Chapter 12
Entering the penthouse after meeting with Sonny, Jason found Carly and Michelle having tea and talking. They looked up when he closed the door.
Carly stood and walked to him. "Hi, Jase. Are you guys finished for today?" she asked.
"Yeah. I think Sonny's starting dinner," he answered.
Carly chuckled and looked back at Michelle. "I love having a husband who can cook, especially since I can't."
Michelle smiled and said, "Lucky you. Thank you for everything, Carly. You helped me a great deal."
"No problem. I enjoyed our talk. I'll try to stop by tomorrow and see how you're doing." She turned to Jason. "I should be going."
Jason walked with her to the door and said quietly, "Thanks, Carly. I really appreciate you spending time with her. She shouldn't be alone too much right now."
"I was happy to do it." She paused, unsure if she should say anything about what Michelle had told her. "Jason, I think Michelle might want to talk to you tonight, so give her a chance, OK?"
Concerned, Jason asked, "What's going on, Carly? Is there a problem?"
"No. I just want you to give her the opportunity to talk with you. Nothing is wrong," she reassured him. "I'll see you later, Jase." She left, closing the door behind her.
Jason approached Michelle, wondering what was going on. She looked tired and sad, but better than the last time he had seen her. "How are you?" he asked, sitting down.
Michelle looked up and smiled crookedly. "I am fine, Jason. Please do not be worried." She sighed, knowing that she might as well get it over with. "We need to talk."
"OK. Is something wrong?" he asked, still unsure what was going on.
"Losing Papa and possibly Philippe has made me realize that life is too short to play games, Jason. I know that you do not love me," she said quietly. When he began to say something, she cut him off. "No. Let me say this. This is nobody's fault. You did not mislead me and I went into this with my eyes wide open. I want you to be happy, Jason, and that is not going to happen with me."
When she stopped, Jason said, "I'm sorry, Michelle. I never meant to hurt you. Before we came to Port Charles, I thought maybe we could find happiness together, but... " He stood, feeling guilty that he couldn't offer her more.
"But, that was before you saw Elizabeth, again, non?" she asked. He turned his head quickly and looked at her. The look on his face answered her question. "It is all right, Jason." She stood, took a step closer, and reached up to kiss him on the cheek. "Just be happy. That is all I want for you." She smiled sadly and turned toward the stairs.
"Michelle," Jason called, causing her to glance back. "I am sorry. You deserve better than what you've been dealt lately. I want you to be happy, too, and I will always stand your friend, if you want me to." He knew his words were inadequate, but there were no words to spare her this pain.
Her face brightened a little as she said, "Well, according to Carly, someday my Sonny will come. I just need to be patient, which I am not very good at, but I know she is right." She paused and said quietly, "Good bye, Jason." Turning, she walked up the stairs and entered the room she had been using. They had not shared a room since they had come here.
Jason answered, after she had gone. "Good bye, Michelle."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was late by the time Jason approached Elizabeth's door. He had debated even coming at this hour, but after a hellish day, he needed to see her. He knocked softly, waited, and then inserted the key he had kept from the last time he had stayed there.
Approaching quietly, he saw that she had fallen asleep on the sofa bed, an open sketchpad beside her. She was so beautiful to him and he loved her so much that it almost hurt to look at her.
As if sensing his presence, she opened her eyes and said, "Hey. How long have you been here?" She stretched and sat up.
Jason sat beside her and couldn't resist touching her. He reached over and pushed her tumbled hair away from her face. It felt like silk. "I just got here. Sorry it's so late. I spent most of the day trying to make overseas funeral arrangements." He smiled sadly.
He looked so tired, so emotionally spent, that Elizabeth's heart ached for him. "How is Michelle?" she asked sympathetically.
Jason sighed. "She's a mess, but Carly is helping, and so is Chloe. Chloe is staying with her tonight."
"What about you, Jason? How are you doing?" Elizabeth's voice was gentle and loving, and it crumbled his defences. His shoulders slumped under the weight of the burden he'd been carrying.
"They were my friends, Elizabeth," Jason said hoarsely.
She opened her arms and welcomed him, offering comfort and support. He held her tightly and buried his face in her hair.
"The only thing that got me through this day was knowing that you were here at the other end of it. I don't want to lose you, Elizabeth. I don't think I could bear it." Jason's voice shook with need.
She pulled back slightly and placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look at her. "You're not going to lose me, Jason. I told you, I'm not going anywhere. I love you," she assured him, absolute certainty visible in her face.
Jason, moved by her declaration, broached the subject they still needed to discuss. "I didn't get a chance to tell Michelle about us. She brought it up instead. She told me she knows that I don't love her and that she wants me to be happy." His brow furrowed as he thought about it. "I think Carly may have had something to do with it."
Surprised, Elizabeth said, "Carly? I would think that she'd be thrilled that you were with anyone besides me."
"Carly has changed in the time that I've been gone. She told me the first night I was back that, although she liked Michelle, she knew I cared for you and she wanted me to be happy. Actually, she had some nice things to say about you," Jason explained.
"She did? Well, I haven't seen much of Carly recently, but it does sound like she's had a change of heart, doesn't it? I'm glad. I know she's still important to you and I would like us to get along," she offered sincerely. "Are you OK with how things ended with Michelle?"
Jason sighed. "I feel badly that she was hurt, but I'm glad that everything is out in the open now." He paused and looked closely at her. "I can't abandon her completely, though. With everything she's lost, she needs support for a while."
"I know that, Jason," she reassured him. "You wouldn't be the man I love if you could turn your back on her so easily. You never turned me away, no matter how much I hurt you." Tears welled in her eyes. "Let me be here for you now."
Jason pulled her close again, and murmured in her hair, "This isn't fair to you, but please know, that while she may have my friendship, only you have my heart." He pulled back and looked in her eyes, his longing for her almost overwhelming him.
Elizabeth could feel the strength of his love as an almost physical force. As he leaned in to kiss her, she felt warmth flood through her. His hands came up to cup her face, as he kissed her gently. She put her hands behind his neck, and let her fingers slide into his hair, loving the feel of it in her hands.
Jason moved his arms down to encircle her waist and draw her closer. He deepened the kiss, as passion exploded between them. Elizabeth lay back on the bed, taking him with her. They continued kissing and caressing, until Jason thought he would go mad with wanting her. He pulled back before they reached the point of no return, and groaned when he met her heavy-lidded gaze and saw her kiss-swollen mouth. Putting his face down on her shoulder, he tried to regain his control.
"What is it, Jason?" she asked, slightly hurt. "Did I do something wrong?"
Jason looked up quickly and, seeing her insecurity, hastened to reassure her. "No, Elizabeth. It's not that. I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone, but I want it to be right for you. I never want you to regret anything that happens between us." He raised his hand and rubbed her lower lip with his thumb. "I'll wait as long as you need me to."
Overwhelmed by his unselfish love for her and by her own need for him, she lifted her hands to caress his face and said huskily, "It already seems like we've waited forever. Stay with me tonight, Jason." Then she pulled him towards her and kissed him with all the love and passion in her soul.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Entering the penthouse after meeting with Sonny, Jason found Carly and Michelle having tea and talking. They looked up when he closed the door.
Carly stood and walked to him. "Hi, Jase. Are you guys finished for today?" she asked.
"Yeah. I think Sonny's starting dinner," he answered.
Carly chuckled and looked back at Michelle. "I love having a husband who can cook, especially since I can't."
Michelle smiled and said, "Lucky you. Thank you for everything, Carly. You helped me a great deal."
"No problem. I enjoyed our talk. I'll try to stop by tomorrow and see how you're doing." She turned to Jason. "I should be going."
Jason walked with her to the door and said quietly, "Thanks, Carly. I really appreciate you spending time with her. She shouldn't be alone too much right now."
"I was happy to do it." She paused, unsure if she should say anything about what Michelle had told her. "Jason, I think Michelle might want to talk to you tonight, so give her a chance, OK?"
Concerned, Jason asked, "What's going on, Carly? Is there a problem?"
"No. I just want you to give her the opportunity to talk with you. Nothing is wrong," she reassured him. "I'll see you later, Jase." She left, closing the door behind her.
Jason approached Michelle, wondering what was going on. She looked tired and sad, but better than the last time he had seen her. "How are you?" he asked, sitting down.
Michelle looked up and smiled crookedly. "I am fine, Jason. Please do not be worried." She sighed, knowing that she might as well get it over with. "We need to talk."
"OK. Is something wrong?" he asked, still unsure what was going on.
"Losing Papa and possibly Philippe has made me realize that life is too short to play games, Jason. I know that you do not love me," she said quietly. When he began to say something, she cut him off. "No. Let me say this. This is nobody's fault. You did not mislead me and I went into this with my eyes wide open. I want you to be happy, Jason, and that is not going to happen with me."
When she stopped, Jason said, "I'm sorry, Michelle. I never meant to hurt you. Before we came to Port Charles, I thought maybe we could find happiness together, but... " He stood, feeling guilty that he couldn't offer her more.
"But, that was before you saw Elizabeth, again, non?" she asked. He turned his head quickly and looked at her. The look on his face answered her question. "It is all right, Jason." She stood, took a step closer, and reached up to kiss him on the cheek. "Just be happy. That is all I want for you." She smiled sadly and turned toward the stairs.
"Michelle," Jason called, causing her to glance back. "I am sorry. You deserve better than what you've been dealt lately. I want you to be happy, too, and I will always stand your friend, if you want me to." He knew his words were inadequate, but there were no words to spare her this pain.
Her face brightened a little as she said, "Well, according to Carly, someday my Sonny will come. I just need to be patient, which I am not very good at, but I know she is right." She paused and said quietly, "Good bye, Jason." Turning, she walked up the stairs and entered the room she had been using. They had not shared a room since they had come here.
Jason answered, after she had gone. "Good bye, Michelle."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was late by the time Jason approached Elizabeth's door. He had debated even coming at this hour, but after a hellish day, he needed to see her. He knocked softly, waited, and then inserted the key he had kept from the last time he had stayed there.
Approaching quietly, he saw that she had fallen asleep on the sofa bed, an open sketchpad beside her. She was so beautiful to him and he loved her so much that it almost hurt to look at her.
As if sensing his presence, she opened her eyes and said, "Hey. How long have you been here?" She stretched and sat up.
Jason sat beside her and couldn't resist touching her. He reached over and pushed her tumbled hair away from her face. It felt like silk. "I just got here. Sorry it's so late. I spent most of the day trying to make overseas funeral arrangements." He smiled sadly.
He looked so tired, so emotionally spent, that Elizabeth's heart ached for him. "How is Michelle?" she asked sympathetically.
Jason sighed. "She's a mess, but Carly is helping, and so is Chloe. Chloe is staying with her tonight."
"What about you, Jason? How are you doing?" Elizabeth's voice was gentle and loving, and it crumbled his defences. His shoulders slumped under the weight of the burden he'd been carrying.
"They were my friends, Elizabeth," Jason said hoarsely.
She opened her arms and welcomed him, offering comfort and support. He held her tightly and buried his face in her hair.
"The only thing that got me through this day was knowing that you were here at the other end of it. I don't want to lose you, Elizabeth. I don't think I could bear it." Jason's voice shook with need.
She pulled back slightly and placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look at her. "You're not going to lose me, Jason. I told you, I'm not going anywhere. I love you," she assured him, absolute certainty visible in her face.
Jason, moved by her declaration, broached the subject they still needed to discuss. "I didn't get a chance to tell Michelle about us. She brought it up instead. She told me she knows that I don't love her and that she wants me to be happy." His brow furrowed as he thought about it. "I think Carly may have had something to do with it."
Surprised, Elizabeth said, "Carly? I would think that she'd be thrilled that you were with anyone besides me."
"Carly has changed in the time that I've been gone. She told me the first night I was back that, although she liked Michelle, she knew I cared for you and she wanted me to be happy. Actually, she had some nice things to say about you," Jason explained.
"She did? Well, I haven't seen much of Carly recently, but it does sound like she's had a change of heart, doesn't it? I'm glad. I know she's still important to you and I would like us to get along," she offered sincerely. "Are you OK with how things ended with Michelle?"
Jason sighed. "I feel badly that she was hurt, but I'm glad that everything is out in the open now." He paused and looked closely at her. "I can't abandon her completely, though. With everything she's lost, she needs support for a while."
"I know that, Jason," she reassured him. "You wouldn't be the man I love if you could turn your back on her so easily. You never turned me away, no matter how much I hurt you." Tears welled in her eyes. "Let me be here for you now."
Jason pulled her close again, and murmured in her hair, "This isn't fair to you, but please know, that while she may have my friendship, only you have my heart." He pulled back and looked in her eyes, his longing for her almost overwhelming him.
Elizabeth could feel the strength of his love as an almost physical force. As he leaned in to kiss her, she felt warmth flood through her. His hands came up to cup her face, as he kissed her gently. She put her hands behind his neck, and let her fingers slide into his hair, loving the feel of it in her hands.
Jason moved his arms down to encircle her waist and draw her closer. He deepened the kiss, as passion exploded between them. Elizabeth lay back on the bed, taking him with her. They continued kissing and caressing, until Jason thought he would go mad with wanting her. He pulled back before they reached the point of no return, and groaned when he met her heavy-lidded gaze and saw her kiss-swollen mouth. Putting his face down on her shoulder, he tried to regain his control.
"What is it, Jason?" she asked, slightly hurt. "Did I do something wrong?"
Jason looked up quickly and, seeing her insecurity, hastened to reassure her. "No, Elizabeth. It's not that. I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone, but I want it to be right for you. I never want you to regret anything that happens between us." He raised his hand and rubbed her lower lip with his thumb. "I'll wait as long as you need me to."
Overwhelmed by his unselfish love for her and by her own need for him, she lifted her hands to caress his face and said huskily, "It already seems like we've waited forever. Stay with me tonight, Jason." Then she pulled him towards her and kissed him with all the love and passion in her soul.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*