You Live You Learn, You Crash and Burn

"You live you learn

You crash and burn

It's hit or miss

And that's the way it is"

--"That's the Way" performed by JoDee Messina

Written by Annie Roboff/Holly Lamar

Jason and Elizabeth had arrived at Kelly's, and it was just about time for her shift to start.

"Thanks for walking with me, Jason."

"Anytime. Look, I have a few things that I need to do, so I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay. I have to work until nine."

"Maybe I'll stop by."

"See you then."

They went their separate ways, both of them wincing at how incredibly inane they had just sounded. They had talked for countless hours, and now they couldn't even say good-bye like normal people.

Kelly's was pretty dead when Elizabeth walked in, but she knew it would pick up once the lunch rush started.

"Oh, Liz, I'm so glad you're here!" Emily exclaimed the moment she walked in the door. "This morning has been so hectic, and I just could not survive lunch without you."

Elizabeth laughed as she tied on her apron. "You can rest easy now, Em. I may not be able to figure out my life, but at least I can still wait tables."

The door opened behind them, and a party of four came in. Liz headed over to them, and said, "You guys take a seat, and I'll be right back to take your order." As she walked back towards the kitchen, she thought, Everything is going to be just fine.

* * *

All Jason wanted to do was sleep. He had been up until three in the morning, watching Elizabeth sleep, wondering what was going to happen now and whether she was going to be okay. On top of that, the couch was about as comfy as a rock.

Still, he was glad he had stayed. Not wanting to push too hard with Elizabeth, he had decided not to stay for lunch at Kelly's. The plan was to grab a burger at Jake's, choke it down, and then head up for a much-deserved nap.

He was half way through his burger when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Nudging the bar stool around, he found himself face-to-face with a very angry Lucky Spencer.

"Lucky."

"Jason. I think it's time that you and I had a little talk."

"I thought we already did, down at the docks."

"Yeah, well, the situation has changed a little sense then. Back then, you were only trying to steal away my girlfriend. Now, for some reason, you seem to have actually succeeded."

"Lucky, I didn't steal Elizabeth from you. She made a decision. I'm sorry that you don't like her decision, but that's really not my problem."

"You really expect me to believe that? You honestly think I don't know you've been after Elizabeth since the moment you set foot in Port Charles again?"

"Elizabeth is my friend, Lucky. I care about her very much. She's important to me. Yes, I have spent time with her. But what you don't seem to understand is that I didn't set out to do anything. All that matters to me is that Elizabeth is happy. If she's happy with you, then she should be with you. If she's not, then she shouldn't. I never told her to break up with you. I never said you two didn't belong together. All I ever did was listen to what she was saying. You ought to try it sometime."

"Listen, you arrogant bastard..."

Jason stood up. "Lucky, I really don't want to get into this with you. I got about four hours of sleep last night, and dealing with a jilted boyfriend isn't real high on my list of things to do. I suggest you leave."

"Sorry I'm inconveniencing you here, Jason, but having my heart ripped out is a little more important than you being tired. Let me ask you one thing. Do you want more than friendship from Elizabeth?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell her that?"

"If she tells me that's what she wants, then yes. If not, then no. I'm not going to ask her to do anything she doesn't want to do."

"That's right, I keep forgetting, St. Jason to the rescue."

"I think you should go now, Lucky."

"Fine, I'm leaving." He started to walk away, then turned back. "There's just one last thing."

Before Jason could respond, he felt Lucky's fist connect with his chin. Then Lucky left, calling out behind him, "I'd watch your step if I were you."

What an idiot, thought Jason. If I wasn't so tired, I might be compelled to beat the crap out of him. Gingerly touching his jaw and wincing, he decided to forego the rest of his burger and head up to bed.

* * *

Elizabeth sighed as she wiped off the last table and flipped the sign on the door to "Closed." The place had been packed all evening, and Emily had gotten off work at four, leaving Elizabeth to fend for herself. Every muscle is her body ached. To make it even worse, Lucky had come in that afternoon and pointedly ignored her. He had gone straight up to his room, and hadn't come down since. Jason hadn't stopped by either, which bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

As she began to untie her apron, she heard a soft knock, and turned to see Jason standing outside. Her face lit up in a smile, and she hurried to unlock the door for him.

"Sorry I didn't come by earlier. I fell asleep, and just woke up a little while ago."

"That's okay. I was really busy anyway, and wouldn't have had time to talk."

As Jason stepped into the light, she saw the angry purple bruise on his chin.

"Oh my God, Jason, what happened? You look like you were in a fight."

"Not quite, but close enough. Lucky stopped by Jake's earlier. He made some accusation, basically told me off, then threw one punch and walked out."

"So you...you didn't hit him back?"

"Never got the chance. I'm not sure I would have even if I did have the chance. I mean, I have to feel sorry for the guy."

Elizabeth shook her head, saddened by this turn of events. "I can't believe he hit you. Lucky's been so much more angry since he came back. I used to think if was because of all the programming, but that's supposed to be gone now, and I don't know what to think."

"He's going through a rough time, Elizabeth. It's understandable, really."

"Jason, you have a right to be angry at what he did to you. You don't have to say this stuff to make me feel better."

"Elizabeth, have you ever known me to say something I didn't mean?"

"No. God, I just am so furious with Lucky right now! I'm about ready to march upstairs and tell him exactly what I think of his behavior."

"Don't do that. He'll know that you found out from me, and that will just set him off again. Is one lousy bruise really worth another fight with him?"

"I guess not. I feel like I don't even know him anymore. And I don't think...I don't think I love him anymore."

Jason looked her straight in the eye. "Elizabeth, you've loved Lucky a long time. How can that have changed so quickly? Love doesn't just disappear. I don't think it ever really leaves you once it gets a hold of you. It's impossible to just push it away."

Elizabeth shook her head. "The person that I fell in love with doesn't go around punching people. He doesn't tell me what to do or who to see or how to feel. The person that is upstairs right now is not the person that I fell in love with. The Lucky that I loved, that I will always love, really did die the night of the fire. It's taken me until now to admit to myself that that person is never coming back. Things can't ever be the way they were before. I don't love Lucky Spencer, at least not who he is now. It's time for me to start moving on."

"If you're sure that's what you want..."

She smiled sadly. "It's not what I want, really. It's not the way that things were supposed to work out. But it's the way that things are, and I can live with that."

"Alright. But you know, it's okay if you change your mind."

She cocked her head and looked up at him. "What are you trying to do, Jason? Make me get back together with Lucky?"

"No, I... I just need to know that you're sure about what you're doing."

"I am sure, Jason. It's time for me to live my life for me, instead of trying to fulfill a dream that should have died a long time ago."

He nodded. "Okay then. Just let me know if there's anything that I can do to help."

"Oh, I'm sure that I can think of something."

Opening her arms, Elizabeth brought Jason into a hug. Her head nestled in under his chin, and she felt safe.

* * *

In the shadow of the stairwell sat Lucky Spencer, tears streaming down his face. He realized, finally, that he had truly lost Elizabeth. He had come downstairs to get a glass of water when he heard her talking to Jason. Much as he hated to admit it, Jason hadn't pushed Elizabeth to believe that she should no longer be with Lucky. If anything, the opposite was true. Perhaps Jason had been telling the truth earlier that day. He really did want Elizabeth to be happy. Maybe it was time that he started thinking about that a little more himself.

Slowly, silently, Lucky stood up and headed back up the stairs. It wasn't going to be easy, and it was going to take time, but he had to accept that Jason was a part of Liz's life now. If there was ever going to be a chance of rebuilding his friendship with her, let alone a hope of reconciling romantically, he really couldn't go around punching Jason out every time he saw him with Liz. In a moment of self-loathing, Lucky grudgingly admitted that perhaps the better man had won.