A/N – Thanks for waiting. Sorry, I'm late. This one is almost over.

Chapter 22

Elizabeth left Cam's room. He had cried when it was time to leave Jason but was promised that he'd see him again soon.

"Is he down?" Audrey asked.

"Yeah."

"He'll be okay. Today was the best thing that could have happened to him."

Liz nodded. "Our family will finally be back on track."

"Can we put a chip in Jason, just to make sure?"

Liz grinned. "Trust me, I would if I could. Maybe I could bribe Patrick to do it."

Emily giggled. "That's a great plan. I'll help."

"When are you leaving for Greece?"

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"I am—I mean, did I say that aloud?"

Emily rolled her eyes.

"You know you are always welcome here, but I don't want you to just give up your life. Jason is going to be fine, and while I appreciate you being here—God, I can't imagine getting through all of that without you and Nikolas, you should go."

Emily sighed. "I'll let Nikolas know to start planning and we'll go after Jason is back home."

They hugged.

"I made a special dessert to celebrate," Audrey said.

Liz's eyes bulged. "Is it triple chocolate?"

Audrey smiled. "I guess you're going to have to go look in the kitchen."

Liz pushes Emily onto the couch, while Nikolas cracks up. A few seconds later, a loud, "Yes!" echoed throughout the house.

"She is on a time-out," Emily said hurrying after her.

"You made a lot, right?" Nikolas asked.

Audrey grinned. "You'll have to fight them for it."

"Damn."

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The next morning, Amelia entered Jason's room.

"Hey," he said smiling.

"Hello. How are you feeling?"

"A little better. I haven't gotten up yet though."

"You will." She sat on the chair.

"How are you surviving my family?"

She chuckled. "They aren't that bad."

Somehow, he doubts that. "Uh-huh." He loves that she's smiling. "How are you really doing?"

She sighed. "I'm hanging in there. Sleep has been hard, but people are helping me."

His head tilted due to her expression. "Like who?"

She smirked. "Johnny…"

"He got to you?"

She laughed. "He's not that bad. He slept next to me so I wouldn't freak out."

"I can't believe you cheated on me. He's insufferable. I'm remembering more and he was a pain in my ass."

Her giggles made him smile. "He asked me out."

Jason shook his head. "Unbelievable…"

"What?"

"You know I'm going to have to talk to him."

"And why is that?"

"You were my fake wife."

She cracks up. "That is true."

He holds his hand up. "Thank you for taking care of me."

She lightly squeezed it. "Thank you for keeping me sane. I missed you."

"Ditto. I hope we can remain friends."

"Definitely…"

"Does this mean you're sticking around?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure yet, but I'm going to take my time and decide."

"Well, hopefully, we can change your mind."

She smiled as their hands separated. "I have a feeling all of you are going to make it very difficult to leave."

"I'd like to think that after what happened, that you'd be an important part of our lives. Elizabeth feels the same way."

"Thank you. When are you going to put a ring on her finger?"

"Soon." He will probably have to wait until he gets out to get a ring unless his plan b works out.

The smile on his face practically lit up the room.

Elizabeth entered the room. "Hey!" she said before hugging Amelia. "How are you doing?"

"Okay."

She gave Jason a quick peck and then eyed Amelia. "Once we get the big lug out of here, I hope you'll join the family for dinner."

"I would love to."

"I was trying to convince her to stick around."

"We hope you do. Maybe instead of running, you'll realize that everything you need is here."

Jason made a disgusted noise.

"What?" Liz asked.

"She's dating Johnny."

Liz grinned. "Nice."

"Don't encourage her."

Amelia laughed. "Johnny is very handsome."

Jason almost gagged as Piph cracked up. She had heard the entire conversation.

"Don't act like your bro isn't devastatingly handsome."

Jason sighed. "Please don't tell me that he suckered you too."

She shook her head. "Oh no, I still think he's touched in the head, but it's nothing a good woman can't fix."

Liz and Amelia chuckled.

"When are you coming back to work?"

"I haven't thought about it. I'd like to at least see how Jason is doing and what kind of care he'll need."

"That's fair enough. Patrick pouts a lot more when you're not here."

"Should I be jealous?" Jason asked.

His expression practically sizzled.

Piph pretended to fan herself. "While I love you in grr-mode, I can't let you hurt his pretty face."

Jason crossed his arms across his chest as the women smiled.

"You want to try to walk?"

His eyes grew wide. "Hell yeah." The faster he gets moving, the faster he goes home.

Amelia said goodbye as Piph helped him swing his legs around.

"You're going to have to take it slow."

"I know."

She steadied him as he slowly straightened out and then pushed a walker in front of him. "There is no negotiating," she said when he frowned.

"Fine…"

He slowly pushed it forward and took a step.

"You know, your mother mentioned that you should come stay there for a few days afterward."

Jason froze. "I have remembered more and there is no way in hell that is happening."

Piph grinned. "It would make her happy."

"She can come stay with us then."

Liz giggled. Some things will never change and Jason's disdain for going to the mansion is legendary.

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Edward strode into Jason's room and neither said a word for a few minutes as Edward perused his grandson. "It looks like you're doing better."

"I am. Earlier, I walked, although I was slow."

"That's good," he said before sitting. "I brought what you asked for." He had been shocked when Jason called him, but he knew exactly what to do.

"Thank you."

He pulled out a box. "Lila was one of a kind. The fact that she could love us no matter how flawed we were, speaks volumes of her compassion. She loved her family and would be so happy to know that you are with a good woman. Elizabeth is special, and it's nice to see you happy and not so troubled."

"She's everything to me."

"As it should be. Don't screw it up. You have a chance to get everything you have ever wanted, and those boys need a man who will show them how to treat a woman. I might not like your job, but at heart, I do believe you are a good person. I know I am gruff with you, but that is because I have high expectations and don't like when I don't get my way."

Jason smirked. He doesn't remember everything about Edward, but enough to know that they had a contentious relationship.

"I want to see you more. I figured that I'd ask before you get your memory back."

Jason tried not to fully smile. Edward Quartermaine is a snake in the grass. "I want the kids to have family around them."

"Good, because they are wonderful boys." While Jason was trying before all this happened, he wasn't going to take the chance that he wouldn't remember and shy away. He handed him the box.

Jason sucked in a breath as he opened it. He remembers his grandmother's face. The ring isn't overly ornate, but it is beautiful just like her. "It's perfect."

Edward smiled as he gazed at it. "I miss her so much. I'll be happy to see it on Liz's finger."

"Me too."

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Three days later, Jason was finally released and went home.

Cam waited until the door opened before yelling, "Daddy, daddy!"

Jason smiled. "Hey, son."

Johnny steered him to a couch.

Emily waited until he sat and then pushed the ottoman closer.

Johnny laughed. Jason is so awkward when people try to take care of him. He has the best expressions.

Audrey smirked and then walked over and took Jason's pulse just to mess with him.

"I'm fine."

"Uh-huh."

Liz shook her head. "Why are you messing with my man?"

"Because we can, dear," Audrey said before placing her hand on his forehead.

Cam gave it a shot too. "I think he's normal."

"Check again, because I'm pretty sure he's abnormal," Johnny said.

Cam put his hand back and paused as he concentrated. "Nope—normal."

"Thank you, Dr. Webber," Audrey said, making Cam giggle.

Nikolas carried Jake into the room and placed him on Jason's lap.

Liz snapped a quick picture.

"What is that smell?"

Liz gasped. "Are you insulting our son?"

Jason laughed. "No."

Audrey clucked her tongue. "He's talking about the food."

Johnny cracked up as Liz rolled her eyes.

"That mommy is trying to make us fight," Jason said to Jake who smiled.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm the bad guy."

"Mommy is good," Cam said.

"You just want a brownie," Emily said before grabbing Jake. "Dinner is ready."

Jason stood and Johnny walked alongside him just in case. He's doing much better. He still has some headaches and slight dizziness if he moves too fast, but his body is healing nicely. Every day he remembers more.

Once they were seated, Audrey placed a juicy steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables on Jason's plate.

"That looks so good," he said as his mouth watered.

Everyone dug in. Liz and Emily had pasta with Cam and everyone else had steak.

"So good," Nikolas said. "Can I convince you to change your last name to Cassadine?"

Audrey chuckled. "You could try, but I don't think you could afford me."

Nikolas's smirk made her laugh. "I have deep pockets."

"Do you do dishes?"

Emily almost choked on her drink. The idea of Nikolas in the kitchen cleaning with an apron on popped into her head.

"No, but I could learn."

"Fair enough. If you are willing to do dishes, you may come over once a month and I will cook for you and Emily."

Liz pouted making Emily lick out her tongue.

"There's enough of me to go around."

Jason smiled. "Thank you. It's very good. I appreciate all of you. Nikolas and Emily, thank you for sticking around and helping with the kids. And Audrey, thank you for loving my family so much. I can't thank you enough."

"Aren't you missing someone?" Johnny asked.

"I am. Cam, thank you for being the best son ever."

The look on Johnny's face is priceless.

"And yes, Johnny, thank you for watching over them and Amelia." Jason sipped his water. "Speaking of which, we need to have a little talk later."

Emily laughed. "Stay out of their love life." Her mom had already given her the scoop.

"I can't help it."

"You have nothing to worry about. Besides, it could have been Sonny."

Jason looked horrified.

"You know you love you some Johnny."

"Daddy loves Johnny," Cam said in a sing-song voice making everyone but Jason laugh.

Audrey just took it all in feeling a great relief that everything just feels so right. Any trepidation regarding Jason is gone. Now, she just needs that wedding to happen.

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Johnny helped Jason up the steps.

"You better not hurt her. If you're in, be all the way in," Jason said.

"I like her a lot. She is nice and has a sense of humor. Plus, she's smart."

"That makes up for your lack of brain cells."

"Don't make me push you down these stairs."

"Elizabeth and Audrey would kick your ass."

Jason groaned on the last step, making Johnny pause.

"You are so out of shape."

"I could still kick your ass."

"Sure you can…"

Jason sat on the bed and took a deep breath.

"You'll need to deal with you know who soon, or just say the word."

He had remembered a lot of why Ric must die, and won't have a problem with it. "Give me a couple of days and I'll be there, but I'll let you do the heavy lifting. I have some ideas on how to end this."

"Deal. I figured you'd want to confront him."

"Definitely…"

Liz entered the room. "All right, time for beauty sleep."

He smiled thinking about the fact he gets to sleep with her.

Johnny left and Liz shook her head.

"You are in no condition to do what you're thinking."

"Everything below the waist works fine, and so does my mouth."

"You are too much. Let's just wait a few days, okay?" She's still concerned about seizures.

"Okay, but I need you near me. Stand in front of me, please." She needs to help him get into his pajamas anyway.

She moved closer and he took a moment to savor her lips. "I was going to wait, but I don't want to."

"What?"

He slightly retreated and then grabbed her hands. "I love you."

She smiled. "I love you too."

"You and the kids mean everything to me. I can't imagine my life without you."

"Ditto."

He eyed her soulfully, making her melt as they showed their love without words.

"Marry me."

She gasped.

"I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Will you let me love you, Elizabeth?"

A tremor rocked her body because he sounded so sexy and beautiful.

A tear fell down her cheek. "Yes. I will love you and always be there for you. You are it—always."

"You are my first, last, and always."

She cried harder, making him embrace her. "Happy tears."

"Want to see your ring?"

She jerked backward. "When did you find time to do that?"

He got the box out of his pocket and placed it in her hand. "I had a little help."

She opened it and gasped.

"It was one of Lila's rings." He also has a matching wedding band.

"It's stunning. Oh, Jason, this is so perfect." It's a bit old-fashioned, which she loved.

He grabbed it out of her hand and slid it onto her finger. "Perfect."

After a minute of gazing at it, she threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you for loving me."

"I feel the same way."