Well, it has been fun... and a little agonizing, lol. Thank you all for the wondeful feedback and praise. Of all the fic, this has, by far, been the hardest to write.

I love you all and now you all enjoy the end (and the next fic that is already stewing away inside my head, lol).

Chapter 24

Hour 24 - 8:00 PM

Elizabeth opened the door to the Penthouse and stopped short. She could not believe what she saw, Carly was sitting with Jake playing peek-a-boo as Cameron sat on the floor in front of her. He appeared to be coloring a picture as he leaned on the coffee table concentrating on whatever it was that he was working on. "Umm…"

Carly looked over her shoulder at Elizabeth as she walked toward them. Jake saw her and a smile came to his face as his arms rose for her to pick him up. "Mommy's home." Carly said talking in a baby voice to Jake. Cameron jumped from his seat on the floor and ran over to Elizabeth, wrapping his arms around her legs. Elizabeth stared at Carly trying to read the expression on her face but was unsuccessful. She reached down and pat Cameron on his back and picked up Jake from the couch.

"Wha… what are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked.

Carly stood and crossed her arms over her chest, "Jason called me and asked me to come watch the boys so he could…" Carly looked at the boys, "So he could go and pick you up." She looked over Elizabeth's shoulder toward the door, "Where is he?"

Elizabeth just looked at Carly, the look in her eyes reflected that of Elizabeth's… fear. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out a deep breath. "Cam, did you have fun with Carly?"

Cameron looked at Carly then nodded as Spinelli appeared at the top of the stairs. "Maternal one, you have been saved from the hold of the dark evil doers. But…" He looked around, "Where is Stonecold?" When neither Elizabeth nor Carly answered he ran down the steps. "Have they captured…"

Elizabeth lifted her hand then pointed down at Cameron as she shook her head. "Cameron, it's almost bed time baby. Spinelli has a TV in his room, maybe he can put on a movie for you to watch in there." Cameron frowned. "You can either lay in there and watch a movie till you fall asleep or you can just go to bed now, no TV." Elizabeth added sternly.

"Ok mama." Cameron replied.

"Spinelli, would you mind?" Elizabeth asked.

"Not at all." He bent down in front of Cameron with his back facing him. "Hop on little Cam." Cameron smiled and wrapped his arms around Spinelli's neck and his legs around his waist. Once he was securely on Spinelli's back they took off and Spinelli made the sound of a rocket ship as they disappeared up the staircase.

Elizabeth walked over to the couch with Jake on her hip and sat down, resting him on her side. His head bent down and he snuggled into her side, obviously tired.

"What happened?" Carly asked.

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted when there was a knock on the door. She rocked on the cushion as Carly ran to open the door. "What are you doing here?" Elizabeth heard Carly growl. She looked over her shoulder and saw Johnny standing at the door, still tightly holding his shoulder to control the bleeding.

"It's ok Carly." Elizabeth said as she leaned forward on the couch, pulling Jake back into her lap before she stood. "He helped us."

Carly's eyebrows raised, "Well it was probably a setup."

Elizabeth shook her head, "He helped me escape."

"Escape? What about Jason?" Carly asked. She glared at Elizabeth. "Where is Jason? You left him?"

Tears formed in Elizabeth's eyes and she could not speak. There was no energy left in her body to fight with Carly.

Johnny walked into the Penthouse and turned back to face Carly, "We made her leave with us. She wanted to stay and help or wait for Jason but we got her out of there, safely, as Jason wanted." Elizabeth turned away and sniffled as Johnny continued. "Jason went after my father."

"What do you mean we made her leave?" Carly asked with a disgusted look.

"Me and Claudia." Johnny answered plainly before he groaned in pain.

Elizabeth placed Jake on the couch and he quietly laid his head on the oversized pillow. She turned back to Johnny and pulled his hand from his shoulder. "And where did she go off to?" Carly asked annoyed.

"She is on her way out of town, per Jason's orders." Carly went to speak again but Johnny shook his head. "I'm done talking. I just came up here to make sure Elizabeth got in here safe and that there were guards."

"And why didn't the guards stop you?" Carly asked.

"Because they know I am not out to get Jason or his family." Johnny answered as Elizabeth pulled the sleeve of his t-shirt from the wound.

"The bullet just grazed your shoulder, you just need to be cleaned and stitched up." Elizabeth said as she examined the wound on his shoulder. Johnny nodded and before Elizabeth could offer to help him, he turned to walk out, stopping at the door.

"Make sure Jason knows that Claudia is gone." Johnny said to Elizabeth before leaving and closing the door behind him.

Elizabeth returned to the couch where Jake was laying and sat beside him, patting his back. "So let me get this straight, Anthony took you hostage, he came and saved you, then you left him there to fend for himself?"

"Carly, you don't know what happened." Elizabeth managed to choke out as the tears started welling up in her eyes. She could hear Carly huffing as she paced behind the couch. Elizabeth leaned forward on her elbows and buried her face in her hands as she cried. She couldn't imagine her life without Jason, even if they weren't together they still could see each other and sneak glances, looks or conversations that would hold her together till the next one chance came along or her to see him.

"Elizabeth, I know exactly what happened and once again saving your selfish, manipulating ass has cost Jason…"

"CARLY!" a voice came from the door.

Both women turned and saw Jason. Before Elizabeth could will her body to move, Carly threw herself at him. He stood there as she squeezed him tightly but his gaze never left Elizabeth. Elizabeth turned her head for a brief second to check on Jake, whose eyes were heavy and slowly closing. She stood from the couch and turned back to Jason, who was still watching her. "Thank you for watching the boys… I'll call you… later." Jason said to Carly. As he pulled away from her walked back toward the door.

Carly grimaced, "Huh, now you are telling me to leave?"

Jason nodded, "Please."

Carly huffed, "Fine, but you better call me." she hissed then grabbed her purse off the desk and left.

Jason turned back to find Elizabeth was anxiously standing next to the couch and before either of them could say anything they lunged toward each other and tightly embraced. Elizabeth buried her face in his chest as she pressed her body into his, needing to be as close to him as possible. "Elizabeth…" Jason whispered. "I… I'm so sorry, this is exactly..."

Her head lifted from his chest, "No…" she shook her head. "Thank god you are ok. I was so worried that I would lose you. I don't know if I could live my life without…"

This time Jason cut her off and took a step backward, releasing her. "Elizabeth, this just proved that our fears were right all along. What if I didn't find you or worse. I…" He sucked in a deep breath as he shook his head. "It doesn’t matter. I have to leave."

Elizabeth furrowed her brows, "What do you mean you have to leave?" She took a step toward him but he walked around her and crossed the room. He stood in front of the doors to the balcony and continued.

"Today created a big mess, a mess that even Diane couldn't get me out of. I was sloppy, all I could think of was getting to you and I left evidence everywhere. I can and will without a doubt be connected to what happened down at the warehouse… ssss… so I need to leave town for a while."

"For a while?" Elizabeth asked knowing what that meant. "Or forever?"

Jason briefly glanced over his shoulder at Elizabeth and saw the tears on her cheeks. He hated hurting her and that seems to be all he has done time and time again. He blinked back tears and sighed, "Elizabeth, I love you. If I stay here I WILL be convicted of killing Anthony. I have to leave… tonight." He shrugged, "It is safer for you here without me…"

"Or it could be more dangerous, I could be used to send you a message."

Jason shook his head, "I'll make sure you are taken care of and protected. Never worry about that."

Elizabeth crossed the room and stepped behind Jason. Her arms snaked around his waist and she rested her head on his broad back. "Jason, I have loved you since before I met you. A life without you is not anything I ever want to imagine." Jason turned so he could look in her eyes and kissed her forehead. Her eyes locked with his and she continued, "So, no more fighting it, no more lying… it is our time, me, you, Jake and Cameron." Jason's eyes went wide as she asked him, "What time are we leaving."

Side note - - Please don't hate me for letting Claudia live but I left a few things up in the air in case I am brave and decide to do a sequel. Who knows, maybe it will take place in Italy... isn't that where Claudia lived before coming to Port Charles;)