Okay guys here it is! There is so much more coming up I almost can't wait to get started on it. I said this was a story of AJ's redemption. Whether or not that's been apparent this is where it comes together. I hope you enjoy are all enjoying this story as much as I am. I am going on vacation here in a bit into the desert with no wifi so I may take a couple weeks off here in a bit. I may get one or two more chapters out before we go though. Talk about sacrifice. It's the 50th anniversay and the Nurse's Ball but they happen to fall on my boyfriends birthday. So I am going camping...:) please review and let me know what yo uthink this chapter is very different from any i have written so far. Enjoy! As always I only own my little story and Mia Flynn the rest is property of GH/and ABCD! Don't forget to review!

AJ was drowning; trapped under the icy waters. His muscles were locked, frozen. He tried to pull himself up to the surface but when he got there it was nothing but ice. Pure glassy ice. AJ could see through it. He saw Michael and Elizabeth. He saw his mother. They were calling to him. He tried to hit the ice to break it but it wouldn't budge, not even a fracture. It was getting dark. The only light was from above him, from the other side of the ice. He could feel the water pulling him down. It was dragging him despite his efforts to fight his way free. Cold seeped into his bones. He grew heavier. He railed against the icy sheet separating him from the ones he loved. He saw Elizabeth press her hand to the sheet of ice. He saw her tears. They dropped just above his hand. The ice started to grow thin. He thought maybe he could break through but he heard a voice from below calling out.

"You may have escaped death but you won't escape me." Sonny said, "I will NEVER forget what you have done. I will NEVER let you get a hold of Michael. He is MY SON!" Sonny glared at AJ through the bars of the prison cell. "You are Nothing."

AJ shook his head to clear the memory. I was if it was happening again. He pulled himself through the frigid waters, despite his muscles screaming in agony. He reached the ice once again. AJ tried harder to break the glass to tell Elizabeth that he wasn't worth crying over. That she should be happy. He wanted more than anything to tell her how he felt. He was sorry. He wanted to tell Michael how very sorry he was that he had never been there for him while he was growing up. He wanted to apologize to his mother for making her life so hard. Michael's hand pressed to the ice above him but AJ couldn't reach him. The water began to swirl around him. More voices called out to him.

"You're still the same petty child" Alexis said, "The same vindictive, spoiled kid who thinks the world owes him something; the little boy whose life was too hard." Alexis shook her head and stepped closer to him. Rage made her hand shake as she pointed at him. "You haven't changed. I don't believe your act or your phony shrinks. You will never change and I will NEVER forgive you for what you did."

"No!" AJ tried to shout and instead he got a mouth full of water. He wasn't the same person. He had changed. He had changed for himself. For Michael and for Elizabeth. Everything he had worked for; his sobriety; his position at ELQ; the start of a relationship with his son; atonement for the train wreck his life had become; finding the perfect woman for him. He was going to lose it all.

"You're just a drunk. A lousy no good drunk!" Tracey raged at him. "That's all you have ever been and all you will ever be. You think you can run ELQ? Fine go ahead and when you run Daddy's company into the ground, I will be there to pick up the pieces and laugh at the poor drunk who never could live up to the name Quartermaine!"

With another mighty burst of strength he pulled himself up to the ice. He broke through. He grabbed the first person he saw, Elizabeth. He held on tight and told her everything that was in his heart. Michael grabbed his hand. "I love you, son" He managed before he was pulled back into his cold watery prison. The ice closed over above him. He tried to fight but the darkness was too strong. It pulled him inexorably down. Down into the cold, icy hell, that he knew was going to be his eternity. At least Molly was safe, was his last thought.

AJ woke up. The first thing he noticed was that he was clean and dry. He was no longer in the water. He sat up. He'd been lying on a park bench. He looked around there was no one there. He stood up and looked down at himself. He was wearing pajama pants with a t-shirt and his dark blue dressing robe. It was the Port Charles Park. AJ saw the bridge. He knew that Jason and Robin had gone there to talk when they were teenagers. He looked around. He saw the fountain. The sun was shining but it seemed wrong. There was a light cool breeze but that too felt wrong. He heard a sound from behind him and turned to see Molly standing in front of him.

"Hi, AJ"

"Molly? Where are we?" She was dressed similar to him in pajamas and a pretty purple robe. She walked around the fountain and the two casually walked around their little world.

"I don't know. I was cold and scared and then I was here."

"Same with me." He didn't want to elaborate on the frigid hell he had been in.

"I should have listened to my mom and gone straight home." Molly said.

"Why were you on the pier? You had to have known how dangerous it was" AJ asked perplexed he had heard about how smart Molly was.

"I don't know. I was mad at my mom. I wanted to see TJ. I decided to walk over to see him instead of waiting for a ride. I was about to turn back around when that guy grabbed me. I have never been so scared in my life."

"Neither have I" was AJ's response.

"But I thought…I'm sorry…"

"For what?"

"For prying. I am always doing that"

AJ laughed and the two sat down on the swings. "It's okay I am pretty sure my history in Port Charles is a matter of public record usually in the police records actually."

Molly smiled. "I don't know much about you, AJ Quartermaine. Mom says you are a bad person. That you had Michael and my sister kidnapped when they were kids."

"I did." AJ looked down. "I did a lot of things I wasn't proud of. Some of them I was pushed into, some of them were just the childish fits of a spoiled boy. I'm not going to make any excuses. I did what I did and I have to live with the consequences of it."

"But you don't have to punish yourself forever either."

AJ's head whipped up and his eyes met Molly's "What?"

"You're punishing yourself. Maybe it's because you got out of going to prison, Maybe it's because you still feel like you deserve to be punished."

"I do."

"I don't think so. Since you've been back, I have only heard lots of things about you. I heard about the bad things, yes, but there were good things too. Turning ELQ around; sponsoring the Nurse's Ball; not going after Uncle Sonny when he cornered you at the Haunted Star."

"You know about that?" he asked with a smile.

"I know everything. People talk freely around us kids. They don't think we are listening or even there. It helps that I am naturally curious. Mom says it's what I get for having two lawyers for parents."

"Where is your dad? Last time I saw him he was the DA."

"He moved to California after everything fell out with Uncle Sonny. There was a time I thought they were all going to be fine but I was wrong."

"Do you miss your Dad?"

"Sometimes. We keep in touch with Facebook and email. Sometimes we skype. It just isn't the same though."

"If he came back, would you be happy to see him?" The answer was very important to AJ.

"Of course! He's my dad." Molly said.

They were quiet for a time, both slightly swinging companionably in the beautiful park.

"AJ?"

"I think I have to go soon." Molly said. She stopped swinging and stood up. AJ followed her as she crossed back to the fountain. "I can hear my mom. I can hear my sister. They are calling me."

"Then you should go to them Molly." AJ said taking her hands in his. "You shouldn't stay here. This isn't where you belong. You belong with the people who love you. You need to go back and live your life. Be happy."

"You should come with me."

"I don't think I can."

"Of course you can! You saved me AJ. You saved me from what that guy was going to do to me. Michael needs you, so does Elizabeth."

"They don't need someone like me."

"They do. Don't you see?"

"I guess not."

"It's getting close I can feel myself slipping away."

"Do me a favor?" AJ asked holding tight to her hands.

"Anything for my hero." Molly said with an innocent smile.

"Tell my son…tell Michael…that I love him. That I never meant for him to get hurt."

"You'll tell him AJ. You're coming too."

AJ come back to me please.

AJ heard the voice. It was Elizabeth. It was so far away. He turned to look for her. But he couldn't see anything. When he turned back to Molly she was gone.

"Molly? Molly...?" She was nowhere to be seen.

Thank you, AJ. You saved me. You'll always be my hero…

AJ heard Molly's words as they faded into the sounds of the park. He looked around. He was alone again. His thoughts turned dark once again. He thought about how much better off everyone would be without him there screwing up their lives. He thought about Michael, about Elizabeth, and about his mother.

"They'll all be better off." He said to no one in particular.

"Do you really believe that?"

"Emily" He breathed. He looked but couldn't see her. He could hear her voice as if she was standing right next to him.

"Of course, Silly who else?"

"Emily, I miss you so much."

"Turn around then." AJ turned and he saw the bridge. He watched as Emily crossed the bridge and walked over to stand by his side.

"Emily" He took her in his arms and held her tight.

"Oh AJ. What have you done to yourself now?"

"I…Nothing. It's nothing."

"Come on now, it's me you are talking to. I know you sacrificed yourself to save Molly."

"You know?"

"We know everything here. We watch over you."

"We?"

"Yes, we."

"Who else is here?" He asked looking around.

"They'll be here when you are ready. I tell you what it wasn't easy pulling at Molly's coat to get you to see it though."

"You did that? I couldn't see her. I kept diving over and over again"

"I had a hand in it. It's not easy, you know, but we jump in when we can."

"Emily" AJ sighed and held her close breathing in her sweet fragrance.

"Oh AJ. Things have been hard on you."

"I brought it on myself."

"Maybe. But you need to stop paying the price. You have done so many wonderful things."

"So I saved ELQ and funded a party. That doesn't seem like a whole lot to me."

"Silly boy I wasn't talking about that."

"What then?"

"Elizabeth."

"I didn't do anything for Elizabeth."

"Of course you did!" Emily said with a laugh. "Can't you see? Here let me help you."

"This isn't going to be 'It's a Wonderful Life' is it?"

"Maybe," Emily conceded. "It was our favorite thing to do on Christmas."

"I remember. You and I would sneak down after everyone went to bed and make popcorn and hot chocolate and watch it together."

"And then cook would wonder why the kitchen was such a mess in the morning."

"Well, if she didn't hide everything…" The two laughed.

"About Elizabeth…"

"Emily, how could I possibly have saved her? She's fine and she would still be fine if I had never come along. In fact, she would probably be happy with Lucky right now."

"But that would have been wrong. You have been gone too long brother. Elizabeth was so unhappy. She convinced herself that she wasn't worthy of being loved by someone she loved."

"But she is!"

"Of course she is. Elizabeth is more deserving than most people. Sure she made mistakes but that doesn't mean she can't be loved. She just believed that it wasn't going to happen."

"Lucky loves her." AJ said simply.

"No you don't get it. Lucky, Ric, Jason, even Matt and Ewen; they all said they loved her. But none of them put her first. None of them truly loved her. Not the real her."

"What do you mean? There is only one Elizabeth. She's a loving mother, a loyal friend, she cares about people. She'd sacrifice her life to save her children or anyone she cared about."

"She has and she always will. You'll see"

"I guess I'll see from here won't I?"

"Not necessarily" Came a voice from the path.

"Dad." AJ ran to Alan. He threw his arms around his father. Dropping to his knees. "I am so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Of course, Son. We talked about all this on Halloween. I forgive you. I love you. Now it's time to forgive yourself."

"I made so many mistakes."

"We all have, son. It's how we learn from those mistakes that makes us good men. And you, my son, are a great man."

"No, but I did try."

"You aren't done yet, young man!"

"Grandfather. Grandmother." AJ saw his grandparents standing just behind his father.

"AJ you have been a scoundrel, a rapscallion and occasionally a cad. But you have always been a Quartermaine."

"Oh Edward. What your grandfather is trying to say is that he loves you and so do I" Lila said.

"Grandmother." AJ wrapped his arms around Lila.

"Your grandmother is right. I love you AJ. And I am so proud of the man you have become."

"I'm nothing special"

"Oh, AJ, so misguided. So lost. You have finally found your way. You saved that girl. You are making a new life for yourself." Lila said pressing her hand to his cheek.

"I want to stay here with you. With all of you." he said holding her hand to the side of his face.

"AJ you're not ready. It isn't time for you yet." Emily said.

"But I have come so far. Everyone else will be happier without me." AJ crossed over to stand in front of her.

"How can you say that? Can't you see how much you are needed? Can't you hear them AJ?" Emily sighed.

"Hear what?"

"Elizabeth and Michael. They are calling you. Can't you hear them?" a new voice said from behind him.

AJ turned around. He didn't expect to see him here. It wasn't possible. Jason stood to the side. He was young and he held the hand of a very young boy. AJ knew it was Jake. Even if he hadn't seen the photos of him at Elizabeth's house he would have recognized that this was Jason's son.

"How are you here?"

"It's Jason." Emily explained at his elbow. "This is the part of Jason that died a long time ago."

"My brother. My brother whom I killed. How can you stand the sight of me?" AJ turned away.

"I made the choice to get in the car with you." jason said putting his hand to AJ's shoulder and turning him around. "I am as much to blame as you. You take too much on you, AJ. You need to learn to let go of the past and embrace your future."

"I don't think I am going to have one." AJ said dropping his head in defeat.

"That is not the way a Quartermaine behaves!" Edward scolded. He grabbed AJ's chin and lifted his head. "Quatermaines do not give up!"

"Grandfather, why else would I be here?"

"You are here to learn. To rest. To realize" Lila said placing her hand on his shoulder.

"There are people who need you, and there are people who are going to need you." Alan said.

"Elizabeth" AJ said. He closed his eyes and saw her beautiful face.

"Yes," Emily said smiling at his closed eyes. "You can hear her now?"

AJ, please come back to me. I need you. I need to tell you what is in my heart.

"I hear her."

AJ, I need you so much…

"She needs you too."

"Is that why you sent me the painting?" AJ asked her. Emily's smile was all the answer he needed.

"Don't you see where we are AJ?" Jason asked. "Look around."

AJ finally knew why everything seemed different here. "We're in the painting." He said with wonder. "This is Elizabeth's place."

"You used to stare at this painting like it was a lifeline and now it is" Alan said from beside him.

Dad, Dad, please. I need more time with you…

"Michael?"

"You can hear him?" Jason asked.

"He called me Dad."

"You are his father," Jason replied. "He loves you"

AJ, please, Come back to us.

"Mom"

"Yes, AJ, it's time."

"No, I don't want to go. I miss you all so much"

"We miss you too. But we are always here. We are always watching out for you." Alan said.

"You have to go AJ" Emily again.

"In a minute." He said. AJ was captivated by the little boy holding Jason's hand. He knelt down in front of him on one knee. "Jake, Your momma misses you so much."

"Uncle AJ, You have to go back. You gotta take care of Momma. Daddy says she's scared. So you gotta go be with her cause I can't"

Tears filled AJ's eyes as he turned to see the fallen members of his family standing together united. This was how it should've been. They were the best of them all and they had been taken too damn soon. "I love you guys so very much"

"We love you too, son." Alan said. "It's time to go now."

"I don't know what to do."

"I'll help you." Emily said taking his hand. "Close your eyes" AJ did as she bid. "Think about who matters to you. Hear them calling for you."

"I love you, Emily"

"I love you too." he could hear the tears in her voice as his own tears burned a trail down his face.

"Listen to them calling you, AJ"

AJ, Come back. Please don't leave me…

My Son, please, give me one more miracle…

Dad, don't leave me yet…