****Thank you for all the reviews! It feels good to write again. It would feel better if we have some Liason on our screen, but hopefully soon.
Just a note: As much as some hate the fact, Jason does love Sam. There is no escaping that. However, what people forget is that he also loves Elizabeth. He was going back and forth for a long time. I want to tell my story, but I can't ignore that fact. Also, if you are looking for some Sam bashing, you will not find it. I have grown to actually like the character, and I do like Dream! LOL****
CHAPTER FOUR
Elizabeth was sitting on the couch, helping Aiden with his math for school, when Jake barreled through the door, Jason behind him. She looked up and smiled at the red-faced boy, who was smiling from ear to ear.
"Hey! It looks like you two had a lot of fun," she said, standing and walking over to the pair.
"It was awesome, Mom!" said Jake, his eyes reminiscent of his mother's after a ride on the back of Jason's motorcycle.
"Yeah, it was fun. Don't worry, I didn't go fast at all. And he listened to all my directions, and wore his helmet." Jason looked at her, wearing the same expression as his son.
She smiled at him, warmth filling her that the two were bonding, "I had no worries."
He grinned at her, their eyes gazing at each other for a moment, before Aiden jumped up and ran over to Jason, "Me next! Me next!"
Jason kneeled down in front of Aiden and smiled, "Did you want a ride, buddy?"
Aiden nods and smiles at him. Jason looks up at Jake and asks, "What do you think, Jake? Can I take Aiden for a ride?"
"Sure! It's so cool, Aiden! You'll love it!" he exclaimed.
Jason stands to his full height and glances at Elizabeth, "Is it ok?" he asks softly.
Smiling, her hand on her heart, she simply nods. The fact that he so readily wanted to include Aiden in what was supposed to be him and his own son bonding, meant so much to her.
His eyes focused on hers and he saw a glimmer of something familiar. He could see that she still cared for him. After everything they had been through, everything that had happened between them, they were still connected in that way. It gave him a sense of calm, knowing that their connection hadn't been severed.
He cleared his throat, looking away from her reluctantly and looked down at Aiden.
"Alright, you ready, bud?"
"Yeah," the little boy screamed, taking Jason's hand and walking out the door.
Elizabeth took a moment to calm her rapidly-beating heart. Looking into Jason's eyes was a dangerous, dangerous thing. His eyes were always so expressive. What she saw there left her in awe, and surprise. He still held feelings for her.
She shouldn't be thinking about it though. She was marrying Franco. She loved him and wanted to be his wife. There was no future for her and Jason. She made sure of that with her lies. Even though it wasn't really Jason, she still betrayed him, in her eyes. She didn't deserve Jason.
Shaking herself from her thoughts, she walked over and sat down next to Jake.
"That was really sweet of you Jake, to share your time with your dad with your brother."
"Thanks Mom, and thanks for not pushing me with getting to know him. You let me do it in my own time. I'm really glad though."
She smiled at him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders to bring him in for a hug. "I would never pressure you into anything, sweetie. I just knew that, in time, you would accept your father. We love you, and that's what you need to remember more than anything."
He nodded, "I know. He told me. He also told me that it's ok to still love my other dad. Or my uncle," he hesitated for a moment, his eyes furrowed.
"What is it, honey?"
"Is it bad that I'm hanging out with this dad, when I still think of my other dad as my dad too?"
She shook her head, "Not at all, Jake. Drew has been your dad since you came back to us. He'll always be a part of your life. And Jason knows that, and respects your relationship with him."
Jake nodded, "He told me that too. I'm pretty lucky, aren't I?"
She laughs, nodding, and hugs him to her, "Yeah, you are."
~~A few minutes later~~
Jason opened the door, letting Aiden run in before him. The little boy ran up to his mom and hugged her leg, "Mommy it was so cool!"
Jason smiled as he watched the boy jump up and down, holding on to his mom's leg.
"That's great baby. Can you say thank you to Jason for taking you out?"
He let go of his mother's leg and ran over to Jason, grabbing him next, "Thank you, Jason!"
Jason smiled, rubbing the boy's back, "Anytime, Aiden," he said softly.
Smiling, Elizabeth said, "Why don't you go upstairs and see what Jake's up to?"
Aiden let go of Jason's leg and ran up the stairs. Elizabeth shook her head and smiled at her little boy and turned toward Jason.
"You just made a friend for life!" she laughed.
Jason laughed softly, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"He's a great kid. He screams like you do," he said softly, looking at her smiling.
She rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"Do you want some coffee?"
Jason nodded, "Yeah, that'd be great."
She smiled, and walked to the kitchen. She was glad for the brief reprieve. His being there, in her house, making her boys smile was doing things to her equilibrium, not to mention her heart.
"So," he begins as he walks toward the kitchen, where she is filling the pot with water, "where's Cameron?"
"Well, Cameron is goalie for his soccer team. It's all he does anymore," she chuckles. "He's obsessed with the game. They have practice all week this week."
He nodded, loving the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her boys.
She turns the coffee maker on and turns, unable to find anything else to keep herself occupied while he stood at the island, watching her.
"So how are things with Danny?"
He smiles slightly, "Really good. He's slept over my place a couple times."
She smiled, "Well soon Jake will be ready to be there with both of you."
He nodded, his grin getting wider, "I hope so."
"I know so. Jake is really happy. Thank you for being patient with him."
"I didn't want to push him, ya know. He's been through so much already."
She bit her lip softly, her eyes glazed with tears as she thought about when Jake returned.
"It was tough, when he first came back. He was very stand-offish with everyone. He fought with his brothers. He was destructive."
"I heard some of it. I wish I was there for him."
She grabbed his hand and squeezed, "I know, Jason."
He looked at her, speaking softly, "I'm sure you were a big help."
She shook her head softly, "I didn't help matters any, to be honest," she said.
"I'm sure you were doing everything you could for him, Elizabeth. You're a great mom."
"I didn't feel like I was helping him at all. I mean, he got back, and I lied to Drew, and he left. Then Jake was even angrier, blamed Sam-"
"Jake told me," he said, stopping her rant.
She looked at him, surprised, "He-he did?"
He nodded softly, "He told me how he was just so mad coming back, and how he hated that Drew left, and that he blamed Sam for it. He told me what he did, Elizabeth. He still feels bad about it, but he said he had a lot of help in getting past it."
"He told you everything?" she asked, amazed that their son was being so open about that time.
"He also told me how," he hesitated, "Franco helped get through to him." His jaw ticked.
She nodded, biting her lip again, "He helped Jake with his anger issues. He was so lost when he came back. Franco gave me my son back."
"Is," he sighed, his eyes focused on their entwined hands, "Is that how you guys got together?"
Elizabeth slid her hand from his, reluctantly. She was trying to stay strong, and not get lost in the feeling of their hands intertwined.
"He was there when I really needed him. I had no one, and he was there."
He nodded, noticing her retreating from him. His hand felt cold without hers wrapped around it.
She wrapped her arms around her middle, her eyes unfocused.
"Because everyone found out about your lie," he stated.
She nodded, not looking at him. He could see the shame on her face.
"Elizabeth, you didn't-"
"No, I deserved everything I got, Jason. I deserved more, actually."
"Elizabeth, it wasn't me," he said simply.
She looked at him, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
He stood straight, and walked over to her, standing right in front of her. He slid a piece of hair behind her ear, and looked into her eyes.
"You don't have to feel guilty about it, because I understand."
"Do you, Jason? Do you know why I did what I did?" she asked, her hands moving without thought to rest on his chest.
He nods, "I do," he whispers, his hands on her face, his thumbs slowly caressing her cheeks. His eyes moved from her eyes to her lips, and started moving toward them.
The beeping from the coffee maker disrupted the moment, and Elizabeth pulled back, blinking fast, her breathing labored.
"Your coffee's ready, "she says shakily, turning toward the coffeemaker.
He takes a shaky breath, his eyes closing to calm himself down.
"You know what, I'm gonna head out."
She turns around, not looking at him, "Oh, o-ok,"
He tries to catch her eyes, but she avoids them. After a moment, he nods and walks to the door, opening it before saying, "I'll see you later."
As the door closes, Elizabeth lets out a long, shaky breath, bringing her hand to her forehead.
"What am I doing?" she asked herself, "You love Franco. You are marrying Franco. You want a life with Franco," she scolded.
"Then why did that feel so right?" she said, tears sliding down her cheeks.
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