A/N Thanks for the comments! Hope everyone is well.

Chapter 44

The next day, Jason finished up with his checkup and then headed home. His liver is regenerating and he's doing a lot better. The doctor said to wait a week before riding a bike, but he's good to go. The only thing he should avoid is lifting anything too heavy for another week.

Glancing to his right, he wonders what is going on in Liz's mind.

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

Her gaze settled on him. "Peace…"

"You think you're close to feeling it?"

"Yes. I just need Jake to be okay."

"He will be because he is the best of both of us."

"True."

Jason turned into the driveway of one of Aidan's friends. Liz got out and went up the door and knocked and Aidan came out.

"Hey."

Liz smiled. "Did you have a good time?" She is happy when Aidan asked to visit a friend so he can share what he did in Ireland because she wants him to be more social.

"Yeah."

"I meant to ask you if you want to change your last name back to Spencer."

He stopped before getting inside the car. "Dad mentioned it."

"And?"

"Are you keeping March?"

Liz sighed. "I'm not sure."

"I'll think about it."

"Okay."

They got back into the car.

"Hey, Jason."

"Hi. Did you have fun?"

"Yeah. He was jealous."

"We still have some time before school starts. Want to plan the trip to Scotland?"

Liz's eyes widened.

Jason grinned. "I didn't run that by your mom first."

Aidan chuckled. "I would love it."

Jason waited for her response.

"Fine."

"Ask your brothers if they want to come."

"I will." He is very excited.

When they got home, Aidan pulled his brothers onto the porch to talk.

"What's up, Goober?" Cam said.

"Jason wants to go to Scotland in a couple of weeks. You game?"

Cam smiled. "Sounds good to me. I'll talk to Maximus."

"We don't have the dates down yet, but I'll get them from him later."

Cam eyed Jake. "What about you?"

"I have therapy Tuesdays and Thursdays, so maybe we could do a long weekend."

"I'm sure we can," Aidan said. "This is going to great."

"Are you going to see if your dad will join us?" Cam asked.

Aidan grimaced. "I don't know. He doesn't like Jason."

"The feeling is mutual," Jake muttered.

"Maybe it's time for them to get over it," Cam said. He remembers her mom saying that Jason and Lucky were cordial in the very beginning.

Aidan shrugged. "I'll talk to mom."

"Are you and Lucky okay?"

"Yeah. He called me the other day."

Jake stood. "I'm meeting Sophie. Later goobers."

"You want to take my car?" Cam asked.

Jake grinned. "Next time. I have a training date with my dad tomorrow after you get back with Drew."

Cam shook his head. "Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to have schedule time to take my car for a spin?"

Jake chuckled. "That's the price to pay for having a bad-ass car."

Aidan smiled and ran back inside to talk to his mom.

Liz was in the kitchen. "What's up?"

Jason is sitting at the table reading the paper.

"Well, first, Jake wants to come but would need to work around his therapy hours."

Jason looked up. "We can do that."

"Good. Cam has to let Maximus know, so we need the dates."

He grabbed Liz's computer and handed it to Jason.

"Anything else?" Liz said as she wiped the counter.

"Well, Cam brought up my dad and if he is going to meet us."

Liz's brow rose. "Do you want him too?"

"Kind of, but I know he and Jason don't get along."

Jason sighed. "If it's what you want, then I can be good."

Aidan smiled. "Are you sure?"

Jason nodded.

"Mom?"

Liz shrugged. "Let me go call him." She went to her bedroom and shut the door. "Here goes nothing."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Lucky picked up his phone and is surprised to see the ID. "Hello?"

"Hey. Do you have a minute?"

"Yes. Is he okay?"

"He's great."

Lucky got comfortable. "I'm listening." Liz being feisty has been an adjustment, but if he were honest he'd admit he likes seeing her more confident and assertive.

"Well, Aidan had been talking about how he wants to go to Scotland and Jason volunteered to take us."

Lucky's jaw clenched. He hadn't had the time to take his son and it pisses him off that Jason is playing the hero.

"Lucky, this isn't a contest."

"I know."

"Then why are you mad?"

"How do you know that I am?"

Liz smirked. "Because you didn't say anything and it's not a secret how you feel about Jason."

"I wanted to take him, but it just didn't work with my schedule." He works in IT and had just finished a major upgrade for a local company.

"Well, the trip is going to happen, and he wants you to at least join us for a day."

"When?" There is no way he's letting Jason look like the better man.

"Probably not this weekend, but we'll be there Thursday evening through Monday."

"Fine. Can I bring someone?"

Liz's brow rose. "I didn't know you were seeing anyone."

"Aidan didn't mention it?"

"No."

"Her name is Gillian."

"I'm sure that will be fine." She wishes it were just the family, but if it makes him feel more comfortable, then it's fine.

"Alright, send me the details and where we're meeting."

"I will. We can book your flights." It would be faster for him to fly.

"I can do it."

"Okay, but it will be easier for us to book the hotel arrangements. I'll send you the details tomorrow."

She went downstairs.

"What did he say?" Aidan asked.

"He'll come. It will probably be just for the day since we don't have a lot of time."

He smiled.

"He's bringing Gillian."

Jason eyed them as Liz brow rose and Aidan grinned sheepishly.

"She's nice."

Cam joined them. "What's the plan?"

"Well, I think we'll just do the major cities due to time constraints and since we are meeting Lucky. I was thinking that we'd fly into Edinburgh Thursday afternoon and we'll have dinner and then stay there until Sunday morning. We'll drive to Glasgow and meet Lucky and spend the day with him and then on Monday, we'll explore by ourselves. Tuesday, we'll drive back to Edinburgh and get home around lunchtime."

"That will probably work," Liz said.

"Is there anything you want to see?"

Aidan shrugged. "I love food and mom likes museums."

"I don't mind going to museums," Cam said.

"What about the castle in Edinburgh?" Liz asked.

"That's fine," Aidan said.

"When we have more time, I wouldn't mind taking you up to highlands or maybe to the Shetland Islands," Jason said.

Aidan grinned. "That would be awesome."

"For now, we'll hit the touristy spots," Liz said.

"It should be fun," Jason said. He has some ideas that he needs to make happen.

Aidan smiled. "Yeah. It's pretty cool. We can wander around more."

Liz picked up her keys. "Alright, Jason, let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"We need a few things for the trip."

He frowned.

"I know most of your things have arrived, but I need to pick up some hoodies for the kids and me. It's probably going to be in the low 60's so it will be good to layer. Besides, you need to get your walking stamina up."

He grumbled as he followed her to the door making Aidan laugh.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Maximus eyed Liz as she strode into his office and shut the door.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to come."

"I have a list. Drew is next."

"Is this about the gifts?"

Liz sighed. "While I appreciate how wonderful you are to my children, no more extravagant gifts, okay?"

"Elizabeth, I have grown to love them. I can't promise you that I'll never spoil them again, but I will try to behave. I would like to do something for you as well. You went far and beyond to get me back." Jason is a lost cost. He'll never accept money, so he will just bide his time to see if there is something he can do in the future.

She shook her head. "You have already been taking care of me."

"What do you mean?"

"Not only have you provided a house for us to live in with rent and utilities free, but do you think I don't know about the shop?"

Maximus averted his gaze. "How did you find out?"

"The rent is ridiculously low. I did some digging and found out that you own the building."

Maximus slightly smiled. "You got me. Why didn't you say anything?"

"Maybe I've learned to pick my battles. What you have done for my family is something I can never repay. Giving Jake an out—there are no words to describe how thankful I am to you."

"Elizabeth…"

"I can't accept anything else from you. It just wouldn't be right. Thank you, Maximus."

"Can I at least have a hug?"

She smiled as she stood. "That can be arranged, but don't even think about touching my bakery because I love it just the way it is." Maximus is slick, so she figured she'd draw the line in the sand.

They warmly embraced.

"I love you too, you know?"

She smiled. "I love you as well. The Giambetti family has grown on me."

"Just like your family, what's not to love?"

She laughed. "Jason is waiting in the car."

"Is he going to read me the riot act too?"

"No. Unfortunately, he thinks you already practiced restraint."

"He knows me too well."

Liz shook her head as she went back to the car.

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Drew answered the door to find Liz and Jason there. "Hey."

"First, we wanted to know if you want to come on a trip to Scotland with us for a long weekend."

"I'm not sure about taking the baby."

"Well, we do have a solution if you're game?"

"What's that?"

"I just got off the phone with Tess and she's game. She'd stay in the Giambetti mansion, so there will be extra hands there to help, so you wouldn't have to worry."

"Does she have experience with babies?"

"Yes. Well?"

"When is this happening?"

"The week after next."

He scratched his head. "I think it's doable."

"It's Thursday afternoon until Tuesday morning."

He feels guilty about leaving his daughter."

Liz touched her arm. "She'll be fine. I think going away and just being normal with Danny is what he needs."

Alana crawled toward them and then stood and took a few steps.

"Look at that big girl," Liz said grinning.

The baby held her hands up and Liz lifted her and gave her some love.

"I could always come back if she needs me."

"We'd make it happen," Jason said.

"Alright, I'll go."

Liz clapped so Alana followed suit. She is handed back. "We're off to the store to get some hoodies for the trip. Can I get you and Danny one?"

"Sure. I'll text you the sizes."

"It's probably going to be around sixty degrees there."

"That's not that cold."

She rolled her eyes. "Humor me."

"As long as you don't embarrass us and wear a parka."

She pouted. "I'm smaller than you."

Jason chuckled. "Come on."

They left and Jason just hoped it would be quick and painless.

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Liz stepped out of the dressing room. This is was the fifth outfit she had tried on just to see how far she could push Jason. They had already gotten black zip-up hoodies for everyone, but Elizabeth wanted a dinner outfit too. The first one was the one she wants, but she had carried a few more into the changing room to see how much patience the former mob enforcer still has.

She waited for his eyes to flicker open and then shock to register. The dress that is hugging her body is sinful and not something she'd ever buy. It's red, revealing, and short. After spinning around, she noted he didn't look like he had breathed. His eyes, which were large when she started, but they are now narrow.

"Earth to Ja—"

She is lifted and carried into the changing room and then placed on the floor before she can get out his name.

"No."

Her head tilted and her hands found her hips and he groaned and shut his eyes because it just made the cleavage worse.

"What?"

"You are not wearing that in front of our sons for one thing and another, just—no."

"There is nothing wrong with this dress. I look fabulous."

It was all she could do not to laugh at the pained look on his face. Oh, if she just had enough nerve to look below his belt buckle to see how affected he is. After biting her lip, she decided to go for it and is delighted when a groan left his lips as her gaze descended.

He pushed her against the wall and then leaned over, his breath skipping across her bare shoulder as his hand skimmed up her left leg and stopped at the top of her thigh as she gasped.

"You are being a tease on purpose. How does it feel to be on the other end?"

He pulled back with a smirk and left the room making her growl and then sigh. "Oh, how the tide has turned." At least she knows she had successfully tortured him. Quickly, she changed and came out.

"Will you be buying the dress?" The sales lady said holding the bag that already contained the first outfit that Jason had just paid for.

"Maybe another time," Jason said before grabbing the bag and then Liz's hand.

The lady chuckled as Liz grinned and waved to her.

"You are pushy today," Liz said.

"You were messing with me that whole time, weren't you?"

"Maybe…"

He shook his head. "That second outfit was horrible."

She laughed. "Are you saying my abs aren't good?" It was a cropped sweatshirt meant for a teenager.

"No. I'm saying that the whole world shouldn't be looking at them."

He hadn't dropped her hand, so she continued to grip it as they maneuvered around people. She spotted a shirt she liked in a window and pulled him over there.

"That would look outstanding on you." It's a blue button-up.

He shrugged and allowed her to move them inside where she pointed to it and then gave the saleswoman his size.

"Well, hello," Alessa said moving forward.

Liz grinned and hugged her. "Alessa! How are you?"

"Great! We keep missing each other."

"I know. I haven't been there as much. This is Jason."

She smiled widely. He is very handsome.

Jason spoke his welcome in Italian, and they went back and forth.

The saleswoman approached and held up a shirt.

"Oh, that will look great with your eyes," Alessa said.

Jason shifted uncomfortably making both women smile. "I'll go pay for it."

"It was my treat."

He softly smiled. "It's okay. You talk."

He left them alone and Alessa chuckled.

"He's humble."

"Yes, he is. What are you doing here?"

"I was buying a present for my husband. Maybe we could have dinner sometime?"

"Sure. We can do it this week or next if you want."

Alessa thought for a moment. "How about Friday night?"

"Just text me the place and we'll be there."

"Fantastic."

Jason returned.

"We're going to have dinner with Alessa and her husband Friday night."

"Sounds good."

Alessa left and they ventured out into the mall.