A/N – Thanks for the comments, follows, and faves! I read a lot of transcripts when I wrote this so that I was just giving my opinion on why they did what they did. It's a painful read but the idea popped into my head and I ran with it. I'm glad it touched a nerve with you. * Guest – Aww sorry to make you question. The truth is that writers ruined them on purpose. They had so much potential. I don't think I've ever had a soap ruin my favorite couple or character the way GH writers did Liason. That's why I live for Fanfiction.

Chapter 4 - Epilogue

Diane stood up. "I call Carly Corinthos to the stand."

Elizabeth was surprised. This would definitely work in her favor.

Carly was sworn in.

"Ms. Corinthos, can you please tell me your opinion of Mr. Morgan and Ms. Webber's relationship."

Carly gave a smug smile. "I'd be happy too. Elizabeth has always wanted Jason, even when he loved me. She used her innocence to get under his skin and then played with his emotions, always choosing Lucky over him, even Ric at one point," she added. "Jason had to stuff his feelings down and watch the person he wanted with another man over and over. He was hurting. It has always been all about Elizabeth." Carly only said that because she felt it worked well in her argument but she didn't truly believe it. "She's selfish and never cares what is best for him. She asked him to give up his child while his father was dying. She is one of the most wishy washy people I've ever met and she lies like she breaths and then has the nerve to be upset that Jason kept Sonny's secret. I keep telling Jason that he needs to stay away from her and find someone who is more suitable for his life, someone who will choose him fully and not play the victim all the time. She'll never let him just be a father. She thinks she has to come with the deal. That is what this is all about. She wants him and is pissed that he ditched her. It's mean and vindictive when all he was trying to do was protect his son," Carly screeched. "Princess Purity is nothing but a baby making whore who uses men to get what she wants. She probably got knocked up on purpose."

"Enough," Jason yelled angrily. His chest was heaving and Carly was stunned. He closed his eyes for a second and then said, "I'm sorry your honor but…."

The judge held up his hand. "I completely understand. Your objection to your own behavior is overruled."

Diane smirked and stood up. "No further questions your honor. I just wanted everyone to see what Jason had to deal with on a daily basis."

Ric tried not to smile. "I have no questions for her." Jason being friends with Carly and having to deal with her was almost revenge enough for him. He knew that he was jealous of Jason and the place he had beside his brother. That was mostly the reason he couldn't stand the man. Maybe he should start being thankful he wasn't a part of the three ring circus.

Carly sighed and then stepped down and went back to her seat.

"Your next witness."

"I call Jason Morgan your honor."

Jason got up and went over to the witness stand and was sworn in.

You could hear a pin drop in the room.

"Mr. Morgan, do you agree with Elizabeth's description of your relationship?"

Jason cleared his throat. "For the most part."

"What don't you agree with?" Diane asked.

"What Elizabeth doesn't get is that I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to her or my children. It really hurt when she asked me to give up Jake. At the time, I wanted to make things work and her request kind of crushed me. I gave up. If she couldn't even have faith in me, how was I supposed to have faith in myself that I could be a good father and protect them?"

"You said children," Diane pointed out.

"Yes. As far as I'm concerned, Cameron is my son too. He's a great kid and I love him like he was my own," Jason explained as the female jurors just about melted.

"Go on," Diane said knowing that the more he spoke about the kids, the more that his gentle side would shine through.

"The kids have been through a lot of upheaval. I don't want to cause them any more pain. My life isn't always safe. If I could leave it all behind and go away with them, I would. But it's not that simple. And honestly, she's never asked me to do that. I know it's hard for people to believe we don't hate each other after hearing all of this, but I have been in love with Elizabeth since she was a teenager. And yes, some of that was very painful, but none of it makes me regret any moment that I've spent with her. It's never been about us loving each other. It's always been about other people trying to keep us part or us getting in our own way. When something is larger than life in your head, sometimes it's hard to make it a reality," Jason said painfully.

"I saw your face when she went on about you putting everyone else before you. How do you respond to that?"

"I guess I didn't see it that way. They had made their choices to be in that life. It wasn't my decision to make. I was supposed to protect Sonny's family and I did to the best of my ability but I hated that they were in the line of fire. I left the decision up to Elizabeth because she stood to lose the most. I chose this life because it was the best thing for me at the time, but I couldn't see how it was the best thing for her. I'd do just about anything for her."

"Even give up your son," Diane said as Jason looked down. "Why did you object to Elizabeth telling everyone that Jake is yours?" Diane asked.

Jason swallowed hard. "Jake is one of the greatest gifts I have ever gotten. When I'm with Cameron and Jake, they just accept that I am just Jason. The only expectation they have is that I play with them and come back again. I don't want to ruin their innocence with violence. I understand why Elizabeth initiated all of this. I know that she's tired of keeping the burden of our secrets and she wanted us to have a life together. I was tired too, of never getting what I wanted more than anything, which was to be with her and the kids. I'm just scared that I won't be able to protect them. I don't think I would survive it if something happened to them," he said quietly.

"No further questions your honor," Diane said sitting down.

Ric stood up and sauntered over to Jason. "How many time have you walked away Elizabeth?"

Jason glared at him. "I don't know."

"I think you do know."

Diane rolled her eyes. "Objection your honor."

"Sustained."

"You left town several times to get away from her. Didn't you?"

Jason sighed. "I did but mainly because I couldn't stand to see her with other men."

"But I don't think you ever considered her abandonment issues did you?"

"No, but she didn't want me. I just wanted her to be happy and I thought it was for the best. I was scared to put my feelings out there fully and be rejected." Jason explained.

"Why Courtney?"

"Elizabeth was really mad at me and wanted nothing to do with me. I'm pretty literal and took her for her word."

Edward chuckled. Jason was one of the most literal person he had ever known.

"So, instead of fighting for Elizabeth, you gave in."

He nodded. "I didn't think she'd choose me. She always chose Lucky. It wasn't like she was fighting to be with me at the time. She pushed me away. And I get why. I hurt her. I believed her when she said she was done. She was very convincing. Once again, I couldn't be with the person I wanted to be with. I gave up. I had pined after her for a long time at that point. Courtney was there. She wanted to be with me despite the life I had chosen and it was easy at first. She was a rebound."

"And what about Sam?"

"Sam and I were pretending to be with each other. She was pregnant and when she lost the baby, we both mourned her and realized there was something there," Jason explained.

"Did you love her?"

"Yes."

Ric looked at Sam and then back at Jason. "Would you have married her?"

"I don't know, maybe. I thought she fit into my life at the time."

"Was Sam McCall a placeholder for Elizabeth Webber?" Ric asked curiously.

Diane thought about objecting but she wanted to know the answer to the question too.

"At the time, I wasn't being really honest with myself. The fact was that I couldn't have Elizabeth so since Sam seemed to be able to handle my lifestyle, I went with it and feelings developed."

"Do you consider her the love of your life?"

"No. That will always be Elizabeth. There's a lot of history there."

Sam looked livid and Carly smirked.

"If Sam wanted to have a baby, would you have agreed to it?"

Jason cleared his throat. "After the accident, probably."

Liz looked away and tried to hide her tears.

"So you would have had a baby with her out of guilt?" Ric asked.

"Yes." It was the guilt that made him even consider going back to her. He felt like he had owed her a happy ending.

"You blame yourself that Sam was hurt but she had made a choice to be in that life with you, to be your ride or die chick. Don't you think it was convenient that when she almost died, she blamed it on you that she couldn't have kids?"

"I still felt badly."

"I get that you would, but it was still her choice. She took a chance and it ended badly. You didn't force her into a relationship," Ric said trying to break it down.

Jason frowned. "I know that Ric."

"So would you say it was the guilt that made you consider giving her another chance, even after knowing what she did to Jake?"

Most people were looking around at each other wondering what Sam had done as Sam sat their holding her head up higher as if it was nothing.

"Yes. Liz had gone back to Lucky and Sam was sorry for what she did. She had lost it. I blamed myself for everything. Maybe I was just tired of being alone."

"What exactly did Sam do?"

Diane bit her lip. She should object but dammit, it was about time everyone knew.

Jason looked at her for a moment and then cleared his throat. "She watched Jake get kidnapped and didn't say anything."

Loud gasps were heard in the court room.

"Is that all?"

"No, she hired a few men with guns to scare Elizabeth so that we'd break up."

"You bitch," Monica growled.

The judge slammed his gavel down. "Order in this court. There will be no more outbursts or you will be held in contempt."

Sam looked down and shut her eyes. This, she was not expecting.

"How would you have explained that to Elizabeth or Jake when he came to you as a teenager and asked how you could be okay with having a baby with Sam but not be okay with being a father to him, especially after what she did?"

Diane's lips pursed. She had to hand it to Ric. That was one hell of a question.

Jason stared at Ric blankly, as if the thought would have never occurred to him. "I don't know but at least he'd be alive to ask that question." Jason thought this was ridiculous. He didn't marry Sam or have a child with her, so he didn't see how this was relevant.

"You don't know that. People die of non-coffee business related injuries every day." The sound of light chuckles filled the court room. "You are assuming that your lifestyle is the only reason he could get hurt which is a fallacy. And are you saying that it would be okay to risk Sam's baby getting hurt but not Jake?"

Jason didn't even know what to say to that. He looked down at the floor lost in his thoughts.

"Mr. Morgan, you walked away from your kid. A child that is practically the spitting image of you. People would have found out and you didn't even consider how that child would feel. You knew Lucky was on drugs and had serious issues and yet you entrusted him with the care of said child. Did you really feel so little about yourself that you thought a drug addict and a complete idiot was better than you?" Ric asked. Something had changed inside him. The tortured look on Elizabeth face and knowing that she wanted this man he hated back was kind of doing him in. He usually didn't do the right thing but right now, he decided to put his hate aside and show Elizabeth that he could change. He was going to help her.

Jason wanted to reach out and strangle Ric. "Yes and clearly Elizabeth did too." Elizabeth shoulders slumped and he could tell that she was crying. "Look, I don't deserve her. She's smart, beautiful and a good person. She doesn't deserve the violence in my life and neither do the kids. I'm damaged. And I know she's damaged too. Maybe that was part of our attraction. If you can't fix yourself, maybe you can fix someone else because more than anything you want to feel whole because you know how painful it is that you can't be. I always wanted to show her that she deserved to be loved and she tried to do the same for me."

Carly wiped away a tear. She never saw Jason as damaged and from Liz's reaction, she didn't think she had either.

Liz let out a gasp of protest but Jason ignored it and continued. "I'm—I'm not a good man no matter how anyone tries to spin it. Part of what made her so special to me is that she could see beyond my job and look straight into my heart. She was my escape and she definitely deserves better than me and my sons deserve to have a father they can be proud of."

Monica put her head down. She hated that Jason felt so little of himself.

"And that was Lucky? Your martyr complex aside, are you saying that you don't deserve to be happy or have a son?"

Jason couldn't look up because right now because he was scared he'd lose it. "Yes," he said quietly.

"So Elizabeth doesn't get a say? You don't think that she gets to choose you?"

Jason sputtered.

"You're all about people making their own choices. You said she was smart, but you seem to be saying that she's stupid for loving you."

Jason looked up fixed Ric with a glare. "Don't ever call her stupid. It's not that black and white and you know it."

Ric knew he had Jason on the edge. "You always pushed back all the decisions on her and said, and I quote, "I'll do whatever you want." Do you understand that is the last thing a woman wants to hear? Elizabeth wanted you to fight but instead, under the guise of she had the most to lose, she ended up putting her heart on the line and you didn't."

"When I asked her to leave with me that day in the park, I put my heart on the line. Telling her that I loved her was putting my heart on the line. When I told her that I wanted to be a father to Jake, she told me I couldn't go back on my promise to do whatever she decided. So yes Ric, that is the one time I wish that I hadn't said those words, that I had fought for what I wanted instead of backing down and feeling completely defeated." Jason said angrily.

The tension in the court room was palpable. Everyone was on the edge of their seats.

"No one held a gun to your head Jason. You chose to walk away from your son. You could have said no and you didn't. While you might have thought it was the right thing to do or that Liz got to make the decision, in my opinion, there is nothing that can justify your response to her request. If you couldn't handle the results of your sexual encounters, then maybe you should have made sure you couldn't have children to walk away from. Elizabeth and those kids will haunt you for the rest of your life. You will wonder what they are doing and if they are okay, what it would have been like if you had just claimed them. If Elizabeth somehow is able to move on, you will have to watch her love someone else and he will get to be called dad by your son. Suppose it was me? Could you live with Jake calling me daddy?"

Jason glared at him again but Ric was not phased and pressed on.

"This other man will get to love him and be there for your son all because you don't have enough guts to keep your promise and fight for your family and do the best you can to protect them. Jake will hate you for walking away from him. Think about that, because from where I'm standing, you are stupid to give all of that up and it's not noble at all. In fact, instead of conceding to your lifestyle, you should be trying to be a better man for your kids; instead of abandoning them and choosing your job. It's just an excuse. You gave up on them. Being there every step of the way through all the good and the bad is the hard choice and the right one, not to mention the most rewarding," Ric said before looking up at the judge. "No further questions your honor."

"Well, well…." Diane muttered. Maybe Ric Lansing did have a heart. "I would like to re-direct." It was time to end this. Jason looked sick, like he was going to completely lose it.

Monica was shocked at how much these two people had hurt each other over and over, but despite that their love had survived. She had a better understanding of what made them make these poor decisions. Both of them had been through way too much pain. Apart, their lives were disasters but together, it seemed like they would be complete. She wondered if this could be salvaged.

"Jason, if Jake does find out about your choice, it could end up hurting him so deeply that it could have horrible consequences. Is that something you want?"

"No," he said softly. This situation was completely fucked up and he wasn't sure what was right or wrong anymore. "It kills me to think that he could hate me, but I guess I figured I could handle it because he would be alive and have a hopefully good life."

Edward looked down and sighed. There was a lot he wasn't proud of. He was part of the reason that Jason felt so little of himself and he regretted that. He swore to himself that he would make it up to his grandson.

"You both have hurt each other and made mistakes but despite that, but I still see a lot of love there. What do you want to say to Elizabeth, Jason?"

"Objection," Ric said for show. He still had his career to think about. "This is highly irregular."

The judge looked over at Ric. "Everything about this is highly irregular. I'll allow." At this point, he had held his tongue because he felt like Jason and Liz needed some brow beating. It wasn't standard protocol, but he had a feeling that it was necessary.

Jason swallowed thickly and looked over at Elizabeth who had tears running down her face. "I'm sorry," he said as his voice broke, "I never meant to hurt you. I was just trying to do what I thought was best for Jake and Cameron. You have always mattered. You are the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep. I'll do anything for you," he said emotionally. "You are the love of my life. I made bad decisions, too many to count. I can't take them back but I was just trying to survive without you. I'm so sorry."

Edward grinned. This was working out perfectly.

"Then be with us Jason—your family; fight to be with us and protect us. You deserve to be happy and so do I. I'm so sorry for hurting you, but no matter what was said and done, I don't think I can live without you," Elizabeth said tearfully.

"I want you. I—I want our family. Never again Elizabeth. I will never again let anything come in between us. I've spent so many years running away from you. We've both gotten so good at it. No more. I can't live without you either," Jason said emotionally.

Diane looked over at the jury and sighed, even the men looked like they were going to break down. She had never seen Jason this emotional in public unless he was about to throttle Johnny or Spinelli. She almost needed a tissue herself.

Ric sat back and sighed. He would never get Jason's appeal but for some reason, he did it for Elizabeth and God knows she deserved some happiness.

Carly had gone from livid, to slap me silly shocked, to wondering how she could have missed that Jason was so in love with the Muffin. Admitting he was into her was one thing, but the depth of their love hurt her to the core.

Sam couldn't believe that Jason threw her under the bus. He loved her dammit. They were perfect together. Men would say anything to get what they wanted.

Lucky was thinking that he had wasted most of this life on a woman who had never truly loved him. This was all Elizabeth's fault.

Audrey was making arrangements in her head. A cruise was in order. She needed to celebrate.

Edward was considering taking Cameron and Jake to work with him so he could show them the company. They were the future of ELQ.

Robin couldn't get over the fact that apparently, Jason loved Elizabeth more than he had loved her.

Patrick was taking notes. His arch nemesis definitely had a way with the ladies. He would have to work more on being aloof but smoldering at the same time. It was half way through the trial that he realized he had kind of a man crush on Jason. The guy liked fast motorcycles, hot chicks, but still had a sensitive side. He could learn a lot. Patrick was tired of putting up with Robin's shit. It was time to move on and he had a whole hospital full of nurses to choose from.

Elizabeth slowly got up and looked at the judge who softly smiled at her and nodded. Quickly, she met Jason half way and launched herself into his arms and he kissed her passionately, not caring that they were in a room full of people.

"I love you," he said softly.

She smiled. "I love you too."

Jason pulled back and looked at everyone. "If any one of you can't handle this, then you have no place in our lives. We don't want to hear what you have to say unless you are wishing us well. We've heard enough negativity to last several life times. I love this woman and nothing and no one is going to ever come between us again."

Liz smiled. He was fighting for them, and she couldn't be any happier with that.

"I take you it that you want to drop the lawsuit?" the judge asked with a smirk.

Liz turned to him and grinned, "Yes your honor."

He banged his gavel. "Case dismissed."

iIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Their story was the talk of the town for months. Jason was speaking to the Quartermaines again and they had moved into a safe house temporarily until they could find a place of their own. Carly finally realized that if she didn't get on the Elizabeth bandwagon, she'd be left out in the cold. There was no way she was losing Jason to the Muffin. So, she extended an olive branch and even brought Morgan over for some play dates. Emily and Elizabeth cleared the air and they were back to being best friends. Patrick was dating some girl named Hannah and a dejected Robin went back to Paris. Lucky stupidly decided to fight for Jake and got his ass handed to him. All his secrets came out and he was fired and Sam was convicted and put in jail for her part in Jake's kidnapping. The last Elizabeth had heard, Lucky had gone to Ireland to find himself, whatever that meant.

Lila was tickled pink over her new great-grandsons. Elizabeth spent extra time with her and they became good friends. Audrey met a younger man on her cruise and Elizabeth rarely heard from her because they liked to travel. At first, she was a bit freaked out, but he seemed to genuinely enjoy being with Audrey so she settled at Jason doing a background check and putting the fear of God into the guy.

Finally, Jason and Elizabeth were free to be with each other on their own terms. Johnny guarded his family like they were his own. If anyone was stupid enough to go against Jason, then they deserved to die.

iIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jason looked down at Elizabeth. They had just made love and he was still reeling from how good he felt. They spent the first month together trying to wade through their problems and put them in the past for good. Once they had aired out all of their grievances and got on the same page, they finally moved forward.

Being with his family was beyond anything he had imagined. He relished everything, vowing never to take them for granted again. It was all a gift and it was one he wished he had never turned down in the first place.

"I love you Elizabeth," he said softly.

She smiled. "I love you too."

"Will you marry me and let me love you forever?"

She looked up at him and grinned. "Yes Jason, I will marry you."

He kissed her passionately, putting all his emotions into it. Elizabeth Webber was finally going to be his wife and this time, there would be no backing out. "I feel like shouting it from the rooftops."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Will you settle for an announcement in the paper? I don't want you to be arrested or put on a 5150 hold."

Jason grinned. "I am crazy about you."

"Yeah, but you shouting would be so Carly crazy."

"We wouldn't want that," he said kissing his way down her neck.

Liz moaned. "I'll never get tired of your mouth."

Jason smiled against her skin. "The feeling is mutual."

iIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

They were married two months later at the Quartermaine mansion. It was a beautiful ceremony. Everyone who loved them showed up and cheered when they finally said I do.

Two years later, they welcomed a little girl named Kiley into their family. The Morgan's were living the life they always wanted but had never thought they could have.

The End