Chapter Six

Elizabeth and Cameron were sitting on the docks looking out at the water. She hoped that it would help her relax. Cam was sitting in his stroller babbling happily. Elizabeth envied him at the moment. Her life was so complicated that nothing she did seemed to help. Between her argument with Maxie and everyone watching her Elizabeth regretted her decision to return to work. What was with Maxie anyhow? Elizabeth knew she and Lucky became close after Jesse's death. However, today she was acting almost possessive. Not to mention the fact she brought up Lucky's painful accusations. Even now, Elizabeth was furious he had accused her of cheating and with Patrick Drake of all people.

Elizabeth shook her head trying to focus her thoughts. Her Grams wanted her to move back in with her. In fact, she was becoming insistent about it. Nikolas and Emily were agreeing with her. They said it was the best thing. Elizabeth wasn't so sure. She loved being on her own. The apartment she shared with Lucky wasn't much but she loved it. Living with Audrey again was not an option. "What do you think Cam?" The toddler just squealed and pointed at the boats. "That's not very helpful silly baby."

"Started talking to yourself already? That can't be good." Carly drawled condescendingly.

"What do you want Carly?" Elizabeth said coldly rolling her eyes.

"Sam told me that you were at the hospital throwing yourself at Jason." Carly spat out as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Elizabeth.

"Do you even listen to what comes out of your mouth? I was not... the whole idea is ridicules. My husband just died." Elizabeth snapped as she looked up at the bleached blond tyrant.

"That's right he has. And how do you react? You go running straight to Jason." Carly snarled. There was no way in hell that she was going to stand by and let Elizabeth sink her claws into Jason again. He was too good for the little muffin and he always would be.

"I'm not going to fight with you about this again. Not now." Elizabeth said finally as she looked over at her son.

"I'm warning you to stay away from Jason." Carly spat as Elizabeth turned away from her in dismissal.

"Jason is an adult who can make his own choices," she said not even bothering to look at Carly.

"No. Not if his choice is to throw away what he has with Sam. I will not let you trap him." Carly roared, her fists clinching.

"I'm not..." Elizabeth denied.

"What's going on here?" Jason demanded as he walked up and noticed the look of desperation on Elizabeth's face and the anger on Carly's.

"Nothing." Carly said firmly.

"Carly." he warned.

"The Muffin and I were just talking," she answered.

"About what?" he asked as he looked from one to the other.

"I was warning her not to try and get between you and Sam." Carly admitted as she looked up at Jason as he moved himself between her and Elizabeth.

"There is no Sam and I. We're over." Jason stated firmly.

"Look Jason I get the Manny thing scared you but..." Carly started to say.

"But nothing. I don't want to be with Sam anymore. I'm not going to change my mind." Jason said firmly as he looked from Carly to Elizabeth and finally to Cameron.

"You love Sam I know you do." Carly argued.

"Carly stop. I'm not going to talk about this. Explain to me why you were attacking Elizabeth. With Cam here?" He demanded.

"She's trying to worm her way back into your life." Carly warned and then glared at Elizabeth. She couldn't stand to see the way Jason looked at the little twit. It drove her crazy and she wasn't going to stand for it.

"We're friends Carly. You know that." Jason stated as Cam began to fuss. "This is not the time or place to be doing this."

"Jason..." Carly started to say.

"No. How would you feel if someone acted like this when the boy's were with you?" he snapped as he watched Elizabeth take her son in her arms and comfort him.

"Fine. I'm leaving but we're not done talking about this." Carly snapped as she pointed her finger in warning.

"I know." he sighed as he ran his hand through his hair in aggravation.

"Thank you for getting rid of Carly." Elizabeth said softly as she looked up at Jason when they were finally alone.

"She means well but... she shouldn't have said anything in front of Cameron," he answered.

"She was just being Carly." Elizabeth said flatly.

"Still... how are you?" he asked as their eyes met.

Elizabeth shrugged. "I went back to work today."

"How did that go?" Jason asked as he sat down beside her and reached for Cam.

"People kept looking at me like I was going to... I don't know breakdown at any minute," she admitted as she watched her son go right to Jason.

"But you didn't?" Jason asked.

"No. Epiphany would have sent me home." Elizabeth admitted with a small smile.

"So what are you doing on the docks?" he asked as they sat there quietly.

"Don't give me 'the docks aren't safe' speech," she said warningly.

"They're not," he said with a knowing smile.

"I was thinking about what I'm going to do next," she admitted.

"I don't understand." Jason said in confusion.

"My Grams wants me to move in with her. Nikolas and Emily are agreeing with her." she explained with a sigh as she watched Jason pat Cam's back softly while he watched the boats out in the water.

"What do you want?" Jason asked softly.

"I like my apartment. I mean it's small but I don't have to answer to anyone," she answered as she looked out over the water.

"It seems like you've already decided." Jason said softly.

"Yeah I guess I have," she admitted. She was always amazed how talking things over with Jason always made everything seem so clear and easy.

"He's gotten so big since the last time I really saw him." Jason said finally.

"I know. You understand why..." Elizabeth asked cautiously.

"I know Elizabeth. My life... I understand." Jason told her.

"It's almost Cam's bedtime so we should go." Elizabeth said even though she didn't really want to leave.

"Okay." he sighed.

"Would you... never mind." she started to say.

"Would I what?" Jason asked.

"It's silly. I'm sure you're busy," she stammered.

"Elizabeth just ask me.," he said with a smile.

"Dinner. Would you like to have dinner with us?" she asked as she looked up at him, biting her bottom lip.

"Are you sure?" he asked softly.

"Completely." she assured him.

"I'd like that." he said with a smile as he stood up with Cam in his arms.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"This is it." Elizabeth said as she opened the door and invited Jason inside.

"Elizabeth this is almost as small as your studio." he said softly as he looked around.

"Actually I think it might be smaller." she said with a laugh at the look on his face.

"Elizabeth this isn't..." he started.

"Jason please don't." she interrupted as she sat Cam down with his toys.

"Okay. Can I help you with something?" Jason said finally with a sigh as he pulled his ever present leather jacket off.

"Could you watch Cam while I make dinner?" she asked as she started towards her tiny kitchen.

"Sure." Jason said slowly. Elizabeth walked into the kitchen leaving him alone with Cam. Jason sat with the toddler on the floor. He immediately began playing with the trains scattered on the floor. "Do you like trains?"

"Train." Cam cried excitedly clapping his hands.

"That's right it's a train. Do you like trains?" Cam nodded his curly head. "You look so much like your mommy."

"Mommy." Cam said pointing to the kitchen.

"Mommy's making dinner." Jason said smiling at the sweet little boy.

Elizabeth could hear Cam and Jason talking softly in the next room. He was so good with children that Elizabeth didn't hesitate to leave them alone. The spaghetti was nearly done when Elizabeth heard laughter. She looked through the doorway to find Jason tickling Cam on the floor. It was so good to hear her son laugh that she started laughing too.

Jason's head whipped up at the sound of Elizabeth's laughter. She looked happier than he'd see her in awhile. Jason realized in that moment he would do anything to see her happy and laughing everyday. The thought made him pause. Sonny's words kept repeating in his head. Could his friend be right? Jason hadn't allowed himself to think of Elizabeth as anything but a friend in years. His heart speed up as memories from their past hit him. Jason looked at the small boy in his arms. Cameron had been through so much. So had Elizabeth for that matter. Now was not the time to be anything more than their friend. Maybe someday though.