Elizabeth Morgan had never seen Sonny Corinthos drink beer from a bottle. Mostly, it was scotch or bourbon. She suspected he would have rum with Coke or maybe vodka and orange juice. On occasion, there was an imported European beer. But always from a glass.

She wouldn't have believed it if she wasn't seeing it with her own eyes. The reputed mobster was definitely taking a pull from a brown, longnecked Budweiser bottle. He winced slightly as the fermented liquid hit his taste buds – the same wince Jason would have while drinking. As if Sonny knew she was watching, he looked towards the house and gave her his famous dimpled grin. She returned the smile with ease.

Elizabeth returned her attention to the carrots she was chopping. The aroma coming from the stove told her the baked potatoes were done. The pasta boiled quietly on the stove and Sonny's alfredo sauce simmered. She could hear the guards playing with Abby and Isabelle outside, and smiled to herself. It was almost as if the two girls had never been separated. Abby had taken a little longer to warm to the guards, but she had been easier around them recently. And her sleeping was better too.

Most nights, Elizabeth wanted to put Abby in the bed with her, but she didn't. Elizabeth understood that Abby needed to adjust and wouldn't if they were coddling her every second. In time, both Jason and Elizabeth hoped Ronan Stryker and Philip Scarcella would fade from her memory. Even though they would never forget.

Elizabeth was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the back door open or Jason's heavy motorcycle boots on the wood floor. It wasn't until he pressed his chest to her back and put an arm around her waist that she was aware of his presence.

"Hey," he mumbled into her hair. He nuzzled her neck and kissed it gently. "I was wondering where you disappeared to."

Unconsciously, Elizabeth titled her head to give him better access. Jason continued his tender assault down her neck and across her collarbone. "I was just finishing dinner."

"I see." He kissed her shoulder one last time before stepping back. Jason turned her body so she was facing him. "I just wanted to spend some quiet time with you."

Elizabeth gazed up at him. "It's okay. I know there hasn't been a lot of time for us lately."

"I know you understand." Jason placed both hands on her shoulders and smoothed down her arms. "I just miss you. Seems like it's only a few seconds at a time, then something happens."

Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "That's why we're going out this weekend. What're we doing, anyway?"

"That's a surprise," he teased. Jason's blue eyes sparkled with mirth. "Alexis and Jax are still sitting, right?"

"Yes." Elizabeth stepped into his body again and kissed his shirt-covered chest. "It'll just be you," she kissed him again, "And me," another kiss, "and… a motorcycle?" she asked hopefully.

His laughter filled the kitchen and his arms tightened around her waist. "Admit it, you only love me because of the bike."

"No," she disagreed, "but the bike does add to your other natural charms." To add emphasis to her words, Elizabeth reached around and patted of his denim-clad behind.

To his credit, Jason blushed. "Mrs. Morgan, what would your husband say?"

"Oh, I don't think he'll mind." Elizabeth continued her various manipulations of his body. She knew what they were doing was dangerous because anyone could walk in at any time. Finally, Elizabeth stepped away from him. "Do you have any other plans on Saturday night?"

"No, why?"

Elizabeth looked away from him and blushed. "I—" she cleared her throat of its sudden lump and made herself meet his eyes. "Well, I told Jax that we wouldn't be picking the girls up until Sunday morning. I was hoping- well, I was curious if you'd–" she stopped again.

"What is it Elizabeth?"

"Stay with me Saturday night," she blurted out. Now she was completely unable to meet his gaze and began fidgeting with the wedding band that hung from her neck.

He would have smiled at her suggestion, had she not been so uncomfortable. "Elizabeth, you don't have to do this."

"I want to," she tried to reassure him. "Do you not want to be with me?"

Jason did smile then. "In case you haven't noticed, every time you and I are in the room together I can't not touch you. I want you to be sure."

"I am."

"How about this, I'll stay with you, but it's not a guarantee anything will happen."

"Okay," she agreed."

Her husband would have said more if Sonny hadn't made his presence known from the doorway. Both Jason and Elizabeth looked at him like two teenagers caught in the back seat of a car. "Relax," the mobster tried to reassure them. "We're all adults here. And what happens in your relationship is none of my business. I just wanted to tell you dinner is done."

Elizabeth busied herself with all the final preparations to take her mind off of things. But she had this funny feeling Sonny wanted to discuss their sex life. Unfortunately, Elizabeth wasn't being careful and her hand sizzled when she reached for the pan in the oven, sans an oven mit. "Damn it!"

Immediately Jason was at her side, pulling the burned hand towards the sink. "You have to be more careful," he scolded. Jason turned the water cold and stuck her right hand beneath the flow.

Sonny went to work in gathering the food as his best friend attended to Elizabeth. "Patch her up and we'll be waiting," he called over his shoulder.

Elizabeth stood completely still as Jason went for the small first aid kit. She winced as he applied burn cream to her fingers and the palm of her hand. "I feel like a six year old," she admitted. When Jason pulled some gauze wrap from the kit she protested. "I don't think that's necessary."

"He looked down at her, his eyes pleading to let him help. "Humor me?"

Begrudgingly, Elizabeth her hand palm up and let him wrap it. When he finished, Jason placed a tender kiss in the center. She smiled at his affection. The smile turned to a laugh when her stomach made itself known, rather loudly. "You hungry?"

Jason put a hand on the small of her back and turned her towards the open door. He pushed her gently. "I'm suddenly starving."

Funny, she didn't think he was talking about food.

As they approached the table, Sonny stood and the guards followed suit. Elizabeth took an empty seat and Jason slid into the space beside her. After she was seated, the five men sat.

The food was passed around, each man taking what he wanted. Jason served Elizabeth while she tended to Abby and Isabelle. First she tested the warmth of the pasta and sauce to make sure it wouldn't burn the children. Once she was assured of its temperature, Elizabeth put an equally small amount on each other the plates and watched as each girl first tested the food with small bites, then took a larger spoonful when they decided saw it was marginally edible. "Eat up," their mother ordered.

Elizabeth rejoined the adult conversation as Johnny relayed his latest visit to Brooklyn to see his youngest sister. "How is she?" Elizabeth inquired.

"Which one?"

Elizabeth took another bite of her salad before answering. "I don't remember how many sisters you have. But I was asking about the one you just went to see."

"Megan—who I went to see—is doing well. She just got engaged. Kathryn, Maggie, and Elaine are all living New York, working on Wall Street. Alex and Claire, I haven't seen in awhile, but mom tells me they're okay."

When he was finished, Elizabeth grinned brightly at him. It amazed her that he still managed to keep up with his entire family. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Sarah or Steven, much less her parents. The smile still in place, she turned to Jason and commented, "I hope our children grow up to be just like Johnny."

The table erupted with laughter, except for Jason. No, he didn't want any of his children to be like Johnny—or date men like Johnny. His wife would have pushed the topic further, but she knew what Jason was thinking. Instead she asked, "What did you do today?"

Though the question was directed at all of them, Jason answered. "Work, the books. Carly came by the penthouse to see me."

"Oh?" Sonny asked. He'd been meaning to go see his ex-lover again, but he hadn't made it over there. "How is she?"

"She's good," Jason told him. A faint smile played on his lips as he remembered his old friend's antics earlier that day. "She's Carly. I always miss her when I go to see Michael, and Carly, always wanting to believe the conspiracy theory, thinks I do it on purpose."

"So, being Carly, she took the initiative and showed up at your place," Elizabeth finished for him. She reached over and placed her hand atop his. "It's good to know some things will never change."

Jason squeezed Elizabeth's fingers and smiled. "And you. I know Jax was here earlier."

"Candy Boy," Sonny sneered. "I will never understand what people see in that overgrown kangaroo."

"Sonny," Elizabeth warned. She knew he was only teasing – most of the time – but it could still get personal. "Jax came by for tea. He said Robin and Nikolas are in town and wanted to spend time with Alexis before the baby was born. He wanted me to go by Wyndemere and see Nikolas before they returned to Paris."

"Are you?" Jason knew Robin had already stopped by the penthouse to see Sonny and that she was doing well. Part of him wanted to go by Wyndemere himself to see her, but he wasn't sure how well he would be received. Or even if he was ready to see her. It had been years, and the wound had faded away, but he didn't want to relive one of the darkest times in his life.

"I think so," Elizabeth told him. "I need to see him. There are…things to be said."

As dinner wrapped up, the conversation began to wane. Elizabeth sat on the patio with Abby and Isabelle while the men cleaned up the dishes. As the last bit of sunlight fell behind the horizon, Sonny was climbing into the back of the limo with the other guards. Elizabeth stood on the porch, Isabelle in her arms, Jason beside her, as the long, dark car pulled out of their drive way and turned down the street. When they couldn't see it anymore, the family turned back towards the house to get ready for what lie ahead.

Inside the limousine, Sonny, Johnny, and Francis rode in silence. After a few minutes, Johnny turned to face Sonny and asked, "Did you notice the rings?"

Sonny indicated he did with a head nod, but Francis asked, "What do you think it means?"

The mobster didn't quite know what to think of his bodyguards discussing his best friend's private life, and didn't feel right joining into the conversation. Instead, he poured himself a glass of scotch from the wet bar. He contemplated what the rings meant over the alcohol, finally deciding it was a good thing.

As the car pulled into the garage of Harborview Towers, Sonny turned to the men. He broke the silence to say, "It means they've finally found their way home."