A/N: Thanks to all who left reviews and/or read. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but remember this is a Liason story.
This will be the first of at least 2 updates this weekend. I still don't want to do a rigid schedule, because I think life gets in the way sometimes. However, I don't want to drag the story over months or possible a year. I don't know exactly how many chapters yet, but my plan is to north of 30 and that may be low. I also don't want them to be so fast people feel overwhelmed with keeping up.
I can't stand Sam, I can't stand Ric even more, but I absolutely despise Lucky, so if you are looking for them to be heroes and/or friends, this isn't going to be your story.
It is still the day of the wedding.
The rating will be M and definitely have some NC-17 elements to it!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters and I am not affiliated with GH, ABC, Disney, or anything else.
Chapter 3
Spencer Home
March 22, 2007
Soft organ music echoes as sunlight spills through the windows of the home where the ceremony will take place. The folding chairs have begun to fill with familiar faces – each one a thread in the fabric of Elizabeth and Lucky's history.
Luke Spencer strolls in, adjusting his collar like it's strangling him. He offers a lopsided smirk to the guests, but doesn't bother hiding the doubt in his eyes. He suspects that Elizabeth isn't truly in love with his son anymore.
Tracy Quartermaine follows behind her husband along with her sister-in-law Monica Quartermaine. Edward Quartermaine follows in behind the two. Tracy is perfectly put together, but she can't resist making a snide remark to Monica. "I give it six months – tops!"
"Would you just sit down and be decent for once?" replied Monica.
Nikolas Cassadine moves to take his place alongside his brother as the best man. "Hey, everything good? You are sure about this?"
"Yeah… 100%" answered Lucky.
Sam McCall arrives, cool and elegant, but her expression falters when she fails to see the person she was hoping to run into. Even though they haven't been together since she fucked her step-father, Ric Lansing, in her mother's home, she still harbored hope that Jason would take her back. Elizabeth's marriage would seem to insure that and was disappointed when she didn't see Jason.
Maxie Jones and Spinelli arrive together. Spinelli cast a quick glance around the room to see if his mentor was in attendance, but Stone Cold was nowhere to be seen.
Lulu Spencer and her boyfriend, Dante Falconeri, also arrive and sit together with their friends.
Patrick Drake arrives and takes a seat. He is dating Robin Scorpio but he is still an overt flirt with other women. He and Elizabeth have settled into a friendship that is more brother and sister than anything romantic. Patrick is one of the few that knows Elizabeth is in love with mob enforcer. While Patrick isn't a fan of Jason's chosen profession, he has seen the way the two are around each other, and he despises Lucky Spencer. He doesn't think the police officer is in any way good enough for the young nurse.
Mac Scorpio and Felicia Jones are chatting with Bobbie Spencer. The police commissioner and his former wife listen as the nurse talks. "I may be the groom's aunt, but Elizabeth is also my family. I just want her to find the happiness that has eluded her in her young life. Weddings always make me emotional, but this one even more so." Felicia leans in and gives her a hug. Mac only hopes that his young officer has finally gotten his act together.
Johnny Zaccahara and Georgie Jones arrive separately, but give each other a quick glance as they see each other. They move to sit together. Most in attendance are unaware of the budding romance between the young mobster and the police commissioner's niece. So, nobody pays any attention to them sitting next to each other.
Alexis Davis walks in with her daughters, Kristina Davis-Corinthos and Molly Davis-Lansing. She is joined by her long-time friend Ned Ashton. She gives a polite smile to those she passes, scanning faces for someone she's not quite sure she wants to see – her ex-husband, Ric Lansing. She doesn't know that Ric is out of town, but there is NO way that Elizabeth would invite her own ex-husband who had tried to kill her.
Then –
Carly Jacks enters with her husband, Jasper Jacks. Heads turn. Of course, they do. She's dressed in black – not because she's mourning, but because she knew it would raise eyebrows. She meets Sam's gaze across the room. No one speaks, but it's electric.
Sonny Corinthos enters along with his fiancée, Kate Howard. They are the last to enter slipping into a pair of seats. He doesn't speak. Just watches everything around them.
And finally –
The last seat in the back remains empty.
Until –
Jason Morgan walks in. The air shifts. He's quiet. Calm. In control – but his eyes go straight to the altar. He sees Lucky standing waiting for his bride. He closes his eyes wishing that it was him in the front waiting for Elizabeth to walk toward him and commit to a lifetime together. He doesn't sit down, but instead he stands near the door.
And in the bedroom above – Elizabeth feels his presence! She instantly knows he is there. They have always had the ability to know when one or the other is nearby. She closes her eyes and swallows hard.
Elizabeth Webber walks down the stairs with her bouquet in her hands. Her gown floats around her like something out of a dream – but she feels heavy, like every step is soaked in memory. She reaches the bottom of the steps before she can turn to walk up the aisle – she sees him. Jason.
He is standing alone at the back near the door. Still. Watching her every step, her every sway, taking in her breath-taking beauty. He has a lump in his throat. He is staggered by just how beautiful she looks.
Their eyes lock. The world fades as they both remember another time.
FLASHBACK
The Boxcar
December 1, 1999
Elizabeth is walking alone in the snow near the boxcar that Lucky used to call a home. It is also the first place that she was introduced to Jason Morgan. As she is walking, she notices something on the ground. She realizes that it is a person. When she rolls them over, she is stunned to see that it is Jason.
"Jason? What happened?" She notices the blood on his shirt. "Have you been shot? I have to call 911."
"Don't. Don't call 911." Jason pleads with her while coughing and struggling to breath.
"I have to get help. I can't let you die here."
"Boxcar."
When Elizabeth realizes what he is saying, she attempts to get him to the boxcar. "Jason, you have to help me. I can't carry you. You have to get up." With his help, she is able to get him to the boxcar.
"I have to go get help." The brunette tells her friend. She wonders what happened. She had seen him last night when they danced together at Kelly's. Elizabeth had pretended it was Lucky at the beginning, but by the time the dance was done, and Jason left, she wanted him to stay and continue to dance with her. Her feelings for her best friend's brother had become something she couldn't help.
"Just get a first-aid kit."
Elizabeth knows that won't be enough. She makes the decision to go to their mutual friend, Sonny Corinthos, for help. She goes to Sonny's penthouse and tells Sonny that Jason has been injured and she needs his help. Sonny gets her to take him to the boxcar.
Jason isn't exactly happy to see Sonny in front of him. But there isn't much he can do about it. Jason's sense of betrayal by Sonny is still in overdrive. He had gone to Sonny's after the shooting only to see Carly come down the stairs in Sonny's shirt and nothing else. He had immediately left and staggered through the snow until reaching where Elizabeth found him. Sonny tells him that Jason now knows exactly who Sonny is, as well as Carly.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth has left to go to General Hospital. She sees Bobbie Spencer and pleads for her help. Bobbie goes with her to the boxcar where she sees Jason and Sonny. She tends to Jason's wounds.
After Bobbie and Sonny have left, Jason tells Elizabeth she has to leave for Sonny's men to come get him. She doesn't want to leave, but she reluctantly does leave him alone.
Once Jason is alone, he tries to walk away from the boxcar. Elizabeth has come back when she finds him about ready to pass out. She tells him that she knows a place where she can take him and he will be safe. Soon, she is opening the door to her studio.
Jason whispers barely, "You shouldn't have brought me here."
"I had to. I couldn't let you die."
FLASHBACK ENDS
Elizabeth stands frozen, staring at the blond that has her heart, but has been afraid to admit. She's supposed to walk. But all she can do is continue to look at him – the man who's never needed words to tell her what he's feeling. But she never trusted that he actually felt the way she did about him.
Jason doesn't move. He just looks back at her. And everything they have ever been is in that one look.
FLASHBACK
Sailor's Chapel
November 17, 2006
Rain pours outside. The church is dark, empty. Jason lies slumped between the pews with a gunshot wound. His breathing is shallow, every exhale laced with pain. He's not sure how he got here. He's fading fast.
Then –
Elizabeth walks into the church worried about Jason. She knows he has been shot and may be dead. She walks to front and begins to light a candle when she hears something.
"Elizabeth." It's barely heard over the pouring rain hitting the roof. "Elizabeth." It is a little louder.
Elizabeth turns to find the mob enforcer on the ground, dropping to her knees. "Jason! Oh my god, you are alive! I have to get you help."
Jason looks at her – this woman who always shows up when it matters most. "No, just get me out of here. Why… why do you keep doing this?"
"Because I care. Because I can't lose you. I can't lift you, and you can't walk. I need you to stay awake and help me get you out of here."
As Jason starts to fade from consciousness, Elizabeth pleads with him to stay with her. "Jason, you have to stay with me, this is your baby! We are going to have a baby together."
Jason's eyes flutter, not quite sure what he has heard her say.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Jason blinks. That memory is still fresh, raw. He sees her standing there now in white – so close, yet so far. And he knows exactly what he's feeling. Not just love. Gratitude. She saved his life on more than one occasion. And maybe, deep down, she saved who he is. But he doesn't move. Not yet. He waits – for her.
The music swells. The guests turn with anticipation.
Elizabeth steps forward.
Her hand rests lightly on Audrey's arm as her Gram is escorting her down the aisle. As usual, her parents couldn't be bothered with an important event in her life. They are brilliant doctors with Doctors Without Borders, but they are just terrible parents. So, her father isn't her to do the traditional role, and Elizabeth asked Audrey to do it. Audrey looks at Jason, and as they may eye contact, the elderly woman wonders if Jason will say or do anything to stop Elizabeth. She isn't Jason's biggest fan, but she isn't blind. She sees the connection between the two young people, even if it scares her for her granddaughter's safety to be around the alleged killer. The lace of her gown whispers against the floor as she turns towards the altar.
But her eyes, they flick back towards Jason – still standing in the back, near the door, unmoving. Watching her, not like he's letting her go… but like he's memorizing her.
Elizabeth hears her inner voice. "You made your choice. You said goodbye. You're walking into the life you built…the one that's safe. The one that makes sense. That one that fulfills the obligation everybody reminds you of."
Step.
"But he's standing there like he always does. Silent. Solid. Just… watching."
Step.
"You remember every time he pulled you from the edge. From fear. From pain. From yourself."
Step.
"You remember what it felt like when he looked at you like you were the only thing in the world that made sense."
Step.
Her breath catches, just slightly.
Step.
She reaches the halfway point of the aisle. Her eyes flick between the altar – Lucky waiting in a tuxedo, trying to smile – and the back, where Jason hasn't moved.
FLASHBACK
Elizabeth recalls –
The two of them on the motorcycle, wind in her hair, freedom in their silence
Her explaining her paintings to him.
Feeding him soup in her studio.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Elizabeth blinks quickly. Her steps falter for the slightest second. She doesn't stop. But she's no longer sure she can finish. Emily sees it. So does Jason. Lucky doesn't see it. He only sees the teenager, not the young woman that the small brunette has become. The room holds its breath. And Elizabeth? She walks on – but her heart is no longer sure where she's going.
