Hellooo all! Here is a longer update for you, which I worked hard on. If it's any good, you should all get a little misty eyed. It's cheesy, it's clichŽd, it should be fun. Also, I think it still falls under the heading of PG-13, but if you disagree, please let me know ASAP so I can fix it. Don't want to corrupt anyone.. well, I DO, but I shouldn't, so please, tell me what you think. Isn't that an introduction to spark some interest? Enjoy, and, as always, review!

Also- does anyone have any idea how to make fanfiction.net recognize ALL my quotation marks? It keeps leaving the end ones off, and it's making me crazy.

Chapter Fourteen

Elizabeth took the long way back to the penthouse, needing time to marshal her thoughts and figure out what she was going to do next. It was clear that either she had killed Zander, or she was protecting someone important. Important enough that she had been willing to let Nikolas take a fall, not to mention take one herself. At the moment, the most worrying thing was that she had no idea how to find out the information she needed, without possibly placing this unknown individual at risk. She sighed and stepped into the elevator, having reached her destination.

As the door opened at the top, she flinched as Jason hurled into the elevator. He lurched to a stop when he saw her, then dragged her out of the elevator and into the penthouse, cursing the whole way. The door slammed behind them, and before she could begin to react, he pulled her into his arms, his breath feathering into her hair. She stood in the circle of his arms, warmth spreading from her heart into every last finger and toe. She knew without a doubt, that this, forever, was where she wanted to be. After a moment, she realized that this was not, precisely, exactly, how she wanted to spend her life.

"Jason.. need.. oxygen.." His arms fell away instantly, and even as she took a much-needed breath, she missed them.

"Sorry." Jason inhaled deeply. It had only been an hour since he had come home from Emily's, but it had been the single-most lengthily hour of his life. He had immediately called Lucky to see if Elizabeth was ready to come home, and had more or less panicked when Lucky had confusedly confirmed that he had dropped her off moments before. No one Jason called had seen her, and he became convinced that something horrible had happened. The sight of her, standing unharmed before him, made him positively giddy. "Sorry." He repeated. "I just.. was worried. Where were you?

"I went to see Ric." And like that, the giddiness was gone. She watched his eyes grow flat, and rushed to explain herself. "I needed to find out if.. I had to ask him a question.

He suppressed the urge to scoff at the vision of Ric as a viable source of information. "And did he give you an answer?

"Yes. It was a very.. informative visit." She hesitated, the added, "He really.. well, he doesn't seem the way I remember. Maybe he has changed.

He turned away, unwilling to witness Elizabeth convince herself Ric was a worthy human being. Jason would admit that whatever Ric felt for Elizabeth was his best quality, but it was still nothing like she deserved. He cut her off. "Good. I'm glad. Can I get you any food? I'm going to Kelly's.

She looked at him quizzically. "Are you alright?

"Fine. I'm fine. I'm just.. very.. hungry." He backed toward the door, eager to escape.

"Are you sure Jason? Because I have something important I need to talk about with you.

Sure that she was about to explain why she had decided to go back to Ric, again, he summoned a bored look to his face, and for the first time, put his self preservation before anything else. "Look Elizabeth, I really don't care what you decide. I've been looking for a way to tell you that I think this living situation thing isn't working-

An offended look came across Liz's face, and she interrupted coldly, "You're lying." Jason stopped, his mouth opened as if he planned to add something, but she went on. "You're lying to me. I can tell, because you suck at it." Pain glowed in her eyes, as she remembered the last time they had stood in this penthouse, arguing. "Except when you're lying for something you believe in. For Sonny. What? Did he tell you to lie to me again? Or did you decide that I needed you to make choices for me, because I can't make them for myself? I can't believe you. Of all the hypocritical things to do. You've never tried to make my choices before-

"I've never been so jealous before!" he yelled, startling them both. There was a silence in the room as they both paused to take a breath.

Elizabeth was the first to break the silence. "Why would you be jealous of Ric?" She was honestly mystified. Surely he knew that she could never love Ric again. Not after all the things he had done.

"Why wouldn't I?" He asked, a bit mystified himself. "You go back to him time and again. You're married to him now." He watched her cringe, but he kept going. "I know you don't remember it, but it's true. And now, after I was worried to death about you, you tell me you went to see him because you needed something, and that you have something important to tell me, that you're going back to him, and you wonder why I might be jealous?" His voice had taken on an incredulous tone.

She regarded him calmly, resisting the urge to smile with happiness. He didn't realize it yet, but he was behaving in a way she had only, in her wildest dreams, hoped that he might. "First of all, and get this in your head: I am NOT going back to Ric. Not today, not once my memory comes back, not ever. Got it?" Jason nodded, hesitantly. "Second of all, I didn't ask why SOMEONE might be jealous of my going to see Ric. I asked why you would be. You've been implying that we're.. friends. Friends aren't jealous of friends ex's. So what I want to know, Jason, is, are we friends, or.. what?

Jason didn't know what to do. Here it was. The perfect moment to tell her how he felt, and he was, for the first time in his life, overcome with fear. How could he expose himself to her right now? Especially when, despite everything she had said, she might run back to Ric as soon as her memory returned. Elizabeth watched him, and saw the indecision on his face. She realized, that after all the time Jason had walked down the road in front of her, and held his hand back for her, it was her turn to go first. She moved to stand directly in front of him, reached up a hand to touch his face, tilting it so he was looking her directly in the eyes, and said softly, When someone saves your life, when they find you in the snow and they drag you up and make you walk and bring you help when you told them not to, then make you drink gallons of soup, and when they lie to everyone they know, that's more than friends." She placed a soft kiss on his lips. "You said that once. More than friends. That's perfect. You also said, Ôthere's no word for what I feel for you.' It took time, a lot of time, but I have a word. Love." She kissed him again. "I love you Jason. I always have.

"God, Elizabeth.." Jason leaned his head down and captured her mouth for the most incredible, wonderful, longest kiss he had ever had. When they came out for air, he exhaled with, "I love you too." She laughed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I love you, I love you, I love you!" They kissed again, his mouth firm, but gentle against hers. She wallowed in the feeling. After all the time she had spent wishing to kiss him again, it was even better than she had imagined, better than she remembered. Then she remembered. She pulled away; struck with grief again that this was actually not their second, perfect kiss. It was the third.

Jason felt her withdrawal keenly. "What? What is it?

"I'm just so angry that there is so much I don't remember. I don't remember our first time! I was thinking that this was the best kiss I've ever had, and how long I've waited for it, and I realized that we must of kissed less than a year ago, among other things, and I don't even remember.

"You will. And you'll know that even though it was beautiful, this was better. That night was about need.." He considered, "and love. But we didn't say anything about love. This was perfect. This was our first kiss in everyway that matters. So don't miss what you can't have. It'll be yours soon enough.

She cocked her head thoughtfully, and a naughty grin appeared. "You know, I realize that I look a little awkward, and I feel a little awkward, but it seems like we should celebrate a perfect first kiss.

Jason looked at her with interest. But only said, "You look beautiful. You're glowing and graceful, not awkward.

"Hmmm.. Even better." She leaned in and asked with mock seriousness, "Do you want to celebrate a perfect first kiss with a glowing, graceful, woman?

He responded in kind. "Well, I'd have to know the details before I make a decision. After all, I don't want to be rash, just anything wont do for this sort of important type event.

"Well, sir," she said musingly, "I thought that first, we would go upstairs,

"Mmhmmm.. Go on, I'm listening." Jason nuzzled her throat.

"And then.. we, oh gosh, let me think.. possibly take off all our clothes.." She pressed herself against him, stealing another kiss.

"Sounds promising." He murmured, sliding a hand up the back of her shirt.

She chuckled, "Feels promising, too." Jason picked her up, carrying her up the stairs.

"And what happens next?" He prompted as the got to the bedroom.

"Oh, I have a feeling we'll think of something." She said, pushing him back onto the bed and straddling him.

He groaned with ecstasy. "No doubt." He grabbed her hips, and took possession of her lips. It was her turn to groan as his hands did wicked things. They quickly leaned that celebrating a perfect first kiss was a perfect way to have a perfect evening.