Growing Up 1 She heard the sirens again, in her dreams. Screaming at her, warning her. She sat up with a bolt, taking a moment to catch her breath and realize where she was. "I'm at Kelly's. Lucky's right here. We're ok. " she told herself. But nothing was really ok. There had been a fire. "Jason!" She whispered as she remembered him pulling Sonny out of the burning coffee warehouse. Liz checked to make sure Lucky was still asleep, and quietly crept out of bed. Going back to sleep was no longer possible. She had to know if Jason was ok, at the very least.

Running to her studio, Elizabeth prayed that Jason would be there, but when she burst through the door, it was empty. Sitting on the couch to catch her breath, she realized how foolish she had been. "Why would he come back? I asked him not to," she said to herself. Since she was here, and sleep wasn't an option, she shrugged off her coat and set up her paints.

She chewed on her lip as she stared at the blank canvas before her. Not knowing quite what she wanted to paint, she turned on some music, in the hopes that it might drown out her thoughts of Jason. Remembering she had a still life due for her class in a couple days, she threw some colorful pillows on the sofa and got to work. Once she began, Jason slipped further and futher from her mind, until the only thing she was aware of was the sofa and the music.

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Leaning against the door, he watched her work. The furrowing eyebrows, chewing on her bottom lip, humming to herself. She was so into her work that she didn't notice as he quietly entered her studio. But that was how he wanted it. He liked watching her paint. Oblivious to everything around her except her art. She was so beautifulwhen she painted.... when she did anything!

Lost in his own thoughts about Elizabeth, he didn't realize she was done until she spoke his name.

"Jason."

"Hi," he replied, breaking out of his reverie.

She turned down her music. "I didn't think you were coming back. Now that everyone knows you're in town."

"I hadn't planned on coming back, but I didn't have any place to stay. And I figured you wouldn't mind if I stayed one more night. Actually, I didn't expect you to be here." he stood up and reached for the door knob. "Do you want me to go?"

Liz starts to clean up her paints and brushes. "No, no. You don't have to go, I'm just surprised to see you." She took a deep breath to try and calm her pounding heart.

"You're sure? Because I can just rent.. "

"NO. ahem, I mean no, that's ok. One more night won't hurt." And I don't want you to go, she thought to herself.

He nodded silently and went to sit on the sofa. He watched her intently as she finished cleaning up her brushes. She was just so beautiful to watch. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

When she finished, she turned to face him, and blushed slightly when she realized he had been watching her. Her heart started beating faster, and there was a fluttering in her stomach. What is this? What's happening? She thought. I should leave and go back to Lucky. But she found herself walking towards the sofa... and Jason....