Chapter 11
As Jason continued to hold and kiss Elizabeth, the passion that flared between them eclipsed anything she had ever known. It was as if they were joining, not only their hearts, but also their very souls.
At the sound of the door opening, they broke apart, breathing heavily. Elizabeth tried to shake off the passion induced fog she was experiencing, but upon meeting the ardent look in Jason's eyes, she was lost again.
"Excuse me," said Gia, looking slightly embarrassed. "I can come back later, Elizabeth."
Jason tore his gaze away from Elizabeth and focused on Gia. His eyes narrowed, as he remembered the trouble she had caused Elizabeth on his last trip home. "What do you want?" he demanded harshly.
Gia flinched at his hostility. "Chloe asked me to come by for a fitting," she said quietly.
Elizabeth touched Jason's arm, drawing his attention. "It's all right, Jason. Gia and I worked everything out while you were gone. She's actually been a good friend to me recently." She smiled reassuringly.
Jason looked doubtful, but seemed to accept what she was telling him. "OK. If you're sure." His gaze, fixed on Elizabeth, darkened as he remembered what had just passed between them. The feelings she brought to life in him were like nothing he had ever known. "I should go, but I'd really like to talk later. Could I come by the studio tonight?" He spoke softly, intimately, so that Gia couldn't overhear.
"I'd like that," she replied, warmed by the look in his eyes.
Jason sighed. "It could be late. Things are kind of a mess right now."
Reaching for his hand, she laced her fingers with his and said, "Come anyway. I don't care how late it is. I'll be there."
Comforted, Jason squeezed her hand and said," Thank you." Releasing her, he walked to the door, turned for one last look, and then left.
Gia approached Elizabeth and asked, "Is everything OK?"
"Yes, thanks." Elizabeth paused. "I guess you're wondering what's going on."
"Actually, what I saw doesn't surprise me. I could tell last year that you cared for Jason, and he was so protective of you... Well, he should have just pinned a sign on his chest that read - I've got it bad for Elizabeth Webber." Gia smiled at her friend.
Elizabeth laughed, relieved that Gia seemed to understand. "We were that obvious, huh?" she asked good-naturedly.
Gia shrugged. "Maybe it was because I was watching you closely, looking for a way to trip you up. You just seemed different around Jason - more real. Anyway, if things are working out for you, then I'm glad."
"Thanks," Elizabeth said, in a more subdued tone. "I don't think Nikolas will share your view."
"I was going to talk to you about that. He told me that he lost his temper and said some things he shouldn't have." When Elizabeth nodded, she continued, "We had a long, um, discussion about it, and he's starting to understand about you and Lucky."
"How is Lucky?" she asked. "I haven't seen him since we broke up, but then, I've been avoiding our usual haunts." She was hoping that he had come to understand her decision.
Gia looked surprised. "Didn't you know? Lucky left town with Luke last week. Something to do with one of Luke's European investments."
Elizabeth felt badly that she might be the reason for Lucky's departure.
Sensing the guilt she was feeling, Gia said, "I think this will be good for Lucky, Elizabeth. He needs to get out there and find out who he is without you. From what Nikolas has told me, you got that chance to spread your wings when you thought Lucky was dead. He, on the other hand, was confined and manipulated. He needs to become a whole person again, before he can love anyone fully."
The depth of Gia's understanding astonished and touched Elizabeth. "Thank you, Gia. You don't know how much it means to me to have you say that. I feel like Lucky needs to rediscover himself, too, but I thought my needs might have been clouding my judgement." She smiled gratefully.
"OK. Now for the reason I'm here. Chloe said that you have a fabulous dress for me to wear in her show. So let's see it," she said playfully.
Elizabeth laughed. "I hope that it lives up to the hype. Come to the dressing room and try it on. Then, I'll see what alterations need to be made."
"As Gia followed her to the back, she said, "All right, and while we're doing this, you can tell me all about Mr. Morgan. Now, I love Nikolas, but your man is one sexy specimen, and those blue eyes... The way he looks at you raises the room temperature several degrees."
Amused, Elizabeth handed her the dress and said, "Enough of that. Here, put this on." Still smiling, she continued, "Although, you are right about those blue eyes. They certainly make me feel, um, warm."
They kept up their banter as they worked, enjoying their new friendship.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Carly sat at the desk in Jason's penthouse with a Deception file open. After her meeting with Laura, she had found Sonny and Jason working at her place and she had renewed her offer to stay with Michelle for a while. Chloe had been there before her, but had needed to leave for a meeting of her own. At the moment, Michelle was resting, so she was trying to catch up on some work.
Movement on the stairs caught Carly's eye and she saw Michelle descending. "Hi," she said. "How are you doing?" Carly saw the dark circles under her eyes and the lines of pain around her mouth.
Michelle shrugged. "I am doing the best that I can. It is nice of you to be here." She went to sit in a big stuffed chair and pulled her feet up underneath her.
"Can I get you some tea or something to eat?" Carly offered. "I should warn you that my cooking skills are extremely limited, but I could probably manage toast or soup." She smiled kindly.
"No. Thank you, Carly. I would rather just talk, if you would not mind," she suggested.
Carly got up and walked over to sit on the sofa facing her. "Sure. That's fine with me." She paused, unsure what to talk about with someone who was grieving so deeply.
Michelle had been doing a lot of thinking since learning of her stepfather's death and her stepbrother's disappearance. Things that had seemed so important to her prior to these events, no longer did so. She had known since coming to Port Charles that she was losing Jason, but she had been determined to keep him at all costs. The very real loss of her family had somehow put things into perspective. Yes, she loved Jason, but she didn't want him to stay with her out of guilt or loyalty. He would only grow to resent and despise her for it.
Carly was growing concerned by Michelle's silence. "Are you OK?" she asked.
Michelle looked at her, smiled sadly, and said, "I was just thinking about Jason. You are his very good friend, are you not?" she asked.
"Yes. Somehow Jason and I have managed to salvage our friendship after all the stupid things I pulled with him." Carly grimaced slightly. "I used to believe that Jason was the only man I could ever love and I was sure that I could make him love me. I did some dumb things trying to force the situation. I ended up hurting a lot of people and I almost lost Jason as my friend."
"You cannot make someone love you, can you?" Michelle asked quietly. "Jason does not love me. Oh, I know he cares for me, but it is not love. What do you know about Elizabeth Webber?" she asked curiously.
"I'm probably not the best person to ask. Elizabeth and I have never gotten along very well." She paused. "Of course, that had a lot to do with my jealousy over her friendship with Jason. After I hurt him, he let her help him - not me." Carly looked at Michelle closely. "Do you think Elizabeth is the problem?"
"He has never looked at me the way he looks at her. I can tell that he loves her and I think she feels the same way about him. I was still determined that I could make him love me, but now, with Papa's death, it no longer seems to be as important. I cannot really explain it." She stopped and wiped tears from her eyes. "Papa loved me unconditionally and I know now that I don't want to settle for anything less from the man I love."
Carly could really feel for her, having been there before. "I know that this hurts a lot right now, but can I offer you some advice from my own experience?" When Michelle nodded, she continued, "Give it some time and you'll meet the right person. I never imagined that I could love anyone like I love Sonny and, this time, he actually loves me back." Her voice became choked with emotion. "I have a long track record of loving men who didn't love me. With Sonny, everything is different and so much better. I know that doesn't lessen your pain, but, if it can happen for me, it can happen for anyone." She smiled encouragingly.
Michelle sighed. "I know you are right. I am not a very patient person, though. I do want Jason to be happy. Do you think he could be with Elizabeth?" she asked, genuinely concerned.
"Although most people would be shocked to hear me say this, I do think he would be happy with her. When Jason loves, he loves deeply. I tried lots of times to tell him that Elizabeth was wrong for him and that she'd hurt him, but it didn't do anything except strain our friendship." Carly stopped, remembering the arguments they'd had over his feelings for Elizabeth. "Over the past year, I've realized that she's stronger than she seems, and I do think she cares for Jason. I'm sorry," she said, seeing a look of pain flash across Michelle's face.
"No, no. I am glad you were honest with me. I needed to talk with someone and since you know Jason well, you were able to tell me what I needed to know. Thank you." Michelle shook off her melancholy feelings and said, "I would appreciate that cup of tea now, if you do not mind."
"No problem," Carly answered. "I'll go make it right now." She went into the kitchen, hoping that she had done the right thing in being so honest with Michelle. Hopefully, it would help Jason get things worked out in his personal life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As Jason continued to hold and kiss Elizabeth, the passion that flared between them eclipsed anything she had ever known. It was as if they were joining, not only their hearts, but also their very souls.
At the sound of the door opening, they broke apart, breathing heavily. Elizabeth tried to shake off the passion induced fog she was experiencing, but upon meeting the ardent look in Jason's eyes, she was lost again.
"Excuse me," said Gia, looking slightly embarrassed. "I can come back later, Elizabeth."
Jason tore his gaze away from Elizabeth and focused on Gia. His eyes narrowed, as he remembered the trouble she had caused Elizabeth on his last trip home. "What do you want?" he demanded harshly.
Gia flinched at his hostility. "Chloe asked me to come by for a fitting," she said quietly.
Elizabeth touched Jason's arm, drawing his attention. "It's all right, Jason. Gia and I worked everything out while you were gone. She's actually been a good friend to me recently." She smiled reassuringly.
Jason looked doubtful, but seemed to accept what she was telling him. "OK. If you're sure." His gaze, fixed on Elizabeth, darkened as he remembered what had just passed between them. The feelings she brought to life in him were like nothing he had ever known. "I should go, but I'd really like to talk later. Could I come by the studio tonight?" He spoke softly, intimately, so that Gia couldn't overhear.
"I'd like that," she replied, warmed by the look in his eyes.
Jason sighed. "It could be late. Things are kind of a mess right now."
Reaching for his hand, she laced her fingers with his and said, "Come anyway. I don't care how late it is. I'll be there."
Comforted, Jason squeezed her hand and said," Thank you." Releasing her, he walked to the door, turned for one last look, and then left.
Gia approached Elizabeth and asked, "Is everything OK?"
"Yes, thanks." Elizabeth paused. "I guess you're wondering what's going on."
"Actually, what I saw doesn't surprise me. I could tell last year that you cared for Jason, and he was so protective of you... Well, he should have just pinned a sign on his chest that read - I've got it bad for Elizabeth Webber." Gia smiled at her friend.
Elizabeth laughed, relieved that Gia seemed to understand. "We were that obvious, huh?" she asked good-naturedly.
Gia shrugged. "Maybe it was because I was watching you closely, looking for a way to trip you up. You just seemed different around Jason - more real. Anyway, if things are working out for you, then I'm glad."
"Thanks," Elizabeth said, in a more subdued tone. "I don't think Nikolas will share your view."
"I was going to talk to you about that. He told me that he lost his temper and said some things he shouldn't have." When Elizabeth nodded, she continued, "We had a long, um, discussion about it, and he's starting to understand about you and Lucky."
"How is Lucky?" she asked. "I haven't seen him since we broke up, but then, I've been avoiding our usual haunts." She was hoping that he had come to understand her decision.
Gia looked surprised. "Didn't you know? Lucky left town with Luke last week. Something to do with one of Luke's European investments."
Elizabeth felt badly that she might be the reason for Lucky's departure.
Sensing the guilt she was feeling, Gia said, "I think this will be good for Lucky, Elizabeth. He needs to get out there and find out who he is without you. From what Nikolas has told me, you got that chance to spread your wings when you thought Lucky was dead. He, on the other hand, was confined and manipulated. He needs to become a whole person again, before he can love anyone fully."
The depth of Gia's understanding astonished and touched Elizabeth. "Thank you, Gia. You don't know how much it means to me to have you say that. I feel like Lucky needs to rediscover himself, too, but I thought my needs might have been clouding my judgement." She smiled gratefully.
"OK. Now for the reason I'm here. Chloe said that you have a fabulous dress for me to wear in her show. So let's see it," she said playfully.
Elizabeth laughed. "I hope that it lives up to the hype. Come to the dressing room and try it on. Then, I'll see what alterations need to be made."
"As Gia followed her to the back, she said, "All right, and while we're doing this, you can tell me all about Mr. Morgan. Now, I love Nikolas, but your man is one sexy specimen, and those blue eyes... The way he looks at you raises the room temperature several degrees."
Amused, Elizabeth handed her the dress and said, "Enough of that. Here, put this on." Still smiling, she continued, "Although, you are right about those blue eyes. They certainly make me feel, um, warm."
They kept up their banter as they worked, enjoying their new friendship.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Carly sat at the desk in Jason's penthouse with a Deception file open. After her meeting with Laura, she had found Sonny and Jason working at her place and she had renewed her offer to stay with Michelle for a while. Chloe had been there before her, but had needed to leave for a meeting of her own. At the moment, Michelle was resting, so she was trying to catch up on some work.
Movement on the stairs caught Carly's eye and she saw Michelle descending. "Hi," she said. "How are you doing?" Carly saw the dark circles under her eyes and the lines of pain around her mouth.
Michelle shrugged. "I am doing the best that I can. It is nice of you to be here." She went to sit in a big stuffed chair and pulled her feet up underneath her.
"Can I get you some tea or something to eat?" Carly offered. "I should warn you that my cooking skills are extremely limited, but I could probably manage toast or soup." She smiled kindly.
"No. Thank you, Carly. I would rather just talk, if you would not mind," she suggested.
Carly got up and walked over to sit on the sofa facing her. "Sure. That's fine with me." She paused, unsure what to talk about with someone who was grieving so deeply.
Michelle had been doing a lot of thinking since learning of her stepfather's death and her stepbrother's disappearance. Things that had seemed so important to her prior to these events, no longer did so. She had known since coming to Port Charles that she was losing Jason, but she had been determined to keep him at all costs. The very real loss of her family had somehow put things into perspective. Yes, she loved Jason, but she didn't want him to stay with her out of guilt or loyalty. He would only grow to resent and despise her for it.
Carly was growing concerned by Michelle's silence. "Are you OK?" she asked.
Michelle looked at her, smiled sadly, and said, "I was just thinking about Jason. You are his very good friend, are you not?" she asked.
"Yes. Somehow Jason and I have managed to salvage our friendship after all the stupid things I pulled with him." Carly grimaced slightly. "I used to believe that Jason was the only man I could ever love and I was sure that I could make him love me. I did some dumb things trying to force the situation. I ended up hurting a lot of people and I almost lost Jason as my friend."
"You cannot make someone love you, can you?" Michelle asked quietly. "Jason does not love me. Oh, I know he cares for me, but it is not love. What do you know about Elizabeth Webber?" she asked curiously.
"I'm probably not the best person to ask. Elizabeth and I have never gotten along very well." She paused. "Of course, that had a lot to do with my jealousy over her friendship with Jason. After I hurt him, he let her help him - not me." Carly looked at Michelle closely. "Do you think Elizabeth is the problem?"
"He has never looked at me the way he looks at her. I can tell that he loves her and I think she feels the same way about him. I was still determined that I could make him love me, but now, with Papa's death, it no longer seems to be as important. I cannot really explain it." She stopped and wiped tears from her eyes. "Papa loved me unconditionally and I know now that I don't want to settle for anything less from the man I love."
Carly could really feel for her, having been there before. "I know that this hurts a lot right now, but can I offer you some advice from my own experience?" When Michelle nodded, she continued, "Give it some time and you'll meet the right person. I never imagined that I could love anyone like I love Sonny and, this time, he actually loves me back." Her voice became choked with emotion. "I have a long track record of loving men who didn't love me. With Sonny, everything is different and so much better. I know that doesn't lessen your pain, but, if it can happen for me, it can happen for anyone." She smiled encouragingly.
Michelle sighed. "I know you are right. I am not a very patient person, though. I do want Jason to be happy. Do you think he could be with Elizabeth?" she asked, genuinely concerned.
"Although most people would be shocked to hear me say this, I do think he would be happy with her. When Jason loves, he loves deeply. I tried lots of times to tell him that Elizabeth was wrong for him and that she'd hurt him, but it didn't do anything except strain our friendship." Carly stopped, remembering the arguments they'd had over his feelings for Elizabeth. "Over the past year, I've realized that she's stronger than she seems, and I do think she cares for Jason. I'm sorry," she said, seeing a look of pain flash across Michelle's face.
"No, no. I am glad you were honest with me. I needed to talk with someone and since you know Jason well, you were able to tell me what I needed to know. Thank you." Michelle shook off her melancholy feelings and said, "I would appreciate that cup of tea now, if you do not mind."
"No problem," Carly answered. "I'll go make it right now." She went into the kitchen, hoping that she had done the right thing in being so honest with Michelle. Hopefully, it would help Jason get things worked out in his personal life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*