As Elizabeth sat there in Ric's bedroom fully exposed to the intruder who was entering, her breathing quickly became fast and shallow, her heart rate was beating a mile a minute, and the harder she tried to calm down, the more worked up her petite frame became.  Then the object of her growing distress entered the room, but it wasn't what she saw that once again took her breathe away but rather what she heard that caused her bodily functions to cease.  There was no mistaking the voice or the sound that emanated from those lips.  Soft and ever so sweetly she heard the one word she had craved to hear for so long from the man she loved.  "Elizabeth."

It was Jason.  He had found her.  Relief flooded her body, but it wasn't until she sprang up and ran into his outstretched, strong, muscular arms and felt his warm, firm embrace that she truly felt safe.  Elizabeth just couldn't let go.  She held on to him for dear life, but, from the way Jason hugged her back just as forcefully, the young woman knew he didn't mind, that he welcomed her vigorous cinch as much as she did.

Jason didn't think this day would ever come.  The mob boss was finally holding Elizabeth in his arms.  His one true love had come back to him.  He relished in her scent and the feel of her soft curves molding perfectly to his body.  He quietly sighed in content, but, as much as he wanted to stay like that with her forever, he knew they needed to release themselves, if only for the moment, and deal with their present predicament.  

Two things were foremost in his mind.  Where was Ric, and how fast could he kill him?  Yet, even as he thought of different ways to torture the smug lawyer to death, Jason knew that Elizabeth would want to return to their children as soon as possible and rid herself of this nightmare that had been her life, and Jason wanted to give the beautiful brunette anything her heart desired.  So, with great reluctance, he freed her from his hold, only enough so he could look her into her gorgeous, blue eyes and talk about what their next course of action should be.  But, as he stared into her sapphire orbs, the words that had been on the tip of his tongue disappeared.  All Jason could do was stare at her angelic face, memorizing every curve, every detail and never forgetting how lucky he was that she was here, alive, and in his arms.

Finally, after a few moments, the ex-enforcer was able to compose himself enough to speak.  Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, the blond moved his shaking hand upward so that his knuckles grazed her cherubic cheek in a soft, gentle caress.  Then he  took a firm but gentle hold with both hands around her slim, narrow waist, keeping her as close as possible, but the words that came out were not the ones he initially planned to express but ones he had never regretted saying since he had for the first time a little over a year before.

"I love you, Elizabeth."

The young woman's face glowed from the honest words that expelled from the beautiful man before her.  Releasing her hands from around his neck, the brunette lowered them to encase his face, and, as she slowly lowered his lips to meet her own, she too expressed the feelings that had been within her being for longer than she could remember.  "I love you, too."

Then their lips joined like the coming of two souls together, both relishing in the feeling of the other’s mouth against their own, remembering how it felt to be kissed by the person they loved.  But, before either could deepen the kiss, Jason pulled away, knowing that if he didn't then, the blond would get lost in her touch, in the feel of those lips on his own, and of her body wrapped around his, and that was not where they needed to be going, at least, not right now.  Before Jason could completely relinquish his lips from her soft, creamy skin, the mob boss gave a slow tender kiss to the petite brunette's temple and then, once again, drew his attention back to her expressive and loving doe eyes.

"Elizabeth," the ex-enforcer whispered.  

Before any more words could be spoken, the young mother took her fine index digit to those soft, full lips, preventing the blond from speaking another word.

"Shhhhh," she whispered.  "I understand."

And Jason knew Elizabeth did.  If there was one thing that never changed, it was how the two 'more than friends' didn't need words to communicate with each other.  All it took was a glance, a shrug, or even a smirk, and they were in sync. 

The ex-enforcer let out a calming breath.  Gathering his whits about him, his gaze never wavering from the beauty before him, he slowly ran his hands up her arms and clasped her more delicate ones that still held his face within his own.  Hands entwined, the blond lowered them so they rested between their bodies, and Jason, once again, began to think of the problem before them. 

"Elizabeth…"  Swallowing, once again, the lump that had formed in his throat, thinking he would never be able to speak that one word again, he continued, "where is Ric?"

The brunette all of sudden remembered where she was.  She wasn't with Jason at their safe-house, or her studio, or even the docks; they were in Ric's father's mistress retreat, miles from anywhere.  Focusing on the man in front of her, the petite brunette squeezed his hands in reassurance, shrugging her shoulders, and lifted her mouth into a slight smirk.  Nonchalantly, she replied, "uh, he's out in the woods somewhere."

Jason, unable to even hide his surprise, slowly repeated her words.  "He's out in the woods somewhere?"

Elizabeth lowered her head and then shifted to turn so as to move around as she talked with Jason, but the ex-enforcer wouldn't allow it.  He held her to him, clasping their hands a little tighter as she attempted to pull away.

Leaning down ever so slightly so as to look her in the eyes, Jason whispered softly to the woman he loved.  "Elizabeth, just tell me what happened, so we can figure out where to go from here."

The petite brunette, once again, raised her head to look into Jason's cerulean blue eyes and saw all the trust, understanding, and love she needed to give her the strength to explain to Jason everything that had transpired, not only that night but everything since she woke up in Martha's Vineyard.

She explained about waking up in Ric's family's home, how her ex-husband had tied her up when she did not succumb to her captor’s bidding, how she had to put her faith in Anthony Zacharra to hopefully relay her message back to Jason, and then how tonight she had found the hidden pouch of GHB and used it for her own means and lead Ric out in to the darkness, hoping to escape before he found his way back to the cabin.

All the while that Elizabeth was talking, Jason used all of his self control not to slowly crush the brunette's hands as she continued to count off all of what Ric had put her through.  Then, as she finished, the mob boss once more pulled the woman he loved into a protective yet gentle embrace, trying to ease away any pain or suffering she had endured at the hands of his arch nemesis.

Releasing her once again, but keeping their hands joined, Jason asked the brunette, "Elizabeth, do you think you could lead me back to where you left Ric?"

"I don't know, Jason.  It was dark, and I really didn't pay attention to the direction I was going.  I used the garbage ties to find my way back but didn't want to leave them out for Ric to use as well."  Lowering her head from his gaze, the young mother whispered, "I'm sorry."

Jason, hearing the remorse and self loathing in Elizabeth's voice, released his right hand from her left and moved his index finger under her chin, lightly bringing her beautiful face upwards, requiring her to raise her sapphire orbs to meet his own cerulean blue ones which were swimming with emotion.  "Hey, you did the right thing, getting away from Ric.  Please don't think you did anything wrong."

"But, Jason, I can't help you find him and...."

The mob boss quickly stopped Elizabeth's rant by lowering his lips to hers, for just a moment to soothe her misgivings, and, as their mouths met in the whisper of a kiss, she could hear him gently say, "shhhhh."

Parting once more, the blond caressed her cheek in a petal soft touch, never tiring of feeling her soft, smooth skin against his own more rough and calloused hands.  He said, "Elizabeth, it's okay.  You did what needed to be done, and I, and no one else, can fault you for that."

Elizabeth just stared at the man before her, seeing all the love and understanding within his expressive blue eyes, eyes that saw into her soul, and nodded her head, accepting what Jason had said.

Seeing the young mother acknowledge his words and believe them, the mob boss took in a deep breath, released it once again, and began to think of what their next move should be.   After a few moments of silence, Jason focused on the brunette in front of him and asked Elizabeth the one question she had dreamed about since this nightmare had started.  "Are you ready to go home?"

Elizabeth had never heard words more beautiful, but, as happy as she was to go home, to their boys, the young mother was realistic and knew there were other things that needed to be dealt with before her surprise return from the dead and back to Port Charles.  Resolute in her decision, she replied to Jason's question.  "But, Jason, what about Ric?  He is still out there.  Don't we need to take care of him first?"

Jason had watched as the emotions - elation, surprise, and then determination crossed over Elizabeth's face as the angel before him had mulled over his last question.  Seeing her ponder with consideration towards what their next move would be and, as always, not taking the selfish way out made him love her even more, if that was at all possible.   The blond knew the young mother wanted to go home, to hold their children, and never let go, but he also knew that she would want to help him deal with Ric, and that was why the smug lawyer could wait.  Elizabeth was the most important thing to him in that moment, and that meant getting her home, back to Port Charles, so they could start their life together as a family. 

Adamant about returning to Port Charles as quickly as possible, Jason raised his hand, taking a strand of Elizabeth's hair and brushing it behind her ear.  He then lowered his arm to rejoin their hands once again and said, "Elizabeth, we will find Ric, and he will be dealt with, I promise you that, but it's not the most important thing right now.  Getting you home is, and that is all I want to do - get you home to our boys."

Sighing in relief that her dreams would soon come true, Elizabeth squeezed the ex-enforcer's hands that still encircled her own, smiled, a smile that met her now shining dark blue eyes, and said, "I trust you, Jason, and going home right now to our family sounds absolutely wonderful."

Smiling his half smile to the beauty before him, Jason nodded and said, "Good, now I just need to make a couple of quick phone calls, and we'll be on our way."

Releasing one hand, Jason began to lead Elizabeth out of Ric's bedroom and into the cabin's living room, but, still, he kept one hand joined with hers, not dreaming of letting the brunette go for even a moment. The mob boss then retrieved his cell phone, using his free hand, and proceeded to make his calls.

Elizabeth listened on as Jason first called Cody, ordering him to procure a team of men up to the Catskills mountains to begin their search for Ric.  Then she smiled as she heard the blond call Spinelli, hearing the younger man squeal like a baby when Jason informed him he had found Elizabeth.   But then her smile turned to question as Jason asked the computer hacker where Cameron and Jake were.  Why wouldn't they be with Lucky, she thought.  So, when Jason finally ended his call, a slight worried look on his face, the young mother turned to him and asked, "Jason, why would you ask where Cameron and Jake were?"

Jason, realizing Elizabeth had heard part of his conversation but not wanting to distress the young mother, started to lead her towards the front door.  "Elizabeth, I don't want you to get upset right now, but a couple things have been going on since your death in Port Charles."

Not liking the sound of that, Elizabeth stopped Jason's progression by tugging on his hand.  "What’s that supposed to mean?"  Quirking her eyebrow in question as she continued talking, she pressed, "what has been going on since my death?"

Letting out a frustrated breath, the blond replied, "lets just say that Lucky has a lot of answering to do, to you, on his fathering skills."

"Lucky?  What has he done?!"  Concern was now evident in her voice.

Jason, wanting to ease her fears, said, "Elizabeth, the boys are fine.  No harm has come to them.   Lucky's parenting skills, though, could use some work.  Trust me, I promise to tell you everything that has happened since your death... later, but, right now, all I want to do is take you home."

Elizabeth nodded in acquiesce, letting Jason know she trusted his judgement on the situation.  So, as they headed out the door, the brunette was surprised as the ex-enforcer's steps began to slow once they headed away from the cabin.  Then the young mother discovered why the blond had hesitated.  He had realized that their only means of transportation back to Port Charles was his motorcycle.  But, when Jason looked over at the woman next to him, all he saw was a big smile adorning her beautiful face, and, then, the mob boss smiled too.  Slightly shaking his head, he teased her, "I knew you only liked me for my bike."

Elizabeth laughed - a full blown laugh, her first in such a long time.  It fact, it had been so long, the brunette couldn't remember when she had laughed so freely, and just the sound of her laughter caused Jason's heart to swell, and he swore he would do everything, everything within his power, to hear that sound every day for the rest of their lives.

And, with that thought in mind, the blond handed the beautiful woman before him his helmet, watching as she gracefully straddled his motorcycle.  Jason then quickly followed and quietly sighed in joy as he felt Elizabeth's small, petite frame snuggle up tight against him and her arms wrap around his firm waist, his muscles involuntarily flexing as her gentle hands caressed his body.  Relishing in the two of them finally being together once again, Jason started his motorcycle and began their trek out of the mountains, back to Port Charles so that the two separated lovers could finally begin their life together as a family.