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Chapter 11

Jason stopped his bike and swung his leg over the machine. The ride had helped soothe him after a rough two weeks of meetings with clients, investors and worst of all, journalists. Now that his corporate relocation was complete, he was enduring a press release of epic proportions, as well as clients' demands for his upcoming new product line. He was used to periods like this, but it always did try his limits of patience and coping.

He liked his work and was proud of his company and all that he created, but he just wanted to work, to put out his product and not have to deal with everything else. He hated the meetings, the social functions he was expected to attend because of his company's prestige, the interviews and the women who sought him because of his money. And that stupid Hottest Bachelors Under 30 list in People he unfortunately was put on several years ago.

Hopefully these distractions were done for a while and he could get back to real business. The only unpleasant thing looming over his head was the cancer center fundraiser Tracy Quartermaine was putting on. He would be attending it, of course, but he was not looking forward to it. He knew from Ned what kind of women would be there, invited by Tracy and all but encouraged to go after the rich bachelors. He hated feeling like the last steak at an all you can eat buffet.

Ned had already invited a date, someone Tracy wouldn't approve of. But V Ardonowski was a woman not easily intimidated and she was probably looking forward to taking on Tracy. Jason knew his friend thought he should find a date as well in order to fend off the women who would be on the hunt. It was something he'd already thought of, ever since he received the gold embossed invitation; there was just one problem.

Elizabeth. She was the first person he thought of when he contemplated bringing a date, and that bothered him. He was trying to remain firm in his view of Elizabeth as a friend, a resolve that hadn't been helped by the last couple of weeks. While friends could attend a function like this, he wasn't sure it would be smart. It felt like it would be tempting fate, appear as a couple when that was what he was trying to avoid. He didn't think he would be able to separate fantasy from reality if he gave in and asked her to go. Showing up with her on his arm would probably end up being too much to resist and he'd want to repeat it.

Yet he didn't think he could ask someone else to go. Somehow it felt like he would be unfair to Elizabeth. He would spend the entire time thinking of her anyways, and that wouldn't be fair to whoever he took, either. So he'd pretty much resigned himself to going alone and thus becoming open prey for every hunting socialite. While he knew it was what would be the best decision for his conscience, he was not looking forward to the experience.

Shaking his head to dispel the gloomy and weighty thoughts, he headed for the front door. Chloe and Nikolas had invited him over for another afternoon bar-b-q and he didn't want to appear distracted. Ned and Chloe were too perceptive and they'd question him; something he didn't want to face if he could avoid it. If they even suspected the real reason behind his distraction there would be no end to the comments, discussion and teasing.

He heard a car pull into the drive behind him and instinctively he turned. Chloe said she was inviting a few other people and he wondered who had shown up. He was a little surprised to see the car was a cab, and he stopped as it came to a halt not far behind him. Nobody exited for a few minutes and he considered turning and proceeding to the house. But he'd already stopped and waited, it seemed rude to leave and continue on now, especially since he had to have been seen by the car's occupants.

Finally, the back door opened and a person climbed out. When he saw the hair and saw the height of the person, he knew. He knew it was Elizabeth and his stomach clenched briefly. She turned back and reached into the cab, then reemerged with Sean's car seat. She said a few words to the driver, and then stepped back as the car pulled away. He knew she had to have seen him, but she hadn't looked up at him yet. Taking a deep breath and letting it out with enough force that he heard it from his distance away from her; she finally looked up and met his gaze. "Hey, Jason."

When he saw Elizabeth readjust her grip on the car seat, it propelled Jason into action. "Hi," he said as he strode forward and reached for the baby carrier. "Chloe didn't say you would be here. I could have picked you up so you didn't have to take a cab."

He nearly regretted making that confession until he told himself it was just a friendly offer. Friends gave each other rides. She looked down and nibbled on her bottom lip as they walked to the house. "I didn't know you were going to be here, either. Chloe invited a couple of us from work."

They reached the door and before they could knock it opened and Nikolas greeted them. "Jason, Elizabeth...saw you guys walking up as I was going by the window. Glad you could make it."

"Hi, guys," Chloe called out as she came down the stairs holding Timothy. "Elizabeth, I'm glad you came. I pulled out Timothy's playpen for Sean to use so you don't have to hold him all the time."

"Thank you," she smiled. Then she turned to Jason and reached for the seat. "Thanks for carrying him."

"Sure," he told her as he relinquished her son, feeling rather reluctant to do so, and watched her follow behind Chloe.

He was afraid his obvious distraction by his appreciation for her legs which were shown off by her skirt would be obvious when he finally pulled himself away from watching her, but when he turned to Nikolas the younger man's face was benign. He only clapped Jason on the back and smiled. "Want a beer? We've got a cooler out back."

"Yeah," he agreed. A cold beer sounded very nice right now.

She was at first afraid the afternoon was going to be a complete disaster, but thankfully it didn't turn out that way. After the initial awkwardness when they first arrived and Jason barely spoke to her, it did get better. Maybe that was because like a junior high dance, they had separated into different groups. Jason stayed with Ned and a woman named V, while Elizabeth stayed near her co-workers. Chloe and Nikolas floated between the two groups, trying to bridge them together, but were never quite successful to get them to interact fully.

It wasn't something really that bothered her. She was acutely aware of Jason, even when he was across the room. She couldn't imagine how it would be if they were actually talking in the same group. She wasn't sure she would be able to conceal her thoughts and feelings if she was that close to him. Not wanting to embarrass herself, and especially him, by looking like she had a silly crush on him, she figured it was better to remain apart from him. It would just be easier.

Of course, they couldn't avoid each other completely. They were friends after all, and it would have drawn more attention to them if they didn't talk. Most of their interaction was over, and buffered by, Sean. He was a neutral topic, a safety net of sorts for them. Plus, her son was becoming attached to Jason and he was becoming more vocal about his preferences. He wanted to see Jason, and Elizabeth couldn't bear to disappoint him, even though she figured at some point she would. Jason wouldn't always be around her son, but hopefully the break would come when Sean was still too young to understand that Jason had once been a fixture in his young existence.

After enough time was spent near Jason and his friends, Elizabeth finally began to lose her nervousness and forgot the reasons she told herself not to get too comfortable around him. As the afternoon turned into evening, the groups finally began to merge. Elizabeth finally let go of some of her disgust towards Ned, and she could now see that it had been petty, after she spent a riotous half hour talking to V. The red-head was a funny, spunky woman and her conversations sometimes left Elizabeth feeling a little dizzy. She now understood why Ned would bring her to the fundraising gala; V would hold her own against anybody and wouldn't be intimidated by a shark like Tracy Quartermaine.

It made Elizabeth admire her, and envy her. She wished she had V's confidence, as well as her ability to not care what others thought. V surprised her by laughing at Tracy's anticipated reactions and comments. The comments that Ned and Chloe threw out, mocking the older woman, sounded so acidic and cruel, and Elizabeth didn't think - no, she knew - she couldn't be so nonchalant about knowing someone would look down their nose at her and would most likely insult her to her face. It was just further proof to her that she would never understand, and especially wouldn't fit in Jason's world.

Even though she tried not to, she'd thought about the gala and Jason. Would he go by himself? Would he take someone? Would she be someone like V who could stand up to Tracy Quartermaine? Or would she be someone that Ned's mother would like? Would she fit in to that world, unlike Elizabeth? And would Jason like her? Though she knew she shouldn't, she couldn't help comparing herself to this unknown person, and automatically assuming she would fall short.

Because Elizabeth knew that it was a life she wouldn't fit into. Despite Jason starting out poor, he'd made a name for himself by making it big. He was rich now, the darling of the corporate world. And handsome enough to make everyone want him. If he aligned himself with someone like Elizabeth, she would be looked down on; considered a gold-digger. She was a single mother who had been abandoned by the baby's father and now she was trying to land a rich sugar daddy for herself and her son. People would never overlook her roots, even though they overlooked Jason's.

She knew what people would say about her, and she didn't think she was strong enough to withstand the talk. She knew that people would say she had self-esteem issues, and maybe she did. Starting with her parents and going right through to Sean's father...she'd never been good enough. It was what made her know she wasn't cut out for Jason's life; would never be the right person for him. No matter how much she might wish it were otherwise, it never would be.

So it made it hard for her to listen to V, Ned, Chloe and Nikolas talk about the gala. Because even though he wasn't contributing to the conversation, all Elizabeth could think about was Jason. And who would he go with, or might dance with, and how she was jealous even though she tried not to be. It also made her wish she had left with her other co-workers half an hour ago instead of wanting to continue her conversation with Chloe about coping techniques for evening fussiness that was making her frazzled the past two weeks.

It was just the six of them now, and she was trying to look casual despite the fact that they'd ended up in pairs and she and Jason weren't talking even though they were sitting by each other on the patio. She wanted to go home and escape this awkwardness, but she didn't want to appear like she was running away. But what she desperately wanted was for Sean to wake up so she would have an excuse to go. She didn't want to appear suspicious by waking him up and dashing out the door, but all she could hope now was that this didn't turn into one of her son's marathon naps.

"Can I use your phone?" Elizabeth asked Nikolas as she patted Sean lightly on his back.

"Sure," he said as he slipped a container of leftovers into the refrigerator. Jason had carried the empty platters from the hamburgers over to the sink and kept his back to her as she entered the kitchen.

"Is everything okay?" Nikolas asked, throwing away used paper towels.

"Yeah," she replied with an absent smile. Jason turned and leaned back against the counter, watching as she pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. "I just need to call a cab so I can get Sean home and get him ready for bed."

Nikolas frowned and shook his head immediately at her words. "A cab? No. I can't let you go home in a cab."

Now Elizabeth frowned, as well as lifting a perfectly plucked brow. "I came in a cab. I'm used to cabs. Besides, Jill already left, or I'd ask her for a ride."

"Someone here can give you a ride," he said, and then looked over at Jason to solicit one. "Jason?"

"Sorry," he said, truly feeling the emotion because he didn't like the thought of Elizabeth traveling home at night in a cab. "I have my motorcycle today."

"Let me go ask Ned," the younger man said. "And if not, I'll drive you home."

"Nikolas, that's not..." Elizabeth trailed off as he ignored her protests, leaving the room. She frowned deeply and shook her head. "That's really not necessary."

She reached for the phone and Jason knew she was going to call for a cab. "You know," he said and she flinched slightly, "someone will take you home."

"And it's really not necessary," she told him pointedly. "Ned lives in the opposite direction and it's ridiculous for Nikolas or Chloe to drive so far twice when I am perfectly capable of taking a cab."

Jason didn't say it wasn't that they didn't think she was capable of taking care of herself; it was that none of them liked the idea of it. They weren't overbearing, they were chivalrous. None of them were going to like the idea of Elizabeth spending money on a cab when they could drive her where she needed to go. Because a cabbie wouldn't walk her up to her door or help her with Sean. And Jason didn't like the idea of her struggling with Sean in his carrier and the door to her building at night in her neighborhood.

As she dialed the number for the cab company, pointedly ignoring him, Jason knew she wouldn't change her mind. She was a bit stubborn that way and she liked to assert her independence. So she would go home in a cab, because she would insist on it. And Jason knew he would be following her home on his bike to make sure she got there safely. Whether she knew about it or not; whether she liked it or not.

Chapter 12

Elizabeth looked up at the clock at Penny set her plate down in front of her and then sat in the opposite chair. Even though she had told herself she wasn't going to when she came tonight, she couldn't help noticing the time and wondering how the gala was going. And because she did not want to think about Jason dressed up in a tux, with a date, she had come to the diner hoping for a distraction. She knew that a night of playing with Sean would not be enough to keep her from thinking about Jason.

Smiling across the table at her friend, she hoped the effusive and chatty nature of Penny would distract her from her thoughts. If the bright, excited countenance of the waitress that she hadn't seen in a couple of weeks was any indicator, she'd made a smart choice. They could take their time, catch up, and with any luck, when Elizabeth got home and put Sean to bed she'd be able to fall asleep without wondering what Jason was doing. She glanced at the clock and grimaced when she realized only two minutes had passed. She hoped the evening improved, because right now it looked pretty bleak.

"It is so good to see you," Penny said excitedly. "You've been so busy with your new job, or your new friends that you've hardly had time for us little people."

"Oh please," Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "This from the person who every time I call says, 'can't talk now, I'm studying.' Which makes me wonder what, or more precisely who you're studying."

"This gorgeous T.A. in my O-Chem class. I may just change my major if it means I could see Mr. Hottie more," Penny replied in her usual frankness. "Liz, you should see him."

"I'll take your word for it," she smiled.

"Ah, you're a true friend," the Filipino girl sighed. "Won't horn in on my territory."

"As if I could be competition for you or anybody else for that matter," she laughed just a bit too ruefully.

Penny narrowed her eyes and cocked her head in inquisition. "Liz, is something wrong?"

She was tempted to lie, to deny there was a problem, but in all honesty Elizabeth needed a friend. Someone who would understand. As wonderful as Chloe was, Elizabeth couldn't talk to her about this. With a sigh she said, "Things have gotten complicated."

Blowing out a breath as she dragged a french fry through her ketchup, she turned her head and met the very curious gaze of Courtney Corinthos who was blatantly eavesdropping on their conversation. She was not going to tell Penny about her confusion over her feelings for Jason Morgan in front of the woman who'd all but drooled on him during their meeting. Absently she wondered why Courtney wasn't at Tracy's fundraiser, but then decided she simply didn't care enough about Courtney's life to spend time trying to figure it out.

Looking back at her friend she gave an almost imperceptible tip of her head towards the woman and said, "It's longer than your break is. What do you say I buy some turnovers and you come over and we can talk? Sean should be falling asleep for the night soon and we could just have some girl talk."

Penny had caught the signal and she nodded as she stood. "I came in early today so I can leave whenever you're ready to go. I'll just go get some fresh turnovers for us, and maybe even grab some of your favorite brownies."

"That sounds great," Elizabeth smiled and turned back to finishing her meal quickly so they could get out of there and away from Courtney Corinthos.

Not long after, the two friends were walking together towards Elizabeth's apartment. Penny was describing the antics of the newest waitresses and talking about how she was enjoying her position as assistant manager despite the added responsibility. She talked about the regulars that Elizabeth knew and then announced that Mrs. Kibbler, mother of two-and-a-half-year-old twin terrors who trashed the diner on every visit while she sat back and did nothing was pregnant again. With twins. All the waitresses were fearing it. While Elizabeth had sympathy for her friend, she was extremely glad she wouldn't be there for the chaos that was sure to occur.

After they reached her apartment and Sean was fed and put down to sleep, Penny dropped the friendly chatter she'd kept up and got down to business. Handing a plate with a brownie on it over to Elizabeth, she curled her feet up on the couch and said, "Okay, what's going on?"

Elizabeth sighed and looked down at her brownie as she picked pieces off the edge. "It's Jason."

"What? What'd he do?" her friend demanded. "Did he do something to you or Sean?"

"No," she shook her head as she looked up in shock at her friend's agitated voice. "Nothing like that. It's...you remember how the nurse at the hospital thought he was the father?"

When Penny nodded, she continued. "That didn't bother me, it was a simple mistake. But a couple of weeks ago, the night before my job with Chloe started, he took me out to dinner. To celebrate my new job. We walked home through the park and some grandmother-type commented on what a cute family we were. Me, Sean, and my husband."

"So it was another mistake," Penny shrugged. When Elizabeth's cheek blushed light pink and she looked down again, the Filipino girl leaned forward. "Liz?"

"This is so stupid," she said as she abandoned her plate and raked her hands through her hair before standing.

Penny twisted on the couch to follow her as she paced. "What is? What?" She tipped her head to the side. "Do you like Jason?"

"Yes," Elizabeth admitted as she turned and dropped into the chair. "I do. I mean, you've seen him, the man is gorgeous. What's worse is he doesn't even realize or care how handsome he is. And it's not because he's handsome, or rich, but that he's so nice. He is genuinely such a wonderful man. He didn't have to do even half the things he'd done, but he has. Not because he pities the poor, single mom, but because he wants to. He drops by just to say hi, to see Sean, to see me."

"You're in love with him," Penny stated.

"I don't know," she shook her head. "But I'm a fair way to being so if I'm not already. I certainly have a crush on him."

Her friend just nodded quietly and looked at her. Sighing, Elizabeth leaned forward and buried her face in her hands, her elbows propped on her knees. "So now of course I feel all awkward around him. I don't want to fawn all over him, make him feel uncomfortable and lose him as my friend. Because I know that's all he'll ever be."

"Don't sell yourself short, Liz," Penny said. Elizabeth knew she trying to be encouraging and a friend.

But Elizabeth was a realist. "Come on, Pen. He is way out of my league and we both know it. Single mom-"

"You said his mom was a single parent."

"Ex-waitress who's now the assistant of his friend's cousin."

"I'm sure his mom worked in a restaurant among other jobs."

"A billionaire and a receptionist?" Elizabeth arched her brow. "That kind of thing only happens in movies and soap operas. Not real life. Certainly not my life."

"I still say you're selling yourself short, just like you did when you went to the interview with Chloe," Penny said. "People aren't defined by labels and if Jason is half as great as you've described him, he certainly won't care. I'll be honest; when you first told me that he was there when Sean was born I was skeptical. Sounded too good to be real, he'd take off or do something that would hurt you and Sean. But he's stuck around for a couple of months and after listening to you talk about him...he sounds like a down-to-earth guy who just happens to have money."

"So...you think..."

"I don't know what will happen, Liz," her friend said with a small shake of her head. "I don't know how he feels, but I don't think you should dismiss the whole notion just because of this perceived social gap. We aren't living in the dark ages."

"I know," Elizabeth said, feeling a bit silly, but not entirely confident or better. "I just can't help feeling that even if he liked me, how would I fit into his life? There is a gap; the gala he's at tonight is a perfect example. If I was there I'd be more comfortable with the wait staff, and I'm sure others would think so."

"But would his real friends think so?" Penny asked. "People like Chloe, Ned, Nikolas...the people you already know and are the people Jason hangs out with?

"It seems to me," her friend continued as she tipped her head to the side and regarded her with serious eyes, "that you're searching for excuses in order to convince yourself. You're trying to convince yourself he'd never fall for a woman like you, meaning a poor, single mother who's just an assistant, because what you're really afraid of is that after spending time with you and really getting to know you, that he just won't ever see you the way you do him or come to love you the same way."

Elizabeth groaned and dropped her head into her hands again. Her friend was absolutely correct. This wasn't entirely a class thing...Elizabeth was afraid that Jason would never see her as a woman he would want to date.

Jason pulled the dangling ends offending bowtie loose from his collar and tossed it on the back of the couch as he walked in his house. His jacket from the tuxedo followed next before he attacked the buttons and cufflinks on his shirt. It soon joined the jacket and tie and he felt like he could finally breathe as he stood in his undershirt and pants. The torturous evening was over and he could take off the stupid monkey suit, along with the ridiculously over-polished shoes, and just relax on his couch with a beer.

As expected, Tracy Quartermaine's fundraiser had been long, dull and exceptionally tedious. He went in memory of his mother, but he would have much rather just written a check and been done with it. Being with Ned, Chloe and Nikolas had helped, but the night had dragged. Tracy, in one of her perverse moods, had not allowed beer, not even over-priced imports or the ridiculously trendy micro-brews, and not even Ned had been able to wrangle any from the staff. Mrs. Quartermaine was apparently unhappy with Ned's date and the fact that he hadn't chosen one from the many socialites she'd presented to him and had set out to punish him.

Those charming women had then been unleashed on him when he showed up alone. He knew not bringing a date would make him a target, but he'd done it all the same. As ridiculous as it made him feel, he didn't want to take a date. He told himself it was because he really didn't know anyone; that he didn't want to ask someone to go with him and then have to deal with them thinking this was the start of a relationship. He was not the kind of man to hire an escort just so he could have a no strings companion for the evening, so he went by himself. He didn't mind showing up alone, he was more of a loner anyways and was made of stronger mettle than a frightened babe in the woods who had to have a date. Even as he told himself these things, though, he knew they weren't completely true.

He didn't take anyone because they wouldn't be Elizabeth. He was unable to stop thinking about the smart, beautiful, fun woman even though he knew they were just friends. If he took anyone else, he would be comparing them to her or thinking about her. Thinking about her - as he'd done a good portion of the evening, wishing she were there to help liven things up and make the night more bearable, and wondering what she and Sean were doing.

When the gala finally wound down and he was able to escape the event and Tracy's streak to have Jason Morgan, Billionaire at her party, he'd fled. Anxious to calm down and regain his equilibrium, he'd ordered the driver to merely drive around for a while. He'd nursed a glass of Johnny Walker and soon found himself directing the man down Elizabeth's street and telling him to stop the car across from her apartment building.

He didn't know how long he sat there, looking up at the warm, yellow squares of light spilling out from her apartment, but the driver never said anything. The man had been hired for tonight in case Jason overindulged in order to cope with the gala and the people attending. He knew, though, with the tip he gave the driver and the promise of repeat business for those times when Jason needed a chauffer, that the man wouldn't say anything. He was grateful for that because he didn't want people to talk. He wasn't ashamed of being drawn towards Elizabeth, but he didn't want word to get out that he'd sat on the street across from her building and make her embarrassed or uncomfortable.

She was a single mother doing everything she could to take care of her son after being abandoned by her boyfriend when he found out she was pregnant. Jason knew how hard dating was for his mother; guys sometimes ran when they heard about him, or they wanted to save her from her hard life and indebt her to them. To keep her. He didn't want to scare Elizabeth by revealing his feelings. She considered him a friend, and right now he figured that's what she needed most. She needed someone she felt comfortable around, someone she could talk to, someone she could trust. He didn't want to destroy what they had now by making her feel he was pressing for more because he'd been there when her son was born.

For her sake, he had to figure out how to act around her and not ruin what they already had. He had to find a way, because he knew it would hurt her and Sean if he started to avoid them. He refused to hurt either Elizabeth or her son, so he was just going to have to master this, to put aside his feelings. There really was no other choice.

Chapter 13

Elizabeth stepped outside her apartment building and knew instantly that her already bad day was going to get worse. And it wasn't even 9 AM yet. The thunderstorm that had settled in over the city last night had knocked out power to a square mile, and her apartment was right in the middle of it. The only reason she'd woken up at a semi-reasonable time considering she had no alarm clock was because Sean had begun crying. Her son was red, feverish and obviously miserable, and it wasn't just because of the messy diaper that soiled him, his pajamas and his crib.

This was Sean's first real illness and the new mother worry in her kicked into overdrive. She called Sean's doctor and got an appointment and then dialed Chloe to tell her she'd be late. Except the receptionist reminded her that Chloe wasn't there but in Milan for the week, and that was when Elizabeth remembered that she was supposed to fax Chloe some sketches and mock-ups this morning for a meeting the designer had later in the day. Elizabeth had then tried to explain everything to the receptionist so that she could get someone to send everything to their boss, but Sean got sick while she was on the phone and the instructions were hastily given while she was trying to clean up the mess before heading off for her second shower of the morning.

She was worried that she may not have clearly explained everything and that Chloe wouldn't receive what she needed. This was an important meeting and Chloe could lose a potentially big client if things went wrong. Elizabeth was her assistant, and so if things went south it would ultimately be her responsibility. She didn't think Chloe would fire her, or even really blame her when she heard what happened, but Elizabeth didn't want to let her boss down. Not after everything Chloe had done for her.

As she stepped onto the sidewalk with a dressed, but still crying, Sean strapped into his car seat, she grimaced as her foot went into a large puddle. The rain was coming nearly sideways because of the wind and she dropped the umbrella down over the seat to cover her son. It was more important that he stay dry and it didn't really matter if her top half became drenched, it would merely match her bottom half which was rapidly becoming soaked even if she was carrying an umbrella.

Her taxi was late and she couldn't wait any longer, so she was going to have to catch a bus and hope they weren't running as behind as the apologetic cab company. Pulling out her cell phone which Chloe had insisted she needed so she ended up with one paid for by the company, she scrolled through the stored numbers. Penny had a car because her parents had insisted she have one so she wasn't relying on buses coming home from school late in the evenings and when Elizabeth's ex had split, taking the car with him, she would drive Elizabeth to doctor's appointments if she had the time. Elizabeth sent up a volley of prayers that her friend was home and could come rescue them.

She heard the splash of a car as it approached behind her and she stepped slightly away from the curb. The last thing she needed was to be splashed by a car. Though at this point it probably wouldn't make that much of a difference with her, she didn't want Sean to get drenched.

"Please be there, please be there," she chanted as the phone rang in her ear. By the third ring she was disheartened, Penny usually answered by now if she was home. Her chanting took on a desperate pitch. "Please pick up, please pick up."

"Elizabeth?"

She looked down at the phone, wondering how Jason's voice had come out of it. Had she misdialed? She didn't want him to think she was using him and hope she hadn't called up the wrong person.

"Elizabeth?"

Penny's answering machine kicked on and echoed through her ear and she realized she hadn't dialed Jason. He was standing behind her, closely behind her given the hand that had just touched her arm. Slowly she turned around and came face to face with the worried countenance of a dripping Jason. His car was at the curb, the door partly open, probably letting water in on his leather seats and while she wondered what he was doing in her neighborhood, she was glad to see him.

"Jason."

He looked at the umbrella covered car seat where Sean's fevered cries could be heard and then up at her. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

"Sean's sick," she answered and he immediately crossed to the car and opened the back door. "My cab didn't show up and I've got to get him to the doctor and then get to work because I have to fax-"

"Come on," he said as he reached for her son. "Get in while I strap in his seat and I'll take you there."

She was so relieved she nearly cried, but she kept her composure and managed to choke out a deeply heartfelt, "Thank you."

Jason sat in Ned's office, trying to avoid his friend's smirk, gently rubbing Sean's back as he tried to coax the little boy to go to sleep. The infant has a massive ear and sinus infection and had been prescribed antibiotics by his doctor. Because he was contagious, he couldn't go to the daycare Chloe had used as a big selling point for Elizabeth to take the job. So Jason had volunteered to help out and watch her son while Elizabeth took care of faxing some sketches and proposals to Chloe in Italy. Since the harried mother was distracted by Sean's tired and feverish cries, Jason had gone next door to L&B so she could work.

"You want to try laying him down?" Ned asked, gesturing to the blanket on top of the diaper bag Jason had slipped from Elizabeth's shoulder as he walked with Sean.

Shaking his head he replied, "He's too miserable to be put down. He screamed unless Elizabeth or I was holding him at the doctor's office."

Ned nodded in understanding. "Sick babies usually want to be held."

"He's definitely clingier," he agreed. "Elizabeth called it cuddly."

Ned let out a bark of laughter that startled the little boy, causing him to cry harder. When Jason shot him a glare, he looked apologetic, yet quietly laughed.

"Sorry," he grinned. "It's just a side of you I never really thought I'd see."

"What?" Jason growled, his equilibrium feeling off because Ned's grins seemed a little too knowing, a little too close to the truth he was trying to hide.

"You seem so paternal," Ned waggled his eyebrows. "So comfortable and at ease with Sean and Elizabeth."

Jason looked down, smoothing his hand over Sean's back. The little boy was finally quieting and his eyelids were drooping. Hopefully the Tylenol, combined with the antibiotic, would help him get a good nap.

"So how exactly did you end up coming to her rescue?" his friend asked as he leaned forward in his chair.

"Right place, right time," Jason answered and hoped that would satisfy.

Of course it didn't. Ned arched a suspicious and disbelieving brow. "Uh-huh. You just happened to be driving down her street...on a day when it was raining. Jason..."

Standing carefully so he wouldn't wake up Sean who had drifted off to sleep at last, he walked over to the window. His friend was going to persist in these questions and he hoped they might be easier to answer if he wasn't looking at the older man.

"Do you often just happen to be driving down her street?" Ned asked, his voice still a little teasing, but clearly curious.

"Sometimes," Jason admitted softly. "Have you seen where she lives? It's a bad neighborhood, and she doesn't have a car so she mostly takes the bus. Today Sean was sick, her cab didn't come, she was walking to the bus stop in the rain..."

"I would have stopped as well," his friend said, his tone in complete agreement.

"I'll be so glad when she moves out of that place," Jason said earnestly.

"She found a new apartment?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Last week. She moves at the end of the month. I was going to see if she needed any help."

"Let me know," Ned told him. "Do you know what her plans are for a car? Chloe hates that she doesn't have one."

"She wants to pay on her hospital bill a bit, and then save up for a down payment." He shook his head, knowing Elizabeth's nature well enough to say, "but she'll try to make due for as long as she can until she feels she can afford payments and insurance and not constantly be pinched for money. The apartment she got is on a bus line that's a direct shot to work."

His friend was silent for a moment, and then ventured, "You seem to know her pretty well. Know how she thinks and what she'll do with her financial plan; know where she's moving, when she leaves for work... You seem to know an awful lot about someone who's just your friend."

Jason kept his gaze focused out the window, watching the cars splash past in the rain-formed puddles. He knew what Ned was getting at, hoping to get him to confess to, but he wasn't going to get rattled and give in easily. He knew his friend well enough to know that Ned wouldn't directly come out and ask how he felt about Elizabeth; he'd just tease and hint around at it, wink and give sly innuendo, but he'd never directly ask. It was just the way Ned was.

Jason didn't want to answer these questions, because it was nobody's business. He wasn't going to play out his relationship with Elizabeth to his friends. Whatever his feelings for her, whatever happened between them, it would be solely their business and no one else's. So Ned could make all the insinuations and hints he wanted, but he wasn't going to dignify them and speak.

"Jason?"

He turned towards the door where Elizabeth stood. Her hair had dried in waves around her face after getting wet that morning and he liked the softer look he'd never seen before. She looked at Sean asleep against his shoulder and her eyes softened with love, relief and concern.

"Hey," he smiled as he took a step towards her. "Did you get everything to Chloe on time?"

She nodded. "Yeah. The others could have handled it, but I felt I needed to be here. She told me to go home now that I'm done so that I can take care of Sean."

Jason never doubted Chloe would say anything different. She was a mother and she would understand Elizabeth's worry and desire to take care of her son. Jason walked towards the baby carrier so he could strap the little boy in and looked over at Elizabeth as she belatedly moved towards them and the diaper bag. "I'll take you guys home."

"Thank you," she smiled at him. "I appreciate it. And thanks for this morning. Let me make you dinner to say thanks."

An evening alone, having a cozy little dinner with Elizabeth and her son. He wasn't sure that was a good idea. "That isn't necessary, Elizabeth. I was happy to help out."

"I'd like to," she looked up at him with wide, imploring eyes. "I want to."

He could never resist her, and even though he sensed he was going to regret this, he nodded and said, "Sure. That'd be nice."

"I'd like to."

Foolish thing to say. Foolish emotion; foolish desire.

"I want to."

Why had she pushed? Why had she pressed him to come to dinner? Clearly, he hadn't helped her that morning because he expected something from her, not even her thanks. As he'd told her on the drive back to her apartment, it was just a friend helping a friend. That's what they were; that's all they were. Friends.

He'd tried to bow out gracefully, to let her down gently without hurting her feelings. And she'd missed it completely.

"That isn't necessary, Elizabeth."

She was so stupid. And apparently she was also painfully transparent. She'd thought she was concealing it well, she thought nobody could tell she had a crush - and more - on Jason Morgan. Apparently not. She must have been so pathetic with her big puppy eyes and out-of-her-league fantasies. Standing in her bedroom where she'd retreated to change out of her still damp clothes she felt mortified.

She wondered how many times Jason had been subjected to crushes by poor women, and she was embarrassed she'd become one of the masses. He was probably so uncomfortable, here only because he didn't want to hurt her feelings and unable to think of an excuse. When she thought about it, she should have realized and caught the signals he'd been sending out. Ever since that night in the park he'd been more subdued around her, guarded and less open. He also hadn't been around as much, almost as if he was avoiding her.

With a mortified, yet resigned, sigh, she pulled her hair out from the collar of her shirt and mentally stiffened her spine. She was not going to humiliate either one of them by throwing herself at Jason or hoping for what couldn't be. She would go out there, fix her friend dinner and do her best to show she wasn't affected at all by his presence. It would be like she was fixing dinner for Penny or any other of her friends.

She wouldn't indulge in fantasies that it was a quiet, more intimate, more familial dinner. Jason was a friend; nothing more. And when the dinner was over, she would just have to figure out how to excise Jason from her heart without losing him completely from her life. And if that couldn't be accomplished, then it was better that their connection was severed before Sean was affected by Jason's absence from his life.

Chapter 14

There was no mistaking the fact that Elizabeth Webber was avoiding him. He thought she'd acted a little strange the night she made him dinner, but he'd attributed it to the cold she came down with the next day as a result of getting thoroughly soaked in the rain. But after she got better, he began to see less of her. And when he did, she was guarded in her behavior towards him. She didn't smile as brightly, she didn't tease him as freely, and she avoided places she knew he was going to be as often as she could without seeming completely rude.

His big fear had happened. Elizabeth realized he had feelings for her beyond friendship, she didn't return them, and now she was avoiding him. He hadn't been able to conceal his feelings and he'd made her uncomfortable. Great.

The worst part of it all was that while Ned hadn't voiced his suspicions directly to Jason, he apparently had shared them with Chloe and Nikolas. When he saw his three friends and one of them would happen to mention the petite brunette in the conversation, they would glance at each other and then at him before quickly looking away and acting like nothing had happened. On the few occasions that he and Elizabeth met in the company of his friends they would bounce their gazes between him and Elizabeth like spectators at a tennis match. It was annoying and it only served to increase the tension between everyone.

He wasn't sure what to do in regards to Elizabeth, but he hoped to get some clarity, or at least some control, on his trip. There was a client in England he was going to meet and Jason thought about even extending the trip into a short vacation just to give him some time. After all, he was the president and CEO of the company, he didn't actually have to go over and personally meet this client, he was doing it as a distraction. And if he was going to seek distractions, he may as well stretch out the time and see some places more exciting, and hopefully more stimulating, than the inside of a boardroom.

Yet, somehow, even as he was making these plans he sensed they'd be futile. The places he thought of going to were all places he thought Elizabeth would enjoy. Art museums in England and Europe and other activities he imagined she would appreciate and be enthused at. He was planning things that would only make him remember her instead of forgetting about her or at least deal with her memory better. But he suspected that no matter where he went or what he did he would always think about sharing it with Elizabeth. Only time would help him, and distance; so it was best to start the process soon.

He wouldn't leave without telling her was going, though. He felt it owed it to her out of respect for their friendship, even though he knew it was going to be torture to see her. That was why he'd left his farewell until the day he was leaving, and on his way to the airport. One stop, three good-byes, then straight to his private jet. Maybe it was cowardly, but self-preservation dictated certain actions sometimes.

Chloe frowned at Ned as Elizabeth put the files and swatches on her desk and said goodnight. The young woman was everything she could have wanted and Chloe thanked whatever quirk of fate had brought them together. She was smart, efficient and creative; Chloe thought that one day, with some training, Elizabeth could join the ranks of her designers. Chloe believed that deeply in her employee.

But Chloe wasn't thinking as an employer right now, she was viewing the woman walking out of her office with the eyes of a friend. Her friend, while still being attentive and efficient was not the same as she'd been a couple of weeks ago. Elizabeth tried to hide it, but she wasn't as happy as she'd been. And it had all changed the day Jason stopped by to say good-bye on his way to England.

Elizabeth had tried to hide it, but the moment she heard Jason was leaving with no idea when he'd return, she had been disappointed. Chloe had watched the two of them, and had seen what they were too scared and blind to realize. They liked each other, had feelings that went beyond friendship and were protecting themselves. Jason's trip to Europe was his way of removing himself from the situation, in an attempt to protect himself maybe. She really didn't know Jason that well, she didn't know what was typical and atypical behavior for him, and she'd certainly never seen him interested in a woman. All she could do was guess as she talked to her husband and her cousin.

Mostly Chloe felt for the young woman who wasn't quite capable of fully concealing her disappointment and depression. Elizabeth did her job, Chloe certainly didn't have any complaints on that account, but the younger woman didn't have the enthusiasm she used to. She claimed that Sean was having a couple of rough nights on top of her staying up late to pack and clean her apartment and she was merely tired. It was all plausible and believable, but Chloe sensed it was more. It had to do with a certain motorcycle riding CEO who had taken off to Europe.

"Have you heard from him?"

She knew she didn't have to clarify herself, her cousin would know exactly who she was talking about. Ned was silent before finally letting out a disappointed, "Not for a week."

Frowning, she glared down at her desk. Jason had told them all, but especially Elizabeth, on the day that he left that he would stay in touch. Elizabeth had a nice stack of postcards on her desk from Jason, all with a few lines printed on them. The messages were short, impersonal, and Elizabeth would sigh when a new one arrived with the work mail. Yet, she would keep them, in the order of their arrival, and she would sometimes come to work with a book from the library on the region where Jason had been. If a few postcards was Jason's idea of keeping in touch - Hope you're doing well. or Say hi to Sean. - then Chloe thought it sucked.

"So I guess it's safe to say that he won't be helping her move this weekend."

Her cousin looked away, but the shrug of his shoulders said it all. Jason had told Elizabeth he was going to help when she got out of her old apartment and the bad neighborhood he complained about. Guess that promise was going to go by the wayside as well. She really thought that Jason was a man of his word, her cousin had always spoken highly of him and she had always been impressed by him, which was why she couldn't understand what was going on.

He wasn't the kind of man to deliberately try to hurt others, so she didn't think he was intentionally snubbing Elizabeth. But Chloe couldn't deny that her assistant, and friend, was hurting. Because of Jason.

"Right," she snipped, knowing Ned wouldn't disparage his friend, and really wanting to find Jason so she could smack him.

"I talked with Nikolas this morning," Ned told her. "We're going to help her. He'll get one of the trucks from the warehouse and see if a couple of the guys can help out. I'll let Elizabeth know and ask what time she wants us there."

Chloe smiled gratefully at her cousin and knew she'd be thanking her husband profusely tonight. It was nice to know that they were willing to look out for Elizabeth and help her, even without having to ask them to. "Thank you, Ned."

He shrugged. "It's the least we can do."

"I'll offer to watch Sean so that she doesn't have to worry about taking care of him while she's trying to move."

Ned just nodded and stood, saying goodnight on his way out the door. Jason was off in Europe for who knew what reason, Elizabeth was hurt but hiding it, and Chloe felt useless and unable to do anything. This whole situation, she surmised, pretty much sucked.

Men sucked. There was no sugarcoating the situation or beating about the bush; men were stupid and they sucked. Elizabeth knew that only too well. Sean's father? The less said about him, the better. The only good thing he did was give her Sean. Despite the rough times she would never give up her son or wish she didn't have him. And then there was the current subject of stupidity, Jason Morgan.

So the man didn't return her feelings; she'd had that happen before. Sure it hurt a little, and it was a lot more embarrassing when the guy realized the situation and tried to let her down gently, but she'd never chased a guy out of town and made him flee to another continent. Sean's father split town because he didn't want to give up his free-living, happy-go-lucky, child-free existence in exchange for diapers, formula and responsibility. It's hard to think about a child when one is too busy living like a frat boy. Elizabeth had no delusions over the fact that while it was tough, she and Sean were probably better off without him. She understood why he split; it was the fear of settling down, not because he didn't like Elizabeth.

Not so with Jason. Elizabeth had never pegged him as the kind of man to flee from a situation. But apparently the realization that she had feelings for him sent him running. Did he think she was going to throw herself at him in an attempt to secure a good life for her and Sean? Did he think she'd try to seduce him and get pregnant in order to trap him? She didn't know what he thought, and frankly she wasn't even going to try to guess. Apparently he understood her, admired her and could encourage her because of her single mom status, but he wasn't going to get too close.

Fine, she could - and would - deal with that. But she would never make the mistake of thinking that Jason was her friend. She wasn't stupid enough to fall for that again. If Jason Morgan wanted to avoid her and her son she certainly wasn't going to stalk him and throw herself in his path. They might see each other occasionally because of Chloe, but she doubted he'd just be dropping by her apartment anymore. And that was fine, because Sean wouldn't come to depend on him. Her son had probably already forgotten Jason by now, or was well on his way to forgetting him, and that was for the best.

So what that Jason showed up with Ned the weekend she moved saying he was keeping his word? When she saw him, all the sadness she'd felt in the time he was gone had evaporated away. He stood there looking disinterested and put out and anger had begun to fill her. She honestly wished he'd stayed in Europe, that he hadn't bothered himself to come. Their meeting had been good for at least one thing; it had cured her of pining away for Jason Morgan. He barely spoke to her, didn't ask about Sean aside from wondering where he was, and he left before the pizza she ordered as a thank you payment to the men for their help arrived. Message received loud and clear.

This worked out well for Elizabeth, actually. Anger helped her from longing after Jason, or missing him, or fantasizing about the fairytale day he would see her as a romantic interest instead of just a friend, or even worse a pity case. Anger had been her friend these last three weeks since Jason had returned and then avoided her company. Of course to actually be avoiding her he would need to be in town for longer than a day before taking off on another business trip. Anger was her friend, because anger kept her from hurting.

Yeah, and maybe nobody would laugh if Courtney wore white at her third wedding. Penny was right when she said that no matter how much Elizabeth tried to convince herself she wasn't affected, she was. And more than that, she was miserable. She missed Jason, she missed being able to see him, and talk to him. But, she figured she had nobody to blame but herself. It wasn't Jason's fault he didn't feel the same way about her, and it certainly wasn't his fault she was unable to conceal her feelings thereby making him uncomfortable.

Well, there wasn't much she could do about Jason, but she could focus on herself. She was getting tired of moping around alternating between hurt and embarrassment. She was tired of Penny's sympathy, even though her friend was a supportive ear and only meant well. Most of all, she was tired of the searching looks from Chloe and Ned. They seemed to stop talking about Jason when she walked into the room, or they cast quick, nervous glances her way if they did. She was simply tired of it all, and she was determined to put this all behind her and get on with her life.

So, instead of sitting inside moping, she was going to get out and get involved with other things. Maybe if she pursued other interests outside of work, met other people who didn't know and wouldn't talk about Jason Morgan, then maybe she could work on putting this phase of her life behind her. New interests, that's what she needed.

To that end, she'd asked Penny to watch Sean for the afternoon so she could go to the latest exhibition at the Port Charles Museum of Art. Penny was only too happy to take him to the park so that she could just happen to run into the T.A. she was interested in. She'd overheard him after class one day talking to some friends about meeting there for some pick-up soccer.

Elizabeth stood in the short line to purchase her ticket and bounced slightly on the balls of her feet. Her favorite painter, a day spent around adults - especially ones who wouldn't talk about Jason Morgan - and her son off with his favorite babysitter; it was promising to be a good day. As she turned from the cashier, tucking her change into her wallet, she sensed another person's presence and looked up while slowing to avoid a collision. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth for a moment as she stared at the handsome, dark-featured man who smiled down at her. He looked like he could be one of the male models Chloe employed for her shows, but his demeanor was completely unaffected, reachable instead of standoffish. It was hard to explain, but she didn't feel nervous or uneasy as he looked at her, even though she'd nearly run into him.

"Excuse me," she murmured, taking a step back so she could go around him.

"No problem," he smiled and her first thought was a smile like that should be illegal. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

Elizabeth shook her head at the apology, and was about to step away when she impulsively turned back to and said, "Enjoy the exhibit."

"You too," he told her and she had to bite her tongue. Knowing he was going to be in the same building should certainly go a long way to increasing her enjoyment of the day.

Chapter 15

On Monday morning, Elizabeth nearly floated into work. Chloe saw her assistant come into the office, in good spirits and a serene smile, and she knew that something had happened to Elizabeth. Something good. The quiet, withdrawn woman who couldn't wait to escape on Friday blew into work like a spring breeze after a long winter. She laughed at Sean's coos and giggles towards her co-workers as she took him to the daycare, and then she bustled to her desk full of energy.

Elizabeth seemed refreshed, revived and certainly no longer depressed. Chloe was glad to see it after watching the younger woman she'd come to regard as a friend mope around the office in dismal spirits for weeks. Maybe things were finally looking up for the brunette. Chloe's eyes widened as a thought came to her; maybe Jason had come home. Maybe they'd run into each other and that was the reason for Elizabeth's good mood.

Maybe by the time her dinner party rolled around on Friday - which Jason had promised to be at after speaking to Nikolas over the weekend - they would be well on their way to realizing what everyone else had. They were not only crazy about each other, but they would be perfect together. Maybe Jason and Elizabeth had worked things out on their own and the parties and run ins that Chloe had engineered, but hadn't gotten a chance to implement yet, because she'd grown tired of watching the two of them be stupid and depressed would no longer be needed. Maybe Nikolas and Ned had been right when they told her to let Jason and Elizabeth work this out on their own and not interfere.

But she never would know if she just sat there speculating about it, so with a smile she greeted Elizabeth when the younger woman entered her office. "Good morning, Elizabeth."

"Good morning, Chloe," Elizabeth said brightly. "How was your weekend?"

"Somehow I'm guessing it wasn't as good as yours," she grinned at her assistant.

The younger woman's grin turned a bit sheepish, momentarily ducking her head, before squaring her shoulders and raising her gaze to meet her boss'. Tucking her hair behind her ear she fairly burst forth with, "I went to the newest exhibit at the Museum of Art yesterday."

"Oh?" Chloe knew Elizabeth had been interested in seeing it and was glad that she'd gotten a chance to do so. Struck with a little disappointment that the younger woman's good mood didn't seem attributable to Jason, she nevertheless rallied quickly. "Nikolas and I were thinking about seeing it, we'd love to hear your impressions on it. We're having some friends over for dinner Friday; do you think you could come? You could tell us about it that evening."

Instantly the younger woman became guarded, losing a bit of her brightness. "Thank you, but I...I already have plans."

"Oh," she faltered slightly. She hadn't figured Elizabeth's plans into her own. "With your friend who stopped by last week? Penny, wasn't it? She seems nice, always friendly when I stop in at Kelly's. You could invite her over as well."

"Thank you," Elizabeth replied, her voice a bit hesitant. She was eyeing Chloe a bit warily, probably wondering why her boss seemed so desperate to have her come over. Chloe told herself to calm down or Elizabeth's growing suspicions were probably going to leap to the conclusion that Jason would be there; if she hadn't already thought it, that is.

"But they're with someone else," Elizabeth said ever so haltingly, not looking directly at the blonde woman. "I actually met him at the museum yesterday. He invited me out to dinner Friday."

"Him?" she asked, trying not to sound disappointed or disbelieving.

"His name is Jagger. We bumped into each other on our way into the museum and after running into each other a couple of more times in different rooms we just started talking and ended up going through the rest of the exhibit together."

Chloe could see that this was the reason Elizabeth had come into work in high spirits. A guy. Named Jagger. Great. Just when Chloe had decided that she was going to be a nosy, meddling woman as Ned and Nikolas had accused her of plotting to be and had tried to dissuade her from becoming because she was tired of watching Jason and Elizabeth looking miserable, Elizabeth met someone. Whether Elizabeth was doing a rebound or really liked the guy - even if she'd only met him the day before - she seemed happy. Happier than she'd been in the weeks after Jason left and had been avoiding her.

What was she supposed to do now?

"You'll be happy to know that you don't have to worry about Chloe's dinner this Friday."

"She canceled it?" Jason asked guardedly.

Ned shook his head, watching his friend carefully. After Chloe had told him about Elizabeth's date Ned knew that things were about to get complicated and possibly even ugly. But he also felt he needed to let Jason know which was why he'd stopped by Wednesday night despite the other man having only returned home earlier that evening.

"No," he said, deciding to simply lay it out. Jason would prefer bluntness and honesty instead of euphemisms and games. "Elizabeth won't be there."

Jason didn't make any big, outward reaction, but Ned still saw signs. His jaw tightened slightly and the blond stilled even more, something that didn't really seem possible. Then calmly, but with an over-deliberation that betrayed his unease he asked, "Oh? Is...is everything okay with her? With Sean?"

"They're fine," Ned assured him. Jason was obvious because Ned knew him, but the record executive respected his friend's privacy so he didn't laugh, and he didn't push. He just explained out the facts. "She already had plans when Chloe asked her. She, ah...has a date."

Jason took a slow, measured, deliberate breath and Ned felt bad for his friend. But he also believed that if Jason wasn't going to act on his obvious attraction to Elizabeth, then there was no reason for her to sit around like a nun. If someone showed an interest in her and asked her out, then why shouldn't she go? Maybe Chloe was wrong about the other woman's interest in Jason, or maybe she'd been discouraged by his friend's avoidance of her. Ned didn't believe Elizabeth had accepted the date simply to make Jason jealous, that didn't fit at all with what Ned had come to believe and understand about the younger woman, so he wasn't going to condemn her just because the younger man now seemed unhappy at the news.

"Oh, well...good for her," Jason said, not bitter, just slightly off. He stood and looked like he would have left the room altogether except for remembering he was in his own house. So he covered by walking over to the window and giving an exaggerated yawn.

Ned decided to spare him any embarrassment and stood as well. "I know you're probably tired from your trip and want to unpack, so I'll get out of your way."

"Yeah, okay," his friend, turning away from the window and walking towards the door to show him out. "Thanks for coming over."

"I'm glad you're back, Jason," Ned told him. Maybe it was wrong to say, but he gave one last statement before he left; "You've been away for a long time."

Maybe too long.

Elizabeth had a date. As Jason sat in his car down the block from her new apartment, he scowled as he watched the building's door. He couldn't believe he had reduced himself to spying on her, yet even as he'd left to go to Chloe's dinner he couldn't stop himself from driving to Elizabeth's. He didn't begrudge her accepting a date and he knew he shouldn't sit here and wait to see her; yet here he was.

He watched people come and go and with every man that approached the building he wondered if it was Elizabeth's date. His chest tightened when he saw her finally emerge with a tall, well dressed, dark-haired man. She was beautiful, dressed in a simple black cocktail dress that only added to her beauty because of its simplicity. She didn't need fancy clothes or jewels to make her beautiful; she had it because of the class and grace she possessed. It was one of the things he admired about her; one of the qualities that drew him to her. And it burned in Jason's gut to watch her like that while she was with someone else.

As much as he was jealous, in the privacy of his car he could admit it, he wasn't angry at Elizabeth. His anger and recriminations were directed at himself. He was the one who hadn't trusted his emotions, and had left town to escape. He didn't blame her that she didn't reciprocate his feelings, and he especially couldn't - and didn't - blame her for finding someone she did want to date. If she found someone who could make her happy, then he certainly wasn't going to intrude on it.

He just didn't know how he was supposed to live in Port Charles and encounter her. He had a business to run, a business that he had just relocated, and he couldn't abandon it because of his personal life. He had worked hard to get where he was, and most of all he had people in his employ who were dependant on him for their livelihood. He had a responsibility to them and his customers that couldn't be abandoned just because his personal life had fallen into a bit of a shamble.

His mom had never given up or run away from life simply because it was difficult. She had raised him to be the same way and it was time he remembered that. So life hadn't turned out the way he thought it would, or hoped it would; it was time to stop running away like a wounded pup. It was also time to stop pining for Elizabeth.

Starting his car, he put it in gear and drove towards Chloe's house. He wasn't going to follow Elizabeth on her date, he wasn't going to investigate this Jagger person, he was going to let Elizabeth live her own life. And he was going to live his. That was simply the way it was going to have to be.

Elizabeth stood next to Jagger as he gave his name to the maitre 'D and tried not to look like a wide-eyed child in a toy store at Christmas. She had never been to Le Papillon, and she'd never in her life thought she would. While places like the PC Grille and The No Name had once been beyond her reach, they were still accessible to anyone who could save the money for a hundred dollar dinner for two. But Le Papillon was beyond that. They most certainly did not accept just everyone, even if a person tried to make a reservation; they were very particular about their clientele.

And she was sitting at one of their tables. She could hardly believe it, and yet every time she pinched the inside of her wrist under the linen table cloth she was still there and Jagger was still sitting across from her. It was hard to convince herself this wasn't a dream because people like her just didn't end up in places like this.

"Are you alright?" Jagger asked, leaning forward with a look of concern.

"I'm fine," she said, trying to affect a calm smile. "I guess I'm just a little nervous."

"About me or this place?" he smiled disarmingly.

"A little of both," was all she would confess to.

"Well, I know that trying to reassure you about me might be difficult," he flashed her a smooth grin, "because you'd just think I'm merely trying to paint myself in the best light. But hopefully I can put your mind at ease about the restaurant."

He waited for the waiter to place their salads on the table and then Jagger cast an appraising eye around the room. "The key to any situation is to act like you belong, that you're not intimidated."

She rolled her eyes at his simple words. "That's easy for you to say. You have the money that guarantees they'll accept you."

"I didn't always," he shrugged dismissively. "And when I did have it, there were still people who looked down on me because I earned it instead of inheriting it. Some people still do, even all these years later. The trick is to ignore those people because they might in time tolerate you, but never really accept you. People like that simply don't matter, no matter how much they think they do. What matters most is the people who do accept you and are your friends. They're the ones who knows about you, where you came from, what problems you have and don't care."

Elizabeth thought immediately of Penny, but then she also thought of Chloe, Nikolas, Ned and especially Jason. Penny, she knew, was her friend always because of their similar, poor, circumstances. But the others were rich, they were well-known, respected and each were influential in their fields, and they had accepted her. They didn't look down on her because she was a waitress turned assistant or a single mother. They didn't treat her with pity, or contempt like some people did, in fact none of them seemed to like the snobs of the city like Carly and Courtney Corinthos, or even Tracy Quartermaine despite her being Ned's mother. So if they didn't like the people who didn't like her, then why did she care so much about people like Carly or Tracy?

Maybe Jagger was right; maybe she should stop worrying about what others might think about her. What did they matter compared to the opinion of people that she respected? Chloe didn't look down on her, she didn't treat her any differently than she would a Hollywood star, Ned didn't, and neither did...Jason. Maybe it wasn't so much a question of her not fitting into his life; he wouldn't care if people thought she didn't belong in his world. She knew he didn't like that social life; he was more comfortable in small groups and dinner at Kelly's. No, that wasn't her problem, the reason she would never be with Jason was because he was nothing more than a friend who was avoiding her because he saw she had feelings for him that he didn't return.

That was why she was out with Jagger tonight instead of asking him to reschedule so she could attend Chloe's dinner. It was time to get on with her life, make plans, meet new people, do something besides sitting around pining over Jason Morgan. And because it wasn't fair to be thinking of someone else and not pay attention to the person she was with, she forced herself to put Jason Morgan out of her mind and pay attention to Jagger Cates, the man she was having dinner with.

Chapter 16

Ned walked towards Chloe's office and raised a brow when he didn't see anybody in the outer office. Maybe Chloe and Elizabeth were out in the shop somewhere; it wasn't five yet so he figured his cousin and her assistant were around here somewhere. Habit made him knock on her door all the same, and he was surprised to hear her call out for him to come in.

"Hey," he puzzled as he hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "I didn't think you'd be in here since Elizabeth wasn't at her desk."

"She's gone for the day," Chloe explained brightly as she waved him in. "Worked through lunch so she could leave early; she has plans with Jagger."

"Oh." Of course she had plans with Jagger. She always seemed to have plans with Jagger. And when she didn't, she was painting because Jagger had encouraged her not to abandon her love of art just because she was a mother.

Ned really wanted to hate the man, just on sheer principle because Jason was so miserable. Even though he'd never met the new man in Elizabeth's life, Ned wanted to think the worst of him. But he couldn't. Because Jagger Cates certainly hadn't stolen the petite brunette away from Jason; Jason had never expressed an interest in her despite being nothing but interested in her. And most of all, Ned found it hard to hate someone who made Elizabeth smile the way she had been for the past two weeks. She was happy, she was enthusiastic, she seemed to have a new level of confidence surrounding her; how could Ned hate the person responsible for that?

But because of his loyalty to Jason and his sensitivity to his friend's feelings - even if he didn't talk about them - Ned didn't say much when the subject of Jagger came up. Chloe didn't say much either, because it would only provoke an argument. She was still mad at Jason for waiting too long, for taking off to Europe like a coward and for making her assistant and friend miserable. Chloe was firmly in Jagger's camp and that was just too bad for Jason.

"Dinner again?" he asked. Not out of spite but in an effort to spare Jason the unfortunate situation he once found himself in of showing up at the same restaurant Elizabeth was at with Jagger.

"I'm not sure," Chloe frowned. "I think she mentioned something about going over her portfolio with him. Elizabeth left yesterday as well to work on it."

Ned nodded, and decided that just to be safe he'd suggest his friend eat in tonight. It would just be safer for everybody that way.

"They look wonderful, Elizabeth."

She blushed and twisted her fingers together, both embarrassed and pleased at the compliment. Her paintings had always been her secret passion. Sean's father had never understood her art, or liked the time that it took her away from him. When she was pregnant she really couldn't paint, and she was simply too busy after her son was born to think much about it. So for Jagger to encourage her, and compliment her work still unsettled her a bit. She wasn't used to such support.

"Thank you," she murmured.

He closed the portfolio and smiled. "You have a lot of talent and I think you could really go places. I liked the clothing sketches as well."

"What?" she gasped. Grabbing the case she flipped the pages until she reached the sketches he was talking about. She pulled them out and set them to the side on the table. "These are for work. Not part of my portfolio. I guess I got them mixed up when I was working on them earlier."

"Are you branching into design?" he asked with clear curiosity.

"I was doodling one day while Chloe was on the phone," she said, playing it off. "Just absent-minded sketches and she saw them later on. She asked if I was interested in fashion design and then she suggested I do a couple of sketches to show her my ideas."

"Well, I think you have some good potential," he said. "But I'll let your boss talk about them; I'll talk about your art sketches. I like your landscapes, but what really caught my eye was your portrait of father and son sleeping."

Jagger took the portfolio back to flip open to the page, but Elizabeth didn't need to see it. She had it burned into her memory. It wasn't of a father and son, though; it was a painting she'd done from memory of the day she came out and found Sean and Jason asleep on the couch.

All that could be seen of Sean was a slight profile of his nose, his closed eye, just the hint of his lips parted in sleep. Mostly the back of his head with wisps of soft, fine baby hair stood out. Sections of his body could be seen, but the majority of him was covered by Jason's broad hands as he held her son securely to his chest, protecting him from falling off while they slumbered. She had blurred Jason's face, just enough detail to show he was a man and asleep, but not enough to distinguish his identity. She'd focused on the warm, safe embrace the father held the son in. She had poured all the love she had for both of them into the painting and she had loved the way it turned out.

"It has a lot of tenderness," he said, picking up the picture and turning it, holding it as it would hang on the wall. "It's very life-like even if the features are blurred."

She traced her eyes over Jason's face; she could see his features clear and distinctively because she had them long-memorized. But that wasn't something she planned to tell Jagger. It wasn't something she planned to tell anyone. That was too personal, would be too direct of a link to her soul and she couldn't risk the exposure or the ridicule. She had painted her deepest desire, Jason as a father to Sean; she knew people would laugh at her foolishness.

"Did you paint it from a model, or just a general idea?"

"Just a general idea," Elizabeth lied.

"You know," he mused, continuing to study the photograph of her painting. "You could make a series. Father and Child."

Immediately her mind flew to more moments between her son and Jason and her heart both swelled and shattered. She was building up a life in her head, and on canvas, that didn't really exist. That would never exist. Just because Jagger liked the idea and was encouraging her didn't mean it was the smartest thing to do.

"I don't know," she hedged. "I'll have to think about it."

"Alright," he nodded. "In the meantime, I'll take your portfolio with me. There are several people I want to show it to in San Francisco."

She gathered her purse and got ready to leave," Okay. Have a good trip."

"Thanks," Jagger smiled. "Don't forget your sketches to show your boss. I hope she likes them."

"Me too," she grinned somewhat nervously. Then she left and went to go home and relieve her babysitter.

"Hey, Elizabeth," Chloe smiled tiredly as she came back into the office. Meetings with bankers were so tedious. "Any messages?"

"Some man called and asked you to run away to Paris with him and have his love child," Elizabeth dead-panned. "But when I told him you weren't here he said you missed your window of opportunity and he was going to call someone else."

She laughed as she collapsed into her desk chair and slipped off her high heels. "I'll call Nikolas back later."

Her assistant nodded and sat down across from the desk, arranging some papers. "He said he might get done early so he can pick up Timothy if you have to stay late."

She looked down at her desk and the many things she needed to get accomplished and frowned. "Yeah, that may be a good idea. I've got to get some stuff ready to go out in FedEx and after I make that deadline I still have things that need to be done."

"I can stay," Elizabeth immediately volunteered. "Help out so it doesn't take so long. It's my job after all."

The last part was said with an arch smile and Chloe knew Elizabeth was eager and completely willing to stay late, no matter how long it took. "Are you sure?" she asked. "You don't have plans with Jagger, do you?"

"No," the brunette shook her head. "He had to fly back to California today."

Chloe was disappointed for the younger woman, even though she didn't seem to be. "Hey, maybe Nikolas could take Sean home with him as well," she offered. "That way he's not the lone child in daycare and the ladies can go home."

Elizabeth seemed surprised, but said, "Are you sure Nikolas won't mind you volunteering him?"

Chloe shook her head. "Not at all. He loves Sean. Plus maybe he'll understand better why I want to wait until Timothy is a little older before trying for a brother or sister if he has to deal with both of them by himself."

"Ah," her friend smiled. "Then by all means, let Nikolas take Sean with him."

"Thanks," she grinned. "I'll just call him and then we can get to work."

Three hours later Chloe dropped her pencil onto her desk and stretched her hands over her head. "That's it; no more for tonight."

Elizabeth rubbed her neck and then stood and began gathering files and sample books to put away.

"Thank you," she told the brunette. "I appreciate you staying late."

"Not a problem," her assistant smiled wearily. "You've been great about letting me leave a little early so I could paint; if I hadn't stayed you would have been here even longer."

"No," Chloe shook her head truthfully. "I would have given up along ago and gone home."

"Right," Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "No need to stay long so that Nikolas gets double dad duty. Think he's been alone long enough and we should rescue my child or do you want to stay a bit longer?"

"What did you have in mind?"

The younger woman pulled some papers from the bottom of a discarded pile and then stood. She nervously smoothed the papers as she approached. "Remember when you saw me dooddling some outfits and suggested I put together several sketches?"

"Yes," Chloe nodded immediately.

Elizabeth handed her the papers and then stepped back, chewing nervously on her bottom lip. Chloe looked down and saw what Elizabeth was getting at. Flipping through the four drawings, Chloe was impressed. The first one was the best, the third one was the worst and the second one was bold and innovative that only needed to be cleaned up a little bit. Overall, the lines were crisp and forward thinking and she was very impressed with what she knew was Elizabeth's first real attempt.

"Elizabeth," she looked up at her clearly anxious assistant. "I'm very impressed."

"Really?" the younger woman burst out. "Do you mean it?"

"I do," she nodded. "I think you could move on from my personal assistant to assistant designer some day. You just need a little experience and guidance. But these are great."

She flipped back to the first one. "I love this one. Really. When Jason asked me to find you a job I had no idea you had so much talent. I thought I was just getting a new assistant; I had no idea I'd be getting so much more in the bargain."

Looking up, she was surprised to see that Elizabeth was no longer smiling. Her face quickly had fallen into a blank mask that Chloe didn't understand. "Elizabeth? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

Her assistant shook her head and turned away. "Nothing," her voice was flat. "I'm just tired. It's been a long week. I...I'd like to pick up Sean and just head home."

"Of course," she stood and switched off the light on her desk. "Let's go."

She sensed there was something more, especially when the younger woman refused to meet her gaze and only answered questions with monosyllabic answers, but Chloe didn't understand what had happened.

By the time the plan touched down in California, Jason was a grouchy, unhappy man. It began when he realized that Jagger Cates was on his flight to San Francisco. Jason loathed the man because he got to spend time with Elizabeth. She wanted to spend time with him. Jason was jealous, it was as simple as that and so he couldn't stand the sight of the man who had won Elizabeth.

It bothered him that Cates didn't even seem affected by leaving Port Charles and Elizabeth. If Jason was her boyfriend he wouldn't be looking so cheerful about leaving. Jason had never liked leaving Port Charles and Elizabeth, even when he had been running from his feelings. So how could the man who was lucky enough to take Elizabeth out on dates, spend time with her son and be the recipient of her smiles be so easy with leaving? And how could he be even happier now that they'd landed in California?

All of those questions were answered when Jason followed his rival off the plane and to the baggage claim area. A woman called out Jagger's name, he called out hers and then swept her up in a hug and a kiss. And it wasn't the kiss of a brother or a cousin unless the Cates were from Appalachia. And judging by the prominent swell of the woman's stomach, Jason was going to venture this wasn't a chance encounter or an attempted reconciliation. Cates had the little miss waiting for him back home the entire time he'd been playing Elizabeth false.

With a heavy sigh, he collected his bags, but instead of going out to the car he knew would waiting he found a chair and pulled out his cell phone. He called his secretary, told her to call the people he was supposed to be meeting and convey his regrets that an emergency had called him home and then told her he needed the first flight back home. Elizabeth may hate him for telling her, she may not even believe him about Jagger, but he couldn't stand by and let her be hurt by another man she had given her heart to.

Chapter 17

When Elizabeth opened her door Saturday morning and saw Jason on her doorstep, her first instinct was to slam the door in his face. He was the last person she wanted to see right now, especially after last night. But she was holding Sean and her little boy remembered the businessman and lit up in a big smile. She didn't have the heart to disappoint him.

"Jason." Her voice was curt and could have frozen beef. "What are you doing here?"

He eyed her cautiously, then let out a breath. "I...uh, I came talk to you. Can I come in?"

She flung the door open as she turned her back on him. "Yeah, sure. Actually, I want to talk to you as well."

"What did you want to talk about?" he asked immediately as he stepped inside. As he closed the door he questioned, "Is everything alright?"

"Not really. But you go first. Why did you come over here?"

Dragging a hand over his mouth, he looked at her, then down at his feet which were shuffling uneasily over the floor. "I flew to California last night. San Francisco actually."

When he didn't continue she crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. "Yes? So why did you come back?"

"Because I saw that guy you were having dinner with the other night. Jagger."

She stared at him blankly. "Again, so? I know that he lives in San Francisco and I know he was going home yesterday. Why in the world would you come back here just to tell me that?"

"Did you know that your boyfriend is married? Or at least that he's having a child with a woman in San Francisco?" Jason snapped at her. "Forgive me for taking up your time, Elizabeth, with things you clearly already know and don't care about. Forgive me for being concerned about my friend and not wanting her to get hurt because the guy she was seeing was lying to her. But since you already know, then I guess I wasted my time and blew off a client for nothing."

Her blank look quickly morphed into unrestrained disbelief and then anger and she turned to make sure Sean was still happily playing in the playpen she'd put him in after Jason walked in. Turning around, she shook her head at him. "You think Jagger was lying to me? He is not the liar in my life; that would be you, Jason."

"I'm not lying to you, Elizabeth. I saw him-"

"I know he's married," she cut him off, "and his wife is having a baby. He is not my boyfriend."

"He...he's not?" Jason stammered. "But everyone thought..."

"Yeah, well everyone should have asked instead of assuming. He's an art dealer I met at an exhibition several weeks ago and we began talking. He asked to see my work and then encouraged me to paint a few new pieces to put in my portfolio because he wanted to shop it around. That's what I was doing with him. That, and talking about babies since his wife Karen is due in a month."

"I... That's great, Elizabeth," he said, clearly surprised she could have something like this happen to her. Especially without his interference.

"Yeah," she shrugged. "It is. I mean, I'm just a former waitress turned receptionist who might have her artwork sold. Pretty good deal for someone like me, right? I might make some money, be able to quit my job. Especially since I'm not sure I want to keep it any more."

He shook his head in confusion. "What? What do you mean? And what are you talking about, someone like you? I've certainly never judged you on what your job is."

"No, but you've certainly always pitied me," she shot at him. "You always have. First you tried to give the check and when I wouldn't take that or a job from you then you got Chloe to give me one. How much did you have to do to persuade her?"

"I have never pitied you," he denied. "I just wanted to help you. I know how much my mom struggled and I just...I-"

"Figured I couldn't look out for my own son."

He stepped back and shook his head. "No. That's not it at all. I just...I wanted to do what I always wished someone had done for my mom; given her an opportunity. You know I might try to network on your behalf, that's what I did. I mentioned you to Chloe because I thought she might have more connections than I did to the art world. That's all I did."

He looked at her with such pleading as he took a step towards her. "She's the one who suggested the position as her assistant. She remembered you from your work on the Nurses' Ball. You earned that job, Elizabeth, based on your hard work and talent. I merely brought you to her attention. That's what networking is."

She knew that, but she couldn't immediately turn off her hurt and anger that had begun building yesterday after Chloe's slip. It had crushed her to think that she hadn't gotten her job on her own merits. Even if Jason thought he was helping her, it had pained her and she'd cried after Sean had fallen asleep last night.

"How is what I did any different than what Jagger's doing?" he asked, tipping his head to the side. "He's networking you into the art community, getting you noticed by people who might not otherwise have seen your work."

"I know that," she admitted, her voice softening in the face of his truth.

"So why are you mad at me and not at him?"

Turning away she ran a hand through her hair. Sean was eyeing the two of them from his playpen, his expression wide and unsure and she felt bad for raising her voice in front of him.

"Elizabeth?"

"It's different because Jagger had no idea of who I was until I told him. At first I was just a fellow art lover who also painted. He asked about my art and encouraged me. He hadn't seen me as a pregnant waitress abandoned by her boyfriend; someone he felt so sorry for he offered her twenty-five thousand dollars. He didn't take me to the delivery room and have someone mistakenly think he was Sean's father; he was somebody new who had no idea about my pathetic background until I told him about it."

Jason stared at her in confusion. "Why do you do that? Why do you act like your past or your job is pathetic or people will look down on you for it? That doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. Tracy Quartermaine-"

"Is a snob who looks down on everyone. Her own son can barely stand her sometimes."

"Carly and Courtney-"

"Are two selfish, immature women and you have more class in your little finger than they have combined. Money isn't everything."

"It's easy for people who have it to say that," she scoffed at him.

Throwing up his hands in the air he stalked towards the door. "Fine, Elizabeth, I give up. If you want to think you're worthless and you have no real value, that people only pity you or look down on you, then I guess I can't stop you. I guess I was wrong about you."

He reached the door and turned around to face her, his eyes narrowing. "I thought you were an amazing woman; I still do. You are so beautiful, you're a wonderful mother, you're smart and you're talented. I fell in love with you for those reasons, not because I pitied you or thought I could be a white knight out to save Cinderella. I fell in love with who you really are. But I guess none of that matters now, does it?"

Then he yanked open the door and stalked out, leaving her alone and completely stunned. Jason Morgan was in love with her?

Jason was ready to release the brake on his motorcycle and speed away for a long drive to clear his head - he came prepared to push aside his feelings for Elizabeth and comfort her after learning the truth about her boyfriend and instead he'd ended up being yelled at and accused - when Elizabeth burst out of the apartment building. She had Sean clutched to her chest, she didn't have on any shoes and her eyes were wide and desperate.

"Jason," she yelled, her frantic tone clear above the roar of the bike. "Wait!"

Immediately he let go of the choke, stalling the engine. He was off the bike and by her side in two long strides. "What's wrong?"

"Don't go," she pleaded with him, her hand locking onto his arm with astonishing strength. "Please, don't leave."

Tears were forming in her eyes and he didn't understand how she could go from anger only moments ago to utter devastation now, but he couldn't leave her. He didn't want to leave her before but he told himself to go, that her anger over him helping her was going to be insurmountable and he needed to leave before they said things they truly regretted. But she had chased him down and looked so broken and his head, which was already lost to her, beat with her pain.

"Elizabeth," he said tenderly, one arm going around her to help support Sean and the other hand wiping away the few tears that escaped her thick lashes. "What's wrong?"

"You love me?" she asked, her voice full of surprise.

He swallowed, raw from the admission but unable to hide it from her any longer. "Yes."

"Oh," she gasped, and then she stood on her toes, her small hand still forcibly gripping his arm. He helped steady her, unsure of what she was doing, but he quickly realized her intent when she brushed her lips over his.

She pulled back and looked at him shyly. "I thought I was the only one. I love you, too, Jason."

He dipped his head and reclaimed her lips. There was nothing shy or hesitant about this kiss, they were both willing and eager participants. As her mouth flowered open underneath his, Jason had enough presence of mind to realize they needed to pull back. A car honked noisily at them, its occupants jeering lewdly about the show, and Sean was beginning to fuss from being squished between the two adults.

Elizabeth's eyes were hazy, yet so open with emotion when she looked at him and he wasn't successful in suppressing the groan that rumbled up from his chest. He leaned his forehead against hers and attempted to catch his breath and restore his equilibrium. "Maybe…maybe we should go back upstairs."

"Oh." This time her gasp was accompanied by an embarrassed blush and she nodded her head. "Yeah. Maybe you're right."

He took Sean from her arms, holding the little boy that he had missed so much. His other arm went around Elizabeth's waist and together they silently went back into the building and up to her apartment. It wasn't until he'd placed the boy back in his playpen and gave him his favorite toy that Jason was ready to speak. "Elizabeth-"

"Shhh," she shook her head, placing her fingers lightly over his mouth. "I didn't say I love you just because you said it. I said it because I mean it and your admission gave me the courage to admit it. I...I never said anything because I was certain you wouldn't feel the same way and I didn't want to make things uncomfortable between us."

She removed her fingers and he mourned their loss, but listened to her as she went on. "I know you don't look down on me because of my job or because I'm a single mother, but there are people who do. I let my fear of those people interfere with my feelings for you. A lot of people will say that the only interest I have in you is money and security, and those same people will call you a fool for getting involved with someone like me."

He let out a breath, hating the fact that she was right. There would be ugly statements like that said about them, especially her. "I know. I wish it were different, but... Just know that I don't care what people will say, it doesn't matter to me. There are some people who look down on me because of my background, I just have too much money for them to openly insult."

"It will be hard at first for me to ignore them," she said softly, almost regretfully. "But I know that Chloe, Nikolas and Ned...they'll know the truth and they won't judge me, and that's a start."

"A very good one," he admitted and finally gave into the temptation to kiss her again. It may have only been a couple of minutes, but it was too long.

When they pulled back Elizabeth looked at up him through her lashes. "I'm sorry about earlier, for yelling at you. I know all you wanted to do was help me and you did that by helping me find a wonderful job that I love with a boss who's great and where I can be close to my son. You networked me into a wonderful position."

Jason chuckled and pulled her close, resting her against his side. "Chloe was very excited about the prospect because she remembered you from the Nurses' Ball. I didn't really have to do too much; I just mentioned your name."

"Thank you," she sighed, and he marveled at how much had changed in less than an hour. He had been concerned she would be heartbroken over Jagger Cates' infidelity, then he thought she would never forgive him or let go of her anger, and now he knew that she loved him. It was an emotional day.

Pulling back, he waited for her to look at him before claiming another kiss. "I want to spend the day with you and Sean if that's alright with you."

Her immediate, bright smile told him the answer even before her lips did. Yes, it's alright with me. With us. He really has missed you, Jason."

"I've missed him, too," he admitted. "And I've missed his mom. So if you think he wouldn't mind, I'd like to take you out tomorrow for dinner." He took a breath before adding, "Just the two of us."

Her lips part slightly as her eyes flared. "I think that can be arranged. He doesn't mind hanging out with Penny."

"Good," Jason smiled against her lips. He was unable to stop kissing her, and he really didn't even want to try.

Chapter 18

On Monday morning Elizabeth floated into work. In fact, Chloe was quite surprised that her assistant was able to make it through the door and that she wasn't bouncing off the ceiling. The brunette glided down the hall, dropped Sean off at the daycare and then actually skipped over the threshold into her office. Someone clearly had a good weekend. Even though she felt it was too soon, Chloe still found herself doing a ring check on Elizabeth's left hand.

"Good morning, Chloe," her assistant fairly sang as she sat down in the chair across from her and flipped through her message pad.

"Great morning, apparently," Chloe grinned. "You sure are in a good mood. After how silent you were when we left Friday night, I must say this is quite a change. Have a good date with Jagger?"

Elizabeth's smile slipped somewhat and her face became slightly pensive. "Ah, no, actually. It wasn't Jagger."

Now it was Chloe's turn to frown ever-so-slightly. Had Elizabeth met someone new? What was going on with her assistant?"

Elizabeth leaned forward and said, "I was never dating Jagger. He's married, and he's an art dealer who wants to showcase my work some places. Our conversations were strictly professional, except when we were talking about Sean and his baby that's due in a month."

Chloe leaned back in her chair feeling deflated and confused. Elizabeth hadn't been dating Jagger? All of the younger woman's excitement had come from merely having someone encourage her art? But she had seemed so different after that weekend; less despondent over Jason. So did that mean Elizabeth had met someone new this weekend, or had she been seeing someone all along and nobody had known about it?

"So, does this mean you'll be selling your art?" Chloe asked, going the safer route for now with Elizabeth's painting.

"I don't know," her assistant shrugged. "I guess I'll have to see how the showing goes, if I get one."

"I'm sure you will," she declared. "You have a lot of talent; I knew that from your work on the Nurses' Ball. Plus, I really did mean it when I said your sketches were good. I looked at them several times over the weekend and I'd like to add two of them to the upcoming line. You'd get full credit, of course."

"Are you serious?" Elizabeth asked in shock.

"I always say what I mean," she smiled.

"I wasn't sure about that Friday night," the younger woman admitted a bit sheepishly. "I was pretty angry."

Chloe leaned forward, her enthusiasm slightly dampened. "I noticed you were pretty quiet. I couldn't figure out why, though."

Her assistant looked away and then described how Chloe had let slip that she'd hired Elizabeth because Jason asked her. Her heart plummeted as Chloe heard how the younger woman talk about feeling like she hadn't earned the job but had only gotten it because of Jason's manipulations. She was quick to apologize and try to assure that that wasn't the case. Jason had only mentioned her and her situation and asked Chloe if she knew of any job possibilities, it was Chloe herself that had offered the job at her company.

"I know," Elizabeth smiled reassuringly, no malice now in her voice. "Jason made me understand."

Frowning, she asked, "Jason? I thought he had a business trip this weekend."

"He did," the younger woman nodded, "but he cancelled it and came home."

Now Chloe felt that Elizabeth was toying with her, but she was too curious to stop herself from demanding, "Why?"

"He saw Jagger kissing his wife at the airport and thought he was cheating on me. So he came back because he wanted me to know, so that I wasn't hurt by Jagger. But I was angry with him because of your slip about the job."

Chloe grimaced and Elizabeth matched it. "Yeah. It got a little ugly. Then he threw me completely for a loop by telling me that he loved me. And then he walked out."

Snapping forward in her chair she gaped at her friend. "He what?!"

"I know. He drops this bombshell and just walks out, so I had to chase him down outside in my socks."

"No, no," Chloe held up her hand. "He told you he loves you?"

Elizabeth bit her lip as she smiled and nodded.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise, "I always suspected he had feelings for you; the way he stared at you it was like he was hungry and you were the only thing he wanted. But he never said anything and I figured he never would as long as he thought you were with Jagger."

"I don't think he ever would have," Elizabeth agreed with a shake of her head, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.

"So what did you do?" the blonde asked. "You said you chased him down."

"I did," the younger woman confirmed. "And then I kissed him and told him I loved him, too."

Smiling, Chloe leaned back in her chair, "Way to go, Elizabeth."

Ned looked up at the knock on his door and called out, "Come in."

He looked down and finished what he was drafting in the contract before him. His assistant was just dropping off some faxes and he'd look at them when he was done with his task. But the faxes were never put down and Ned wondered what the guy was waiting for, or what had happened that he was hesitating telling him.

"What?" he asked as he looked up.

Jason was sitting down, leg crossed with ankle resting on his knee, hands folded casually in his lap and a bright grin on his face.

"What are you doing here?" Ned asked. "You flew out to California."

"I flew back," his friend replied. "After I saw Jagger Cates kissing his pregnant wife."

"Son of a-" Ned slammed his hand down on his desk and was halfway standing. "He's married? He was using Elizabeth to cheat?!"

"Actually, no, he wasn't," Jason shook his head and he wondered how his friend could be so calm. If Jason was this calm, then maybe the situation wasn't what Ned thought it was.

"He wasn't," Ned repeated as he reclaimed his seat. "So what's really going on?"

"Jagger Cates is an art dealer who is trying to get Elizabeth a showcase for her art. She knew all along he was married and their dates were really business related meetings."

Leaning back in his chair, he asked, "Really? It was all about her art?"

Jason nodded. "Yes. She showed me her work, the things she put together for her portfolio and it...was amazing."

"So you saw her this weekend?" Ned asked, a smile crossing his lips at Jason's obvious pleasure.

"Yeah," he admitted. "I flew back here to tell her about Jagger. Sean's father took off on her and hurt her. I couldn't stand back and let another man lie to her and hurt her again."

Of course Jason couldn't. Even if Elizabeth didn't feel the way about him that Jason felt for her, he wouldn't be able to stand by and let her be played by and hurt by another man. But it appeared Elizabeth already knew and Jason's efforts had been for naught.

"So she wasn't hurt, that's good," Ned stated.

"Not by Cates," his friend said wryly. "She found Chloe hired her after I talked to her. Elizabeth thought I'd pressured, or even bribed or begged, Chloe to give her the job."

"Oh," he winced. "What happened?"

"I finally convinced her the job was Chloe's idea, but that was only after she yelled at me for pitying her and messing with her life."

"Ouch. But it sounds like things worked out," Ned guess. "You looked pretty pleased when I saw you."

"You could say that," Jason smirked at him.

"What happened?" Now he was all curiosity, especially since his friend had been pretty miserable thinking Elizabeth was with Cates.

"I told her I love her," his friend said matter-of-factly.

"I knew it," Ned laughed triumphantly. "I just never pushed you on it."

Jason ignored his interruption and continued, "And, she loves me."

That made him pause and sit up straight. "She does? I always wondered, but... I'm glad you two worked things out."

Jason's modest grin might not have seemed like much, but Ned knew that his friend was very happy. For too long, especially recently, Jason had been unhappy and withdrawn. He had shunned all the superficial and shallow fortune hunters, and while Ned would have beaned his friend if he'd fallen for one of those types, he had begun to wonder if Jason would ever find someone. Now he had, and the happiness that had settled over him was evident.

But that didn't mean he was above teasing his friend. "So, what happens now? Start looking for China patterns?"

"Might be a little early for that," Jason shook his head, "especially since Sean's so young. Corelle's probably more practical."

Ned laughed, but he also saw the serious look in Jason's eyes and caught the undertone of his words. He figured it would only be a matter of time before his friend finally got his wish of a family of his own.

"So did you get the third degree from Ned?" Elizabeth smiled as they walked to Jason's car. He was holding Sean and tickling the little boy's tummy; Elizabeth was carrying the diaper bag and car seat and it was exhilarating to feel so free and relaxed with Jason. There was no unease or awkwardness between them; they could talk without guarding their words or worrying about giving too much away. It almost made her feel giddy.

"Maybe not third degree, I'm only slightly burned," he grinned as he unlocked the car and opened the door. He handed Sean to her while reaching for the car seat. "What about Chloe?"

"I think my ears were in greater danger," she laughed. "Once she got over her initial shock she squealed. A lot. I never knew someone could squeal that loud."

Jason's laughter echoed out from inside the car. "I've never heard her squeal before, but somehow it doesn't surprise me with her. She seems like the type. There," he said, "all strapped in."

In short order they were all seated in the car and on their way. She had invited Jason over to dinner since he had taken them out or paid for delivery every meal over the weekend. She knew he had money, and it wasn't that they had been very expensive meals, but she didn't want it to feel like she expected him to pay every time. Plus, she didn't want to have to deal with other diners or waiters around tonight; she just wanted to spend time with him.

When they reached her apartment they fell into easy roles without even talking about it. Elizabeth began dinner and Jason headed into Sean's room to change the boy's diaper. It was a domestic dance where they helped each other out, worked on dinner while also feeding Sean the rice cereal he had started on just the week before. They talked about their days and their pasts as they were now in that phase where they wanted to find out everything they could about the other person.

It was a glimpse of the future that she knew her heart would happen. She didn't know when, and she certainly wasn't in a rush for it to happen, but she knew that one day this would be how it was every day. It would happen in its own time and when it was right for it to happen. For now, she was going to simply appreciate having Jason in her life, knowing that he loved her and simply getting to know him better.

Jason stepped out of Sean's room and smiled at Elizabeth sitting on the couch, her feet propped up on the cushions. She grinned back at him and moved her feet so he could sit beside her, an invitation he readily accepted.

"He fall asleep already?" she asked.

"Yeah," he nodded. "He was pretty tired and as soon as he started in on his bottle I knew he was gone."

She shifted, moving closer and curling into his side. He lifted his arm so she could get even closer and brought his hand up to brush through her hair. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he relished in the fact that he could touch her openly and show her how he felt now.

"Thank you for putting him to bed," she sighed into his side. "It was nice to have a moment to myself."

If Jason had his way, this night would repeat itself often, every day in fact. But that was still in the future. He loved Elizabeth, and he loved Sean and he wanted to marry them and form a family. He planned to do that some day, but he wasn't going to rush it. They had gotten to know each other as friends and had shared things from their pasts that they wouldn't have shared with just anybody. But there was a lot they didn't know still. Plus, he wanted this time to date her, to treat her like she deserved and take things as they came. He knew she needed some time to adjust to all the changes in their circumstances and feel comfortable with his lifestyle. She also deserved to showcase her art and have that moment to shine without having it seem like she was only getting recognition because she was his wife.

But he knew she would have to make forays into his society. He disliked it as much as she felt nervous about it, but he knew that it was a necessary evil. He needed the contacts in business, but for the most part it was something he just had to endure. He also didn't want anybody to think that he was ashamed of who she was. He wanted her by his side because he loved her and he wanted to include her in all parts of life, just as he wanted to be by her side as she made her way into the art world.

"What are you doing next Friday?" he asked, still running his fingers through her hair.

Twisting slightly to look at him, she furrowed her brow slightly. "Nothing that I know of. Why?"

"I have an informal dinner with some clients and I wanted to invite you to join me."

He watched as she stilled and he could sense that she was frightened by the prospect. He would understand if she declined, if she felt it was too soon, but he hoped that she would come.

"An informal dinner?" she asked.

"Yeah," he tried to make her feel at ease, "they're very informal men. Sort of how Ned or Nikolas would be in fifteen years. Their wives will be there; if you come there would be eight of us."

"That's not too big," she mused.

"No, not too big."

She pulled her lip in between her teeth and then took a deep breath. Looking up at him she met his gaze and smiled. "I'll find out if Penny's available. If she's not, I'm sure Chloe will be happy to watch Sean for us."

He was thrilled that she'd agreed and he learned forward, capturing her lips so he could show her just how much.

Chapter 19

"You look like you could use one of these."

Jason looked over at Ned and accepted the bottle of beer his friend held out to him. "Thanks," he smiled.

"First one of these I've ever been to where I haven't had to bribe the waiters to get me one out of the back."

He chuckled and then Jason said, "Elizabeth insisted they be served tonight. Caterer nearly had a fit, but she held her ground. Said she wanted everyone to feel comfortable tonight, and that included her boyfriend."

"What did the caterer say when she hear you were Elizabeth's boyfriend?" Ned smirked. "Probably went right on the internet to see if she could find out your favorite beer so she could import it."

"Elizabeth didn't tell her," Jason shook his head. "Told me that night it was none of the lady's business; all that mattered was what Elizabeth wanted. Jagger backed her up; said the customer was always right and artists could flout the rules."

"You two getting along okay?" his friend asked, arching a curious brow after the mention of the other man.

"Why wouldn't we?" he asked. "We both support Elizabeth."

Besides, Jagger was married and was never a rival for Elizabeth's affections. That had solely been in Jason's mind. Once he knew the truth and knew Elizabeth loved him, nothing else mattered. And after he met Jagger Cates and saw the way the man believed in Elizabeth's talent, even after meeting Jason Morgan, he was very impressed with the art dealer.

Elizabeth desperately wanted to be known for her talent and have her worth judged by that alone. She didn't want to be the artist solely known as Jason Morgan's girlfriend, she wanted to be known as the talented artist who also happened to be dating a billionaire. Jason understood that and to that end had stayed away from some of her earlier meetings. Jagger never brought up his name either, especially in meetings with galleries, and when Elizabeth found out she was getting an art show she knew it was because of her talent.

Jason had never been happier for her and took her and Sean to New York City for the weekend to celebrate. They had neighboring suites because Jason knew they weren't ready yet for a shared one and all the connotations that came with it. They played with Sean during the day, and at night the nanny Jason hired to come with them watched the little boy so he could take Elizabeth out for some time alone.

Then they came home and Elizabeth began painting new pieces for her show. Jason often came over after work and helped take care of Sean in the evening. Then once the little boy was asleep, he would come and work on business he brought with him while she continued to paint. Aside from the sometimes overpowering smell of paint and the small apartment feeling overcrowded with painting supplies, Jason loved their time together. He loved simply being with her, sharing an occasional comment, look or kiss, but he never felt neglected. He knew this was too important to make her feel like she had to play hostess or clinging girlfriend. They were comfortable being together, without having to focus solely on the other person.

After her show they would have more time uninterrupted, and that's what he would focus on when it got a little too overwhelming in the apartment that felt like it was shrinking. And when he could tell that she was getting frustrated with a painting he would whisk her and Sean outside to the park or over to his house so she could get away from it all. Jason also wanted the two of them to get used to being in his house because one day he intended it to be their house. He didn't want it to be a shock to them after spending all of their time in Elizabeth's apartment. He knew that day was still a bit off, but he wanted her thinking about it.

"Jason." Chloe's exuberant voice broke him out of his thoughts and he hugged Ned's cousin when she happily clutched at him, and then he shook hands with Nikolas. "Isn't tonight wonderful? I'm so happy for Elizabeth."

He brightly smiled his agreement and said, "Me too."

"She wouldn't show me any of her work," the blonde pouted with mock petulance. "Nikolas and I have been looking at everything."

"We even put in a bid on one of her pieces up for sale," Nikolas remarked.

"But don't tell Elizabeth," Chloe commanded with a shake of her head. "She says she wants to paint us something but refuses to accept any money for it."

"Sounds like Elizabeth," Ned chuckled. They all knew her too well and they knew that sometimes subterfuge was the way to go. "I was looking at her pieces earlier and I liked the first two in an incomplete series called Father and Child. I also noticed they weren't for sale."

He said the last part while looking pointedly at Jason. Lifting his beer bottle to take a drink, Jason ignored the unspoken questions. Yes, Jason recognized the similarities between the paintings and he and Cameron. The weekend he and Elizabeth got together she showed him her work and he picked up on it right way. He felt the love and longing in the painting and had been touched by the proof, and depth, of her emotions.

Then, she had told him about Jagger's suggestion for the series, but said she wouldn't do it if he disapproved. Overwhelmed by emotion he had kissed her, pulling back only when Sean squealed from his playpen, reminding them they weren't alone. He told her she could paint it if she wanted, but he didn't want them sold. He wanted the visual testament of this time for when Sean got older and asked questions about the time their family was forming. He also said he hoped one day there would be more children to add to the series. Elizabeth had blushed to the tips of her ears, but she never objected to the suggestions and he knew he had made his point.

Turning to Ned, he squelched all his friend's hopes for fun by stating simply and earnestly, "They'll never be for sale. Excuse me, I see Elizabeth signaling for me to join her."

He smiled as he crossed the room, nodding to people as he passed by, until he was by Elizabeth's side. She was absolutely glowing tonight, and it wasn't just because of the Chloe Morgan original she was wearing. Through Jagger Cates' unflagging and enthusiastic support she had bloomed and gained a lot of self-confidence. She owned the room tonight; she held her own among everybody there and never flinched, even when dealing with the upper echelon of society. Elizabeth claimed her new-found confidence was because of his love, but he told her she wasn't giving herself enough credit.

"Hey there," she smiled up at him when he reached her side. It was small, almost secretive, and it wasn't like the cordial and welcoming smiles for her guests, this one was for him alone. If they weren't in a room full of people he was pretty sure she would kiss him. Forget that, he would kiss her. In fact, if he could find a quiet corner for five minutes, although ten would be better, he would show her just how much he appreciated her dress from Chloe. Instead, he smiled back at her and then turned to the person she wanted him to meet.

"Hello," he said, indulging himself by touching the small of Elizabeth's back and brushing his thumb lightly over the silk, "it's nice to meet you."

Elizabeth's smile was tender as she looked down at Sean asleep in his crib. He'd woken up when Jason brought her home and he would only calm down when she held him. She was anxious to get him back to sleep so she indulged her little boy and disappeared into his darkened room to soothe him and assure him Mommy was home so he could go back to sleep. Actually, she was ready to plead with him to go back to sleep when he finally dropped off. She had told Jason to get her wallet and pay the sitter, but she had a feeling he'd pay her himself and Elizabeth could only smile in acceptance. She knew that a fight over something as trivial as the babysitter's payment just wasn't worth it, especially not tonight. Now that Sean was back asleep she was ready to go out and spend the remainder of the evening with Jason. In fact, the entire time they'd been at the gallery, all she'd wanted to do was get out of there and be back at her apartment with him knowing Sean was safe asleep in the next room while they cuddled on the couch.

Closing the door behind her, she stopped and gazed at Jason as he moved around the room. He'd taken off his suit coat and tie, and the sleeves of his shirt were unbuttoned and rolled up. He was a handsome man and he looked amazing when dressed in Armani. But she knew he hated wearing suits, and she liked it even more when he was comfortable and relaxed. Yet, there was something deliciously sexy to see him so rumpled and casual in the remnants of his suit. It was one of her favorite looks for him.

The apartment was dimly lit, only the light above the stove and the lamp in the corner were on. The babysitter had been watching a movie and Elizabeth gladly welcomed the ambiance lighting now that it was just her and Jason here. She was glad he hadn't turned on any more lights, that he didn't feel the need to add brightness to the room. Now that Sean was back asleep and the neighbor girl had gone home, Elizabeth wanted to spend time with her boyfriend. It had been a cruel torture of the evening, light touches, too brief looks, all proper and acceptable when all she'd wanted to do was grab him by his tie and kiss him until she couldn't remember her name.

They had taken things slow, in spite of their mutual declarations of love, and Elizabeth was ready for a little forward progress. But how could she indicate that without seeming too forward, too eager? Jason was always very aware of Sean being in the next room and she somehow suspected he was never going to try to take her to bed with her son next to them. She also felt he wouldn't suggest an overnight babysitter, despite how much he wished sometimes he could take her to his place instead of back home after a date. It felt like they were at a stalemate; despite both of them wanting the same thing - probably, hopefully - how did they achieve it?

All thoughts of logistics disappeared when Jason turned and caught her staring at him. The smile he gave her was slow, not at all reserved, and definitely meant for her alone. It propelled her across the room and within seconds she was in front of him, peering up at him through her lashes.

"He back asleep?"

She nodded as his grin widened and he wrapped an arm low around her waist. His other hand came up to dance across the side of her face before brushing through the hair pinned back at her temple. "I don't know if I told you," his voice was low, "but you looked beautiful tonight."

"You did," she blushed. "It's all thanks to Chloe."

He shook his head in all seriousness, "It wasn't the dress. Although it's pretty, it was you tonight, Elizabeth. You are so beautiful."

No matter how often he complimented her it still made her blush. But at least she no longer felt out of place when she stood by his side. Bringing her hand up to the back of his neck, she raked her fingers through the hair above his collar and smiled when he shivered slightly. "There is something I have wanted to do all evening."

"What?" His voice dropped to a rough whisper matching hers.

Rising up on her toes, she hovered near his mouth, "This."

He crushed her to him, devouring her mouth with an intensity to match hers. The small clips holding her hair back came dislodged under Jason's earnest fingers and fell forgotten to the floor. They would separate briefly for air before desperately diving back into the depth of emotions consuming them.

Sometime later, who knew how long, they stood clutching each other, their labored breathing filling the room as their hearts raced. "You have no idea how much I wanted to do that all night," he panted out as if he'd just run a marathon.

Her raw lips spread into a grin as she murmured against his chest, "I might have some idea."

Not letting her go, he took a few steps back until his legs hit the sofa. Then, he sat, pulling her onto his lap while keeping her firmly in the circle of his arms. She giggled, feeling like a teenager making out with her boyfriend after a school dance; but there were no parents to worry about. With a sigh, she leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling blissful and content.

"I was proud of you this evening," he said as his fingers played with a fold of her skirt. "People were talking about your art, saying how much they liked it, wanting to buy certain pieces, and all I could think was that was my girlfriend they were talking about. You were the reason everyone was there tonight."

Once again she blushed, and her eyes moistened at the depth of pride lacing each of his words. It wasn't that he expected, or demanded, success of her so that she looked good on his arm; he was happy because he knew this was her dream and he was humbled to be there as it came true. It made her fall in love with him all over again.

Lifting her head, she kissed him, smiling against his lips. "I love you," she told him. "Thank you for being there with me tonight."

He brushed her hair to the side and scattered light kisses across her shoulder. "There was no other place I wanted to be. I'm glad it turned out so well."

"I can't believe I actually sold some of my paintings," she shook her head with a grin, and then sobered slightly when she remembered the price tags on some of them. Even though a large portion would go to the gallery and Jagger as a dealer's fee, she was getting more than she ever thought possible for her art that had once been called cute. "It seems so surreal."

"It'll sink in," he told her. "Just enjoy the ride."

"I am," she leaned her head back against his shoulder and closed her eyes. "I'm also really looking forward to not having to paint every spare minute I can grab. I want to relax with Sean, spend time with you, and just be able to put my feet up without feeling guilty."

"You deserve to be pampered," he murmured into her hair as his hand glided over it. "Luckily for you, I'm more than willing to take on that task. And I'm very creative and detail oriented."

Her laugh mixed with his as it rumbled up through her back. "I guess I'm very lucky to have such a caring boyfriend."

"Yes, you are. I'll show you just how much I do care," he said in a sensual promise that sent shivers dancing down her spine to settle low in her stomach.

Elizabeth knew their relationship was on the cusp of changing and she said, "I can't wait."

Chapter 20

"Hey there," Chloe said as she appeared at Elizabeth's side. "How are you doing?"

"Good," Elizabeth smiled as her finger toyed with the edge of the napkin in her hand.

When her friend pierced her with a look she sighed and her smile dropped off. "I am bored out of my skull. Are these things always like this?"

Rolling her eyes, the blonde shook her head. "No, but Tracy was in a mood and went ultra high-brow this time. I've never seen her be so fussy and stuffy."

Elizabeth lifted a goblet of water from a passing waiter and took a small sip. She needed something to keep herself awake, but she couldn't stand another disgusting hors d'oeuvre and she didn't want to dull her senses with alcohol. Not with all the sharks circling for blood in the water. From the moment she walked in on Jason's arm and met up with Chloe, Nikolas, Ned and his date V, Tracy Quartermaine had been eyeing her with barely veiled disgust. Elizabeth however, with Jason by her side, kept her head up and didn't give Tracy a second look.

But the evening wore on, and Tracy's disdain continued. The older woman constantly looked like she was sucking on a lemon or trying to escape a foul odor. At first it was almost laughable; the months she had spent at Jason's side and with her boss and friends, combined with her success at her art show, had done a lot for her self-confidence and she could largely ignore Tracy and not let it anger or rattle her. Now, hours later, she fought gritting her teeth and just wanted to leave.

"Don't let her get to you," Chloe said in a soft voice. "She approves of very few people, and sometimes Ned doesn't even make the cut."

"I know," Elizabeth admitted. "I'm just tired of her scornful glances. I'd much rather be with Jason somewhere else."

"Like his house?" Chloe teased. "I heard he's turned one of the rooms into a place for Sean to play and nap and Jason's baby proofed the whole downstairs and installed baby gates now that he started crawling."

Elizabeth blushed and nodded slightly. She hadn't asked Jason to do it; it was just his way of making her welcome and setting it up as a place where one day they would all live. She knew it was going to happen, even if they didn't talk about it often. She loved Jason, Sean loved him and Elizabeth knew he loved the both of them; in many ways they were already a family. Jason was just taking it slow because every signal she sent out screamed acceptance but still needing time. After the disaster with Sean's father, she wanted to make sure she didn't rush into anything.

"Sean feels comfortable there," she did admit.

"Do you feel comfortable there?" her friend asked.

"Yeah," she murmured, taking another sip. She did. Sometimes more comfortable there than her own apartment. He had offered her a room to be a studio, and the window-lined walls were fantastic and it was a much better space than the corner of her apartment she commandeered last time. There were times she felt like she spent more time there than her own house. "It's a great place; lots of room. Most of all, it's where he lives and we can spend time together."

"He wants to make a family with you," Chloe pointed out softly.

"I know," she nodded. It was no secret among any of them, but nobody brought it up very often. "I wanted to take it slow, not rush into anything, but I know it will happen."

"Wanted?" her friend seemed to pick up on the word and pressed.

"Now I'm not so skittish," Elizabeth answered, her feelings and resolve growing. She knew Chloe wasn't going to run off and tell Jason about this conversation, and even if she did Elizabeth was already determined to show him the change in her feelings and her surety of their situation. But she really hoped Chloe didn't say anything because she wanted this to be about her and Jason and his own confidence. "And I plan to show him."

The older woman seemed to understand as she nodded. "I'm sure you and Jason will do just fine."

"Just fine on what?" Tracy Quartermaine suddenly asked as she intrusively appeared beside them.

"Hello, Aunt Tracy," Chloe smiled sweetly. Elizabeth knew it annoyed the older woman when Chloe her aunt because the familial connection was distant and sullied according to Tracy. And that was exactly why the younger woman did it. "Have you met Elizabeth Webber?"

Tracy looked down her blue-blooded nose at Elizabeth and sniffed. "I think you served me a cup of putrid coffee once in that wretched little diner down by the docks."

Elizabeth kept her expression neutral; she wasn't going to let Tracy ruffle her. The older woman tossed her expertly cut hair and kept going, "But you don't work there anymore. I hear you've gone to work for Chloe as her assistant."

Scorn practically dripped from the last word. Elizabeth merely nodded, "Yes."

"I also hear you're dating Jason Morgan," Tracy smirked.

"So far you're batting a thousand," she smiled sweetly, not voicing the irritation she felt. "You're very well-informed."

"Ned's probably been singing your praises," Chloe chuckled as she raised her eyebrows at the brunette and deliberately ignored her cousin's mother. "I swear, the man's better than all the publicity Jagger's done."

Then Chloe turned to Tracy, "Did you see her show at the Art Museum? She's got another one in SoHo in two months; we're all thrilled for her."

With a tight smile the older woman said, "How nice."

"Of course, only a few weeks after that she'll be back in New York for a fashion show."

"Oh?" Tracy asked, turning on Elizabeth with a predatory pounce. "Going to assist your boss? Will you be taking your child with you or finding someone to watch him?"

Elizabeth couldn't believe that she once wanted people like Tracy to accept her and think well of her. Jagger was right when he said to just ignore her ilk. "I'll be bringing him with me," she smiled as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Chloe and I will be hiring a nanny to watch him and Timothy."

"Why don't you just watch them both?" Tracy inquired. "After all, you're supposed to help your boss."

"Elizabeth is apprenticing as an assistant designer now, Aunt Tracy," Chloe said, her voice a bit hard and forced. It was clear she was tiring of her relative's attack. "She has two of her designs in the show. I've actually hired a new assistant."

"I'm quite thrilled," Elizabeth said, circumventing Tracy's next barbs. "And I'm so sorry you didn't make it to my show, I'll make sure you get an invitation to the next one. Of course, if it's not your cup of tea it's no skin off my nose you snobbish old heifer. I'll just be sure to say hello to your mother; she's a treasure and I can see why Ned and Chloe love her."

"Elizabeth, Chloe," Jason appeared by their sides and put her hand around Elizabeth's waist. Then he looked over at the third woman. "Hello, Tracy. Interesting event you've planned tonight; the mayor and I were just talking about it. We're actually worried you may not meet your fundraising goals; people seem to be stingy tonight and just not opening their wallets."

The older woman flinched ever-so-slightly, but Jason was already redirecting their attention by addressing Elizabeth. "The mayor and his wife wanted to meet you; she read about your show and went to the gallery to see your work. She insisted on meeting the artist. Chloe," he turned to their friend, "Nikolas was looking for you near the band. You'll excuse us, won't you, Tracy?"

"Of course," she murmured to their backs as Jason was already leading Elizabeth away.

"So are we really going to meet the mayor?" Elizabeth asked as Jason led her onto the dance floor. "Or was it all just a ruse to get away from Tracy?"

"Was she bothering you?" he asked, drawing her protectively into his arms.

"She was annoying me," she admitted. "Trying to rattle me but I wouldn't let her."

He sighed and pressed his cheek against her hair. "Good. Tracy-"

"Was just being Tracy," she stated. "I talked with V earlier this week, and I've heard all about the Quartermaine Dragon from you, Chloe and Ned. I was prepared to face her."

"You had it all under control," he chuckled ruefully. "I guess you didn't need me at all."

Her fingers surreptitiously brushed his neck, causing him to shiver. "I'll always need you. Just like I'll always want you by my side. But I can fight my own battles on occasion. And Tracy Quartermaine is a laughable cliché; she doesn't bother me like she once did. I worry more about making a good impression on your business associates and not bombing at my shows than I do about Tracy."

It was such a change from how she used to worry about society and it had been amazing to watch her blossom with confidence. In the nine months since Sean had been born, and the nearly five months since they started dating, so much had changed. It amazed Jason sometimes just how much it had, but he was always thankful for it. Whatever had caused Elizabeth to no longer fear the world he reluctantly lived in and open up her life to him, he would forever be grateful.

"Did you really call her a heifer?" he teased.

She closed her eyes and let out a small groan. "I'll apologize...to Mrs. Lila. But, yes, I let her get to me at the end."

He rubbed her back soothingly. "It's okay. Ned told me his grandmother is the only who can tolerate her sometimes, and even then Lila lets her know when she's gone too far. Tracy is abrasive on her best days, and she's in high form because she's afraid Ned might propose to V."

"Is he planning to?" she asked, looking up at him curiously.

Jason shrugged as he turned them and led her closer to the balcony doors. "I don't know; I'm only saying that's what I overheard her say."

To one of her catty friends, along with a remark on how soon it might be until Jason did something stupid like proposing to the artist tramp obviously trying to trap him. The other lady said she wouldn't put it past Elizabeth to try to get pregnant so as to ensure he kept supporting her. That was why Jason was only going to make a small donation tonight, something far below the standard of his normal philanthropy; he was not going to put up with anyone insulting Elizabeth and then expecting him to be generous. He wouldn't entirely snub Tracy - the cause was worthwhile - but the message he sent would be loud and clear.

"So what was that little warning you gave Tracy about her donations?" she asked, stepping slightly closer to him. He knew it would raise a few eyebrows, but Elizabeth didn't seem to care. She smiled up at him in such a way that left him feeling warm and desperately wishing they could leave early.

But the mayor and his wife did want to meet Elizabeth and she could use their patronage. But after this dance, alright, maybe the next one, and after they talked to the mayor's wife - she was the big art lover - they were getting out of here. Jason had a ring in his pocket that he was dying to put on her finger and tonight seemed like the perfect time to do it.

They were close to the balcony, and with another slight turn, they were out on it. Thankfully they were alone for the moment and he took advantage of it to pull her into a kiss completely inappropriate for where they were. But he didn't like following society's rules and he was not going to be bound by them. He loved Elizabeth and he wanted to kiss her now; end of story.

She pulled back a few moments later, breathless and flushed. "What was that for?"

"I wanted to kiss you," he stated simply. "I also want to leave after you meet the mayor."

"I have no objections to leaving this stuffy place," she agreed with a quirk upwards of her lips. "But maybe I should have met the mayor first since now I'm all kiss rumpled."

"You aren't rumpled," he shook his head, a small smile of his own playing around his lips. "I stopped before you were rumpled. But if that's what you want..."

She laughed and gave him a push towards the balcony doors. "I think we better go before we're completely unpresentable. Let's hope when he gets older you teach Sean better manners than the ones you're exhibiting tonight."

Although she was laughing, the ease of her statement and the powerful meaning it held stopped him in his tracks. She was talking about the future and his continued role in her son's life; she was saying he would be Sean's father and teach him without actually saying the words. Every time she alluded to that he was humbled because he wanted to be a good father to Sean and all the other children Elizabeth would have.

"What?" She was looking up at him, her eyes questioning him in the moonlight. The longer he remained silent, the more questioning her gaze became. She whispered, "What?"

"I want to..." he paused and reached for her hand. "I want to be a father to Sean."

"You are," Elizabeth told him. "When he learns to speak, when he says dada, I know he'll mean you. You will be the only father he knows."

Licking his lips he said, "I want to make it legal. I want to...I want to marry you, I want to adopt him, I want to make a family with you."

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled like diamonds with unshed tears and then he watched as they spilled over and fractured on her cheeks. Her lower lip trembled and then she swallowed roughly, gasping for breath. "A f-family? M-marry?"

Now it was his turn to swallow roughly around the fist in his throat, as he tried to bury his disappointment. "I know it's too soon-"

"No," she interrupted, her face glowing with love and joy. "It isn't too soon."

Hope began to rise in him.

"I...I want to marry you. I will marry you." Her smile brightened, "Whenever you want."

"Well, I'd say tonight, but Sean's probably asleep already and we shouldn't wake him up. You know how he gets."

"He'd be a little cranky," Elizabeth agreed with a smile. "Maybe we should plan it for a little later when he, and our friends, can be there."

"I suppose," he shrugged, his own smile glowing in the night. "For now, let me go introduce my fiancée to the mayor and his wife. Then," he said, his voice deepening as his lips whispered above hers, "we can go home and tell Sean the good news."

The End

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