My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Eighteen

Jason and Elizabeth were both quiet as they rode the elevator up to the blond's penthouse, lost in their own thoughts, thinking of all that had transpired that night.  Yet, even though Cameron, once again asleep, rested in Jason's arms, his head safely tucked within the crock of the ex-enforcer's neck and Jake slept in his mother's arms, securely snuggled up against her petite frame, the two reunited 'more than friends' kept their hands clasped, neither willing to break the connection they each sought so desperately from the other. 

As the car ascended, Jason could feel Elizabeth's hand tightened as she watched the numbers increase steadily, the ding signifying each change in floors reverberating within the confines of the elevator.  Worried that this all might be too much for her, the mob boss turned to gaze at the beauty next to him.  Then the ex-enforcer himself gently tugged on her delicate hand, with a silent request for the young mother to look at him.  When Elizabeth's head rotated to face her companion, Jason could see the trepidation in the depths of her sapphire orbs.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, the blond tried to mask the fear that had formed in the pit of his stomach, fearing that Elizabeth was going to bolt any second.  Finally finding his voice after several tense seconds, the mob boss asked, "hey, are you okay?"  Taking a deep breath, Jason forged on.  "I thought you understood why we had to come….”  Swallowing another lump that had formed, he finished, "come here.  Ric is still out there, and your home isn't secure.  I... I just can't risk it, with you and the boys.  You trust me, right?  This is, for now, what needs to be done.”

Hearing the word trust from Jason's soft lips broke Elizabeth out of her reverie.  Finally, really looking at the man before her, the brunette saw the fear showcased within his expressive cerulean eyes, eyes she was frequently getting lost in.  Releasing her hand from his, the young mother raised her graceful digits to brush them softly along his cheek, downward across his strong, chiseled jaw, to once again return back to his large calloused hand.  Jason closed his eyes as he relished the feel of Elizabeth's touch along his face.

The brunette then firmly said, "I trust you with my life and the life of our children.”  She then licked her now very dry lips and continued, "it's just I'm... I'm a little nervous.  I... I never thought I would return here... with you."

The last part of her confession was said in just a whisper, but Jason heard it as loud as if Elizabeth had shouted it from General Hospital's rooftop, and he understood the meaning behind the words.  Squeezing her hand once again, the blond said, "I'm... I'm a little nervous, too.  I... I know we have talked about trying before, but I promise, this time, it will be different.  We aren't just going to try; this time we're going to make it work.  I won't lose you again, Elizabeth."

The mob boss then leaned down, while Elizabeth, tears spilling out over the lids of her big doe eyes, moved upward on her tiptoes, to meet Jason halfway for a brief but meaningful kiss.  Just as the two broke apart, the elevator stopped, signifying that Jason and Elizabeth had reached their final destination.  As they entered Jason's penthouse, they heard someone squeal in delight.  Seeing Spinelli jump up and down like a little kid instantly put a smile on the petite brunette's face, although Jason scowled, placing his fingers to his lips to cease the young man's shenanigans, not wishing the young hacker to wake Cameron and Jake.  But the ex-enforcer was too late, as he felt the head of the little boy he held tightly in his arms start to rise and saw his closed, thick lashes flutter open, his eyes focused on the man holding him.

"Jason, where are we?"

Jason, rubbing back the little boys curls, kissed his head and said, "we’re at my place, Cam."  Then he turned slightly so the youngster could see where the recent noise had come from.”  And this is my friend Spinelli.   He also lives here, with me."

Cameron eyed the young man curiously.  "Spin-ell-i,” he drew out the computer expert’s name, sounding out every syllable distinctly.  “I remember you.  You're friends with Aunt Lulu."

Spinelli, now quiet, approached the young boy, holding his hand out.  "That's correct, wise little one."

Cameron looked at Spinelli's hand and, instead of shaking it, released his grasp from around Jason’s neck and reached for the young hacker who willingly took the toddler into his arms.  Then Spinelli heard Cameron say, "it's nice to meet you."

Jason's roommate smiled his signature, goofy grin, a small, little, excited yelp escaping his lips as he held Elizabeth's first born close, rubbing his back up and down with his hand.

It was then, as Elizabeth watched one of Jason's best friends hold her oldest son, that she noticed movement slightly behind the young computer whiz.  At first, she wasn't sure who it was, and then, as he stepped forward just a little, the young mother saw Johnny Zacharra, timidly watching the scene before him unfold.  Sensing his apprehension, the brunette handed, a still sleeping Jake to Jason and walked over to the young man who pretty much had saved her life.

Pulling him into a hug, Elizabeth whispered to him, expressing those exact words to the young man as she held close, "thank you for saving my life."

Gently pushing the young mother away from his grasp, Johnny eyed the brunette and said, "how can you say that?  If it wasn't for my family, you never would have been in that situation in the first place."

Elizabeth’s eyes softened as she reached down and lightly squeezed Johnny's hand before releasing it and replied, "you are not responsible for the actions of your family.  Jason explained to me that Ric is your half brother and how you were able to get the information needed to find me.  That is what matters to me.  He... he also told me how you assisted in having your own father arrested."  As Johnny started to open his mouth to refute, Elizabeth held up her hand to stop him from speaking and continued.  "Whether he is your biological father or not, he is still the man that raised you, and you were instrumental in securing his arrest and, in essence, saving not only my life but Jason and Spinelli's lives as well.  That tells me what kind of man you are.  For me, nothing else matters.  Besides, you can't pick your family.  Trust me, I know that better than anyone."

Johnny smiled at the little pixie before him, for he could see the strength and resolve within her petite frame.  Nothing he said was going to sway this woman's mind, and, for that, he was truly grateful.  He could easily perceive why a man like Jason Morgan had fallen in love with the woman standing before him.

Turning his attention towards Jason, the mob prince looked at the older man who just shrugged his shoulders in response.  "You might as well just agree with her.  She is as stubborn as they come."

Elizabeth pivoted to face the ex-enforcer, smiled, and said, "that's right, and you better not forget it.  Besides, I need to be stubborn with this house full of men I now have."

Jason gave the young woman a half smile and stared at her, all the love he felt expressed in that one look.  His joy that the woman he loved readily accepted the people in his life was practically palpable, and her easy acceptance just made him love her even more. 

Finally, after a few seconds, the two heard someone clear their throat.  Whether it was Johnny or Spinelli, neither knew, for their attention had been transfixed on the other.  Breaking out of their trance, Jason and Elizabeth both lowered their heads like two teenagers caught in a compromising position, a tint of pink forming on both of the adults’ faces in the room.

The two younger men couldn't help but look at each other and smile at the fact that they had just seen Jason Morgan get embarrassed.  It was a sight neither thought they would ever witness.  So, with that thought in mind, Johnny was the first to speak and said, "uh, Spinelli, I think that's our cue to leave and let this family get some rest."

Elizabeth turned her attention back to the young Zacharra and commented, "you two don't need to go."  Rotating to look at computer hacker, she pressed, "especially you, Spinelli.  This is your home.  I… I don't want you to feel like you are being kicked out of your own home just because we are here."

Spinelli, quick to ease the young mother's concerns, said, "please don't worry about me, Fair Elizabeth.  Stone Cold and I already talked about my accommodations.  The Jackal, and actually the mob prince too, will be staying at Mister Sir's old abode across the hall.  We have been preparing for your welcomed and much eminent return all evening."

Elizabeth just looked at the young hacker, her eyes starting to form fresh tears at the kindness and love that was being showered upon her and her two sons.  Then the brunette walked over to the young man, who still held her son, and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.  "Thank you, Spinelli."

The young man just smiled and blushed at the affection his mentor's love bestowed upon him.  Looking over at his boss, he acknowledged Jason's nod in his direction and started to hand young Cameron off to his mother, but, before the young boy went back into his mother's arms, the child placed a quick peck on the Jackal's cheek as well and said, "see you tomorrow, Spin-ell-i."

Once in his mother's arms, Spinelli tousled the young boy's curls.  "You sure will, wise little one."

The two younger men then nodded at the other and moved towards the door to take their leave, but, before they could reach the entrance, Jason first squeezed Spinelli's shoulder as he passed and then reached out his hand to Johnny.  "Thank you for helping me bring my family home."

Johnny, without hesitation, took the mob boss's hand within his own, nodded his head, and quietly said, "you’re welcome."  Then the two new roommates headed across the hallway, leaving the newly formed family alone at last.

Jason and Elizabeth just stared at each other for a few moments, happy to have finally reached that point together with their two sons.  Sensing Cameron starting to get sleepy once again, the young mother tilted her head towards the staircase, motioning that they should probably head up to the boys’ bedroom.  The ex-enforcer nodded in understanding and turned to follow Elizabeth up the stairs, but, as the brunette went to walk past him, the blond lightly grabbed her wrist, motioning for her to turn and face him. 

Once she had, the mob boss bent down and placed a gentle but yet very sensual kiss upon her lips, whispering in her mouth, "I love you, Elizabeth."

Caressing his cheek softly with her hand, her eyes shining, Elizabeth responded, "I love you, too.  Always."

And then the couple headed up the stairs to put their sons to bed.

Nothing, though, could have prepared Elizabeth for the sight she saw as she entered the boys’ bedroom.  Jason had had it decorated with every mode of transportation possible.  Knowing Cam's love for trains and Jake's for motorcycles, the room was filled mostly with those particular interests, but it was also offset with cars, airplanes, and spaceships, giving it just the variety needed for the time if and when the boys’ interests might change.  As she scanned the room, her heart started to fill with love for the man next to her.  Turning to him, as tears spilled over her long, dark lashes, she said, "Jason, it's beautiful."

Taking his free hand to brush away her tears, he whispered, "I had this room made up after you… disappeared.  Even though your will stated Lucky as the boys’ guardian, I never gave up fighting that they would one day be here with me.  Only now, I get to have them here with me but also with you, too."  With that, the ex-enforcer bent down and graced the young mother with another soft yet tender kiss.

After Jason pulled back, leaving the young mother breathless, Elizabeth noticed, in the center of the room, two sleeping bags zipped together.  Quirking her eyebrow, she, in essence, asked Jason why the blankets were so positioned.  The blond, now nervous, took his free hand and rubbed the back of his neck before responding.  "Uh, I figured you wouldn't want the boys to sleep alone in a new place after everything that happened, so, while you were dealing with Lucky and Sam, I called Spinelli and had him get two sleeping bags ready and to put them in this room.   Uh, he decided to zip them together.” Uncertainly, Jason added, “I didn’t tell him to do that."

When Elizabeth didn't immediately respond, Jason started to ramble, "I mean, I got two, but I don't have to sleep in here with you, or I could and just unzip them, or not, if you’re uncomfortable with that....  Uh…, I... I can also just go down the hall to my own room and sleep there.  I just..."

Stopping him in mid sentence, the brunette placed her hand over his lips, using her eyes to ease his tension, letting him know that she wanted him to be there, but then, to also really reassure him, she said, "no, Jason.  I... I want the boys to get used to the idea of us, together, as a family."  Then the young mother licked her lips before continuing.  "I want you to stay... here... with me."

Releasing the breath he had been holding, Jason responded, "that's what all I want - to be with you and our sons."

Nodding to the man in understanding, the two entered the room, Jason placing Jake in the crib on the far wall and Elizabeth placing Cam in the twin bed that was positioned along the wall closest to the door.

After placing the boys down to sleep, the couple met in the center of the room.  Jason then took Elizabeth's hands within his own, squeezing them, loving just to be able to feel her close to him, and whispered, "Elizabeth, I want you to know something before we go to sleep.  I want you.  I want you in ever sense of the word, but I promise you that we won't be together that way until it is right.  Tonight isn't about that; it's about me being here with you and our children, so everything else can wait.   Nothing else takes precedence.  Having you in my arms, ending the day with you, and waking up to your beautiful face tomorrow morning is enough for now."

Elizabeth leaned up and placed a tender kiss on Jason's full, soft lips, wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing her flush against his body in a fierce hug, and whispered in his ear, "I love you, Jason.  I love you so much that I don't think words can express just how much I feel for you.  And I want you, too, but you're right.  We need to wait, and I understand."

Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her even closer to him, Jason breathed in her scent, a sigh escaping his lips as he held the woman he loved close to him.

Each pushing slightly away but maintaining their embrace around the other, Elizabeth looked up at the man she loved and asked, "is it okay if I take a shower before we go to bed?  I just want to wash away everything that has happened."

Jason quickly placed a kiss on her forehead and said, "of course.  I will stay here in case one of the boys wake up.  Take your time."

The brunette nodded but still held onto Jason's hand for as long as possible as she moved to leave.  Elizabeth soon quickly returned, feeling refreshed after her shower, her hair still wet and curling at the edges, her face newly scrubbed and looking beautiful, and her petite body covered with one of Jason's black t-shirts.  The mob boss couldn't help but smile as she entered the room.  Kissing her briefly on the lips, Jason whispered, "I'll be right back.  I just want to get ready for bed as well."

Elizabeth nodded and smiled as he left the room.  Then, as she waited for him to return, she moved, first to sit on Cameron's bed, rubbing his hair back and just staring at her little boy, kissing his smooth, trouble free forehead, before heading over to Jake's crib and standing there, rubbing her hand up and down his back, so thankful to be home with her family.

Once Jason returned in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, the two snuggled down into their sleeping bags, holding each other close as they both feel asleep in each other's arms, for once looking forward to waking up the next day and every day after that.