Chapter 2A

~~A week later~~

Liz slammed the door of her apartment. What a crappy day she thought to herself. As if being late for work wasn't bad enough, everything just seemed to go wrong with the new line. And then Lucky and Nikolas show up for another round of Lucky doesn't love you Liz but you should try the other brother. UGH! She shouted loudly.

She decided that first order of business would be to take a nice long shower and try to calm down before she sorted through her mail.

She walked into her bathroom, stripping off her clothes as she went. She started the water and while waiting for it to warm up turned on the radio and found a station playing soft soothing music.

She had been in the shower only a few minutes just enjoying the feel of the warm water cascading over her tense body when she felt a cool breeze. She instantly became still and alert but too late. She felt hands on her shoulders. She quickly turned and prepared to attack whoever had gotten past Francis. Stopping short when she saw who it was, she raised an eyebrow instead.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing in here?" she questioned him.

He just stared at her, his eyes taking in her naked and wet body.

"Well, are you just going to stand there or are you going to answer me?" she asked annoyance tinging her voice.

At her tone he smirked slowly though his eyes held more laughter. "It's cold outside," he whispered quietly, a hand going to softly stroke her cheek. "Thought I'd warm up a bit."

"Warm up?" She whimpered as he pulled her toward him.

"Uh-huh," was his only response as he brought his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.

"So you decided that you'd take a shower while I was in it already?" she demanded when he released her lips. She was angry but having a hard time holding on to her anger. How could she when she could watch streams of water cascading down his perfect hard body and his lips were trailing down her throat?

"Uh-huh," he answered, his hands going to her waist. "Thought it was a good idea," he said just before his lips began a slow assault on her mouth. After a few minutes, he let her breathe as he slowly placed small kisses along her jaw line. "What do you think? Was it a good idea?" he whispered in her ear.

"Huh?" she wasn't sure what he just asked, so caught up in the feeling of his lips on her skin and the fires he was igniting with such gentle kisses.

"Was it a good idea?" he chuckled.

"Oh yeah," she grabbed his head in her hands, bringing his mouth back to hers and placing short but hungry kisses on his mouth. "I missed you," she moaned as his hands roamed over her body. God how she missed him. She hadn't expected him back like this. But she didn't care how or why he was there, just that he was with her again.

"You have no idea how much I missed you," he said. "But I'll have to try and start to show you." He looked down at her, a grin on his face.

She raised a hand to his face, slowly gliding a finger along his jaw line. She smiled as she watched his eyes darken even more with desire.

"Wanna try and make up for lost time?" she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes. She trailed a hand down his chest, following the rivulets of water lower. She slowly stroked him while raining small biting kisses over his muscular chest. "Gonna show me how much you missed me?" she whispered, tightening her hold on him.

He groaned in response. Unable to control himself any longer, he grabbed her hips and lifted her up against the wall of the shower. Her legs wrapped around his hips. Any thoughts he had fled at that moment.

Liz's head fell back against the wall as they joined together. She was overcome with her need for him. Her hands splayed across his back. She could no longer think, her mind totally focused on the feel of him, of his lips scorching her skin.

Her legs slowly lowered to the ground as the rush of adrenaline ended. Once she could string a coherent thought together, she raised her head from his chest and looked up to see him smiling at her. Looking into his shining eyes she grinned and asked, "That warm you up some?"

He roared with laughter. Lightly kissing her, he fell silent and gazed at her. "I'm glad I'm back and that you missed me." He gently ran his fingers through her wet hair.

She smiled widely. "Gonna stay awhile?"

"Oh yeah," he replied, "After such a warm welcome how could I not."

Liz shook her head. "Watch it before I throw you out." Her threat offset by the laughter in her voice.

"You know we better finish up this shower for real before there's no hot water left," he said, grabbing the soap.

"I'll wash your back after you wash mine," she giggled.

He groaned as he turned her around. "Not funny Elizabeth. But for you, anything."

Chapter 2B

~~LATER~~

"Hey where are you hiding?" Liz asked her visitor as she came out of her bathroom.

"In the kitchen getting us something to drink. I would get us something to eat but your refrigerator is even emptier than mine is normally." She heard him answer.

Liz leaned against the doorframe and watched him rummaging through the kitchen drawers. How she enjoyed just watching him move. "When did I claim to be domestic?" she asked smiling at him.

He turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "I don't know. I think you've done some great things in the kitchen. At least there was that one time in Chicago." He chuckled watching her blush as he reached a hand out to her.

"You are one bad man, did you know that." She giggled as she took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace. "If I recall correctly about the only things in your kitchen at the time were some strawberries and chocolate. Can I help it if I know lots of uses for chocolate?" She grinned mischievously at him as she lightly stroked her hands up his bare chest and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Didn't say I was complaining. I love your uses for chocolate." He responded before bestowing a soft lingering kiss on her lips. "In fact I was kind of hoping I'd find some in here somewhere."

"Sorry, but what's the fun of chocolate if I don't have anyone to share it with and there hasn't been anyone around recently worthy of mine."

"There better not be," he growls in her ear.

"Maybe one of us should go out and get some," she thought out loud, her fingers playing through his hair. "I'm sure I could hit upon a few uses we haven't tried out yet. Or we could just stay in and worry about that some other time." She suggested, pulling him down for a hard passionate kiss.

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth..." He pulled away from her and looked down with glazed eyes. "Someone's knocking on your door."

"They'll go away," she responded before pulling him in for another kiss, trying to ignore the incessant noise coming from her door.

"Damn." She exclaimed when the knocking did not stop. "Give me a minute to get rid of whoever it is. You'd think having a bodyguard would do away with such interruptions." She grumbled.

"Obviously it's someone that's not a threat or Francis wouldn't allow whoever it is to bang on the door. Now hurry up and get rid of them while I open the wine." He gave her a quick kiss and nudged her out of the kitchen.

Liz stalked toward the door. "Alright already. I'm coming." she yelled at her visitor. She looked through the peephole when she reached the door and groaned when she saw just who it is on the other side of the door. Sonny. She leaned her forehead against the door, quickly composing herself for this. She knew she would have to let him in since it's obvious that she was home with Francis outside.

Opening the door, she put on an innocent smile and greeted her guest. "Hi Sonny."

"You okay?" Sonny asked, concern in his voice as he looked passed her into the apartment.

"Yeah, fine. C'mon in. Is something going on?" She asked, concerned at his question. She stepped aside so he could enter the apartment, knowing that the faster she let him in the faster he would leave. At least she hoped so.

"No. I just got anxious when you didn't answer the door. But apparently I just interrupted you..." he trailed off as he realized that her hair was damp and that she was just wearing a man's shirt.

"My shower. I heard you knocking as I was getting out.. Sorry to have worried you." Liz quickly came up with an explanation when she realized how she must look.

"It's okay. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by to see how things were going. You know, between you and Lucky."

Liz sighed. "There is no me and Lucky." she stated harshly. Seeing the look on Sonny's face she immediately regretted her tone of voice. "I'm sorry. It's just that Lucky and I are not going to be together again. We've accepted that but it seems that hardly anyone else has. That and he seems determined to convince me that I should be with Nikolas. And Nikolas is following his lead."

"Ah," Sonny grinned. "Let me guess, you had a run in with the Prince recently?"

"Him and Lucky. Another one of their 'you belong with Nikolas' ambushes. As if I want anything to do with him. Ugh!" Liz vented.

"If you want I can have a talk with them." Sonny suggested.

"I appreciate the offer but no. I'll handle them myself."

"Well if you insist. I better get going. Remember, if you need anything just tell --"

"Francis." Liz finished for Sonny. "I know. Now stop worrying about me, okay."

"Fine, fine. No promises though." He smiled and turned to open the door. He turned back to look at her, "Get some sleep, okay." He ordered.

"Yes sir," she laughed. She was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard a voice from behind her.

"Elizabeth, how about we..." He trailed off when he saw Elizabeth's visitor with his hand on her door.

Liz glanced at Sonny. "Oh god, not now. He was almost gone." she thought to herself. Sonny's expression did not bode well. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she looked over her shoulder and took a deep breath. Their eyes met and she knew he wanted her to let him handle Sonny. She closed her eyes and nodded her head. Taking the glass he offered she turned back to look at Sonny. "Surprise" she mumbled mostly to herself before taking a large swallow of her drink.

Sonny stood at the door to Liz's apartment in shock. He quickly closed his eyes and opened them again. No not seeing things he said to himself. He looked at Liz and the man standing behind her. Her companion's hand was on her shoulder, gently massaging it. Obviously this wasn't anything new. They were too comfortable with each other, especially in their state of undress. Sonny wasn't sure if it was the familiarity or the undress that upset him more.

Sonny needed to know what was going on and why he was here. He looked at Liz first, noticing her unease at apparently being caught. Shaking his head slightly he lifted his eyes to look at the man standing behind her. Just what is he doing here with Liz Sonny thought. He wasn't happy at all and wanted answers now.

"Jason. What the hell is going on here?" Sonny asked them. "How long have you been here?"

"Here or in town?" Jason questioned his former partner.

"Both," Sonny replied, glaring

"Neither is really any of your business, now is it?" Jason retorted.

"Liz?" Sonny turned his eyes to her.

Liz just quickly swallowed rest of the drink Jason had given her. "Yes, Sonny?" she replied her voice strained.

"Care to tell me what's going on here?"

"Umm...not right now," she answered almost posing a question. She glared at Sonny, hoping he would leave since she really didn't want to deal with the situation between the two men at the moment.

Sonny just stare at Liz, shock evident. "What?"

"Not. Right. Now. It's not a good time. Why don't you go home and I'll call you later." She replied as she attempted to usher him out.

"No Liz, I don't think later will do," Sonny stated as he refused to budge. His eyes narrowed. "I want some answers out of the two of you.

Liz sighed in frustration. "Sonny, please –"

"Liz." Jason said as he interrupted Liz to address his former partner. "Sonny go home. We'll call you later". Jason glared icily at Sonny.

Sonny just looked at the half dressed couple. He took in the resolve in Jason's face and the weariness of Liz's, and sighed. "Fine, but I expect to hear from you two and before tonight is over with." He looked at Liz one more time before shaking his head and leaving.

Liz stared at the closed door after Sonny left. "Great just what we need. Can't even have a nice evening alone before all the craziness starts."

Jason reaches for her and pulls her to him, wrapping his arms around her. "Don't let him bother you. Tonight it's just us. We'll call him and I'll meet with him tomorrow. Don't worry about anything. I'll come up with something to tell him."

Liz pulls away slightly to look at him. "Nope, I think we'll both be talking to him. And come up with something? Jase, look at us. He's gonna come to one conclusion only, and it'll be the right one. Then he'll start thinking and remember my trips. He's got the connections to find out where I really went on some of my trips since we never covered my tracks. Might as well come clean with everything."

"Everything?" Jason queried. "No I don't think so. He doesn't need to know everything, no one does except for us. Remember, they all made their choices and we made ours. Okay." He reached out to brush the hair out of her face and swept it behind her ear.

"Okay," Liz replied, a grin spreading across her face. "So we call Sonny in a bit and set up a meeting. But what are we gonna do for the rest of the night?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm sure between the two of us we can figure out something to keep us occupied." A mischievous glint appeared in Jason's eyes as he swooped down to kiss her passionately.

OUTSIDE:

Sonny stalked out of Liz's building to where Francis and Johnny where standing.

"How long has he been in there?" He asked Francis.

"About an hour." Francis replied apprehensive about the tone of Sonny's voice.

"First time?"

"This is the first time I've seen him since he left town." Francis told his boss, wondering what the problem was. He hadn't expected to see Morgan but then again there wasn't necessarily any reason not to have expected him to see Francis' charge if he came back to town.

"Johnny, what about you?" Sonny asked.

"I had no idea he was back in town." Johnny told Sonny. He had just found out from Francis that Jason was in town and was curious since he was certain that Sonny hadn't been expecting him.

Deep in thought the mobster looked back at his guard. "Call me if either one of them leaves.' Sonny instructed Francis.

"Yes sir."

Johnny glanced at Sonny as they left Francis and walk to the car.

"Is he okay?" he asked.

"Apparently." Sonny grimaced. "It seems Liz is taking extremely good care of him."

Johnny looked at Sonny in shock. "Extremely good… " He trailed off, eyes widening in realization. And thinking that the next few days would be more interesting than he cared to know.

*******
Cue the ominous radio mystery series music.

What will happen when they meet with Sonny?
What will happen when Carly finds out?
And just what the hell is going on here?