A/N - Thanks for the reviews! The Lucky part is interesting because they were both kids. So, I like that Liz is torn about her feelings.

Chapter 11 – Quality Time

They strolled down a path in the woods.

"Elizabeth, we haven't talked about living arrangements."

She looked up at him. "I know."

"Were you going to live with your grandmother?"

"That was the plan."

"You probably should. I need to learn to stand on my own," he said leaning against a tree. "It's going to be hard though."

Elizabeth held his hand. "For me too."

"You'll promise to write?" Jason said with a smirk.

Elizabeth smiled. "Of course. I'll even send you a care package."

"As long as you're inside of it, I'll be good."

Liz blushed. "Come on," she said pulling him back on the path.

Jason smiled. He loved it when she blushed.

"So, who is going to be my guard?"

"I have a new guy, Cody Paul. He's really good."

Elizabeth nodded. "Will he follow me everywhere?"

"Yes, most of the time you won't know that he is there. He'll be discreet at the hospital. I want you to start getting used to him. So, he'll be here tomorrow to switch places with Milo.

"Okay."

Jason had been thinking a lot about Elizabeth and her safety. There wasn't a part of him that didn't want to be with her. He was still a little scared about the flashbacks and the Cassadines—not wanting her to be dragged into the middle, but the idea that she wouldn't be in his life scared him more. He was starting to get impatient with himself because he just wanted everything to be over so he could be normal again.

They walked back into the house. "Want to watch a movie?" Liz asked.

"Sure."

They sat on the couch and she flipped through some channels. "I love this movie."

"Under the Tuscan Sun, is this a chick movie?" Jason asked.

Milo snorted from the corner.

Liz chuckled. "Yes, but you get to look at a hot chick."

Jason frowned and looked at the screen. Without thinking, he said, "You're hotter."

Milo grinned as Liz blushed all the way down to her toes.

Jason glanced at him and smirked. "Sit down Milo, if I have to watch it, so do you."

Milo groaned and reluctantly sat on the other side of Elizabeth.

The movie started and after about ten minutes, Milo and Jason looked at each other and Milo rolled his eyes.

About fifteen minutes later, Francis called Milo outside and he grinned at Jason because he was rescued.

Elizabeth laid down and put her head on Jason's leg and he covered her up with a blanket. At one point, he knew she was crying. He didn't quite understand the women in the movie. The only good part is that he liked was the scenery. It was kind of depressing, but funny at the same time. Still, women were a conundrum to him.

Liz sat up and wiped her face. "Why do you look so confused?"

Jason shrugged. "I don't know. Just the women in the movie were kind of…" He started to say pathetic, but he could tell that would probably piss her off.

She watched him try to find a word and then started laughing. "Jason, it's okay if you didn't like the movie."

"I just don't think I get the movie."

"Well, maybe I can help you," She said turning to sit Indian style.

Jason thought for a moment. "The women were so depressed; like being without a man made them so sad."

Elizabeth nodded. "Well, it's not wrong to want to be loved. Maybe she just wanted it all. Her heart was broken and she felt like a failure so she tried to start over. When you feel hurt, there's a need to replace it with something good. Maybe it's a way to feel validated and realize you're worth loving. In a way, I understand that; the need to feel whole and lovable. I think in the movie, in the end she realized she could be happy on her own merit. And when she let go of all the angst and neediness, voila, a wonderful man appeared."

"So, you believe that letting go of all that hurt and pain opened her up to something good?"

"I do. Life is a journey. Sometimes really bad things happen and the rest is how we deal with it and move on or don't," Liz said pushing her hair behind her ears. "I came back to Port Charles to come to terms with my past and stand up for myself. I felt like I was hiding before. Doing something empowering is liberating; like you deciding to go to this event. You're going to face the person that caused your pain and show her that you are still standing. How awesome is that?"

Jason studied her. God, she is amazing. "You're a great person, you know that?"

Liz smiled. "Thank you. And you're not so bad yourself."

"Next time, I pick the movie though."

Liz laughed. "Fine, but if you pick a scary one, you better not make fun of me for jumping."

Jason smiled. As long as she was jumping into his arms, that was fine with him.

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Elizabeth had stared at the door for five minutes. Francis watched her from across the room wondering what the hell she was doing.

Finally Jason moved from the steps and spoke. "You need me to open it for you?"

Elizabeth whirled around. "No."

He walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You can do this."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You worry too much. They are lucky to have you."

Liz smiled. "Thanks. Maybe I'll see Robin and she can show me around." She took a deep breath."Okay, I'm ready."

Jason opened the door for her. "Knock em' dead."

Liz frowned. "Maybe that's not such a good idea."

Jason grinned. "Call me later okay."

"Okay," she said memorizing his face before she turned and got into the car.

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Cody looked into the rearview mirror. "I'm going to stay out of sight. Right now, no one knows that you are with Jason, so you should be safe. And since I'm new, they won't associate me with him."

"Okay."

Cody knew it would take a little bit of time to get used to the people around her. He parked and followed her inside. When they got upstairs she walked up to the nurse's station and was greeted by Epiphany and Cody made himself scarce.

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Robin appeared from around the corner. "Elizabeth, it's so good to see you," she said before hugging her. "Do you start today?"

She smiled. "Yes, I'm a little nervous."

"Don't be. Most of the people around here are pretty cool, but there are a few that suck."

Elizabeth saw her frown.

"Speak of the devil."

Irina Cassadine hurried towards them. "Who's this?" she asked looking Elizabeth up and down.

Robin's eyes rolled. "Elizabeth is a nurse who is starting today."

"Oh, nobody important then," she said before walking away.

"Bitch alert," Emily said coming up behind them.

Robin smiled.

"Hello Elizabeth," Emily said. "How are you?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"Great. Did you get the job?"

"Yup, I'm starting today."

Emily smiled. "Well, it's great to have you here. Maybe we can all get together after work on Friday to celebrate."

"I would love that."

Epiphany approached them and everyone scattered leaving Elizabeth alone. "Follow me."

Elizabeth's first day was pretty crazy. There was a big accident and it kept them busy all afternoon. When her shift ended, she went into the locker room to change and right as she was putting on her shoes, Irina walked in.

She unabashedly changed in front of Elizabeth. "So, I saw Matt Hunter speaking to you earlier?"

Elizabeth tried to remember who Matt was. "Oh yeah, what about it?"

Irina originally only used Matt as a way to get Patrick away from Robin, but when that didn't work, she started to get a little attached to him.

"Do you like him?"

Liz frowned. "I don't even know him enough to like him. Why do you ask? Are you two together?"

"Maybe."

"Well, I really am not interested." She stood.

Irina watched her leave. She needed to find out what the deal was with Liz, so she called her mother to see if she knew who the nurse was.

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Jason was happy to see Elizabeth walking into the house. "Hey."

She smiled back. "Hi."

"You look exhausted."

"I am."

"How did it go?"

"It was okay. Everyone was really nice except this one girl."

Jason frowned. "Who?"

"Irina."

Jason sighed. "Irina Cassadine?"

"That's right."

"I guess she'd be Sam's step-aunt."

Elizabeth frowned. "Should I be worried about her?"

Jason shrugged. "I'll have her checked out, but considering her mother is Helena who is about as sick as they come, I wouldn't trust her. Be careful what you say around her."

"I will."

Jason was not feeling good about that bit of information, but there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't make Elizabeth stop working and he didn't want to.

She could tell he wasn't happy. "Jason, don't worry. Cody is looking after me and although Irina is probably a 'mean girl', I'll handle it. I'm tougher than I look."

Jason smiled. "I know. I just worry about you."

Elizabeth sat next to him on the couch. "Did you talk with Kevin today?

"Yes, I did. I think we're making good process. I'm going to the warehouse in the morning."

"Good. Jason, what about Emily? I work with her now and I really like her. I'm scared she won't forgive me for not telling her about you."

Jason squeezed her hand. "She will forgive you, but why don't you see if she'll come with you after work tomorrow."

"Okay. Want to go for a walk before dinner?"

Jason smiled. "Come on."

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They went outside and took a little stroll. Jason walked ahead of her down a small path. He was definitely looking healthier. He had gained some weight back since Milo had been working him out.

He pulled her into an opening and they sat on a log.

"Are you nervous about going to the warehouse?"

"A little. The men look up to me and I don't want to do anything that will make them think less of me."

"I understand." She hated that he felt uneasy, but she knew it would be hard for him at first. "After a few days, I'm sure thing will get better. If you start to have a flashback, Francis will get you somewhere safe and cover for you."

Jason threw a twig. "Come on, Cody ran an errand for me and he should be back any minute."

They stood and made their way back to the house.

Cody pulled up and opened the back door.

A man jumped out with a bag. "Hello my friend," he said reaching out his hand.

Jason smiled and shook it.

"Wow, your hair is crazy long."

Jason nodded. "I know." Turning to Elizabeth he said, "Elizabeth, this is my barber, Nick. I figured I needed to do something with my hair before the dinner."

"Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"Lovely to meet you too."

Elizabeth perused him. "You're not cutting it really short are you?"

"Do you have a preference?"

"I think I'd like it a little long."

He glanced at his barber. "Whatever the lady wants." Jason was used to having it short, but considering it was very long at the moment, he figured he'd concede with it being somewhere in the middle.

They all went inside to the bathroom and Nick got to work. Elizabeth's head tipped back when he came down the stairs and smiled. "It looks good."

"Thanks."

Nick grinned. It was nice seeing Jason with a girl. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

Liz watched him leave and then turned to look at Jason, who looked absolutely hot. "I hope you don't mind me staring."

He shrugged. "It's fine."

"It looks nice," she said reaching up to touch it.

He flinched slightly and she froze, but he recovered quickly, "It's okay," he said averting his eyes. It wasn't that he was scared of her touching him. It was that it made him feel things he wasn't sure he was ready to feel.

She decided not to make a big deal about it and touched his hair; running her fingers through it. "You hungry?"

Jason nodded.

Elizabeth smiled and walked into the kitchen. "Let's eat."

Jason followed her as his heart beat a little faster.