I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. )
Chapter Eight"Jason!"
"Just a second, Sam." He put down the box of books down next to his couch.
"What the hell is going on!" Sam's voice was shrill.
"Elizabeth is moving in." He grinned happily.
"What!" Sam huffed. "Well- what about me? Did you even think to ask?"
He stared at her. "um," he pretended to think. "No." she scowled at him. "Look, you'll be fine. I'll pay for a hotel room until you can get yourself set up somewhere."
"Well, what about the cops who're after me." She sounded desperate.
"Since you have a seemingly endless amount of secrets, problems and emotional issues, I'm ceding the job of your protection the many qualified guards Sonny employs. You don't have much stuff, I think we can get you resettled tonight." He rubbed his hands together ambitiously and looked positively gleeful.
"I'm telling Sonny." She screeched.
"Whatever." He followed her out, getting in the elevator to bring up another load. When he came back up, Sonny was waiting. "Look-" Jason started to speak, but Sonny interrupted.
"I'll make sure Sam is moved out tonight. And I'll pay for the hotel. She's not your problem." Sonny stuck out his hand. Jason put down the box he was holding and shook it.
"Where is Sam anyway?" Jason asked. "I expected her to be out here, throwing a fit."
Sonny smiled slightly. "Carly asked for a moment alone with her. I tried to intervene, but Sam insisted it would be fine."
"I thought Sam was brighter than that." Jason joked, picking the box back up.
"Congratulations, Jason. I know how much you missed her."
"Thanks."
The elevator bell dinged, and Elizabeth stepped though the opening doors. "Hi Sonny." She said, looking surprised to see them both standing there.
He smiled. "Who have we here?"
"This is my son Cameron." She turned the baby so Sonny could see him clearly.
His eyes softened as he looked at the baby, so cuddly and soft. "May I?"
"Of course!" Elizabeth transferred him into Sonny's arms. No one who had seen the man at that moment would have been able to guess he was a hardened mob boss.
"Carly and I would love to keep Cameron company while you get moved in. If you like."
"That would be so helpful. I have my car double parked downstairs, so the faster I can get it moved the better."
"Don't worry about it. I'll tell the doorman not to call a tow truck, and Max can help you move in." Sonny cooed at the baby, carrying him into his apartment.
Elizabeth and Jason watched him go, then Jason leaned over his box and kissed her. "Welcome home."
-Kelly's-
Sam stalked into the café, slamming the door behind her. How dare he. How dare she. Casting her aside as if she were rubbish. Her eyes lit with malicious light as she saw Courtney, leaning against the counter, talking with her dad.
"Hey." She commanded the woman's attention.
Courtney rolled her eyes at Mike before turning. "Yes, Sam, can I help you?"
"Did you know that Jason asked Elizabeth to move in with him." Sam came right to the point. She took savage satisfaction at the flash of hurt on Courtney's face.
"I hope they'll be happy together." Courtney smoothed the expression from her face.
"Whatever." Sam stomped out again, forgetting the sandwich she'd intended to order.
Courtney turned and saw the look of pity on Mikes face. "I'm sorry honey."
"It's fine. Really. He always did love her anyway." Courtney faced facts.
Mike didn't. "That's ridiculous. Who could love anyone other than you?" He spoke with utter sincerity and she smiled.
"Lots of people, dad. I think you're biased."
"Nonsense. Sooner or later Jason will realize what an idiot he's been and come back to you."
"No he wont dad, but I love you for taking my side." She leaned across the counter and kissed his cheek. "I have to go to work now. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Bye Honey." Mike watched his daughter stride though the doors. He had never been much for meddling, but it was clear that someone needed to put the situation to rights.
Three Days Later"Jason!" Elizabeth laughed, "I am not going to quit my job with no notice. Believe it or not, they've been very good to me there, and I wont leave them in the lurch."
"But if you quit your job, you could crawl into bed with me, rather than go mingle with drunk morons." He waggled his eyebrows expressively.
She laughed again. "You're a nut. I'll see you later." She allowed herself to be thoroughly kissed before leaving though.
Jason sighed as the door shut behind her. Cameron was asleep, and it was the perfect time to build some of the nursery furniture he had bought. He picked up the traveling bassinette, intending to take the sleeping child upstairs with him, when the phone rang. "Hello?" He grabbed the cordless.
"Is this Jason Morgan?" the voice was unfamiliar.
"If you ever want to see you ex-wife alive, you'll come to the Plaza Hotel in one hour, alone." The caller hung up.
He cursed. Sonny was out of town, and there was no one else available he trusted at the moment. He really would have to go alone. But first, he eyed Cameron…
Carly had been curled up with Vogue when the knock came. Her brows rose at the sight of Jason and Cameron. "Yes?"
"Can you watch Cameron for a bit? Something's come up, and I need to handle it."
"Ahh, can't Elizabeth watch him? She is his mother."
"She's at work Carly. What, do you think she's at home giving herself a pedicure?"
"No." Carly sighed, "It's fine. Give him over." Jason did, and stepped into the elevator to the sound of Carly's voice, cooing. "Who's a handsome boy? Is it you? I think so…"
He prayed that the situation wasn't as serious as he feared.
Liz frowned as her cell phone rang. She was just walking into work and didn't want to be late. "Hello?"
"If you love Jason, you'll be at the Plaza Hotel in 45 minutes. Don't be late. Come alone and keep it to yourself, unless you want to say you loved him."
She gripped the phone so hard her knuckles went white. "Who is this!" But the caller had already hung up. She looked at her call log, but the number registered private. "God damn it!"
Courtney sighed, stretching out on the bed. It was so nice of her father to treat her like this. He had insisted she deserved a night of luxury and gotten her a room as a surprise. She moaned with aggravation as someone banged on the door.
"Courtney!"
Jason? Her eyebrows shot up. What was he doing- She groaned as Mikes surprise suddenly became clear. She opened the door and looked at her concerned ex-husband.
He, in turn, looked confused. "You- are you- I thought…" He trailed off, unsure what was going on.
"I think Mike set us up." She explained.
"I agree." They turned to see Elizabeth standing behind them. " I just got a call saying your life," she looked at Jason, "was dependant on my being here right now."
"And you came?" he growled.
She looked offended. "Of course I came. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm kind of fond of you. I don't get engaged to just anyone you know."
"You're engaged?" Courtney piped up.
"I mean- if you ever get a call like this again- you go to Sonny, do you understand? You could have been hurt!" Jason yelled at Elizabeth. "AND YES- I mean, yes, we're engaged." He moderated his tone to answer Courtney.
"Why are yelling at me and cooing at her!" Elizabeth shouted at him.
"Cooing?" Jason looked disgusted.
"I'm just gunna-" Courtney chucked her thumb at the bathroom. The couple ignored her.
"I'm not "cooing" at anyone." He denied vehemently.
She scowled at him. "Is this how it's going to be?"
"It is if you keep flinging yourself into the line of fire without a single thought to—"
Max, Johnny, and Sonny burst into the room, guns blazing, looking like a male version of Charlies Angels.
Sonny took stock of the situation. "Ahh-" The man put their weapons away. Sonny turned and looked at his men, "Alright guys, false alarm." They walked out. Jason and Elizabeth stood frozen as his voice trailed behind him "…bucks says Marissa's little sister is a total…"
Liz tapped her foot. "You were saying?"
Courtney's head popped out of the bathroom. "Is someone else here?"
"What?" Jason turned. "No- it's I mean- Sonny-" He sighed. "Where's the mini-bar?"
The door flung open again.
"Oh for the love- " Liz took in a confused Jasper Jacks.
"Uh- Jason- Elizabeth… Sorry- I thought this was—Courtney?"
Courtney walked over, placing a kiss on his cheek. "Hey Jax." She wafted her hand at the other couple. "They were just leaving."
"But what were they-" He tried to ask.
"I'll tell you later. Guys- you can be sure my father will stay out of your lives from now on."
"Thank you." Jason said firmly.
Liz was a little more hesitant. "That's great, but could you- well, we really like going to Kelly's… you know… the soup… can you- well…"
"I'll make sure he still lets you in." Courtney smiled understandingly.
"Great. Sorry about the ice water." This was called out as Jason dragged Elizabeth from the hotel room.
Courtney shut the door behind them. "Now- let's see about you." She pulled the confused man down for a hot kiss.
TBCBy the gods- review!