A/N Thanks for the comments – AppleOrange – Guest – If you are referring to the show, it was Jason's idea to claim the baby to protect Carly and Michael. He pushed for it, not Sonny. Sonny was buying time. He had decided that he wanted to be with Carly and eventually, Carly did find out. I'm thinking it was because Alexis was needing the amnionic fluid. If the test said Jax, Sonny would have probably washed his hands of Sam if the baby was Jax's.

I am so behind in writing…Gah! Got some bad news and it's been so hard to concentrate. Between that and work… I'll do the best I can, but it may be once a week for a bit until I can catch up. Sorry.

Chapter 10

Faith barged into Ric's office.

"Are you crazy? Did anyone see you come in here?"

"You aren't returning my calls."

"I'm not in the mood, Faith."

"What? Did the china doll hurt your feelings? Get over it! I want to take down your brother and Jason in the worst way and you said you were in on it."

He shut his door and locked it. Thankfully, the night shift had already come in and there weren't many people in the office area. "Keep your fucking voice down."

"Make me."

He grabbed her and kissed her torridly, stripping her naked before stepping back as he panted.

She grinned wickedly and then sat on his desk and opened her legs. "You want this?"

"You know I do."

"You can have it if you promise to focus from now on."

He's so pissed at Jason, he's in. "Fine."

"Then bring that big cock over here and punish me."

He finally smirked as he peeled off his suit and then fucked her hard as he pretended it was Elizabeth.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Emily tossed her phone onto the bed. Nikolas is driving her crazy and she doesn't understand what is going on. After gazing at her med schoolbooks, she sighed and fell back onto the bed, and then shocked when she hears Elizabeth's voice in the doorway.

"Jason said I could come if I took five guards. Talk about overkill. He probably has helicopter surveillance."

Emily grinned and then jumped up and hugged her. "I'm so glad to see you."

"I'm not allowed to eat anything, and I brought my water," she said holding up a bottle."

Emily couldn't help it and laughed. "My brother's imagination must have been running wild."

"You think?"

"Yet you agreed."

Liz shook her head due to Emily's grin. "Between him and Johnny, I'm lucky to pee by myself." She plopped onto the bed. "So, what's going on?"

"Well, I was trying to look at some of my med books so I can get back into the swing of things soon, but I fought with Nikolas."

"About?"

"Let's just say that he's been testy and beyond moody. I don't know what put a stick up his ass, but it would take an army to pull it out by now."

"That's not good. What do you think is going on?"

"Well, he just stopped a hostile takeover, so that could be it."

"Do you think Helena is involved?"

Emily sighed. "I don't know, but Stefan is back. He's been nice and honestly, I like having someone here."

"I say, go with your gut."

"Sometimes my gut sucks."

Liz smiled. "Ditto."

"What's going on with you?"

"I made your brother help me pick out baby furniture."

"Oh, he must have loved that." Part of her is sad Zander won't get to meet his child and the other hopes it changes her brother's life in the best possible way.

"He wasn't so bad and made some good suggestions. I told him that I was thinking of going to nursing school and he countered with being true to myself and that maybe I could do something that involved art."

"Teaching?"

"Yes, or art therapy. He added in a gallery earlier."

"What's wrong?"

"He wants to help pay for it."

"You agreed, right?"

"Yes, I'd be stupid not to, but it still doesn't sit right." She is used to doing things her way. This is a huge adjustment.

"What do you want to do if cost isn't an option?"

Liz sighed before leaning against the headboard. "I love my art. I guess I never thought it would be something serious that I could make money at."

"I think you have talent. Maybe you just need a mentor to help you find your niche."

"True."

"Lila has a cousin, Chloe, who started as an artist and then got into fashion design. Lila has a painting at her office that's gorgeous. She might be of some help or at least know someone."

"Is she nice?"

"Very…"

"Does she live close by?"

"She's in Paris, but Lila said she is having a showing in New York right now and then was going to come over. I'll arrange a meeting if you want."

"Okay."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Carly blinked a few times and then grinned. "I knew it wasn't yours. What a slut."

"Carly…"

"What? It's the truth."

"Do you want to go there with your past?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Why are you defending her?"

"I'm not."

"Well, she's out of our life now, right?" She just knows he's up to something by his reaction.

"Yes. I'm sorry, I'm just distracted by something I found out."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "What?"

"If I tell you something, you have to promise not to confront anyone." He knows she will, but it will fit perfectly into his plan since Carly will now be focused on Elizabeth instead of Sam.

"Go ahead."

"That's not promising."

"It's as good as you're going to get."

He shrugged and started to move away and then she broke, first crossing her fingers behind her back.

"Fine…"

It was hard not to smile at her predictability.

"Have you spoken to Courtney?"

"Hell no, not after what she did." She has been away on a shopping trip and ignored Courtney's calls.

Sonny sighed heavily. "Jason has told everyone, including his family, that he's the father of Elizabeth's baby."

"What! Oh, my God." Her mind is running a million miles a minute.

"I was surprised, but the DNA test came back and it's true."

She feels like crying at first, but then anger took off. "That little bitch! It has to be a lie. He did the same thing for me." She began to pace. "I knew he was going to get suckered in." When she went to retrieve her purse, he covered his mouth.

"Carly…"

"No, Sonny. I'm not going to let that bitch suck him in further. I'm going to get down to the bottom of it right now."

When the door finally shut Sonny chuckled. Now, hopefully, she'll be obsessed with them and will have no time to poke her nose in his business.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth had just gotten back from her visit with Emily. At least her friend seemed lighter when she left. As soon as she hung up her jacket, someone began pounding on the door.

"Open up, Elizabeth. I know you are in there."

Marco, who is in the hallway rolled his eyes.

Elizabeth groaned when she jerked the door open. "He's not here."

Carly pushed by her. "I know about your little scheme to tie Jason down."

"What are you talking about?"

Carly spun around. "How did you get him to lie?"

"I think you need to march your boney ass back into the hallway."

"Fuck that."

Liz put her hands on her hips. "I didn't trick Jason into anything. He only does what he wants to do anyway."

Carly pointed her finger. "You are lying. He feels sorry for you. I'm sure you cried to make him feel like shit and he caved."

"I'm not you."

When Carly moved forward, Liz took a step backward.

"If you think I'm going to let this happen, you're crazy."

Jason, who had been taking a shower, ran down the stairs barefoot and shirtless. "What the hell are you doing?"

The women couldn't help but appreciate his body.

Carly cleared her throat. "You can't pretend this baby is yours. I won't let you."

Jason groaned. "Jesus, Christ, Carly. Last I check you aren't my mother and you certainly aren't my wife. You get no say in what I do."

"I am your best friend."

"Here we go…" Liz muttered. "You wouldn't know what the word friend means if a dictionary fell from the sky and smashed you in your face on the right page. You are obsessed with him. There is a difference."

Jason fought a smirk.

"Look, Princess Purity, you don't know him like I do. You are an obligation."

Liz smirked. "It must kill you that I'm having his baby. God knows you'd try if you could."

"I am with Sonny."

"Not really…"

Carly practically growled. "I am not stupid enough to believe that he cheated on Courtney who he was in love with at the time. That is not who Jason is. Ric might buy your bullshit, but that is because he has two brain cells."

"To your one?"

"That's it!"

Jason grabbed her. "What the fuck do you think you are going to do to the mother of my child?"

"Stop saying that! You hate lying, Jason."

"I did but seems like that's all you wanted me to do."

"This isn't about me. This is about that little twit who is ruining your life."

"Jason, she goes, or I do."

Jason pushed Carly toward the door.

"You are choosing her, after all, we mean to each other?"

He grabbed the doorknob with one hand and tightened his grip on her with the other. "If you can't accept her, then we're done. I'm not going to let you yell at her all the time. She's under enough stress."

"This isn't over. I will stop this!"

Suddenly, Carly found herself pushed against the wall making her and Liz jump.

"This ends now. You claim to be my best friend but think that gives you the right to rule over me and treat me like I don't know what is best for me. I have backed you in everything you've done even when I didn't agree with you. Can you say the same?"

A tear ran down her cheek. "I'm trying to protect you."

"By hurting me? You know how much she means to me, and you can't stand it."

"If it weren't for her, I would have never slept with Sonny."

"It is not her fault that you fucked my best friend and had no faith in me at all."

"Jason…"

"I swear, if you do anything that ends up hurting her or me, I will never speak to you again. You will be dead to me. Is that clear?"

She can't believe the cold way he is looking at her. "I love you."

"Then act like it. Elizabeth is here to stay. If you can't handle it, then stay away from her."

"And what about you?"

"If you respect me, you can stay in my life. If not…"

Her tears are not affecting him. They are pissing him off.

"Okay. I won't tell anyone you are lying."

"Carly! This baby is mine!"

She wiped at her face when he stepped back. "Okay." She smoothed down her skirt and then left.

Jason slowly turned around to find Liz furiously drawing in a sketchbook. His brow furrowed. "What are you doing?"

"Drawing you."

"Why?"

"I need practice drawing anatomy."

His hands found his hips.

She shocked him by taking his picture and then telling him to freeze.

"Elizabeth…"

"Five minutes, Jason. Just stand there for five minutes."

"I feel stupid."

"Think of Carly."

His eyes narrowed and she took another picture.

"That is perfect." He looks hot enough to lick.

"Why the picture?"

"So, I can finish this later. Go back to thinking about Carly."

He made a face.

"If you pout, everyone will know it."

"Elizabeth…"

She loves how he says her name. "Yes, Jason."

He can't believe she's not bringing up what just happened. When her eyes trailed up and down his body, he let out a sigh of frustration.

"I don't know why you are so put out. You have a great body." She finished framing him and then made a few more adjustments, knowing he was about done.

He mumbled something she couldn't understand. "Are you done?"

"One minute…"

When she finally put the pad down, he ran his fingers through his wet hair.

"Next time, I'll have you lay down."

His gaze snapped to her. "What?"

She laughed. "God, I missed you."

He mumbled the whole way up the stairs as her laughter filled the room.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason locked up his gun and then eyed Liz who is deep in thought. "What's going on?"

Her attention drifted to him. "Just trying to figure out what I want to do with my life."

He sat across from her on the couch. "You have time."

"Jason," she said exasperatedly, "I have to pay my bills."

His brow arched making her roll her eyes.

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Yeah."

"I would love it if you'd just relax and paint or whatever you want to do until you have the baby, and then spend a few months enjoying her."

"If I want to start nursing school, I'd have to start in September."

"We'd figure it out."

"Chloe will be here tomorrow. I'm having lunch at the mansion."

"Good. Maybe she can suggest some things."

"I'm nervous."

"Why?"

She sighed heavily. "Does anything make you nervous?"

'You—sometimes."

"Why?"

"Because you are you. Don't change the subject."

"Whatever. She's Chloe Morgan."

"She's a person just like you."

"She's brilliant."

"Maybe you need to start believing how special you are."

"Ditto."

He smirked. "We're not talking about me."

"We could."

His eyes softened. "I'll drop you off tomorrow, so I can see Lila."

"Okay."

There is a knock on the door and then the guard opened it and Sam walked in.

"I'm bored."

Liz smiled. "Me too. Jason, entertain us."

He made a face and then stood. "How about I get some snacks?"

He quickly strode to the kitchen.

Sam took his seat. "I miss causing trouble."

Liz laughed. "I was trouble with a capital T when I moved here—fifteen with an attitude."

Sam smiled. "Is Jason good at pool?"

"Very good…"

Sam thought for a moment.

"Are you?"

"Yes. I'm a con woman. I'm good at everything."

"Maybe you need to teach me some stuff."

"Whatever you want, but let's con Jason."

Liz chuckled. "How?"

"A friendly game of pool."

"Stakes?"

"One hundred bucks and the loser takes their shirt off—if he wins, then you and I will. You can thank me later." She guesses Jason's abs are impressive.

Liz's eyes grew big, but they are interrupted by Jason who put some fruit, crackers, and cheese on the table. "Yum…"

Sam popped a grape into her mouth. "We decided we should play pool."

Jason's head tilted. "You want to play on my pool table?"

"Is there another one around?" Sam asked making Liz bite her lip.

"No."

Emily came inside. "Hello." She screeched to a halt. "Why does he look funny?"

"Sam just challenged him to a game of pool."

Emily laughed. "Do you like to lose?"

"I'm bored," Sam said.

Jason shook his head. "Fine…" He hadn't played in several days, so he'll never turn down a game.

"I name the stakes."

He spun around. "What stakes?"

"I win, you lose one hundred bucks and your shirt for two minutes."

Emily cracked up.

"And if I win?"

"Liz and I will take off our shirts for two minutes."

His attention went to Liz who waved. "Unbelievable…fine. Hope you don't get cold." He doesn't think they'll do it; especially Liz.

"Oh, I won't," Liz said making Emily snort.

Jason handed Sam a stick. "You can break if you want."

She smiled. "I would love to."