Chapter 36

"What is that?" Elizabeth moaned, smacking Jason on the chest when a terrible, incessant beeping sound filled the room. Her stomach started churning before she even opened her eyes, the entire night flashing through her mind.

Jake's.

Tequila shots.

Table dancing.

A long cab ride.

Being disgustingly cute.

"Shit," she groaned, peeling herself off of Jason and rolling onto her back.

He muttered something in his sleep and she smacked him again, letting out a whimper when the flutters in her stomach continued. She couldn't decide if they were from the tequila or the memory of telling Jason she wanted to be disgustingly cute with him.

She was such a freaking girl.

"Jason," she hissed, kicking him in the shin with what little energy she actually had.

"What the fuck-" He sat up beside her, rubbing his hands over his eyes as if he was confused by the fact that they were in bed together.

"Turn that sound off," she whined, tugging a pillow over her face.

God, disgustingly cute? Really?

It wasn't that it was a lie. The second she thought about it – really thought about it – she realized that they were just like them. Elizabeth nagged Jason about everything, and he took it as it came, never complaining. And he was always looking at her with that stupid, dopey grin just like the one that Johnny gave Lulu. They had their inside jokes about things they did and places they went, and they could look at one another and know what they were thinking.

They really were disgustingly cute.

"Better?" he asked, tearing the alarm clock off the nightstand and tossing it onto the floor. "We have to get up soon."

"No," she moaned, leaning into him as he snuggled up beside her.

"It's noon," he muttered, curling around her.

She couldn't help but smile because obviously the whole disgustingly cute thing hadn't fazed him one bit, and just maybe he wanted to be disgustingly cute with her too.

Okay, so she was being a girl, but it was allowed.

"What?" she asked, sitting up hurriedly, one hand cradling her head as she wrapped the other around her middle. It was far too early for rapid movement. "Noon! I have to get Lulu and – shit, she's downstairs."

"Huh?" he asked, pulling himself up beside her.

"Lulu, she came back here with me last night. She didn't want to see Johnny before the wedding, and oh, Ggod – I am going to be sick," she said, scooting to the edge of the bed and slowly getting to her feet. "Tequila is not a good idea."

"Don't you dare," she warned, when he gave the slightest hint of a smile as she started for the bathroom. "Put some pants on and go check on her. And start coffee and ugh…" She slammed the door behind her and raced for the toilet.

"Nervous?" Jason asked, tapping his finger against his coffee mug as he sat across from Lulu in the kitchen. She didn't look as bad as Elizabeth had when he'd taken her a bottle of water upstairs, but he could tell she wasn't feeling well either.

"Not really," she shrugged, taking a sip off her coffee. "If anything, I'm just anxious. I know it's silly, but I've known this wasis what I wanted from the second John and I met."

"You've been good for him," he said awkwardly, not really sure what to say to her. This had been one of the few times, if not the only one, that the two of them had been left alone without some kind of buffer.

"Elizabeth helped me, really," she confessed, staring into her drink. "She reminded me that if someone loves you, they always love you, regardless of circumstance. My father is angry that I'm going through with this, but over time he'll get over it I think."

"Is he coming?" he asked, desperate to keep the conversation going, though he was really wondering where Elizabeth's advice had come from.

"No," she frowned, clearing her throat. "My mother is here though, so I have one half to go off of. And I'll have you and Elizabeth there, which means a lot."

"We're happy for both of you."

"I know, which is why I love so much that you are here," she said, taking a long sip of her drink. "My friends that flew in – they are great and wonderful in their own way, but…" She paused, clearly not wanting to say anything overly insulting about them. "They don't believe in love or monogamy, and they think I'm insane for marrying John and moving to Port Charles."

"Well, I would say marrying Johnny's insane," he replied, giving her a faint smile.

"Maybe," she laughed, shaking her head, "but you and Elizabeth get the rest of it. I guess it's easy to want your friends to be happy and to want love when you have it yourself. John was so worried about coming back, but you two have been wonderful. Sure, there have been a few snags, but bumps give character."

"Yeah," he muttered, not sure what to say. He was never really sure what to say to Lulu when she had her rare moments of wisdom and reminded Jason that she was a really great person, despite all her little hang-ups, and he was finally starting to see that all those hang-ups were what Johnny probably loved the most.

"Okay, I think I'll survive," Elizabeth called out, breezing into the kitchen, dressed in her clothes from the night before. She had her purse in one hand and her bridesmaid dress in the other. "We better get going. You can't have a wedding without the bride."

"You look better," Jason teased, rolling his eyes when she grabbed his cup of coffee and took several sips.

This was definitely one of those hang-ups he was supposed to find endearing, right?

"You make the best coffee," she murmured, leaning down to kiss him chastely.

Okay, so it was endearing.

"I'll see you at the church," she said, ushering Lulu towards the door as she held her hand out.

"Take it," he muttered, handing her his cup of coffee as she hurried out of the room.

Yeah, he didn't mind being disgustingly cute with her at all.

"There," Elizabeth said softly, pulling Lulu's veil over her head, her eyes filling with tears at the sight of the blonde in her wedding dress.

She felt guilty for knocking Lulu's tastes when it came to everything about the wedding because the dress she'd chosen was absolutely gorgeous. It was the purest of whites Elizabeth had ever seen, with a beaded bodice that hugged her tightly, toto her hips where it belled out and cascaded to the floor. She looked like a princess straight out of a fairly tale.

"You look beautiful," she whispered, straightening the veil just a bit.

"What is it about weddings that make people so emotional?" Lulu asked, grabbing Elizabeth's hand and giving it a squeeze. "Thank you for everything. You've been so good to me, and I am really glad that we've become friends."

"Oh, stop it," Elizabeth sniffled, shaking her head as a tear slipped down her cheek. "You really shouldn't be so nice to mbe because you know that I couldn't stand you when you came to town."

The blonde laughed, rolling her eyes. "You're just protective of your boys and with ones like Johnny and Jason, you have to be."

"I'm sorry that I was such a bitch," she apologized, partly because she felt like she had to, but mostly because she really was.

And that was such a rarity in itself.

"And that I was judgmental and mean…and there may have been this one time that I-"

"Elizabeth," she interrupted, shaking her head firmly. "Let's let bygones be bygones."

"Deal," she muttered, pulling the blonde into a hug.

All this emotional stuff was making her go extremely soft.

"Okay, enough of that," she said, pushing her away and starting for the door. "I'm going to go find your mom and send her in so you can have that moment that I think mother and daughter are supposed to have. And then I'll make sure everything else is set."

"Stop worrying," Lulu replied, laughing softly. "Go admire Jason in his tux."

She grinned, opening the door. "Oh, that iswas definitely on my list."

"Nervous?" Jason asked, retying his tie for the fourth time. He was almost to the point of giving up completely. Johnny had offered to help, but something about that was just weird to him. And maybe he wanted to give Elizabeth a reason to touch him when she came around – not that she needed one.

"Not really," he replied, from where he was slumped him in a chair, his trembling knees showing the truth. "Maybe a little."

"She's perfect, Jason. What if I fuck it up?" Johnny asked, swallowing hard as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped it over his face.

"She'll forgive you."

"Not if I really fuck up."

"She will," Jason argued, sitting down across him and forcing a smile. "Uh, someone said something to me…about how if someone loves you…they always love you, regardless of circumstance. Lulu has always known who you are, and she's always loved you for it."

O'Brien nodded, letting Jason's words sink in before he spoke. "Yeah, that makes sense. I guess you learned that from, Elizabeth, huh?"

"Learned what?" she asked, peeking her head of neatly round curls in the door. They were held back from her face in a thin white headband, and she took his breath away the second he looked over at her. And when she stepped into the room in her strapless, red gown, he couldn't even speak.

"Patience," he cracked, waving her into the room.

"Oh, real funny, Johnny," she muttered, closing the door behind her. She laughed, pressing her back up against the door, her arms folded over her chest. "I can't believe this."

"What?" Jason asked, jerking his tie off and laying it over his knee.

"That we're all here," she replied, blinking to hold back her tears. "Together."

"Aw, Elizabeth," Johnny said, mocking her soft tone as he pulled her into a hug.

"Don't make fun of me," she laughed, hugging him briefly before pushing him away. "This whole damn thing has turned me into a mess."

"You okay?" Jason asked, not sure if he was following what was going on.

"Yeah," she replied, walking over and grabbing his tie from his lap. "I just…I can remember the way we all – the way Johnny, Jason Quartermaine, and I used to talk about stuff like this. You know, the important days that matter and how we'd be there for each other."

She swallowed hard, smoothing his tie out between her hands. "I keep – I keep thinking about how there was a time when that seemed impossible…for all of us to be together."

"It's okay," Jason sighed, reaching out to take her hand and pull her into his lap.

"Here we are," Johnny shrugged, grinning at his friends. "It's not what we planned by any means, but I wouldn't change any a single thing that's happened, even when it was hard."

"Me either," Elizabeth whispered, sucking in a deep breath as she looked between the two of them. "You've always been my best friends – my only family, and I don't know what I would do without either of you."

"Neither do we," O'Brien teased, causing her to laugh through her tears.

"Okay, enough of this," she said, sliding out of Jason's lap and motioning for him to stand. She slid the tie around his neck, tucking it beneath his collar, and tightening it a few moments later. "There."

She grinned at him as she wiped her cheeks, continuing to laugh at herself. "I swear, if either of you tells anyone about this, I'll kick your both your asses," she said, walking over to the door and pulling it open. "Now let's go. We've got to get you married, John."

"You're such an asshole," he muttered, heading out the door.

Jason stopped long enough to place a brief kiss on her forehead. "You alright?"

"Yeah," she replied, taking his hand as they headed out of the room. "I really am." Her eyes teared up again and she let out another groan. "I swear, I'm not crying anymore."

Only she did cry.

As she walked down the aisle, which made Johnny and Jason snicker under their breath. And the tears continued as she turned to see Lulu walking towards them, her own eyes filled with tears, and then as the two exchanged vows and shared their first kiss.

Though it could be argued that she was crying for poor Lulu who'd have to put up with Johnny's shit for the rest of their lives.

Or maybe it was because Lulu wanted to put up with Johnny's shit for the rest of their lives.

Weddings were just too much.

She wasn't going to another for as long as she lived. She'd even avoid her own – that was if the opportunity presented itself, and it's not like she wanted to get married anyway.

Lulu had exhausted her of allall of things holy matrimony, and while so much of it was beautiful, it was more than she was prepared for. This entire situation had completely changed everything, and had anyone told Elizabeth upon Johnny's arrival that she'd end up completely taken with Jason and oblivious to the rest of the world, she would have laid everything on the line and said they were insane.

But clearly she was the crazy one – not that she really minded.

She felt happier and more alive in the past month than ever, and she liked knowing that she was in a good place. She could trust her feelings for Jason and she could trust him with her, and for once, her entire life just felt right.

"You're not supposed to sneak away without me," Jason said, coming up behind her and sliding his arms around her waist.

"Well if I sneak away with you, who knows where how we'll end up and with how little clothes," she replied, turning around in his arms and leaning against the railing that surrounded the terrace.

They'd opted to go with the Port Charles Grille for the reception, chosen by Lulu because it was where Johnny had proposed. The entire restaurant had been shut down for the occasion, something the Quartermaines never did, and Elizabeth knew they'd done it for both Jason and Johnny.

"That's what makes it so fun," he muttered, taking her mouth in his and kissing her hard. She slid her arms around his neck, pulling herself against him as their tongues swirled around one another, instantly oblivious to where they were.

"Jason," she panted, tearing her mouth away to catch her breath, her hands griping his shoulders tightly. "We have to save this for later."

"Or not," he teased, starting to kiss her again.

"No," she laughed, shaking her head as she could continue to resist. Thankfully, he relented. "What am I going to do with you?"

"You love it," he replied, leaning against the railing beside her, his arm snaking around her waist.

"I have no idea why," she muttered, resting her head on his shoulder as she sighed. "It was such a good day…" She nibbled her lip as she glanced up at him. "You know, I think if I could give everyone I love one thing, it would be one perfect day."

"Johnny's happy," he said, running his hand up and down her arm. "It's like a part of him got lost for a while, but now he's back."

"I know," she agreed, grinning widely. "Everything is so good, and this part of me keeps waiting for the shoe to drop."

"What if we made it better?" he asked roughly, his shaky voice showing his nerves.

"If this is a way to ask me to sneak off to the coat closet again-"

"For once, I'm being serious, Webber," he interrupted, turning to face her.

"Oh," she whispered, straightening up, not sure if she liked the way this sounded. Jason was a relatively serious person, but not so much with her, and usually only when he was mad, so this was just…scary.

"Don't be afraid," he muttered, taking her hand and linking their fingers together.

Damn him for his uncanny ability to read her mind.

"What is it?" she asked, dropping her eyes to their hands.

"This past week has been nice," he said, sliding his other hand beneath her chin and forcing her to look at him. "I like…having you…around…all the time."

"That sounds like a painful confession," she teased, her eyes softening at his words.

"Oh, shut up," he muttered. "I'm trying to be serious."

"So am I," she argued, squeezing his hand. He rolled his eyes and gave her that stupid glare he gave when he was getting annoyed, and she would have laughed, but she was afraid to. "I'm sorry. Finish…please."

"I like having you around all the time," he repeated, sounding less pained this time, almost sincere. It even gave her chills because he was the only person thatand she wanted to be around all the time.

They really were working this whole disgustingly cute thing to the bone.

"And I was thinking – I mean, you stayed with me because I had just gotten out of the hospital. Maybe we could make it permanent." He swallowed hard, letting out a heavy sigh as she just stared at him, completely dumbfounded. "Or not."

"No, it's…" She shrugged, not sure how to explain.

No one had ever asked her to move in with them before. It was always a man wanting to stay at her place and use her things, and Jason wanted to give her everything, and it was just so strange.

He couldn't even stand her half the time.

"You want me to move in with you?" she asked slowly, panic starting to set in.

"Yeah."

While every part of her wanted to say yes and pack her things immediately, there was still a lot of room for doubt.

"But I'm messy."

"I don't mind cleaning."

"I have a lot of clothes."

"I have a lot of closets."

"I leave my shoes everywhere."

"I can get you one of those organizer things you always talk about buying but never do."

"I steal your t-shirts."

"I have plenty."

"I'll get paint everywhere."

"I have a guestroom, which can be used as a studio."

"I leave pizza boxes on the floor."

"I like having pizza on hand."

"I hate doing the dishes."

"I have a dishwasher.

"I read bad romance novels."

"I have space for them on my bookshelf."

"I just have a lot of stuff."

"I can figure out where to put it, unless you don't really want to put it with any of mine."

"No," she said, sinking her teeth into her lip as she raked her hands through her hair. "I'm just…you really want me to move in with you?"

"I like having you around. I told you this already. I want your wet towels. I'll trip over your shoes. I'll let you steal my coffee. And I'll do all the cooking," he replied, rambling as he grew more and more nervous.

"I think…I'm just scared," she admitted, hating how vulnerable he could make her feel. "What if you can't stand me?"

"I already can't stand you," he reminded her, slipping his hand into his pocket. "But I want to be able to not stand you all the time."

She couldn't help but grin. "I think I'd like to annoy you all the time," she said, her eyes dropping to his hand as he pulled out a long, slim box. "What's-"

"Is that a yes?" he asked, arching an eyebrow as he tossed the box back and forth between his hands.

"What's in the box?" she asked, fighting the urge to tear it from his hands.

"Are you-"

"Jason."

Rolling his eyes, he popped it open and flipped it around in his hands, revealing a delicate red pendant on a gold chain. "I, uh, I went with Johnny to the jewelry store this morning to pick up their wedding bands. I saw it, and…"

"It's gorgeous," she breathed, taking the pendant in her hand and pulling it from the box. "Jason…"

"I know you're not a jewelry and flowers kind of girl, but it reminded me of you."

"Thank you," she said, clutching it in her palm and sliding her hands around his neck to pull him into a kiss.

"So that's a yes?" he mumbled against her mouth.

"Yes," she cried, kissing him again as she snaked his arms around her and practically lifted her up off the floor.

"A yes?"

"What?" Elizabeth asked, breaking their kiss and turning around to see Lulu standing there.

"What's this?" she asked coyly, pointing back and forth between them.

"Oh, Jason just asked me to mo-"

"Marry him?" she interrupted, rushing over to throw her arms around Elizabeth. "I just knew he was going to. I swear, the second you caught the bouquet-"

"You caught the bouquet?" Jason cut in, and she nodded at him, trying to ignore the grimace on his face.

"And Jason caught the garter!" Lulu squealed, clapping her hands. "I swear I knew in that moment what was going to happen, and I even told John you two were going to get married, and I can't believe it." She pulled Elizabeth into another hug, who was too overwhelmed by it all to even try and fix this, into another hug. "You're getting married! I have to go tell everyone!"

Jason cleared his throat as Lulu ran back into the restaurant, leaving Elizabeth all alone to fiend him off.

"Well, so much for that perfect day," she laughed, shifting her eyes to his.

"I'd say," he muttered, looking anything but amused.

"Yeah…"

"Are you going to go after her?" he asked, clenching the velvet jewelry box in his hand.

"And say what? Sorry Lulu I'm not getting married?" she asked, annoyed that he actually sounded angry with her.

It was that damn woman who had come across them and assumed the worst – or the best depending on how someone looked at it.

To Jason and Elizabeth, it was most definitely the worst.

"That's exactly what you tell her."

"This isn't my fault," she said defensively. "If you hadn't caught the stupid garter."

"You caught the bouquet first," he pointed out, pacing back and forth like he always did when he was upset.

"You're acting like I want to marry you," she huffed, peering in through the doors to see Lulu and Johnny heading back towards them.

He had a stupid grin on his face like he actually believed they were getting engaged, when the man knew otherwise.

Freaking O'Brien.

He could fuck up anything.

"I'm glad you don't because I don't want to marry you," he replied, raking a hand through his hair.

"Good, because we'd just kill each other."

"You and your stupid towels and shoes and fucking brushes," he hissed.

She was starting to wonder if he was trying to piss her off. "This from the man who polishes the balls for his pool table once a week? Do I even need to get into that system you have for those fucking books? And I am not going to point out that you iron your t-shirts."

He stopped and glared, his jaw ticking angrily.

"What?" she asked, shifting her eyes back to the door to see Johnny and Lulu getting closer.

"You think this is funny."

"It's a little funny," she said, biting her tongue when he continued to glare. "Oh come on, the last time we had a pretend relationship it worked out pretty damn well."

His shoulders relaxed just a bit and lips almost hitched into a smile. "It did."

"So, I hear there's good news?" Johnny asked, bursting onto the terrace, his hand in Lulu's.

Jason's smile faded and he shook his head, but didn't tell his friend otherwise. As for Elizabeth, she just couldn't help herself as she turned to them and shrugged, giving a weak smile.

"Surprise."

The End

(There will be a sequel to this story eventually. I have a promo and a blurb on my site. You can find the link in my profile. Thanks for reading!)