Chapter Sixteen

"Della," Elizabeth pouted. "Sweetie, will you please eat your cereal?" the nanny pleaded, attempting to get the spoon past the infants firmly sealed lips.

For the last half an hour, Elizabeth had attempted to get the six-month-old child to take a spoon of her rice cereal. Whenever she brought the spoon close enough to her lips she would move her head, bring up her hands, or simply keep her mouth clamped shut. She had tried the airplane trick, playing peek-a-boo, and anything else that she could rack up in her brain, but none of it worked. Usually, Della ate her meals without a fuss unless she was sick, but today the child was jumping with energy, but stubborn as a nail like her mother to avoid the pink baby spoon that zoomed around to get her attention.

Brenda had to run to a Parent-Teacher-Association meeting at David's school, while Sonny had to unexpectedly run over to General Hospital for an emergency board meeting. At the last moment, Brenda came flying across the hallways to beg for Elizabeth to baby-sit the kids. As amusing as it was to see the older woman on her knees begging for help, Elizabeth wasn't cruel enough to leave her hanging and had agreed. Lil was more than happy to run over to her Uncle Sonny's and idolize or annoy David. And hence lead to Elizabeth's battle with the six-month-old infant to eat her dinner.

Groaning in frustration, Elizabeth looked around the Corinthos penthouse for anything that could help her in her quest to get Della to eat. There was nothing in sight in the lavish home that could be of any assistance. Moving away from Della's high chair in the dining room area, Elizabeth searched for a toy that could catch the infant's attention. Picking up a talking Elmo, she ran back to the young brunette.

"Look, its Elmo," Elizabeth cooed, covering her face with the toy. Squeezing the toy, she waited for Elmo to talk. No noise came. Frowning, Elizabeth looked down at and tried again. Flipping it over, she checked the batteries. There were none. "Just my luck," she muttered. Dropping the toy, she placed her hands on her hips and stared at Della. "Please, pretty please," she begged. "Will you eat your cereal?"

Della clapped her hands, the dimples she inherited from her parents making an appearance.

"Please?" She pouted.

Elizabeth tried to fight off a smile as Della's twinkling chocolate brown eyes mocked her. The young brunette was definitely her mother's daughter. Biting down on her bottom lip, she looked around again and once again came up with nothing to get Della to cooperate.

"How about this," Elizabeth bargained. "You eat the cereal and I'll…" She trailed off with no idea what to bargain with an infant. "I'll get you a…one of those snack bar things you love. Do we have a deal?"

Della grinned, waving her hands around.

"How about I give you…" she looked down at herself and spotted the charm bracelet that had belonged to her grandmother. Slipping it off, she waved it close to Della's face. Immediately, the child reached out for it, but Elizabeth held it back. "I'll let you play with this if you eat your cereal."

"Is that a yes?" Elizabeth asked full of hope.

The child cooed.

"I'll take that as a yes," she murmured, handing over the bracelet that Della accepted gleefully. Picking up the discarded pink spoon, she filled it up with an adequate amount. Once again, Elizabeth brought the spoon to Della's lips and tried to wedge it past her lips, but the child remained unmovable. Shaking her head, she bowed her head in defeat.

"I think an infant just manipulated you," a voice came from behind her.

Pivoting sharply, Elizabeth found herself gazing at a very amused Jason. Her stomach fluttered at the boyish grin he flashed her. He had stepped into the penthouse unseen and remained in the doorway with the door wide open behind him. Dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and a light gray t-shirt, he looked relaxed and content. His electrifying blue eyes raked over her black camisole and khaki skirt, sending the blood rushing to her cheeks as the memory of her impulsive behavior flashed in her mind.

Pushing away the memory and the need to rush back into his arms, Elizabeth smiled timidly and hooked a lock of hair behind her ear. Looking back at Della, she glared playfully at the child. Della paid no attention to her, her eyes transfixed on the glimmering bracelet she held. "Young lady, I thought we had a deal."

"She obviously didn't hold her end of the bargain," Jason's voice came from directly behind her, brushing against her neck. Looking over her shoulder, she found him peering down at her no more than an inch away. She didn't jump away from him, simply smiled and looked away to look down at Della again. As cool and unaffected as she appeared, inside she was a complete mess of nerves.

"Della," she pleaded. "Honey, will you please eat a little bit? An insy wincey bit?"

"Did you try to trick her into opening her mouth for you to slip the spoon in?" Jason suggested.

"Why don't you try, Mr. Know-it-all?" She challenged him, sticking out the spoon to him.

He laughed again, taking the spoon from her. "Just watch and learn" Walking around Elizabeth, he sat down in the seat that Elizabeth had vacated and faced Della. "Hi, sweetie." The child instantly shifted her attention to her godfather. Scooping up a decent amount of the rice cereal, he smiled at Della. "I just saw your dad today," he told her. "And he was going on and on about you and how you're crawling around everywhere."

Elizabeth took a sit across from Jason, watching intently as he spoke to the baby in a low, soft voice.

"He says you're growing up faster than he can keep up and too much like your mother in many ways." He laughed to himself as Della watched every move he took with a steady gaze. "Just be careful and don't team up your mother or any of your aunts. They're a bit nutty," he whispered into her ear, making her giggle. As her lips parted, Jason easily slipped the spoon in and took it back right away.

Elizabeth watched in awe as Della swallowed and opened her mouth again for another spoonful. "I think I'm insulted," she announced.

Jason smirked at her. "Why do you say that?"

"Because," she folded her arms against her chest and raised her chin up a notch, "I spent nearly a half hour trying to get her to eat and in a minute you have her gulping down the whole bowl."

He grinned. "Maybe she just likes me more."

Elizabeth feigned utter outrage. "Brenda's right, you do have an ego." She stuck her tongue out at him. "And I think I agree with her when she says it needs to be tamed."

Jason laughed at her. "I think someone's jealous," he told Della as he gave her another spoon of her cereal.

She laughed, going quiet as she watched Jason and Della together. She knew how well he was with his own daughter, but it was when he was with the Corinthos children did she really see how wonderful he was with kids. With David he was active and energetic, with Della he was soft and gentle just like he was with Lil. He was patient and understanding when he was around them.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, looking at her from the corner of his eyes as he whipped Della's face clean.

"Of how wonderful you are with kids," she replied without a second thought.

He looked away, a soft blush filling his cheeks. Elizabeth covered her face with her hands for a moment as she felt her face heat up. Looking back at each other, they both laughed softly.

"It's true though," Elizabeth emphasized. "You're patient, gentle, caring with them. It's no surprise you're a wonderful father."

Jason ducked his head. "I do what I think feel is right," he answered honestly. Picking up Della, he patted her back softly until she burped. "You can't be anything, but gentle with children. They're innocent, not aware of the darkness that's out in the world. They can tell from the emotions in the room whether there's something wrong or not. It's our duty to protect them." He pressed a kiss to Della's crown. "And that's what I want to do as long as my child will let me. Protect her and be the father that she deserves."

Rising from her spot by the window, Elizabeth walked toward the godfather and goddaughter. Brushing a hand through Della's thick curls, she smiled at the child before looking up at the enforcer that watched them with soft blue, unguarded eyes. "Don't worry, you're doing a wonderful job so far. Lil's very lucky to have you."

"She's lucky to have you too," he whispered to her in a rasping voice as she took Della from him.

She looked away immediately, the guilt kicking in. He didn't give her time to sulk in her misery.

"Have you ever thought about it?"

Sitting down on the quilt she had laid out on the floor in front of the sofa, she turned to him with questioning eyes. "Have I ever thought of what?" She leaned back against the front of the sofa. The coffee table was pushed away for there to be enough room for Della, who happily crawled about.

"Have you ever thought about having kids?" he clarified, coming to sit next to her.

The question threw her off. "At one point, yes," she answered honestly. "I thought of having a baby boy first and then a girl for him to look after. I dreamt of decorating a nursery and walking into it every morning and leaving it every night to go to my own room." She smiled solemnly. "I thought of it all, but not anymore."

"Why not?"

She tore her gaze away from Della to stare at him and he immediately recoiled.

"I didn't mean to pry," he rushed to make amends. "You don't have to tell me."

Elizabeth smiled softly at him. "I don't mind telling you."

"I don't mind listening," he replied with one of his breathtaking smiles.

"After my childhood and Lucky," she forced the name out of her mouth. "I-I haven't been the same. When I decided to study child psychology as a backup major, I never thought that I would be around children. I just wanted to learn about them. I was lucky to be a part of Lil, David, and Della's life," she ran a hand through the child's soft locks. "But now I know that maybe motherhood isn't for me. Children deserve someone that's close to perfect and that's definitely not me."

She didn't look back up at him. Her blurry eyes remained on Della who sat up and began to chew on one of her toys. She couldn't face him. She didn't want to know that someone else agreed with her.

"Elizabeth?"

"Yes," she replied back without looking at him.

"Will you look at me, please?" he asked politely.

Using her peripheral vision, she saw him lean against the sofa and gaze at her, but she wouldn't look back at him. "No," she replied back.

"Please?"

She shook her head stubbornly, blinking the tears away.

Elizabeth heard him sigh heavily. The soft tuff of air brushed against her skin. He shifted in his place to reach over and used one finger to move her head to face him. She kept her eyes trained on the white patches of the yellow quilt and the little flowers that were stitched onto them. He titled her head back until she was looking directly into his eyes. They were a light blue and the emotions she saw there sent a shiver down her spine.

"You're wrong," he whispered, his eyes searching hers. "You're wrong," he repeated, moving his hand to cup her cheek. Her eyes closed instantly from his touch. His hands were warm and calloused against her cheek. She welcomed the feeling. "You'd make a perfect mother," he murmured. "You're tentative, caring, loving, and so much more. You have this touch that sends comfort and warmth rushing through." His hand slowly began to stroke her cheek in a lingering caress. His warm breathes brushed against her face. She felt him lean in. "You're wrong," he said again softly, before he grazed his firm lips against hers.

Her breath hitched at the deliberate, but hesitant contact of his lips. Warm air swept against her lips for a moment before Jason pressed his lips more securely against hers again. She granted him access to her mouth with a soft mew as his fingers tangled in her silky chestnut locks. He explored her mouth without any hesitance and once the lack of air began too much he drew back, but remained. Skimming his lips over hers tenderly, again and again, he pressed one last wet kiss on her before pulling back.

Elizabeth didn't dare open her eyes, drawing in one labored breathe after another. Every nerve ending in her body was sizzling from his touch and a sense of ease rushed through her. They didn't move from their spots. His hands remained in her hair, simply rubbing a lock between two fingers. Slowly, she opened her dazed eyes and watched him with glazed eyes. She licked her lips, tasting him there. Della disappeared around the sofa as Jason moved his hand out of her hair to brush the fallen locks aside.

"I think that in time Lil needs a little sister," he breathed, watching her through smoldering eyes.

Before Elizabeth could react, the sound of footsteps on the stairs had the two adults reluctantly moving away from each other. In a few seconds, Lil appeared at the bottom of the steps with the always-present Mr. Floppy at her side and David following close behind. They paused at the stairs, exchanging veiled glances before continuing into the living room.

The two adults exchanged frowns. Lil usually leaped into her father's arms whenever he arrived home from work, but today she was acting very reserved. Making her way gracefully around the sofa in her a pale pink sundress, she plopped onto her father's lap.

"Hi, Daddy," she smiled brightly.

Dropping a kiss onto her golden head of hair, Jason murmured, "Hi, Angel." Nodding his head at David, he greeted him, "Hey, David."
The eight year old simply nodded his head in acknowledgement, making Jason and Elizabeth scowl even more.

Pulling Della into her lap, Elizabeth leaned back against the sofa and tried her best to be immune to the heated glances Jason threw her way. David came to stand besides her, fidgeting. Lil smiled at her and Elizabeth caught the glint of curiosity in the four-year-old eyes and immediately looked up at Jason. He stared back at her, fully alert.

"Uncle Jason," David said, clearing his throat.

"Yes, David?" Jason asked cautiously, Elizabeth felt the tension in his body.

"Can I ask you something?"

The godfather nodded his head slightly, his face a mask of complete patience.

"I would ask my parents, but…Lil, you wanted to ask your Dad something right?"

The four year old glared at her cousin for a moment before looking at her father timidly. "Daddy?"

The young father exchanged a look with the nanny. "Yes?"

"Where do babies come from?"

"Like how do they end up with us?" David specified.

"Um…" Jason looked to Elizabeth for an answer. His eyes pleaded with her to come up with something.

"Aunt Liz, do you know?" David asked with hopeful eyes.

She stared back horrified at Jason. As she attempted to open her mouth and speak, the penthouse door opened and in walked the Corinthos couple.

"Why don't you ask your parents?" Jason suggested, grabbing Elizabeth's hand without a pause. He pulled her to her feet and whispered, "Run," into her ear. Giving her no warning, he broke into a sprint through the open door with her close behind.

Within moments they were across the hall with the door of the Morgan penthouse locked behind them, leaving a very confused and surprised Sonny and Brenda to deal with very inquisitive children.

"That was close," Elizabeth said, gulping in air.

Jason regained control of his breathing as well. "Very." He finally dropped his grasp on her petite hand.

"Well," she began to fiddle the hem of her black camisole, already missing the feel of her hand in his. "I'm going to go get dinner ready."

"Want some help?" he offered without a delay.

"Can you instead get Lil from across the hall without being slain by Sonny and Brenda?" Elizabeth asked with an amused smile. "She needs to wash up for dinner."

"I can try," he joked. "But I can give you no guarantees.

"Good," she smiled, stepping towards the kitchen as Jason moved towards the penthouse door.

As Jason stepped into the hallway, Elizabeth called out to him. "I think a little brother would be perfect for her."

She disappeared into the kitchen before Jason could react.