Chapter Twelve

The water lapped from side to side in a soothing rhythm. It was a flawless topaz in the clear morning sky. It contrasted beautifully against his bronze tanned skin. His strokes were clean and precise. Each movement smooth and effortless. The muscles of his back grew loose as he spread his arms through the water and then grew taut as he brought them to his side as he moved forward pushing with his legs.

It was a part of Jason's habits in the morning to swim a few laps right after brushing his teeth. He was up at sunrise and disappeared just before Lil woke up. She had watched him a few times on the island, but she tried to give him some privacy the days she woke up early. It was one of the few rare things he enjoyed doing and she didn't want to intrude.

This morning it was by accident that Elizabeth had come to sit on the beach and watch him. The fresh air after the storm had lured her outside to walk along the shoreline when she had caught sight of him confidently dive into the water, no shattering of water just a flawless dive. And after that she couldn't look away and ended up admiring him from afar.

The sketchbook that Johnny had been kind to bring back with him sat open on her lap, but she was unable to raise her pencil and take down what she saw. The sketchbook was full of drawings of the children and many of them were of Jason with them. He was relaxed around the children and she had been able to sketch him without his knowledge on more occasions than she could count, but at the moment she couldn't. He was perfectly at ease, but she was incapable of drawing him.

His movements.

His facial expressions.

His body.

Every aspect of him seemed impossible for her to capture on paper.

She didn't know how long it was that she sat on the white sand in her nightgown observing him swim. She wasn't capable of tearing her eyes away from him and she didn't mind. It was quite a sight, seeing him in just his black trunks. The man was chiseled everywhere. The muscles of his body would have any woman wanting to run her hands over them. It only reminded her of what she had touched and wanted to touch again. Blushing she pushed the thought away and continued to watch him silently.

It was their last morning on the island, before they had to board the massive Corinthos-Morgan Boeing Business Jet and head back to Port Charles. She loved staying on the island, but she missed Port Charles and she needed to go home and prepare for her goodbyes. In a few days the inevitable would arrive and she would have to walk away. Her lips pulled downward at the thought. She wasn't ready and never really would be, but what had to be done couldn't be ignored.

The lack of water rustling had Elizabeth pause and look around for Jason's form. He sat in the water peering at her now, a few yards away. The water lapped back and forth against his midsection as he sat and stared at her. There was a frown on his face that immediately had Elizabeth frozen on her spot.

She should have known it was a bad idea to wander around in the morning. She always woke up early after a storm and Lil wasn't home today for her to distract herself and walking up the Corinthos family wasn't something she wanted to do just because she had nothing to do. The longer he stared at her the more rattled she became. She was ready to bolt if he didn't say anything.

Her nerves grew unstable as she continued to sit motionless on the beach. She was starting to regret ever leaving her bed. Wringing her hands she was prepared to make a run for the house when he moved.

Sweeping an arm through the water, he stood to his full height and peered down at her. "What are you doing here so early?" He sounded edgy.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, rushing to her feet. "I didn't mean to intrude." She took one step before she felt a cold hand grasp her arm. Looking over her shoulder she found herself staring at a very wet and barely dressed Jason.

Letting her hand drop, he murmured. "You're not intruding."

"Then why did you ask what I was doing here?" she frowned. She was slightly confused. A few moments ago he was frowning and now he was grinning down at her.

Stepping back into the water, he answered. "Because you're never up this early and after last night," he paused before continuing. "I thought you'd still be in bed."

She took her place on the sand again, pulling her keens up to her chin this time. "I wake up early after storms, another weird habit," she shrugged. "And Lil isn't home to keep me company so I decided to walk around and sketch," she motioned to the discarded sketchbook. "And then I found you swimming."

"Do you swim?" He inquired, sitting back in the water.

"Not that much anymore."

"Why not?"

"I'm not around water that much and I don't have time," she replied back.

He smiled at her. "You could use the pool at home or swim here."

"You do remember I'm the nanny, right?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

He chuckled. She loved the sound of his chuckle. "I remember. You're my nanny." Sinking down in the water on the heels of his feet, he rose back up and smiled. "Lil loves to swim, you could take her."

"I know," she nodded her head. "But it's something you do with Lil and I do enough with her. She needs some time with her father. And something to share only with you."

He flashed her a grateful smile that she returned.

A comfortable silence fell between them. Neither one bothered by the fact that they were sitting on the beach at an unholy hour to be awake and barely dressed for the outdoors. It remained that way until finally Elizabeth spoke.

"I wanted to thank you," she murmured, her voice soft and sincere.

Jason frowned. "What for?"

"For last night." She began to fidget with the hem of her gown, not aware that Jason followed the movement. "I was a wreck and you just listened. You didn't push, but waited for me to tell my story." She took in a deep breath before continuing. "I don't have much of that in my life. Someone that listens and especially not about Lucky. I never talk about him and you helped me see last night that he doesn't have any power over me anymore. So thank you for that." Her eyes remained on her hands as she continued to play with the fabric of her chemise. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't look up.

"I didn't do anything," he sighed, she heard him move closer to her. "You just needed to leave the past in the past and see who I see when I look at you."

She looked up at him a bit startled and curious.
"I see a strong woman," Jason said softly, his eyes locked with hers. "Who has gone through a great deal more than she deserves in life and in the end came to be a wonderful person. Who loves my daughter and treats everyone equally."

"Thank you," she murmured.

The wind blew softly sending her hair into her eyes. Tucking the strands behind her ear, he replied, "You're welcome." His gaze never wavering from hers.

They watched each other, neither willing to look away.

And then Jason smirked. She never saw him flick his hand to splatter her face with water.

Elizabeth gasped, her eyes wide open, slightly confused as to what had just happened. Recovering she slurred, "You did not just do that."

"Did too," he grinned, sending water at her face again before grabbing her hand. He rose pulling her into the water with him.

"Jason," she yelped, as her body grew cold from the water.

He only flashed her a mischievous smile before swiping his arms through the water and wetting her completely.

"You brat," she exclaimed, attempting her best to walk through the water to reach him. He only moved further away and continued his splashing assault. She splashed back, but none of it had much of an effect on him, he simply continued on splashing like a young child. Their laughter soon joined their childish behavior as both threw water at the other relentlessly.

Having enough, Elizabeth decided to get revenge and dived underneath and as stealthily as possible circled Jason. She knew he was following her with his eyes, but created enough ripples to confuse him before coming to a stop behind him. Surging out of the water she jumped him for only send them both tumbling into the water.

Breaking away from Elizabeth, Jason moved a few feet away from her in the water before resurfacing. They were both breathing hard, their lungs desperately needing oxygen from their water fight.

"That was not fair," Elizabeth said in between gaps for air.

"What's not fair?" Jason question already breathing normal.

"You're twice my size and you picked a water fight with me," she complained.

He smirked. "Size has nothing to do with this."

"Of course it does," she argued. "You're bigger than me," she motioned in the water. "So you can make bigger splashes."

"That doesn't matter," Jason shrugged it off. "You're smaller. So agility wise, you have the advantage."

"Really?" She grinned. "Then let's test that theory," she announced splashing him in the face before diving into the water as quickly as possible. She wasn't surprised that Jason soon yanked her out of the water and pinned her against his wet chest.

"See it's not fair," Elizabeth argued again, taking in deep breathes. His arms were around her waist, holding her against him. Her hands were splayed wide against his wet chest. Their legs tangled in the water.

"Is too," Jason countered. "I started a fair game that I won," he grinned triumphantly.

Swallowing roughly, she muttered, "Did not." Her eyes were zoned in one his tempting lips. Lips that were firm and wet, just a scant inch away from hers. Tearing her eyes away from his lips, her eyes wondered over his body. The ever-present spikes in his hair were nonexistent. Her body was warm pressed against his even though they were bobbing up and down in cool water. His hot breath bushed against her cheek and it sent her blood rushing through her veins.

The bobbing up and down didn't help them much. It caused her breasts to brush against his chest. She licked her lips and watched Jason follow the movement. Her dress had ridden up and now one of his legs was positioned between her thighs sending a wave of heat through her. He tightened his hold on her instinctively when she began to slip away with the motions of the water. Her lips parted.

Lowering his head slightly, Jason whispered, "I won," he drew closer. "I always win."

Their breathing was labored, no longer because of their water fight, but from need. Both of them stared at the other's lips, neither moving forward or apart. Just as their heads began to drift closer a voice broke through their hazy minds and brought them back to their surroundings. They turned, still pressed together, to see a very familiar child running towards them.

"Daddy," Lil yelled happily across the beach. "Liz!"

Both of them sprung apart at the child's yelps. Breathing heavily, they looked at each. Neither knowing what to say. Neither wanting to let go of the moment, but they did as they heard Lil call again from the distance. Turning to face the four year old, they tried to control their emotions and focus on the child they both loved.

"Good morning," Lil bellowed, reaching them. Carefully she took off her flip-flops and handed Mr. Floppy over to Johnny, who trailed behind her with an apologetic smile.

The adults in the water moved near the surface for her to join them. Reaching them fully, she leapt into her father's arms and kissed him before breaking away to greet her nanny.

"Hi sweetie," Elizabeth murmured, keeping a stable hold on the child. "How was the sleep over?"

"Fun," she answered happily. "Aunt Emily told us ghost stories and Aunt Brenda made faces while she told them."

"Did you have a good time?" Her father asked, keeping less than a foot distance.

"Yup."

"Good," he replied, brushing a kiss against her forehead. As he moved away, his eyes connected with the nanny. They both looked away, pretending it never happened.

"Liz," Lil called, hooking her arms around her nanny's neck.

There was that questioning glint in her cerulean eyes again. Jason and Elizabeth both noticed it. They braced themselves for whatever question that would come next.

"What's a skank?" She asked innocently with absolutely no knowledge of what she was asking. They could tell from the lost look in her eyes.

Elizabeth's eyes grew wide over Lil's head as she stared at Jason, completely lost as how to answer that. She was pretty sure there was no book out there on how to explain something like this to a four year old, but she was starting to think there should be because she really needed one now. "Where-where did you hear that?"

"Uncle Frannie," she replied calmly as if she was speaking of the weather.
"When did you hear him say that?" Jason asked calmly for someone who looked ready to tear his friend apart.

"This morning."

Elizabeth brushed some Lil's wet locks out of her face. "Did he say it in front of you?"

"Nope, he said it to Uncle Adam." She splashed the water before her.

"What do you mean he called Uncle Adam that?" Jason asked, sounding slightly lost.

"Okay, see I was up early and was going to help Uncle Sonny make breakfast when I saw Uncle Frannie, Uncle Adam, Uncle Johnny, and Uncle Max," she ticked them off on her hand. "They were sitting in the living room and they said something about Uncle Adam being a skank because Dr. Amanda was in his room this morning."

Elizabeth and Jason both glared at Johnny, who pointed at himself and kept holding his hands up in surrender.

"Does that mean that Dr. Amanda is a skank too?"

Once again they stared at Lil, dumbfounded. Shooting Jason a panicked look, Elizabeth cleared her throat and started to spew what she hoped would put the child's questions to rest. "Lil, honey," she began. "That word is not good just like the other's that you may hear and you shouldn't say them to anyone. They're hurtful."

"Like the ones Daddy says under his breath when he's mad?" She questioned.

Elizabeth watched Jason blink in surprise for a few minutes. "When did I do that?"

She bit her lip, trying to keep her laughter at bay.

"A long time ago, Daddy." She patted his cheek. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else."

Elizabeth laughed at the shocked look on Jason's face.

"We should go inside now," he muttered.

They followed Jason out of the water. Elizabeth attempted to cover herself, but failed miserably. She smiled gratefully at Johnny when he produced an oversized white towel for her from the knapsack.

The adults walked back silently to the villa, while Lil chatted away about one thing or another about the storm from last night. Both of the adult's holding her hands with her skipping between them were lost in their own worlds. Both pondering what would happen when they returned home.