Chapter Twenty

Elizabeth had made her decision rather quickly, she had been unwilling to spend a lot of money, of course Jason had told her to forget about monetary value, but to her, that wasn't possible. Besides, she had him speechless after a certain comment. "Jason, what is the point of spending thousand's of dollars on a bedroom set that will only be used for a short time?"

"Why would it only be used for a short time, did you change your mind, are you going to be moving out soon?" Jason asked, not exactly sure where she was going with this conversation.

"Well… I didn't think we would be spending the rest of our lives living in separate bedrooms. I thought that after we got past this awkward part, we would be sharing a bedroom, a bed… Or have you changed your mind?" Elizabeth asked, suddenly feeling shy.

Jason couldn't help the smile that arose on his face, for the short moment that the conversation had been going on, he had imagined fifty different ways that she would try to let him down gently, and not a single thought had ever went in the direction that hers had. "I would have you sleeping in my bed now, but I know we need to take things slow, I want you in my life, forever, and since we have forever, we don't need to rush."

A slow red tinge worked its way up her neck to her cheeks, but the smile she graced him with was enough to turn his legs to jelly, unable to remain standing any longer, Jason collapsed on the nearest bed. It was funny how easily she affected him, he was suppose to be the 'Enforcer', but around her, he became a bloody fool. The next thing he was liable to do was start spouting poetry.

Elizabeth sat beside him, taking in his stunned look, it was nice being able to shock him once in awhile, he managed to steal her breath so often that it wasn't fair. It was about time she could return the favor.

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Sonny paced around his room, it wasn't small, so he only retraced his step once every few minutes, of course his movements were slow but they were methodical in there purpose.

His mind was cluttered, he had to get past the blockage that was preventing him from seeing the bigger picture. Unfortunately for him, when it came to thinking clearly about Carly, he was almost always left wanting. Carly was his weak spot, there was something about her that tore down his defenses and left him incapable of walking away from her.

Nevertheless, he couldn't sit by and watch Carly willfully try to sabotage Jason and Elizabeth's chance at happiness. He wanted to believe that Carly loved him as much as he loved her, but it was times like earlier today, that made him question everything he had ever though or felt.

Could the woman he loved so easily disregard his feelings for that of his best friend, did he really mean so little to her?

Questions pounded through his mind, leaving him angrier than he had been before, it was unanswered questions that caused his anger to grow. He liked taking action, not sitting idly by, but when it came to Carly, there really was no other course of action he could take.

Thinking to himself, Sonny began to play their conversation over and over again in his mind, wondering if he should have taken a different approach or if he should have left well enough alone.

"Enough!" Sonny shouted into the empty room, the very room he was used to sharing with his wife. Another thought followed quickly on the heels of the first, 'could he honestly walk away from Carly, knowing everything they had gone through to get to this point. He had almost lost his best friend because of her.' Deny anymore thoughts the privilege to bombard him, Sonny sped up his pacing, trying to allow his mind to reflect on what it desired to reflect on, wanting to be a blank slate, so that his inner thoughts and feelings could perhaps for once, said him a sign.

"I love her, I don't know why. She is bullheaded, compulsive, headstrong, problematic, annoying and perhaps above all else crazy. Maybe it is because of these things or in spite of them, that I love her." Sonny said to the empty room. Unsure of who he was speaking to, only knowing he had to say those things out loud, or go mad.

"Please come home, we need you!" Sonny said, pausing as he stepped in front of the full length mirror on the wall. "Great Sonny, you are talking to yourself, what next, are you going to answer yourself too? You do realize that talking to ones self is the first sign of…" Sonny looked at his image, noting the confusion that graced his face, but couldn't help laughing out loud at his stupidity. "If only Jason could hear me now…"

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The furniture that Elizabeth decided upon for her room was modest and less expensive that some of the sets there, but Jason had to admit, it suit her to a tee. Perhaps once they took their relationship to the next level, they could move her stuff into his bedroom. Her things looked like they were meant to be lived in, his felt cold and stiff, not only that though, Elizabeth wouldn't be the first woman with whom he had taken to that bed, it seemed only right that they should be starting fresh.

Then an idea occurred to him, perhaps when it came time for them to share a room, they could pick something out together, she could help him furnish his house. The entire place needed a woman's touch and he was positive that Elizabeth was just the person for the job, she had an eye for decorating, he figured that came from her ability to draw and paint so well, like a side effect of being an artist.

Her bedroom set was to be delivered the following afternoon, so they had all night to themselves, Jason even planned on leaving his cell behind. He didn't want to be interrupted tonight, Elizabeth deserved a night of relaxation and that was exactly what he planned on doing for her.

Jason sat alone on his couch, Elizabeth had gone up to the spare bedroom, she was trying to decide how she wanted the place set up. It was funny seeing her smile with such carefree abandon, especially considering the past few weeks and months. But the mere prospect of creating a room to her liking awoke something inside her.

Elizabeth sat in the middle of the room, the bedding they had purchased laid in disarray around her. She couldn't remember ever being so happy over a simple room. But she supposed that since she had not had a happy home life nor the loving, doting parents, it was only natural for her to go to the extreme over this. Not once as a child or teenager had she been asked how she wanted her room, she was forced to bend to others ideas and wants. Jason saw her inner wants and desires and made them happen, without question, he really did prove on a daily basis that he cared deeply for her. Now she just had to trust in their burgeoning relationship, she couldn't risk pushing the best thing in her life out the door.

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Marco and Francis sat reading through the contract that Sonny had given them. It wasn't a question of whether or not they would take the job, because they would. Perhaps all their schooling would be better used in some desk job, but neither man wanted that.

The lure of Sonny and Jason's organization was too great a pull. It wasn't like they had an overwhelming desire to be criminal's, but they had heard the many stories and stupid or not, that lifestyle appealed to them.

Emanuel on the other hand, he wasn't so sure he wanted all the hassles that went with the job. He wanted to get married at some point, raise a family, but being a part of this business would almost guarantee that his family would be in danger constantly and while he had faith in his ability to protect them ,he knew no man was an island, dangers would always lurk. Now he just needed to decide if this was the life he was truly meant to lead.

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"Are you ready to go for that ride or do you plan on staying up here all night?" Jason asked, unintentionally startling her.

"Jason, you scared me. I guess I lost track of time, but I have a question for you?' Elizabeth replied, her eyes sparkling.

"And?" Jason said, wondering where she was going, but not really caring, just seeing her smile was enough to make him submit to any requests or demands.

"I was wondering if we could go for that ride in a couple of days, and before you say anything, yes, I really want to go, but I was wondering if you would be against me painting this room?" Elizabeth questioned, she had had an idea and now that inspiration struck, all she wanted to do was paint. Perhaps she could even convince him to help.

"If it's what you want, I have no problem with it. Should we go to the paint store now?" Jason asked, a mischievous smile playing upon his lips.

"Yes, please." Elizabeth replied, already heading out of the room and down the stairs.

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Bobbie had spent the last ten hours working her butt off, the crash that she had been called in for was beyond anything she had ever seen, it was a six car pile-up, twenty people in all had either been injured or killed. The injured parties were brought into the hospital, almost one after another. There was only one car-full of people who had not made it into the ER as quickly as the rest, their car had been on the bottom of the pile, a semi tractor trailer had jackknifed in the middle of the road, no reason could be ascertained as to why the vehicle had done so, but the why isn't as important as they now. The accident was over for them, now it was up to the doctor's and nurse's to save their lives.

A little girl had been brought in last, everyone available had fought to save her life, but the poor child had suffered internal injuries that were beyond the doctor's and nurse's ability to repair.

Shortly after the little girl had passed away, Bobbie quickly left the hospital, her own memories preventing her from being able to concentrate on the job. As she sat behind the wheel of her car, the tears she had been suppressing now overtook her, flooding down her face.

Bobbie's lost daughter swarmed her thoughts, poor little BJ, she never had a chance and while BJ's heart had saved Maxie Jones, Bobbie still thought with longing about the daughter that she lost. She was happy that Maxie had lived, but she only wished that her daughter would have had a chance.

The tears didn't stop, they tapered off slowly, the emotions slowly began to settle. Most days, Bobbie could put on a happy face, but there wasn't a day that went by that she didn't think of her daughter. She supposed the heart wrenching sadness would dissipate over the coming years, but she knew, she would never forget her little girl. Of course, when BJ died, Bobbie didn't only lose her daughter, but her husband as well, perhaps not right away, they were still married, but they never shared their bed, work was the one constant that quite easily allowed them to avoid each other.

Bobbie and Tony coexisted in the same house but the love they once felt for one another was gone, the moment their daughter slipped from this world, their love was tested and tried and found wanting. Once in awhile she thought that there was a chance that they may see each other in a different light, that perhaps their shared tragedy would see them as a stronger couple, but it wasn't going to happen, Tony was determined to make Bobbie pay, almost as if BJ's death was her fault.

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Elizabeth had given Jason a list of supplies and the colors of paint she wanted, but now as she sat in the empty room, she wondered what she had been thinking. She had made a conscious choice to skip the bike ride and paint, but she really couldn't wrap her mind around the reasoning.

'Elizabeth Webber, what were you thinking?' She asked her self. 'The man you love wanted to take you on a ride on his motorbike and you decided to paint. You need to reevaluate your priorities.'

She tried to shake the thoughts from her mind, that train of thought was not going to help her, the only thing that could, was the knowledge why she flaked on their plans. But the answer was obvious, staring right at her. She had suggested not going on the ride, because she feared what she would do, once alone with Jason. It was what she wanted, but she was scared. She couldn't dispel the horrific thoughts that plagued her. When, not if, but when she and Jason made love, she wanted it to be perfect, she didn't want to think of Lucky or the hurt his hands and body had inflicted upon her, she wanted their time to be untainted, but she was unsure if that was a mere pipedream?

'Stop it, stop it right now…' Elizabeth scolded herself. 'Being with Jason will not be like being with Lucky. They are two very different people, one loves you and one loves the idea of you.'

She would have continued, but Jason stepped into the empty room, arms laden down with supplies. She couldn't help the laugh that bubble from her lips when she saw Max and Johnny also laden with supplies. It looked to her like Jason had bought an entire paint store.

"What in the world is all of this?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes twinkling with merriment.

"Well, I wasn't sure what you all needed and while your list was specific to a point, it didn't list everything you would need." Jason said, allowing Elizabeth to help him unburden himself.

Once everything was laid out in front of her, she had the overwhelming desire to cry. Jason had not only bought painting supplies for the bedroom, but also enough supplies to allow her to start painting. "You thought of everything, didn't you?"

"Just wanted to make you feel at home here." Jason said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Jason, you do that everyday, I have never felt more at home than I am with you, it's not the place, it's the man." Elizabeth said, moving closer to him, so she could wrap her arms around him.

Max and Johnny noticed the change in the mood, so they quickly muttered a goodbye and rushed from the room, allowing the two some alone time.

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