Show: General Hospital
Title: Change is Good: Chapter 8
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thank you for last chapter's comments. This chapter may be a little shorter, but enjoy nonetheless.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Jason had moved to a table and so Elizabeth set his plate in front of him – cheeseburger with the works and chili fries. Jason grabbed her wrist. "Are you gonna make me eat alone?" he asked.
"Sorry, no can do, Mr. Morgan. I have to work for my rent money."
Jason chuckled as she flitted away. He couldn't believe how lighthearted he felt as he watched her work. It was lunchtime, so the diner was especially busy. Office workers were stopping in for quick sandwiches and plenty PC High seniors (who were allowed off campus for lunch) were crowding the booths in the corner. He could hear her good-natured laughter as she took the orders from the boisterous highschoolers. But as, the tinkle of the bell overhead signaled a new customer, the smile dropped instantly from her lips. Somehow, he didn't even need to turn to the door to know Ric Lansing had just stepped inside.
Lansing strode right past him, his eyes intent on the petite brunette hurrying to the counter.
"Hello, Elizabeth," came Ric's silky voice.
Elizabeth sighed in mild frustration and met her ex-husband's eyes. Subconsciously, she shielded her stomach, as if protecting her unborn child from the eyes of the sociopath. "Hello, Ric," she replied. "What can I get for you?"
He tried to play off her frosty civility with a smile. "A few moments of your time?" he asked her hopefully.
Elizabeth shook her head. She could already feel a headache starting. "In case you haven't noticed, Ric, it's really busy. I can't talk right now."
"Please, Elizabeth. I just wanted to ask about –"
"Are you alright?"
Ric's eyes narrowed. "I'm talking to Elizabeth, Morgan," he replied disdainfully, not even turning around.
Jason silently questioned her over Ric's head.
"I'm fine," she answered softly.
Jason nodded and reluctantly headed back to his seat, keeping his gaze riveted on the man that had caused so much grief in their lives.
"How's the baby?"
She couldn't help it, but the hair on the back of her neck stood on end at his question. She couldn't help but think back to the time when she'd lost her baby and Ric had kidnapped his own brother's wife in a sick attempt to pass off the other woman's child as theirs. It made her sick to think she'd even considered getting back together with the lunatic much less passing off Zander's child as his.
"Fine. Listen Ric, I really wish you wouldn't ask. This baby's no concern of yours," she said, hoping he'd get the point.
Obviously he hadn't because he looked taken aback. "But I love you, Elizabeth. I'm always going to be concerned about your health and the baby's."
At his profession of love for her, Elizabeth felt like vomiting and her headache worsened. "Listen Ric, if you're not going to order, please leave. But I'm not having this conversation with you any more."
Before he could say anything to the contrary, Liz turned her back on him and went to fill her orders.
Ric cursed in frustration knowing he was getting no closer to weaseling himself back into his ex-wife's good books. He stood up and turned to find himself staring into the cold blue eyes of his brother's Enforcer.
"Elizabeth doesn't want you around her, Lansing," he announced.
"And she wants you?" he sneered, still believing that Elizabeth and Jason were at odds.
"Stay away from her," Jason ordered, his voice not losing its glacier-like quality.
"Is that a threat?"
Jason's eyes narrowed. "I never make threats, Lansing." He brushed past the lawyer, through the busy kitchens and out the back door, leaving Ric standing in disbelief.
He found Elizabeth pacing in the snow, her arms wrapped around her sweatered waist for warmth. She was muttering under breath and she looked as though she wanted to scream.
Jason leaned against the doorjamb. "Maybe you should just scream," he suggested.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Sorry, if I do, they'll all come running, then they'll probably think you're trying to kill me."
Jason smirked ruefully. To the average observer, it was a witty comment, but he knew that was the possible scenario of events if she did scream.
"You should come in; it's cold outside."
"Trust me, my anger is keeping me warm."
Nevertheless, Jason walked toward her and draped his leather jacket about her shoulders. Immediately she was enveloped in the warm masculine scent of his skin clinging to the leather.
Her eyes reflected her gratitude. "Thanks," she whispered.
He nodded and, taking her small hand in his, led her inside.
Although inside the kitchen was much warmer than outside in the snow, she kept his jacket, enjoying its warmth as well as its scent. Elizabeth ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "I don't know why I let him get to me like that; it's not good for the baby," she said, pinching between her eyes, trying to stave off her impending headache.
"I think after all that man's put you through you deserve to get a little worked up," replied Jason.
Liz grinned half-heartedly. "I guess so… but still, he's not worth it."
Jason nodded, just as one of the cooks hurried between them with a giant bowl of potato salad. "Maybe we should take this back out there," he suggested, pointing backward to the diner with his thumb.
Suddenly, a twinkle popped into Liz's cobalt blue eyes. "Actually," she started bashfully, "my shift's just about through. Think we can get outta here?"
Those six words just about made his day. "Sure," he replied softly, his half-grin peeking at the side of his mouth. "C'mon."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Together, they walked in the frosty park in companionable silence. As they passed the frozen pond, Elizabeth paused and looked at the other skaters longingly, smiling wistfully as she watched a father guide his little girl on her wobbly first steps on ice. She was fascinated with their interaction.
Jason was fascinated by her.
"It's funny," she began. "That little girl, she's about three, maybe four-years-old…. They say these are the molding years…but she'll probably never remember this day…. If I had a Dad who took me skating on a school day, I'd probably remember it the rest of my life…" she trailed off and rested a hand on her stomach.
Jason looked at her in confusion.
She turned to him. "Do you think Alan ever took Jason Quartermaine skating in the middle of a school day?"
Jason's look was blank. "I don't know," he replied after a while. "It's highly unlikely, though."
Liz nodded and turned back to the frozen pond. It was such a treasure to hear the peals of the little girl's delighted laughter as she and her father spun in circles. "My Dad was always too busy… come to think of it, he was always too much of something to do anything remotely fatherly towards me. But, this is the sort of thing Zander would probably do." She chuckled. "I'd be furious if I found out… but then I'll look back on this day and remember how happy I was when I saw this little girl."
Jason nodded. He knew how important it was for a child to have a good relationship with their parents. Maybe Jason Morgan wasn't a good example, but Jason Quartermaine was and maybe even Michael. "I've really underestimated Smith, haven't I?" he asked her.
Elizabeth smiled and turned to him again. "Yes," she nodded and left it at that. She took his large hand in her smaller one and tugged away. She reluctantly pulled it away when they were on their way again, but asked the niggling question that had been on her mind since they'd started to patch up their friendship.
"Where've you been for the last four months, Jason?"
He smiled inwardly; he'd been expecting that question ages ago. He took his time answering her question. "I went to France for a while… Paris. That's where Courtney and I were married…. Maybe I felt as though I needed to be close to her in some way… but I didn't, not anymore. So I roamed Europe for a while… Barcelona, Madrid, spent a few days in Amsterdam and Munich, then headed south again for Italy."
Her head whipped around at that and she lost her step just barely, but he continued as though he hadn't noticed it. "I spent about a month there, just roaming. I skipped all the big cities… spent a few days hanging out in small town near Umbria being tempted to smoke and drink and be merry all the days of my life." That brought a smile to her face. "Just being there, roaming in their vineyards or watching old men congregate in the corner in the shade, I felt such solace it was unbelievable. I felt ready to come home… not because there was some danger and my instincts were roaring, but because I *wanted* to."
"And now that you have?" she asked softly "Any regrets?"
Jason paused and looked at her. Her face was upturned and her long wavy dark hair spilled from beneath her rainbow pompom hat. Her cheeks were rosy and her cobalt blue eyes sparkled with vigour. His eyes dropped to her mouth – it was soft and pink and oh so inviting. He couldn't be rude, so he bent and pressed his lips to hers.
Liz was frozen in shock. The feel of Jason lips moving expertly over hers flooded her body with warm and jolted her body to life. She began kissing him back, opening her mouth under his and meeting his tongue with her own. The kiss started to escalate as he pulled her closer, his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes, and the battle for control was on.
Finally Jason pulled away and licked his lips as he surveyed her – her face was flushed with warmth and her lips were swollen from his kisses – she looked thoroughly kissed. "No regrets," he replied softly.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Really? That's wonderful. Thank you," Alexis Davis set the telephone on the hook and smiled just as the door to her office opened and her nephew stepped inside. "Gee, you must be psychic. I was just about to call you. That was the clerk's office; Emily's divorce is officially final as of today!" she announced with a grin, which promptly fell from her face at Nikolas's less than enthusiastic response.
"Ok…" she trailed off, looking at her nephew with concern. "What's wrong?"
Nikolas heaved a sigh and collapsed in one of the chairs opposite his aunt's desk. "I think I just made the biggest mistake of my life."
Curiosity furrowed Alexis's brow. "Explain," she invited, leaning back in her chair.
Feeling everything like the idiot he knew he was, Nikolas told his aunt of what had transpired between Emily and him in the past two days. She winced especially when he told her of the doubts Emily had admitted to possessing.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"I don't know," he admitted, bounding from his chair and coming to star out the picture window behind her desk. "What do you think I should do?"
Alexis chuckled, "God knows I'm the last person you should look to for relationship advice, Nikolas."
"But you're a woman…. You know about these things!"
Alexis rolled her eyes, "I'm just about the least feminine woman there is, trust me." She came to rest a light hand on his shoulder, "But if you ask me, the only way to get this sorted out is to *talk* to Emily."
Nikolas turned to her aunt, his brown eyes swimming with guilt. "She says I never listen…."
Alexis smirked and turned away, "Well, you know what they say: 'There's a first time for everything!'"
TBC...
A/N: Don't forget to review - you know this junkie needs her fix, lol!
Title: Change is Good: Chapter 8
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thank you for last chapter's comments. This chapter may be a little shorter, but enjoy nonetheless.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Jason had moved to a table and so Elizabeth set his plate in front of him – cheeseburger with the works and chili fries. Jason grabbed her wrist. "Are you gonna make me eat alone?" he asked.
"Sorry, no can do, Mr. Morgan. I have to work for my rent money."
Jason chuckled as she flitted away. He couldn't believe how lighthearted he felt as he watched her work. It was lunchtime, so the diner was especially busy. Office workers were stopping in for quick sandwiches and plenty PC High seniors (who were allowed off campus for lunch) were crowding the booths in the corner. He could hear her good-natured laughter as she took the orders from the boisterous highschoolers. But as, the tinkle of the bell overhead signaled a new customer, the smile dropped instantly from her lips. Somehow, he didn't even need to turn to the door to know Ric Lansing had just stepped inside.
Lansing strode right past him, his eyes intent on the petite brunette hurrying to the counter.
"Hello, Elizabeth," came Ric's silky voice.
Elizabeth sighed in mild frustration and met her ex-husband's eyes. Subconsciously, she shielded her stomach, as if protecting her unborn child from the eyes of the sociopath. "Hello, Ric," she replied. "What can I get for you?"
He tried to play off her frosty civility with a smile. "A few moments of your time?" he asked her hopefully.
Elizabeth shook her head. She could already feel a headache starting. "In case you haven't noticed, Ric, it's really busy. I can't talk right now."
"Please, Elizabeth. I just wanted to ask about –"
"Are you alright?"
Ric's eyes narrowed. "I'm talking to Elizabeth, Morgan," he replied disdainfully, not even turning around.
Jason silently questioned her over Ric's head.
"I'm fine," she answered softly.
Jason nodded and reluctantly headed back to his seat, keeping his gaze riveted on the man that had caused so much grief in their lives.
"How's the baby?"
She couldn't help it, but the hair on the back of her neck stood on end at his question. She couldn't help but think back to the time when she'd lost her baby and Ric had kidnapped his own brother's wife in a sick attempt to pass off the other woman's child as theirs. It made her sick to think she'd even considered getting back together with the lunatic much less passing off Zander's child as his.
"Fine. Listen Ric, I really wish you wouldn't ask. This baby's no concern of yours," she said, hoping he'd get the point.
Obviously he hadn't because he looked taken aback. "But I love you, Elizabeth. I'm always going to be concerned about your health and the baby's."
At his profession of love for her, Elizabeth felt like vomiting and her headache worsened. "Listen Ric, if you're not going to order, please leave. But I'm not having this conversation with you any more."
Before he could say anything to the contrary, Liz turned her back on him and went to fill her orders.
Ric cursed in frustration knowing he was getting no closer to weaseling himself back into his ex-wife's good books. He stood up and turned to find himself staring into the cold blue eyes of his brother's Enforcer.
"Elizabeth doesn't want you around her, Lansing," he announced.
"And she wants you?" he sneered, still believing that Elizabeth and Jason were at odds.
"Stay away from her," Jason ordered, his voice not losing its glacier-like quality.
"Is that a threat?"
Jason's eyes narrowed. "I never make threats, Lansing." He brushed past the lawyer, through the busy kitchens and out the back door, leaving Ric standing in disbelief.
He found Elizabeth pacing in the snow, her arms wrapped around her sweatered waist for warmth. She was muttering under breath and she looked as though she wanted to scream.
Jason leaned against the doorjamb. "Maybe you should just scream," he suggested.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Sorry, if I do, they'll all come running, then they'll probably think you're trying to kill me."
Jason smirked ruefully. To the average observer, it was a witty comment, but he knew that was the possible scenario of events if she did scream.
"You should come in; it's cold outside."
"Trust me, my anger is keeping me warm."
Nevertheless, Jason walked toward her and draped his leather jacket about her shoulders. Immediately she was enveloped in the warm masculine scent of his skin clinging to the leather.
Her eyes reflected her gratitude. "Thanks," she whispered.
He nodded and, taking her small hand in his, led her inside.
Although inside the kitchen was much warmer than outside in the snow, she kept his jacket, enjoying its warmth as well as its scent. Elizabeth ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "I don't know why I let him get to me like that; it's not good for the baby," she said, pinching between her eyes, trying to stave off her impending headache.
"I think after all that man's put you through you deserve to get a little worked up," replied Jason.
Liz grinned half-heartedly. "I guess so… but still, he's not worth it."
Jason nodded, just as one of the cooks hurried between them with a giant bowl of potato salad. "Maybe we should take this back out there," he suggested, pointing backward to the diner with his thumb.
Suddenly, a twinkle popped into Liz's cobalt blue eyes. "Actually," she started bashfully, "my shift's just about through. Think we can get outta here?"
Those six words just about made his day. "Sure," he replied softly, his half-grin peeking at the side of his mouth. "C'mon."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Together, they walked in the frosty park in companionable silence. As they passed the frozen pond, Elizabeth paused and looked at the other skaters longingly, smiling wistfully as she watched a father guide his little girl on her wobbly first steps on ice. She was fascinated with their interaction.
Jason was fascinated by her.
"It's funny," she began. "That little girl, she's about three, maybe four-years-old…. They say these are the molding years…but she'll probably never remember this day…. If I had a Dad who took me skating on a school day, I'd probably remember it the rest of my life…" she trailed off and rested a hand on her stomach.
Jason looked at her in confusion.
She turned to him. "Do you think Alan ever took Jason Quartermaine skating in the middle of a school day?"
Jason's look was blank. "I don't know," he replied after a while. "It's highly unlikely, though."
Liz nodded and turned back to the frozen pond. It was such a treasure to hear the peals of the little girl's delighted laughter as she and her father spun in circles. "My Dad was always too busy… come to think of it, he was always too much of something to do anything remotely fatherly towards me. But, this is the sort of thing Zander would probably do." She chuckled. "I'd be furious if I found out… but then I'll look back on this day and remember how happy I was when I saw this little girl."
Jason nodded. He knew how important it was for a child to have a good relationship with their parents. Maybe Jason Morgan wasn't a good example, but Jason Quartermaine was and maybe even Michael. "I've really underestimated Smith, haven't I?" he asked her.
Elizabeth smiled and turned to him again. "Yes," she nodded and left it at that. She took his large hand in her smaller one and tugged away. She reluctantly pulled it away when they were on their way again, but asked the niggling question that had been on her mind since they'd started to patch up their friendship.
"Where've you been for the last four months, Jason?"
He smiled inwardly; he'd been expecting that question ages ago. He took his time answering her question. "I went to France for a while… Paris. That's where Courtney and I were married…. Maybe I felt as though I needed to be close to her in some way… but I didn't, not anymore. So I roamed Europe for a while… Barcelona, Madrid, spent a few days in Amsterdam and Munich, then headed south again for Italy."
Her head whipped around at that and she lost her step just barely, but he continued as though he hadn't noticed it. "I spent about a month there, just roaming. I skipped all the big cities… spent a few days hanging out in small town near Umbria being tempted to smoke and drink and be merry all the days of my life." That brought a smile to her face. "Just being there, roaming in their vineyards or watching old men congregate in the corner in the shade, I felt such solace it was unbelievable. I felt ready to come home… not because there was some danger and my instincts were roaring, but because I *wanted* to."
"And now that you have?" she asked softly "Any regrets?"
Jason paused and looked at her. Her face was upturned and her long wavy dark hair spilled from beneath her rainbow pompom hat. Her cheeks were rosy and her cobalt blue eyes sparkled with vigour. His eyes dropped to her mouth – it was soft and pink and oh so inviting. He couldn't be rude, so he bent and pressed his lips to hers.
Liz was frozen in shock. The feel of Jason lips moving expertly over hers flooded her body with warm and jolted her body to life. She began kissing him back, opening her mouth under his and meeting his tongue with her own. The kiss started to escalate as he pulled her closer, his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes, and the battle for control was on.
Finally Jason pulled away and licked his lips as he surveyed her – her face was flushed with warmth and her lips were swollen from his kisses – she looked thoroughly kissed. "No regrets," he replied softly.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Really? That's wonderful. Thank you," Alexis Davis set the telephone on the hook and smiled just as the door to her office opened and her nephew stepped inside. "Gee, you must be psychic. I was just about to call you. That was the clerk's office; Emily's divorce is officially final as of today!" she announced with a grin, which promptly fell from her face at Nikolas's less than enthusiastic response.
"Ok…" she trailed off, looking at her nephew with concern. "What's wrong?"
Nikolas heaved a sigh and collapsed in one of the chairs opposite his aunt's desk. "I think I just made the biggest mistake of my life."
Curiosity furrowed Alexis's brow. "Explain," she invited, leaning back in her chair.
Feeling everything like the idiot he knew he was, Nikolas told his aunt of what had transpired between Emily and him in the past two days. She winced especially when he told her of the doubts Emily had admitted to possessing.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"I don't know," he admitted, bounding from his chair and coming to star out the picture window behind her desk. "What do you think I should do?"
Alexis chuckled, "God knows I'm the last person you should look to for relationship advice, Nikolas."
"But you're a woman…. You know about these things!"
Alexis rolled her eyes, "I'm just about the least feminine woman there is, trust me." She came to rest a light hand on his shoulder, "But if you ask me, the only way to get this sorted out is to *talk* to Emily."
Nikolas turned to her aunt, his brown eyes swimming with guilt. "She says I never listen…."
Alexis smirked and turned away, "Well, you know what they say: 'There's a first time for everything!'"
TBC...
A/N: Don't forget to review - you know this junkie needs her fix, lol!