Prompt: Rainbows always follow a storm.
Part Thirty
She was in his arms, safe, alive, and so damn beautiful Jason never wanted to let her go. It was the worst two days he had ever had to live, not knowing where she was, who she was with. It didn't matter to him that he found her at a church getting ready to marry another man.
She was in his arms.
And she was alive.
Even before he ran into the entrance of the church he knew Elizabeth wasn't there on her own free will. It was when she turned and her eyes locked with his, first showing sadness and defeat, and then alighting with joy and pure happiness at seeing him, that Jason's suspicions were confirmed.
He had grown to know Elizabeth better than he knew anyone, he would damn well know if she had feelings for another man and would marry him in a days notice.
The breath left his lungs when she ran into his arms, and for the first time in days, Jason was able to breathe again. He had found her and he was never going to let her go.
He rubbed her back, held her closer to him, breathing in her scent that he had grown to miss when she wasn't near. He tried to soothe her as she babbled into his neck, her tears wetting his skin.
"I'm so sorry Jason. I had no other choice. You have to believe—"
"Shh." He soothed, pulling her even closer. "It's all right."
His soft voice, understanding tone seemed to filter through her tears. She pulled herself away just enough to gaze up into his handsome face. When their eyes connected she just knew he understood.
Of course he understood.
He was her Jason.
Jason could hear the murmurs of the church, people wondering what the bride was doing in another mans arms, people already coming up with conclusions that the youngest Webber joined a motorcycle gang and he was there to steal her away. He didn't care what they thought and he knew Elizabeth didn't either. She had done everything she could to separate herself from these people.
He cupped her face between his palms, placing a gentle kiss upon her mouth, groaning when she tried to deepen it like always but knowing he had to pull back. His forehead touched hers before he pulled back and gestured to the entrance of the church, indicating that they leave. He wasn't able to move an inch when a crowd of people came towards them.
His hand grabbed hers, his hold gentle yet firm. He was not letting her go.
"Lizzie, what the hell are you doing? Let go of that man and finish this!" Joshua whispered harshly as he grabbed Elizabeth's arm.
Jason pulled Elizabeth away from Joshua, putting himself between the two. His free hand rose, his finger pointing at the smaller man. "Keep your hands off of her."
Even though Joshua was clearly frightened by Jason, backing up a step, he still opened his mouth, thinking the safety of the church would keep him away from being hurt. "That's going to be hard to do considering she's going to be my wife."
"Like hell." Just as Jason stepped forward, a short man with gray hair stepped next to Joshua.
"What in heavens is going on?"
Jason continued to glare at Joshua who was doing his best to come up with an explanation for his grandfather as to why his soon-to-be-wife was just in the arms of another man. "There really is nothing to concern your self with, Grandfather. This is just a huge misunderstanding."
"Like hell it is." Elizabeth appeared at Jason's side, no longer able to keep quiet. She looked up at him for confirmation and at his nod, squared her shoulders to face Joshua's grandfather, and the rest of her family who stood behind the two Knight men.
"Elizabeth…" her father's voice held a warning tone. She ignored it.
"Mr. Knight—"
"Please, call me George, my girl, your family."
"That's just it. I'm not."
A deep frown appeared on the older mans face, causing his thick eyebrows to form into one. "I don't understand where you are going with this young lady."
Elizabeth sighed, stood a little taller. "I'm not going to marry Joshua. I don't love him, I don't want to marry him, and the only reason there was even a wedding is because he threatened me if I didn't agree to it."
There, she thought, that explained it all.
When about six different voices spoke at once she realized she didn't do too well of a job.
"He threatened you?" Jason's voice was the clearest, and the loudest.
She turned her head to look up at him, winced at his dark scowl. "He didn't really threaten me," she tried to explain. "He threatened you, but since he threatened you, in a way, he was threatening me."
If she weren't in the middle of a church, surrounded by people, and wanting nothing more than to leave, she would have laughed at the expression on Jason's face. She just about confused him more.
She decided to make it as simple as possible.
"When someone threatens someone you love, they are threatening you as well."
Jason's face softened from a frown, his eyes opened wide, his mouth much in the same state. She didn't understand what caused that expression and wasn't given time to figure it out either for Joshua's grandfather quieted everyone down, wanting some answers.
"What do you mean Joshua threatened you? Are you saying you are not in agreement to this marriage?"
"That's right. I canceled the first marriage date because I caught Joshua in bed with my maid of honor. I knew then that I couldn't marry him. Being away from him, I've even learned that I never loved him."
George Knight turned to look up at his grandson, a disappointed scowl on his face. "You said Elizabeth was given an opportunity to go out of the country to study art and had to postpone. Why would you make her marry you when she obliviously can't stand to look at you? Much like I can't right at this moment. You are such a disappointment, boy."
Joshua opened his mouth to answer, but Elizabeth beat him to it.
"He told me that you would cut him off if he didn't marry me."
George shook his head, saddened. "That is true. You are a very wonderful young lady, Elizabeth. I always thought you were too good for my grandson but I had hoped… Oh never mind." He looked at her with saddened eyes. "I am terribly sorry for what has happened and my part in this."
"Grandfather, she is lying!"
"Shut your mouth, young man."
"Lizzie, please." Alesandra Webber moved toward Elizabeth. "Do not do this. We need your help."
"For as long as I can remember, I have wanted nothing but to be apart of this family. To feel like I belonged. What you all have done was horrible and unthinkable. You kidnapped me, took me from the people I love the most and tried to force me into a life I would never have been happy in." A tear slipped down her cheek, she grew angrier that she let that emotion show. She wanted to give them none of her tears. "Have fun being poor."
Alesandra gasped, took a step back.
Jason's hand tightened around hers as realization sunk through. "They sold you."
"Now listen here," Jeffery Webber pushed past his wife, squaring off to Jason. "You have no business coming here and questioning things you do not know. Let go of my daughter. Lizzie, you're coming with us."
Neither Jason nor Elizabeth moved. Elizabeth looked up at him; bit her lip as she saw his left eye twitch. She knew that sign all to well.
"You sold her?" His voice was deadly, a sure sign that Jeffery would be better off to run the other way.
Jeffery stood in his spot.
The slight guilty look on the older man's face was answer enough for Jason. Without releasing Elizabeth, something he wasn't going to be able to do for a long time coming, he struck out and punched the man, sending him flying back into his wife. The two of them fell to the floor, designer clothes and all.
Steven rushed towards his father and mother, yelling at Jason the entire time. Jason had just begun and was ready to lash out at Elizabeth's idiot brother when he saw the bruise on the mans face. His thumb was running back and forth over Elizabeth's knuckles and he finally noticed the slight scrape against her smooth skin. He looked down at her, raised an eyebrow and nodded with pleasure at her blush.
Damn, he was proud of her.
Elizabeth looked down at her parents and Steven, a slight sadness in her eyes that disappeared the second she looked back up at Jason. He was her family now, he was her life.
She never had to deal with them again.
Her smile was small, loving. "Let's go."
He nodded, wanting nothing more than to get her to himself. To hold her tight and never let her go.
Elizabeth hesitated a bit, looking at Joshua's grandfather. He was arguing with Joshua, telling the spoiled boy that he would have a hell of a time finding a job in a decent place when his own grandfather would put in a bad word to all of the respectable companies. George Knight was not going to make this easy on Joshua.
Joshua was whining and George ignored him, walking away and towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled at him. "I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, my dear. You just be happy." George's soft look turned stern as he tipped his head back to look up at Jason. He really was a small man. "You take good care of her. This young lady is truly a gift."
Elizabeth blushed, ducking her head and missing Jason's small smile of agreement.
She looked back at George. "Joshua said that he was going to send fake—"
"You have nothing to worry about when it comes to that boy, Elizabeth. Joshua will not be able to hurt you anymore."
Elizabeth stepped forward, causing Jason to step forward as well, his hand not wavering. She hugged George, gave him a kiss on the cheek and one of her million dollar smiles that Jason loved so much, felt like he could save the world when she would give him that smile. It seemed George felt the same way if his chest puffing out was any indicator.
The two of them turned together towards the entrance of the church, away from her past, towards their future. She glanced over her shoulder and caught Sarah's teary gaze. It was in that instant that Elizabeth knew her sister was responsible for helping Jason get to her in time. Her throat became thick, filled with emotion as she continued to look at her sister.
"Thank you." She mouthed, knowing that she would do anything she could to make sure that she helped Sarah out.
They were just at the entrance of the church when Joshua's yell met them. "You will not get away with this Lizzie!"
Jason turned, finally letting go of her hand, not even caring when he heard George quiet his grandson and Joshua whine some more. Jason just strode forward and grabbed the lapels of Joshua's jacket. "I owe you." He snarled before his knee connected with Joshua's groin.
Joshua slumped forward, crying out. Jason jerked him up before slamming Joshua's head into the side of a pew. The bastard deserved it for all the pain he caused Elizabeth.
Jason glanced up in time to see George's eyes open wide before his mouth curled slightly at the corner into a small smile. It appeared George felt Joshua deserved it as much as Jason did.
Not even sweating, Jason turned around, grabbed Elizabeth's hand and walked the rest of the way out of the church. Elizabeth couldn't contain her laugh as she heard the priest praying to the Lord above for forgiveness for everyone in the church. The poor man sounded like he was about to have a heart attack.
The sunlight hit her face; warming her skin and making her feel like she was finally free. Nothing could hold her back now.
She bit her lip when she saw his bike, shrugging her bare shoulders when he paused and seemed to just consider the possibility that she wouldn't fit on the bike with such a large skirt. She smiled up at him, shimmied out of her many layers of skirts, holding onto his arm for support.
His expression was priceless which only caused her to wink. It felt so good to not have a care in the world. They laughed together, making their way towards his bike that was partially parked on the steps of the church.
God she loved him.
Suddenly, Jason stopped, wrapped his arm around her and slammed his mouth against hers. She didn't care that they were in the front of the church, didn't care that people were already filing out and stopping to watch the two of them.
All she cared about was being in his arms and kissing him back with as much passion as he kissed her.
Jason pulled away, wrapped his finger around a stray curl that fell in front of her face. His chest tightened as he studied her hair, the softness of it. He finally looked into her eyes and knew that this was right.
Her expression was questioning. He licked his dry lips, stared into her eyes.
"I love you, too."
Her eyes opening wide was the only reaction he allowed her before he lowered his lips to hers, kissing away her surprise.