Love Is Patient, Kind and Above All True

Chapter Thirty Six

"Are you ready yet?" Jason called from the living room.

Even as Jason finished showering and dressed in a pair of jeans and a button-up shirt, he could see Elizabeth still fussing over what to wear.

"I'm coming!" Elizabeth called.

Jason looked at his watch. The restaurant he had picked wasn't fancy, but it was nice and quiet. He always enjoyed going there for a good meal. Not that he went there that often.

Jason turned from the view outside the window and watched Elizabeth enter the room. Her hair was swept up into a mound of curls. Her bluish grey eyes twinkled as she twirled around with her arms in the air. "What do you think?"

Jason looked at her, "Think about what?"

Elizabeth looked at him in disbelief, "What do you think of the dress?"

Jason looked at the turquoise blue sundress. It was a simple dress with thin straps and it's hemline came an inch or two above her knee. "It's nice. You look nice," he smiled.

"Jason," she grimaced. "Do you really think I look nice?"

"Yes," he stated, laughing. "You know that I always think you look fine in…well, anything."

Elizabeth sighed. "I know."

"Are you ready to go?" he asked.

"Yup," she nodded. "Oh, just let me go grab a sweater."

"Why do you think it'll get a little drafty on the bike?" Jason teased as he escorted her out the door.

***

"Jason, this is…well, this is amazing!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

As Jason guided her into the restaurant, the soft quiet melody of a violin drew them into the small but spacious restaurant. It wasn't an exclusive and fancy restaurant; not that Elizabeth had expected Jason to take her to one. It was inviting and, well, cosy, Elizabeth thought.

"I'm glad you like it," he smiled.

The host greeted them and brought them to a corner booth upstairs near a window overlooking the ocean view. Elizabeth had noticed a small area of wooden floor as they ascended the steps of the staircase. Copper railings enclosed it. Lights trimmed the railings and surrounded the dance floor with a dim glow. Elizabeth slid into the dimly lit booth. It had a burning candle sitting in a wine bottle. It was quite the European thing to do and a small lamp on the side wall.

"How did you find it?"

"Oh, I was walking down the ocean wharf when I noticed the restaurant that sat up top of the embankment. I wandered in after it was getting dark. Andre, the owner made this big fuss over my not wearing a suit and I agreed never to come here again."

"What?" Elizabeth asked. "Then how did you get in again, let alone tonight?

"I would come in every night until finally he let me sit," he laughed. "Not me huh?"

Elizabeth sat shocked. Jason would never usually go where he wasn't wanted. She shook her head in agreement.

"I was a little on the rebellious side when I got here, is all I can say."

Elizabeth nodded and realized what he had meant. He'd found this place when he'd left Port Charles for the last time.

"He realized that I just wanted to sit and have a meal and look at the view. I don't know…he just, he seemed to finally understand that I wasn't this biker guy looking to bring down his business. I agreed to dress up a little more than I usually do," he motioned to the button shirt, "but he didn't make me wear a suit."

"Wow. That's some story. Did you just make that up?" she asked.

"I don't make things up, remember?" His eyes twinkled amidst the candlelight.

~~~

As the night went on and they watched the sun set, Elizabeth couldn't help but relax under the soothing atmosphere of the restaurant. The waiter brought their food, which Elizabeth thought was amazing. Jason ordered for them and even though it was a name she probably would never remember, Elizabeth knew she would remember the way Jason said it.

Italian suited him -- the language, the culture. He just seems so relaxed here, Elizabeth thought.

They both seemed content to just sit there and listen to the violinist play his music from table to table.

"You know, I've never seen a real violinist play from table to table," she giggled. "It seems so Italian!"

Jason smiled at her and she watched him call the waiter over to him. He whispered something in his ear and the waiter walked away.

"What did you say to the waiter?" Elizabeth had this unsettling feeling that it had to do with the violinist.

Jason didn't answer Elizabeth and smiled a crooked smile.

"You didn't?" Elizabeth squealed quietly.

The violinist's music seemed to grow louder and closer. "Yup. I did," Jason laughed as he turned his head to the side.

Elizabeth followed Jason's gaze and found the violinist standing in front of the table. She blinked a couple of times. "Jason!" Elizabeth giggled, hitting his hand in disbelief.

The music began quietly and slowly. It seemed to weave a spell around her. The music's crescendos and decrescendos flowed over her in waves. Impulsively Elizabeth asked Jason to dance.

"Dance? You know I'm not a great dancer." He paused. "Do you remember last time?" Jason asked. He seemed to regret the question as it left his mouth.

"Yes, but this time it's just you and me. No ghost between us."

Jason stared at her. It was as if his gaze seemed to envelop her. She held out her hand. Elizabeth held her breath as she waited for his hand to lead her to the dance floor. She pleaded with him in her eyes.

Jason took her by the hand and led her to the open area she had noticed on her way to the table. Elizabeth closed her eyes as his hands hesitantly encircled her waist. The music followed them and the air seemed to crackle with energy.

Elizabeth allowed the warmth of Jason's body to comfort her. The world seemed to disappear in the strength of his arms. The aroma of the Italian food, which wafted throughout the restaurant and Jason's newly washed shirt, intermingled into a seemingly comforting scent. Her body shivered as she felt his body draw nearer and his chin rest on the top of her head.

"Jason," she whispered, not wanting to break the spell. "Thanks for everything."

"What's everything?"

She paused before replying. There were so many things. "For being a friend." He pulled away so that he could look into her eyes.

"I'll always be your friend. There when you need me."

"I know," she sighed. "I mean, for understanding all of this. You take me for who I am at this moment. Not for who I was before, or who others say I am."

Elizabeth didn't know if she even made any sense. She put her hands on his chest to pull away, but his hands around her waist became firmer and more resolute. "Elizabeth," he paused. "I will always hear what you tell me. You are a wonderful person when you let yourself be…well, yourself. I think you're the first person I've become this close to, since Robin. And in some ways, even that isn't a fair comparison."

The words seem to hang in the air before Elizabeth. She knew when she had first seen Jason in that courtyard; things would change in her life. But whatever Jason brought into her life, she knew that it wasn't the chaos everyone assumed that came with Jason and Sonny's lifestyle. Elizabeth knew that instead of chaos he would bring some sense, some stability. She had always known, from the moment she first took her on his bike – to nowhere.

***

"You know," Elizabeth paused. "You keep saying things like that and I might get a swelled head!"

Jason studied her eyes as they flittered from one place to the next, unwilling to meet his gaze. Elizabeth bit her lip as she laughed as she teased him.

He had made her uncomfortable. Sometimes Jason didn't know what was the right thing to say or not. It had been a while since he even cared enough to even filter the things he said making sure it wouldn't offend anyone. He had always been blunt, or if he couldn't be blunt because it might just hurt someone he loved, Jason would remain quiet.

"Jason?"

Her voice called to him out of the depth of his thoughts. "Hmmm?"

"Jason, I'm sorry…"

Jason lightly brushed his thumb over her moving lips. "Didn't I tell you before," he whispered, lowering his head to hers. "I don't want you sorry…"

His eyes were fixed on hers. Jason's heart skipped a beat as she closed her eyes and wetted her lips. "Elizabeth," he whispered.

Her eyes opened once more and she seemed more vulnerable in that moment than he'd ever seen her in his life. "Yeah," she sighed breathily.

"Maybe we should…" he hated to say the words, but Jason had to be sure that this was what she wanted. "Maybe we should go." The words tasted bitter in his mouth.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. "Yeah, you're right," she half-heartedly smiled. "Yeah, I was getting…tired anyway."

~~~

Jason was glad that he had the amount of self-control over himself to hold Elizabeth at arm's length. Jason hated that he knew he couldn't let himself get hurt like that again.

As they got off his motorcycle, Donnie had sent it to Venice at Jason's request; Jason felt a disappointment that he'd never felt before. He understood in his head what he had to do, but Jason knew that his heart had wanted him to take a leap of faith. But he couldn't do it.

"Ahh," Elizabeth sighed happily. "Jason thanks for the ride. Thanks for dinner and the dance too!" she smiled, tucking away the helmet and trying to fix her flattened curls.

"I had a good time too."

Jason adjusted his leather gloves, interweaving his fingers so that they would fit snuggly.

"Aren't you coming back up?" Elizabeth motioned with her hand up to the apartment.

"Um, I actually have to take care of some business for Sonny that's come up. I was going to do it this afternoon, but we got caught up in that self-defense class," he joked.

"Uh, yeah," she laughed distractedly.

"Don't wait up for me, it might take me till morning."

Jason lifted the kickstand of his bike and revved the engine.

"You will be back though, right?" Elizabeth asked uneasily.

"Yeah. Of course. I just have to run a couple errands for Sonny."

Elizabeth nodded her head slowly. She didn't seem to believe him. Jason couldn't blame her. After what almost happened tonight, he almost wondered if he was running away.

"Okay," she said reluctantly. "Good night Jason."

Elizabeth walked over to him and kissed his cheek. Her lips lingered on his skin, which warmed from her touch.

"Good night," he replied softly.

He began to ride away on his motorcycle after Elizabeth stepped safely aside. Jason watched her lonely figure gazing after him in his side view mirrors.

He wasn't running away. He wasn't.