Thank you for your kind words, they mean the world to me. Hope you enjoy this latest update.

Chapter Forty-Two

Elizabeth and Jason spent the rest of the day and the entire night in bed. Marco brought Chinese food up to the bedroom, but discreetly left it in front of the door. Not wishing the wrath of Jason, should he walk in on something very intimate.

Elizabeth's head rested on Jason's Adonis-like chest, breathing deeply of his unique scent. It was something she was going to miss, as well as the feel of his arms wrapped around her and the way his hand, even in sleep protected their child. A single tear slipped from her sapphire orb, tracing an invisible course down her cheek, where it then landed upon his chest.

That single tear drop falling on his chest, alerted him to the degree of sadness that surrounded Elizabeth. He knew that this plan was going to be anything but easy, but it was a necessary evil. Sometimes he forgot how hard her life had been, he understood that life was rarely fair, he could attest, his life had been anything but, but his hard life didn't seem to compare to what Elizabeth had gone through. He wanted to make things right for her, for them.

Instead of interrupting the moment with meaningless words, he tightened his hold on her, drawing her even closer. Offering comfort and security with the firmness of his embrace.

Gratefully, she took the offered comfort, but understood that Jason too needed some comfort. The words to end this silly plan died on her lips as she felt his spanning hand fall from her as yet, nonexistent bump. He replaced his hands with his lips, his soft voice speaking to their child. It was his lone tear that alerted her to the fact that this was tearing him up inside, but even that knowledge could not end what had already begun, it couldn't end what needed to be done.

The idea of this plan becoming more and more troublesome. He wanted nothing more than for this thing to be over. Daring fate, he wished with every fiber of his being, for this whole mess to be over with.

The single tear she had shed, quickly became a torrent at the feeling of Jason's tear upon her stomach.

Her hormones he supposed could be blamed for the tears, because even though he couldn't see the tears from his vantage point, he could feel the grief and pain as it racked her body, but even he was not so foolish to believe that hormones were the cause for everything. Sliding back up her body, and with gentle fingers, he coaxed Elizabeth's chin up, pleading silently for her to look at him.

When their eye's met, Jason allowed the moment to determine where things would go. Slowly, almost reverently, Jason's lips descended, taking possession of her intoxicating lips. The kiss was anything but sexual, it was an outlet of pain and fear, allowing them the closeness that they both needed but also allowing them a moment to forget what was to happen, if only for a moment. Their tongues dueled, but the sexual gratification was tempered, it was a kiss of love, reminders and of possibilities.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jason and Liz walked hand in hand through the park. It had been decided the night before, just before they tried to go to sleep, that the park was the best place to stage their argument. They needed people to witness the blow up of their relationship, it was something that neither of them were comfortable with, but it was what needed to be done.

Elizabeth knew tears were going to be the icing on the proverbial cake. Seeing a woman cry was almost always a sure thing. And lately, tears were not even an effort, they came whether she wanted them to or not. Just walking next to Jason, knowing what she knew, was enough to cause her eyes to well up. But instead of allowing her emotions free reign, she bit back her tears, reminding herself that there was a time and a place for such things, she needed to be strong, she needed to rid herself of the boy who once saved her, because the man who inhabited his body was not the person or the soul she had loved, he had been tainted, their love had been tainted.

Jason could feel the incredible tension flowing from Elizabeth, that same tension ran through his body, he too had to keep reminding himself that this was a means to an end. But at what cost, would their plan inevitably blow up in their face or had they planned well enough or smart enough. But could one really factor in all contingencies, wasn't life about the unknown. Whatever happened from here on out was as much as guess for them, as for anyone else, and that was what scarred him.

Jason led them to a bench, one that was close to the exit, but still close to the park and closer still to the swings and slides. Fighting in front of children didn't appeal to him, but, as he had said before, it was a necessary evil. At least with that many people around, they were guaranteed to be overheard.

Taking a deep breath, he scanned the people walking here and there, then turned to Elizabeth and began the fight that would end them publicly, but not before placing a chaste, quick kiss to her lips and squeezing her hand.

"Elizabeth, I can't believe you are going to do this to me again! What is wrong with you?" Jason said, his tone belying his breaking heart.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? My child deserves to know his or her father, even if that father is Lucky Spencer. I don't care if you don't agree, it is what it is, Lucky is the father of my baby and he deserves to be a part of that life." Elizabeth said, her anger getting the better of her, even though she knew that Jason wasn't personally attacking her, it still felt like a personal attack, it felt like he was hitting every button and find every low blow.

No sooner had they started to talk loudly than they had begun to receive interested and disgusted glares from those around them. What was worse, or perhaps better, for the plan at least, people they knew were held in awe of their very public fight. Bobbie was in the park with Michael, something that they hadn't been aware of until that moment. Monica and Alan were walking hand in hand, but stopped once they saw their wayward son. Of course there were other people they both recognized, but paid no heed, it didn't matter, they were people who would speak of what they have witnessed and that was what mattered.

"Get off your high horse, you are only giving Lucky another chance because you are a glutton for punishment. Admit it, you like it when he beats you, because you are so deprived that you would take that kind of attention over the attention I lavish on you. We were to be married, to share this child and our life, but I see now, that it has always been Lucky and always will be." Jason replied, his stomach turning sour at the harsh words he was hurling at Elizabeth.

No sooner did the words escape his lips than the tears began to fall. He had played dirty, he had used everything he could to get a reaction out of her. He needed her to be angry, but more than that, he needed her to be emotional, to allow her emotions to control the situation, and those biting words did it.

"You condescending… you don't get to sit here and belittle me or my emotions. You are not the man I fell in love with, you are, first, last and always Sonny's Borg. His unfeeling enforcer, ready to do what you have to, for him. Get an original thought and stop being Sonny's little lap dog! Either you leave or I will, I refuse to live in a house with a manipulator and a fraud." Elizabeth screamed, her throat raw, her emotions raw as well. She was standing before she even realized it. She pulled her fist back, just like Jason had taught her, and then putting as much oomph behind it as she could, she swung. Connecting solidly with Jason's handsome face.

The look of shock on his face out weighted all the shocked ooh's and ahh's, because in that instant, she hated him, loathed him with as much fiery passion as she loathed Lucky. Not giving anyone a moment to say anything, especially Jason, Elizabeth turned from the growing crowd and fled. Her tears blurring her vision, her stomach so tied up in knots, she had to stop often as her stomach tried to rid itself of the contents that were laying heavily upon it.

She heard Jason call her name, and knew blessedly, that the fight had done what it had needed to do, because over the small sound of her name coming from his lips, she could hear the insistent chatter of the bystanders that had watched, they were busy gossiping and laughing. Just before she was out of sight, she hazard a glance back the way she had fled. Her eyes met his and even though harsh words had been spoken, they knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they belonged together. Because no two people would ever go to such lengths and not be destined to be together. It hurt, they had both flung harsh words to guarantee the best reactions, and it hurt, but those hurts would be fixable.

"I'll leave, you don't have to." Jason muttered, loud enough so those who were near, would hear, just like he needed them to. It didn't matter if Liz heard or not, because she already knew the plan.

Not willing to ruin all their carefully calculated words, Elizabeth faced forward again and continued to run out of the park. As she reached the north exit, she was certain she heard her name called, but not by Jason, a female was calling her name. But at that moment, she didn't care, she needed to calm down, she needed to get home.

Jason stared at her retreating form until he could no longer see her. His own vision was bleary, but in a scratchy and broken voice, he said, "The shows over, that's all the entertainment for today, get gone!"

Those who were still milling around began to scatter. The fight was obviously over, and staying would not be a healthy choice, not for them at least. It might offer the angry and confused man a reason to work out his frustrations, but for them, it would more than likely prove detrimental. Even though it would prove to alleviate some of his tension, because at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to see Lucky Spencer and go a few rounds with his pliable flesh. He wanted to show Lucky what it felt like to be a punching bag.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX