This chapter is slightly rated.  I think originally I said it was Heavy R./Light NC-17.  Just thought I'd give you fair warning.  ~Cal

Jason Morgan looked around his wife's bedroom and felt as if he was getting to know her all over again. He could hear the shower running and knew he'd be safe if he looked around some. Jason hoped that he'd be able to find some clues as to what he'd missed for two years. Pictures or letters, or something that told him about what happened to her. Something that told him about Isabelle.

He watched her fall apart earlier and had to wonder if that's what it'd been like for her when he left. Sonny had given him some insight, but not enough for Jason to know what really happened during that time. Walking towards the dresser, he pulled open the top drawer. Staring back at him was a picture from their wedding day, a copy of the picture he'd kept with him always. His head had been tilted so he could see her and she was looking back up at him. The smile they both wore showed how much they loved each other. But he couldn't help but wonder why she had it in the drawer and not on display.

In the contents under the picture he found an envelope that read Jason. Stopping again to listen for the shower, he was sure she hadn't finished before he slipped his finger under the flap and pulled the document it out. Jason scanned them quickly and knew almost immediately he had a legal separation in his hand. The lawyer wasn't Alexis, but some guy named Geralds out of Buffalo. On a handwritten note Jason read the lawyers note to Elizabeth, Ms. Morgan, here are the papers you filed. All you have to do is sign and return them. If you have any questions, I can be reached at… and then he gave his telephone number. Flipping through the papers again, he saw that she had signed them.

"I couldn't file them," Elizabeth explained from behind him.

He turned to find her wrapped in a thick terry cloth robe and a black towel soaking up the moisture from her wet hair. Her arms were wrapped protectively around her waist, she wore no make-up. Jason noticed that her skin was red from the scrubbing she'd given it. He fought the instinct in him to go and touch her. On her left hand, he noticed that she wore her engagement ring. Pointing at it, he said, "I'm surprised you haven't taken it off yet."

Elizabeth held her hand out in front of her and smiled weakly. "It's the only thing I have left." Her walls began to crumble again and Elizabeth turned so he wouldn't see her cry. She'd cried so much in the last few hours that she thought she didn't have any tears left in her. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

Jason was next to her in two steps. He clenched a hand in her dark, wet curls and pulled her into his chest. "Hey, hey. You don't ever have to apologize to me for being upset. You're allowed to be upset, Elizabeth."

She snuggled into the warmth of his chest as her arms came up around his lean waist. Tears continued to leak out of her eyes and she wasn't ashamed of them anymore. They stood like that for minutes as the world seemed to stop spinning. For them, the only person who existed was the other.

Jason ran a soothing hand up and down her back. "It'll be okay, Elizabeth. I'll make everything okay."

She nodded mutely and pulled away from him. Going to the dresser where he'd found the separation papers, she opened another drawer and pulled out some silk pajama bottoms and a cotton t-shirt. Numbly, she handed Jason the legal documents and nodded towards the bathroom. "I'll be right back."

He nodded. Jason flipped through the documents one more time and sighed. God, he'd messed this up. "You know, the engagement ring isn't the only thing you have left," he called through the door. "You have me."

Elizabeth didn't respond as she continued to change clothes. A minute later, she emerged from the bathroom fully dressed. The black towel still hung around her shoulders catching any spare water drops. "Do I?"

"Have me?" he questioned. Not standing to not touch her, he ran the back of his hand along her cheek. "You've always had me. Since the very first night, I think. I didn't stand a chance."

"You still left," she reminded him. Turning her cheek into his touch, she sighed. "I'm sorry. I know I keep reminding you of that. But I don't know if I can get past it."

"I know," he said softly. Jason lifted her chin so she was facing him. "You know I didn't leave because of you, right? That it was never a problem of love."

"You left because you couldn't live with yourself. Because you felt you killed our daughter." She laughed then. It was bitter and short. "That's the kicker; it's possible she's not even dead. We missed two years with Abby and each other because that sick bastard wants to play games with us."

"Elizabeth," he sighed. Jason didn't know how to approach this topic. When they'd first received the pictures, she'd been hysterical and he wasn't able to talk to her. Then, she'd wanted to sit around and not talk. He knew she'd gone some place deep inside of herself to try and deal. That's when the crying started again. The doctor had come and given her something so she could sleep; but she'd refused to take them. The orange pill bottle sat on her nightstand, unopened. "We don't know it's her."

"It's her," she said with force. She was tired of Sonny and Jason both telling her she wouldn't know her own daughter. Elizabeth couldn't explain to them how she knew, but only that she was sure the blonde haired child was Abby. Opening her eyes, she stared at the man she loved more than life. "Please believe me when I say it's her."

He wanted to. Jason wanted to believe Elizabeth would recognize their daughter and he even felt a little ashamed that he didn't share in her convictions. But he didn't want to get his hopes up for it to only be a game Stryker was playing with them. Touching her again, Jason smiled. "I want it to be her too, Elizabeth."

"No!" she insisted, "it is her!" Elizabeth moved away from him and grabbed the photo of them off her dresser. The picture had been taken three days before Abby was taken. "Look at her, Jason." When he dropped his head, she pushed him. " Look at her," she ordered again. This time he did look up and he saw the picture of them in the park. "This is our daughter, Jason. She is alive, she's out there somewhere, scared and alone. And we're going to find her. I don't care if we have to turn the world upside down, we will find her."

"Honey, we have men on it already, they started–"

Elizabeth raised a hand to stop him. "Don't tell me that if it's her, they'll find her. It is her, Jason. It's Abby." She was nearly hysterical again. Elizabeth clutched the picture to her chest as she began to tremble.

"Elizabeth–"

"Say it, Jason." When she looked up at him, her eyes were wild. "Say it's Abby." Holding the picture out again, she lovingly caressed the face of her little girl. "Tell me it's Abby, Jason."

Knowing she was about to fall, doubting her legs would support her much longer, Jason moved to her. Placing one around her waist, he bent and easily lifted her. Moving towards the bed, he laid her down gently. Jason sat on the bed and put his hand on her face. "Shhh, honey. It's her, okay? I promise you, it's her. And we'll find her."

Elizabeth's sobs began to quiet as Jason continued his nonsensical words. She closed her eyes and reveled in the touch of his hand on her face. The tone he used was so full of love that if she wasn't already crying, some part of Elizabeth knew she would be. She turned on her side, into him. The bed dipped where he sat and soon he was the only thing holding her on the mattress. Neither of them talked as he continued to show her love. Occasionally Elizabeth would sniffle or move to wipe away her tears, but for the most part they just were.

Sometime later when he thought she was asleep, Jason went to move. He was going to discreetly slip out of her room and call Sonny. The men needed to discuss the possibility of what happened if his first daughter was alive. His thoughts momentarily went to Ronan Stryker and Jason felt a hate so deep it threatened to consume him well inside. Sorel had been a pain in their side for years, but for the most part Jason and Sonny had considered him harmless. But maybe he wasn't so harmless. His faking Abby's death was still having adverse affects on the lives of Jason and Sonny.

"Where're you going?" a sleepy voice asked.

Jason turned to find her blue eyes looking up at him from hooded lids. "I was gonna call Sonny and then get in my bed."

"Isabelle's home?" she asked, almost hopeful.

Jason shook his head. "Do you want me to tell Sonny to bring her over?"

"No," she said weakly. "I don't want her to see me like this." Sitting up in the bed, Elizabeth sighed heavily. "I must be a mess."

Turning towards her once again, Jason disagreed, "You're allowed to be a mess, Elizabeth. Don't forget that. Put down the world, Atlas, and join us for awhile."

Despite her rotten mood, she smiled at him. It wasn't her usual hundred watt smile, but it was tentative and full of love. "When did you have time to learn Greek mythology?"

"I think I was in Norway," he told her. "Right before I found Lucky. I got kind of bored."

At the mention of her ex-love, Elizabeth's eyes narrowed a bit. "Why did you send him back, Jason? Was it for me? Did you think I'd see him, run into his arms and everything you and I shared would be a distant memory?"

"The thought crossed my mind," Jason admitted. "Finding Lucky…I dunno, Elizabeth. It brought me back to a time when my life was empty. The night you found me in that bar, you changed me."

"And you saved me." Moving closer to him, Elizabeth placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "The thought of going back to Lucky never crossed my mind," she tried to assure him. "We were living in Buffalo when Sonny told me he was alive. Except he told me Luke found him on one of his many trips abroad. I believed him. I think that's the only time Sonny's ever lied to me."

"You understand why he did it, though. Don't be angry with him, Elizabeth."

"I'm not. I'm not even angry with you anymore. I was angry with Lucky after I saw him the other day. I never thought I'd be angry with him." Elizabeth sighed heavily as she replayed the conversation that'd taken place more than a week ago. "He wanted me to be with him again. I couldn't, Jason. I couldn't betray you like that. Or our daughter." She lifted her head grimly. "Or our daughters." Taking a deep breath she asked, "Will it always hurt this much?"

"What hurts?"

"Knowing that I've missed the last two years of her life. Knowing that she's scared and alone."

"We don't know that," he said quickly.

"Oh please, she's been with Ronan Stryker. How much love could she have gotten?"

Gently Jason laid Elizabeth down again and said, "Someone once said that about Michael, Elizabeth. They said, 'He's been with Jason Morgan. How much love could he have gotten?' And I still love him today, Elizabeth. Don't pass judgment so quickly."

She nodded at him, but didn't say anything. Jason ran his fingertips over her eyelids and closed them for her. "Now sleep."

Elizabeth grabbed his wrist when he went to move away. "Stay with me tonight? I just…I can't be alone tonight, Jason. Please stay with me."

Knowing he couldn't refuse her, Jason nodded. "I need to call Sonny, though." Bending, he kissed her head. "But I'll be back."

He thought he heard her mumble something before he left the room. Jason left the light on in the hall and the door cracked so he could hear her. He moved quickly into the nursery and pulled out a pair of cotton pajama bottoms and a navy blue t-shirt. He changed quickly, deciding he'd shower in the morning. Glancing at the clock, he hoped Sonny would be home from the warehouse by now. Leaving the room and the penthouse, he nodded at the night guard.

Don nodded back at his boss. He knocked on the door and moved aside quickly as Jason moved into the penthouse.

Sonny looked up from the paperwork he'd brought home from the coffee warehouse. "How is she?" he asked immediately.

"She just lay down," Jason admitted. "She was pretty messed up there for awhile. She wouldn't take the pills Evans left."

"I didn't think she would, but at least we tried."

"Where's Isabelle?" Jason asked, his eyes scanning the penthouse.

"Alexis came by and she went there for the night. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Jason nodded towards the penthouse. "You and I need to sit down and make some plans, Sonny. We have to figure out what we're going to do about this. I have to let Elizabeth know something."

"You're meeting with Mike tomorrow?" Sonny already knew the answer. He and Villalobos had had a long conversation before he left the warehouse. At Jason's nod he continued, "Be sure you take Francis and Johnny with you. I don't…I don't trust him, Jason. Not completely. Something's up."

Jason nodded briefly. He knew Mike Villalobos couldn't be trusted, but hoped now wouldn't be the time he chose to betray them. "I should get back."

"She's okay?" Sonny asked again.

"We talked for a little and she cried some. But she's in bed now."

"Okay," Sonny answered. Sonny crossed the room and opened the door for him. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to come over or call. Otherwise, I'll see you tomorrow. After you meet with Mike, we'll sit down and come up with something. You, me, Johnny, and Francis."

"Elizabeth needs to be included," Jason said, even as he walked out the door. "She's not going to let this happen without her."

Sonny nodded before he closed the door. Glancing back at the stack of unfinished invoices on his desk, he sighed. Dragging a hand across his face, he looked to the phone. He'd hoped Marie would call, but nothing yet. "Suck it up, Corinthos," he muttered.

Jason eased into the bed beside Elizabeth and she immediately moved towards him. "Isabelle?" she asked softly.

"She's with Alexis and Jax. We'll get her tomorrow."

"Okay," she nodded sleepily. "I might wanna have lunch with Jax tomorrow, if that's okay."

"I have some business to take care of in the morning, so you might wanna take a guard."

"Andrew's back," she told him. Elizabeth moved her hand to his chest and began to stroke the muscles there. "He can go with me. He's been my guard for awhile now. I like Andrew."

Jason's arm settled at her waist where he softly ran his fingers over her hip and thigh. "Okay."

As he continued to touch her, Elizabeth's caresses of his chest became bolder. She moved her hand to the hem of his shirt and slipped under it. "Jason," she sighed.

His hand moved to her back and he pressed her into him more. Jason was aware of where this could lead, but he didn't stop her just yet. His eyes closed on a sigh as she rolled his nipple between her fingers.

Propping herself up, Elizabeth loomed over him. Searching his eyes in the darkness, she lowered her head to kiss him. It was soft and sweet. Two hurt hearts coming to an understanding. Jason was rubbing her bare back under the shirt now. His body hummed with contentment as the feeling he'd been missing for so long came back.

Drawing back because she needed to breathe, Elizabeth moved to his neck. She took his earlobe in her mouth and softly bit him. Her tongue moved to salve the wound as her hands traveled south toward his waist. "Jason…" Her hand slipped into his pants as she rubbed him through the boxer-briefs.

"Yesss," Jason sighed. Shifting them so that he was on top, Jason looked down at her. "You are so beautiful," he whispered. Kissing her eyes closed, he traced her jaw with his tongue. "And I love you so much." His large, calloused hand closed around her soft mound and Elizabeth sighed with relief. "I've missed you so much," he continued. "I've missed the way your skin tastes, the way your breath quickens. I've missed loving you, Elizabeth."

"Yes," she whispered. "Love me, Jason." She continued to scrape her nails over his hardening member. "Please Jason, just love me."

"I am Elizabeth." Jason pulled back and stripped the t-shirt over her head. The moonlight from the window illuminated her alabaster skin. Lowering his head, Jason took a nipple between his lips and began to suckle her. On their own accord, Jason's hands moved down lower, into her pajama pants. Moving under the thin cotton strip, he touched her dampening curls. He caressed the mound there for her pleasure.

"Lower," she whispered. Her breathing was labored as she ignored the voice in her head that screamed how wrong this was. No matter what, it felt so good and she didn't want him to stop. "Lower, Jason. Touch me."

"I am," he teased. Again, he ran his fingers through her curls.

"Touch me."

Wanting to satisfy her, Jason slipped one finger into her body and she arched off the bed. Her reaction was to wrap her tiny fist around him and began to pump. Lowering his head, Jason fought for control.

"Yes," she whispered. Her eyes closed with the pleasure and she sighed happily. "That's it Jason. Make me forget. Please, make me forget."

Make me forget.

And then he stopped. Moving away from her, he tossed the t-shirt in her direction. Jason dropped his head in his hands and fought his body's reaction. Her words were like a bucket of cold water doused on him. "God, Elizabeth. I'm sorry."

She came out of her haze quickly and reached for the shirt. Mortified by her actions, she immediately apologized. "I'm sor—sorry, Jason. I don't know what came over me." Touching his back she felt the jolt and immediately jerked away from him. "You must thing I'm some kind of whor–"

"Don't say it," he commanded. Turning to face her, she could still see his love shining there. "Don't even think it, Elizabeth. It happened. It's over. It won't happen again."

"It won't happen again," she repeated. Why did that make her sad?

"Lay down," he ordered. Jason forced himself to detach from the situation. "I'll go to my room."

"Stay with me," she said softly.

"Elizabeth–"

She dropped a pillow and blanket on the floor for him. "Please, just stay in here. It won't happen again."

Not trusting himself to even look at her, Jason dropped to the floor and faced away from her. "Goodnight Elizabeth."

He heard her sigh before she dropped back into the bed. "Goodnight Jason…" and then she hesitated, "I love you."

~*~



When she woke up, Elizabeth heard the downstairs shower running. The pillow and blanket were sitting at the foot of her bed and Jason was already out of her way. While she was waking up, she'd remembered what happened between them the previous night. She tried to block it from her mind, but she couldn't. All she could think about was the way she'd thrown herself at him.

A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. "Come in."

His hair was still wet from the shower, his feet bare, his t-shirt not tucked in. "How are you?" he questioned.

Elizabeth nodded slowly, not trusting herself.

"Good." Jason sighed heavily. "Listen, I have to go out…I told you last night. You said you wanted to have lunch with Jax…Andrew's on the door."

"Okay," her voice was soft. She tried to smile at him. As he turned to leave, Elizabeth called out for him.

Jason turned around, the question in his eyes.

She pointed towards the dresser he was in last night. "Under the black sweater in the third drawer, there's a scrapbook. I kept it for you, if you want it."

He mutely crossed to the dresser and pulled the scrapbook from its hiding place. Opening the first page he saw the details of Isabelle's birth in Elizabeth's scripted writing. "Elizabeth–"

"I kept it for you, so you'd know about her life when you weren't there. I know you don't have time to look at it now…but if you'd like, we can go through it together tonight."

He nodded, "I'd like that."

"Okay." Rising from the bed, she went to him. Tentatively she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Be safe, okay?"

His arms encircled her small body and he held on for a minute. "I will. Johnny and Francis are going with me. Make sure you take Andrew with you."

"I will," she promised. Elizabeth pulled back from him and moved towards her closet. She began to pull a bathrobe and towels down for herself. "Jason?" she asked.

He stood in the doorway watching her. Her admission of love from last night still rang in his ears. Jason had heard her tiny voice all night long when he tried to sleep. "Yeah?"

"I meant what I said last night…I do love you. And…" she trailed off. Fidgeting with the robe in her hand, she dropped her gaze to the floor before she forced herself to look up. "I think you and I need to talk about the divorce when you get home."

"Di–divorce?" he stuttered. He'd forgotten all about it with the news about Abby.

"I don't want one," she said bluntly. "I never have and I never will. You and I need to decide what we're going to do."

He stood there, stunned, as she disappeared into the bathroom. Minutes later he heard bathwater start and he forced himself to turn and walk out of the door.

Her final words haunted him even as he met with the two bodyguards outside the door. And he had that all too familiar feeling of hope again.