Epilogue
On a cold winter day - New Year's Day to be exact - most of Port Charles society can be found within the four walls of the local skate park. The bleachers are filled to capacity, all along the walls, everyone that's anyone is in attendance of the tenth annual skating event.
This skating event in particular holds so much meaning. All proceeds are going to the research and development for a cure for breast cancer. Its a cause that has touched many lives of Port Charles residents one way or another. Either through personal experience or through a loved one, they have all seen the sadness of the disease.
Local skaters and out-of-state skaters alike can be found scattered through the vicinity, each prepping for the tournament that was soon to take place. One skater in particular is searching the stands for his family. Since the tournament was founded, Jacob Morgan has skated each and every event.
In honor of his grandmother Monica, his godmother Emily, and (most importantly) his mother. When his mother had breast cancer, it had been the most terrifying time of his life, but they got through it like they got through everything, as a family.
Like every year before, his family is seated front and center, cheering him on. His family had to be the closest in all of Port Charles. A family of six and they couldn't be any tighter if they tried. Jake loves his family just as it is, although he's almost certain that his parents are working on adding another bundle of joy to the already big family. He doesn't mind it though.
Jake's parents are his rock. They have stood by him through everything - even his not so smart moments. He had the unfortunate fate of landing in juvie a couple times, but they never gave up on him. They didn't yell at him or even get angry, they simply sat him down and talked it through.
His father, not the most talkative man alive, would always be the one to talk to him about why he shouldn't let his anger control him. His mother was the understanding one. Always helping him see through the anger to the root of the problem. He loved his parents and, more so, he respected them.
His brother, Cameron, has returned from Princeton for the holidays instead of joining his friends for their ski trip - insisting that he'd rather watch his brother compete than spend the few weeks in the mountains. Jake's working on getting him together with this girl from his work. Its still in the works, but he's pretty confident he'll get his brother to drop his guard before the holiday is through.
His two sisters, Lily Mae and Robyn Lila Morgan, sit just beside Cameron. Its the first time Robyn is able to come out and see him compete in the tournament. She's almost twelve and their parents finally agreed to let her come instead of staying home with the nanny. Its the first time his whole family is present for one of his tournaments and he plans on making it one they'll never forget.
"Hey, you." his girlfriend greets, walking right into his arms. "How're you feeling?"
"Calm." he assures, kissing her softly. "Your parents here?"
"Yup." she gestures to the bleachers. "Dad had to hand off a few surgeries, but the other doctor could handle it so he didn't mind."
"So your uncle is still known as the other doctor?" Jake teases, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "You know Emma, we're coming up on our four year anniversary and its your turn."
"I know." Emma says with a shrug. "Win this and I'll make it the best anniversary you've ever had."
"You got it." Jake says with a smirk, kissing her once more before letting her go. "Kiss you later."
"You better." Emma watches him walk over to the his spot to warm up before taking her seat by her father.
The tournament begins and the skaters take off, doing whatever they have to in order to impress the judges. The judges made up of professional skaters from all around the world. One by one, skaters are taken out of the tournament, narrowing down the lineup from fifty skaters to ten.
The tension is high as it comes down to the last twelve skaters, two more yet to be taken out. Elizabeth grips Jason's hand tightly, anxious to know if her son would make it past the first stage of the tournament. He has taken home first place every year since the fourth annual skate tournament, but she was still anxious to see if he'd win it again.
"Oh, I can't look." Elizabeth exclaims as Jake does his signature move, shielding her eyes by nestling her face against Jason's chest.
"Relax, he's done this move a million times." Jason reassures his wife, rubbing her back soothingly. "He landed it."
"Just because he's landed it a million times, doesn't mean I don't have reason to be nervous." Elizabeth says as she sits up straight again. "Have they pulled out the last two yet?"
"Yes. He made it to the semi-final round." Jason says, truly proud of his son. "You gonna be okay?"
"Sure." Elizabeth shakes her head. "I'm just fine."
Knowing that she'd be nervous for the rest of the tournament, Jason just slung one arm around her and waited patiently for the second round of the tournament to begin. He has made sure to attend each tournament, event, and practice since his son decided he loved skating.
After fifteen years the alternate reality is still vivid as ever in his mind. He remembers the look on Jake's face when he invited him to the New Year's tournament in the other life - the importance of the event not lost on Jason then or now.
"Daddy, can we go down to check on Jake?" Lily asks him, that sweet smile that always makes him weak at the knees touches her lips. "Please?"
"As long as you're back on the bleachers before the next round starts." Jason approves, smiling when she throws her arms around him, thanking him profusely. "Watch out for your sister."
"Always!" Lily says without hesitation, taking her sister's hand and walking over to their brother together.
"No one loves me more than when I say yes." Jason says, feigning offence.
"Welcome to parenthood." Elizabeth teases, nestling into his side. "You sure you want more?"
"Lots." Jason says without hesitation, kissing her soundly. "As many as you can handle."
"Be careful what you wish for." Elizabeth smirks, laying her head against him. "You just might get it."
Jake's talking to his girlfriend when his two sisters come up and practically jump on him. Emma stands to the side, laughing as Jake tries and successfully holds them up while hugging them. It was one thing when it was only Lily, but both of them at the same time was a little harder to keep them balanced.
"You freaked mom out with your last move." Lily says as she stands back from him. "She covered her eyes instantly."
"I bet." Jake chuckled, knowing how nervous their mother gets when he skates. "How're you liking it, Ro?"
"Its so much fun!" Robyn exclaims. "Thank you for talking them into letting me come."
"What are brothers for right?" Jake counters with a slight smirk. "You two should get back to your seats though."
"Come on, I'll walk you two back." Emma says, turning to look at Jake. "Do you need me to say it?"
"Doesn't hurt." Jake pulls her into his arms.
"You're gonna rock this." Emma says, kissing him softly. "Take them down."
"You're the best." Jake winks at her before taking his position for the semi-finals.
The tournament went on, narrowing down the contestants from ten to five, Jake making it to the finals. Three of the other four are new comers, the fourth person being Jake's life long enemy - Spencer Cassadine. From the first day of grade school the two of them couldn't stand each other. From that day forward, Spencer has tried to win out Jake in every aspect of their lives, Jake always beating him.
"And the winner of the 10th Annual Skating Pink Tournament is..." the announcer opens the envelope, pulling out the card. "Jacob Morgan!"
The skate park erupts in applause as Jake takes the stage, accepting his medal and trophy. Spencer, fuming like always, but not causing a scene - with his father in attendance, he didn't want to risk losing the private jet privileges. The Morgans and Drakes leave the park once Jake does his winner's lap, taking their celebration to Kelly's.
"Hey, you." Elizabeth says as she walks out of the diner to her husband. "Why are you out here?"
"Just counting my blessings." Jason says, looking away from the scene inside to look at his wife. "You feeling better now?"
"Now that my son is safe and won first place...yeah." Elizabeth laughs softly. "Much better."
"Good." Jason wraps his arms around her. "How did your meeting with Robin go? Did she say if we can start working on having more kids?"
"She said that we could." Elizabeth smiles brightly. "But we don't have to work that hard."
"What does that mean?" Jason looks at her intently.
"It means...I'm pregnant." Elizabeth says happily, watching as his eyes light up. "I'm two months along."
Jason lets it sink in for a moment before picking her up into a spinning hug, this day couldn't possibly get any better. Yanking open the door, Jason guides Elizabeth into the diner. He couldn't believe that after everything that has happened, Elizabeth surviving breast cancer, they were finally having another child.
"We're having another baby!" Jason practically shouts, causing everyone to look at them. He leans towards Elizabeth when she tries to whisper in his ear. "Two?"
"Yeah." Elizabeth breathes, laughing when his eyes grow big.
"Two babies!" Jason amends. "We're having twins!"
"Nice going, dad." Jake hugs his dad, somehow he knew they'd be announcing something like any day now. "Twins."
"I'm not changing diapers." Cameron says, shaking his dad's hand and hugging his mom.
"Sure you won't." Elizabeth laughs softly, wrapping her arms around her two daughters.
Congratulations are exchanged, Jason and Elizabeth standing together with their arms wrapped around each other once the news settles down and returns to Jake's winning the tournament. As he looks at the family they've created, Jason couldn't help the smile that was on his face.
His friendship with Carly never recovered, his partnership with Sonny shattered, and almost everything about his life has changed. Though he wishes that the mob was no longer part of his life, Jason would never be truly out. Instead of Sonny making a deal with Johnny, like in his alternate reality, Jason was the one to strike up a deal with the young Zacchara - once they got rid of Anthony that is.
Even with all the changes, everything that they had to go through to get to this point, everything that he lost, Jason couldn't be happier. His family is whole and growing, he's the father that Elizabeth always knew he could be, and the danger level is as low as it was ever going to get. Though their life may not be perfect, the future unknown, Jason knows that they'll get through anything ahead as a family. Whole. Happy. And perfectly imperfect.
A/N: Thank you to all of you who have stuck with this fic from beginning to end. I know a lot of it was hard to read, but (like I've said before) nothing's ever what it seems.
It was hard to write this fic, but I had a lot of fun writing it and coming up with every chapter.
Please review for this last chapter. Share your thoughts on the final chapter and the story as a whole. Thank you!
-ROCkER