I am SO sorry it took so long to update this story. But I'm back now and I will try to update regularly again. And yes this is going to be Brazen romance, it actually is going to take a big step in that direction in this chapter. Thanks for all the reviews!

*

Courtney went back to her apartment and threw her purse down on the coffee table; When she did, her bottle of pills came flying out, open, and the tiny white substances scattered across the floor. She quickly fell to her knees, scooping them up in handfuls and carefully pouring them back into the orange bottle. By this time, she was crying hysterically. She couldn't believe Jason. He didn't even notice she wasn't there when he came home? He didn't care that he didn't see her? She could be hurt, lying in a gutter somewhere, or kidnapped by one of Sonny's enemies. Sonny. Maybe Sonny would know, maybe he had talked to Jason about her by now. She grabbed up her things and headed out the door. She would ask him in person.

*

"Come on Brenda!" Jason called up the staircase "We're gonna be late," then under his breath shaking his head with annoyance "...Wouldn't want to do that."

Brenda had came to the apartment with him to change so they could arrive together. She knew if she didn't, Jason might back out. She understood how he felt about the Quartermaine clan but this was important, and it might help him get out of the funk he was in. After all, even if he did blow up at Edward or AJ, at least he would act like he was alive again, instead of moping around like little child. In fact, maybe she shouldn't be so easy on him. Jason didn't like it when people treated him like he was breakable.

"I'm coming!" she yelled at him as she came down the stairs "What is your problem? You can't wait five minutes?"

"Five minutes?! It's been more like five hours! How long does it take to put on a dress?"

He spun around and actually felt a wave of shock go over him. She looked beautiful. Her hair was all in curls around her face, she had on a long black gown and a big smile. He tried to remember a time in his mind when he had seen a woman look so beautiful. He hadn't, not even Courtney.

"I'm ready," she asserted, as she grabbed her coat off the couch "Come on we're going to be late."

Jason quickly shook off his amazement.

"It's not my fault," he replied in a matter of fact tone, as he opened the door for her.

"Oh it's my fault, it's my fault for wanting to look good?" she shook her head, trying to fight back her smile, this was the Jason she knew "You know if you for once tried to dress up just a little, be a little more presentable..."

"Save it," he shot back as they walked toward the elevator.

"Excuse me? You should be listening to me, this is free advice."

Their eyes met each other's and a little smile came across both of their faces. Usually when they fought, they played it out to the death and never once gave in, admitting that they were enjoying it. Just then, the elevator doors opened and Courtney stepped out.

"Jason," she looked at them with shock "Where, where are you going?"

"Um, it's a dinner with the Quartermaines, for Emily."

"And you asked Brenda to go?" she replied, trying her best to be calm.

"Well, I was going anyway," Brenda broke in to defend him "So I just thought that we'd together."

"Really," Courtney found her nerve, the pills were kicking in that she took on the way over "You need to stay away from Jason."

"Excuse me?" Brenda was taken back "Look, Courtney. Jason and I are just friends, and besides you weren't here for him to ask you to go with him..."

"I have a cellphone," Courtney shot back "Jason, can I talk to you for a minute?"

She pulled him inside the penthouse and slammed the door behind them.

"You didn't have to talk to Brenda like that," Jason shook his head "Nothing is going on between us."

"Why haven't you tried to find out where I was all day?" she broke in, avoiding his comment "I've been gone since this morning!"

"I just assumed you wanted to be alone."

"Oh, of course you did, that way you could be with Brenda all day!"

"Where is this coming from Courtney? Brenda and I are going to a dinner for Emily. You know I hate going to the Quartermaines, I'm not doing this for fun, I want to be there for Emily..."

"And for Brenda," she added.

"Ok," Jason held up his hands "I'll be back later tonight, and if you want to be here when I get back, good, if you're not, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Jason, what are you doing?!"

"I'm going to see Emily, with Brenda," he finished, walking out the door and leaving her alone in the empty apartment.

*

"Jason, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause more trouble between you," Brenda whispered as they stood outside the front door to the mansion. They hadn't spoken hardly at all on the ride over, Brenda wasn't sure what to say and Jason was so angry and confused, he couldn't speak at all.

"It's not your fault," he shook his head "Something's going on with Courtney, but she didn't have to talk to you like that."

Brenda was shocked that Jason was siding against his own fiancee.

The door opened and Reginald brought them into the dining room. Edward and Lila were already seated, waiting to greet everyone.

"Jason," Lila smiled at the sight of her grandson. He went over to speak with her, leaving Brenda alone with Edward.

"What is that hooligan doing here?" Edward asked immediately.

"He's here to see Emily, and Lila, Edward be nice."

Edward chuckled with disbelief.

"Please," she turned to him and put on her biggest smile, sure to bring on a guilt trip and convince a man to do anything she wanted him to "Just for tonight."

"I can't make any promises my dear," he pointed out "But I'll keep my mouth shut as long as he does."

Brenda kissed his cheek, and Edward walked off amazed that he had just agreed to keep quiet about Jason.

At that time, Dillon entered the room with Georgie.

"You again," he said when he saw Brenda "So you *do* live here."

"For now," she smiled.

"Oh, this is Georgie, Georgie this is..."

"Brenda," she finished for him "Hi Georgie. It's nice to see you."

"You too," Georgie smiled.

"You know her?" Dillon asked, as he and Georgie walked toward the table.

"Well, yeah, she's a famous model. She was married to Jason, and they were tried for killing Luis Alcazar, they didn't do it though."

"Wait, *she* was married to *him* ?" Dillon asked with confusion "Wow, anything's possible."



*



Later, all the guests for the dinner arrived including Emily with Zander. She was shocked when she learned that Jason had came into the lion's den for dinner, but she sensed it was Brenda's idea. She would have to thank her later.

Brenda was just about to take her seat when she realized Jason was missing. Roaming through the house, she found him standing on the terrace just outside. He was staring off into space, as if he were a million miles away.

"Jason?" she whispered, as she approached him "Emily's here. They are about to serve dinner."

He spun around to look at her.

"Actually, I just think that I'm going to speak to Emily and leave."

"What? Why?"

"Brenda, I don't belong here. I don't belong here with Edward, and AJ, and all the members of my supposed family that think they're better than me."

"You sure this isn't about Courtney?"

"No," he shook his head "No, I don't want to think about Courtney right now."

"You sound like me, well about Jax. You know I haven't even seen him yet?"

"You haven't lost anything if you haven't," Jason smirked "I never liked him."

Brenda laughed softly.

"You didn't deserve what happened to you," he continued "What Jax did, you didn't deserve that."

"...You don't deserve how Courtney is treating you either. Everything is not your fault."

"Yeah, I know that," he nodded "I know that so why doesn't she see it?"

"I don't know, there's got to be something that's clouding her judgment...It's probably just her depression over losing the baby, she can't think clearly...Come on let's go have dinner and then you can go see her."

As Brenda turned to walk back inside, she tripped over the entranceway. Jason caught her. She looked up at him breathlessly, laughing at how clumsy she was, and her eyes met his. She felt his arm wrap tighter around her waist as he pulled her up toward him.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"You're welcome," he whispered back to her, right before he felt her lips press against his.

*

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