Thank you to Trini12180 for your comments about the before and after What Ifs. Thank you to the guest reviewers.

Chapter 7

9/3/03-The Penthouse. What if decisions were different when Zander and Elizabeth stayed at the Penthouse?

Zander has partial amnesia from being caught on Luis Alcazar's yacht. He was beaten and tossed overboard in a boat explosion and only trusted Elizabeth. Alcazar is an enemy of Sonny and Jason, and Alcazar has something Sonny wants. To protect Zander and Elizabeth, Jason has them stay in his Penthouse.

Elizabeth stares out the balcony window, still feeling Jason's hands on her shoulders from two hours ago. He was pointing out Alczar's yacht, and Elizabeth imagined sailing the Medeterrian with Jason, escaping the madness of Port Charles. Jason left to check out the ship. Zander comes down the stairs, and she wonders if Zander has amnesia or is afraid of what could happen to him once the Alcazar situation is resolved. Zander is manic. One moment, he's thanking her for helping him, and the next, he accuses her and Jason of plotting against him because she loves Jason. "Why are you helping me if you are in love with Jason?"

"Zander, you may not have your memories back, but we are friends. There is tension between Sonny and Jason because you betrayed them. If the information you provided is valuable, you can prove yourself again. My feelings for Jason have nothing to do with wanting to keep you safe." Elizabeth thinks, "If the little shit could remember, he'd have known better not to cross Sonny or Jason in the first place, and neither of us would be in the position we are in now."

Zander thinks he might be better off on his own. Elizabeth shakes her head, "It's your choice, but keep in mind you made some bad choices. You have no memory, people are out to kill you, and your judgment is suspect, which is why I refused to go away with you."

Jason returns, injured from an attack when he was inspecting the ship. After discussing with Sonny what happened on the boat, Jason returns to his Penthouse to find Elizabeth on the couch, waiting for him. Jason's heart sinks. He wants her, but it's his life. He's afraid she will look at him differently one day because of his choices. He doesn't like pushing her away. She holds her hand to him, and he says, "I'm not what you need, Elizabeth."

"Jason, I don't care what you do out there or about tomorrow or the next day. The only thing that matters is what we have now, and we have each other tonight."

What about Zander? He's why you are here."

"He may be why I'm in your Penthouse, but not why I am on the couch with you or who the one I want to be with. Zander needs someone, but it isn't me. You are the one I want to be with, Jason."

Jason replies, You matter to me. I want to be with you, too."

Elizabeth says, "Before Zander comes and ruins the moment, can we go upstairs to your room and lock the door?"

"Elizabeth, I'd rather wait until Zander is gone before..."

"Jason, I want to talk about what this means. People have a way of interrupting us before we fully express our feelings. Talk Jason. That is what I want to do."

Jason closes the door behind him. "There are things I will never be able to give you. I can't promise I won't be called away in the middle of the night or have to go to a meeting or be able to tell you about who I meet. I can't promise you that you won't be hurt by my life or by me. I would never intentionally hurt you."

"Jason, "That is important to me."

"I can respect you, listen to you, and be honest with you. I want to try."

"So do I."

Jason pulls Elizabeth close for a hug, and she kisses him.

"You're so beautiful and smart. You make me see things that I've never even noticed until you pointed them out. You have a lot of dreams, and that's good because I hardly have any, so I can believe in yours; that's what you bring to me. What can I offer you? Pool lessons? Motorcycle rides?"

"Jason, you listened when no one else could hear me. You trusted me to live my own life when I didn't even know how to trust myself. You make me happy. You make me feel free."

Jason locks the door. You make me happy, too. When Zander no longer needs protecting, we can fully be alone; for now, I want to hold you."

In the morning, Jason receives a call and says, "I'll be there in 20."

"Elizabeth, we talked about this last night. I can't tell you certain things about what I do. I will call you later, but it should be safe soon." Jason kisses her forehead and leaves.

9/17-:

What if Jason didn't lie about Sonny being dead? OR What if Elizabeth also knew?

June 2023

Elizabeth watches as Jason ties his shoes. She has ulterior motives for the walk. She's checking his reflexes and hopes he can soon manage without assistance and return to his life. Until then, she has some surprises for him.

After a 20-minute walk, Elizabeth and Jason return to the safe house. "How are you feeling?"

"Ready for a therapy shower. Care to join me?" He grins.

"Tempting, but we still have unfinished conversations to resolve before we decide to move forward. Take your shower, and your surprise will be waiting for you."

"Elizabeth, I hate surprises."

Winking, Elizabeth says, "You'll love this one."

Elizabeth assists Jason upstairs and sneaks a peek at his bare bum entering the shower before returning to the main area.

Elizabeth sets up the new laptop, a video screen, and security cameras. Elizabeth sets up dummy IP accounts and links to news feeds. She finds the gun safe; besides the two registered guns, there are two more and several boxes of ammo. A few other surprise items are in the gun safe. There is a shotgun inside the closet of the gun safe. She thinks Jason prepared for everything after the last time she was there.

She grabs two beers from the fridge, and with Jason cut back on his pain meds, It is safe to add beer to his palate. She checked with the pharmaceutical guide, and the two were not contraindicated.

Jason returns down the stairs, no longer using the cane, only the railing for balance. Elizabeth watches with caution. He grins, "Look, ma, no hands."

She motions to the couch and the beer. "Are you ready for your surprises?"

Jason sighs, "Okay, what do you have for me?"

Elizabeth says, "First, I need to update you on my life since you were 'away.'

Jason stares, pulls her back to the couch, and puts his arm around her. "Please, I want to know. Monica said you went through a lot. She also didn't mention a man in your life. Was she correct on both points?

"Yes. I've been tiptoeing around with Dr. Hamilton Finn, the guy you helped when we thought he killed Peter. Nothing has happened in nearly two years. It took a while to get over Franco, and then I wasn't feeling a connection with him. He wants something more, but I felt something missing even though I thought you were dead."

Jason is relieved at hearing Elizabeth is single, though he senses she is unhappy. "I don't want to complicate your life. What else is this trouble Monica has been avoiding telling me?"

Elizabeth sighs and begins the sordid story from her flashback to Peter on the stairs, setting Franco's studio on fire, misplaced items, checking herself into ShadyBrook, and getting hypnotized by Kevin. It led her to the mess with her parents. Elizabeth cries. Her parents gaslighted her, drugged her, programmed her to forget an important event from her childhood, and then sent her to live with neighbors in Boulder. A few months later, she ran away to Port Charles. "I don't know if I can forgive my parents for what they did to me."

Jason kisses her forehead and says, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you the past couple of years, but you are a strong person. You are a survivor, and I admire you." Jason leans in and comes close to kissing, but Elizabeth pulls away. "I'm not ready yet. I still want to know your feelings since you woke up. There's also some letters you wrote."

"Have you read them?"

"Only one so far. I read the one in the rain after you saw Michael at his care facility, and my tire blew. You wrote, 'I hope I make better choices tomorrow.' I guess that didn't happen for us."

"No, I'm sorry that didn't happen. When you read the rest, they aren't an excuse, but maybe a step forward? This 'death' of mine has given me new priorities. I want to return, but need a plan and help with the rest of my memories. So what's the surprise?"

Elizabeth asks Jason to join her on the couch. She pulls out the first package and hands it to Jason. She brings her laptop to the table and waits for Jason to open his box. He opens it to find an identical laptop to Elizabeth.

"Jason, I'm here to answer any questions you have about us, and I will try to answer your questions about your past, but my opinions may be biased. Monica thinks you need to be eased into your history, but I know you better. You should have the facts before you to make informed choices. You can search for anything you want to know. A lot has happened since you've been gone. The newspapers are a good start, though it could be slanted. I'm advising no email. I'm not tech-savvy like Spinelli or knowledgeable like my kids, so I wouldn't know how to encrypt an email. I'd stick to that burner phone and use your mystery friend for other messages."

Jason grins, "You are dying to know who it is, aren't you?"

"No.. no, no, yes, I am. My only clue is it's someone I know. I assume it's not Spinelli, as he would be trying to find you or would tell Sam."

"It's not Spinelli. He's a good kid, but his loyalties regarding a certain PI are suspect. I don't want anyone other than Monica and you to know. This mystery person, as you call them, does not live in Port Charles. I'll give you more clues later. Thank you for the computer, but it's more than for research, right?"

"Yes, I've loaded my photos of the boys to your computer. But I also picked up a few toys and installed them at my house. I tell myself it's for you and not to spy on the boys."

Jason raises his eyes in question. Elizabeth says, "I thought you might like to see real-time video of your son. I installed cameras in the common areas, and you can watch the boys when they get home."

Jason tears up and says, "This means so much to me. Thank you." He turns and holds her, hugging her tight.

Elizabeth sinks into his arms. She thinks, "It would be so easy to pick up again with him, but he hasn't told her everything."

Elizabeth leaves Jason to his "research." She picks up the trash and sets up her laptop in the kitchen. She checks her GH emails and responds to staffing requests. She sends Monica an email consisting of three words. "All is well." She returns to the living area and says, "Do you want to call Robin? You said she should know."

"Yes. I'm supposed to have a follow-up on my progress with Patrick, and we can tell them together."

"Jason, I'll write progress notes for Patrick and be with you for the initial call, but it would be better for you to tell Robin yourself."

Elizabeth calls Patrick and says, "Hi, old friend. I have a patient of yours who wants to talk with your wife. He's fine. I'll send you progress notes. I found out two days ago. Monica was overruled. Robin needs to know. Tell her to call me when she's recovered from the shock. I'll see you soon." Elizabeth hands the phone to Jason and whispers, "Be gentle." Elizabeth leaves the room again.

Elizabeth is cooking dinner when Jason calls to her, "There's movement in your house."

TBC