Disclaim any and all recognizable traits, features, characters, and settings recognizable in any way shape or form. This story and others in my collection are merely a way of showcasing my love for the genre, show, and all that may or may not lay in between those verified lines. Reviews are always appreciated and greatly welcomed in all forms as long as they prove to provide actual assistance in furthering the story's potential in every way possible. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and, hopefully, review.
Believe in Me
The sound of his car alarm activating rings through the silent garage as he makes his way through the doors that lead to the main house. With all he has to do today, Jason has one promise to uphold before beginning his day, morning tea with grandmother. No matter how busy he gets, no matter how complicated his life may become from time to time, morning tea is a constant. As it will always be.
Setting up the table just how she likes it, he makes his way to his grandmother's bedroom to escort her to their usual table on the back patio. Assuring Reginald that he'll take good care of her, Jason wheels his grandmother to her usual spot at their table before taking his seat and pouring them both a cup of tea. Chamomile today, both needing the relaxing remedies it offers.
"I hear Elizabeth has begun her courses at the University." Lila comments as she mixes the tea to her preference. "That must be quite exciting for her."
"She's more nervous than excited right now." Jason admits, taking a quick sip of tea before setting the cup back down. "She's trying to prove herself to her family."
"Much like you are." she comments observantly. "I also hear your grandfather has given his blessing. Good. I was afraid I'd have to lock him up in a room for a month to get him to see reason."
"I just might have asked you to." he counters, laughing softly before taking another sip of tea. "Things seem to really be falling into place for us."
"As it should." Lila says with conviction. "Before I forget, your sister has informed the family that she'll be returning any day now. Do be present when she arrives. I know she'll be most excited to see you above anyone else."
"I highly doubt that." Jason counters. "You are on the top of everyone's list, grandmother."
"Still the sweet talker, I see." she smiles brightly, always appreciative of their alone time. "That speech you gave last night..."
"Elizabeth's." he admits, knowing there was no fooling her. "She thought that it would reach Grandfather on a more profound level than just outright demanding his blessing."
"Smart lady, if you ask me."
"Trust me, she knows it." he was certain that almost everyone in town knew that, having fallen victim to her constant scheming one time or another. "Anyway, there had been one condition to his blessing..."
"Should have realized it would come with conditions." Lila sighs, having hoped that her husband had simply given his blessing without contest. "What condition did he set?"
"I have to change my last name."
"Has that man lost his mind?" Lila couldn't believe her ears. "Why on earth would that be a requirement? Your grandfather prides himself in the fact that you're a Quartermaine."
"Grandfather believes that the only way he'll truly appreciate my efforts to create a business of my own is if I do so without using the Quartermaine name." Jason explains. "I was hoping you'd let me use Morgan in its place."
"Are you certain that's what you want?" Lila couldn't hide the look of surprise from her features. "There's a million other last names that you could utilize..."
"I know, but none that I care to use." he assures her with an equal level of conviction. "If I can't honor you with the Quartermaine name, I want to honor you with the Morgan name. If you'll let me."
"Jason Morgan." Lila voices, testing it for good measure. "It does have quite a beautiful ring to it."
"Can I take that as your approval?"
"It'll be my honor to have you carry on the Morgan name." Lila voices wholeheartedly. "However, your grandfather is going to get an earful for demanding such a condition, regardless."
"I'm sure you'll put him through the ringer, Grandmother."
They talk for a little while longer on what his day entails before delving a little into her garden of roses before he has no other choice but to head out. With his day as packed as it is, he'll be lucky if he gets back to the University on time to pick up Elizabeth after her classes.
The first step is getting his name changed, which meant a meeting with his lawyer and a hefty amount of money to make it legal. Of all that will be surprised by the change, he's certain that his best friend is at the top of the list. He had purposely withheld the condition from her in order to surprise her with the change later.
Almost certainly, she'll want to ring out his grandfather as much as his grandmother is bound to do. If nothing else, the two share an equal level of protectiveness over him. Something his grandfather had experienced first hand when he had locked Jason out of the house after presenting his plans for his future the first time. Suffice to say that the was back in the house an hour later with as good of an apology as any from the old man.
Nearly the entire day would pass by him in what seems like the blink of an eye before he was finished with all the paperwork that would change his name from Quartermaine to Morgan. Many having expressed the confusion in his choice, having believed that any living person would probably kill for the Quartermaine last name, shocked that he was there to relinquish the family name.
With the documents in hand, he proceeds to get his driver's license, as well as his state ID, fixed in order to portray the Morgan name instead of the Quartermaine. Where, of course, he was met with even more confusion and onslaught of questions in regard to the change. You'd think that the Quartermaine name itself was the sole reason for his family's success rather than the hard work of the people that made the name what it is today.
Most assuredly, he will be met with a lot of skeptics along the way, but surely enough he will make the Morgan name just as awe worthy as the Quartermaine's. Admittedly, he had wanted to create his empire with the Quartermaine, having always taken pride in carrying the name for what it meant, but the Morgan surname is just as important to him and his family and he's honored to own it now.
Before he knows it, its that time already, directing his destination back to the steps of the university to pick Elizabeth up after her first day of college. To think that she could have been shipped to a state far away to follow in her family's footsteps, Jason found himself thankful to be able to do the simplest of tasks of picking her up.
"How was it?" he questions when she slides into the passenger seat and buckles up.
"Three words." she says with the brightest smile on her face that he has ever seen. "A-may-zing."
"That's one word." he reminds her as they pull out of the parking lot. "Three syllables."
"Whatever." she laughs softly. "Regardless, I had a great time. Thank you for convincing me to do this...I truly owe you one."
"I'm pretty sure we're even." he counters, turning them onto the path that would lead them to the local diner for a late lunch. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."
"One of my professors even went as far as proposing that I just might be his top student this year." she relays the highlights of her day. "Can you believe it? Me, a top student? Its just so crazy to think that I could be a top student at anything, let alone my life's passion!"
"I'm truly happy for you." he voices wholeheartedly, amazed to see her so excited for her future. "I knew you'd be great."
"Okay, okay...enough about me." she waves her hand as if to erase the topic of herself from the conversation. "What about you? How are you plans coming along?"
"Well..."
Grabbing his wallet from his back pocket when they stop at a red light, Jason hands it to her, instructing her to pull out his driver's license, much to her confusion. Watching as she does so, Jason couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of him at the sight of her complete and utter shock.
"Jason Morgan Quartermaine!" she slaps his arm once her senses return to her, truly shocked by the name on his license. "Edward made you do this?"
"His only condition to giving his blessing." he admits, stepping on the gas when the light turns green. "You don't like it?"
"Its not that." she waves away his question. "Its just going to take a little getting used to."
"Grandmother seems to like it." he voices before pulling into the diner's rather small parking area. "Jason Morgan does seem a little more me, don't you think?"
"Well, yeah, now that I hear it out loud...it does have a certain edge to it." she admits. "Jason Morgan...sounds almost like a biker's name. Maybe you should get a motorcycle with your new name."
"One step at a time, wild child." Jason chuckles, opening the door for her. "First step is getting me a business to go with the name."
"Right, of course." she shakes her head. "Then the bike, right?"
"Next thing I know, you'll be trying to talk me into purchasing a handgun."
"It would complete the look."
"Uh-huh." Jason shakes his head, opening up the menu. "Order your food already before I make you pay for your own meal."
"Sure." she accepts, lifting up the menu to peruse it, regardless of knowing it by heart. A smirk on her face when she utters, "We'll talk about getting you a bike and handgun after we've eaten."
"Elizabeth."
"I know, I know." she laughs softly. "Order my food."