OMG, thank you all so much for the reviews after that last chapter, believe me it was exhausting to write. This one is some fluffy goodness and a long due conversation that lightly touches on some important points. The communication lines are finally open now though.

Chapter 27

Elizabeth wrapped her hand around his and pulled it to her mouth. She turned his hand and kissed his palm. He nuzzled his face into her hair and sucked in a deep breath. Glancing up at the window she saw that it was still dark out but it looked like it was only a short time from dawn.

She had woken up, wrapped snuggly in his arms in the exact position she had fallen asleep. She shifted a small fraction and his eyes opened. Of course he asked her if everything was ok, one thing led to another and round two happened. Now they were both wide awake with probably no chance of falling back to sleep. She wiggled her body around so she was laying on her back looking up at him and he was laying on his side facing her. He propped his head up on his elbow, his other hand rested on her belly below the blanket. "I really didn't come back here for this." He admitted but quickly continued. "Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining by any stretch but I don't want you to think this is all I want." He explained.

She arched an eyebrow, "Then why did you come back?"

He shrugged a shoulder, "I just wanted to be here… with you. Yesterday was a long day so I left because I thought you may want to sleep or something, I don't know. But I got home and Sam was there and…"

"Sam?" she cut him off.

He chuckled, "Yea, she said a few things that actually made me realize that I wanted to be here, with you."

"But what was she doing there."

Jason looked away from her and focused on the wall across the room when he spoke, "She wanted another chance or something."

"Something?" Elizabeth asked feeling a twinge of jealousy.

"It doesn't matter, I don't feel anything toward her anymore, I don't want to be with her." He said with sincerity.

She decided that with everything that happened they couldn't put off talking about it any longer. "Jason… what do you want?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"From me? From us? What kind of relationship do you want with Cam and our little girl? I don't want to pressure you for any of it, I just want to know what you are feeling." She asked, knowing it was a tough question to ask him.

Her question was hard for him to answer. Truth be told he wanted it all. "I guess I want whatever you want."

She rolled her eyes and brought her hand to rest on his bicep, "You didn't answer the question."

"I don't know how to answer it. Would I love for all of us to be a family? Definitely." He firmly stated. "Is it something that needs to change overnight? Probably not. I think its something that we shouldn't jump into. We don't want to confuse Cam and rush things but at the same time we do have to put up the front of a marriage in public." He paused for a long moment and met her eyes. She was watching him, intently listening to his answer. He continued, "What do you want Elizabeth? Do you want me hanging around more and bonding with Cameron? Do you want to date… whatever that means? We do things backwards don't we?"

"Date." She repeated as she laughed. "Jason, you aren't the dinner and a movie type."

He moved his hand from her stomach to take her hand from his bicep and link their fingers. "No, not really but if that's what you want…" he trailed off and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her lips.

"I don't care, as long as we can spend more time together." She admitted. "I won't torture you by dragging you to a chick flick but I do think it should include some rides on your bike. I've missed that and although I probably can't ride on it right now, after I have our little girl I'd like to."

"I think we can work that out." He whispered, leaning in to peck at her lips again.

"What about Sam?"

He shook his head, "I really don't want her there." He teased.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "I mean tonight… or last night."

"I don't want Sam… I haven't for a long time."

She smiled, "Did you tell her about us getting married?" It was already sounding more real then an arrangement although that was definitely something she was not ready to discuss.

"No, I didn't stay there long enough to and it really is none of her business… although she will probably read it in the paper in a couple days."

"Oh the paper, I completely forgot about that, once Diane leaks the news I should probably go talk to my Grams." She sighed but then her eyes widened, "Oh god, Carly is going to be a pain isn't she?"

He winced, "Actually there is something I need to tell you. I haven't really had the chance, I meant to tell you before. I handled it but Carly went to meet with Diane… when was it… actually the morning you, um, stopped by Sonny's office." She blushed and he continued. "Well she asked Diane to file for full-custody of Cameron and the baby on my behalf."

"What!" she screeched.

He squeezed her hand in his, "Don't worry, Diane would never do anything like that and neither would I."

"She has some nerve after everything she went through with Michael and the Quartermaines."

"Elizabeth, you have nothing to worry about with Carly, she can try to meddle all she wants. I'm right where I want to be and she can't change that." He looked deep in her eyes and immediately put her at ease.

Elizabeth managed to smile. "You scare me."

He narrowed his eyes and she continued, "You know just what to say or the perfect way to look at me to just calm me down and make me feel better."

"That scares you?" he asked.

"Because I think you know me better then anyone else. You listen when I talk… you really listen, and you genuinely care what I'm saying. You see through the bullshit fake smile I paint on and know exactly when I need someone to talk to. I guess that scares me because you know me so well."

"You know I could say the same about you." He replied, releasing her hand and trailing his fingertips up her arm to her neck.

She closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. "After that night of the blackout, I tried to push it out of my head. I tried to rationalize it as a night of healing and just being there for each other but I just couldn't get past it… past you. When I found out I was pregnant, I just knew it was yours, I just knew. There really wasn't much of a possibility of it being Lucky's…" she sighed. "Jason, I'm sorry I didn't come to you."

He shook his head, "No apologies, not anymore. It's in the past." He whispered, again leaning in to place a soft kiss on her lips.

"Like what we talked about that night of the blackout, no more living in the past." She whispered and it sounded like a question so Jason nodded his head. "I guess we are finally getting past everything and everyone that comes between us."

"I want to." He admitted.

An hour later they had finally gotten out of bed. Elizabeth went downstairs to start breakfast while Jason showered before Cameron woke up. When he finally made it to the kitchen he stood and watched her mixing up a bowl of pancake batter. He laughed quietly as she read the instructions out loud and re-read it multiple times as she added each item listed on the box to the bowl. She measured everything precisely and seemed unsure in her movements. "Don't laugh at me." she whined, without seeing his face.

His smile grew even wider because she had not turned around to see him in the doorway or even see him laugh.

"Bet you didn't know that I knew you were back there watching." She looked over her shoulder, "I could sense you though."

"Is that so?"

She nodded her head and turned around, leaning her back against the counter. "And you really need to put on a shirt cause that is all sorts of distracting." She teased and pointed at his bare chest.

Jason looked down and back up at her, "Is it? I don't find it distracting."

"How about if I take my shirt off and you try to cook, see how you manage."

He took a step forward and grinned mischeviously, "Ok, sounds good to me."

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the bowl of ingredients. She grabbed the whisk from the counter and began to mix the ingredients. He, however, had other ideas as he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His hands slid under the front of her t-shirt and spread over her stomach. She had pulled her hair back in a loose bun leaving her neck exposed so he took the opportunity to dip his head and kiss her neck.

Her grip on the bowl and whisk loosened and she leaned back into him. She lifted her hand and hooked it behind his head as she tipped her head back so she could guide him to her mouth. One of his hands slid over her belly to cup her full breast as their lips met.

"Jason!"

He released her immediately and took a step back. Luckily his body had shielded Elizabeth from Cameron's view and the little boy did not see where Jason's hand was.

Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle nervously as Jason looked at her with question in his eyes for how they should handle this. She adjusted her shirt and stepped around Jason, "Morning sweetheart. I'm making pancakes, do you want pancakes." Elizabeth asked figuring it was probably best not to make a big deal of what Cameron had seen. He was young and luckily hadn't seen much but they would definitely have to be more careful in the future.

"Jason, you sleeped over again?" Cameron asked.

"Kind of." He answered and it was true because they really didn't get much sleep. Elizabeth caught his hidden message in his answer and playfully slapped his arm. "Why don't we go get dressed so mommy can make breakfast ok?"

Elizabeth watched as Cameron nodded and practically jumped into Jason's arms. They left the room and she stood there for a few minutes thinking about how much everything had changed and the ring on her finger proved that. Sure it still wasn't exactly a 'real' marriage but now she had the feeling that one day, soon, it will be real. They had finally talked and then some. Now there was nothing left but to move forward.