From the moment he stepped into the studio, Jason has been stunned into silence, taking in all the changes she had made to her studio in an attempt to make it a home. Elizabeth began to grow nervous as he simply stood in the middle of the room, looking at each and every change she had made.

"I, uh..." she laughs nervously. "I told you I made a lot of changes."

"Yeah." he says simply, looking at her curiously. "I can see that."

"You don't like it?"

"I didn't say that." he walks over to her, smiling slightly. "Sometimes change is good."

"So...you do like it?" she questions with uncertainty. "Be honest, Jason."

"Is it important that I feel one way or the other?" Jason counters, trying to see the truth behind her inquiry.

"Well...yeah." she concedes, meeting his eyes with seriousness etched in hers. "This studio is as much your as it is mine. I want you to like it."

"Okay." Jason shakes his head, glad that she saw it the way he saw it. "Then, yeah, I like it."

"Really?" she looks hopeful, a bright light shining through her eyes. "You really like it?"

"Yeah." he turns away from her, walking over to sit on the couch. "The fact that you left the couch here is my favorite part."

"Good." she lets out the breath she had not realized she was holding. "I'm glad."

"So, tell me..." he pats the spot next to him on the couch, continuing once she's seated. "What other changes have you made?"

"Hmm, lets see." she ticks away changes in her mind. "I think you pretty much know everything."

"No other changes that I need to know about?"

"Nope." she shakes her head. "Well...maybe there's one thing."

"What thing?"

"I'm not really friends with Emily and Nikolas anymore." she concedes. "Johnny and Francis pretty much sum up the friends I have."

"What happened with Em?"

"She doesn't like the changes I've made to my life." she says simply. "Its okay, though...I've learnt to accept it."

Though she says she's okay with it, Jason could see that the loss of her friendships have hit her hard, but she's trying to act like it doesn't bother, like always. No matter how hard something hits her, no matter how much it hurts, she always finds it necessary to act strong because its what she thinks people expect from her. Which wasn't the case with him, but he won't call her out on it, not right now.

"I'm sorry." he says with complete sincerity. "I know that the two of you were as close as friends could be."

"Yeah...we were." she shakes her head of the emotions that cloud them. "Anyway, why don't you tell me about your time away? How was Italy?"

He knew that she was changing the subject and he'll let her. It was evident that she wasn't ready to handle the loss of her friendships and he won't let her face them until she's ready. For now, he'll indulge her curiosities and tell her about his time away, about all the places he had made it to. About Italy.

Hours would pass before they finally realize how late it had gotten, prompting Jason to rise to his feet before preparing to leave. A part of him wanted to stay, but he didn't want to push things too far. No matter how feels about the fact she had kicked Lucky out of her life, even though she didn't know he'd be coming back, Jason had to respect that they still had things to work out. Only Elizabeth had another belief entirely.

"Jason." she stops him from opening the door by blocking his path. "Don't go."

"Elizabeth..."

"Like I said...this place is ours." she says seriously, staring up into his eyes. "Stay here...stay with me."

"I don't think that's such a good..."

Elizabeth knew that he was going to back out, that he was going to do the respectful thing, only that was the farthest thing from what she wanted. Since he popped back into her life out of nowhere, going as far as buying a building with her, Elizabeth began to believe that this was her chance. That it was now or never, she had to put her all in it or let him walk away forever.

So, not knowing what else to do, she grabs a chunk of his jacket in each hand, pulling him to her with a strong tug before slamming her lips into his to shut him up. She wants him to stay with her and she refuses to let his respectable ways get in the way of that. She wants him and she intends to get just that.

"Stay here, Jason." she insists, pulling away slightly, their lips still just a breath apart. "Stay with me."

"Elizabeth..." he tries to think past her name, but the kiss had taken all ability to process any thought at all.

"Every time I let you walk out of this studio, I hated myself because all I wanted was for you to stay." Elizabeth says seriously, making him meet her eyes. "I won't make that mistake again, Jason. Please, say you'll stay."

Reaching up, gently caressing her cheek in his hand, Jason was truly captivated by the emotions flooding her eyes. It was a look that he had only seen in glimpses, but never before had he seen it so vibrant, so raw and real. Unable to deny her much of anything at that moment, he takes a deep breath and whispers 'okay'.

Licking his lips slightly, he claims hers with his, deepening the kiss slightly but being sure to not let it go too far. Tonight wasn't something he had planned, wasn't something he foresaw, but he can deal with it. He can tweak his plans to accommodate it because, after all, she's happy. Which, in turn, makes him a very happy man.