, Robyn decided to speak up before they hit her floor.
"Did I say something to make you mad?" Robyn blurts out. "I swear, I was trying to be nice. I'm not really good at knowing what to say."
"Look, I'm not exactly articulate either." Jake says, looking at her intently. "Just leave my mom out of it and we'll be fine."
"You're really protective of her, huh?"
"Yeah." Jake says, walking off the elevator. "She's my mom. How else would I be?"
"Its really nice." Robyn says as she opens the door to her penthouse. "Thank you for today."
"Yeah." Jake shrugs. "See you later."
A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
If you've read my other stories, you know I'm a Liason fan. Don't give up on this fic just yet. Life's tough and we all make mistakes we're not proud of...I'm hoping this fic will portray that.
Not everything is so black and white.
Hope you liked it and I can't wait to see what you thought of it.
-ROCkER