A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you're sticking with me.

Chapter 21

The door is thrust open and Carly marches into Liz's office.

"You have some nerve stealing business from me!"

Liz smirked. "At least I'm not laying on my back to do it."

Carly growled. "I hate you so much! That deal was mine!"

"What happened, Carly? Did you offer to go down on him and Victor kicked you out?" Felix said.

"You asshole!"

Liz stood. "Carly, you have stolen several accounts from me by sleeping with people, payback is fair play."

"I'm already having a lawyer look into this. You're going to be sorry for messing with me, muffin face."

"I am sorry, because now I'll have to have my office decontaminated."

"Bite me."

"Not without getting a few shots first."

Carly clenched her fist.

"What is going on in here?" AJ asked. He could hear their voices from down the hallway.

"Ask your bitchy friend. I'm out of here."

"Thank God," Felix said as Carly practically stomped past the doorway.

AJ crossed his arms. "Alright, what happened now?"

"We got a client that she thought she had in the bag," Liz said.

"Who?"

"Victor Newman."

AJ didn't say a word for a long moment. "What are you doing for Victor?"

Felix sighed. "This is all my fault. He wants to throw a party for Abby to apologize."

AJ rolled his eyes. "Great."

"If you want me to turn him down…" Liz said.

"No. You need the money and if Abby wants to forgive him, I'm not going to stand in her way."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I came to talk to you for a minute, if you have time."

Felix went back to his desk.

"What's going on?"

"I just wanted to check on you because of the meeting."

"I'm fine—we're fine."

He slightly smiled. "Good."

"What about you?"

"I—it's going to be hard to step back, but I'll do it for him."

"You know, he has regrets where you are concerned too. Maybe you both need to just let it go and not let it eat away at you."

He kissed her on the forehead. "I could use a hug."

She threw her arms around him. "I miss your hugs."

A throat cleared from the doorway and she grinned when she peeked around AJ and glimpsed the jealous look on Jason's face.

"Jason is standing behind us, isn't he?"

Her body shook as she cracked up.

AJ dropped his arms. "I'm backing away—slowly." He turned on his heel and Jason didn't move. "She's laughing because she clearly is having some kind of mental breakdown."

Elizabeth smacked him on the back. "Hey!"

Jason finally moved forward. "Should I come back later?"

"No!" AJ said.

"Elizabeth?"

"Well, I wasn't finished my hug."

Her hands are on her hips with a big smile on her face and Jason shakes his head.

"You're going to be the death of me."

She winked. "But what a way to go."

AJ grimaced at her flirting. "Okay, I'm leaving. Pretend I wasn't here." Before he could clear the door, Jason called out.

"AJ, are you up for lunch tomorrow?"

"I think that's doable."

"Good. Meet me at the Metro Court at 1:30."

"Later."

Elizabeth slid her hands up Jason's chest. "Hey."

"I can't leave you alone for five minutes and your hugging on another guy."

"Well, I hope you've learned your lesson and will never leave me alone again." Her hands stop when they reach the back of his neck. Pulling him closer, she stood on her toes and kissed him passionately. "I missed you."

He stared at her with hooded eyes. How he had lived without her mouth before, he'll never figure out, but he really doesn't want her to think it's all about sex no matter how good it is. While he does want her all the time, it is how she fills all the gaping holes in his heart that really sets her apart. He craves everything; hearing her voice, her dreams—her needs. Seeing her beautiful smile makes him stand a little straighter and protect her from anyone who dares to wipe it off.

"What are you thinking?"

"About how special you are to me."

She blushed. "Jason…"

"No, it's true. I need you to know that this is more than just physical for me."

"I feel the same way."

"I wanted to discuss our living situation. I feel like I have totally disrupted your life."

"Are you tired of me?"

"No. I want you with me, but I don't want to be selfish."

"I don't mind staying with you. In fact, I like waking up to this face every morning." She lightly traced her finger down his cheek.

"The feeling is mutual. Can I help you pay for your apartment?"

"Absolutely not! There are going to be times where you might need to go on a business trip, so I'll just stay at my place or something."

"I just don't want you to feel like your baby sitting me."

"I don't feel that way at all. I know we are moving really fast, but Jason, when you have nightmares, I want to be the one to hold you and calm you down. If something bad had happens to me, I know you won't leave my side."

"I wouldn't."

"There might be times that I need to paint and I'll stay there so I can finish up, but I'll try to make sure I come home to you when I can. We'll work it out."

He started to thank her and she touched his lips.

"No more thanking me. Now, what are you doing for dinner."

He smiled. "Well, that's another reason I'm here. My parents want to take us out."

Her brow quirked. "Really?"

"Are you okay with that?"

"Sure. I mean, I know they probably want to make sure I'm not some crazy bimbo like Carly."

"I don't really think they had that in mine, but if they do anything to make you feel uncomfortable, then we'll leave."

"You are so lucky. My parents are God knows where, so you don't have to be on the other end of this."

He grinned. "I'm just a lucky guy."

"Kiss me so I can get back to work."

"Yes, dear." He held her face as he tasted her, making the kiss slow and hot. "We're having dinner at a small Italian place."

"Okay. See you later."

"See you later, Webber."

She watched him walk away.

"Stop looking at my butt."

She laughed as he disappeared into the hallway. "He is so getting laid tonight," she said softly before moving back to her desk.

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Jason went back to the car and as soon as he slipped in, the radio hosts are discussing the bombing. It was some segment on where were you when it happened. He listened for a minute and then switched the channel and leaned his head back and the next thing he knew, he could smell the bomb and he was laying on the ground in Paris. He started trying to silently talk to himself, saying it isn't real, but he had already begun to sweat.

Felix noticed him and shut his car door and went to Jason's car and looked in the window. "Shit." He got in on the passenger side. "Jason?"

Jason's body jerked.

"You need to fight this. Come on. You can do it."

Jason tried willing his eyes open and when the second bomb blast went off, his body lurched forward and he gripped the steering wheel as he breathed heavily.

"It's okay."

He jumped a mile, not realizing that someone is with him. "Felix?"

"I saw you struggling, so I got inside. Are you okay? Can I get you some water?"

Jason rested his head against the seat. "I'll be fine."

"If you want me to drive you somewhere, I can."

"It's okay."

"You know, I have this fear of being caught in last year's fashion and they plaster my picture everywhere and then everyone is laughing." He turned towards Jason who is staring at him with his mouth slightly open. "I know….it's horrible right?"

Jason starts to laugh and Felix grins.

"Gotcha."

"Why do I have a feeling that isn't far from the truth?"

Felix shrugged. "I just wanted to make you laugh."

"Well, mission accomplished. Thank you, Felix." He felt a little better, like a lot of pressure had been released.

"And what happens in this car stays in this car."

"I'd appreciate that."

"You good?"

"I think so."

"Good. I can't have anything happen to you because my girl is happy and I want it to stay that way."

"She told you that she is happy?"

"She doesn't even have to say it. The way she looks at you says it all." With that, he slipped out of the car and went on his way and Jason took a deep breath and pulled out of the parking lot.

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Emily opened the door to Johnny's apartment. "Hey."

Adam slightly smiled. "Hello."

"Come in." Emily slowly moves to the kitchen. She's a little nervous because Adam knows everything. Johnny doesn't even know the level Logan had sunk too, but she doesn't want to put that confession off much longer.

"These are obviously for you." He hands her some flowers.

She chuckled. "Thank you. They are beautiful." After placing them on the counter and admiring them for a moment, she sets her gaze on him again.

"I think about you every day."

Tears prick her eyes. "Oh Adam…"

"I didn't say that to make you feel bad. I just want you to know that people are rooting for you."

"That means a lot to me."

"No matter what you told me, I think you're a remarkable woman and I don't want things to be awkward between us." He hates that he can even remotely be a reminder to her.

"Neither do I."

He followed her into the living room so she could sit.

"It's hard reconciling everything, but I'm getting help now and Johnny has been wonderful."

"That's because he loves you."

Her mouth drops open and he silently kicks himself.

"I didn't mean—you're important to him."

"Has he ever said those words?"

"No, we're not that close, but he cares so much about you and to me, that's love. I don't have many friends. AJ is just about it, so I value the people I have around me."

"What about your family?"

"It hasn't been easy. They hated me, but I think Abby and maybe Victoria are coming around a little."

"I'm sorry. I—I'll be your friend too, if you'll let me." Everyone deserves a chance and she regrets that she had pre-judged him.

He slightly smiled. "I'm telling you right now, I don't do chick flicks."

She laughed and it is the best thing he has heard all day. "I'll see what I can do about that, but I know for a fact, that AJ watches them for Elizabeth."

He rubs his hand on top of his pants. "Hmmm., if you haven't kicked me out in six months, I'll think about it, but only on special occasions."

She holds out her hand. "It's a deal."

He shakes it.

"So, Adam, are you dating anyone?"

"Why? Are you going to try and hook me up with some friends?"

"No. I just thought, if we're going to be friends, I should know more about you."

"I'm kind of with Claudia."

Her head tilts. "Really?"

"Yes. We haven't defined it, but it's good." Claudia is slowly trusting him and letting him and he is trying to do the same.

"She reached me when no one else could and I'll always be grateful for that."

"She's a good person, she just not always soft on the outside."

"Well, that's because of everything she has been through. Do you know?"

He averted his gaze. "I do know some things and it makes me want to hurt her father."

"I understand. You're going to need a lot of patience. When you're abused, you don't always believe you deserve things. I think you understand that."

"I do."

"Then maybe you can help each other."

"I hope you let Johnny help you too."

Emily blushed.

"I'm sorry, I know you're not even remotely ready, but don't count him out. He's a good guy."

"I know. Thank you for looking out for us. I promise that I will never say never."

"Good. So, you'll need to be patience with me too. My social skills kind of suck."

She grinned. "Well, then we'll just have to work on that."

Johnny ran into the apartment and almost skidded to a stop. "Hey."

Adam stood. "Hey. I was just leaving."

"I'm just running in to get a USB drive I forgot. Don't leave on my account."

"I have a meeting."

Emily slowly rose to her feet and moved closer to Adam. "Thank you for the flowers and for wanting to be a friend."

"You're welcome."

Unexpectedly, she hugged him and Adam looked at Johnny before gently patting her back.

"Get used to that too, I'm a hugger."

"You drive a hard bargain."

"Later…"

"See ya."

He left and Johnny's gaze drifted to the flowers and then back to her.

"Relax, he was just being sweet."

When his eyes narrowed, she laughed. Just the idea of her with another man drove him crazy.

"But, I think we do need to have a talk later."

Johnny cringed.

"I just wanted to tell you about what I told Adam more in depth. I don't want there to be any secrets between us."

"Okay. I'll bring home dinner."

"Thank you."

He kissed her on her forehead and then left.

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Abby smiled when AJ entered her office. "What are you doing here?" They hugged and she shut the door.

"I wanted to give you a heads up."

Her eyes narrowed. "What did my father do now?"

"Apparently, he's planning a party for you."

Her head tilted. "Really?"

"Elizabeth and Felix got the design job."

"I don't even know what to say."

"He's your father, so I understand that you might want to forgive him."

She sighed. "It's not that simple. I've watched him turn Adam's life upside down and interfere with Nick and Victoria's lives as well. It got really ugly fast. Eventually, he's forgiven and thinks it's water under the bridge. The last time, because he was having health issues, everyone felt sorry for him and let his interference go." She rolls her eyes. "I don't know what to do. I love him, but I don't like him very much right now."

AJ sat across from her. "I've been there and my relationship with my grandfather still isn't the greatest. Maybe it's sad that it just isn't important to me anymore. At some point, I had to realize that he isn't capable of loving me the way I need to be. No matter what I achieve, I think he's always waiting for me to do something disappointing or to screw up."

She moved onto his lap. "I'm sorry. You're a good man, AJ. Thank you for coming to me. If I do give him a second chance, it will be his last chance. I'm not going to let him hurt me over and over. Just because he's my dad doesn't give him the right to disrespect me."

"If you don't give him a second chance, you might question yourself and regret it later."

"I guess I have a lot of thinking to do."

"Yeah."

"Just know that I'll support you either way."

She slightly smiled. "Thank you."

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Elizabeth grinned as she brushed past Jason and strode into the penthouse.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing."

"That didn't look like nothing."

She had been imagining him naked when he opened the door, and there is no way she's going to admit that. "We're going to be late if we don't hustle. You look very handsome as usual."

He grabbed her around the waist and gave her a lingering kiss. "And you are so beautiful, Elizabeth."

"We need to leave before we get sidetracked."

He sighed. "Fine."

She grinned at the sight of a pout. "You're so cute. Come on, the faster we get there, the sooner we can come back here."

"I like the way you think, Webber."