A/N – Loved reading the comments! Lol my impatient ones. Sorry, but it will be a while before Liason seals the deal. I'll make sure there are feels though. Re: Piph/Jeff. He's a bit older than her. I like their friend vibe too. * Callie – I appreciate your feedback. I do a lot of research and I dropped the ball on that part. And yes, I did need him to have the memory loss, but I still like to try and get the details right. I'll make sure I remember that when they are rebuilding. Thank you! On a side note, you know Jason doesn't do helmets or hard hats, it would mess up his hair. lol

Chapter 15

Kelly took Jason's hand. "So, how's it going?"

"Okay. I had a memory flash a few days ago."

"Really? That's good right?"

"Yeah."

"I know you're probably dying to get that cast off."

Jason groaned. "I can't wait."

"I've missed you."

"Really?"

She nodded. "You kind of grow on a girl."

"That's good to know."

"Want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."

She grabbed the remote and turned it on and the crawled on the bed next to him.

"You don't have to work tonight?"

"Nope. I'm not on until three tomorrow."

"Cool."

She snuggled next to him until they found something to watch.

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Elizabeth and Johnny walked into the Metro Court and Maxie smiled. This was going to be epic.

"You ready?"

Lucky nodded. "Yup." He adjusted his camera.

The couple was seated and about fifteen minutes later got up to dance.

"Perfect timing," Maxie said as she looked at her text message.

Johnny held her close as their eyes locked. "I think you get more beautiful every day."

"You are trying to get me to blush."

He grinned. "Maybe. It's nice spending some time together. I missed this."

"Me too."

He kissed her forehead as Maxie's eyes widened. A few seconds later, someone was tapping Johnny's arm.

"May I cut in."

Johnny frowned as their bodies separated.

Liz gasped and slightly wobbled.

"I hope that means that you're happy to see me."

Liz flew into his arms without thinking and John spun her around.

"Priceless," Maxie muttered.

"We can make the 11:00 news."

"Perfect."

Johnny was totally taken aback.

"I can't believe that you're here."

He pulled back so he could see her face. "I read about the charity function and I had to find you."

"It has been so long." Their eyes were eagerly perusing one another.

Johnny cleared his throat.

Liz jumped back. "Oh my goodness, John this is Johnny, my boyfriend."

John smiled. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Johnny wanted to wipe the smirk off of John's face.

"He's the one I was with in high school," Liz further explained. "Why don't we go out on the balcony?"

Johnny put his arm around her waist and they led the way.

"So, you look good. What have you been up to?" Liz asked.

"I help my dad and sister with the business."

"Do you like it?"

He shrugged. "I don't think that matters to him."

Neither spoke for a moment and Johnny felt like they were silently communicating.

"You're beautiful."

She blushed and it was everything Johnny could do not to punch him. "Johnny, can I speak to him alone for a minute?"

"Sure." He kissed her on the temple and left.

"He looks like he wanted to kick my ass."

"And he could. How are you really?"

He pushed a curl behind her ear. "I'm much better now."

She grinned at the devilish look in his eye. "I've really missed you."

He hugged her again. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

They pulled back.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you."

Liz closed her eyes for a minute. "It was a rough time in my life. I was pretty messed up."

"I can understand that. I was upset when I found out."

She pulled out the locket and showed him the picture and John's eyes began to tear.

"She was beautiful."

"She was ours."

A sob passed her lips and he held her as she cried. Johnny could tell she was upset and asked the waitress if she had some tissues and she brought a box over and he took a few.

Liz pulled back. "I'm sorry for crying all over you."

"I think that was a long time coming."

"I just—seeing you right now is just what I needed."

Johnny walked up and handed her the tissues and rubbed her back.

"Thank you."

"Can I call you? Maybe we could have lunch tomorrow."

"Give me your phone."

He handed it over and she typed her number in it.

"I'll call you in the morning."

"Are you staying here?"

"Yes."

"It was so good to see you." They hugged one more time and then he left.

Johnny took her head in his hands. "Do you want to get dinner to go?"

"No. I'm not ruining our date. I just need a minute."

"Okay."

She walked past him and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

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John took out his phone. "Claudia. I just saw her."

Claudia excused herself from the table and walked into the next room. "Was it what you hoped for?"

"Well, she was having dinner with her boyfriend."

"Are you going to let that stop you?"

"Hell no. She's beautiful and I missed her so much. Nothing has been right in my life since we left town."

"Well, consider her happiness John. What if she's serious with this guy?"

"According to my sources, they've only been together for four months."

"Well, I guess there is no talking you out of this." She was worried for her brother. He had this over romanticized fantasy about him and Elizabeth riding into the sunset. The problem was that people change and there was no guarantee that Liz would want that. Just because they had a child together, didn't mean they belonged together.

"Nope."

"Alright, well be careful and I'll see you soon."

He frowned, wondering what she meant by that, and then shoved the phone in his pocket. He had other things to worry about.

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Epiphany's mouth dropped open. "Let me get this straight. You have Jason Morgan holed up in the guestroom. Johnny O'Brien is in your bed and now high school hunk is back? Can you leave some men for the rest of us?"

Liz grinned. "Focus. I have to go back to the table with Johnny. What should I say?"

"Just be honest with him. Tell him why you got so emotional. If you don't start letting him in, he might walk away. Trust him."

Liz took a deep breath. "Thanks Piph."

"Anytime, but I really meant the part about hogging all the men."

"Very funny. Hanging up now."

She ended the call and took one last look in the mirror before returning.

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Jason looked down at Kelly who had fallen asleep on him. She was a nice person and he understood why he was attracted to her. The problem was that he couldn't get Elizabeth out of his head. Right now, she was probably having a great time with her boyfriend instead of being here, with him. Maybe he was just being an idiot. Kelly was perfectly willing to be with him, yet he wanted a woman he couldn't have. He needed to decide whether he was in it for the long haul or if he should just bow out gracefully.

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Johnny watched Elizabeth sit down and fuss with her napkin. "You okay?"

She nodded as she grabbed her wine glass and took a sip. "I needed that."

"I didn't want to say anything, but I came back to the apartment the night you were talking to Jason and I heard what you said about John and I didn't want to interrupt, so I left."

She was stunned silent and then took another gulp of wine.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

She swallowed hard. "I don't know what to say."

"What does John mean to you?"

"He was someone who I was in love with when I was in high school when I really had no idea what being in love really meant. He was ripped away from me, so after experiencing the loss of my child, I had to mourn the loss of him too. We did everything together. I was devastated."

He reached out and placed his hand palm up on the table and she put her hand in it. "Do you still think about him?"

"Yes, from time to time, but I was so busy trying to forget that I didn't dwell on it." Elizabeth had a few boyfriends along the way, it wasn't like she was a monk. They just never lasted more than a year.

"And now that he is back?"

"I was able to let go of some of the emotion I held onto which is a good thing. A part of me will always love John, but I have no idea who he is today. I just need to talk to him. I hope that you can understand that."

"I have been more than understanding with Jason and now you're asking me to be that way with John. Elizabeth, this starting to take a toll on us."

"I'm sorry. I'm not doing this to hurt you. I need to let go of my past so that I can move forward. I've been living a lie."

"Does that include me?"

Her eyes began to tear. "I don't think so."

He got up. "I need some air." He walked away and she struggled to get her emotions under control. That hadn't gone the way she had planned it. Then her eyes locked with Maxie who was smirking.

"That little bitch."

Liz dialed her phone.

"Hey sis."

"That little bitch brought John to town."

Sarah's mouth dropped open. "John Zacchara?"

"Yup. He showed up as I was dancing with Johnny who is out on the balcony right now because he is freaking out. Lo and behold, Maxie is sitting at a table looking like the cat that ate the canary."

"Bitch."

"Did you get any dirt on her?"

"Not yet, but my source should be delivering within a few days."

"Diane is serving Sonny tomorrow. I'll have to talk to her about this whole gossip crap and legal precedence. I'm not going to let that little bitch ruin my life."

"You know I'm down for it. Once I get the goods, I'll go kiss up to Spinelli. He'll help us spread it on the internet."

Liz smirked. "I like the way you think."

"She doesn't know who she's playing with. I wrote the playbook on being down and dirty."

"Glad you're on my side."

Sarah smiled. "Just leave it to me."

Liz ended the call and Johnny sat down and took a drink.

"I'm sorry our date was ruined."

The waitresses sat down their dinner.

"Can we get that to go?" Johnny asked.

"Sure."

A tear ran down Liz's cheek and he grabbed her hand.

"I figured we could go back to my place and eat. I saw Maxie."

"Oh."

"I'm not mad at you. I just hate the situation."

"Okay."

The waitress came back a few minutes later with their bag and Johnny paid and they left.

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Sarah watched the news. She was pissed the video of John returning played on her screen.

"He's handsome," Felix said plopping next to her.

"Yeah. He always was. Johnny doesn't look happy at all."

"Elizabeth has got it going on."

Sarah grinned. "My sister is man candy. She gets it from me."

"Speaking of which, how is operation bed Stefan going?"

"It's going."

"He's crazy to not bite. You have style. You're beautiful and feisty—a killer combination." Felix usually was in the know and had caught Sarah staring one night and she had sworn him to secrecy.

"Thank you Felix."

"So how are we getting that bitch Maxie back?"

"Well, I need your help."

His lip quirked up. "What's going on?"

"I need you to flirt with a guy who works at the station. I got some information and I need some confirmation."

"What's his name?"

"Lucas."

"Is he hot?"

"Very." She showed him a picture.

"Dayum. I'm in."

Sarah handed him a piece of paper. "That is where he'll be at midnight."

"Then I better get going so I can turn him into Cinderella."

"This is what I know." She whispered the details in his ear just in case.

Felix's face scrunched up. "That is nasty."

"That is Maxie. Find out if it's true and how we can get proof, so we can help our girl."

"I'll will take one for the team."

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Elizabeth walked into Johnny's apartment. They had stopped upstairs and found Jason and Kelly sleeping, so they left a note. He got out some plates and heated up their food. She watched as he turned on some music and poured her some wine.

"Much better," she said before taking a bite of her pasta.

"The steak is good."

They ate mostly in silence. When they finished Johnny asked her to dance.

She got up and laid her head on his chest and they swayed to the music.

"I may not understand what you went through, but I still want to help you in any way that I can.

"Okay."

He ravished her mouth as Liz melted under his touch. He always knew how to push all the right buttons, and soon she found herself laying on the bed, naked, as he took his clothes off.

"I need you," he said softly.

"Then take me."

Slowly he made love to her until she trembled uncontrollably beneath him and then she slept contently in his arms.

Johnny, on the other hand, couldn't fall asleep. Making love to her had been different, like she wasn't all there and he wasn't sure how to take that.

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Felix walked into the club and looked around. It was packed. He made his way over to the bar. It took ten minutes to get a drink which he gladly sipped. Finally, he spotted Lucas on the dance floor looking bored. "Jackpot," he muttered. Their eyes locked and Felix smirked and looked away, peaking Lucas' interest. He flirted for the duration of the song. When he put his elbow on the side of the bar, it slipped and he fell forward. "Oops…" He glanced back at Lucas who was grinning and smiled sheepishly. "Smooth Felix…."

When the song was over, Lucas sauntered over and slipped next to him. "Hi."

"Hello," Felix said. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Absolutely." Lucas caught the bartender's attention. "I'll have what he's having." With that done, he gave Felix his full attention. "So, what's your name?"

"I'm Felix."

"Lucas. It's nice to meet you."

"Definitely."

They chatted for a while and then Lucas took Felix's hand and dragged him to the dance floor. A slow song was playing.

"So, why all the Maxie questions?" When his job came up, Lucas noticed that Felix seemed to be fishing.

"Honestly?"

"I would prefer it."

Felix bit his lip. Lucas was so sexy. "Maxie hurt my best friend badly. I came here to see if I can corroborate a few things."

"I see."

"But then after meeting you, I didn't want to lie. Let's just say that I dig your vibe."

Lucas smirked. "Thanks. I dig yours. What do you want to know?"

"Really?"

"There will be a price."

"What's that?"

"Will you go out on a date with me tomorrow night?"

Felix grinned. "Absolutely."

"Then we have a deal."

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The next day, Liz went back to the apartment and found Kelly in the kitchen getting some coffee.

"Good morning."

Kelly smiled. "Good morning. Did you have a nice date?"

"It was complicated."

"Is that good or bad?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. How is the patient?"

"He's okay. I helped him get up so he could use the bathroom."

"Thanks."

"I'll go say goodbye."

Liz poured herself a cup of coffee and then went to her room. She took a quick shower and then went to check on Jason.

"Hey." He could tell by the way she carried herself that something was wrong. She just seemed off. "What happened?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

"I was dancing with Johnny and someone interrupted us."

"Who?"

"Sarah just texted me. See for yourself."

She played him the video and Jason was pretty surprised. "I never expected John to show up."

"Wow."

"I know., It certainly threw us for a loop."

"How did Johnny take it?"

"Well, he wasn't happy, but he understood why I got emotional. John and I went on the balcony and talked and I just broke down. Seeing him after all these years and never being able to mourn our daughter together had a bigger effect on me then I realized."

"Are you going to talk to him?"

"He's coming over for lunch today."

"That should be interesting."

"After all these years, he still has the same killer smile. I missed him. He has a great sense of humor and always made me laugh."

"You seem to like J names."

She laughed. "Yeah, it does seem that way."

He wanted to meet John so he could size him up because he didn't think he watch another man steal her away.