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Chapter 53

After four days the house was almost entirely furnished. They didn't walk into a furniture store and shop for their home, instead they explored the area and if something caught their eyes they bought it. One of the last things they still needed to purchase was the bedroom set for the master suite. Nothing was making Elizabeth happy. She said she wanted their bed to be special. Jason had no idea what that meant, a bed was a bed as far as he was concerned. What he did want was for Ella to be happy.

On the fifth day in Siena they met up with Robin and Johnny for an early lunch. The other couple was already in their new home. Robin mentioned a little antique shop that was near the University. She had found several really nice pieces for the farmhouse. After lunch Elizabeth decided that the store needed to be checked out before siesta began.

"Benvenuto." The owner said smiling when they walked in.

"Grazie." Elizabeth repeated. Jason just nodded.

"I speak English." The proprietor replied. Most shop owners spoke both languages.

"My boyfriend speaks Italian if that is easier." Elizabeth mentioned. Jason was teaching her Italian but it was slow going. The shop owner just smiled. "We will look around." The owner just nodded.

"Let me know if you see anything you like." Elizabeth told Jason.

All he saw was a bunch of furniture. Still having shopped with Ella all week he knew it was important to her that he like the furniture too. Jason was struggling a bit with giving her his opinions. He had noticed that him saying he didn't like something could make her immediately change her opinion. Jason wasn't completely sure if Ella was even aware she was doing it.

Behaviors like that worried him. He wanted her to be confident in expressing herself. It would take time was what he kept telling himself. Yet in those moments all he wanted to do was fly back to Port Charles and dig up Kiefer to beat on him some more.

"Jason?" Elizabeth repeated.

"Sorry, I kind of zoned out." Jason turned to her and smiled.

"We could go if you want?" Elizabeth didn't want to bore him.

"Nope. I was just thinking. Did you find something you like?" She seemed a bit excited.

"I did, come see." She put her hand in his and led him to the back of the store.

When she touched him his body reacted. They hadn't made love since Paris. This time he was the one holding back. After the incident by the pool he need some assurances that she really was okay. So he asked her if they could wait until they had moved into the house. They did a lot of kissing and touching but nothing else.

"Do you think it will fit?" The bed was huge and while she had an eye for details measurements were not her strong suit. She had picked a couple pieces that wouldn't fit in the rooms she wanted to put them in.

"The master suite is huge baby that will be fine." Jason told her. "Tell me about it."

Elizabeth took his hand and placed it on the wood. While she explained the wood working detail he let his fingers trace the carvings. He liked the color, a deep brown. He also liked that the bed had both a headboard and a footboard. Giving it a shake it didn't even wobble, which he liked as well.

"What do you think?" Elizabeth looked up at him. She really liked it.

"I like it." What he liked most was how happy it made her. "Did you find anything else you like?"

"The bed comes with several other pieces. They are from an estate in London." She pointed out the dresser, armoire, and desk. "I thought we could get them all. Also maybe these night stands. They don't match exactly but they are very close."

"I'll go talk to the proprietor about having everything delivered."

It didn't take long and they walked out smiling. Tomorrow their bedroom would be set up and they could move into their home. She couldn't wait. As they left the owner locked the shop for the afternoon. Already the street was quiet. Not everyone went indoors to sleep but the city definitely slowed.

"Can I drive back to the hotel?" Elizabeth asked him.

"Do you want to go back? We can do some sightseeing. We haven't been to any of the museums yet. Right now they'll be pretty empty." Jason counter-offered.

"I wasn't sure you'd want to do that." In all the time she'd known him they hadn't ever gone to a museum together. She didn't offer because she knew he couldn't see the art work.

"You'll explain things to me." Jason knew he wouldn't even have to ask. She loved sharing her love of art. "We haven't gotten any art for the walls."

"I'm taking my time on that. I want special pieces." Elizabeth hadn't seen anything she liked yet.

"Will you paint something for the house and my office?" Jason wanted her in his space.

"I'd be happy to." They were at the car.

"Can I make a request?" Jason leaned in and kissed her. Touching and kissing in public was something he was becoming more comfortable with.

"Sure." She waited.

"I'd like for you to paint my grandmother's rose garden. You took several pictures during our last visit. I want that in my office." Jason missed his grandmother already.

"I was planning on doing a series. I think one for the house, one for your office and one for my office at the gallery." They had visited several times and Elizabeth was teeming with ideas for the space. She was also anxious to meet the assistant that Jason had hired. She was hoping the other woman was nice. It had been a while since she made a new friend. "But they won't be for sale."

"Thank you." He said kissing her again. "So where to?"

"Do you think Francis would mind us using his pool?" She hadn't yet seen his building.

"I know he won't. He told me that whenever we wanted to stop by we could. I can see if Cody and John are around. You haven't met John yet." Jason pulled out his phone to make the call. "All set. Cody asked us to stay for dinner. Let's go back to the hotel and get our stuff." He handed her the keys to the convertible. This would be the first time she drove since they arrived.

Elizabeth got behind the wheel and made all the correct adjustments. She was chewing on her lower lip as she looked at the GPS. Only once before had she used one. Kiefer had told her to program a drive they were taking. She hadn't done it correctly and couldn't sit properly for a week because of the bruising on her back.

The fact that she didn't know how to get around was why she hadn't wanted to drive before this moment.

Her hand was trembling as she pushed in Francis's address. Jason knew she was nervous but he couldn't figure out what was causing it. Yes she had still gotten tense when she drove back home, but this was something more. "Ella?"

"He hit me because I used the GPS wrong." She told Jason. It amazed her how many things Kiefer was connected to. "I know you won't but I've been scared to try. I don't want to be scared." She finished fiercely. "Johnny showed me how to use this model before we left. I didn't tell him why I wanted to learn but I'm guessing he knew." With a determined glare she punched in the address and the machine began calculating the route.

When she dropped her hand Jason covered it with him. "Every time you do something new or on your own you are telling him that he won't win. I'm proud of you Ella." He said smiling. "But I'm also worried." He hadn't planned to have this talk in the car. "I'm worried that you are stressing yourself. It will take time. More time than you spent with him."

"I want to be better." She told him trying not to give into the frustration.

"You are better. Baby don't you see that?" Jason wanted her to see what he saw.

"I know, it's just that you deserve someone without so many issues." She smacked the steering wheel.

Jason turned her to face him. "I deserve someone who loves me. And Ella that's you. I have never in my life been loved this much. I'm so grateful for you." He leaned forward and kissed her again. "I love you Ella. And what you are struggling with will get better."

"Will you drive? I wanted to but I'm shaking really bad now." She leaned against him. She was frustrated and angry.

"Okay. If you are feeling better you can drive us back to the hotel after dinner." Jason got out of the car and she moved into the passenger seat. "Let's go get our stuff.

They were pulling out of the space when she spoke again. "Jason?"

"Yeah?" He asked looking over briefly.

"Thank you for letting me talk and for hearing me when I do." Elizabeth gave him a small smile.

Jason had to swallow around the lump in his throat. He was so incredibly proud of her. He wondered if she had any clue just how strong she really was? Or that she left him in awe? "You're welcome." Was all he could say. It was all that was necessary.


They arrived at the high rise and Elizabeth really liked it. They checked in at the security desk before heading up to Cody's unit. John was meeting them down by the pool. At the door Jason knocked.

"Hey guys, come in." Cody stepped back so they could enter.

"You went shopping." Jason joked. Cody had been saying he didn't need furniture. That his air mattress was enough. The former soldier hated to shop.

"Not really. I walked into the store and brought the display items." Someone had taken the time to arrange the rooms so he just took advantage of that.

"It looks lovely." Elizabeth told her friend. "Have you had any guests yet?"

"John's been over a few times." He and the younger man were becoming good friends.

"Just John?" Jason asked with a knowing grin. He had heard from Johnny over lunch that most of Cody's neighbors were women. Robin had already stated that her boyfriend could not visit alone. Jason figured Elizabeth would feel the same.

"I've had a few other neighbors over. I wouldn't want to appear standoffish." Cody grinned.

Elizabeth just snorted.

Both men just laughed. "You guys can leave your stuff up here." They all got into their suits and headed down.


Robin hadn't been exaggerating. Elizabeth thought to herself as they put their towels on some loungers. The women in this building were stunning. And tall. She couldn't help but wonder if Francis made them submit a picture with their applications. She was only mildly self-conscious as she took off the top to her cover up. When Jason and Cody both took off their shirts several women turned and smiled. Elizabeth pretended not to see. She was going to do her best not to get into a fight in Francis's building.

"You going in?" Jason asked his girlfriend. He didn't even notice he was being checked out. He was looking at his girl in her green suit. He knew Brenda had packed new clothes for the hotel stay. This suit had small cutouts on the side and he got to see more skin. It also had a sarong style skirt which he found to be very pretty.

"I'm going to get a drink." She pointed to the bar. She figured there were lots of parties here.

"Okay, I'm going in." Jason looked over and saw Cody talking with a blonde. "I'll meet you back here." He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss.

Elizabeth got in line when she reached the front she ordered a smoothie.

"Let me get that for you." The man behind her said signing the bill.

"That's not necessary." Elizabeth didn't feel comfortable having a stranger buy her anything.

"I insist." He said smiling. She was hot. "I haven't seen you before. Did you just move in?" John asked turning on the charm. He would get a date with her before Cody even knew she was around.

"No really I will pay for my drink and I don't live here." Elizabeth didn't talk to strange men. Even before Kiefer she didn't like being hit on. She pushed her money across the counter and waited until the man behind the counter took it.

"You're American?" She didn't have an accent. Neither did he but that was because of his boarding school days.

"Yes." Elizabeth looked over and saw Jason talking with a dark haired woman. What was it with him and dark haired women? "Excuse me." She needed to go set someone straight.

"Don't rush off." John put his hand on her back and steered her toward his lounger. This one was not rushing off.

"Take your hands off of me." Elizabeth said moving out of his reach. She had heard that Italian men could be aggressive.

"No need to get upset." John grinned. "My chair is right over there, we will still be in plain sight of everyone else. I just thought we could get to know each other better."

The dark haired woman pressed her breasts against Jason's arm and Elizabeth damned near growled. That was enough. "Excuse me." She said in a tight voice.

"Come on." John said trying again. She really was hot.

"I'm not interested." Elizabeth turned in time to see both Cody and Jason getting out of the pool and heading this way. She turned to meet them and John grabbed her around the waist keeping her in place.

She froze dropping her drink. The only person she could tolerate touching her from behind was Jason and that was only briefly while they were sleeping. Her eyes were wide and frightened as they connected with Jason's.

"Let her go John." Cody told his friend. He wasn't sure what the younger man did but it was clear he had upset Elizabeth.

"What the hell did you do to my girlfriend?" Jason asked pulling a trembling Ella into his arms.

"Shit." Was all John could say.


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