"Where do you think your going?" Francis asked as Liz stepped out of the penthouse with her bags.

"Nowhere." Liz replied avoiding his gaze."Ok, fine. I was heading out of town." She admitted annoyed.

"But you promised Carly you'd stay, at least until the baby was born." Johnny reminded her from his post across the hall.

"I know, but I can't." She said frustrated. "I need to get out of here."

"Does this have something to do with Jason?" Francis asked.

"What, why would you say that?" She asked.

"Because you've been acting weird since he brought you home." Johnny replied.

"We were wondering if something happened." Francis added.

"It was nothing." She lied.

"Listen kid, I've known you since you were seven years old, don't even try to lie to me." Johnny replied.

"You know what, it's none of your business, so I'm just gona get going." She said picking up her bags. Johnny grabbed her before she could get on the elevator.

"Here." He said taking her bags and tossing them to Francis. "Put them back in her room and cover for me, I'll be back in a while." He said stepping on the elevator with her. "You going to pout all night?" He asked amused as the doors closed.

"You can't make me stay." She said glaring at him.

"You wana leave, you need to tell me why first?" Johnny replied. "Did Morgan do something stupid, I'll kick his ass if you want."

"Like I'd need your help to do that." Liz said with a small smile. "Where are we going?" She asked as he steered her off the elevator.

"Just for a walk." he replied. They silently walked through the deserted park.

"He kissed me." She said quietly after a few minutes.

"And your pissed because?" He prompted.

"I liked it." She admitted.

"Jason's a good guy." Johnny began.

"I know, that's the problem." Liz said sadly. "Look, it's snowing." She said pointing excitedly. Johnny shook his head laughing.

Harborview towers:

"What did you do?" Francis demanded as he stepped of the elevator.

"What?" Jason asked confused.

"Liz was ready to bolt out of town after you brought her home, what did you do?" He demanded.

"She didn't go, did she?" Jason asked concerned.

"No, Johnny took her for a walk." Francis replied. "You still haven't answered my question."

"It's not really any of your business is it?" Jason shot back.

"Oh, it is my business." Francis replied refusing to be intimidated. "She's like a sister to Johnny, Max and I. You've known her for what, a few weeks, we've known her a lot longer hell, Johnny's known her since they we're kids. Now, tell me what the hell you did to freak her out so badly."

"I don't know." Jason sighed frustrated. "I mean, I kissed her and, she kissed me back but then,"

"She freaked out." Francis finished for him.

"Yeah." Jason nodded.

"Piece of advice, she has this tendency to do things like that. She once told me she thought her brain lacked the edit function." he laughed. "She'll just say whatever pops in her head, just reacts on instinct, it's a defense mechanism. If you serious about her, and you'd better be, don't let her push you away."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Jason sighed pushing open his door.

"Oh Jason." Francis called causing him to pause. "If you hurt her.."

"I know, Sonny already has dibs on my kneecaps." Jason laughed stepping inside.

She'd hoped he wouldn't be home and she could quietly sneak up to her room and pretend to be asleep when he returned but, no such luck. He was waiting for her.

"Did you have a nice walk?" He asked casually.

"Yes." She said shrugging out of her Jacket. "Damn it, why did you have to do it, why did you have to kiss me?"

"I didn't have to, I wanted to." He replied.

"Why?" She asked bewildered.

"Why not?" He countered. "Why did you kiss me back?"

"I wasn't thinking, I mean, We can't do this." She said frustrated.

"Why not?" He demanded.

"Because, you scare me." She admitted unable to meat his gaze.

"Hey," He said cupping her face and forcing her to look at him. "I'd never hurt you."

"See, that's just it Jason, you're a nice guy, not someone I can be with." She said taking a step back.. He wanted to laugh, of all the reasons to not want to be with him, it was because she thought he was too nice. "I don't date men like you, I date men who treat me like crap, men who don't give a crap about me."

"I don't understand." Jason began confused.

"What don't you get? I like a guy who goes days without calling me, openly cheats, drinks to much, one who uses me, hell even a guy who beats the crap out of me. Men who can't hurt me. But you, you could hurt me. Because I could care about you, and then it will just hurt more when you leave." She explained.

"Why are you so sure I'd leave?" He asked.

"Because, if you knew the truth, you wouldn't want me." She replied sadly.

"The truth about what?" He asked.

"It doesn't matter." She said. "We can be friends, nothing more."

"No." Jason replied.

"What do you mean no?" She asked confused.

"I don't want to be your friend, I'm not backing off, and I'm not going anywhere. So get used to it." Jason replied pulling her into his arms and kissing her. Her head was screaming for her to pull away, to run as far and fast as she could but, her body had a mind of it's own as she found herself once again responding to his kiss. Almost as soon as it had begun it was over. He released her and stepped back placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight Elizabeth, I'll see you in the morning." He said walking up the stairs. She stood there unsure of what had just happened but, for the first time in her life she was seriously considering taking a risk, not with her life, but with her heart.