AUTHORS NOTE: Hey, sorry for the long wait for updates, college sucks. I don't have many comments about the next chapter, I just hope you all really enjoy this one! Evil Courtney appears and there are some cool Liz and Carly scenes and sweet Jason and Liz scenes.

Elizabeth tilted her head back, she was in heaven with Jason here. Then all of a sudden the kissing stopped. Jason pulled away and looked back toward the door, he could have sworn he heard it close. Liz opened her eyes and Jason was already standing up looking at the door. Liz sat up, "What is it?" she asked

Jason looked back to Elizabeth, "I thought I heard the door,"

Liz's eyes widened, "Oh god, what if Courtney had walked in or something!"

Jason just shook his head, "I don't know," he was still a bit confused about what had just happened.

"I'm so sorry Jason, I don't know what came over me" Liz said as she stood up tightening the towel.

"Neither do I," Jason said, his eyes were wide as well.

"Well, I'm going to go get dressed," Liz said, blushing with embarrassment rushing toward the stairs.

"Elizabeth...wait.." Jason said as he noticed her rush past him. Elizabeth turned around as Jason continued, "I shouldn't really ask, but we're gonna keep this a secret right?"

Liz walked towards him, "Of course Jason," she said, she knew Jason was loyal to Courtney and Liz herself had her own problems with Ric. No other words needed to be said, Jason pulled Elizabeth into a hug, even after this Déjà vu incident they still felt rather comfortable around each other. They both understood they each needed a friend. Liz pulled away and went upstairs as Jason watched her, that was when he realized he Elizabeth was the one he wanted.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------

Courtney opened the door and slowly walked in, "She doesn't even lock her door," she mumbled, her face was contorted with anger and hurt. She glanced around the studio, "A bit sloppy looking, even for Elizabeth" she said. She thought she heard something a jumped a bit to find it was just loaders on the dock. "I better hurry," she said to herself. Courtney quickly began going through the cupboards looking for something, she looked under the sink and seemed to find what she was looking for. She pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol and unscrewed the top. She walked toward the couch and began pouring some, then she poured some onto some of her paintings sitting around that weren't at the gallery. She spilled some paint canisters and poured the rest onto her table. She then threw the bottle toward the couch. She smirked wickedly and reached into her purse for some matches. She found a pack and lit a match, she stared at it for a second and then tossed it onto the couch and watched the couch burst into flames. Courtney watched as she back away toward the door. She then turned around to find the door open and Ric standing there.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------

Carly and Sonny sat in the living room with little Michael, "Hey Michael, why don't you go upstairs and clean that room of yours,"

"But Mommy,"

"Now,"

Michael stomped his way upstairs as Carly watched him and Sonny sat at his desk doing paper work, "Hey, Sweetie..I have an appointment with Dr. Meadows later this afternoon, up to going with me?"

Sonny shook his head, "I'd like to but Jason and I have business to discuss."

Carly nodded, "Ric?"

Sonny looked up, "Actually, I've decided to leave him be."

"What? Didn't you see what he did to Elizabeth, I thought you would take care of it.." Carly asked angrily.

"You're right, I did, but its not my place to do anything about it unless Elizabeth asks me." Sonny said a little surprised though at Carly's sudden sympathy for Elizabeth.

"So you'll just wait until she ends up missing, oh wait, since little Lizzie hasn't asked you yet you can't do anything."

Sonny looked up at Carly, "I know you hate the man just as much as I do..but what is happening between them is not our business, at least not yet."

Carly just shook her head, "I'm not going to argue with you but when Elizabeth is found...beat.or worse I hope you remember this conversation."

"I thought you hated her Carly."

"Hate.no..extremely dislike..yes, but I don't dislike her enough to see her dead Sonny." Carly grabbed her purse I'm going across the hall, "I'll send Jason over," Carly opened the door and shouted, "Mommy's leaving, bye"

"Bye" Michael shouted, still upset he had to clean his room.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------

Liz came down the stairs dressed in patch jeans and a lavender sweater. She stood at the top of the stairs just staring at Jason watching TV on the sofa, her heart broke. She wanted him so much, but she knew she couldn't have him, at least not yet. She took a deep breath and headed down the stairs, "Jason, what are you watching?" she asked him.

Jason turned to Elizabeth, "Um.uh.some movie I just turned on," Jason really had no idea, he couldn't stop thinking about Elizabeth, he hadn't really realized the TV was on.

Elizabeth sat next to him and smirked, "Lifetime Network? I would have never guessed Jason."

Jason let a smile out, "It's my guilty pleasure, don't tell anyone, but I sit at night watching these movies crying,"

Elizabeth threw a pillow at him, "Shut up Jason," They both laughed. Elizabeth recognized the actress in the movie and realized she had seen this movie, "Oh, I've seen this one..I think its called Hidden Desires or something like that."

Jason sighed, "Yeah, my favorite." Jason sarcastically said.

Elizabeth smiled, "See that brunette right there," she said pointing at the screen.

"Yeah"

"Well she's in love with that man right there, the tall one, but you see, he's marrying the blonde in the red."

Jason nodded, "Like I said my favorite."

Elizabeth nodded, "Well, it definitely makes you cry."

"Why?"

"Well, the brunette never tells him she loves him, he ends of marrying the blonde and she keeps her love for him a secret forever."

"Why didn't she tell him?"

"Because she was afraid their friendship would be ruined."

"She shouldn't have made the assumption, he might have felt the same."

Elizabeth turned to Jason wide eyed, "Maybe she didn't want to take the risk."

"Didn't you once say to me life is full of risks?"

"But he was deeply in love with the other, she didn't want to ruin it,"

"He never said he loved the other more than her, he could have loved you more."

Elizabeth looked into Jason's eyes, "Are we still talking about the movie?"

Jason sighed, "I don't think so," he reached out his hand and she took his. They stared at each other for a while and Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something when Carly came busting in.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Ric and Courtney angrily walked into the Lansing home. "We need to talk about this!" Ric demanded.

The panic room was open, "So that's where you kept Carly, god she must have been scared." Courtney snapped.

Ric turned Courtney around grabbing her arms, "Don't change the subject, what's going on here, where's Elizabeth?"

Courtney pulled away from Ric, "Your little slut wife is in MY apartment right now screwing MY fiancé!"

Ric turned away disgusted, "Did you see this?"

Courtney nodded as Ric turned back around, "They were on the couch, she was naked and he..."

"Enough, I don't want the details, why didn't you stop them!?"

"Because all I could think about was how I could get back at her/"

"By burning down the studio?" Ric asked.

"I was angry and upset, I still am! It was the first thing I thought of!"

"Don't you see what you have done, by burning it down she's going to have to stay with you and Jason longer!" Ric shouted aggravated.

It was silent for a while, Courtney sat down, "God I'm such and idiot!"

Ric nodded, "Well, you're driven by revenge like me, but we can fix this, if we work together we can get what we both want."

Courtney looked up, "Work with you?"

"Quite honestly, I'm the only chance you got at keeping Jason."

Courtney thought about it for a second, "Ok, what's the plan?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

Elizabeth pulled her hand away from Jason's hoping Carly didn't see anything, "Hey, where's Courtney?" Carly asked not noticing anything.

Jason shook his head, "Haven't seen her since this morning."

"Hmmm.let me give her a call, excuse me." She said as she wandered into the kitchen.

Jason looked at Elizabeth a little worried, "Don't worry Jason." Elizabeth said smiling.

Carly dialed Courtney's number meanwhile Courtney's phone rang as she and Ric were discussing the plans. "Hello" Courtney answered a bit agitated.

"Courtney? You OK?"

"Oh, Carly, yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure"

"Yeah, what's up Carly?"

"Well, I was just wandering where you are. I have an appointment with Dr. Meadows and would like some company."

"I'm sorry Carly, I had some errands I have to run, I won't be able to go with you."

"Ok Courtney, Jason's worried about you."

Courtney rolled her eyes but kept her cheerful voice, "Well tell him I'll be home in a few hours and that I love him."

"I will," Carly hushed her voice a bit, "but if you were so worried about Liz taking Jason from you then why are you letting them be alone together the whole afternoon,"

"I'm not worried Carly, don't worry about me,"

"You sure?"

"Yeah, now I'll talk to ya later"

"Ok, bye Court,"

"Bye" Courtney hung up her phone and looked back to Ric, "OK, you're right we have to make it look like Elizabeth is working with you, that's the best way to do this. Now where was I before, oh.Sonny and Carly are going out of town next weekend, they'll be flying commercial so they have tickets,"

Ric nodded, "So."

"Sonny hid the tickets in a drawer, he's afraid to let anyone see them , he is afraid someone might sabotage the plane."

Ric looked at Courtney confused, "Where are you going with this?"

Courtney smirked, "Thinking Elizabeth has seen or is looking for those tickets combined with my suspicion he'll figure she's working with you, and so will Jason."

Ric thought about it for a second, "That's a good plan. But how does that help me?"

Courtney smiled, "Trust me, after that, we'll figure out a way for Liz to come running back to you."

Ric believed Courtney, "Ok, but how do we get Sonny to think Elizabeth is looking for the tickets,"

Courtney looked around the house thinking, that it hit her, "Do you have any jewelry of hers?"

Ric nodded, "Yeah, I have a pair of earrings."

"Great, I'll plant one in the drawer of the tickets with the tickets all mixed around." Ric and Courtney both smirked, "This is going to work" Ric said nodding.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------

Carly hung up the phone and came back in the room, "Uh, Courtney will be back in a few hours maybe around 5, she's running some errands and Sonny wants you Jason,"

Jason nodded as he got up, "I'll see you guys." he said, but just looking at Elizabeth.

Once Jason left, Carly had noticed that look and looked suspiciously at Elizabeth, "Ok Elizabeth , I want to know exactly what happened last night!"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Carly as she got up, "Carly..."

"I need to know Elizabeth." Carly said folding her arms.

"Why?"

"Because." Carly started but couldn't think of a logical reason.

Elizabeth finished her sentence for her, "Because you need to know what Jason is doing every single second of the day, or is it because your afraid I'll break up your favorite couple, or is it."

Carly narrowed her eyes interrupting Elizabeth by changing the subject, "What are you hiding?"

Elizabeth laughed, "Jesus Carly, NOTHING"

"Then why can't you tell me?!"

Elizabeth faced Carly, "OK I met Jason at Kelly's, me and Jason went for a ride, then we shot some pool at Jake's. He took me back to the Studio and we said goodnight. But Ric was hiding in a closet and jumped out and attacked me claiming I was sleeping with Jason. I flashed the lights on and off, Jason saw, he came, and he rescued me. End of story" Elizabeth turned back around. Elizabeth waited for a snotty remark from Carly but was surprised.

"I'm sorry that Ric hurt you."

Elizabeth turned around and saw in Carly's face that she was really being sincere, "Thank you"

Carly felt uncomfortable being nice to Elizabeth so she quickly changed her attitude, "We told you Elizabeth, we told you he was psycho and that he was dangerous, but you didn't listen. You choose to live in this fantasy world where it was just you and Ric in happy land ignoring all the warnings, putting people in danger by not listening."

Elizabeth didn't want to listen anymore, "I know Carly, I know I messed up."

Carly felt a bit bad because it wasn't her fault at all, none of this was really her fault, "Listen Elizabeth, I'm sorry, this isn't your fault, I know you went through a lot in that house, trust me, I saw everything."

Elizabeth nodded, "Well, thank you Carly. But I didn't go through half as much as you did."

Carly wasn't going to argue that. It was silent a while, Carly hated silences so she opened her mouth and began bitching again, "Courtney and Jason are in love so.."

"Jesus" Elizabeth mumbled as she walked back toward the couch.

"Hey.so don't get any idea's. I'm not saying stay away from Jason, I know you two mean something to each other. But Courtney means everything to Jason."

Elizabeth looked at Carly and realized Carly didn't pester Elizabeth because she didn't like her, it was because she cared for Jason and Courtney, "I know you care for them and you're looking out for them and I respect that, but if something ever happens between us again.." Elizabeth trailed off.

Carly sighed, she knew Jason would always have feelings for her, plus Courtney was acting weird about Jason ever since he proposed to her she let her guard down, "If anything ever happens between you again, IF, Jason better not get hurt."

Elizabeth nodded. Carly finally gave into the idea. Elizabeth smiled inside, 'There goes one obstacle' she said to herself.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------

Jason and Sonny were discussing Alcazar, then Jason brought up Ric, "What are we going to do with Ric?"

"Nothing, I don't want to get involved with Ric unless he threatens me or my family, I'm staying out of what happened unless Elizabeth asks for my help."

Jason was silent. He knew there would be no reasoning with Sonny by the tone in his voice, "You know Elizabeth won't ask for help."

Sonny nodded, "That's not our problem.."

"It's my problem Sonny, I care for Elizabeth." Jason argued.

Sonny stared at Jason, "I know Jason, but I don't want to get involved."

Jason just nodded, "That's probably best."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------

Carly and Elizabeth were sitting in silence flipping through magazines when Carly noticed Elizabeth gazing off, "Thinking about Ric?"

Elizabeth snapped back to reality, "Uh, sadly yes. I can't help but think about how blind I was. Did MY Ric ever really even exist?"

Carly shook her head, "Forget about Ric, he isn't even worth the time of day." Carly looked down at her watch, "Well, I have to go to the doctor's, wanna come with, you know, get out of this place.

Elizabeth smiled at Carly's offer, "Sure,"

Elizabeth grabbed her purse and jotted down a note for Jason, "Now, when you say you saw everything, do you literally mean everything that we ever did."

Carly nodded and made a disgusting face as they left, "Yea, but thank god for mute."

Coming in following Chapters:

Ric and Liz have a run in Elizabeth finds out about her studio Carly worries about Courtney Emily visits Elizabeth