Of all the scenarios that had played out in his head for the last two years, none of them had been quite like this. Elizabeth had kissed him. Right before she pushed him in the floor. But still, she had kissed him. And with that one kiss, he only confirmed what he knew all along. He was a fool to have left her.
"Well?" she asked. "You gonna answer my question?"
"I don't really know what to say."
"Don't know what to say?" she yelled. "Of course. You never were a big talker."
"Elizabeth-"
"Don't 'Elizabeth' me. What the hell are you doing here?"
Jason was at a loss for words. He couldn't think of anything to say that wasn't going to make her more upset. Honey, I'm home. Sorry I stayed away so long. But I'm back now and I love you and everything's going to be okay, didn't really sound like the smartest thing right now.
"I'm home," he tried.
"Home?" Elizabeth flung the covers back and jumped out of bed. She stood above him and glared. "I don't think so. This is my home."
"We're married," he reminded her.
"Not for long!" Elizabeth took the engagement ring off and threw it at his bare chest. "That's the one great thing about you being back. It's gonna be infinitely easier for me to get a divorce."
"Elizabeth, honey. Let's be reasonable." Jason closed his hand around the engagement ring and felt the diamond bite into his hand. He pushed himself up on his elbows and then gradually stood. He flanked her when he reached his full height.
"Reasonable?" she demanded. Elizabeth had to take a step back so she could see his face. "You want me to be reasonable?"
Jason reached out to push her hair behind her ear, but caught himself. He didn't think she'd appreciate that right now either. "Yeah. Listen, why don't I make us some coffee and we can go downstairs and talk."
"You want to talk?"
"I think we need to, Elizabeth. It's been a long time."
"And whose fault is that?" Elizabeth let her gaze drop to his chest and remembered he was standing in her bedroom in nothing but his boxers. "Get dressed, I'll be downstairs."
With that, she turned and walked to the desk. She grabbed the robe off the back of the chair and turned to leave the room. Elizabeth only stopped when Jason called her name.
"What?" she asked testily.
"I love you."
Elizabeth didn't say anything as she walked out of the room.
Jason swept his jeans up off the floor and jerked them on. He followed with his t-shirt, not bothering with the belt. He turned to glance at the bed one last time before he left the room. "You really screwed this one up, Morgan."
Ten minutes later, Elizabeth sat at the bar in her kitchen staring at the cream colored coffee. Jason was moving around the kitchen and she knew he was cooking eggs and bacon, more from the smell than anything.
He was back. That's all she could think. Jason was in her kitchen, cooking her breakfast. He wanted to talk. And the strange thing? Elizabeth didn't really have anything to say to him.
She'd never planned on asking for a divorce. Hadn't even considered the possibility. But before she knew what she was saying, the words were tumbling out of her mouth. And, what surprised her even more is that divorce seemed like a good idea. Well, not a good idea. More like…the best solution. Possibly the only solution.
Elizabeth lifted her head and watched as he moved around the kitchen. It was like he'd been there all his life. Of course, he had lived here once before, she reminded herself. As she studied him, she couldn't deny what her heart told her. She was still in love with her husband. Even though her head demanded that she make a clean break now, before he split again.
"When are you leaving?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Jason didn't answer her question. Instead he continued to shovel eggs and bacon onto two plates. He balanced them both, along with silverware and sat one plate in front of her. He took a seat on the stool across from her and studied her face.
He still didn't say anything as he dug into his breakfast.
"Are you going to answer my question?" Elizabeth averted her gaze back to the food and started moving it around on her plate.
"I'm not." He took another bite.
Elizabeth looked up at him then. "You're not going to answer my question?"
"I'm not leaving."
She laughed and then rolled her eyes. "Where have I heard that lie before?" Pausing, she brought her finger to her chin and pretended to ponder the question. "Oh yeah, I remember-our wedding day."
"That's not fair." Jason studied the woman who sat in front of him. "What do you want me to say?" he asked.
"That's just it. I don't want you to say anything. Your silence over the last two years has been deafening. I want you to leave."
"I'm not leaving," Jason told her. He studied Elizabeth and tried to remember the last time he'd seen her eyes shine. The day that came back to him was the day after their anniversary. She seemed like a new person that morning.
"But isn't that what you do best?" Elizabeth threw her fork down and glared at him. "I mean, you tried it once before. God only knows we would have avoided this disaster of a marriage if I'd let you leave then."
Jason just stared at her. He didn't know what to say. She couldn't really mean all of these things, could she?
"Who are you?" he whispered.
"Who am I?" her voice rose. "I'm your wife. Or at least I was. Now, I'm just a woman that you used to know."
"No." Jason cleared his voice. "No," he repeated. "You are my wife. I won't give you a divorce."
"Let me give you a clue. There's this little thing called abandonment," she snapped. "You left me. I can't think of a judge in the state of New York who wouldn't give me a divorce."
"I'll find one," he promised. "I love you, Elizabeth. And I think you love me too."
"Oh really?" she challenged. "I find it incredibly hard to believe that you love me. Even if you did, you're still wrong. I don't love you."
The words made his heart hurt. He knew it would have hurt less if she'd physically struck him. "Then I'll make you love me again."
"You can't." Elizabeth stood and secured the belt around her waist. She looked at him and felt sorry. And foolish. And she was still in love with him. "Look, Jason. Don't fight this. I'll have Alexis draw up the papers."
"Elizabeth-" Jason reached out and grabbed her arm. His grip was firm and he knew that she wouldn't be able to break it. What surprised him the most was that she didn't try to pull away. "We don't have to do this. We can make it work."
"We could've made it work," she agreed. "If you would have come back. But you didn't. I don't think we can make it work. I don't think I can forgive you."
"I'll make you love me again," he swore. Jason tugged on her arm and pulled her against him. "I've loved you my whole life, Elizabeth Morgan. Before I knew you, I was in love with you."
"Jason," she sighed. Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried to think of something to say to him. Her heart was screaming at her to tell him she loved him, too. But she couldn't. Wouldn't. She took a step back and tugged against him. "Let me go."
"Elizabeth-"
"No, Jason. Let me go." She didn't have to ask again. Elizabeth frowned as she realized she missed the contact. "I'm gonna go get dressed. Then I'm going to call Alexis and tell her to file the papers." She turned away from him but then looked back. "I want you out of my house. If the circumstances were different, I'd let you stay here. But you can't. Please leave."
He stared at the door after she walked through it. Finally, he left the kitchen and then the penthouse. Johnny opened the door for him, giving him nothing but a nod. Jason walked to the couch and dropped onto it. Suddenly, he felt really old.
~*~
Elizabeth stood over the crib in Isabelle's room. She was amazed that all the shouting hadn't woken her. Of course, it was more civil than she'd planned. Elizabeth gathered Isabelle into her arms and smiled when the child snuggled into her shoulder.
"Mommy wants to talk to you, Isa," she said quietly. Elizabeth moved to the rocking chair in the room and sat down. A sense of déjà vu washed over her. Except, she hadn't been holding Isabelle, it had been Abby. Elizabeth vividly remembered everything about what happened the last time she'd seen her first child alive. It was her only solace; Elizabeth knew that Abby knew she was loved.
"Daddy's home, honey." Elizabeth looked down and smiled at her now awake daughter. "You heard right. Daddy's back. And Mommy doesn't know what to do."
"I love him," she admitted. "He's your father, Isa. He's the only man that I've ever loved—ever wanted to love."
Isabelle stared back at her mother, those blue eyes wide open. Elizabeth knew Isabelle had no way of understanding what she was saying. Elizabeth didn't even understand it herself.
"You have your daddy's eyes," Elizabeth said. It was true. Everyday she looked at Isabelle, she remembered Jason because the little girl had inherited his ice blue eyes. "Have I ever told you that? I promise you, Isa, you'll get to know him. I'll make sure that you know your father."
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. When she'd spoken with Alexis, the attorney offered to come over right away. Elizabeth had expressed a desire to not tell Jason about Isabelle, yet. Alexis had agreed with her, surprisingly.
The attorney and her husband stood on the other side of the door. Alexis was dressed in a typical three piece power suit, her black rim glasses perched on her nose. Jax stood behind her, dressed more comfortably. His khakis and light blue button down shirt made the outward differences between husband and wife all the more obvious.
"Thanks for coming," Elizabeth said. She moved aside and let the couple enter her penthouse.
The Jacks' stood and watched as she moved around the living room, before finally settling on the edge of the couch. "So this is where you and Sonny went?" she asked Alexis.
"Honey-" Alexis tried.
"And you knew too?" The question was directed to Jax.
Not bothering to defend himself, Jax nodded his head.
"Why?" Elizabeth asked. "Why lie to me? Why not just tell me?"
"That was Sonny's call," Alexis said. "Elizabeth, honey, there's no changing it now. All I can ask is what do you want to do?"
"I want a divorce," she said immediately.
"Are you sure?" Jax asked. He may not like Morgan, but he knew that Elizabeth loved him. "What about Isabelle? You finally have the chance to have the family with Morgan that you so desperately wanted."
"I'll let Isabelle know her father. I have every intention of telling Jason about Isa."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is." She stood and moved towards Jax. "But…but not now. Which is why I wanted you to come."
"Let me guess," he drawled with his Australian accent, "I've got baby-sitting duty?"
"Do you mind?" Elizabeth asked. "We'll just be across the hall. If anything like the other morning happens, you can bring her over."
"I'd do anything for you," he told her.
Elizabeth smiled at her friend and then turned to Alexis. "Well, counselor, are we ready?"
"I'm ready if you are."
"Lead the way," Elizabeth laughed.
The women left the penthouse and left Jax sitting on the couch, talking quietly to Isabelle.
Johnny nodded to Alexis and Elizabeth before he opened the door to announce them. Once they were tucked safely inside, Johnny resumed his position on the outside of the door. For the first time in a long time, he didn't know what to think.
Elizabeth took a seat in the chair and Alexis stood on one side of her. Jason was sitting in the middle cushion of the couch, his head held in his hands. Sonny sat opposite Elizabeth in another chair. He just stared at her, trying to get some kind of reaction.
"So," Alexis began. She continued as everyone turned to look at her. "I understand we're here to discuss the divorce."
"If there is a divorce," Jason said quickly.
"Don't worry, there will be a divorce," Elizabeth retorted.
Alexis and Sonny watched as the married couple glared at each other. It was odd for them because they knew Jason and Elizabeth loved each other. Probably more than any two people had ever loved each other. If their marriage didn't work, when did a marriage ever work?
"Look," the attorney continued. "This is a very simple case. Elizabeth you should have no trouble getting the divorce."
"But-" Jason interrupted.
"I understand you're going to contest the divorce," Alexis hurried on. "And that's your right. You'll simply have to have your lawyer file the motion."
"You are my attorney," he reminded her.
"No," Elizabeth protested. She turned to look up at Alexis. "That's not possible, you're my attorney, Alexis."
"Well…technically, I am Jason's attorney. Sonny's too."
"What?" the younger woman questioned. Elizabeth launched herself from the chair and glared between Sonny and Alexis. "Then fine, I'll find another attorney. Great help you are, Mrs. Jacks."
Alexis bristled at the tone Elizabeth had used. She knew the young woman was hurt. "I can easily represent both of you," she told her.
"No, no. I'll just find someone else."
Alexis went to continue but the door opened and Johnny walked in. All eyes turned to the guard as he glanced up from the file he was flipping through. "Sorry," he murmured. "But I got that file…on our friend. You said you wanted to see it right away."
"Right," Sonny said. "What has our friend Mr. Stryker been up to?" Sonny flipped through the file and frowned at the things he read. "He's been quiet," he said to no one.
"Too quiet," Johnny agreed.
Remembering that they had company, Sonny stopped the murmuring. He gave Jason a look that told him he'd explain things later. His attention shifted to the women and he raised his eyebrows at Alexis.
"Is that signal for us to leave?" Alexis questioned. She huffed when Sonny nodded his head. "That's okay, because I really think Elizabeth and I need to talk."
Before Alexis could grab her arm, Elizabeth turned to look at Sonny. She twisted her fingers together and looked down at the floor. "I suppose I should tell you-"
"Tell me what?" Sonny asked.
"Well…it's about Stryker."
"What about Stryker?" Jason asked. He knew this behavior from Elizabeth. This was her way of delivering bad news.
Elizabeth turned to glare at her husband. "I wasn't talking to you." She turned back to Sonny and held his gaze.
"I think you should know that Ronan Stryker approached me in the park yesterday."