Epilogue

Happy birthday to you… happy birthday to you… happy birthday dear Elena… happy birthday to you!!!

Elizabeth laughed as she watched Jason and Elena attempt to blow out the candles on her cake. Their hats placed haphazardly on their heads. Leaving Port Charles was a hard decision to come to but in retrospect Elizabeth now knew it was the best choice she ever made. Finding Jason again at “Cupid’s End” changed her as well. He and Elena were her life now and despite the people she missed with them is where she wanted to remain. Maybe in time returning to Port Charles might be a possibility but until then she was happy with what she had.

Jason- Hey…come on… I’m not getting messy by myself here…
Liz- [smiling] I’m coming… I was taking a picture…
Jason- [laughing] Another one?
Liz- [smiling] Yes… I gotta keep my…my Gram… I wanna remember how fast Elena is growing.
Jason- [quietly] You miss her don’t you?
Liz- [nodding] Yeah… she is kinda like the only family I have.
Jason- [softly] I know…
Liz- [softly smiling as she reached out and touched his arm] Besides you and Elena of course. You two are the only family that matters.
Jason- [smiling] We’re not going anywhere…
Liz- [smiling] I know…

Elena’s squeals tear their gaze from one another and they could not keep from laughing at the sight of her covered with her cake and ice cream.

Jason- [laughing] I guess we weren’t paying attention huh?
Liz- [laughing] I guess not...
Jason- I didn’t realize it would get this messy…
Liz- [smiling] I did…
Jason- What do you mean?
Liz- [smiling] She’s just like you…
Jason- [laughing] Are you trying to say I’m messy?
Liz- [laughing] Just a little… especially when you are trying to fix something.
Jason- You like it…
Liz- [shaking her head] No… I love it. I got two pigs…
Jason- [smiling devilishly as he ran his hand through the icing on the cake] There can always be another pig…
Liz- [smiling] I don’t think so…
Jason- [smiling] Come on… you might like it…
Liz- [laughing] I might...

They laughed as they continued celebrating Elena’s first birthday. Silently Elizabeth wished she had others she could share this day with. She wished Gia and Nikolas was there to sing “Happy Birthday” to Elena. Or maybe Emily there to spoil her first niece. She longed to have her Grandmother there celebrating in the first birthday of her great- granddaughter. Pushing away her thoughts she happily joined in as Elena ripped away at the multi colored paper that wrapped her presents. Quickly rising Elizabeth gathered Elena to wash her birthday celebration off of her while Jason cleared away any evidence of a party. As she passed him on her way to the bathtub Elizabeth smiled and quickly whispered to Jason.

Liz- [smiling] We’re gonna have to try out that icing thing later…
Jason- [smiling] I like the sound of that.
Liz- [laughing] I just bet you do.
Jason- [softly as he leaned in to kiss her quickly on the lips] You like it too…
Liz- [smiling as she quickly kissed him back] Yeah… I do.
Jason- [smiling] Good…
Liz- [as she disappeared with Elena into the bathroom] And you know it…

Having bathed Elena Elizabeth watched as she slowly slipped into dreamland. Jason came behind her and gently wrapped her in his arms.

Jason- [softly] Is she sleep yet?
Liz- [softly nodding] Yeah… she just fell off to sleep.
Jason- I still have to kiss her goodnight.

Jason quickly leaned over Elena and after whispering something in her ear he tenderly kissed her on her forehead before joining Elizabeth again as they stared at their sleeping daughter.

Liz- What did you just whisper to her?
Jason- [softly] I promised her that I would love you and her forever.
Liz- [softly as she slowly began to smile] Really?
Jason- [as he wrapped her in his arms] Really.
Liz- [softly] Good… because I plan on loving you forever too.
Jason- [laughing] Good.
Liz- [looking up at his smiling face] Can I ask you something?
Jason- [smiling] Anything…
Liz- How did you come up with Elena’s name?
Jason- You don’t like it?
Liz- [shaking her head] No I love it… but… I know it sounds silly but…
Jason- But?
Liz- I want to be able to tell her how she got her name and…
Jason- [smiling] You were wondering who Elena was to me…
Liz- [looking down as she spoke softly] Yes…
Jason- [gently lifting her chin until they were again face to face] It was Lily’s middle name.
Liz- Lily?
Jason- Sonny’s first wife…
Liz- I know… but why did you pick that name?
Jason- [smiling] She was the first person I danced with… rather she taught me how to dance.
Liz- [smiling] Really?
Jason- [smiling as the slowly began to move to music that only they could hear] Really.

They danced slowly for a few minutes lost in each other. Moving together for a kiss they softly whispered what was clearly evident to anyone and everyone who saw them together.

Liz/Jason- [softly in unison] I love you…

Slowly they returned to their room to share in the love they both felt knowing that no regardless to what came their way together was how they belonged and how they would stay.