Two

"Can I…do you mind if I come in?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Jason responded after a brief moment of shocked silence.

Elizabeth walked through the doorway, and past Jason.

Shock had given way to concern by now for Jason. "Did something happen?" he asked. "Did you run into Ric?"

"No, nothing like that," she answered quietly.

His nervousness subsided, and curiosity began to direct his line of thought. "Then what happened, Elizabeth? Why are you crying?" he questioned.

"Oh, God, this is going to sound so stupid." She took a deep breath and began. "I was crying because I couldn't knock," she told him.

"Because you couldn't kno…why?" he asked incredulously, his curiosity not fully satisfied.

"Well, not because I couldn't knock, really. I just came here to talk to you. You see, I was having this conversation with Gram about everything, and she told me to do everything I could to fix my past friendships that were ruined because of my adamant, stubborn belief that Ric was a good, decent person," she told him.

He nodded, and she continued.

"So, I decided to start here because this is where the most damage was done," she said.

"What does that have to do with knocking?" he asked confused.

"It doesn't. Well, it does, actually. In a way."

Jason didn't say anything.

"I'm not making a whole lot of sense right now, am I?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, you're not, but I'm sure you're about to explain," Jason said, clearly amused.

"Ok, so I came here, and when I got here I took out my keys without even thinking. So here I am, in front of your penthouse anymore."

Jason sat down on the couch looking suddenly more serious than before.

Elizabeth continued talking, oblivious to his sudden change in mood, as she began to pace the room. "And, so, I put my keys away and raised my hand to knock, but I realized that I couldn't do it. It just hit me that before Ric, I wouldn't have thought twice about knocking -- which actually sounds like Carly on a normal day -- I would have just walked right in. But now, it's so different; we're complete strangers." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that it was such a rude awakening for me. It was as if I was a child, and I was forced to move away. Every once in a while you would end up back in your old neighbourhood again; you could see your family's home, but you couldn't go inside because the house isn't actually your anymore. You can only visit, and remember what it used to be like, until, eventually, you get used to the loss," she finished.

"I think I know what you mean," Jason said.

"I know you do, Jason. You always did," she said. "I guess what I'm really trying to say is that I wanted to come back and not have to stand outside and remember how it used to be. I don't know how you feel, but that is the one loss my heart could never bear."

"I don't want you to feel like you could never come to me," he began.

"It's not only that. What I'm asking you for, Jason, is for our friendship back, but I think that maybe after everything that happened with Ric, and even before that, I don't think I even have the right," she said uncertainly.

Jason shook his head. "Our friendship was never gone, Elizabeth. We've both made mistakes, but luckily those mistakes can't be taken back --"

"You call not being able to take back a mistake, lucky," she interjected.

"Yes, I do. Because when we get through the hard parts, like right now, our friendship becomes stronger. That's why people have problems. They test the relationship, and if it's strong enough to survive whatever happens, it makes it that much better."

Elizabeth smiled at him. "That sounds like something my Grandmother would say."

Across the hall, Sonny was pouring himself a drink when his telephone began to ring, interrupting him.

"Yeah?" he answered the phone.

"Sonny? It's Courtney."

His thought leapt immediately to Carly and the baby. "Is everything alright?" he asked, concern for his wife and their children evident in his voice.

"Yeah. We're all fine, especially Michael. He's so glad to have his mom back. But listen, I'm coming back to Port Charles. Wait; just hear me out before you say no. Carly and Michael haven't seen each other for months and neither have you, so I was thinking that it would be a good idea for you to come to the island, and for me to go home."

"Courtney, I wanted you to go to the island because it's safer there, and that's where I need my family to be right now," he explained.

"I know, but Jason's in Port Charles; I'll be safe with him, and he could take care of the business for a few days, couldn't he?"

"He could, but that's beside the point," Sonny answered.

"Sonny, just think of what it would mean to Michael and Carly to have the family all together, away from everything, even for just a few days," Courtney continued in her attempt to convince her brother.

Sonny thought it over before answering. "You're sure you want to come back now? I know Michael and Carly don't mind you staying with them," came his final endeavour to dissuade her.

"I do; Jason and I haven't spent a lot of time together since Ric took Carly. It's put a bit of a strain on our relationship," she replied.

Sonny caved. "I guess it shouldn't be a problem for a few days."

"Perfect!" Courtney exclaimed. "I'll be back in Port Charles early in the morning. Oh, and Sonny? Don't tell Jason. I'm going to surprise him."

"Are you taking a commercial flight?"

She told him she was.

"I'll have Max bring a car to the airport in the morning to pick you up."

Courtney thanked her brother and hung up the phone. True to his word, Sonny didn't call Jason to let him know she was coming back early. He did have to discuss some things pertaining to business with him. Sonny decided that Carly's absence had taken a toll on them all, and that Courtney had been correct in her assumption that every one of them needed a break from it all.

Elizabeth and Jason were mending their broken friendship over a couple of drinks. Jason had suggested that they go for a ride on his bike since they hadn't done so in such a long time, but Elizabeth had told him that he would have to agree to let her drive since he had already had too much to drink. He realized that it was probably true for them both, and suggested that they play a game of pool instead.

Elizabeth burst into laughter. "I can't believe this! I used to be so good at pool. It's your shot, by the way." She walked over to him, but tripped when she bumped into the corner of his pool table.

"Hey, are you ok?" Jason asked, reaching out to steady her.

Jason relaxed when her response what to giggle even more uncontrollably.

"You'd think I'd be able to at least stand on my own two feet by now," she said finally.

Jason watched her with a dazed, slightly mirthful expression. "At the very least, you'd think you would be better at pool," he said smiling.

"That's not fair," she argued. "I would be able to play much better if the room would stop spinning for just a few minutes."

"Maybe we should stop playing for a while so you can sit down," Jason said concerned, his words slurring slightly.

"Nope, I'm determining…determination…deter…" She shook her head. "I'm going to beat you at pool," she said to him with more certainty.

Before he could respond, Jason was interrupted by the loud ringing of his cell phone sitting on the coffee table. Elizabeth, who was closer, answered it.

"Sorry, but Jason can't come to the phone right now. He's about to have his ass handed to him in a game of pool…oh, hi Sonny." She paused. "No, he's busy right now, so he can't. How's Carly?" she asked. "That's good," Elizabeth answered after another moment's silence. She plopped down on the couch. "I guess Michael's glad to have her back." After another few moments of silence passed as she listened, she said abruptly, "Well, Sonny, I have to go now. I have a game of pool waiting for me." She pressed the end button on the phone before Sonny could reply.

"Alright," Elizabeth said, turning toward Jason. "Are you ready to lose, Morgan?" she asked playfully.

"I'm not going to lose," Jason replied, sounding amused and very sure of himself.

Soon after Jason had drunkenly, yet effortlessly, beaten Elizabeth at pool, she decided she should probably to back to Audrey's.

"I had fun almost beating you at pool," she told him honestly.

"Me, too," he replied.

"Well, bye, Jason."

She started to walk out the door, but, without warning, turned around and crashed right into Jason.

"Careful," he said, his eyes darkening as he held onto her gently until she regained her balance.

"I…um…forgot my coat," she explained slowly, not looking up to meet his eyes, but rather, staring straight ahead at his chest.

His refusal -- or perhaps inability -- to move out of her way, forced her to look up and meet his gaze.

"Right," she said, and tried to pull her arms out of his grasp when he began leaning down toward her.

Jason realized she was going to leave, and pulled her back toward him, crushing her against his chest.

"Don't," she said weakly. And then he kissed her.

Hours later, Courtney unlocked the door to the penthouse. Her flight had taken longer than she'd expected. It was already a little after eight o-clock in the morning. She hoped Jason hadn't left for the warehouse early.

Courtney crept up the stairs, no noticing anything terribly out of the ordinary. She opened the door to the bedroom and froze. Jason was asleep in their bed, and Elizabeth Webber was sleeping with him.

Devastated, Courtney backed away from the bedroom. She flew down the stairs, and out the door, without a clue as to where she was going to go. She only knew she couldn't stay here.