A/N This is my first fanfiction and really is just my attempt to keep my favorite couple together and finally happy! Without further ado…..

What Should Have Been…Happily Ever After

Chapter 1

Walking out of the room Jason paused at the threshold to appreciate the view: Sam in a rocker rocking a baby to sleep. It was a sight that they had both wished for and dreamt about, but a dream that was abandoned or told could never come true. Tears prick at Jason's eyes when he realizes that Sam's dream, his dream, their dream had finally come true. Despite the reality of the dream come true, Jason is unsure whether or not he will have a chance to be apart of that life, even worse he is unsure if he deserves the place he so desperately wants.

The past year had been ripe with crisis after crisis and it was hard on both parties. Instead of supporting one another, Jason pulled away and their problems that seemed at once to be small took on larger insurmountable proportions. Looking back, Jason can't seem to figure out how everything got so out of hand, how he and Sam had gotten so far apart that divorce was imminent and worse the papers actually signed but never filed. He just hopes he can convince Sam to shred the papers and work at being a family, finally.

Sill trying to figure out how everything got so out of hand Jason can only blame the discord on one issue- an issue that 5 years ago actually destroyed his and Sam's relationship. Jason pulled away and started confiding in Liz instead of his wife, while Sam turned to McBain.

Jason had felt betrayed when he found out that Sam had McBain's help when she found out about Franco and the baby's paternity. Jason should have been the one that helped Sam during those times. But you really weren't there for Sam. You were still angry and bitter about Sam keeping Robin's death from you. You weren't there for her. You were too busy confiding in Liz. And with that final thought, Jason finally connects this past years turn of events with those of years ago. Jason kept going to Liz to talk things through, not Sam- his wife. Jason cut himself off from Sam, while opening up to Liz. No matter what missteps Sam may have taken, none were as wrong as Jason's because he made the same mistakes twice. When they had gotten back together, he had promised himself and Sam that he wouldn't hurt her again, and yet he broke those promises.

While Jason would never admit it out lout, John McBain didn't turn out to be such a bad guy. As soon as he heard about Jason's theory of what happened to Sam's son, McBain pulled through and made tough choices. In a small way, Jason is glad that Sam had a supportive friend through everything, but hates that he couldn't be the one she turned to for comfort and solace in her grief. Though he was partially to blame for why she was grieving.

With one final look at Sam and Danny, Jason knows what he wants- he wants for Sam, Danny and himself to be a family. He meant what he said to Heather on the roof, Danny is his son and he loves him no differently than he loves Lila or Jake. The only thing standing between Jason and his dream of a family with Sam is himself; he needs to apologize to Sam for so much, but also back up his words with action.

And that is where he is going to start. Sending quick texts to Carly and Spinelli, Jason waits and continues to reflect past mistakes and regrets. He knows that it isn't fair to blame Elizabeth but he can't stop from thinking that if she hadn't been such a consistent presence in his life again, he would be sure of his place in Sam's and now Danny's.

Things had changed between he and Liz after Jake died. They comforted each other and helped one another grieve, but instead of trying to stand on her own she leaned on Lucky until he left and then on Jason. Ever since the accident she caused last August, she seemed to be trying to find a place in his life. She went so far as to admit it the night of Sonnys wedding when she came clean about her lies and manipulations. He knows that nothing with Liz will ever be the same, and though he didn't make a big deal about it that night, he hates that she lied to him about such important matters. She played with his life again and nearly cost Sam her son.

He can't help but think about what else she might have lied about all these years and how if he had seen her for what Carly and Sam had always said she was where would he and Sam be now.

Lost in thought, Jason loses track of time and is startled by Carly and Spinelli's arriving at the same time. "Jason, what's going on? What's so urgent that it couldn't wait till morning?" Carly asks.

"Well, I need your help. Sam and her son were reunited tonight…."

"What?! I thought her son died?" "The Lost One has been found" he gets cut off by both Carly and Spinelli, respectively.

"Um Carly, I'll tell you the whole story later- it is a bit long and very complicated. But i do need a favor. I want to ask Sam to come home with me to the penthouse and start again as a family; I want to be Danny's father."

"Of course Stonecold, you would be the most excellent father figure to the Wee One. Whatever assistance the Jackal can render I would be most pleased." Spinelli has the largest smile ever. Jason and Sam don't know it but he considers them to be like his parents and is very enthused to have a younger sibling. He also hopes that the re-emergence of the Wee One will help mend bridges and save Sam and Jason's marriage.

"Jase, what do you need?" Carly asks still a little shaken by the news of the baby's survival.

"I am going to ask Sam to come home and I thought it would be nice if the nursery was all done for when she comes home with Danny. She is already worrying about the fact that she doesn't have anything the baby will need; she gave all the stuff away back in June when she thought he died. You would only have tonight since he's being discharged tomorrow, but you won't have to worry about furniture. I kept all the furniture that she bought for Lila, you would just have to decorate the room and get clothes and diapers and you know what you she will need."

While Spinelli misses the significance of his confession, Carly is stunned. She doesn't really know why because he loved that little girl as much as Sam and knows that he still misses her. She isn't supposed to know that he still goes to her grave once a week to put fresh flowers and since the break in their marriage he had been going a lot more frequently- a fact that she only knows because Michael saw him recently while he and Starr were leaving flowers for her daughter. "Jason you kept all Lila's furniture? Does Sam know?"

Not really comfortable sharing his real reasons, he gives a simple though not complete answer. "Sam spent so much time putting her nursery together, putting so much thought into the room, it didn't feel right to get rid of it." And maybe in the back of my mind I hoped that someday we would have an actual use for it, he adds silently. "I already called Max and Milo and they are picking it all up from storage and taking it to the penthouse."

Feeling like he should help move this encounter along Spinelli hesitantly agrees to lend his assistance to Stonecold and the Valkyrie in her decorating endeavors. After all, it wouldn't be the first time that he played assistance to a room makeover at the penthouse. "Well Stonecold, the Jackal will do whatever necessary to help win Fair Samantha back for Stonecold. The nursery will be spectacular." Spinelli grins and looks to a wide-eyed Carly for her affirmation.

"Uh, of course Jason. Do you have a specific idea in mind or do you just want me to handle it?"

Jason scratches his cheek and back of the neck and thinks; but realization hits him. "Something to do with the ocean, boats, and stars. She told me when we were in Hawaii before Franco that the stars were her security blanket- always there to make her feel safe. I think that she would like for our son to have that same feeling."

Impressed with such a sentimental thought coming from Jason, Spinelli smiles and looks away while Carly just nods, having already known that stars held special significance to Sam. "I think I can work with that. Tell Sam that I'm happy for her and that she better let you be Danny's father….no one deserves this more than you. Don't worry about a thing I'll have it all taken care of by the time that you are home. Come on Spinelli we have our work cut out for us." Carly grabs Spinelli hand and practically drags him to the elevator without letting him say a word more.