To Marian, my friend.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The light filtering through the blinds woke him. They'd fallen asleep sometime after four, and it was just six thirty. But his body felt renewed. His mind sharpened. He owed it all to the vixen in bed next to him.

We got the afternoon
You got this room for two
One thing I've left to do
Discover me
Discovering you

The previous night was still kind of blurry. They'd been at the police station making a police report about Coleman when she walked in. Detective Capelli had her handcuffed, and he pushed her through the door, Elizabeth fighting him the whole way. Jason had seen the trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth and the anger had started to burn within him.

"I'll be right back," he told Courtney.

Since Elizabeth had walked in, he'd hardly noticed Cinderella standing next to him. She was wearing a too-short black skirt, and a tight leopard print blouse. It was emphasizing curves he wasn't even aware she had. Wasn't it illegal to be dressed that way? What was she doing here, anyway?

"Elizabeth," Jason called.

She glanced over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. "Detective, can we hurry up?"

"Ms. Webber, you're being accused of assisting in a prison break. Do you know how serious that is?"

By that time, Jason was standing over Capelli's shoulder. "Elizabeth… what did you do?"

She looked at him then. Her blue eyes flashing with anger. "Jason… what do you care?"

"Elizabeth–"

"Let me go!" Lucky Spencer yelled. Jason turned to find Elizabeth's ex struggling against Taggert's handcuffs, dressed in prison blues. "Elizabeth!" Lucky yelled.

She came to life them. Pulling away from Capelli, she made her way over to Lucky and his approaching father, who was also struggling. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean–"

"It's okay," Luke cut in. "You should have never been dragged into this."

"Damn straight," Jason concurred. "I just wanna know exactly what this is?"

Elizabeth rolled her shoulders and turned to look at him. "Would you just shut the hell up?" Movement caught her eye, and she saw the blonde dressed in the Halloween costume. "Oooh, Jason. You better hurry, Courtney might hurt herself on the way to the bathroom."

"Elizabeth–"

"I don't need you."

He left her alone then. But those words… they'd made his heart break. How far had he pushed her away? Jason had always assumed that they'd be able to get it back. He believed her when she told him she'd never look at him like she didn't know him at all. Now that she was back, Jason promised himself he'd never make her look at him like that again.

Leaning down, he nuzzled the skin behind her ear with his nose, before placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Morning, sleeping beauty."

One mile to every inch of
Your skin like porcelain
One pair of candy lips and
Your bubblegum tongue

She tried to roll away from him, but Jason made sure to keep his arm tight around her waist. Last night had been everything he'd ever wanted. And it hadn't been about sex. Not even close.

"Wake up," he whispered.

"Sleepy," she murmured. "Go back to bed."

"I wanna talk."

"No," she stubbornly refused. The brunette rolled again, this time into his body. Her hands wrapped around his waist, her cheek turned into his naked chest. "Go back to sleep."

Jason didn't go back to the penthouse like he said. There was absolutely no way he was letting her stay in jail tonight.

"Anger Boy," Taggert called after him. "What, more problems with your brother's wife?"

"Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Elizabeth."

"Oh… you mean the one who was kidnapped because of you? Her?"

Jason clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to release the anger that was building inside of him. It had started when he'd seen Capelli push her into the station and it just kept getting worse and worse. A fight with AJ hadn't helped either.

"Where is she?"

"Visiting hours are over," Capelli said from behind him.

Jason turned and glared. "If there's one mark on her, I'm coming after you."

"Threatening a police officer in the police station isn't the smartest thing you've ever done."

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to glare at the bald cop. "Do you want to arrest me? I just want to see Elizabeth."

"Did you ever consider that I don't want to see you?"

He turned and she was there. Still in the short skirt, tight shirt, and the shoes… those shoes…

"Elizabeth…"

She silenced him with a glare before looking at Capelli. "Am I free to go?"

"Ms. Webber, you're in serious trouble."

Elizabeth tucked her hair behind her ear. "I get that, okay? But you know what? If you had a DA who was worth a damn, none of us would be in trouble. But Scott was intent on framing Luke, and that man is the only family I have left. So damn right I'm going to help him."

"Ms. Webber," Taggert began.

Jason's head hurt. He was exhausted from the hour he'd spent with Courtney. And her looking like she did was making him come alive in places he didn't need. He hadn't seen her dressed like that since the night she showed up at Jake's. "How'd you get in trouble?" he asked.

"None of your damn business," she snapped at him. Turning back to Taggert she asked, "Am I free? I wanna go somewhere else and make trouble…"

"You sure it's what you want? Because lookin' the way you do, trouble will come easy." The conversation from so long ago played back in his mind, the words flowing easily from his mouth.

Elizabeth recognized the familiar words and couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe I am sure. Maybe having someone to fight right now sounds like a relief. Nothing else seems to work. Not friends, not painting, not time. What?"

Jason could feel the officer's eyes on them. It wasn't a conversation he wanted to have at the PCPD, but Elizabeth was finally interested in talking to him. "I tried that once."

"Tried what?"

He shook his head, remembering a time in his life when she wasn't there. "Tried to fix what hurt by finding something that hurt worse. Now, you're not going to believe me, but it doesn't work."

"How do you know?" she asked. "This has been easy for you. Something came along that finally made me understand… someone finally came along who made me feel like it was okay to be me. And it's gone, and I've got nothing. Tell me, do you know what nothing feels like?"

He took a step forward, his heart breaking with the tears that pooled in her eyes. "Yeah, it's pretty much where I live."

Elizabeth broke eye contact then. She couldn't do this. It was too hard. It hurt too much. She dropped her eyes and shook her head, her eyes noticing the wedding ring. She'd heard them talking about it down in lock up. He'd married Brenda. "Can I go now?" she asked Taggert. "I need to go."

"Ms. Webber…"

"Please?" she begged. Elizabeth adjusted her purse strap and turned towards the door. "I'll be at my studio, if you need me. I won't go anywhere."

"Fine."

She was almost out the door before he even realized what was happening. "Elizabeth!" he yelled.

She was asleep again. Jason kissed her forehead before he got out of the bed. He needed coffee and a shower. Although, the shower could probably wait for her. Deciding on the coffee, he pulled on a pair of sweatpants and went downstairs.

He immediately regretted it when he saw Brenda in the living room. In the six hours he'd spent with Elizabeth, Jason had forgotten all about his wife.

And if you want love
We'll make it
Swim in a deep sea
Of blankets
Take all your big plans
And break 'em
This is bound to be a while

"You know," she began, "I always thought I'd be the one to cheat."

"Stuff it," he ordered.

"Who is she?"

Jason stopped at the door to the kitchen and sighed. "Does it matter? As soon as you get the chance, I have no doubt you'll be with Jax."

"I'm over Jax," she retorted.

"And that's why you married me." There was no more he could say, so Jason went for his coffee. He was grateful that Brenda had made a whole pot. What was she doing up before noon, anyway?

"Who is she?" Brenda asked again. "That little blonde twit…?"

"Brenda–"

"Tell me, or I'll go break your door down to find out."

The next thing he knew, the coffee was on the desk and he was in her face. "You're not going near her, do you here me?"

"Oooh," she laughed at him. "Aren't you just scary? You must love this girl."

"Drop it," Jason ordered. He took the coffee and went back upstairs. "Why don't you go buy something?" he called over his shoulder.

"Elizabeth!" he called out the door.

She stopped on the last step and looked up at him. "Go back to Courtney, Jason."

"Stop," he pleaded. "I wanna talk to you."

"Yeah?" she asked. Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and glared up at him. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Tough." Jason took the stairs, two at a time, jumping off the last one. He closed his hand around her wrist and immediately regretted it when she winced. Jason looked down at her wrists and cursed Andy Capelli for the red marks. "Please?"

"Fine. You have five minutes."

Jason smiled. Taking a chance, he reached up and tucked the hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry."

She looked away and shook her head. "I don't wanna hear it, Jason. It hurts too much. I can't walk away anymore… and that's all you know how to do."

She wasn't in the bed when he got there. "Elizabeth!" he called.

Something 'bout the way your hair falls in your face
I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase
You tell me where to go and
Though I might leave to find it
I'll never let your head hit the bed
Without my hand behind it

The water in the bathroom sink cut off and he sighed in relief. They needed to talk. Jason scooted back against the headboard and put his cup of coffee on the nightstand.

Elizabeth emerged from the bathroom, his shirt covering her otherwise naked form. And he knew that for a fact. "I thought you left."

His lips twitched. It was good to know what she looked like under that shirt. "Where would I go?"

Her shoulders shrugged and she continued approaching the board. "I dunno… Courtney, your wife, Carly… wherever you run off to when you leave me."

You want love?
We'll make it
Swim in a deep sea
Of blankets
Take all your big plans
And break 'em
This is bound to be a while

"Elizabeth–"

She stopped by the bed and reached for the leather skirt. "I should go."

"Please don't," Jason asked.

Elizabeth pushed her fingers into her eyes and sighed. After last night, there was no way she could do this. She couldn't fight with him. "Jason–"

"I love you," he cut in.

"–we can't do this… what did you say?"

Jason uncrossed his legs and looked up at her. "I love you. Please don't leave me."

Damn baby
You frustrate me
I know you're mine all mine all mine
But you look so good it hurts sometimes

"Jason, I can't do this with you again… I told you last night, I can't watch you walk away."

"I won't," he promised. His blue eyes met hers, and he thought he recognized something in them. Wanting, for sure. But maybe love too. At least he hoped she loved him. "After last night? I can't, Elizabeth. I've spent too much time lying to myself, lying to you, and I can't do it anymore."

"What about–"

"Courtney?" Jason asked. "She's my brother's wife, Elizabeth. She's… nothing to me. And Brenda? I married her to keep her safe."

"You still married her!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"And I plan on divorcing her," Jason shot back.

Elizabeth sat down on the corner of the bed. She dropped the skirt on the all-wood floor and looked up at him. "Do you really love me?" Her voice was small, almost not believing her own voice.

"Yes," he whispered forcefully. Jason sat up and reached for her. "I love you."

"Why?" The tears were starting again. Except they were happy this time.

Jason ran his thumb over her cheek, catching the tear before it fell. "You have skin like porcelain. Lips that taste like candy. I love the way the hair falls in your face." Gently leaning forward, he kissed her.

"Jason," she sighed.

He moved from her mouth, down her throat, and the up to her ear. "I want to see you everyday for the rest of my life. I promise that I'll never let your head hit the bed without my hand behind it."

Jason moved the shirt off her shoulder and kissed it. "I want to make love to you," he whispered.

Elizabeth took his face between her hands and pulled him towards her. "Jason…"

"Let me love you."

Your body is a wonderland
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
Your body Is a wonderland
Your body is a wonderland

Her smile was quick and lethal. Jason had no doubt it would be the death of him. "You already do."

"You're right," he told her, "I do."

Song Credit: Your Body is a Wonderland, Jon Mayer