General Hospital and its characters belong to ABC. The story is mine.
One-Shot
I got this idea from a post on Blue Sky. Think of what Maxie did to Felecia during Georgie's funeral.
I am an Elizabeth fan first and Liason second. Jason has not been there for his sons. When a tragedy occurs, Jake tells his father what he thinks of him. Soon, his brother, Danny, speaks his mind.
Jake is home from Spain and is helping his brother bake Christmas cookies. Elizabeth calls Jason to tell him his son is home for the holidays. He tells her he'll try to visit before he leaves to find Charlotte for Anna and Laura. Elizabeth tries to hide her disappointment, but she is pissed that, once again, Jason is off rescuing other people's children. Sure, she appreciated Jason finding Lucky, hoping he'd be a match for LuLu, but that was a bust. One thing Lucky and Jason had in common was being absentee dads. Aiden was on the fence about forgiving his father for leaving nearly ten years ago.
Lucky was a pretend dad to Cameron. He never bothered to adopt him over 15 years ago. He only got clean from the drugs because he thought Jake was his kid, and when things got rough, he left his biological son when he was one and returned for two days when Aiden was three. Lucky returned for LuLu and wants to try again with Aiden, but Elizabeth is not holding her breath.
Jason wasn't much better. Elizabeth accepts part of the blame regarding Jason not claiming Jake. Jason's life excited her, but her kids came first, and he had enemies. When they were finally on the same page, and Jason was willing to share a life with her and her kids, a single bullet changed his mind. After Michael, a child he raised the first year of his life that wasn't his, was shot, he withdrew his proposal. Jason made his choice, and it wasn't her. He gave up his firstborn; for years, only a handful of people knew Jake was his son. He was in and out of his son's life, often disappointing him. One of her biggest regrets was her reluctance to tell Monica she had a grandchild. Fortunately, the truth came out, and Jake got to know his grandmother for the past ten years.
Jason's relationship with Danny was better, which further infuriated Elizabeth. Jason was willing to raise a child with Sam, but his excuse was the 'D' word when it came to Elizabeth. Danger; it was too dangerous for them to be together. Still, Jason abandoned Danny, too. It took Sam's death to force him to move back into the family home he escaped from after his accident.
Jake and Aiden removing the cookies from the oven and transferring them to a rack brings Elizabeth out of her bout of memories. "They smell good. Do you need help boxing them up?"
Aiden says, "No, but would you go with us to deliver them to Grandma Laura and Grandma Monica?"
"Of course."
As they are about to walk out the door, the phone rings. "Just a moment, boys, that might be Jason. He mentioned he'd try to visit before leaving the country." Jake sighs and rolls his eyes at his brother. "Hello? Oh, hi Ned. No, I haven't seen Jason. I was hoping he'd see Jake for Christmas."
Ned says, "Elizabeth, Monica passed away this morning. If you hear from Jason, please tell him to call me."
Elizabeth clutches her chest and shakes her head, thinking Jason is probably flying over some continent somewhere. "Ned, I am so sorry. I know Monica hasn't been feeling well for the last several months. Please let me know if I can do anything to help. Do you need me to make any calls? Sure, I'll tell my Gram and Laura. Please convey my sympathies to your family."
Aiden and Jake are by the door, listening to one side of the conversation. She explains what Ned told her and hugs her sons. Elizabeth calls Laura, her grandmother, and Cameron.
Ned finally reaches Jason, and he returns to PC.
Monica's service is held at the Queen of Angels church. The Quartermaine family takes up the first three rows. Elizabeth, Cameron, Jake, and Aiden sit in the fourth row. A frail Audrey sends her regrets. Laura, Kevin, Lucky, LuLu, Rocco, and Dante sit behind them. Knowing how Monica felt about them, Sonny and Carly stayed away.
Jason sits in the second row with Danny and Michael. Willow stayed away with the kids and is at Nina's. Drew is on the opposite side with Scout.
Ned heads back to his seat after speaking and places his hand on Jason's shoulder. "Do you want to say something?"
Jason shakes his head. Sitting in the church dressed in a suit and sitting through another service in just over a month is torture enough. He couldn't bring himself to speak at Lila's service. Emily rescued him from that. He was barred from attending Emily's service and sat unseen. Speaking at Sam's service was only for Danny. Jason was never the son Alan and Monica wanted after his accident. Since his father's death, he had regrets, and after moving back, he was grateful to know his mother again. Jason didn't know what he could say. He didn't have a right to speak. He was a failure as a son.
Danny said he wasn't ready to speak either. It's Elizabeth's turn to speak, and she speaks lovingly of her teenage years with Emily and Monica, who was a second mother to her.
Jake's heart beats faster as he walks to the front of the church. Jake turns to face the crowd. He had every intention to share how lucky he was to have Monica as his grandmother, but his eyes found Danny and his father. What he planned to say in private came out now.
"I loved my Grandmother Monica. My mother told me that life should not be lived with regrets because my brothers and I would not exist if it were. I regret the choices my parents made regarding Grandmother. I suppose I should be glad I got almost ten years with her. Jason Morgan won't even give me one year of his life to me."
Elizabeth stands up and tries to exit the pew to stop her son from this attack. Cameron, her eldest, pulls her back and whispers, "I knew Jake might do this. Let him speak." Jason sits numbly by, his eyes getting wet. He doesn't notice Danny has left his side.
Jake continues, "My father said he wanted to protect me from the danger but never put me first. He chose the son he wished he had over everyone else. Michael gets Jason's attention and protection. I got a trip to Spain, but Jason didn't bother asking me to stay. I was angry that he left, but I wanted him to stay and love me and Danny. Danny only got his father to live with him because Sam died. What will it take to notice me? When will you be responsible for me? Have you ever considered all the sacrifices my mother made that you couldn't bother with? You were never a father. Lucky was never a father, but I had a wonderful mother."
Danny stands beside Jake, "I had a wonderful mother, and Dante would have made a wonderful step-father. My father never would have moved in if my mother hadn't forced his hand. He would have done what he's always done and walked away. He would have found another adventure, another excuse to rescue someone other than my brother or me. Carly Spencer asks Jason to jump, and he asks 'how high?' Sonny asks for a favor, and Jason follows. Commissioner Devane asks for help, and my father flies out of the country, leaving us behind."
Jake puts an arm around his brother, escorting him out of the church. Tracy inwardly writhes in laughter. Drew smirked, imagining the verbal assault Jason had received was worse than the physical one he had received from Jason.
Elizabeth leaves the church with Cameron and Aiden. Lucky says, "I knew there would come a day when Jake turns on Jason."
Cameron holds back Aiden and says, "Lucky, I'd change my tone if I were you because if I were to compare you to Jason, you wouldn't be getting a gold star, and you sure as shit haven't been a better father to Aiden."
"Aiden, do you agree with your brother?"
"Which one? The one who said you are a shit father, or Jason is?"
Elizabeth says, "Lucky, call tomorrow. It hasn't been a good day for anyone. Laura, I'll bring the boys by another day."
Jake is waiting by the car with Danny. "Mom, I'm sorry. It was the wrong place to tell Dad. I saw him with Danny, and I'm sick of Dad never being there. I didn't ask Danny to join me, but now that he's spoken, he asked if he could spend the night with us."
"I agree it was the wrong place and the wrong time, but your father just lost his mother. Jason may not have shown it, but he loved Monica. Danny, will you call your father to tell him you are staying over, or should I?"
"Could you?"
"Of course. Boys, get in the car, and I'll order a pizza." Elizabeth calls Jason to let him know Danny is staying with her and Jake.
So, is my one-shot enough, or should Jason get a chance to apologize?