A/N – Thanks for the reviews! Vicky – They are there just off to the side of the fire, they're within sight. Starhine – I like jealous Jason too!

Chapter 6 – No Regrets

Ewen smiled as he gazed at her.

"Woah, are you alright?" He noted her flushed appearance.

Liz nodded. "I'm sorry. I just need to collect myself for a moment."

He directed her back to the tree, and she sat. Catching a movement, she watched Jason join AJ and Johnny and wondered what he must think of her. She had run like a child and regrets not staying and questioning him.

Ewen had gotten her another cup of wine and handed it to her.

Liz took a big gulp. "Thanks."

Ewen smiled. "You're quite welcome."

They continued to chat and drink as she and Jason took turns stealing glances. Some woman plopped herself on Jason's lap and appeared to be whispering in his ear, and their familiarity did not please Liz at all.

"No," Jason said as Samantha pouted.

"Please, Jason," she begged. She wants him in the worst way, but he always rejects her advances.

"You need to get up," Jason said forcefully. "We are never going to happen."

Samantha tearfully got up and stormed away much to Liz's delight.

AJ frowned. "What's wrong with you? She's beautiful."

"Not my type," Jason said before taking another swig of beer.

"If I were single, I would be all over her." AJ eyed Sam lustfully.

"But you're not, so keep it in your pants, dear brother. If Courtney finds out, there will be hell to pay." The last time Courtney found AJ with another woman, she had maimed the girl.

AJ rolled her eyes and got up and stumbled over to Sam.

Jason shook his head. There was no way in hell he will allow his parents to do to him what they did to AJ. His brother is miserable.

He watched Ewen move a curl off Elizabeth's face and wanted to pummel him.

Liz stood. "Can we walk?" The wine is getting to her a bit, so she thinks walking might help.

Ewen nodded and took her hand and led her down a path. When Jason spotted them, he followed at a safe distance.

They got to a little clearing and Liz looked up at the stars. "Beautiful…"

Ewen couldn't help himself. She looks like an angel. Kissing her softly, he took her by surprise.

She retreated and stared at him unable to believe that she had been kissed twice in one night.

"I'm sorry was that okay?"

Elizabeth blushed and nodded. She wasn't sure what the proper reaction is. They had probably had too much to drink, so she attributed his forwardness to that.

"You're just so beautiful," Ewen said moving back towards her.

"Ewen please…" He isn't paying attention to her protests because he wants to kiss her so badly.

His lips crashed onto her and she tried with all her might to push him away, but her efforts are futile. She continued to struggle, but Ewen tugged her closer, not letting her get any leverage. He is intent on taming her.

Jason growled and ran towards them just as Elizabeth finally freed herself and stumbled backward falling to the ground. He used his momentum and punched Ewen hard, happy when the jerk fell like a ton of rocks and lay unconscious on the ground. Turning his attention back to Liz, who is red and looks absolutely mortified, he helped her find her footing, but it's clear that she is not steady, so he easily lifted her and headed back.

AJ watched as they came into view and stood, causing Sam to drop onto the ground.

"Hey!" she yelled as AJ fetched Emily whom he had to drag away from Nikolas.

"What is your problem?"

"Something happened with Ella."

Emily is immediately alarmed. Her first thought was that she shouldn't have left her.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason opened the carriage and placed Liz inside where she sat crying.

"Don't cry…"

"What you must think of me."

He lifted her chin. "That was not your fault. Please do not take what I said before to heart. I humbly apologize, but I do not take back our kiss."

Liz gasped at his words and the way he is staring at her as Emily and AJ moved inside. Jason sat across from her and Emily took his place.

"Are you alright?" Emily said wiping a tear from Elizabeth's face.

Liz nodded.

"What happened?" She eyed her brother for answers.

"Ewen got a little rough with her."

"I hope you knocked him on his—"

"Emily!" AJ yelled before she could finish her sentence.

Jason smirked. "Let me just say that Ewen will probably wake up cold with a massive headache."

"Good," Emily said turning back to Liz. "I'm sorry I left you."

Liz shook her head. "It's okay, Emily. I'm fine." She wiped her face. "I feel a little silly."

"Nonsense, you could not have predicted that—that brut would have tried to take advantage of you." She is very angry.

They finally arrived at the castle. Since Emily is in a different wing, and Courtney was basically waiting at the door, Jason escorted Elizabeth to her room.

They stood in front of her door as she shyly looked at him. "I didn't get a chance to thank you earlier for saving me. I appear to owe you again."

"You don't owe me anything, Ella." His voice is but a whisper, sending a shiver through her that ended at the tip of her toes. He pushed back an errant curl for her face as he studied her face.

"Did you mean it when you said that you didn't regret kissing me?"

Jason nodded.

"Good, because I don't regret kissing you back." She averted her gaze, sure that she is red.

Jason lifted her chin and then pressed his lips gently against hers. "Goodnight, sweet Ella."

Elizabeth shivered and then smiled and hurried inside. She waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps, and then threw herself onto the bed and squealed. Jason had kissed her twice and both times it was as if they were the only two people in the world.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth's father pulled up to his home and jumped out. He couldn't wait to see his daughter. Bounding up the stairs, he rushed into the house and froze in his tracks. Ruby is sitting on the couch sobbing and Alfred is trying unsuccessfully to comfort her.

"What's wrong?"

"Milord, I'm afraid I have some terrible news," Alfred said.

Terrified, he mustered enough strength to say, "What happened?"

"I'm afraid that Lady Elizabeth didn't make it to your mother's house. The carriage was overtaken and found in complete disarray. She has been missing for several days now and everyone is looking for her."

The Duke sunk onto his chair trying to wrap his mind around it but finding it completely unacceptable. She can't be gone. Elizabeth is all he has left.

"We have looked everywhere but there is no sign of her."

"Leave me be," he said softly. His heart is breaking into a million pieces and he has no idea what to do about it.