A/N - Thanks for the comments! * Glad you like Gelan! Also happy you don't mind Kristina.

Chapter 61 – Being There

Elizabeth and Jason went into the bedroom. He could tell she was a little sad and he wished he could do something to make her feel better.

"Talk to me."

She sat down. "When you make choices, you just don't think about how it is going to affect your life or other people later down the line."

"I know."

They had both made some really bad mistakes. It was really a miracle that they were even together at this point.

"I sometimes wonder if Cam will find out everything we both did and hate us for it."

"I feel the same way. I'm just hoping that they get to see enough of our love for each other and them that they'll be able to forgive us some day. I'm really not looking forward to that conversation, but I plan on being honest with them," Jason said.

"Cam already has seen me screw up enough. It has already hurt him. I just hope that it doesn't affect him once he starts dating, at least not in a negative way."

"He has a good head on his shoulders and a lot of the reason for that is you. You have always loved him. Even when you were at your worst, you tried to do your best by him. Most of your choices hurt you more anyway."

She looked over at him. "How can you say that after I asked you to give up your son because I was too scared to tell Lucky the truth?"

"Because I gave up my son for my job."

"You gave him up to keep him safe. Your job preceded his conception."

"I didn't fight for him Elizabeth."

"Because I ripped your heart out."

Jason stood up. "We've been over this. I've hurt you to and you can't deny that it led you to make some mistakes. I'm not letting you take the blame for everything. We're in this together. We both messed up, mostly out of fear and stupidity, but I will not let that define our entire lives. I love you and we're going to be the best parents we can be. I'm going to love you so fiercely and completely that our boys will know how to treat a woman right. And you will continue to love them because they deserve to know what it's like to be loved unconditionally. When they find someone to love, I want them to wonder if she could even hold a candle their mom. I will love them with everything I have because they are the best of both of us and I want them to have a great life. They will be fine. If they get mad at us, then that is something we'll deal with, but I'm not going to sit here and listen to you beat yourself." Neither of them could change the past. What was done was done.

Liz studied his face. He didn't even realize that a few tears had fallen. God, they both had so much regret. She stood and took his hands. "Thank you for loving me and our boys. I don't want to beat myself up. Sometimes, I just think back on what my life was and I just wished I could have had this all along."

Jason pulled her into his arms. "If I could go back—I love you Elizabeth with everything that I am."

He picked her up and laid her on the bed and held her for a long time. He felt her breathing change and knew she had fallen asleep and he really hoped that someday when she looked back, that she'd remember more good than bad.

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Kristina took another beer from Johnny. "Do you ever think back and wonder how you were so oblivious to what was going on around you?"

Johnny grinned. "You were a kid. It was your job to be self-centered."

She smirked. "I think I took it to another level."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. It was the adults in your life that were complete idiots."

"I wish I could really say that. I was kind of a terror to deal with. Be happy you missed the Krissy years."

Johnny chuckled. "You don't regret them do you?"

"There are plenty of things I wish I could have taken back, but I guess in the end I wouldn't be me if it didn't happen."

"And just who is Kristina Davis?"

She smiled. "I have a degree in finance from Wesleyan. I get bitchy when I'm hungry. I am loyal and will cut a bitch if they screw with my family. I love hard and sometimes like to play hard. I'm always searching for that illusive thing called love. I don't know. I'm really not that hard to read and believe it or not, I'm really over a lot of drama. I had enough of that around high school time."

"Tell me about it?"

She took another long swig. "I might need more alcohol."

He smiled.

"I made some mistakes you know? My first real boyfriend was abusive and beat me." She saw the angry flare up in his eyes but continued on. "I thought I liked someone after that, but he really was too old for me. I fought my father tooth and nail and was the biggest brat in heels. There's a lot not to like there, but underneath it all I was fiery. I like that I'm a fighter. With Sonny as your dad, you kind of have to be one." She took another drink. "What about you?"

Johnny sighed. "That's hard because I'm not really the same person I was before. Believe it or not, I'm a little bit more low key."

She made a face and he laughed.

"I shit you not. I made some big mistakes too and it put my mom in danger. I paid for it with my life but Helena had other plans. Now, I'm just trying to figure out who I am in the present. Thank God for Jason. He shouldn't have forgiven me, but he did. I'll always be grateful for that."

She squeezed his arm. It was clear that both of them had some heavy skeletons. "What else? What do you do for fun?"

Johnny smiled. "I like to play pool." He laughed. "Lately, I love playing with the kids. They have such unique personalities and they are so funny. Jake looks quiet, but he has such a funny way of looking at things. Cam is great too. I wish I was as mature as he was when I was that age. Danny is so silly. They kind of take my mind off of things and make me feel normal. Is that weird?"

She shook her head. "Not at all. Kids have a way of doing that."

"I like sports and going fast. I also really like poker, especially on the rare occasions when I beat Jason."

Kristina smiled. "I like the new Jason. He's more approachable and happy."

"It's a big change for me, but I like it too. He's been through a lot and I'm glad that he and Elizabeth got out of their own way. They just fit. Hopefully, I'll find someone someday. If that big lug can find true love, anyone can."

Kristina laughed. "I like you Johnny."

He smirked. "Right back at ya."

She stood up. "Let's go swimming."

"Now?"

"Yes. We'll be quiet."

He smiled. "Come here," he said holding out his hand. She took it and he led her outside to the pool house and they went inside. "Liz keeps some extra bathing suits in here. Get changed, and I'll be right back."

She smiled. "Deal."

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Nikolas banged his hands on his desk in frustration. To his word, Jason was ruining his life and there was no way in hell that he was going to sit back and let him get away with it. He downed another drink and threw his glass against the wall.

"Wow, what bug crawled up your ass?" Lucky asked.

Nikolas stared at his brother like he was seeing an apparition. "What are you doing here?"

"Revenge."

Nikolas plopped down in his chair. "Against who?"

Lucky smiled. "Jason and Elizabeth."

The Prince's head tilted. "Really?"

"Let's just say that the Queen invited me on a very special mission."

"You've got my attention Lucky. What are going to do?"

Lucky poured himself a drink and took a sip. "Good stuff," he said feeling the burn. "Actually, I have some plans and I was wondering if you wanted to assist me."

Nikolas stared at him for a long moment. If he crossed this line, he could never come back. Lucky was a mess on a good day and he wasn't sure that he should even trust him. "That depends on what your plan is." He did have Spencer to think about.

"Well, for one, I need some place to take them too off the grid. No one can find us. Then I'll need to get out of the country with Jake and Cam."

"What do you want them for?"

Lucky smirked. "They are like the icing on the cake. Elizabeth will watch Jason die and then I want her to beg me to take her back right before I end her."

Nikolas really didn't care at this point. Elizabeth had made her choice. "Jason is draining my accounts dry. He's destroying the business. I'm not sure that I can help."

"I have money. I just need transportation and the building."

Nikolas smiled. "You know, they are renovating the coffee warehouse right now. Wouldn't it be interesting if you took them there, right under everyone's noses?"

Lucky chuckled. "That would be very ironic."

"No one would look some place so obvious."

"You have a point. So, can you get me out of the country?"

Nikolas nodded. "We'll use the yacht. We can take it to Canada and fly from there."

"That will work. With Jason dead, you can build back up the business."

"You've got yourself a deal."

Lucky stood up. "Edgar will need to stay here too. There is another person involved as well—a sleeper. The chip has been activated and they are already being used to infiltrate Jason's compound. It's how we're going to get onto the grounds and take them."

Nikolas smiled. "Good. Let's drink to a good partnership."

Lucky smiled and held his glass up. Nikolas was playing right into his hands, and Edgar would make sure that he would get the blame for Jason's death.

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Johnny walked outside in his swim trunks and smiled when he saw she was already in the pool.

Kristina was impressed with his body. He had abs for days.

Johnny dove in and surface right behind her and grabbed her.

She fought a yelp and they tangled and played around, trying to be as quiet as possible.

Jason had come down to the kitchen for a drink and looked outside and chuckled. Johnny was doing his best to make Kristina not be quiet and she kept warning him to stop. He went back upstairs and left them to their fun.

Johnny pulled her into him as he treads water. "You're a lot of fun Krissy."

Kristina grinned. "You're not so bad for an old man."

"Ouch. I prefer to go by my frozen age."

She shook her head. "You're like Brendan Fraser in that caveman movie."

"Really?"

She laughed. "You're cuter though."

"Cuter?"

"Okay, hotter."

His head tilted and he stared into her eyes. "What do you want Kristina?"

"You're a cool guy and I'd like to get to know you better, if that's okay."

Johnny nodded. "I'm good with that."

She smiled and pushed him under before racing off towards the other side. Johnny came up for air with a big grin on his face. Maybe things were finally looking up.

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Johnny woke up when he heard his door open. Jason almost busted up laughing from the look on his face when the man realized that Kristina had slept in his arms. They had fallen asleep while watching a movie.

"I thought you might be hungry."

Kristina pulled the blanket over her head.

Jake walked in behind him carrying a bag. "Morning."

Johnny smiled. "Hey Jake."

"Mom said to tell Kristina hi."

Kristina groaned from under the covers.

"Who you got under there?"

Jason chuckled.

"A friend."

"Will she play with me?"

Johnny grinned. "I don't know. You'll have to ask her."

Jake walked to the end of the couch. "She has pink toes," he said, touching one making Kristina giggle. He smiled. "Daddy, make her come out."

"She's sleeping buddy."

Jake giggled. "No she's not. I heard her laugh."

"She was snoring," Johnny said making a face. "You wouldn't believe how loud she snores. You have to get up close though to hear it."

Jake tip toed towards the other end of the couch and Kristina pretended to snore and then threw the covers off and grabbed Jake and he squealed and laughed as she tickled him.

"Uncle," he said giggling.

"Hi Jake."

Jake smiled. He recognized her because she had got in the bouncy with him at Danny's party. "Hi Krissy."

She was surprised that he remembered her name. Getting up, she rustled his hair and looked up at Jason. "Thanks for the breakfast. I'll be right back."

She went into the bathroom.

"Before you shoot me, nothing happened."

Jason grinned. "Sure….."

Jake mimicked his dad making Johnny laugh.

Jason's phone buzzed and he read the text and grinned. "Elizabeth said to stop teasing you and bring her son back to the house."

"That's my girl."

"My girl," Jason said.

Jake frowned and crossed his arms across his chest. "My mommy."

They laughed and Jason grabbed his son and threw him over his shoulder. "Later loser."

Johnny sat up and looked in the bag and lifted the lid off the tray. Kristina came out of the bathroom. "You up for some waffles?"

She smiled. "Hell yeah."

They dug in and then Kristina stood up to leave.

"Do you have to go?"

She smiled. He was so cute when he pouted. "I do but I'd love to see you later if possible. Maybe we could play some pool."

Johnny smiled. "Deal."

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Edgar cornered the sleeper. "I hope you're ready for the task at hand."

"What did you to me?"

Memories were coming back of a clinic and Helena.

Edgar smiled. "The Queen needed your help to get rid of some of her unruly peasants."

"And if I don't help?"

"You don't have a choice. You'll do as I tell you or there will be consequences."

"I can't hurt them."

He grinned. "You have already planted the seed." He handed the person a bag. "Everything you need is in there. Make it happen soon or I will hurt the people you care about and then you will lose your life. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'll follow up with you in a few days. By this weekend, I need this to be finished."