Disclaimer: Anything remotely recognizable as being a part of the cannon General Hospital.

Claiming any artistic creativity thought up by yours truly. Copy Writers be fore shamed.


~*~
BREATHE
~*~

Until Jason's done with setting up the security for the cottage, her studio remains their home, something both of them didn't mind in the least. Sitting by the window, trying to think of something to paint, Elizabeth waits for Jason to come back home, unable to hide the fact that she was itching for their impending ride to nowhere. First stop, of course, is Zander's birthday dinner, but then the night will be theirs. Just the way they liked it.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

"Yeah?" she calls out, smiling slightly when her new guard, Max, sticks his head in.

"A Ms. Sarah Webber to see you." he says simply, but the look on his face told her enough. The Sarah affect has gotten to him, too, and he didn't like her one bit.

"Show her in." Elizabeth says as she rises to her feet. "But don't close the door all the way...in case I need you."

"Of course." Max shakes his head before opening the door for her sister.

"Sarah." Elizabeth says in greeting when Max closes the door slightly.

"Lizzie." she says with a smile. "Long time no see."

"Not long enough." Elizabeth counters, folding her arms across her chest. "What are you doing here?"

"I've missed Gram." Sarah defends. "Its my hometown, too, Lizzie. I have every right to be in Port Charles as you do."

"That's great and all, but that's not what I asked. What are you doing here?" Elizabeth gestures to her studio. "In my studio."

"Oh...well, I just wanted to see you." she shrugs, glancing around the studio. "No offence, Lizzie, but this place is horrid."

"I like it fine." she says plainly. "And I didn't ask for your opinion."

"Sheesh, I wasn't trying to be crude."

"Sure." she refrains from rolling her eyes. "Why don't you just get to the point of your visit so you can leave?"

"Fine." Sarah states. "If you want to be like that, then, fine."

"Spit it out."

"I wanted you to know, before you heard from anyone else, that me and Lucky are together." Sarah says with a smug smile. "He loves me and I love him...I'm sorry if that bothers you on any level, but that's how it is."

"Okay."

"Okay?" Sarah looks at her like she grew another head. "That's it? Just okay?"

"What do you want me to say, Sarah?" Elizabeth counters, eyeing her intently. "If you two love each other, have at it. I couldn't care less."

"Liar."

"Contrary to what everyone believes, Lucky's not my entire life." Elizabeth states. "I've moved on and if he's moved on with you...so be it. I've got bigger and better things to think about than your relationship with my ex-boyfriend."

"Like what?" Sarah counters. "Or should I ask, like who?"

"Like him." Elizabeth says with a soft smile when she sees Jason standing in the doorway.

"Jason Morgan?" Sarah spits out when she spins around to see who Elizabeth was looking at. "You're with Jason Morgan, Lizzie?"

"Yeah." she says matter-of-factly when he moves to stand beside her. "And we'd like to be alone...so, there's the door."

"You've been reckless before, Lizzie, but this..." Sarah scoffs, shaking her head in superiority. "...sleeping with a mob enforcer...that's a new low. Even for you."

"Thanks for stopping by, Sarah." Elizabeth states, showing her to the door. "Do us both a favor and don't do it again."

Smiling slightly at Max, she shuts the door in Sarah's face as she was about to say something further, turning around to face her boyfriend that remained unusually silent throughout the whole exchange with her sister. Sure, he remains quiet with almost everyone, but he usually pipes up when she's being criticized or attacked.

"You okay?" he says softly, taking her hands into his.

"Me?" she looks at him confusedly. "I was gonna ask you the same question."

"Why?"

"Well, you were really quiet." she says like it was obvious. "More so than usual."

"I didn't want to risk shooting your sister." he says simply. "Even if her voice is reason enough to want to do it."

"You're too sweet." she laughs softly, leaning up and kissing him softly. "We should get going."

"Do we have to?" he counters, moving her back so she was flush against the door. "Why can't we just stay in?"

"We told Em we were going to show up."

"So? I'll buy her something really expensive to make up for it." Jason suggests, gently caressing her face with one hand. "I really don't want to go."

"Me either." she takes a deep breath, captivated by the deep emotions playing in his eyes. "But we gave our word."

"We'll tell her you got sick or something."

"She'll think I'm pregnant."

"People get sick all the time." Jason says after recomposing himself, having been stunned for a moment at the mention of her and being pregnant. "Not just pregnant women."

"But that's what she'll think if we duck out at the last minute." Elizabeth points out, reaching up to caress his face like he was doing to her. "Ten minutes, tops. Okay?"

"Okay." he sighs, leaning in and kissing her soundly before pulling away. "Ten minutes."

"Thank you."

"What if I said I'll let you drive if we can skip the dinner?" Jason suggests, helping her into her jacket.

"I'd say that you're completely unfair." she laughs softly, taking his hand in hers. "It won't be that bad, you'll see."

"Sure."

Heading to the birthday dinner, Elizabeth and Jason arrive just as guests are being seated at the table. Emily's eyes lit up immediately when they walked through the door, rushing into her best friend's arms before switching to her brother's waiting embrace. She had doubted if they'd actually show up, but was glad that they kept true to their word. Something both Elizabeth and Jason could see as clear as day.

"You were right." Jason says, watching his sister walk back over to Zander to pull him over to them. "I'm glad we came."

"I knew you would be." she smiles slightly. "Still want to leave after ten minutes."

"Yes." he says seriously. "Not a minute more."

"Okay." she laughs softly. "Ten minutes."

Just as Zander and Emily are walking over to the two of them, the door opens up and in walks Sonny and Carly, shocking more than just Jason and Elizabeth to see them there. Zander moves to stand in front of Sonny, more than shocked that he was standing there, with a smile on his face no less.

"Happy Birthday, man." Sonny says, smiling slightly when Carly hands over the birthday gift they shopped for.

"T-Thanks." Zander shakes his head, handing off the gift to Emily before shaking Sonny's hand. "I'm glad you both could make it."

"We're glad we could make it, too." Sonny says softly before guiding Carly to the table.

"How?" Zander turns his focus to Emily.

"Lets just say that I can be persuasive if I have to be." Emily shrugs, leaning in and kissing him softly. "Happy birthday, babe."

"Thanks." Zander smiles slightly, truly humbled by the turn out for his birthday, having expected no one to show up.

"Has it been ten minutes yet?" Jason leans over, whispering into Elizabeth's ear.

"Stop it." she laughs softly, taking his hand in hers. "Its only been two minutes. You'll be fine...come on."

"Sonny." Jason greets his best friend, shaking his hand before hugging Carly.

"Hi, Sonny." Elizabeth accepts the hug from Sonny before turning to Carly. "Carly."

"Muffin." she says simply. "Nice outfit. Even for you."

"Thanks." Elizabeth shrugs before looking her over. "A little less extravagant as far as a Carly dress goes, but I guess you still look good."

"Thanks." Carly says before nestling into Sonny's side. "So, are you moving into the penthouse?"

"Actually, no." Elizabeth concedes. "We found a different place...a place that's more us."

"Told you they would." Carly says to Sonny. "And here you thought they'd actually move in across the hall from us."

As Sonny laughs softly, Jason and Elizabeth turn to greet the other guests, well, Elizabeth greets them anyway. As the dinner starts, Jason turns to Elizabeth, hoping that she'd tell him its been ten minutes, practically jumping out of his seat when she gives him the okay.

"Come on, you guys just got here." Emily says sadly, hugging them goodbye.

"Thanks for coming." Zander says, hugging Elizabeth before shaking Jason's hand. "It meant a lot."

"We hope you have a great night." Elizabeth says softly, handing over his birthday present. "See you guys later."

Saying goodbye to the other guests, Jason and Elizabeth walk out of the small dinner party before heading to the bike, both anxious to straddle it and ride off into the night. They were nearing the bike when, of all people to run into, they run into Lucky and Sarah.

Elizabeth instinctively squeezes Jason's hand tighter, as if needing the reassurance that he was there and he wouldn't be leaving her side. But, in that small gesture, Jason's protective instincts kick into overdrive and puts him on the defense.

"Well, well, well." Lucky laughs ironically. "Look at who we have here. The two love birds."

"Come on, Lucky." Sarah tugs on his arm. "Don't make them ruin our night...we're going to Eli's remember."

"Jealous?" Lucky says to Elizabeth when she couldn't help but scoff.

"You wish." Elizabeth states, pulling Jason's arm in closer, practically hugging it while placing him slightly in front of her. "Take her to Eli's. It was more your place than ours anyway."

"Lucky, please." Sarah pleads with him, pulling on his arm, begging him to listen to her. "Lets just go enjoy our date. They're not worth your time."

"You're gonna regret leaving me for him." Lucky states, as if he didn't hear Sarah at all. "You're gonna come crawling back to me when he hurts you, but I won't take you back."

"Walk away." Jason states, trying his best to control his anger.

"How does it feel, Morgan?" Lucky spits. "Having my sloppy seconds."

And that did it. Whatever control that Jason thought he had was snapped and his fist went flying before he could stop himself. Slamming his fist into Lucky's face, Jason dropped him like a bad habit, causing Sarah to scream and drop down beside Lucky, cradling his face in her lap as she tended to his busted lip.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Sarah shouts at Jason. "He was just messing around! You didn't have to hit him."

"Next time I say to walk away, Lucky..." Jason states, glaring down at him. "Do it."

Taking his hand in hers, Elizabeth guides him to his bike before straddling it behind him and allowing him to drive them off into the night. For hours, they simply ride around town, taking the winding road more than once, going up and down and back again. Finally they end their ride on the bridge to nowhere, Jason standing by the railing while she watches him with curious eyes.

"You okay?" she asks him, slipping her hand into his.

"Are you?" he counters, turning to look at her, meeting her eyes. Continuing when she simply stares at him. "I...I never wanted you to see me like that again."

"Lucky deserved it." Elizabeth says simply. "Just like Sorrel did. Its not your fault, Jason."

"Still. I don't like it when you see me like that."

"I love you! Hey!" Elizabeth turns his face to meet hers when he looks away. "I love every part of you, you hear me? There's nothing about you that makes me afraid, nothing at all."

"My job..."

"Its just a job. It doesn't make you who you are. Its a part of you, yes...but it doesn't make you." Elizabeth says with conviction, placing her hand over his heart. "What you feel for me, for those you love, that's what makes you who you are. How you feel...your hopes and dreams...that's what makes you, you. Not working for Sonny."

"I love you!" he whispers, claiming her lips in a heated passionate embrace, needing to feel her body against his. "I don't know what I did to deserve you...I'm just glad I do."

"I never should have chose Lucky over you." she says seriously. "But we're together now and that's all that matters. I'm yours, Jason...always."

"I always used to say that no one owned another person...until you." Jason takes a deep breath before securing his arms around her. "I'm yours, Elizabeth...always."


Reviews politely encouraged! :D Hope you enjoyed!