No Ordinary Love

She missed him.

It had been two weeks since she cut her ring, officially cutting Jason out of her heart. Fourteen long days had passed since the last time Jason had looked at her. Really looked at her. 336 hours since they had spoken to each other about any subject other then Libby.

Two tortuous weeks and she missed him. She didn’t want to miss him. She didn’t even want to think about him but she was unable to get her heart to agree with her wants.

How silly was she? She asked him to let her go and had gone to drastic measures to get him to see that she needed to be let go but as soon as he granted her wish she began missing him. She longed for him and he could hardly spare her a glance.

She was ashamed to admit that she wanted him to look at her again with those pleading eyes. Those soulful eyes that were able to bore right into her heart. She was reluctant to accept that she wanted to feel his lips against hers just one last time or that he would grace her with one of his rare smiles that were reserved only for her.

Yes, she was ashamed and reluctant so she would never let anyone know that she missed her cheating husband. But she wasn’t to proud to admit it to herself. She missed him.

Elizabeth spun around in her leather office chair and looked out over the city of Port Charles.

Why had she chosen to go away with Jason? She turned him down at first in favor of Lucky. But something snapped inside of her when Jason walked away from her and it made her loose all of her sensibilities. She went back to her studio, packed a small bag of necessities, rushed over to Jake’s and stopped Jason just as he was getting onto the back of his Harley.

She could still remember the small grin that he was unable to hide when he looked up and saw her standing there; flustered, hair in a wild mass of unruly curls around her face, skin red from her run and embarrassment. Without a word he reached out for her bag and secured it on the back of his bike. He handed her, her helmet and revved his engine.

She ran away with him. To nowhere and everywhere.

But what if she hadn’t? What if she had stayed with Lucky instead of stopping Jason just before he left? What if she had chosen to do the safe thing instead of following her heart?

She would have married Lucky and had 2.5 kids with him. They would be living in a two story suburban home with a big back yard and a white picket fence. She would have given up her art because Lucky never really supported her in that anyway. And she would most likely be working as a nurse at General Hospital just like Audrey had wanted for her.

There was no way she would be looking out of the fifteenth  floor window of her office inside of her art gallery doing what she loved. She chose the life that she wanted not the one wanted for her. Instead of the suburban home she lived in a penthouse. In place of a big backyard she had a view of the city. The white picket fence was disregarded in favor of a fortress of guards and she was not a nurse but an artist.

Ironically enough she chose the road less traveled and true to form; it had made all the difference.

Beep. “Mrs. Morgan, you have a call on line one.”

Elizabeth spun her chair back around to her desk, pressing the speaker of her phone she replied to her secretary, “Thank you Maxie, send it through.”

As soon as the light blinked signaling the caller was waiting she picked up the receiver and spoke, “Elizabeth Morgan speaking.”

“Hello, Elizabeth.”

She tried to make out the semi familiar male voice on the other end of the line. “Um, hello.” She replied unsurely just as Brenda peeked her head in through the door. Elizabeth waved her in. “Who I speaking with?”

“I’m sorry, I should have said. This is Patrick Drake.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise.“Oh... Hello, Patrick,” she replied turning away from Brenda’s suspicious glare.

“I was just calling to check on Libby since you didn’t bring her back in.”

“Oh, about that.” Elizabeth nervously wound the chord of the phone around a single digit. “Her father took her in to she his mother and the sprain healed well. Thank you for calling and checking on her.”

“His mother?”

“Yes. Dr. Monica Quartermaine.” Her reply was met with silence and she suddenly wished that she hadn’t brought up Jason or his family.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Patrick interrupted her thoughts. “ Well since I called I might as well ask... Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?”

Taken aback by his forwardness and abrupt change in conversation, Elizabeth blushed a deep red. “Dinner... tonight?” She looked to Brenda for advice. ‘What should I do?’ She mouthed, her eyes big as saucers.

“Say yes!” Brenda whispered loudly. She was grinning from ear to ear.

Elizabeth shook her head at her friend, “Patrick do you mind holding on for a moment... I need to check my schedule.”

“Of course. No problem.”

Elizabeth placed the call on hold then turned to Brenda. “I don’t know?”

“Is he cute?”

“Yes...yes he is,” Elizabeth bashfully admitted.

“Well then what’s not to know?” Brenda asked. She plucked a mint from the candy jar on Elizabeth’s desk and popped it in her mouth before propping her bottom on the edge of the desk.

“He wants to take me out tonight.”’ Elizabeth tried to reason her point to her friend. “What about Libby? I can’t just drop her off at Jason’s or my Gram’s without them asking me a million questions.”

“You got me remember? I’ll watch the little pixie,” Brenda said tossing a ‘like duh’ expression at her friend.

Elizabeth bit down intently at her bottom lip. Patrick was nice, handsome and interested in her. She had been wanting to get out and it was just dinner. Lord knew she needed the distraction...

“Earth to E. Morgan.” Brenda waved a hand in front of Elizabeth’s face. Successfully breaking the younger brunette from her contemplative state. “He’s still on hold.” She reminded Elizabeth pointing at the abandoned phone.

Elizabeth sighed.

Eyeing her friend she picked the phone back up and depressed the hold button. “Patrick, tonight sounds great.”

“What is it that you don’t get Jason? Can’t you see that I’m trying to move on with my life?”

He hadn’t looked at her weeks and he wanted to, he really did. But he was unable to allow himself that small pleasure. Elizabeth wanted him to let her go . She had even gone so far as to cut her wedding ring to prove to him that she was indeed over their marriage. What was left for him to do? If he continued to fight for her she would continue to be miserable. He wanted her to be happy so he bit the bullet and finally walked away.

“Can’t you see that your declarations of love rip me up inside?”

His decision, though hard, was for the best.

It hurt him to pretend like he wasn’t affected by their distance. Like he didn’t care when she stood in front of him looking beautiful as ever. Like he couldn’t spare her a glance. Like when she walked by him and the scent of her shampoo invaded his senses that he didn’t want to grab her and bury his nose in her soft chestnut locks.

“Can’t you see that I love you so much that I can forget all of the hurt you caused this family with one single sweet nothing from you or touch from you?”

He wanted to touch her, talk to her, look at her but he wouldn’t. He had effectively put a defense mechanism in place and it would have to stay there if he was going to be able to keep his word and let Elizabeth go. As much as he wanted to continue to fight for her...as much as he wanted to show her that they could make it work the words that she had spoken to him a little over two weeks ago would not let him act on it.

“As long as you hold on I can’t move on and what I need to do is move on.”

“Because our family is broken!”

“I Promise.”

“Promises are made to be broken.”

Elizabeth's words swirled around in his head. Each angry accusation, hurtful confession, pain filled sob filtered through him successfully implanting themselves in his heart and further proving that letting Elizabeth go had been the right choice. Too bad his choice was tearing him up inside. Jason brought his fist up and let it come down hard against his desk. It sounded through the warehouse office with a resounding bang.

He clenched his fingers in a tight fist as the pain from his assault on the desk radiated through his hand and wrist.

A slight movement at the door brought Jason’s attention away from his aching hand. His eyes landed on Sonny who was casually leaning on the door frame of their shared office; arms crossed over chest, satisfied grin plastered across his face, dark obsidian eyes fixed upon his light blue ones.

Jason glared at Sonny but said nothing although he was sure that the dark haired man had plenty to say to him.

“They have anger management classes for that,” Sonny commented, leaving his position at the door and entering the office.

He was one to talk, Jason thought to himself. It was just over a year ago that he was cleaning up Sonny’s broken glass shards from hardwood floors of Penthouse 4.

“How’s my sister doing?” Sonny asked.

His blatantly unveiled attempt at a dig did not go unnoticed by Jason but he did ignore the question.

“Oh I see you don’t want to talk about Courtney... So how about Elizabeth? How is she doing?” Sonny watched the anger flash through Jason’s blue eyes with amusement. “I hope she finds a new guy soon, a woman with her beauty should never be alone and should always be treated right.” He finished his statement and smiled devilishly flashing his signature dimples.

Jason was unable to keep his anger in check with the mention of Elizabeth or the innuendo he felt laced Sonny’s words. “Stay the hell away from Elizabeth!”

Sonny was obviously shocked  by Jason’s demands. His confusion shone clearly on his face but just as soon as the confusion set in it was gone. Replaced with a perverse look of satisfaction.

It became apparent to Jason that Sonny was intentionally egging him on and he, just like Sonny wanted, was taking the bait.

“The same way you stayed away from her by staying close to my sister? Sure no problem. Don’t get me wrong, I think Elizabeth’s beautiful but I would never try to move in on her. Imagine that, I have too much love and respect for my wife.” Sonny rubbed his chin thoughtfully, “Someone else will stake their claim on her though, soon enough.”

“I don’t want to talk about Elizabeth,” Jason grumbled trying, unsuccessfully, not to feed into his one time mentor’s bait.

The dark haired man shrugged his shoulders and kept on speaking, “Someone is very interested in your wife and has been asking questions about her.”

As much as he wanted to ignore Sonny he was unable to. His interest had been perked Sonny had him hook, line and sinker. He knew it wasn’t an enemy because Sonny would never be callus about a threat to Elizabeth so it had to be another man. “Who is he?”

“A well accomplished doctor by the name of Patrick Drake.”

Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Sonny eyed him with curiosity, “You know Patrick Drake?”

 Of course he knew Patrick Drake. The doctor had basically been fondling his wife’s face the first time he saw the man and feeding his wife funnel cake the next. That wasn’t the kind of thing that was easily forgotten. “He was the doctor that saw Libby when she sprained her arm.”

“I wonder if he will make house calls for Elizabeth?” Sonny contemplated.

 “How did you find out?” Jason asked, choosing not to acknowledge Sonny’s purposeful dig.

“I have my ways.”

“Sonny.”

“Milo.”

“Milo?”

Sonny grinned and easily gave in, “Patrick has been asking around the hospital about Elizabeth. He happened to ask Georgie Jones and she told Milo about it. Milo thought I might like to know... I thought you might like to know.”

Jason fumed silently. “Do a background check,” He ground the demand out.

“He’s a doctor, Jason, there are no skeletons in his closet.”

Jason’s eyes narrowed in on his partner. It wasn’t like Sonny to be so cavalier about the safety of Elizabeth, so why the sudden nonchalance? Realization hit him, “You already had one run... didn’t you?” Sonny didn’t answer, he didn’t have to. “Thank’s.”

“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Elizabeth and Libby.”

Jason’s lips pursed in a tight line. He looked down at his watch; seven-thirty, he needed to get away. Hop on the back of his bike and just ride. Jason stood abruptly, sending the rolling chair back against the wall.

“Where are you going?” Sonny asked as the tall enforcer strode by him. His inquiry was met only with a few gruff mumbles and a hard slam of the office door.

Sonny sighed and made his way over to the chair that Jason had just abandoned. Grabbing a small blue pressure ball from his desk he plopped down in the office chair. His fingers flexed around the sand filled ball. Squeezing and releasing, squeezing and releasing...

He couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty about Jason cheating with Courtney. He had ordered Jason to watch her. If only he’d known just the type of woman Courtney was and how weak Jason would be to her advances. If only, it was too late for that type of thinking. Jason had cheated with Courtney and Elizabeth had ended up hurt. But she seemed to be moving on; Brenda had just informed him of Elizabeth’s date with Patrick Drake.

Sonny smiled. Good for her. Patrick was a good guy, at least on paper, and Elizabeth needed to get out and have fun.

Still, he held out hope that one day Elizabeth and Jason would work through their problems and come out of it stronger but at the same time he wanted Elizabeth to give Jason a taste of his own medicine. Maybe, Sonny thought as he leaned back in his leather clad chair, Dr. Drake would be just the man to prescribe the bitter pill to Jason.

“Well you look absolutely stunning,” Patrick complimented as he pressed his hand to the small of Elizabeth’s back and guided them to their table.

After careful consideration Elizabeth had decided to wear a short black cocktail dress with a crisscross strap across the low cut back. It was fitted and clung almost indecently to every soft curve of her body. She opted for a pair of strappy sandals. The five inch heels added height to her five-foot-four form and accentuated her calf muscles. Her hair was worn down in soft curls that cascaded to the middle of her back and her makeup was subtle, just a little foundation, mascara and a sheer gloss on her lips.
          
“Thank you,” She said taking a seat in the chair Patrick had pulled out for her. “How gentlemanly of you.”

Patrick smiled at her as he took his seat. “Do you come here often?”

“No, not really,” She admitted taking a look around The Grille. She wasn’t the fancy restaurant kind of girl and Jason was far from being that type of guy. The last time they had gone to a upscale restaurant was their fifth year wedding anniversary and that turned out horribly. Why they decided to go out and celebrate their anniversary when their marriage was in shambles was beyond her.

“Where did you go to art school?”

Elizabeth took a sip of her water. “I didn’t. I traveled and gained my knowledge abroad.”

“That’s the best way to do it. Hands on learning. Did you travel with a group or alone?”

“I...I traveled with my husband, well friend at the time... soon to be ex husband.” Elizabeth nervously rattled off her confession. She didn't want to talk about her travels because they made her think about Jason. The last thing she needed to do on her first real date since she and Jason’s courtship was to be thinking about or talking about him.

“Where did you go to medical school?” Elizabeth asked, smoothly changing the topic.

“In Georgia. Emory School Of Medicine.”

“Really? I did a short internship in Savannah. Beautiful city.” Yet another topic that made her think of Jason. 

“I never visited Savannah,” Patrick commented. “Maybe I will one day.”

“You should.”

She and Jason had the best time in the historical city. Elizabeth sketched old colonial mansions and they visited the cemetery featured in the book Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil. Elizabeth was able to see the statue of the Bird Girl. She had done a great sketch of the sculpture. Jason loved it. It was one of the rare ones that he could make out without much explanation from her.

There she was thinking about Jason again. She really needed to snap out of it.

“Maybe we will go together.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened and a small gasp escaped her mouth. “Maybe,” She added with a smile.

Patrick Drake sure was a smooth operator. A very stark contrast to the man she had married. Patrick was sleek lines where Jason was rugged. He was talkative where Jason was quiet. He was “in your face” where Jason was thoughtful. Two people couldn’t be more different if they tried.

“Doctor Drake?”

Elizabeth visibly cringed. She didn’t have to turn around to know who the melodic voice belonged to. Emily.

Patrick greeted his co worker, unaware of his dates immediate change in demeanor. “Hello Emily. How are you?”

Elizabeth shrunk down in her seat a little and hoped that Emily wouldn’t notice her.

“I’m great... and you?”

“I’m good. Let me introduce you to my date.” Patrick waved a hand in Elizabeth’s direction. “This is Elizabeth. Elizabeth this is Emily...”

So much for that idea.

“Elizabeth?” Emily along with Lucky asked in surprised unison as they moved around the table to get a better look at her.

Of all the people to turn up at the same restaurant where she was having her first date post Jason. Things couldn’t get any worse.

Patrick’s hazel eyes darted between Elizabeth and the married couple hovering above their table. “You all know each other?”

Elizabeth brought a hand to her forehead in hopes that the action would somehow allow her to disappear. “We’re acquainted,” she quietly answered.

“I’d say we are a little more than acquainted.” Emily hotly retorted.

“Really?” Patrick asked looking to Elizabeth for confirmation.

“Oh yes, Dr. Drake.” Emily answered for Elizabeth. Her voice ever increasing in decibel. “Elizabeth and I are in-laws. She is married to my brother.”

She was wrong, things could get worse and they just had.

Bringing her hand away from her forehead Elizabeth swallowed hard. “We’re divorcing Emily. You know that.”

The tall brunette gaped, “So you are already dating? Does Jason know?”

“Em,” Lucky spoke for the first time since his shocked realization that Elizabeth was on a date with Patrick, “Maybe Elizabeth has finally come to her senses.”

“Lucky! Jason is my brother,” Emily spat. Her soft features contorted as her face flushed an angry red.

Elizabeth gave Patrick a sympathetic glance. Some first date they were having. “Emily...”

“It’s fine Elizabeth,” Lucky assured her while placing a quieting hand on Emily’s shoulder.

“Now is not the time or the place,” He spoke softly to his wife before moving his hand from her shoulder to her waist. “Let’s go take our seat.”

Thankfully, Emily seemed to relax and lean into Lucky’s body though her eyes were still heavy on Elizabeth, “You’re right. Now is not the time or the place.”

Lucky nodded at Patrick and Elizabeth, “Enjoy your dinner.”

Elizabeth watched as Lucky led Emily away from the table and to their dining spot. When they sat she was finally able to breathe. “I’m so sorry...”

Patrick waved away the apology. “Don’t worry about it.” He smiled reassuringly. “Bad Blood?”

“Something like that,” She mumbled still obviously unnerved by Emily’s words.

“I take it you two aren’t close.”

“You wouldn’t believe it from what you just witnessed but the three of us, along with Lucky’s brother Nikolas, used to be very close.”

Patrick’s eyes lit up and he laughed lightly, “Yeah, hard to believe.”

Elizabeth smiled reminiscently. “We were. We even called ourselves The Four Musketeers.”

Patrick smirked as he reached for his water glass, “Four Musketeers?”

“Yes,” Elizabeth absently chuckled at the name the group once proudly shared. “Back then Lucky and I were a couple and Emily and Nik were also. We were very inseparable.”

“So what changed?” He asked, taking a short sip of his water.

Elizabeth brows furrowed a bit and she searched Patrick’s face. His expression told her that he was genuinely interested so she answered. “Life happened. We all changed and began to want different things. Lucky and I grew apart but we tried to hang on to the love we had for each other at one point. It was useless. I was falling out of love with Lucky and in love with someone else.”

“Emily’s brother.” Patrick said knowingly.

Elizabeth nodded. “That caused conflict between me and Emily and of course Lucky and Jason. It was a big mess.”

“How did it end?”

“Jason was leaving Port Charles and he asked me to go with him. I turned him down at first.”

“Why?”

“I guess I was afraid of what people might think. But I stopped caring right before he left.

“You left with him.”

“Yes I did. I hopped on the back of his bike and never looked back at the life I left behind. When we returned to Port Charles Emily and Lucky had fallen for each other and Nikolas had moved to Greece. We were never the same after that.”

“Wow. That’s... well that’s...”

“I know. Sounds like something out of a Soap Opera, huh?”

Patrick quirked a brow in question, “Are you still in love with him?”

Elizabeth should have been surprised by the random inquiry but she had become aware of Patrick’s in your face questions and actions. “You don’t beat around the bush do you?”

“I can be a little forward,” he grinned in a flirting manner. “I would like to know though. I mean do we have a legitimate chance or will your heart always belong to him?”

She took a deep breath. Patrick had asked an honest question and the least she could do was give him an honest answer. “I’m still in love with him. I know I shouldn’t be but my heart hasn’t caught up with my good sense yet.”

“I see.”

“Patrick,” Elizabeth reached across the table and placed her hand lightly on his. “I enjoy your company and I’d like to see you again but I can’t make you any promises.”

The doctor smiled sincerely, “I understand,” he turned his hand up and threaded his fingers through Elizabeth’s smaller ones. “How about we take it one date at a time?”

Elizabeth looked down at she and Patrick’s intertwined fingers. She watched as the pad of his thumb ran lightly over the back of her hand in a smooth swishing action and she suddenly felt sick. She couldn’t explain the shift in her mood but something about the feel of his soft un-calloused fingers on her skin made her stomach sink.

Elizabeth plastered on a smile and hoped that Patrick couldn’t tell it was fake. “One date at a time,” she slowly pulled her hand away from Patrick’s hold. “Sounds good.”

Emily Spencer was a woman of many talents. She was a successful doctor, a loving wife, wonderful mother, diligent daughter, and loyal sister. She wore all of her hats well.

When the hospital called in the middle of the night, she left the warmth of her bed and her husbands sleeping form to go do her job. When her husband needed to feel appreciated, she made sure that he knew that he was a wonderful husband and father. When her two little boys cried, she wiped their tears and soothed their pain away. When her parents expected something of her, she met their expectations and often succeeded them. After all, she had finished college and medical school two years earlier than most.

Her brothers were a different story. They never expected any thing from her. She was the youngest and the only girl so she was the one who was looked after. Still, she couldn't help but feel the need to protect them the same way they did her. And at this moment Jason needed protection from Elizabeth.

Emily stood by and watched her one time best friend single handedly break Lucky's heart. She witnessed how Elizabeth strung Jason along while still claiming to be in love with Lucky. She knew how Elizabeth worked and she would be damned if she let Elizabeth hurt another man that she cared about. Especially her brother.

All of these things ran through Emily's mind as she waited for her brother to show up at The Grille. She looked down at her delicate women's, gold Rolex and tapped the ball of her foot impatiently. Jason should be arriving at any moment. She told him it was urgent and she had to see him. That alone would be enough to have her brother speeding over to the restaurant.

Emily thought for a moment that maybe her reaction to the whole situation was silly. Did Jason really need to see Elizabeth on a date? What if he already knew? She didn't want to stir the pot but Jason had to find out the type of woman he had married. They weren't even divorced yet and Elizabeth was already publicly dating.

How dare she sit there outwardly flirting with Patrick Drake while Jason was still hurting over her? Elizabeth basically pushed Jason out the door and into Courtney's arms when she decided to open her own art gallery. Yet she had the nerve to blame him for everything. She never took responsibility for her part in it.

As far as Emily Spencer was concerned, Elizabeth Morgan was not a woman of many talents and she did not wear her hats well.

Jason stepped into the lavishly decorated entrance of The Grille. An older couple breezed passed him, arm in arm. They stopped just a few feet away from him and the elder man helped the woman, who was surely was his wife, into her fur coat. She smiled at her husband as he placed a chaste kiss on her wrinkled cheek then they left.

Normally Jason wouldn't take much notice to a married couple doing married couple things but something about seeing the couple that must have been married for thirty plus years made him feel empty. He would never have that with the woman he loved.

"May I help you, sir?"

Jason looked down into the dark eyes of a young hostess. " I'm here to see my sister." He looked over the short hostess into the dimly lit dining room. He didn't see Emily.

"Your sister?" The hostess eyed him and his attire curiously.

"Yes. My sister." He looked past the red head woman once more. Still, no sign of Emily. "Look, I'll just go in and..."

"No Sir, you can't." She interrupted him.

"Why not?" he asked, becoming more agitated by the second.

The hostess folded her arms across her chest, "You are not within the dress code of this restaurant Sir."

Jason looked down at his well worn attire; jeans, a black t shirt, leather jacket, motorcycle boots. He then took notice of the many people traipsing around him in their suits and tuxes, dresses and gowns. Not only did he feel under-dressed, he felt out of place.

He could easily end the charade and enter the dining room with one mention of who he was but he wasn't in the business of intimidating young teenage girls just to get into a place where he didn't even want to be anyway.

"Can you get her for me then? Her name is Emily Spen-"

"Jason," Emily called out to him.

He turned in the direction of her voice. She was rushing over to him, partly tripping over her long dress in her haste. "Emily. What's wrong?"

"It's Elizabeth, Jason."

Dread settled in the pit of his stomach with the mention of Elizabeth's name. Elizabeth was the urgent matter. He calmed himself, outwardly at least. He was determined to stay in control. It was key if he was going to be able to help his wife. "What happened to Elizabeth?"

"Happened?" Emily asked confused. "Nothing happened, Jason."

Jason's brow set in a 'v', he took Emily lightly by the arm and led her to a corner away from preying eyes. "You called me and said it was an emergency. Then you said that it was Elizabeth. What's going on?"

Emily's eyes softened. "I'm sorry Jason. It is urgent and it is about Elizabeth but she is not hurt or in any danger."

Relief. He felt relieved. Elizabeth was fine. "What's going on with Elizabeth?"

"She's here." Emily whispered. "On a date."

Jason ran a hand through his wind blown blond spikes. He didn't mean to but he stared at his sister incredulously. She called him, worried him, then partly led him to believe that Elizabeth was hurt and it was all because Elizabeth was on a date. He loved Emily but sometimes she could be a little dramatic.

"He's a doctor." Emily added.

"Patrick Drake." Jason answered, obviously shocking his sister.

Emily's brown eyes were wide with wonderment, "How did you know?"

"Elizabeth can date whoever she wants." He said, politely dismissing Emily's question. "Just as long as she's happy..." He surprised himself with the foreign words. But he meant them. As long as Elizabeth was happy he wouldn't interfere.

"Jase-"

"Emily. It's fine, really."

Emily blew out a hollow breath. Her arms opened and she brought her brother in for a hug.

"Go enjoy your night." Jason whispered to her before pulling away.

She rested her palm against his scruffy cheek. "Night, Jase."

He wordlessly nodded and watched his sister walk back into the dining room.

Jason waited.

On the back of his bike, perfectly inconspicuous in the dark shadows of the restaurant parking lot he waited. He was going to leave. He had every intention to leave but when he walked back out to his bike he couldn't. Not without seeing for himself that Elizabeth was happy with Patrick.

Then he saw her.

His hands tightly gripped the handlebars when he saw Elizabeth emerge into the night dressed in a short ass black dress, her shapely legs fully exposed. His eyes followed the long lean curves of her legs settling at her feet and those damn heels. What was she thinking?

His eyes zeroed in on Patrick's hand resting on the small of her back as he walked Elizabeth to her car.

He waited, watching as Elizabeth unlocked her car door then turned back to Patrick with a smile on her face. The smile bugged him. He wasn't sure what bothered him more about it: The fact that he hadn't seen her smile like that in months... maybe longer or that the smile never reached her eyes.

Then Patrick dipped his head. He moved his body closer to her and leaned in...

Jason couldn't watch any more. He revved his engine, his fingers pressed the clutch as his foot shifted into gear. He pressed the accelerator of his Harley and took off loudly into the night.

He was going to kiss her.

His hand closed around the swell of her hip. His head dipped down. His eyes closed, lips slightly parted, and he was leaning in for a kiss.

He was about to kiss her.

Elizabeth panicked. All at once she awkwardly turned her head; heard the roar of a motorcycle; and Patrick's lips landed softly on her cheek.

Patrick opened his eyes, a bit surprised at his failed attempt, subsequently Elizabeth's eyes shot in the direction of the fast retreating motorcycle speeding off into the night.

Jason.

Elizabeth felt the tears began fill her eyes. She had to get away.

"I'm so sorry." Patrick said, sure that he caused the sudden well of tears.

"No. No, it's fine," Elizabeth assured him. She didn't look at him though, everywhere but him. "I need to go," she said softly as she turned back to the car.

"Here, let me get that for you," Patrick offered then opened the car door for her. "Have a good night, Elizabeth."

"Thank you, Patrick. You too." Elizabeth said as she slipped into the dark confines of her car, thankful when the door closed and she could finally breathe. Maybe it was too soon for her to be dating.

She fumbled through her purse for her phone. She had to steady her hands to press send for the call.

"Hi E. How's the date going?"

"Um... It's going well. Look Bren, I'm going to be out a little later than I thought. Do you mind watching-"

"Say no more. Libby is in excellent hands. She is already sleep and I'm camped out on the couch watching old black and white movies. I'll even sleep over if it means you are fully enjoying yourself."

Elizabeth ignored Brenda's not so subtle giggle that came attached to her not so subtle innuendo. "Thanks Bren. I really appreciate this."

"No problem hun. Have fun." She sing-songed.

Elizabeth ended the call and tossed her cell into the passenger seat.

Brenda would kill her if she knew what Elizabeth was about to do. But that was neither here nor there at the moment, Elizabeth thought as she pushed her key into the ignition. At the moment she needed to get a few things settled and those were her intentions as she drove off into the night only minutes behind the motorcycles roar.

Elizabeth's hands shook as she stepped off of the elevator onto the top floor of the hotel. She shoved them into the pockets of her coat to hide her nervousness. Standing stiffly with her back to the elevator long after the door had slid shut, she urged herself to keep on going. She had come this far, the only problem was that she wasn't too sure that her knees wouldn't buckle if she attempted to move.

She had a quick thought of Patrick and felt guilty about the way their night ended. Well it wasn't like the beginning of the date had started out any better, Emily had made sure of that. It amazed Elizabeth that she and Emily were once best friends, she didn't see a glimmer of the girl Emily once was in the woman she had become. Funny, Emily most likely thought the same thing about her and in some ways she was probably right.

Taking a few deep breaths of courage Elizabeth took a step forward, her knees didn't buckle, thankfully, so she continued down the hall to Jason's suite. Just as she approached his door Francis came into view and she panicked a little. It was far to late to turn back because he had already caught sight of her.

Upon seeing her, the look on the guards face was one of confusion and question. Rightfully so, since Elizabeth only showed up at Jason's door to either drop Libby off or to pick her up, neither of which were happening tonight.

"Mrs. Morgan... ah... Elizabeth," he corrected, "What are you doing here? I mean what brings you by?"

Elizabeth felt her cheeks go warm and cursed to herself. The last thing she needed was to look like a blushing school girl sneaking off to kiss her boyfriend behind the bleachers. "Hi, Francis. Is Jason in?" Avoidance was the only way to get out of answering Francis without making them both blush deep red.

"Um, yeah. He just made it back."

They both stood staring at the other: Elizabeth waiting for Francis to get Jason and Francis waiting for... she wasn't sure what he was waiting for. Elizabeth broke the silence. "May I see Jason?"

Francis blushed then, clearly embarrassed. I'm sorry, yes... I... I'll just... I'm going to get him now."

Elizabeth smiled, trying her best to make the awkward situation less... well, awkward. She could only imagine what the guard must be thinking about her late night appearance at Jason's door step. "Thank you, Francis."

As the guard turned and knocked on the door Elizabeth considered running away. All of the courage she'd mustered up by the elevator had now left her and she was now feeling mighty fainthearted. She looked back down the hallway toward the elevator, too late now, it was a long walk back and Francis was already knocking.

Gathering another dose of bravery, Elizabeth straightened up, pulling her hands from her pockets she placed a determined look on her face. She had questions and she wasn't leaving until she got answers.

A knock on the door alerted Jason and he grudgingly pulled himself from the couch. His bare feet padded across the floor stepping over the motorcycle boots that he angrily kicked off after entering his room.

It was a good thing that he had sworn off hard liquor or he would have already been three sheets to the wind after what he'd witnessed at the restaurant. Seeing Elizabeth with Patrick had hit him like a ton of bricks. In a way he wished he was still drinking the hard stuff, that way he could at least numb the pain that ached in his heart.

With a curse he yanked the door open, "What is it?" He barked at Francis.

Jason focused on the guard but then he noticed movement behind Francis and shifted his hard glare past the guard. Elizabeth. She looked stunning and he couldn't help but stare. She stared right back at him, a nervous determination set in her blue eyes.

Jason swallowed hard past the immediate lump that had formed in his throat. "Elizabeth..." Was that his voice? It sounded weak and wanton. Clearing his throat he tried again. "Elizabeth. Is everything okay?"

She nodded shakily. "Everything is fine. I just need to talk to you."

Jason nodded back, "Come in," he told her, moving out of the doorway to make room for her to get by. She seemed to hesitate at first but quickly walked passed Francis and into his suite.

Not bothering to give Francis any instructions, Jason went in after her and closed the door. His eyes followed Elizabeth's every movement as if she was a specimen that he was observing under a microscope.

She stepped past his boots and walked over to the couch all the while fiddling with the strap of her purse. He watched her as she sat down on the edge of the couch and strummed her finger tips skittishly on her slightly exposed thigh. He surveyed her quietly as she fidgeted on the couch then stood back up and pulled her coat close to her.

Nervous didn't even begin to define the state his wife was in, she seemed almost ready to jump out of her skin. Questions of why she had come and what she needed ran through Jason's mind but for some reason he couldn't get his mouth to work so that he could ask.

"Jason?" Elizabeth spoke softly, her voice like music to his ears.

"Yeah," was all Jason could manage in return.

Elizabeth quit fidgeting and dropped her purse on the couch. "You were at the restaurant tonight, weren't you?"

Jason nodded, "I was."

"Why?" She asked crossing her arms at her chest.

Jason stared at the subtle action and how it made her breasts swell at the cleavage line of her dress. He licked his lips and forced himself to lift his stare back to Elizabeth's face. "Emily called me. She said it was an emergency and..."

"Let me guess?" Elizabeth interrupted him, "My date was the emergency."

"Yes. It was." Jason studied her face, trying to figure out why Elizabeth had come to his place suddenly feeling defensive he added, "I didn't know that you were there until Emily told me."

Elizabeth dropped her arms, taking a tentative step toward him. "But you stayed," she tilted her head in question, "Why?"

Jason scrubbed a hand over his eyes. He didn't feel like explaining why he stayed, mainly because he wasn't completely sure why he had. "Elizabeth."

"Why, Jason?"

His chest tightened as he tried to find the right words to explain why he didn't just leave. "Because I wanted to see for myself. I needed to see for myself that you were happy."

Jason stared at her, searching her eyes, looking for any clue to tell him that he was wrong and she had been happy with Patrick. That's all he wanted for her, after everything he had put her through she deserved every bit of happiness she could get.

Elizabeth's eyes drifted down away from his, "Of course I was happy, Jason."

He could see through her words, "No, Elizabeth, you weren't."

She looked back at him, offended. "Don't presume you know what I'm feeling."

"Then why are you here? If you were so happy then you would be with Patrick or at home on the phone with Brenda telling her all about your date. You wouldn't be here."

"I needed to ask you-"

"About why I was there? You could have called to ask that."

Elizabeth turned away from him with a blush running red in her cheeks. She grabbed her purse, pushing it up on her shoulder Elizabeth faced Jason again. Without making eye contact she said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come."

The last thing that he wanted was for her to leave, not when she was standing right in front of him as beautiful as ever. What he wanted was to make love to her, all night long. "Elizabeth-"

She put up a defensive hand, "No, Jason, you're right; I could have called." Elizabeth started for the door, "I should have called instead of showing up like this."

Jason caught her arm as she walked by, stopping her from going any further. If he wasn't mistaken he felt Elizabeth relax under his hold. "Don't go."

"Don't go."

Hearing those words and the slight desperation in Jason's voice that mirrored what she felt inside nearly made Elizabeth's legs give out. With no protest from her Jason pulled her back in front of him. His eyes lowered to hers, staring with so much intensity that she warmed within. His fingers slid down the arm of her coat until they met with her fingers. She looked down at their hands touching, perfectly intertwined together like that was how they belonged and she felt what she had been longing for but missing all night. Happy. Happy to be there in the moment with Jason.

Jason dropped her hand and she felt an immediate loss but then he reached for her shoulder and drug her purse off letting it hit the floor with a thud.

He was undoing the buttons of her coat when he asked, "Where is Libby?"

Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat, surely he wasn't suggesting that she... but then he was done unbuttoning her coat and pushing it off her shoulders... Yes, he was definitely suggesting just that.

"She's with Brenda." Elizabeth answered breathlessly, "For the night."

Jason grabbed her with one arm around the waist. Pressing her against his body he dipped his head and kissed her neck. Elizabeth gasped at both the action and the tingle that erupted in her belly. He buried his free hand in her hair slightly tugging her head back as his lips suckled and traced the delicate column of her neck.

For a brief second Elizabeth thought about the consequences that might come with spending the night with her soon to be ex husband but then Jason said "Stay with me tonight," against her skin and all at once the consequences didn't matter.

Jason's mouth traveled up her neck and met the shell of her ear, "Say you will stay with me tonight," he whispered heavily in her ear.

His words stirred sensually around her and every lustful action that would accompany her agreeing to stay played in her mind. With more breath than voice, Elizabeth obliged him, "I will stay with you tonight."

She could hear as much as feel the groan Jason let out right before he cupped the crescent curve of her ass and picked her up. Elizabeth wrapped her legs around his waist already lost in heady desire as Jason walked them back to his room.

Jason kicked the door closed with the heel of his foot.

The room fell dark, the only light illuminating the large space came from a digital clock on the night stand. His face was still nuzzled in the sweetness of Elizabeth's neck as he set her feet back on the floor.

He watched her eyes do a quick once-over of the room, then she sat down on the bed and locked eyes with him. As she took her shoes off he stood in a bit of awe. It was hard to get his head around the fact that Elizabeth wanted him as much as he wanted her.

With her heels tossed to the side and an very direct yearning in her belly, Elizabeth stepped away from the bed. She inched forward, deliberately slow, until her body was so close to Jason's that she could hear his heart pounding hard in his chest.

Jason reached for her waist bringing her flat against him. Running a hand over the coolness of Elizabeth's hair he said a silent thank you to whatever force brought Elizabeth to him this night.

He dropped his hand to her chin, tilting her head back for better access to her mouth. The slight pout of her parted lips had him hardening to the point of pain under his jeans. He lingered a moment, his lips less than an inch from hers, then gently took her mouth in his. He heard Elizabeth moan sweetly into his mouth and pushed his tongue between her lips and into her mouth.

Jason kissed her, slowly and methodically stroking his tongue over hers as he did Elizabeth grabbed the hem of his shirt, moving the it up over his skin with a nudge. The feel of her hands grazing softly over the rigid muscles of his chest was pure bliss.

Jason groaned and reached for his shirt. He pulled away to remove it and Elizabeth let out a groan of protest. He ignored it, knowing that he would more than make up for it in the moments to come. After the shirt was off he took her hands in his. Taking a few steps back, he stopped when the back of his legs hit the bed.

"Jason."

"Shh..." He coaxed her into silence as he sat down on the bed. His hands traced the soft lines of her legs up to her waist, one hand splayed the slight flare of Elizabeth's hip while the other slipped behind her back and up to the zipper of her dress. As he slowly pulled the zipper down the only noise that could be heard in the room was the opening of the metal teeth and their mingling breaths.

The dress came off easily, slipping down Elizabeth like a wave and pooling at her feet.

Jason stood then, pulling Elizabeth to him then and turning her quickly so that her back was to him. He ran his fingers down the soft plane of her back then back up, stopping at her half-bra she was wearing. He took his time unclasping the black lace. When it dropped he turned her back to him and reveled in the swell of her breasts when he moved the lacy material from her body.

Elizabeth's chest heaved as his hands made contact with the soft mounds of her breasts. He plied the flesh under his hands and Elizabeth arched into his touch, mewing hungrily as he replaced one hand with his mouth.

Jason took a taut nipple between his lips and pulled hard as he rolled the other rigid bud between his thumb and index finger. Elizabeth let out a cry of contentment.

Moving her hands from his back up the nape of Jason's neck Elizabeth pulled him closer and need overcame him. The need to get his body as close to hers as he could, the need to be inside of her giving her pleasure that only he was able to, the need to feel her climax around him. He stopped tonguing her nipple and moved Elizabeth back, just enough so that he could remove his pants.

With a little push they were on the floor and with a second push his boxers met a similar fate. He heard a low moan escape Elizabeth as his erection sprang forth. The quiet approval encouraged him, snapping the small thread that held his reserve. He had to take her then and there. There was no more patience left in him only need. Desperate need.

He reached for Elizabeth, grabbing her at the waist and backing her up to the wall. Elizabeth didn't show any signs of question and for that he was thankful. His mouth fell upon hers once more pressing hard upon her lips and she kissed him back with that same aggression.

When her back met the wall Jason pulled away. He hooked an arm under Elizabeth's knee, bringing her leg up around his waist. His hand slipped between them, two fingers moving her wet panties to the side and slipping into the silky warmth of Elizabeth's core.

Elizabeth's breath drew into a hiss as Jason's fingers pumped into her, then a moan when his thumb found the sensitive apex of her clit and ran circles over the delicate skin there. His head dropped to her shoulder and he murmured words into her neck. She couldn't make out the words but she knew from the way he drawled them out and the way his lips moved over her shoulder and neck that they were sweet nothings.

She drew her hands up his spine, resting them at the nape of his neck. Jason stopped his fingers then, pulling them out and reaching for her other leg, moving it up so that both her legs were wrapped around his waist. His erection bobbed around her center and she wanted nothing more than to loose the barrier of her panties so that she could feel all of him.

As if reading her thoughts Jason tugged once on the thin material and the lacy black number tore from her hips. He lifted her under her butt with one hand, using the other to steady his rigid length at her slick entrance.

She moaned, letting her head fall back against the wall as he moved himself back and forth along her wet slit. The action set her insides ablaze, like a fire had been lit within and just when Elizabeth was sure she would die if he didn't enter her Jason pushed himself past her moist folds and deep into her center.

With one fluid thrust Jason impaled Elizabeth's soaking wet center with his cock. He stilled for a few heartbeats, to keep himself from spilling into her instantly. Moving his hand from between them he pressed his palm to the wall just above her head and began stroking into her repeatedly.

Elizabeth moaned, clawing at his shoulders with each reentry of his rigid erection. She said his name over and over, breathlessly encouraging Jason to take her harder. The creamy hotness of her juices surrounded him, milking his sensibilities away, sending him over the edge and he couldn't stop himself from thrusting wildly into her, pounding in and out, up and down.

Her back rubbed against the wall with force and the back of her head bumped the wall with each stroke from his cock. Elizabeth was sure that she would be bruised come morning but none of that mattered to her as Jason drove steadily into her.

All she could think about was how good it felt to be with him. All she could feel was his hand gripped tight on her ass and his chest pressed against hers like a wall while he made love to her and all she could see was bliss. It was that bliss that took over as Jason slammed into her steadily, each time with a craving groan. That bliss that made Elizabeth's walls begin to twitch, then expand and contract. Her body shook and insides tightened.

Just as her climax roared to life Jason moved his hand from the wall turning her face so that she was looking at him. They locked eyes and Elizabeth screamed out, "Oh... God," as she came.

With Elizabeth's orgasm in full swing Jason blitzed himself deep into her silky contracting muscles twice more before his cock jerked and he came forcefully inside of Elizabeth. His steely blue eyes were focused on her sapphire ones as he erupted, his seed spraying forth within her.

They held each other while their body's grappled to find their breath and steady their shaking limbs. Jason nuzzled his nose on the top of Elizabeth's head, taking in the sweet scent of her shampoo. Elizabeth lazily wrapped her arms around Jason's neck, laying her head on his shoulder.

Minutes later they were in the same position: Elizabeth limp in Jason's arms, her head resting sleepily in the crook of his neck. Jason holding her tightly, not wanting to loose the closeness they had just shared.

Jason pulled them away from the wall and ran a hand up Elizabeth's back. "Elizabeth," his voice was raspy.

"Jason," she answered back in an equally raspy tone. Her head was still logged between his shoulder and neck.

Jason smiled, thinking that they would both be hoarse in the morning. He walked them over to the bed, his softening erection slipping from her, and laid Elizabeth down. He slid into the sheets next and brought Elizabeth as close to him as he could without crushing her.

With Elizabeth flush against him Jason settled further into the bed. He ran small circles on the small of her back, loving the way her naked body felt against his. "I love you, Elizabeth," he whispered more to himself than to her. Even if she didn't return the sentiment he would never regret saying it.

"I love you." Elizabeth said quietly, her mouth moving over the skin of his chest with each word.

Jason's heart swelled as she burrowed her body closer his. Of all of the ways he had thought he would spend the night this way had not been a blip on the radar. Yet, it was the one that he wanted and needed most.

Elizabeth stretched her arms above her head, while stifling a yawn. She reached over, searching for Jason but found the spot where he’d been all night empty. Opening her eyes, she squinted at the bright sunlight that filtered into the room. What time was it? She looked over to the digital clock and groaned. Almost 9:30, Brenda was going to kill her.

She reached for the phone that sat on the night stand then thought against it. Calling from a strange number would only earn her an inquisition from Brenda, she needed her cell. Where were her clothes?

Elizabeth sat up, as her eyes adjusted to the bright room she spotted her dress laying neatly over the back of a chair in the corner of the room, her shoes were set together along side the chair and her purse was on the foot of the bed. Jason. A faint grin passed over Elizabeth’s mouth as she went for her purse. Cell phone in hand Elizabeth called Brenda.

“Well, well. Look who finally decided to call.”

Elizabeth could hear the smile in Brenda’s words and smiled herself. “I’m sorry, Bren. I just... I-”

“Had a very good night, apparently.”  Brenda sighed dreamily. “I want details.”

Elizabeth looked around the room, her eyes landing on all of Jason’s belongings. His watch on the dresser, his holster hanging on the door knob of the closet, his bed she was in. Details, huh? “How’s Libby?” she asked, completely disregarding Brenda’s need for details.

“The pixie’s good. She’s across the hall right now with Sonny and Michael. I told her you had a business trip but that you would be back before afternoon.”

“Thanks, Bren.”

“Don’t even mention it E. Anything to get you laid... it’s been a while.”

Brenda cackled a laugh on the other end of the phone and Elizabeth blushed. “I’ll be there within the hour.” She couldn’t get off the phone fast enough and with Brenda still giggling on the other end Elizabeth slapped the phone shut and sighed.

Tossing her phone to the side, she fell backward onto a pillow and wondered what had gotten into her last night... besides Jason. It wasn’t that she regretted what had transpired between them, she just hadn’t expected it.

Where did this leave them? Things hadn’t changed, they were still divorcing, unless one of them stopped it before it went through; that wasn’t happening. What was Jason thinking? Did he feel like the previous night meant they were starting over? Would he press for them to work it out now?

Elizabeth bit her bottom lip between her teeth, positive that things between she and Jason were about to get even more complicated.

Jason had woke up early to make Elizabeth hot chocolate and realized that he didn’t have any. The cabinets in the small kitchenette of his suite were bare, only a box of crackers and two cans of tuna occupied the space. The refrigerator wasn’t any better, holding only bottled waters and beer. With no other choice, he ordered Francis to go to a bakery and get Elizabeth’s favorite pastries and hot chocolate.

The guard gave him a lopsided smile that reminded Jason of Goofy and said he would be happy to go. If Jason wasn’t mistaken he also thought he heard Francis whistling as he left for the bakery. He wasn’t sure what had gotten into Francis and he didn’t care to know, just as long as the guard kept the strange smiles and whistling to a minimum.

The knock on the door came and with quick strides Jason was across the room and at the door. Francis stood in the doorway; a pink box of pastries in one hand, a cup-tray in the other and a mischievous grin on his face. Jason narrowed his eyes at the grinning guard.

“I got the misses what you asked for and I went ahead and got you a cup of Joe.”

The misses? No wonder Francis was grinning like a Cheshire cat. The guard was thinking that.... aw hell, he was right. Taking the pastries,  hot chocolate and coffee from his hands. Jason grumbled a thanks and closed the door.

He grabbed a couple of paper plates and napkins from the kitchen and headed to his room, hoping that Elizabeth wouldn’t regret their night together. He sure didn’t but he had to wonder what she would be feeling about them now. Would she want to work it out? Would she push him further away?

Reaching the door to his room Jason decided that he would just play it by ear, He wouldn’t press her to make a decision, he would let Elizabeth dictate where they took things and hope that it would work out in favor of them reuniting.

He nudged the door open with his foot and saw Elizabeth laying on her back, an arm draped over her eyes. The room was bright with early morning sunlight and Elizabeth looked absolutely beautiful bathed in the rays.

“Morning,” he said pushing his way into the room.

Elizabeth moved her arm and sat up, cupping the sheets loosely to her chest. “Good morning,” she said, a small smile playing on her lips. She dropped her gaze to his hands and her eyes widened, “What’s in the box?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Jason teased, taking a seat on the bed. He handed Elizabeth the cup of hot chocolate and watched as she sipped it gingerly then sighed.

“Mmm. Thank you.” Elizabeth took another sip then nodded at the box. “Croissants? Apple turnovers? Bear Claws?”

Jason chucked low in his chest, “All of the above.” He popped the box open and Elizabeth grabbed an apple turnover. He handed her a plate and took a croissant for himself, he wasn’t one for sweets, so it was his only option.

“You know me so well...” Elizabeth’s throaty words trailed off as she bit into the turnover.

Jason frowned. “You’re hoarse.”

Elizabeth’s brows raised and she shot him an incredulous look, “After last night I’m surprised I even have a voice.” Elizabeth snapped her mouth shut as if speaking of the night before was a sin. She shifted nervously then looked at him with large doe eyes, “About last night... Jason I-”

“Some other time.” Jason interrupted her. If they were going to talk about Elizabeth’s regrets of their night together he wanted to do it when they were both dressed and preferably not in the room where they had made love. Plus, why should they ruin a good moment with an uncomfortable conversation?

Elizabeth accepted his request and they sat quietly eating and drinking: Elizabeth, her apple turnover and hot chocolate and Jason, his coffee. He didn’t really touch his croissant but took great pleasure in watching Elizabeth tear into it once it was obvious he wasn’t going to eat it.

Jason spotted the phone at his knee he asked, “Did you talk to Brenda?”

“Yes and Libby’s fine. She’s playing with Michael and uncle Sonny.” Elizabeth glanced at the clock. “I told Brenda I would be there in an hour... I need to get going.” She finished off the last of Jason’s croissant an slipped from beneath the sheets.

Jason had to bite back a groan as Elizabeth walked over to the chair to retrieve her dress. He wasn’t surprised that she didn’t take the sheet with her to keep her covered, she was never shy around him before. Well, at one point in the beginning of their marriage she had been apprehensive about letting him see her body but they’d quickly gotten passed that. Still, he looked away, thinking he would be a voyeur if he stared.

“Will you help me?” Elizabeth asked.

Jason looked back to Elizabeth, she had her bra and dress back on but it wasn’t zipped.

“Yeah,” he answered, leaving the bed.

Standing behind Elizabeth, Jason caught the clasp and slowly zipped the back of her dress up. When it was done he didn’t move away from her, instead he moved his fingers to her hair running the back of his hand down it’s length. Elizabeth leaned back, her head falling to his shoulder. Jason shifted his arms, letting his hands meet across Elizabeth’s lower belly and he placed a chaste kiss to her temple. They stayed that way for what seemed like minutes. Perfectly connected.

“I should go,” Elizabeth quietly conceded, stepping out of Jason’s hold.

In the blink of an eye their connection was lost. Feeling suddenly empty Jason ran a hand through his tousled spikes. “Let me walk you out?”

Elizabeth smiled weakly as she tossed her phone in her purse. “I’d like that.”

Their trip to the parking garage was slow and silent. The quiet tension in the air was almost palpable to Jason as they reached Elizabeth’s car.

Elizabeth opened the car door and turned back to Jason, “See you this weekend... with Libby.” She brought a hand to his cheek, “Jason-”

“Don’t.” He didn’t want to hear her regrets. He covered her hand with his, cupping her fingers he eased Elizabeth’s arm down to her side.

Elizabeth’s eyes became luminous with unshed tears and Jason couldn’t look at her anymore. It hurt too much. He looked away, over her shoulder, staring out at nothing. “Be safe, Elizabeth.”

She nodded once and got into the car. Jason stepped back and watched her leave the garage. Just like that, she was out of his reach again.

Carly Benson waited, not so patiently for her best friend to meet her at Kelly’s. Courtney had called over an hour ago, frantic about something and begged Carly to meet her at the diner. Carly agreed and had been at Kelly’s waiting on Courtney for close to thirty minutes.

She was on her third cup of coffee when Courtney came bustling into the diner. The blond wanted to snap at Courtney for making her wait but when she saw her friends red rimmed eyes she fought the urge. It was apparent that Courtney had been crying.

“What happed?”

“Courtney sighed, bringing a hand to her forehead. “I saw them.”

“Saw who?”

Courtney implored Carly with her eyes as if Carly should know who ‘who’ was. “Them, Carly. Jason and his perfect wife.”

Carly rolled her eyes out of irritation. “Soon to be ex wife,” she reminded the other blond. “And they have a kid together so they will have to be around each other from time to time.”

Courtney shook her head with persistence. “No, Carly. I saw him walking her out of his place this morning.... They were close.” The last word slipped out of Courtney in a sour hiss.

Carly leaned in across the table. “How close?”

“Touching and longing. I know she spent the night with him, her dress was wrinkled her hair was...he probably had his hands in it all night.” Courtney choked out a sob. “How can I compete with her?”

Carly was itching to tell Courtney to just give it up. If Jason was back in Muffin Face’s good graces her friend didn’t stand a chance. Lord only knew what Jason found so great about Elizabeth or why every man in Port Charles treated her like a precious porcelain doll, for that matter. “Look Courtney, if you want Jason you need to be more proactive.”

“Another pregnancy?” Courtney asked, with a blank expression on her face.

Carly bit the inside of her cheek to keep from yelling. Between clenched teeth she asked, “How can you have another “pregnancy”, she cocked her fingers in quotation, “when you’re not sleeping with him?”

Courtney smiled like a red horned devil.

“Courtney? What have you been up to?”

Courtney shrugged the question away. “Don’t worry about it, Carly. I’ll figure something out.” With that Courtney slid away from the booth. “Talk to you later.”

What was that? Carly thought as she watched the blond rush out of the diner. She brushed the thought away, concluding that it was just Courtney being Courtney and ordered a fourth cup of coffee.

Elizabeth walked into her penthouse, happy to escape the grinning guard at her door. Max had the same goofy expression on his face that Francis had been wearing when she left Jason’s. The guards must be in cahoots, which meant that Max knew about her staying the night at Jason’s.

She dropped her purse on the desk and stepped out of her shoes. Rolling her neck on it’s axis, she jumped when she heard a catcall ring out from behind her. “Brenda!” She yelped, turning to face her friend. “You scared me.”

Brenda smiled slyly. “How was your night?”

Elizabeth’s cheeks went warm, giving her away before she had a chance to answer.

“I knew it! That doctor must be something, huh?” Brenda asked”

Elizabeth kept her eyes low, “I need a shower.” She walked past the brunette and bounded up the stairs with Brenda on her heels the whole way.

Elizabeth went to the bathroom, turning the shower on then went to her closet in search of a change of clothes.

Brenda eyed Elizabeth curiously from the foot of the bed and as if something clicked inside her she hollered, “Elizabeth Imogene Morgan!”

Realizing that Brenda had her figured out Elizabeth rushed to grab her clothes so that she could lock herself in the bathroom. “It just happened,” she offered, coming out of the closet.

“Just happened?” Brenda scoffed. “How does one go out on a date with one man and sleep with another?”

“He’s not just some man, Bren.” Elizabeth returned, lamely.

“You’re right, he’s about to be your ex husband... you’re not supposed to be sleeping together.”

Elizabeth shifted her weight from one bare foot to the other. “It’s not happening again, alright.”

“You two are ridiculous.”

“What?”

“You both want and love each other. You are still sleeping together but neither one of you will take the time to fix what’s broken so you can stop being miserable.” Brenda got up for the bed and walked to the door. “Ridiculous,” she said once more as she stepped into the hallway.

Elizabeth walked into her bathroom and removed her dress and bra. She chuckled about the fate her panties had met as she brought the dress to her nose. It smelled of Jason; clean, like crisp wind, a hint of pine and manly. Thoughts of the night before flashed in her head and she let out a small moan. Brenda had a point.

This weekend, she promised herself as she stepped under the shower head, she and Jason would really talk.

Jason adjusted and readjusted the tie at his neck for the third time in five minutes. In just a little over an hour he and Elizabeth would be having the ‘talk’. He wasn’t sure what Elizabeth wanted to talk to him about but he hoped that it would mean good things for their future as a family.

He leaned forward from his seat on the couch to get a closer look at the paperwork that sat on his coffee table.  He was supposed to be reading and signing off on the stacks of paper but he just couldn’t focus on anything other than his date with Elizabeth. They were meeting in the hotel dining room for dinner. It was Elizabeth’s suggestion and he agreed, thinking that it was a good sign that she was comfortable enough with their night together to show up at the hotel again.

Jason’s hand went back to his neck, while he thumbed through the files on his coffee table. Who was he kidding? He thought pushing the papers away. He hadn’t been able to focus on work all day. How could he, knowing that he would be meeting Elizabeth for dinner?

“Get rid of the tie.”

“What?” Jason asked looking up to find Francis at the door.

“You should get rid of the tie,” Francis repeated. “Elizabeth won’t expect you to wear one.”

Jason reached for his neck and untied the knot, pulling the material from his collar. “Thanks,” he said dryly as he freed the top two buttons of his shirt.

“Did you get her chocolate?”

“I thought I’d get her flowers.”

Francis shook his head, “You need to go pick up a box of Godiva.”

Jason’s brows hitched up in question, “Godiva?”

“Chocolate, Jason. Godiva’s some high priced chocolate that women love.”

“Chocolate and flowers?”

“Forget about the flowers and buy the Godiva,” Francis encouraged, his Irish brogue heavier than usual. “Flowers say I’m sorry, chocolates say I love you.”

Jason thought over Francis’ words. “Who told you that?”

“My mother, of course,” Francis tossed over his shoulder as he walked back out into the hallway.

How could he argue with an answer like that? No one knew about women better than a woman. Chocolate it was.

[center]~*~[/center]

Elizabeth handed the valet her keys and started for the hotel entrance. She was a barrel of nerves, shaky hands, weak knees, pounding heart, dry mouth. She wondered how she would be able to have a decent conversation with Jason with her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth?

While on her way to the hotel restaurant, she thought of stopping by the restroom to check her makeup but remembered that Brenda had done it for her and it was impeccable. Anything she added to her face now would probably just mess up the model’s handy work.

Reaching the end of a long corridor, Elizabeth forged forward into the dining room. After asking for her table and being seated she shakily fumbled with the tiny charm bracelet on her wrist, thankful that she decided to show up extra early. She needed all the time she could take to compose herself before Jason arrived.

[center]~*~[/center]

Box of Godiva chocolates in hand, Jason walked into the lavishly decorated dining room. Though decorated to the nines in gold leaf, expensive art work, and pricey dinnerware, the dim chandelier lighting and the plushy dining furniture gave the expansive room an intimate feel.

He informed the hostess that he and Elizabeth wouldn’t be ordering right away so there was no interruption. She agreed to tell the waiter and offered to take him to the table where Elizabeth was waiting. Jason declined, and thanked her.

Jason scanned the room, looking for Elizabeth. His breath hitched when he saw her, stopping in his throat. The room also seemed to slow around him as his eyes honed in on her profile. She was sitting on the edge of her chair, twisting the charm bracelet he’d bought her after Libby’s birth around on her wrist with an edgy persistence.

She looked about as nervous as he felt, she also looked gorgeous.

Her dark chestnut curls were pulled up off her neck with tiny tendrils of hair framing her face. She was wearing a midnight blue dress, with thin straps, that stopped at her knees. He loved the way blue looked against her milky white skin and the dress, though demure, looked perfect on her.

Jason crossed the room, coming to a stop behind Elizabeth’s chair. Leaning down, his mouth grazed the shell of her ear, “You look beautiful.” He fully expected her to jump but his presence actually seemed to calm her.

“Thank you,” she said in a breathless whisper, looking over her shoulder and up at him. Their eyes met and a slow blush crept up Elizabeth’s exposed neck. She was clearly as affected by him as he was by her.

Jason moved around the table and took his seat, “These are for you,” he handed Elizabeth the gold box, wrapped in a blue ribbon.

Elizabeth smiled broadly, “Since when do you buy Godiva?”

Jason blushed then, a little embarrassed by the inquiry, “Since I found out that chocolates say I love you.”

Elizabeth’s eyes dropped to the box, her long thick lashed fluttering on her cheeks. She fingered the blue ribbon and asked, “Who told you that?”

Out of nervous habit, Jason reached for his nonexistent tie. His hand met his exposed throat though and he dropped it back to the table, “Ah... Francis.”

Elizabeth let out a small laugh and looked up from the box. She focused her gaze on him, her blue eyes shining with adoration, “I love you too.”

Jason reached across the table and caught her hand in his. He ran his thumb back and forth over the back of her hand. Her skin felt like liquid silk under his fingers, “Elizabeth-”

“No, Jason... let me.” Elizabeth covered his hand with her free hand, “I want us to try again, Jason.”

[center]~*~[/center]

“I want us to try again, Jason.”

There, she had said it. It was out there. Now all she could do is wait for Jason to respond.

The tension seemed to drain from his face and a faint smile twitched on his lips. He leaned in over the table, his eyes meeting hers, “So do I.”

Elizabeth released the breath she had been holding since her arrival at the hotel. It wasn’t like she thought that Jason wouldn’t agree. She knew he would, but the sincerity in his voice eased any and all of her unsure thoughts away.  “I’d like us to take our time though. After everything that’s happened I just don’t want to rush it... rush us.”

Jason nodded. “Whatever you want to do and however you want to it is fine with me.”

Elizabeth pulled her hand away, gearing up to put everything on the table, “When I opened the gallery I know-”

“You are not to blame, Elizabeth.” Jason cut her off,  “I wanted you to follow your dreams. I was the one who cheated. I am the one to blame, not you.”

“We both had a part in it Jason.”

“Nothing you did, Elizabeth, caused the break up of our marriage. Nothing.”

His eyes were hard and determined and the intensity of his stare gave her pause. She didn’t want to start over just to go back to square one. If they were going to work things out, they would both have to accept their part in the destruction of their marriage no matter how small.

“Jason,” when Elizabeth saw he was already about to rebuttal she put a hand up to silence him. “We both have to make changes if this marriage is going to work. That means that I’m going to have to cut back on the hours at the gallery. I’m looking into hiring a few extra sets of hands. I mean, there’s no reason for me to have to run the gallery from open to close.”

There was a quiet moment between them before Jason spoke. “I’m sorry, for everything.”

Elizabeth reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze she said, “I forgive you.”

Jason had been apologizing for close to a year, she didn’t have to hear again to know he meant it. Elizabeth knew that he was truly sorry for his actions and if they were going to open a new chapter in their marriage they would have to close the previous one. There was still one problem that had to be addressed though.

“About Courtney... I know  what happened with you two a couple of weeks back. I won’t lie and say that it didn’t hurt me, it did but I’m not going to live in it either. As far as I was concerned we were over so I can’t hold that against you...”

Jason rubbed his brow, hating hearing Elizabeth forgive him for sleeping with Courtney again. Even if he had no recollection of the sex, he knew it happened. He woke up with her in his bed and a condom on the floor. She was still rambling off her reasons for letting it go when he pushed the thought of the night he couldn’t remember out of his mind.

“Elizabeth, stop.”

She quit talking mid-sentence and went back to fumbling with the bracelet.

“I don’t want you to- I can’t hear you accept it.”

“We weren’t together Jason. I dated too.”

Her reasoning turned his stomach. They were not one in the same. He was a cheat and Elizabeth was moving on. “You didn’t sleep with him, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth looked at him, her mouth slightly agape. She crossed her arms over her chest, “How would you know?”

Pressing the bridge of his nose, Jason groaned a sigh. Thinking of Elizabeth with another man was enough to drive him insane. At the same time he knew Elizabeth well enough to see right through her wounded act, “I know.”

Elizabeth dropped her arms back to the box of chocolate in front of her. She didn’t look up when she said, “You’re right.”

Jason’s heart relaxed, even if he knew it wasn’t a possibility, it was still a relief to hear it. “We will take it slowly and see where things go.”

“Right,” Elizabeth nodded, “No expectations, no pressure.”

Hours later they had eaten, talked more and agreed that in the morning Elizabeth and Libby would meet him for breakfast at Kelly’s. It was their first step in repairing their marriage.

“I really wish you would start taking a guard with you,” Jason said as he walked Elizabeth to the valet. “You know I don’t like you going out without one.”

“And you know I don’t like going out with one,” Elizabeth retorted. “They draw unnecessary attention, Jason.”

He smiled, dropping his hand to the small of her back as they stepped outside of the hotel. She drew attention regardless, Jason thought, thinking of the second and third glances he saw at least five different men give Elizabeth through the night. He would get her to start taking a guard but that discussion would have to wait. At the moment he’d rather just focus on them and their new start.

“So I’ll see you and Libby in the morning,” he said as the valet ran to get Elizabeth’s car.

Elizabeth turned to him, “Yes, we will meet you here. And you will call Diane and tell her to halt the proceedings, right?”

Now, that was music to his ears. Ending the divorce process signified a fresh start. “First thing in the morning.”

Jason pulled Elizabeth to him and wished that he could take her up to his suite and make love to her instead of watch her leave. But part of taking it slow meant that they wouldn’t be sleeping together, at least for a while. As if sensing his need Elizabeth leaned into him, her head resting on his chest.

The valet pulled up to the curb and Jason reluctantly let Elizabeth go. They walked around the car and Elizabeth got in, “We’ll see you in the morning,” she told him, her voice ringing with a new found happiness.

Jason dipped his head and caught Elizabeth’s lips in a quick but sweet kiss. “See you in the morning.”

On his walk back to his room Jason couldn’t hold back his smile, after months of turmoil he and Elizabeth were finally finding their way back to each other. He almost couldn’t believe his sudden good fortune and he hoped that nothing would happen to make the bottom fall out from beneath them.

“Courtney’s waiting for you inside,” Francis informed him when he reached the door. Jason wanted to ask him what she was doing in his place but the guard looked drained, like he had fought to keep Courtney out but ended up giving in.

With his mood quickly going sour, Jason walked into the suite. Courtney was sitting comfortably on his couch. “Courtney you can’t be here. You need to go.”

She looked at him un phased by his words. With a grin that turned into a wide smile she said, “Jason I’m pregnant. We’re pregnant.”

And the bottom fell out.

One step forward and two steps back. The saying was fast becoming the story of his life. Jason stared at Courtney but didn't see her, all he saw was red. A bright, fiery red. Mechanically, he shut the door, closing Francis off from the rest of the conversation. The guard had just gotten an earful, since Courtney rattled off the news without waiting for privacy. He rubbed a hand roughly over his lids, trying desperately to relieve the crimson fog that had settled over his eyes.

His phone rang, startling him and he fumbled to retrieve it from the pocket of his slacks. Jason rubbed his eyes again, his vision clearing, and saw that the caller was Carly. Without a second thought he flipped the cover barked into the phone, "Later," and hung up before Carly could get a word in edgewise. It rang again and without looking he cut the phone completely off.

"Jason-" Courtney's voice hit him like ice.

"How is that even possible?" he interrupted, "We used protection."

Courtney rose from the couch, that smile still plastered to her face like a sugary sweet treat, "It doesn't always work."

Jason was at a loss. He knew that condoms weren't fool proof even when used one hundred percent correctly. He was drunk that night and couldn't even recall how he made it back to his place or having sex with Courtney so it was highly likely that he could have used the condom wrong. Damn it.

"Jason this is our second chance." Courtney softly exclaimed as she neared him, "We lost the first baby but this one... this baby is our new beginning."

God, he couldn't breathe. Moving out from Courtney's closing distance, Jason cursed vehemently under his breath as he crossed the room putting the couch between them.

Courtney huffed behind him, "You're not happy?"

He didn't know what he was. He wasn't happy, he wasn't sad. Shocked and numb were about as close to an emotion he could relate to. "I- I'm..." His voice was shot.

"I know it's a surprise but it's a good one, right? You will be a dad for the second time and just think about it, Libby will have a little sister or brother."

Libby. Elizabeth. How was he going to tell them about this? The last time Libby never knew because Courtney lost the baby so quickly. But this time... What was he going to do?

"We can tell her together, Jason. I'm sure Libby will be so happy to be a-"

"Enough!" Jason shouted, splicing a hand through the air, silencing her.

"But Jason," she pleaded.

Jason shook his head, "I need to think," he said thickly. "You need to go."

He could hear Courtney sniffling but couldn't muster up the affection to comfort her. There were too many things on his mind at the moment and losing Elizabeth was at the top of the list. He would have to deal with Courtney later. Elizabeth came first.

Jason didn't persist that Courtney leave even though he wanted nothing more for her to go. She needed a moment to compose herself and since he was unable to offer her comfort he could at least give her the time to pull herself together.

Voices in the hallway broke the silence. They were muffled, male and female. It was apparent that the man was Francis but who was the woman?

"Let's go," Jason demanded, walking to the door. He would let Courtney out while seeing what the commotion was about.

He opened the door and froze. The female voice was Elizabeth's. She was visibly upset. Jason quickly assessed the situation. From the looks of things Francis was trying to get Elizabeth to leave and knowing his wife and her determination Jason could tell that didn't go over well.

"Jason what's wrong?" Elizabeth spoke softly. "Why won't Francis let me..." her voice trailed off as Courtney stepped from behind Jason and out into the hallway.

Simultaneously, Francis looked like a deer caught in headlights, Jason rubbed his brow, Elizabeth's mouth fell open and Courtney looked unaffected.

"What is she doing here?" Elizabeth asked, her voice a hair above a whisper.

Not knowing what else to do Jason reached for Elizabeth. In response, she twisted her body away and scrambled out of his hold. Dropping his hands dejectedly to his sides Jason pleaded with her, "Elizabeth come in."

Courtney scowled in dismay. "Jason!"

"Francis, walk Courtney to her car please." At Courtney's continued look of annoyance he ordered, "Now."

Francis sprang into duty, taking an annoyed Courtney by the arm and leading her down the hallway and away from Jason and Elizabeth.

Jason's heart clenched as his eyes fell on Elizabeth. She was already ablaze with anger and the news he had just received would no doubt add fuel to her fire. What he'd give not to have to tell her about Courtney's pregnancy but that was impossible and Elizabeth needed to know. "We need to talk. Come in."

When Elizabeth didn't attempt to move Jason loosely grabbed her arm, pulling her into the suite. Once inside Elizabeth yanked herself apart from Jason.

Desperate to explain the scene that Elizabeth had witnessed Jason began talking. "Courtney was here when I got back." When Elizabeth didn't respond he continued on. "I didn't invite her... I wouldn't invite her. She showed up while we were downstairs."

Elizabeth seemed to consider him for a moment. "What did she want?"

Jason could tell by the strain in her voice that Elizabeth was thinking about Courtney showing up for sex and he hurried to nix the thought. "She wanted to tell me something."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Elizabeth's gaze fell to the floor, "Tell you what?"

His heart was aching again as he tried to find the right words to tell her what Courtney had told him. "Elizabeth... Courtney told me she was pregnant."

Elizabeth's stare shot up to his. She shook her head and mumbled under her breath, "Not again, Jason."

The pain in her voice slammed his lungs to a stop. He might as well be dead. He'd rather be dead than breaking Elizabeth's heart again. As tears began to well in her eyes he took a chance and reached for her. To his surprise, she didn't resist him and let herself be taken in his arms. Jason could feel the hot tears seep through his thin dress shirt. The warm moisture hitting his chest got his lungs back to functioning.

Jason took a deep breath and pulled Elizabeth closer. He couldn't cop out. Not now. He had to be strong for Elizabeth.

After minutes of silence Elizabeth pulled away. She wiped her tear streaked face with the back of her hand. "How did it... why didn't you use-"

"I did, Elizabeth." He always used protection with Courtney, even when she had gotten pregnant the first time.

"Then this is becoming a pattern for you," Elizabeth retorted. "Just when we were starting to make progress, like clockwork, Courtney comes in and ruins it."

"We're not ruined Elizabeth. We can work through this." Jason's tone was surprisingly self assuring. He hoped that his words gave Elizabeth the same hope they gave him.

Elizabeth smiled faintheartedly, "Easier said than done. Courtney will be tied to us for the next eighteen years. She will be constantly around, inserting herself into our time just because she can." Pressing a small finger to her chest, Elizabeth spoke shakily, "I refuse to live like that Jason."

Jason couldn't argue, Elizabeth was right. Their life would never be easy with Courtney in the picture. She would use the child as a pawn to get her way. Elizabeth didn't deserve a life like that and it would be selfish to ask her to live that way. He would think of something, some way to keep them together. He just needed time.

A distant smile touched Elizabeth's lips. "I have to leave."

Once again Elizabeth was walking out of his life but this time Jason was determined that it wouldn't be final.

Carly was speechless and that was a feat for someone as unrelenting, opinionated and mouthy as her. Courtney found a sick satisfaction at the thought that she was the one to hush Carly into submission. Sure Carly was the only friend she had in Port Charles but sometimes her incessant talking and constant need to be right ticked Courtney off.

That and her closeness to Jason. Of course, Libby and Elizabeth came first in Jason's heart but Carly ranked pretty high too. Which didn't leave much room for Courtney.

And if she had to hear one more time from Carly that Jason would never be over Elizabeth she would scream or better yet, shut Carly up permanently. Sometimes she wished that Carly was out of the picture all together.

"You told him what?" Carly asked, hands on hip and wide eyed.

Courtney grinned triumphantly. "That I was pregnant."

Carly pursed her eyes closed. "Was this your plan Courtney, from the other day at Kelly's? To trick Jason into believing that you were pregnant?"

"I had to think of something," Courtney shrugged her shoulders innocently.

"You didn't have to lie to Jason again, Courtney." Carly turned away, disappearing into the kitchen. "You're telling him the truth," she demanded, returning to the living room with a cordless phone. "Call him or I will."

"No." There was no way that Courtney was telling Jason that the pregnancy was a lie. "I won't do it."

"Then I'm calling." The phone cut on with a beep and Carly dialed out. "Damn it." She cursed low, ending the call. "His phone is still off."

Relief eased the mounting fear plaguing Courtney. Maybe that would give her the time she needed to get Carly in on her plan. "Just hear me out," Courtney pleaded.

Carly rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse from the couch.

"Where are you going?"

"To tell Jason about your little plan in person." Carly tossed the threat over her shoulder while walking to the door.

Courtney panicked. If Carly told Jason the truth she would loose him to Elizabeth for sure. Fear bubbled inside of her and all at once she blurted out, "I'll tell him you knew the first pregnancy was a lie!"

That stopped Carly in her tracks. She turned slowly back to Courtney, an indignant glare in her eyes. "I didn't find that out until after the fake miscarriage!"

"So what?" Courtney huffed. "You knew it was fake and you didn't tell him."

"Only because you begged me not-." Carly stopped in irritation and narrowed her eyes at Courtney, "Since you want to keep on playing games I'll just go ahead and beat you to the punch. Jason will find out [i]everything[/i] tonight." Carly swung the door open and stepped outside.

Feeling completely helpless and like she had nothing left to loose Courtney ran after her. She stepped behind Carly, grabbing her by the arm. "Please Carly, don't do this. Please, just come back in. We can think of something-" Courtney's words faltered as Carly yanked herself out of Courtney's hold.

Carly rocked away, much to fast. She lost her footing, her heels slipping over the brick of the brownstone steps. As she tilted backward on the ball of her feet, her brown eyes flew open and her arms wailed wildly in the air.

For a split second Courtney started to reach for her friend. Just one slight pull forward and Carly would be steadied. All she had to do was reach out and assist her friend to keep her from falling. But that second passed and Courtney didn't help. She watched with emotionless eyes as Carly fell backward, tumbling down the brick staircase and landed in a crumpled heap on the sidewalk.

As if snapping back to reality Courtney's flight response kicked in. She nervously surveyed the area. It was late, the neighborhood was quiet and since no one came running it was safe to assume that their exchange went unnoticed.

She ran back into Carly's home, grabbing her purse and making sure there were no clues left around that would suggest she had been there at all. As she slipped out of the back door she didn't think of her friend dying on the other side of the building or that she had played a part in it. Her only thought was that she had finally gotten one of the women in Jason's life out of the way.

Just two more to go.

Jason rubbed a hand over his eyes. With a yawn he leaned back in the metal waiting room chair and hoped that a doctor would come out and update him on Carly’s condition. He’d been sitting in the same spot for hours and still no news. All he knew was that she took a nasty fall down her brownstone steps and had yet to regain consciousness.

It was a good thing that someone driving by spotted her and called the police, otherwise... he didn’t want to think about it. Too bad that’s all he could think about. Carly could have died and the last thing he would have said to her was ‘later’ and he more yelled it, than said it.

He failed her, just like he had failed Elizabeth and Libby.

His head spun as he thought about his night. What had started out as promising had turned to crap.

Somehow it all came back to Courtney. His stomach lurched with uneasiness as he thought about her. He had allowed the woman to single handedly ruin every meaningful relationship he had, all in the name of weakness. His weakness, and now she was pregnant again.

Jason struggled with his memory trying to get a clear account of their night together. He was at Jake’s, he’d had a couple of beers and left. When he got back to his place... nothing. He was drawing a blank. What was the use anyway? In nine months he would have another child but not with the woman he loved.

“How is she?”

Jason looked up to find Sonny staring at him. “The doctor’s haven’t said.”

Sonny looked away, staring absently down the hall he asked, “Do you think it was one of our enemies?”

“No.” Jason shook his head adamantly. “They would have made sure she was...” his words trailed off as his eyes moved up to Sonny’s.

Sonny nodded, clearly understanding. “Then it was an accident.”

“Looks that way.”

“I’m going to put a guard on her, just in case,” Sonny said more to himself than to Jason.

As the two men fell into silence Jason thought about Elizabeth. He was sure that Carly’s fall wasn’t an attack, rival families would have made sure that Carly was dead. But there was still a nagging bit of doubt about the accident. A ‘just in case’ as Sonny had put it. Which brought him back to Elizabeth and Libby.

He reached into his pants pocket for his cell, he needed to call Elizabeth, just to hear her voice, to reassure himself that his wife and daughter were fine.

Just as he was about to dial out Courtney came around the corner, walking hurriedly in their direction. With a groan, Jason slid the phone back into his pocket and braced himself for what would come next. No doubt Courtney would be a barrel of tears, he could already see the markings of them on her cheeks.

“How did this happen?” Courtney’s voice was octaves higher than should be humanly possible. The shrillness made Jason flinch and he could of sworn Sonny did too.

Sonny stepped in front of Courtney, placing his hands on her shoulders in an effort to calm her. Making eye contact with his sister he explained all he knew about Carly and the fall. Jason was thankful that Sonny was there because he wasn’t sure he would have the patience to handle Courtney himself.

After Sonny had calmed Courtney she looked over the Jason, “Did you tell him?” She asked.

His eyes narrowed at her. Her best friend was laying, unconscious in a hospital bed and all Courtney could think about was herself. “Now is not the time,” Jason replied darkly.

“Tell me what?” Sonny asked. “If there’s something that I need to know, tell me now.”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Jason stated.

“I am pregnant again,” Courtney quietly declared at the same time.

Sonny frowned, his eyes shot from Jason to Courtney, back to Jason. His stare settled hard, his face became a stone barrier with no true emotion on it.

Finally, after what seemed like minutes Sonny spoke, “Does Elizabeth know?”

Because he couldn’t trust his voice Jason nodded his head.

“For Christ’s sake.” Sonny hissed,  running a hand through his short black hair.

Jason waited for a slew of dark words to come from the older man but after a minute of nothing he realized that Sonny was just too disgusted to even remark on the revelation.
 
“Call me when you get an update on Carly,” Sonny said lowly.

“We will,” Courtney assured to Sonny’s back, because he was halfway down the hallway before she spoke up.

Jason looked to Courtney and cursed to himself. How had he ever let himself get into this mess? “Courtney, we need to talk.”

Courtney looked a little dumbstruck at his tone but followed him to a quiet corner right outside of Carly’s room. “What’s wrong?”

Jason leveled his with hers. “It wasn’t the right time to tell Sonny about the baby.”

“Why not? He’s going to be an uncle, he would want to know. Besides, I thought that the news would lighten his mood.”

Jason rubbed his eyes and blinked hard at Courtney. “Maybe it’s best if we don’t announce this to anyone else. At least not until we know...”

“Know what, Jason?” Courtney’s eyes popped wide making her resemble looked a doe in headlights. “That the baby is yours?”

His brows knit together in question. Why would she jump to a conclusion like that?  “I was talking about the previous miscarriage, Courtney. That it might be best to make sure that everything is fine with this baby before we go announcing it.”

Her face relaxed. “Oh.” She smiled at him. It was sickly sweet and only raised more questions in his head.

Jason felt that nagging doubt ringing in his ears again. The look on his face must have changed because Courtney paled.

“Look, Jason, if you don’t believe me then we can get a test to prove that the baby is yours.” She wailed her hands in the air. “Is that what you want?”

Jason noticed that the less he said the more of a hole Courtney talked herself into. The thought to take a paternity test hadn’t crossed his mind until that moment. It had only been hours since he found out about the baby and in that time he had to tell Elizabeth and right after she left he found out about Carly. Thinking about it now he thought that it would be best to take a test, just to be sure.

He nodded at Courtney, “Yes, that’s what I want.”

Courtney placed a glass vase of flowers on the table beside Carly’s bed. She turned to her friend and tilted her head in observation. Carly looked so peaceful, so serene, in her sleep. Nothing like the rabid woman she was while awake.

She had done the right thing. If Carly hadn’t fallen Jason would know about all of Courtney’s lies. About the fake miscarriage and the fact that she wasn’t really pregnant now. Getting Carly out of the way was for the best, but what if she woke up?

Courtney looked about the room. She spotted a pillow on a chair and grabbed it. Gripping it in her hands she made her way back to Carly’s side. She would have to make sure that Carly never woke up. She bent and whispered “sorry” into Carly’s ear.

When she straightened she looked over her shoulder, no one was around. Slowly she lowed the pillow over Carly’s face. She would make it quick.

“Miss Matthews?”

Courtney gasped, yanking the pillow back she clutched it to her chest. She turned and saw one of Sonny’s guards standing at the door.

“Is everything alright?”

“Y-Yes.” Courtney smoothed the pillow and lifted Carly’s head to place it behind her. “I was just making her comfortable.” Courtney patted the pillow nervously.

The guard grunted, uncaring, and stalked inside of the room. He went to a corner and stood there, arms crossed over chest.

Courtney quickly grabbed her purse and left, thankful that she hadn’t been found out. She would have to come up with a way to get rid of Carly but for now she’d have to hope that her friend stayed comatose. In the mean time she would work on getting rid of Elizabeth.

After an hour of laying next to Libby’s sleeping form Elizabeth forced herself to leave her daughters room. She had stayed longer at Libby’s request, but after Libby had fallen asleep she still lay next to her, unable to pull herself away.

Nights like this one just reinforced to her how short life was. How one day a person could be living life like normal and the next it is taken away. Carly had no idea that she would take a fall down brick stairs when she had awoke in the morning. Yet she had, and had almost died. She could still die.

Tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes as she closed her daughters door. She walked down the hall to her room. Not bothering to turn on the lights, she slipped under the sheets. As she stared up at the ceiling her thoughts went to Jason, she wondered how he was handling everything and who was helping him through.

When Brenda told her about the accident her first impulse was to go to Jason’s side, he would need someone. But then she thought about their disastrous night and decided it was better if she stayed away.

In the heavy quiet of her house she heard creaking on the stairs then footfalls in the hallway coming toward her room. She sat up, her heart thudding rapidly in her chest. Suddenly the thought that Carly’s fall hadn’t been an accident came to mind. What if it was done on purpose and the person was now after her and Libby?

Where was Max?

Elizabeth reached for her phone, as she fumbled with the numbers her door opened and a large shadowy figure walked in. She wanted to scream but her voice got lost in her throat. Then she heard him.

“Elizabeth.”

She dropped the phone back on the night stand with a relieving breath. It was Jason, his voice tired but smooth.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he assured her, stepping further into the room. He closed the door behind him and moved closer, his face came into view. From what Elizabeth could make out he looked worn, stress was riding his handsome features.

As her heartbeat slowed Elizabeth found her voice again, “It’s okay,” she said shakily. “How is Carly?”

Jason moved closer to the bed and Elizabeth saw that he was looking at her with hunger in his eyes. His stare made her warm inside.

“She’s stable,” he answered, in a low voice.

Elizabeth watched him as his hands went to the buttons of his dress shirt. He released each one then let the shirt fall to the floor. “I need you,” he said as he freed his pants from his body.

She didn’t think protest his arrival or his intention. Something about his tone made her dizzy, a heat creep slowly down her spine and she realized that she needed him too. Without a word, Elizabeth went for the hem of her gown and pulled it up and above her head. She tossed it to the side as Jason’s weight landed on the bed.

He wrapped an arm around her, pressing her body close to his. He was heavy and hot and undeniably male against her. She moaned as he trailed scorching kisses down her neck, stopping at her collar bone then tracing his way back up.

His mouth hovered above hers and Elizabeth took a longer to look at him. What she saw staring back at her made her breathless. Steel blue eyes swirled with emotion, desire and need for her. All for her. Her mouth parted and she swept her tongue across her bottom lip. Jason’s eyes followed that subtle move like a tiger watching it’s prey; intently, steady, ready at any moment to pounce.

“Jas-” his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss. She was expecting it but the hardness came as a shock. Still within seconds she was kissing him back with that very same aggression.

His tongue delved into her mouth with an ease that turned her body to liquid. He cupped one hand behind her neck pulling her mouth closer to his and deepening the kiss. He used the other to spread her thighs, he settled between her legs.

A moan rumbled in his chest when his cock met her slick entrance. He didn’t push his way inside of her, instead he brought his hand slowly up her side until he reached her breast. Cupping the full weight of flesh he pulled his mouth from hers and covered her nipple with a flaming kiss. It tightened to a bud that he teased and nipped between his teeth.

Elizabeth moaned and pushed her hips up to meet his. She wanted to feel him inside of her. The hand behind her neck moved to her hip, stilling her movement. He raised his head from her chest and looked into her eyes just as two fingers slid into her unexpectedly. She mewed and rocked against his hand keeping eye contact with him the entire time. His face was relaxed, his lips parted, eyes open but heavily lidded. His thumb found the sensitive nub between her legs and he stroked it.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she watched a slow grin spread across her husbands face. Her fingers clawed at the bed sheets and she let her legs fall to the side, wantonly. The speed of his fingers increased and she called out his name, pleading. He slipped his fingers from her, quickly replacing them with his rigid shaft and impaled her in one thrust.

Elizabeth’s back arched away from the bed on it’s own accord. It felt so good. Her hands stroked down his back. He pulled her legs around his waist and she hooked them at the ankles, holding him close. He ground himself further into her, his hand came down to her butt and he cupped it pushing himself to the hilt. Elizabeth gasped and loosened her legs. Jason’s pace picked back up in long masterful strokes that swept in and out of her.

She was close to climaxing when he stopped abruptly. He pulled out, slick with her wetness, and pressed his lips to her mouth in a lazy kiss. He ran his tongue over her lips, leaving them plump and glistening. He pulled his mouth from hers and Elizabeth stared at him dazed and a little confused, but then he turned her onto her stomach. He kneed her legs apart and reached under her stomach to lift her.

She rested on her hands and knees. The heat of him bobbed at her thighs, leaving behind the slickness of  her own juices. He positioned himself behind her and slammed into her sending her reeling forward with a pleasurable whimper. He settled his hand on her lower back to steady her and pulled his cock out until just the tip was inside her, he thrust into her again, then again.

Elizabeth’s lids slipped down in ecstasy as Jason pushed into her welcoming body. His hand moved from her back and his fingers dipped into her moist curls. He used his long middle finger to rub her clit. The friction was maddening. She bit down on her bottom lip and gave into him, matching his momentum. She thrust her hips back, throwing her rear into his hips and he groaned, each one louder than the next. Both of his hands came to rest at her hips, his fingers digging into the fleshiness of her curves.

Climax came upon her in a fiery rush she cried out but it wasn’t just her, Jason moaned a hoarse call of his own. He thrust into her again and then one final time. Elizabeth felt it when he came, his erection jerked inside of her, hot seed spearing into her womb.

He leaned over her, his breath hot and heavy on the shell of her ear, “I love you.”

“I love you,” she whispered back to him.

Elizabeth fell forward, boneless, Jason went with her. His breathing was deep and uneven and the heaviness of his body was deliciously comforting to her. He turned onto his side taking her with him. She curled her body up and his erection slipped out, he groaned at the loss but pulled her closer to him, draping his arm around her middle.

Minutes later their breathing had mellowed. A bead of sweat ran between the hollow of Elizabeth’s breasts but she ignored it. She took pleasure in the wetness between her legs, wetness that was hers and Jason’s. She wanted to stay in this moment, with Jason, forever. She was content in her husbands arms knowing that he was there and she and Libby were safe. Morning would come and they would both have to deal with the realities of their situation but for the time being she would sleep.

It was still dark when Elizabeth woke, very aware of the heat of the man that her back was pressed into. His heavy arm draped over her waist while he used one finger to run circles over her abdomen. Jason, she thought curving deeper into him.

At her movement he shifted his hand away from her stomach, bringing it up to the underside of her breast. His teeth caught the shell of her ear while his fingers plucked at her nipple. She moaned and just as she leaned into his hand he moved it, grazing his fingertips down her torso. He slipped his hand between her thighs, using it to lift her leg, allowing him to easily enter her from that position.

Everything after that was a blur, she groggily felt the sensual pressure between her legs and the steady motion of Jason behind her, she dreamily knew when she reached her climax and the explosion of warmth that tingled over her body as Jason reached his.

Her eyes closed heavily after that, and she fell into a wistful sleep.

It was nearing dusk when Jason opened his eyes. He rolled onto his back bringing Elizabeth with him. Their body’s flush together, he could feel the steady beat of her heart thumping against his chest. He ran his finger along her temple then tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. She sighed and his cock jumped at the sweet sound.

She must have felt it because she slipped her hand between them and grabbed his erection in her hand. She stroked him to the point of pleasurable pain, and just when he felt that he wouldn’t last any longer in her hand, she lifted her hips above his and brought herself down on his rigid shaft. She rocked above him, lifting herself until only the head of his erection was inside of her, then she would come down, taking him to the hilt.

It was sweet torture and he didn’t last long. His release came like an eruption, shaking them both to the core. She fell down over him and he wrapped his arms around her. It wasn’t until he was sure that Elizabeth was asleep that he let himself succumb to the beckoning slumber.

[

Opening one eye, Elizabeth glanced at the clock, it wasn’t yet six in the morning. She turned to Jason, who was deep in sleep. She ran a finger over his brow, taking in his relaxed features, then brushed a kiss over the sensual curve of his lips before she pulled herself from the bed.

She quietly made her way to the bathroom to wash up. The washcloth was like heaven against the dull ache between her legs. After cleaning up, she pulled on a night shirt and slipped out of the room. Stopping at Libby’s room- to check on her- Elizabeth tsk’d quietly at the sheets heaped on the floor. She pulled the covers back over her daughter and left without waking the four-year-old.

Once downstairs, she went into the freezer and pulled out a half pint of chocolate ice-cream. She popped the top off and grabbed a spoon then dug in. Eating ice cream in the morning wasn’t a normal thing for her to do, but she wasn’t in a normal mood. Her body was humming all over in response to the night she’d shared with Jason.

The passion spent between the two of them was almost enough to make her forget all of the troubles that plagued them. Like their impending divorce, Carly’s accident, and Courtney.

She frowned and stabbed her spoon into the ice-cream.

"Take it easy on the Ben & Jerry’s."

Elizabeth startled, looked up at Jason entering the kitchen. Her eyes raked over his tanned muscular chest. She noticed that he had on a pair of black sweat pants and wondered where he had found them.

"They were in the back of the closet," he said, as if reading her thought.

He crossed the room to her so fast that she didn’t realize he’d moved until he was standing in front of her. He had her cornered, her back to the counter. The heat emanating from his body warmed her and she wanted to fall into his chest but she held herself back. It would be so easy to avoid the problems still present between them but she wasn’t up for ignoring them.

"Jas-" she started.

Jason cut her off by pressing his finger over her lips. He nudged her chin up so that she looked him in the eye. With suddenness his mouth dropped upon hers. He kissed her with such intensity that she thought herself brainless. She was unable to come up with one single thought, and her body was unable to do anything other than respond to his.

She kissed him back, matching his need. She moaned as his tongue tickled the underside of her upper lip and squeaked with his teeth caught and nipped her bottom one. Then, as quickly as he had advanced upon her, he was gone; back across the kitchen.

"Good morning," he said, leaning back against the frame of the kitchen entryway.

Elizabeth touched two fingers to her lips, hazily aware that she was still holding the ice-cream in her hand. The carton was sweating, condensation rolled over her fingers. "Good morning," she responded, breathlessly. Without turning, she placed the carton behind her on the counter.

"Now, what were you saying?"

"What?"

He crossed his arms over his broad chest. The corner of his mouth lifted in a grin. "You were saying something, just before I greeted you good morning."

Elizabeth shook off the last remnants of his ‘greeting’ and tried to remember what she was going to tell him before he’d kissed her senseless. Her mood darkened as she regained her thoughts. "Where do we go from here?"

The grin he had been sporting flattened, and his arms came to rest at his sides. He became all together serious. "I’m not letting you go, Elizabeth."

She nodded slowly, suddenly feeling like she was in a very small room with a very dangerous animal. "That’s not what I asked you, Jason."

His eyes flickered like cold fire. "We figure out a way to get past all of the pain, and we move on... together."

If it was only that easy. "What about Courtney and the baby, [i]your[/i] baby."

She saw his jaw tighten and the muscle there ticked beneath his skin.

"We're getting a paternity test, after that..." Her eyes must have widened because he added, "I’m not sure about the baby."

"Why not?" she asked, fully waiting for his explanation. It was clear that he didn’t want to discuss it with her. But if they were going to get anywhere there could be no secrets between them. "Tell me, Jason," she encouraged.

He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his tousled spikes before he spoke, "I don’t remember the night the baby was conceived."

"Had you been drinking?" That would be the best reason for lack of memory.

"A little. Not enough to forget what I was doing, still, I can’t remember it."

She huffed, "You do realize how ridiculous that sounds?"

"I know. I don’t understand it myself."

"What do you remember?"

"Talking to Coleman, having two, maybe three beers, then... nothing."

"You don’t remember anything about [i]it[/i]?"

Jason was looking increasingly uncomfortable. "I remember waking up with a hammering headache, and," he paused and looked her in the eye when he said, "Courtney was there."

Her stomach flipped. It wasn’t like she didn’t already know that but hearing it from Jason... She had thought she was over it, but now she couldn’t be sure. The only thing that was definite was that she felt like she might faint.

He was shocked to see how fast Elizabeth paled. She rocked forward on unsteady feet before leaning back to grip at the counter. He was at her side within seconds of her spell.

"Elizabeth," he said her name soothingly while pulling her into his arms. She didn’t resist and for that he was grateful. "What happened?"

Her fingers gripped at his waist. "I don’t know. I was fine and then, just like that, I wasn’t."

Jason ran his hand over her hair moving it out of the way so that he could cup her neck. "It’s okay," he assured her, rubbing his fingers over the delicate skin of her neck. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be, Jason," She snapped at him, pushing him away.

He took a step back, giving her some space, but stayed close enough to catch her, just in case she became faint again. "Do you want some water?" he asked.

"I’m fine, really. I don’t know why I reacted that way."

"It’s understandable." He could only imagine how he would react to hearing something like that about Elizabeth and someone else. He could hardly handle her going out on a date with the doctor.

"Maybe last night was a mistake."

He was taken aback by the sudden change of conversation but determined not to let Elizabeth try to talk herself out of her real feelings. "It wasn’t."

"Think about it, Jason. There was our date-where we agreed to would start over. Then Courtney's announcement, and Carly's fall, and... God..." she brought her hands to her face. "We were in need of comforting, and that’s what happened between us."

Jason had to stamp down his anger to get out his next words without yelling, "If you want me to say that last night meant nothing, I cant... I won’t." He saw her open her mouth to speak but he cut her off, "You are looking for reasons to not trust me, to not trust [i]us[/i]."

Her eyes widened, "Oh, you’ve given me plenty of reason."

"Last night wasn’t one."

The tension in the kitchen became palpable.

Elizabeth turned away, presenting him with her back.

He clenched his fists to the point of pain.

There were no words spoke between them for a minute or more.

"Daddy?"

The little voice of his daughter broke the tension. At once he relaxed and Elizabeth turned around. The sapphire gaze she fixed on him and the look in her eye told him that she wasn’t sure how to explain their state of dress to Libby.

Her fear proved to be unfounded when Libby smiled happily and bounded into his arms.

He picked her up, her small weight making no impact on him at all.

"When did you get here daddy?" she asked her blue eyes- mirrors of his- wide with question.

He glanced at Elizabeth, who shrugged her shoulders and he settled on telling her the truth, "I got here last night, after you were asleep."

"Really?"

"Really," he said putting her down.

She walked over to Elizabeth, who bent, placing a kiss on the top of her daughters dark head of hair.

"Is Carly better?" Libby asked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's eyes darted to his, at his nod she said, "Carly is still sleeping."

Jason could sense Elizabeth’s discomfort, and if he wasn’t mistaken. Libby could too. "Hey, Libby," when she turned back to him he asked, "Do you want to go with me see uncle Mike?"

"And have breakfast?" she asked, excitedly.

"Yes, and have breakfast." Her eyes brightened at him, making her look identical to her mother. "Go up and get ready,"

"Okay!" She shouted, running out of the kitchen.

He turned back to his wife. "Elizabeth..."

She put a hand up, hushing him "I can’t do this right now, Jason," she protested.

He nodded, "Later then."

And he promised himself that they would talk about it later.

[

"I just don’t know what to do." Elizabeth lounged on an over-sized, overstuffed chair in the Corinthos living room. She touched a glass of lemonade to her lips and looked over at Brenda who was astonishingly, painting her toenails, reading [i]Vogue[/i], sipping lemonade ,and listening to her all at the same time.

After Jason and Libby left for breakfast at Kelly's, Elizabeth went over to Brenda's for girl talk. She had just finished telling her friend all of the events of the previous night, and was now looking for some advice.

"You know what to do," Brenda replied, glancing up from the magazine. "You did it all night long."

Elizabeth tossed a pillow at her friend and blushed. "I should have never told you that."

Brenda shrugged. "I would have known anyway."

Elizabeth straightened in the chair. "How?" she asked, interested.

Brenda gave her a meaningful once over and said, "It’s written all over you. The way you swung your hips in here, the way your skin is so flushed." Brenda narrowed her eyes, "I don’t remember the last time I saw you so... glowy.

"I didn’t swish and-"

"Like a dollar in a breeze," Brenda cut in.

"I am not glowy," Elizabeth finished.

"Like a lamp," Brenda added with a smile.

Elizabeth leaned back, rolling her eyes. "I’m serious, Bren." she said, picking out a nail polish named ‘Cherry-Bomb’ from the coffee table.

"I am too, Elizabeth. You and Jason have been going back and forth for months now, with the same result. You two get this close," she measured a small space between her thumb and index finger, "and then you push him away.

Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest, her mouth curled into a pout that would rival her daughters. "That’s not what happens."

"That’s exactly what happens," Brenda countered, shaking a nail polish bottle in her hand.

Elizabeth was poised for a rebuttal but the door opened behind them and Sonny entered.

"My two favorite ladies." he said, stopping to kiss Elizabeth’s cheek. He then went over to his wife and kissed her thoroughly on the mouth, leaving her flushed and [i]glowy[/i].

"I'll leave you two, to do whatever you two do." He eyed the magazines and colorful assortment of nail polish on the coffee table with a grimace before leaving the room.

"So how is the baby making going?" Elizabeth asked once Sonny was out of ear shot.

Brenda frowned, "It’s going."

"It’ll happen, Bren." Elizabeth tried to sound as encouraging as possible. It was hard, given that Brenda and Sonny had been trying for months with no results.

"I know, but in the mean time we will keep on trying." She pinned a telling glance on Elizabeth. "Some things are just worth fighting for."

Back to 1-10

Home