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Chapter 11

They were clapping as the first half of the show ended. There would be a brief intermission before the next wave of performers took the stage. Georgie was opening the second half, and Epiphany was closing the show. General Hospital's Head Nurse had to go last because she was that good. Once the show was over Ned would track her down and once again offer her a recording contract, which she would decline. He wasn't going to give up though.

"It never fails to amaze me just how many talented people we have in this city." Liz said taking her seat again.

"It never fails to amaze me how many people you get to perform every year." Lila didn't know how Elizabeth and Lucy did it.

"I don't do most of the work. That is Lucy. People often say yes to her so that she will go away." Liz said laughing. Their MC was persistent that was for sure. "Right Georgie." Liz said with a smirk.

"I was a minor too. What were my parents thinking?" Georgie said being dramatic as she thought back on her first performance. If Lucy got you to perform once then you could be sure the next year she would be back asking you to take the stage again. About half the performers at each Nurses' Ball were regulars. "I'm wondering if she broke any child labor laws."

"That wouldn't stop Lucy." AJ said not bothering to hold back his snark. She had been his stepmother, briefly. When his father divorced her they had thrown a party. He was kind of jealous that Jason couldn't remember that.

Liz was laughing at the face Jason's brother was making. The history between Lucy and the Quartermaine's was common knowledge. Elizabeth looked over her shoulder and smiled before waving. "Hi." She said getting to her feet in time for a big hug. "You look amazing." Sarah was in a bright, bold red gown with medium straps that formed a sweetheart neckline. The structured silhouette hid her burgeoning baby bump. She had called before buying the gown to make sure they wouldn't be in the same color. Red was a hue they could both pull off. Her silver accessories gave sparkle to the outfit.

"Says the woman everyone is talking about." Sarah turned her sister so she could see the entire look. Only part of that gossip was about the dress. "I'm stealing her for a moment." She told the table.

"Before I follow you, let me introduce you to Jason." Liz could tell her sister wanted to gab.

"Hi." Sarah shook his hand and smiled wide. She had actually treated him a few times in the ER, but they'd never had a conversation outside the hospital. Not that she expected them to now.

"Hello." Jason looked between the two women. They didn't really look much alike except for eye color. He remembered the doctor from the hospital, but never would have pegged her as Elizabeth's sister. Since they didn't have the same last name, nor had they run a background check on Patrick, the connection never came to light.

"I'll bring her back." Sarah said before pulling her sister away. She didn't head to the ladies room because it would be packed. There wouldn't be any room to sit and have a quick check in. Instead she found a corner in the lobby of the ballroom. "Tell me everything."

"I don't have time to tell you everything." Liz told her sister. "I will tell you that the date went amazingly well, and tonight is going great. We haven't really had a chance to talk much this evening because we are at a table with a number of his family members, but every time I look at him he's been looking at me. It makes me feel all fluttery." Liz couldn't describe it better than that.

Sarah clapped in happiness. "I so know that feeling. Now let me just say from a strictly physical viewpoint, he's hot. I'm not into blondes but I have to give it to you, girl you done good!" She was so happy for her sister.

Liz couldn't help it she started laughing. "Let us get through the trip before you start planning our wedding."

"I've been watching you from my table." Sarah admitted with a sly grin. "Patrick commented that I should have put some binoculars in my bag so I didn't miss anything. I have enjoyed watching him watch you. It has been noted by some of the jealous ladies, and one jealous male, in my section that he hasn't come to one of these functions since before his accident. Now he's here with you." Sarah ended with a wide smile. "I am predicting that Ireland is going to be a success. Pack condoms."

"Sarah!" Liz said giving her sister a look.

"Don't make that face, I'm not asking for details. I'm a doctor, I have to advocate safe sex." Sarah replied with an innocent look. "You have time for blood tests."

"Actually we don't. We are leaving tomorrow. Jason has a friend in Dublin who asked that everyone come over a few days early." Liz updated her sister on her travel plans.

"Even more time with the hunkalicious Jason Morgan. Nice." Sarah's grin turned a bit wicked. "You could go to the hospital after the ball and I can call in the results." While she was messing with her sister, she really did want to know that Jason was safe. This night of all nights highlighted why it was important to know your partner's sexual history.

"I just got a physical a couple of months ago. However I can promise you that before anything happens we will sit down and talk." It was easy to give her sister these words because Liz didn't take chances with her health.

"Good to know. Pack the condoms anyway. It never hurts to have some on hand." Sarah said in her big sister voice. Although Liz was really smart and if she opted not to use them then it was because Jason had earned that trust.

"Already done." Liz finally admitted. "I got a variety pack because I don't know what kind he likes."

"You trust him to stop if you ask?" This was something else Sarah just wanted to check on. She would bury Jason herself if he hurt her sister. At some point tonight that message would be passed along.

"I do trust him." Liz looked at her sister. "I know it's fast."

"It's the Webber superpower kicking in." Sarah reached out and took her sister's hand in hers. "I trust your trust in him."

"You are still going to threaten him though." Liz knew her sister well.

"Of course. Otherwise I get kicked out of the big sister league." Sarah said like it was a no brainer. "The orchestra is playing." Which meant it was time to return to the ballroom. "We will chat more later."

"Definitely." Liz said getting to her feet to head back to her date.

"Why are you grinning at me?" Jason asked his brother. They were walking to the bar to get drinks. A beer for him and a diet soda for AJ. No one else at the table wanted anything.

"You and Liz, huh?" The eldest Quartermaine child's grin got a little wider. "You make a cute couple. How did I miss this? More importantly how did Keesha miss this? She does a lot of work with Grandmother's foundation, and by extension Liz." Keesha ran the Mary Mae Ward Foundation which had been established to honor her deceased grandmother. Keesha was thrilled to see Jason arrive with Liz.

"Do you spend a lot of time worried about my social life?" Jason wanted to know. He was just messing with his brother, so the answer to his question was surprising.

"Yes." AJ said being semi-serious. "Having made some monumentally stupid choices in my life I was kind of worried you would as well." He said with a shrug. Young men with more money than common sense sometimes found themselves in some sticky situations. Although he could admit that Jason was more grounded than he had been at the same age. Not that there was a lot of years between them, but even before the accident Jason had been the one to look before leaping. If AJ had been more like his brother that horrible night never would have occurred.

"I had no intention of sinking to the level of Courtney." Jason said messing with his brother. While he had not always made the best choice when choosing dates, he hadn't married any of them.

AJ could only wince at that. She had been a mistake on every conceivable level. No one in the family liked her, not even Grandmother. Jason's remark stung a bit more because shortly after AJ married Courtney it became clear that she really wanted his brother. Who was not the least bit interested in her. "I let sympathy for the fact that she had just lost Sonny go entirely too far."

"And she was easy. Don't leave that out." Jason commented as they walked back with their beverages. He had gotten a new glass of wine for Elizabeth. Her other one was warm now.

"Yeah." AJ just shook his head. "Learn from my mistakes. Keep Liz."

"She's not a pet." Jason said with a smirk. "If there is keeping involved it will be of each other. I can clearly see the difference between her and the other women I've been dating. I can also admit that before now I wasn't really looking for a relationship. Elizabeth makes me want that."

AJ nodded. He got it. Keesha had done that for him. Their biggest obstacle had been the fact that her past with Jason made some family members think she just wanted a rich husband. Dating brothers wasn't exactly a common thing. Monica had been the one to help Keesha over that. His parents didn't always get it right, but his mother had hit a grand slam that day. "At least you know you will have Grandmother's seal of approval."

"Which lets me know I'm getting it right." Jason said finishing up the conversation as they reached the table. Looking over he saw Elizabeth come back into the ballroom. It took a few moments for her to reach his side because people kept stopping her. "Did you have a good chat with your sister?" He asked holding out her chair. Odds were good they had talked about him.

"I did." Liz said with a slick grin. "Thank you for the wine." She took a seat and let him push her chair back in.

"You're welcome." Jason could feel confirmation of everything he said to AJ when Elizabeth was near him. He did want more. Wanted to see just how deep their instant connection went. He had a feeling it was going to change everything.

Liz gave him a smile before forcing her eyes to the stage. Lucy was back up and introducing Georgie. Elizabeth would watch her friend's number before going back to sneaking peeks at her date. The one who she was pretty sure was going to be a permanent part of her life going forward.

Georgie got a standing ovation and round of hugs when she returned to the table. With her seated the entire table turned their attention back to the stage. Again the level of talent among the staff was staggering as they once more put on a wonderful show. After Epiphany brought down the house with her nurses backing her up, Lucy took to the stage to thank everyone for coming. She was walking off, and folks were thinking that the curse was broken when the skirt of her gown snagged on something. She realized it too late because she was still moving forward. The resulting ripping of fabric could be heard around the entire ballroom as their hostess ended up on stage in her underwear.

"I win!" Keesha said as the ladies at the table burst out laughing as the guys just looked confused.

"Win what?" Jason was averting his eyes from the stage. He had no desire to see Ms. Coe in her underwear.

"We had a bet going as to what color Lucy's underwear was going to be. I picked purple." Keesha was not a fan of the CEO of Coe Coe Cosmetics.

"Who would have expected that she would wear the same color two years in a row?" Liz had picked blue.

"Grandmother were you involved in this?" Ned wanted to know.

"Yes, I picked red." Lila said shrugging. "I too didn't think she would wear purple two years in a row. It's not really a color that is suited to her."

"If we want to be technical she's wearing lavender." Georgie said to cause trouble.

"Still in the purple family." Keesha said dancing in her chair. "I will expect you all to pay up by the end of next week."

"What is the ante?" Jason asked Elizabeth.

"One hundred dollars each. This year the money goes into the Flu fund." Liz explained to the table at large, although the other guys knew.

"Flu fund? As in Flu prevention?" Jason wanted to know.

"Yes. Our money will pay the fee that it costs for the nurse to come out and administer the vaccinations." Each year the money went to a different fund. Last year the money went to buy winter supplies like coats for those who needed them. Whichever fund needed the money was where it went. The Mary Mae Ward Foundation had gotten a massive donation so they were good on warm clothing. "Because it goes to such a good cause I won't pout about losing. Much." Liz looked back at the stage to see if someone was trying to get her attention. There wasn't anyone peeking out from the wings which meant Lucy didn't need any assistance.

"The dance floor is open." Lois said grabbing her husband's hand. "Excuse us."

"Hi." Elton came over. "Georgie let's go dance, and make fun of the non-beautiful people."

"Does your guy not dance?" Georgie asked getting to her feet. Hanging out with Elton was always a riot. She knew him well because he sat on the board of the foundation.

"Not only does he not dance, but he doesn't even show up for the date." Elton explained. "Last minute out of town emergency."

Georgie knew that his partner was a structural engineer who often worked on projects around the globe. "That just means more Elton for me."

"That's why I love you." He said ushering her out onto the dance floor.

"Edward, I'd like to do some socializing." Lila would make a round of the room and then call it a night. "Behave." She said looking at the young people left at the table.

"Why?" AJ was laughing as he got to his feet. "Shall we?"

"Absolutely." Keesha said standing as well.

AJ shot his brother a look and tilted his head.

"Would you like to dance?" Jason was not a fan of dancing in public. Also the dance floor was packed.

"Not really. There are a lot of people over there." Liz gave the floor a nonplussed look. She rarely danced at this event. "Maybe later?" She hoped she wasn't disappointing him.

"I'm not going to complain about sitting here with you. I finally have you all to myself after I had to share you all night." Jason said giving her a smile.

"I won't complain either." Liz let him know. The night had been wonderful so far, and now it looked to be getting even better. "We don't have to stay here. We can sit in the lobby of the ballroom if you like. It's a little quieter." They would be shouting soon because the DJ was really cranking out the dance tunes.

"That sounds like an even better idea." He got to his feet and helped her up. When she was standing he didn't let her hand go and she didn't try to take it away which he really liked. Outside the ballroom they found that they weren't the only ones thinking along those lines but they still found a quiet corner to sit and talk. He was looking forward to coming conversation.

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