Thanks once again for all your wonderful feedback, I only hope I can continue to be worthy of your wonderful words. Amazing, I know, this chapter didn't take forever and a day. Hope you enjoy and delight with me in the fact that my muse is back and ready to work… (Yay!!!)
Chapter Twenty-Five
It felt like minutes passed, as if the whole world had taken the notion to slow time to a complete crawl, whatever was going on, really didn't matter. The small box that graced Jason's hand, that was what really mattered.
Thoughts spiraled through her mind, ricocheting off other growing, gnawing thoughts. Her mind had turned traitor and was now weighing each and every idea, in her heart, she knew that her life was meant to be spent with Jason, but her mind still feared the unpredictability of the entire idea of a love affair, and while they were together, as a couple, Elizabeth still feared the heavy hand that had burned her once before.
She didn't even know if she was pregnant, but honestly, would getting married for the sake of a child, really be worth it. Could she saddle Jason with yet another responsibility, wasn't her neurotic behavior enough.
Then the logical side of her mind, spoke up, wondering how she ever even managed to get dressed in the morning. Jason couldn't have known that she was going to be taking a pregnancy test today, so…. So how in the world would he know that proposing on this day, at this exact moment, would fill her with so much happiness and uninhibited love.
These thoughts sped through her mind, seemingly taking hours, but in all honesty take mere moments. For Jason's eyes were still fixed on hers, a peculiar look gracing his face, but not once did he turn away.
"Jason?" Elizabeth repeated again, unsure if the first time or even this time, that her voice had possibly betrayed her.
Jason looked more perplexed than ever, then suddenly the light dawned and he knew exactly what she was thinking. Cursing himself the fool, Jason abashedly moved a little closer. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see what she was thinking and while the idea was pleasant, the time was not right, or at least, he had not thought it was.
"Elizabeth, I love you. You are my everything. When I look at you, I know where I belong, for once, and I repeat myself only because you are worthy of so much, yet you find it within yourself to love a man like me." Jason said, pausing to take a much needed breath.
"Jase…" Elizabeth began to respond, but the definitive shake of his head, stilled all her words.
"There is nothing more in this world that I want, than to make you my wife. But after everything we have been through, I think or at least I thought it only wise to wait. I am truly sorry that this is not an engagement ring. I love you and plan on marrying you, at some point, but we don't need to rush. This is just a small token of my love, it is a promise ring, a promise that happiness may be fleeting, but my love is steadfast and guaranteed from now until then end of time." Jason finished, scooting even closer, hoping he hadn't just ruined the best thing that had ever happened.
'Stupid, stupid, stupid…' How could you believe that he was going to propose, just because you may or may not be pregnant, well, that is not a good enough reason to take the plunge, Elizabeth said to herself.
Jason saw the crestfallen look as soon as it surfaced on her beautiful face, he also noticed the immediate smoothing of her features, alerting him to the fact that she was closing down, pulling away from anything that might hurt her. 'Morgan, you're an imbecile…' Jason berated himself.
Not wasting any more time, Jason slowly opened the box, showing her the ring that was gently held between the velvety midnight blue material. With nimble fingers he extracted the small token and slipped it upon her finger.
Her breath caught in her throat, and while the ring was not what she had been secretly wishing for, it was beautiful. A ruby, inlaid with diamonds. The ruby was heart shaped and the crown and hands were encrusted with diamonds, it was a claddagh ring.
"Jason, it's beautiful, it must have cost you a fortune, you shouldn't have." Elizabeth said, as tears welled in her sapphire eyes.
"Whether or not I should have is neither here nor there. I bought this as a token of my love. But please understand this, I intend to marry you, but first we need to take our time, we can't rush this. Much has happened this last year and beyond wanting to make you my wife, I want to make sure we are ready for that step." Jason said, raising slightly up.
His lips met hers and before either one knew what was happening, the kiss deepened, delighting their senses and removing them completely, if only momentarily from their rather odd surroundings.
Elizabeth was the first to pull back, regretfully, but nonetheless, breaking the kiss. Jason reluctantly allowed her to pull back. When he caught where he gaze was drifting to, he understood why she had stopped the kiss.
Before she had a chance to reach for the stick or much less move, Jason pulled her into his arms, then quickly switched positions with her. But this time, he pulled her svelte form onto his lap.
With her seated there, he allowed her to reach for the results. He hadn't realized it at first, but his heart was beating a steady rhythm in his chest. Unsure if it was fear or excitement, Jason finally found his voice and asked the question that they both desired an answer to. "So, do we have happy news?"
Elizabeth looked from the stick to Jason and back again. Her own heart beating in time with Jason's. He looked like a deer caught in an oncoming vehicles headlights, but as a small smile surfaced upon her face, that look disappeared and was replaced with elated joy.
Neither needed to say anything, the answer was written across her face and his obvious excitement were enough to quell all fears, well most at least, even if temporarily. Jason gently pulled her face closer to his, taking possession of her lips again, delving deeper and enjoying the uninhibited way she responded to his advances.
"Are you really happy?" Elizabeth asked as she pulled herself from Jason's arms, with great effort. The desire to stay locked in his embrace rather than leave it was almost tantamount to death. Leaving that warm, passionate and loving embrace felt wrong, but there was much to talk about, after all, she was pregnant with his child…
"I know this wasn't what we had planned, for that matter we were using protection, but perhaps this is our fresh start, our beginning. Please say you are happy about this, that you don't regret it?" Jason replied, a lone tear trailing down his sculpted cheek.
"Don't ever doubt my love for you or my happiness for this child. He or she may not have been planned but that doesn't mean I don't want him or her." Elizabeth replied, once again capturing his lips, but this time, it was short lived. "However, before we go and declare this news to the world, we need to make sure I am pregnant, these home pregnancy tests work, but not with a hundred percent accuracy."
"I understand, when do you think we can find out for sure. Is it possible to go tomorrow?" Jason asked, his obvious excitement was refreshing.
"If I can get in to see Kelly Lee tomorrow, then tomorrow it is, we will just have to wait and see." Elizabeth replied. "Nevertheless, can we leave the bathroom, while making love in the shower or bathtub is romantic, sitting upon the toilet and getting busy, well… that just seems wrong." She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her, for it was obvious that Jason had been thinking the exact same thing, but him being a man, he was led more so by his raging hormones, than she herself.
"I think you may have a point, but I suggest you make it quick. Choose your destination with haste, because I plan to make this a night you won't soon forget." Jason said, stalking her small form, all the while, images of her heavy with his child, caused a very un-Jason-like smile to surface. He looked not only happy, but perhaps for the first time in his entire life, content…
Elizabeth squealed with delight as Jason swooped her up into his arms and began to ascend the stairs. No sooner did his foot hit the first stair, than Marco was barging in, gun drawn, concern written clearly across his face.
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Sonny had been avoiding all contact with the opposite sex, at least those that had the potential of becoming the next Mrs. Sonny Corinthos. It was one thing to think about, but another all together to act upon.
For the truth was simple, he did still love Carly and in all honesty, wished to be with her. But the longer she was away, the easier things became. He no longer had to tip toe around certain subjects or situations, he was for all intents and purposes, a free man, and that was something he really liked.
Nevertheless, there was this green-eyed beauty who ran a coffee shop, and while most of her brews did nothing for his taste buds, her beauty and kindness was what drew him back, time after time.
It was starting to become bothersome, for he found the urge to visit the shop two, three times a day. The woman was beginning to look at him oddly, but he hoped also with some affection, for he was a good looking man, even if he did say so himself.
He really needed to consider all his options before he jumped feet first into another relationship, for that matter, he needed to figure out if his marriage was over, he supposed that was the biggest and most important thing to worry about first. Whether the owner had feelings for him, well that could wait.
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"Marco, what do you think you are doing?" Jason asked, clearly annoyed by the interruption.
"I heard Elizabeth squeal, I thought there was trouble… I didn't, I mean, I… I'm sorry." Marco said, stumbling all over his words.
"I am happy that you are so dedicated to your job, but really, you need to distinguish between Elizabeth's frightened squeal and her, ummm… Other noises." Jason said, suddenly blushing.
Looking towards his girlfriend, he noticed that she too was turning a lovely shade of red.
Before anyone could say anything, one way or the other, Marco quickly dashed back to his post. His mind had suddenly betrayed him and served up thoughts that he would be wise to banish. 'You have seen her naked before, could you imagine how she would squeal beneath…' Marco slammed the lid on those thoughts quickly. For thoughts like those, he was sure he would see a quick end to his life, possibly at the bottom of the ocean or buried alive in cement… Yes, those thoughts were better not thought of, instead he was going to focus, focus very intently upon his duties and nothing else. But that was going to be so hard, especially with the noises now coming from the penthouse.
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