Thank you to everyone for your comments on the last chapter, and your condolences. I'm posting this last section of the story since I have it completed
- I actually had it completed before all of this happened - and I want to move this to the completed pile. New writing will still be a bit slow in coming.
I hope you enjoy where the story ends, and I truly do appreciate everyone who has commented on the story as it's gone along. I used to wonder how I would get Jason and Elizabeth together and I'm pleased that people didn't think it came out of nowhere or betrayed who the characters were. Thank you for coming along on this ride.
Back Chapters at My Site and The Archives
Prompt: "Don't talk, don't say a thing, 'cause your eyes, they tell me more than your words. Don't go, don't leave me now, 'cause they say the best way out is through." Ungodly Hour, The Fray
Jason Morgan was not a man usually plagued by doubts. When he'd worked for Sonny, he could not allow himself to have them. While he didn't rush into things blindly and without thinking about them, once he decided on a course of action, or actually did something, he refused to let himself get caught up in second guesses and doubts. It was a safety issue then; second guessing led to hesitation and that could lead to him, or someone else, being hurt. And once an assignment was complete, he didn't agonize over the actions he'd taken. Death and destruction were a part of the world he'd chosen and that was merely the way it was.
When he met Elizabeth and her son, things had changed for him. Seeing his actions mirrored and emulated by children had shaken him more than he'd ever thought. Knowing that it was because of him that things were happening, he realized he couldn't continue on the course he was on. It hadn't been easy, but he'd changed his life, and ended up with the love of an amazing woman and her son in return. They could have held the past against him and wanted nothing to do with him because of his connection to the boy who had tormented Cameron, but instead they became his family.
Jason hadn't fallen in love with Elizabeth simply because she had a son and he thought he could gain a family with her. And his desire to adopt Cameron hadn't been part of some wish to replace some void left by Michael. It hadn't been an easy process, either. Despite Zander Smith abandoning Elizabeth and Cameron and not paying any child support or wanting anything to do with the child he'd created merely in an attempt to swindle money from Elizabeth, he'd balked at the idea of his son being adopted by someone else.
Diane had worked her magic though, and sometimes Jason wondered if Sonny had somehow done something to try to persuade the other man. His friend never said a word, never gave any hint or indication in their conversations they'd had about the process and how it was dragging out, and when Diane finally told Jason and Elizabeth that Zander had agreed and signed the petition, Sonny had merely been congratulatory when Jason called him with the news. It was something that Jason found himself not wanting to ask, not wanting to actually know. Perhaps in this case, ignorance and deniability might be a good thing.
Besides, he was happy with the outcome, and genuinely believed Cameron was as well. The boy had had several conversations with Jason where he admitted that he knew Zander had lied to his mom and tried to use him; combined with the other man's absence from his life, Cameron had no real feelings towards his biological father. He never really thought about him, and varied between sadness and anger when he did so he tried not to. He was glad that his mom had found someone to love her and was glad that Jason loved him. Jason didn't want to bring more pain to the young boy by even hinting at the fact that Zander might have been threatened or even paid off into signing away his rights. It just wasn't something the father thought his son needed to be burdened with at this time.
So Jason had pushed away those thoughts, and merely focused on making a family with Cameron and Elizabeth. While they had talked about other children and it was always something Cam had asked about, he and Elizabeth had decided to let it merely happen naturally. When it did, he was both excited and worried. He wanted to experience everything with Elizabeth, instead of merely stepping into assume responsibility for a baby at a point where he had to. He also couldn't deny that he was relieved that no one would be able to challenge his rights to this child or take it away merely on a whim.
Yet he was also concerned. Safety issues lingered quietly in his mind, as he was sure they always would when it came to his family. But Jason was also concerned about Cameron. They had done their best to assure the boy, even before Elizabeth became pregnant, that they would love the boy if there were more children. And now that it was definitely going to happen, Jason found himself observing his son in quiet moments trying to determine if Cameron was truly okay with the changes that would be occurring or if he was merely pretending to be and hiding his true feelings.
The assurance Jason was seeking came to him finally, but not in the manner he'd ever expected it. For he hadn't meant to eavesdrop on Cameron's conversation with Morgan, but he also couldn't deny that he was glad he had. Morgan had come to visit his friend, and it was hard to tell they'd ever been separated. The two boys were thick as thieves and seemed to be trying to cram weeks' worth of activities into the time they had together. They fell asleep exhausted every night, but were up bright and early ready and anxious to start the next day. Elizabeth had done her best to plan out activities for them to get them outside on occasion and do something other than watching movies or playing video games. However, she also left them plenty of time to play by themselves and just enjoy their time together.
Currently they were in Cameron's room, cities and roads laid out while toy cars zoomed around. Jason had come upstairs just to check in on them and see if they wanted a snack or something to drink since Elizabeth had fallen asleep on the couch watching a movie and he didn't want Cam or Morgan to come charging down the stairs and wake her up. Instead, he ended up listening in on a conversation that left him relieved and so filled with love for his son.
"But see, that's why your mom's cool," Morgan was stating as Jason approached the room. "My mom is trying harder to show me that she loves me and it's not all just about Michael, but sometimes it feels like she's trying too hard. Like she's only doing it because I called her on loving Michael more than me. You've always known your mom loves you."
"I think your mom loves you," Cameron said softly.
"Yeah, I know," his godson heaved out and it sounded like he flopped down on the bed. "It's just I've always grown up knowing she loves Michael more. And now she and Jax are talking about having a baby and my mom has a hard time with pregnancies. She had a hard time getting pregnant with me."
"Then that shows she wanted you," his son tried to point out.
"I think she wants a girl more," Morgan said. "That's all she talks about with Jax. Wanting to have a little girl. So I know that if she gets pregnant and it's a girl…that's all she's going to focus on. Michael will still get her attention, and then I'll get whatever's left. That's why I like living with my dad. Michael says it's because I want our dad to spoil me and give me everything I ask for, but Dad doesn't do that. I just know that when I come into a room and want to talk to him, he's going to give me all his attention unless he's in an emergency meeting. He's going to listen to me and pay attention to me and sometimes I still don't always feel that with my mom. I feel it with Jax…but maybe I'm just still angry with my mom. My therapist says I need to make an effort, too."
Jason closed his eyes and sighed softly while leaning on the wall. He felt bad for Morgan, but knew that Sonny was doing his best and Carly was trying as well. There was just a lot that they all needed to deal with and overcome.
"But you never had that with your mom or Uncle Jason," Morgan continued. "Uncle Jason…I know he loves us 'cause we're Dad's kids and Mom's his friend, but with you…"
"With me?" Cameron asked curiously.
"With you…it was so obvious that he loved you. He loves your mom and he loves you, not just 'cause he was trying to get in good with Aunt Elizabeth. So now that they're having a baby…you don't have to worry that they're going to forget all about you," the boy declared.
"Yeah," his son agreed his voice somewhat slow and cautious. "I know that they love me, and they tell me that they're not trying to replace me with this baby. I…I never really felt that they were…it's just strange. My mom's gonna have a baby and she…she deserves to have a baby with Dad. My bio dad…he didn't treat her right, but Dad's always taking care of her and when she felt lousy and was still trying to make it into work, me and Dad had to convince her to just take it easy and rest. I heard her tell Dad one time that she was so used to having to take care of me and she had to work when she was sick before and she knows she doesn't have to, it's just hard to change old habits. I was glad she could rest."
"Yeah," Morgan said, filling up the silence.
"And Dad does his best to make sure I know he loves me," Cam continued. "I know that, and I know that sometimes they're worried about me, but they shouldn't be. I think it'll be cool to have a baby. I may be older than the baby, but as long as they don't ask me to change its diapers, I'm okay with it."
Jason pressed his lips together as he smiled so that he wouldn't chuckle and give away his position. It seemed that Cameron really was okay with the new baby coming. While they felt that he was, it was good to hear the boy say it to his friend. To feel like he and Elizabeth still loved him and he wasn't being replaced. They were still adjusting to the three of them being together, he and Elizabeth had been a little worried about adding a baby as well and how Cameron would react to that change.
It appeared that their worry was mostly unfounded.
Jason took a deep breath and then knocked on Cameron's door, pushing it open all the way and stuck his head in the room. After telling the boys that Elizabeth was asleep and that he'd bring up snacks in a bit if they wanted, he turned and went back downstairs. Elizabeth was still on the couch and he reached for a blanket to cover her legs, caressing his hand lightly over the blanket. Her eyes fluttered slightly, and even though he immediately stilled his hand, she stretched languidly and opened her eyes.
After first being a bit surprised to see him there, she smiled at him. A smile so warm and loving that he couldn't help being affected by it. Leaning towards her, he brushed his lips over hers, then pulled back to gaze at her. Her eyes met his and he felt volumes pass between them, even though neither of them said a word. Her love and acceptance of him still humbled him at times, he was always struck by the fact that she and her son had wanted him in their lives, and it still overwhelmed him at times to think that their family would grow soon, and maybe again in the future.
He'd liked his job with Sonny, and while sometimes he knew that his choices weren't always right, he'd accepted them and had learned to live with them. It all changed the day he saw Elizabeth and her son in that toy store, giving generously when they had little, and the full realization of his choices and his lifestyle became clear to him. While he missed his friends, and even his family, in Port Charles, he was grateful for the opportunity he had to be with Elizabeth and Cameron and become a family with them. His son or his daughter would only add to whole experience.
While he would always regret that Cameron had once been hurt, Jason couldn't really regret all that had happened in the past. Because it had led him here to this moment with his family beside him. A family that inspired him to be the best he could. He wanted to be someone they could be proud to call their father, but he knew that with Elizabeth as their mother, if he ever got out of line, his children would always be there to show him the way.
The End
I hope you enjoy where the story ends, and I truly do appreciate everyone who has commented on the story as it's gone along. I used to wonder how I would get Jason and Elizabeth together and I'm pleased that people didn't think it came out of nowhere or betrayed who the characters were. Thank you for coming along on this ride.
Back Chapters at My Site and The Archives
Prompt: "Don't talk, don't say a thing, 'cause your eyes, they tell me more than your words. Don't go, don't leave me now, 'cause they say the best way out is through." Ungodly Hour, The Fray
Jason Morgan was not a man usually plagued by doubts. When he'd worked for Sonny, he could not allow himself to have them. While he didn't rush into things blindly and without thinking about them, once he decided on a course of action, or actually did something, he refused to let himself get caught up in second guesses and doubts. It was a safety issue then; second guessing led to hesitation and that could lead to him, or someone else, being hurt. And once an assignment was complete, he didn't agonize over the actions he'd taken. Death and destruction were a part of the world he'd chosen and that was merely the way it was.
When he met Elizabeth and her son, things had changed for him. Seeing his actions mirrored and emulated by children had shaken him more than he'd ever thought. Knowing that it was because of him that things were happening, he realized he couldn't continue on the course he was on. It hadn't been easy, but he'd changed his life, and ended up with the love of an amazing woman and her son in return. They could have held the past against him and wanted nothing to do with him because of his connection to the boy who had tormented Cameron, but instead they became his family.
Jason hadn't fallen in love with Elizabeth simply because she had a son and he thought he could gain a family with her. And his desire to adopt Cameron hadn't been part of some wish to replace some void left by Michael. It hadn't been an easy process, either. Despite Zander Smith abandoning Elizabeth and Cameron and not paying any child support or wanting anything to do with the child he'd created merely in an attempt to swindle money from Elizabeth, he'd balked at the idea of his son being adopted by someone else.
Diane had worked her magic though, and sometimes Jason wondered if Sonny had somehow done something to try to persuade the other man. His friend never said a word, never gave any hint or indication in their conversations they'd had about the process and how it was dragging out, and when Diane finally told Jason and Elizabeth that Zander had agreed and signed the petition, Sonny had merely been congratulatory when Jason called him with the news. It was something that Jason found himself not wanting to ask, not wanting to actually know. Perhaps in this case, ignorance and deniability might be a good thing.
Besides, he was happy with the outcome, and genuinely believed Cameron was as well. The boy had had several conversations with Jason where he admitted that he knew Zander had lied to his mom and tried to use him; combined with the other man's absence from his life, Cameron had no real feelings towards his biological father. He never really thought about him, and varied between sadness and anger when he did so he tried not to. He was glad that his mom had found someone to love her and was glad that Jason loved him. Jason didn't want to bring more pain to the young boy by even hinting at the fact that Zander might have been threatened or even paid off into signing away his rights. It just wasn't something the father thought his son needed to be burdened with at this time.
So Jason had pushed away those thoughts, and merely focused on making a family with Cameron and Elizabeth. While they had talked about other children and it was always something Cam had asked about, he and Elizabeth had decided to let it merely happen naturally. When it did, he was both excited and worried. He wanted to experience everything with Elizabeth, instead of merely stepping into assume responsibility for a baby at a point where he had to. He also couldn't deny that he was relieved that no one would be able to challenge his rights to this child or take it away merely on a whim.
Yet he was also concerned. Safety issues lingered quietly in his mind, as he was sure they always would when it came to his family. But Jason was also concerned about Cameron. They had done their best to assure the boy, even before Elizabeth became pregnant, that they would love the boy if there were more children. And now that it was definitely going to happen, Jason found himself observing his son in quiet moments trying to determine if Cameron was truly okay with the changes that would be occurring or if he was merely pretending to be and hiding his true feelings.
The assurance Jason was seeking came to him finally, but not in the manner he'd ever expected it. For he hadn't meant to eavesdrop on Cameron's conversation with Morgan, but he also couldn't deny that he was glad he had. Morgan had come to visit his friend, and it was hard to tell they'd ever been separated. The two boys were thick as thieves and seemed to be trying to cram weeks' worth of activities into the time they had together. They fell asleep exhausted every night, but were up bright and early ready and anxious to start the next day. Elizabeth had done her best to plan out activities for them to get them outside on occasion and do something other than watching movies or playing video games. However, she also left them plenty of time to play by themselves and just enjoy their time together.
Currently they were in Cameron's room, cities and roads laid out while toy cars zoomed around. Jason had come upstairs just to check in on them and see if they wanted a snack or something to drink since Elizabeth had fallen asleep on the couch watching a movie and he didn't want Cam or Morgan to come charging down the stairs and wake her up. Instead, he ended up listening in on a conversation that left him relieved and so filled with love for his son.
"But see, that's why your mom's cool," Morgan was stating as Jason approached the room. "My mom is trying harder to show me that she loves me and it's not all just about Michael, but sometimes it feels like she's trying too hard. Like she's only doing it because I called her on loving Michael more than me. You've always known your mom loves you."
"I think your mom loves you," Cameron said softly.
"Yeah, I know," his godson heaved out and it sounded like he flopped down on the bed. "It's just I've always grown up knowing she loves Michael more. And now she and Jax are talking about having a baby and my mom has a hard time with pregnancies. She had a hard time getting pregnant with me."
"Then that shows she wanted you," his son tried to point out.
"I think she wants a girl more," Morgan said. "That's all she talks about with Jax. Wanting to have a little girl. So I know that if she gets pregnant and it's a girl…that's all she's going to focus on. Michael will still get her attention, and then I'll get whatever's left. That's why I like living with my dad. Michael says it's because I want our dad to spoil me and give me everything I ask for, but Dad doesn't do that. I just know that when I come into a room and want to talk to him, he's going to give me all his attention unless he's in an emergency meeting. He's going to listen to me and pay attention to me and sometimes I still don't always feel that with my mom. I feel it with Jax…but maybe I'm just still angry with my mom. My therapist says I need to make an effort, too."
Jason closed his eyes and sighed softly while leaning on the wall. He felt bad for Morgan, but knew that Sonny was doing his best and Carly was trying as well. There was just a lot that they all needed to deal with and overcome.
"But you never had that with your mom or Uncle Jason," Morgan continued. "Uncle Jason…I know he loves us 'cause we're Dad's kids and Mom's his friend, but with you…"
"With me?" Cameron asked curiously.
"With you…it was so obvious that he loved you. He loves your mom and he loves you, not just 'cause he was trying to get in good with Aunt Elizabeth. So now that they're having a baby…you don't have to worry that they're going to forget all about you," the boy declared.
"Yeah," his son agreed his voice somewhat slow and cautious. "I know that they love me, and they tell me that they're not trying to replace me with this baby. I…I never really felt that they were…it's just strange. My mom's gonna have a baby and she…she deserves to have a baby with Dad. My bio dad…he didn't treat her right, but Dad's always taking care of her and when she felt lousy and was still trying to make it into work, me and Dad had to convince her to just take it easy and rest. I heard her tell Dad one time that she was so used to having to take care of me and she had to work when she was sick before and she knows she doesn't have to, it's just hard to change old habits. I was glad she could rest."
"Yeah," Morgan said, filling up the silence.
"And Dad does his best to make sure I know he loves me," Cam continued. "I know that, and I know that sometimes they're worried about me, but they shouldn't be. I think it'll be cool to have a baby. I may be older than the baby, but as long as they don't ask me to change its diapers, I'm okay with it."
Jason pressed his lips together as he smiled so that he wouldn't chuckle and give away his position. It seemed that Cameron really was okay with the new baby coming. While they felt that he was, it was good to hear the boy say it to his friend. To feel like he and Elizabeth still loved him and he wasn't being replaced. They were still adjusting to the three of them being together, he and Elizabeth had been a little worried about adding a baby as well and how Cameron would react to that change.
It appeared that their worry was mostly unfounded.
Jason took a deep breath and then knocked on Cameron's door, pushing it open all the way and stuck his head in the room. After telling the boys that Elizabeth was asleep and that he'd bring up snacks in a bit if they wanted, he turned and went back downstairs. Elizabeth was still on the couch and he reached for a blanket to cover her legs, caressing his hand lightly over the blanket. Her eyes fluttered slightly, and even though he immediately stilled his hand, she stretched languidly and opened her eyes.
After first being a bit surprised to see him there, she smiled at him. A smile so warm and loving that he couldn't help being affected by it. Leaning towards her, he brushed his lips over hers, then pulled back to gaze at her. Her eyes met his and he felt volumes pass between them, even though neither of them said a word. Her love and acceptance of him still humbled him at times, he was always struck by the fact that she and her son had wanted him in their lives, and it still overwhelmed him at times to think that their family would grow soon, and maybe again in the future.
He'd liked his job with Sonny, and while sometimes he knew that his choices weren't always right, he'd accepted them and had learned to live with them. It all changed the day he saw Elizabeth and her son in that toy store, giving generously when they had little, and the full realization of his choices and his lifestyle became clear to him. While he missed his friends, and even his family, in Port Charles, he was grateful for the opportunity he had to be with Elizabeth and Cameron and become a family with them. His son or his daughter would only add to whole experience.
While he would always regret that Cameron had once been hurt, Jason couldn't really regret all that had happened in the past. Because it had led him here to this moment with his family beside him. A family that inspired him to be the best he could. He wanted to be someone they could be proud to call their father, but he knew that with Elizabeth as their mother, if he ever got out of line, his children would always be there to show him the way.
The End


