Elizabeth smiled softly as she shut the light out in her son's room and closed the door behind her, leaving it part way open. The past week had been a good one for JJ. He was being very careful of his father's injuries and made sure that when he climbed up into his Daddy's lap he didn't jostle him too much. She was sure that having JJ around was helping Jason recover as quickly as he was.
During the day, the two men she loved most in this world would go outside and JJ would drive his little Harley around in circles, then Jason would bring him back on the porch and they would play with JJ's toy cars or motorcycles. In the evening, as the household was quieting down she usually found them in the living room, Jason reading to his son or coloring with him.
Elizabeth never thought she would see the day when Jason Morgan, Port Charles' enforcer, would be lying on the floor with their son, coloring. It was like a dream come true.
And now, once again, she was walking down the hall towards Jason's room, as she did for the past seven days, making sure he had taken the pills he hated so much, making sure he was warm enough even though she was aware that he didn't feel the cold, making sure that he was okay and that she would see him in the morning. Then she'd smile softly, say goodnight and retire to her very lonely bed.
It felt like two step forwards and five steps back.
Jason could hear Elizabeth step into the bathroom beside his room and fill a glass of water. She was coming to him with those damn pills again and like a good patient he was going to take them. He was just glad this time around that she wasn't filling him with soup. Before he allowed Johnny and Francis to leave them here at the safe house he made sure that every can was taken with them. He didn't mind Elizabeth taking care of him, he actually liked the way she fussed over him but he could not take another bowlful of cream of broccoli soup, no matter how beautiful the nurse was that was feeding it to him.
Beautiful Elizabeth, the woman that he loved. It seemed as if they were finally there, admitting their true feelings for one another and yet something was still between them, something was holding them back. He wondered if she was as nervous as he was, afraid that once again something would come between them. They had been here before, it wasn't unfamiliar territory, they had expressed their feelings, expressed they had wanted to be together but then something got in the middle, something always muddled things up.
Those usual something's weren't around anymore, Lucky no longer cared for Elizabeth, Zander had left town years ago, Sonny was dead, all the causes of their starts and stops had vanished, leaving them with nothing but each other and their precious little son.
So he sat here for the past week, trying to figure out what to do. Yes, they admitted they loved one another, yes they had talked, hashed things out, revisited the painful past and decided to put it behind them but they had yet to move forward.
Jason didn't even know where forward was when it came to Elizabeth. They never really had a relationship before and you couldn't call them lovers when they only had one glorious night that he walked away from. She was always more than his friend but his girlfriend? Sure she was living with him, but in a spare room, with Zander not that far away. He couldn't count those midnight rides on his bike as a date. She was still thinking about Lucky, he was trying to get over Robin's betrayal. Could he leave their relationship as something indefinable? Elizabeth was just Elizabeth and there was nothing more to it?
More importantly, what was Elizabeth thinking about all this and how were her views on the situation. She too had been here for the past week and Elizabeth hadn't made her intentions clear on the situation. She was just letting things lie.
Watching her come into the room, glass in hand, forced smile on her face, he realized that he couldn't allow that to happen anymore.
"Do you need anything else?" she asked as she placed the water down on the table beside his bottle of prescription medicines.
"Yes," Jason nodded and then laughed slightly, "You know, I was always the one that you had to pull things out of and now, this week, I'm starting to realize what that feels like."
Elizabeth smiled, "It's not fun is it?"
"No, it's not," Jason said as he took her hand and pulled her down gently beside him, brushing her brown locks from her face, "I love you."
"I know," she whispered, "And I love you too."
"But that's not enough," Jason said and then licked his lips, "Where do we go from there, Elizabeth? My answer is still the same as before. What can I give you? Motorcycle rides and…"
"You gave me the most wonderful thing in the world," she said quietly as she placed her palm against his cheek, "JJ is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and that is because of you, Jason. You still," she laughed as she reached down and took his hand in hers, "You fought me from the moment you stepped foot back into this town and you know what that made me do? It made me fight back, it made me step up, it made me believe that while I was a horrible person for keeping JJ from you I'm still a damn good mother and I knew that something wasn't right from Sam in the beginning. You made me trust my instincts," she whispered, "You made sure that I believed I wasn't crazy and you made sure that I didn't give up on you and I didn't, I couldn't. I never will. Most importantly, the night of my birthday, you gave me back something that I was missing, the wind, being free," she smiled, "I bet you didn't know that."
"I didn't," he said quietly, "I was just trying to…"
"Block out everything else with something louder," she smiled, "I don't think I realized how much I missed you Jason until you came back into my life. I was falling back into the pattern, giving everyone else what they wanted and not caring about what I wanted. Don't get me wrong," she said as she twisted his fingers with her own, "Sonny would've given me the world but I didn't want to ask him for it, not when I knew that Italy was still waiting."
"Is there where you want to go?" he asked as he slid his arm around her waist, "To Italy?"
She smiled as she curled up to him, finding herself nearly in his lap, "Italy, Spain, France, I'd like to go to all those places."
"It's possible," he said as he reached out to touch her, pulling away at first but then running his fingers down her face, reminding himself that she was real, that she was his for the taking, "I'll take you and JJ wherever you want to go, Elizabeth."
"I like it right here," she whispered as her face moved closer to his.
Jason was finding it difficult to breath. How often had he imagined this moment in the past week, hell since he'd returned home? Elizabeth was in his arms, leaning towards him, seemingly wanting him as much as he wanted her. Taking her face in his hands and pulling her closer, Jason cursed himself, the both of them, for wasting so much damn time.
Elizabeth couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips when his mouth pressed against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers easily sliding through his dark locks as she pressed herself close against him, pulling back when she heard him groan.
Her mind forgot to tell her body that he was still injured.
"No, no," he growled as he pulled her back to him, rolling them both to their sides. His hands were twisting around the material of her shirt, wanting her closer, wanting all of her in this very moment but knowing that he had to be careful or else he would destroy whatever progress he had made. His hands pressed against her stomach, pushing her back on the bed as his lips moved from hers, down her jaw bone, along her delicate neck to taste the sweetness of her collar bone.
She sighed as her hands twisted in his shirt, wishing that she could feel the skin beneath it, knowing that if her nails got a hold of it they'd do more damage than good. Instead she moved her body against his hands, arching her backside into his palms, moaning when he squeezed them gently and then slid around to the front, pushing her shirt up as he they danced their way upwards.
Jason felt the need touch every inch of Elizabeth's body. It had been too damn long sine he was able to memorize every curve, every crevice, every spot that made her tremble and cry out. He was sure there were more hidden secrets she held, after all how much can one learn in one night? He and Elizabeth tried however and he carried that night with him for over four years. He was eager to add more moments of pleasure to the pile.
She felt his hand on her breasts, cupping her, his fingers tweaking her nipple gently and she was moaning, her body lifting slightly off of the bed, offering herself up to him. She knew that she couldn't follow this through, she knew that it was too damn soon to do what they both desperately wanted but she was going to enjoy every moment in this bed with him and when he was done torturing her, it was her turn.
"Elizabeth…" he groaned as he leaned forward to kiss those swollen lips again.
"Daddy, what are you doing to Mommy?" a yawning JJ asked from the doorway as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Jason's yanked his hand from under Elizabeth's shirt and she jumped across the bed, a good foot away from them, both panting, both wide eyed, both wondering how in the world they were going to explain this to their three year old son.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Elizabeth asked; the first to recover.
"I got thirsty," JJ said as his mother moved from the bed and knelt down in front of him, "What are you doing in here with Daddy? Why aren't you in your own bed?"
"C'mere," Elizabeth said, taking her son in her arms, "I'll give you some of Daddy's water, after Daddy takes his medicine."
Jason did as he was told and then handed the glass to his son, watching as he took a sip of water and as Elizabeth threw him a nasty glare that stated 'You aren't going to be a mute now'. He sighed knowing she was right and patted down the space on the bed next to him.
"Honey, your Daddy and I, we're working through some things and we decided that we want to spend more time together," Elizabeth said as she settled JJ between her and Jason.
"Does that mean that Daddy's going to come live with us again?" JJ asked excitedly.
"Yes," Jason said.
"No," Elizabeth replied and then looked at Jason with wide eyes, "That's something that Daddy and I need to talk about. We don't want to fight in front of you."
"Awe, that's okay Mama, Aunt Carly was always yelling at Uncle Sonny in front of me," JJ said, "Uncle Sonny said that even though she didn't know it Aunt Carly was crazy about him and that was her way of showing him that." He looked thoughtful for a moment, "Uncle Sonny said Aunt Carly was just crazy."
Jason laughed and then bit his lip, ruffling his son's curls, "I'm crazy about your Mom."
"Is that why you were touching her?" JJ asked.
Jason ran his hand across his eyes, "JJ, when two people are…crazy about each other they like to hug and kiss a lot."
"Is that how you hug Mama?"
"No, that wasn't a hug," Jason said shaking his head.
"I know that," JJ said, "You were touching Mama's boobies."
"JJ!" Elizabeth said shocked.
"What?" JJ asked turning to his mother, "Tommy in class said that his Mama's boyfriend is always touching her boobies. That's what Daddy was doing to you, but why?" he turned back to his father, "Do you like touching Mama's boobies?"
Jason let out a painful groan knowing that he'd rather go up against the heads of the five families right now than be sitting in this bed trying to explain to his son why he was feeling up his mother.
"When people are in love, crazy about each other," Jason said, "They show it in a lot of different ways."
"Hug and kiss a lot," JJ said making a grimacing face.
"And they touch each other a lot," Jason said as he tried to find the right words, "I'll hold your Mom's hand or brush some hair out of her face."
"Or I'll fix your father's hair so he doesn't look like a Chia pet," Elizabeth smiled at Jason.
"I see those on TV," JJ said nodding as he looked at Jason, "You do look like a Chia pet, Daddy." JJ giggled.
"And," Jason said as he pulled his son into his lap and tickled him, "That's what you saw me doing to Mommy. I was just showing her that I loved her in another way." He threw Elizabeth a glare of their son's head, letting her know that he was going to get her later for her remark.
"Those are things that people do when they're in love, JJ," Elizabeth said as the squirming boy finally settled down in his father's lap, "Daddy and I are very much in love and we're going to talk about moving in together and living together as a family."
"Yeah!" JJ exclaimed.
"If we do that," Elizabeth said, "We need to set some rules in the house. You're getting to be a big boy now and Daddy and I can't always let you sleep in the bed."
"I am a big boy," JJ said as he puffed out his chest, "I just don't want you two to get lonely or scared every once in a while," he chewed on his bottom lip as he looked at both of his parents.
Jason's heart swelled, he was so much like his mother, "Its okay, every once in a while, but we know that you need your privacy in your very own bed."
"And if you ever need us," Elizabeth said, "You just yell okay? Daddy and I will come running. If you want to come into our room the door is going to be open."
"But if it's closed," Jason said, "You need to knock, loudly and call our name and we'll open it right away, okay JJ?"
JJ nodded, "You'll come right away if I have a bad dream?"
"Right away," Elizabeth said, "You just scream at the top of your lungs."
"Like your mother does," Jason said, "She's a very good screamer."
"I never heard Mama scream," JJ said.
"I did," Jason smiled as he looked at Elizabeth with a twinkle in his eye, "A very long time ago." He wasn't going to share with his son that he was the one making her scream. He could tell by the way Elizabeth was blushing that she was thinking back to that night as well.
"Time for bed," Elizabeth said, "Do you need another drink or anything?"
"Nope," JJ said as he turned towards his father and gave him a kiss, "Are you sleeping with Mommy tonight?"
"No, he's not," Elizabeth said as she pulled JJ from his lap, "Daddy needs his rest, lots of it and we'll see him in the morning, okay?"
"Elizabeth…"
"Say goodnight to Daddy," she smiled.
"Goodnight Daddy," JJ waved as Elizabeth carried him out of the room and closed the door firmly behind her.
Jason sighed as he settled down into bed, getting ready for a long night of tossing and turning. He knew that Elizabeth was right, it would be best if he just lay down and went to sleep. He wasn't suppose to partake in any kind of strenuous activity and if Elizabeth were back in this room he would want to do nothing but.
He would be able to hold out a little longer. It had been two years since he had known he loved her before he was able to make love to her. A few more days, a week, wouldn't be too long. It was just so damn hard when she was right down the hall probably having the same tumultuous thoughts as he.
"Can't tell you much, Jason, boys don't talk business around me," Carly huffed as she frowned at the pan in front of her, "No one can burn eggs but me," she took cooking ware from the stove and tried to drop the remnants into the trashcan, "It was suppose to be non-stick!"
Jason rubbed his forehead as he listened to Carly curse at the very expensive frying pan from Williams-Sonoma. He actually missed his best friend ranting and raving and was very glad that he was around to hear her proclaim that eggs should be left in their shells.
"You aren't trying to cook for Michael are you?" Jason winced, "Because they do feed him at school Carly and I'm sure that's safer than…"
"Do you want to go there, Jas?" she asked with one hand on her hip as she slammed the pan back down on the stove, "Because you are returning eventually and you are going to have to deal with me."
"I actually miss dealing with you," he said with a small laugh.
"I know, I miss it too," she said, "But I've been staying out of trouble and listen, Princess thinks that you're safer up there so we might as well listen to her. She hasn't been wrong all the time and she knows that they're after you personally so we don't want you…" she heard him sigh, "Wake up and smell the roses, Jas, Elizabeth has a clue or two about this business and I think it's smart that you listen to her and stay out of sight. We've got guards around here non-stop okay? Nothing is going to happen to any of us and nothing has happened. There's word going around on the street that something's brewing but everything's been quiet since the…well."
"I thought you couldn't tell me anything?" he asked with a wiry smile.
"I said they don't talk about business around me," Carly grinned, "Didn't say they I didn't eavesdrop."
"Great, Carly," Jason said, "That's real…"
"Oh stuff it, Morgan," she said, "Where's Muffin face, I want to speak to her."
Jason blinked and pulled the phone away from his ear before putting back there, "What?"
"Oh fine," Carly sighed dramatically, "E-liz-a-beth, I would like to speak with her."
"Okay," Jason said and held the phone out to the woman who sat next to him, watching as JJ did paint by numbers, "Carly asked to speak with you."
Elizabeth laughed at the dumbfounded look on Jason's face and took the phone, "Hi Carly, how is everything going on back there?"
Carly snorted, "You think they'd tell me if the city was falling apart? Jason fall out of the chair when I asked to talk to you?"
Elizabeth laughed again as she ran her fingers through Jason's spiky hair, "Almost. He said something about cooking?"
"Um, yeah," Carly said, "Lorenzo has been hanging around a lot, it seems he's not that bad of a guy and well I wanted to do something for him so I was going to cook and it turns out I burnt the eggs, which I wasn't aware that you could do."
"Turn into one big, brownish, yellow rubber looking thing?"
"Oh yeah," Carly said and laughed, "I'm glad that I'm not the only one."
"I'm glad that someone else is there," Elizabeth said as she turned away from Jason and walked further into the kitchen, "Nothing new?"
"No," Carly said, "Although, Johnny and Francis have been saying some things around me, about how uneasy the workers seem to be getting and Lorenzo is dropping hints here and there and even though he'll never admit it, Johnny has taken one or two of them."
Elizabeth sighed, "I'm so glad that someone else is giving him a chance. I don't think that he's that bad of a character."
"He's not," Carly said as she pulled out the menu for Kelly's, "Not that bad to look at."
"I agree with you there," Elizabeth laughed and looked up when she felt Jason's arm slid around her waist, "Thank you for calling with an update and for talking to Jason. I know he's going crazy not being able to do anything around here."
"That's Jas, but he'll be back and kicking ass soon," Carly said, "I'll let you guys know if I hear anything else."
"Thank you and tell Lorenzo I said hello," Elizabeth smiled, "Bye." She bit her lip as she clicked the off button on the phone and then looked up at Jason.
"Not to bad to look at?" Jason asked with raised eyebrows.
"You heard her say that?" she asked turning in his arms.
"I think JJ heard her say that," Jason growled.
Elizabeth smiled as she twisted her fingers in his shirt and pulled him closer, "He might be nice to look at but I only have eyes for a tall…"
"Mmm-hmm," he asked as he pressed her back against the counter.
"Blue eyed…"
"Yeah," he whispered as he leaned down and placed a kiss just below her ear.
"Handsome…"
He pulled back and watched her lick her lips.
"Chia pet."
She pushed away from him laughing but he wouldn't let her go as he tickled her and then kissed her until JJ yelled at them to stop being crazy and help him paint.