It's been a sweet ride, but, as I feel I have to many stories in the air, I'm finishing this off. I think it's natural though, and I personally like this chapter a lot, so I hope you do to. Thank you again for all the nice things you've all said, and for the support and encouragement. You've made writing this story a joy. And don't worry, I'll still be writing all the others, so you wont miss me, I'm sure. Have fun, and let me know how you like it!

Chapter Eight

When Elizabeth woke up, she was overcome with bewilderment. All the travel and stress left her with no idea where she was. She craned her neck, looking at the ceiling, before dragging herself up, bracing herself on her elbows. Seeing the full room informed her that she was at some sort of hotel, but it wasn't until she saw a sleeping Jason, looking ridicules in a Victorian gilt chair, that she remembered where she was.

She took a moment to enjoy the sight of Jason, vulnerable in sleep. It was so rare that she had the chance to look at him unobserved. The last few day s on the island, she had found it harder and harder to see him as a friend; or at least, only as a friend. She marveled to think that they had begun they're friendship six years before, and that still they tiptoed around the heart of it. She lay in bed, propped up on the pillows, examining every inch of his face. He had aged in the years since she had known him, and god knows she had. Thinking back on all the events and things and people that had separated them, Lucky, Zander, Courtney, Ric, Sonny, Carly, the whole damn town, in fact, the business, their own stubbornness, the past, Elizabeth was abruptly overtaken with rage. It seemed like fate had aligned to keep her away from the only thing she had truly wanted for years.

CRASH

Jason snapped awake at the sound, his normal speed to assessing the situation was deterred by his disorientation and exhaustion. His eyes widened as a lamp wizzed across the room and hit the opposite wall. He looked over and flinched to see Liz brandishing another lamp, and preparing to hurl it after the first. He wondered idoly what she had thrown the first time as his dove toward her and grabbed the light source.

"Elizabeth! What are you doing?" He gently pushed her down onto the bed. She struggled briefly, then sat. He lowered his guard, only to have her punch him in the arm. "Ow!" He grabbed her hands. "Elizabeth!" He said again, at a loss what to do.

"Damn it Jason!" She railed at him, "You promised me. I said, I swore to you, that I could handle anything but you lying to me! And you did it, for no good reason."

His jaw clenched, and though he had been expecting this confrontation for some time, he wished that they never had to have it. "Look, Elizabeth-"

"Haven't I always kept your secrets?! When you were hiding in my studio, and you didn't want anyone to know you had come back to town, didn't I hide you from everyone? I lied to everyone, for you. And I promised you that I would always listen to you when it came to your work. I was locked in a mausoleum because I wanted you, I went against the entire town."

"You slept with Zander." He cut her off.

Her voice grew quiet. "But it was a mistake. I told you it was. I told you I wanted you, and I missed you, and I asked for another chance, and you gave it to me. You made a promise to me, a commitment, and then, within a day, turned around and lied." Moisture showed in her eyes, but she blinked it back, determined not to use tears to win.

"I had to, for Sonny." His voice sounded hollow, even to himself. To his surprise, she conceded the point- to a point.

"Look, I get it, that you have to lie for work, that you can't always tell me things. But all you had to do was call me, and say ÔI'm alright' and tell me that there was something that you couldn't tell me, but that things would be alright. All you had to do was trust me to do what I promised I would." Her voice had lost its hysterical edge, but remained firm. "All I needed was.." But here she stopped, unwilling to throw her heart out. She couldn't shake the feeling that it would end up in pieces, like the lamp.

Jason, still holding her hands down, closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath. He too had trouble understanding why things had been so difficult for them. He too wondered why it seemed like the entire world had placed itself between him and this woman. And he too was afraid to risk his heart on what had proven to be the biggest gamble of all: a life with her. When he opened his eyes, he saw tears on Elizabeth's face, which had come despite her vow. Her voice wobbled as she said miserably, "All you had to do was believe that I wanted you."

"Oh Christ Elizabeth," the words rushed out of him, "I tried to. I tried to believe that more than anything, but I just couldn't. Other than Sonny, and Emily, no one ever wanted me. My family wanted Jason Quartermaine. Carly wanted a savior, and she always wanted more. Robin wanted, I don't know, someone else. This entire town looks at me and wants me to do something else, or be someone else." Unbelievably, a tear escaped him as well. "And there you were, always accepting me just as I was, and I just couldn't believe that you really saw me, or understood, because, if you did, you would want something else too."

"No, no, no, no, no.." she chanted , pulling her hands from his, and then tugging him onto the bed, into her arms. "I did see you. I do see you. I wanted you just as you were." She paused, said a mental farewell to her heart, and then gave it to him. "I DO want you. Just as you are."

Jason raised his head from her shoulder, his eyes bright and shining to look at her. His brain registered her use of present tense, and hope exploded through him. He asked hoarsely, "Are you sure?"

A laugh escaped her, "of course I'm sure, you idiot." She said tenderly. He looked at her, then, with a quick movement, kissed her. She made a surprised noise in the back of her throat, and then threw herself into the kiss with six years of frustrated desire behind it. The kiss quickly escalated into more, as passion took them to new heights. As they approached the point of no return, Jason dragged himself out of her embrace, leaning on his elbows and looking down at her. "Are you sure?" He muttered the question, praying to god the answer was yes. It wasn't. The answer was a feral growl as she knocked him off balance, swung them around so she was on top, and kissed him, hard. He decided that she meant to say yes, and gave himself up to her with delight.

O O O

"Yes, that's right." Elizabeth sighed into the phone, "I'm sure. Ribs, strawberries and whipped cream, a chocolate milkshake, pancakes, bacon, a green salad with dressing on the side and Creme Brulee. Un huh. Oh wait.. Jason!" She yelled, "Do you want anything from room service?" The server on the other end heard voices, then the woman came back on. "Two of everything please. If you could hurry, we are starving! Oh, and charge it to the room, thank you. Hey, hey, Jason! Stop that." There was some giggling, and then the line when dead.

"Say uncle." Jason had pinned Elizabeth down, and was tickling her mercilessly.

"No!" She shrieked as he began to tickle her in earnest. "Okay, uncle! Uncle!" They collapsed on the bed, and Jason leaned over her, stroking her hair. Her breath caught at love she could see and feel whenever she looked at him.

Jason spoke, his voice hesitant. "Elizabeth, I know, well, I know that this is probably too quick. I know it is. But I don't want to waste anymore time. I love you. I have always loved you. I never knew how much I could envy someone until you chose to say with Lucky, and when I saw you with Zander. I didn't understand how regret could twist your life until I lied to you, and you weren't around anymore. I trust you, I miss you when you're not there, I see things with you I never see with anyone else. I want to spend every day of my life with you, starting now." He stopped, and, looking into her eyes with intensity, asked, "Will you marry me?"

Tears were streaming down her face, and she pressed a kiss to his lips. "I never knew that more than friends could be the best kind of love. I've spent so long wishing you were with me. When I walked out of your penthouse that day, it was like I left the best part of me in there, with you. I didn't understand longing until you were gone." She repeated his words like a vow, "I trust you, I miss you when you're not there, I see things with you I never see with anyone else. I want to spend everyday of my life with you, starting now." She kissed him again. "I love you, and there is nothing in this whole world I want more than to be your wife."

When the waiter knocked on the door ten minutes later, there was no response. He knocked again, reaching around the enormous order. Two voices chorused, "Go away!" He looked at the cart wryly, wondering if he should leave it for them to find later, but decided against it. He had a feeling they were going to be busy for a long, long time.

The End

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