A/N: I have a new update for you! Ok, so we're meeting Grams in this chapter and well she's a little less uptight that she is on the show. Also Jason and Elizabeth finally get to talk about what really happened that day! Alright, I should maybe just let you read for yourselves! And before I forget thanks for the great feedback!

The characters do not belong to me…

Chapter 22 – Where the Heart Takes You

-- Audrey Hardy's House, Santa Monica CA --

Audrey Hardy had relocated under Southern California's glowing sun and blue sky for the past three years. Port Charles had been her home for a very long time but she had identified the city of Los Angeles as the place where she would enjoy her last days. It had broken her heart to distance herself from her granddaughter but in the end it was for the best, as the young woman was able to spread her wings and learn how to fight her own battles.

And Audrey was extremely proud of what Elizabeth had accomplished in such a short amount of time. She was now a well known and admired designer and had a flourishing career lying in front of her feet. If only she could have been that successful romantically, the brunette's life would have been at last complete; alas, Elizabeth had never been lucky in love.

A loud gasp of surprise escaped Audrey as she opened her door to her granddaughter that morning. She hadn't seen her in months, actually since her last trip to Port Charles and the older woman was extremely glad she had decided to visit. Audrey knew Elizabeth adored her, although not enough to show up unannounced in the middle of the week. Something was going on in her life and she was in need of her wise words and comforting arms so she let her granddaughter in without too many questions.

After Elizabeth took a soothing bubble bath, the two women settled in Audrey's kitchen around the young woman's favorite home made cookies.

"You have no idea how much I missed your cookies, a simple bite and you feel so much better." Elizabeth said taking a sip from her glass of milk.

"So are you going to tell me what happened back in Port Charles that made you jump in a plane to come see me?" Audrey asked, claiming a chair next to her granddaughter.

"I'm not here just because my life is falling apart. I really wanted to see you too."

"I know, I know. And you know that you can tell me anything dear. So what is going on with you?"

Elizabeth played with the milk in her tall glass as she spoke. "Well, I met someone. I know I said I would probably never date again but I met this man… You would actually love him. He owns this billion dollar empire and has the most gorgeous eyes I've ever seen. It was all like a dream Grams. I think I was really falling for him."

"This all sounds wonderful but why are you talking like all this is in the past?"

"Because, like with every dream you end up waking up, and well this time I was stupid enough to think that the feeling was mutual and that he wanted to be with little old Elizabeth in a committed relationship. When with everything that happened to me before I should have known better than to think it was possible. Why am I so unlucky when it comes to men?"

"I don't know if it has anything to do with luck… I guess we all have to go through hard times at some point, just so we can appreciate the good times even better when they come."

"Well it really seems like relationship wise my life has been a real nightmare and I am ready for some good times for a change."

"You know, I'm not sure what this young man has done, and I would be the first one to tell you that men are very interesting creatures, but sometimes we don't give them enough credit. Are you sure you didn't take whatever he did or said the wrong way?"

"At first, when I suspected his infidelity, I thought I was just being unreasonable, but then I got proof that confirmed my fears." Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh. "I guess he just wasn't a one woman man. And now that I know that, all I need to do is forget about him. And that's exactly what I'll do."

"And you chose the perfect place to do just that. Poor dear, you'll see; everything will be alright." Audrey told her granddaughter while extending an arm around the brunette's shoulders.

*****

Jason arrived at the address Maxie had emailed him with his mind going in all directions. Would Elizabeth believe him? She had to, because everything he had told and would tell her was the truth; he didn't betray her, he would never betray her. But would she even accept to listen to him? That was what Jason feared the most. As much as he was crazy about Elizabeth, that woman could unexpectedly light up at any moment, which would once again kill any chance of reconciliation.

The businessman parked his rental Porsche Cayenne next to the indicated house in the quiet neighborhood. The house was small but definitely well maintained as Jason faced the greenest lawn and prettiest flower garden of the entire street. Jason sighed loudly then knocked on the door apprehensively.

An older woman opened the door with a charming smile on her face. "Oh, you must be Jason! Come in, come in!"

As he heard his name, Jason felt as if she was waiting for him which put even more pressure on his shoulders. The young man repeated to himself that he had nothing to worry about because he did nothing wrong then spoke to the woman. "Yes, Jason Morgan. I'm sorry to drop in unannounced but I understand Elizabeth is here and I really need to talk to her."

"Well, I guessed you weren't here to see me. But come in! Sit, make yourself at home. Would you like anything to drink? I still have cookies too. And no, you are not dreaming, my granddaughter didn't eat all of them. She went down to the beach and didn't want to look like a whale in her swimsuit." The woman paused observing Jason's reaction. "Her words, not mine."

"Oh… Um… I'm good thank you." Jason said while awkwardly sinking in the woman's comfy sofa.

Audrey sat next to the jittery looking man and held his gaze. "So, what are your intentions with my granddaughter?"

"What?" Was the only thing the young man could manage after hearing the dreaded question.

"Well, you jumped on a plane to follow her here; there must be a real good reason why."

"Oh yes. I am… or was, I'm not really sure, but my point is I was seeing your daughter and we got into a serious argument because of a terrible misunderstanding and I am here to make things right."

"You mean she thinks you had sex with some prostitute?"

The man almost choked at the older woman's candid comment. "Um… yes, but this is not what happened. This other woman tried to trick me and managed to take pictures of us in an uncomfortable position. I have proof that it was all a big scam. I never did any wrong to your granddaughter and never will. I care too much about her."

"That's why you all say… how do I know you actually mean it?"

"I can't prove it. All I know is that I miss her when she isn't around. She is what I think about when I wake up and definitely who I want to fall asleep next to. It is unexplainable really; I have never been that way. I think my feelings for Elizabeth run deeper that I even thought they could."

"Well, well. Maxie never told me you were that crazy about my granddaughter."

"Maxie?"

"She just called, to give me a heads up and told me the whole story. Your defense was not bad. You better repeat that whole speech about how much you care for her to Elizabeth, I'm sure she'd love to hear that. She'll be back in a few, I doubt she will take much longer so why don't you relax and start telling me where you think I should invest my hard earned dollars. You know with the stock market playing hoops on us, poor old Grams is getting lost."

Jason smiled for the first time since he set foot in the woman's house. Elizabeth's grandmother was a real character and he was glad to see that she had that on her side. Now he would just have to wait and face the biggest test of all.

*****

Half an hour later, Elizabeth appeared in the room with a colorful beach dress that fell all the way down to her feet, hair held off her face by oversized sunglasses and clutching a large bright yellow hobo bag. "Grams! Grams! Are you in here? I came across the cutest shop down on Main Street and…" Elizabeth face became blank and her heart jumped inside her chest as she saw Jason stand up from her grandmother's sofa. "What… what are you doing here?"

"Elizabeth…"

"How did you even know where to find me? Oh my god, Maxie! I'm going to kill her!"

"Listen Elizabeth, yes Maxie is the one who told me you were here, so I came right away because I needed to talk to you."

"And tell me what? That you are sorry you had sex with another woman? That it was a mistake and that you want me back? Well no! I am done making excuses for a cheater. I did it enough with my ex; it is not going to happen to me again!"

Jason shook his head from side to side then spoke in a calm voice. "No Elizabeth, please. Just listen to me. It is not what happened."

"Why? Why would I listen? You won't even own up to it! I saw it Jason with my own eyes!You were with her, her hands all over you on that picture." She told him her heart breaking all over again as she envisioned the image in her mind.

"I didn't cheat on you that night and I never did. I know about the picture, it wasn't real. No it was real but it's not what you think."

"You can't even make up your mind!"

"It was Carly!"

"What Carly? She isn't the one you were shacking up with. Thank god because otherwise you would have reached rock bottom, that woman is a psycho." The designer threw out.

"No, just listen to me!" Jason said in an imposing tone that left Elizabeth with no choice but to remain quiet. She crossed her arms, pouted her mouth to the side and finally listened to the man speak. "Carly paid Sam to show up at my apartment that night." Elizabeth opened her mouth to halt Jason's explanation but he went on talking. "And then they tricked me so I would walk up to Sam's room at the Metro Court just so that she could jump on me and take that shot. Why do you think I look so surprised on the picture?"

The image was engraved in her mind, and now that Jason had mentioned it, he actually looked more surprised than anything on that shot. She walked past him and sat on the comfy sofa arms crossed and eyes locked on her feet as she listened to him go on.

"I didn't even know about the picture until Maxie showed it to me this morning." The young man sighed, gauging the brunette's pensive expression. "Maxie and Spinelli tracked down the photograph and he confessed that he received a tip from Sam who told him where and when. Carly paid Sam a lot of money for her to carry this scam."

Jason left some time for the information to sink in Elizabeth's mind. The brunette didn't know what to make of this revelation. She had been convinced of Jason's infidelity and had reached a point where the simple thought of him made her body ache because of his presumed betrayal. And now he was telling her it was all a scam and that she fell right into the trap without even giving him the benefit of the doubt. She didn't feel strong enough to meet his deep blue eyes so kept looking at her sandaled feet listening to the man go on.

"… but Carly won't be a problem anymore, I ended our friendship."

Elizabeth managed to unseal her lips. "Like if she will ever accept to stay out of your life."

"She won't have a choice. I have no room in my life for people like her. Especially if she hates you so much that she would go through all this just to torment you."

Elizabeth finally lifted her head to look at Jason. "Did it ever cross your mind that maybe she did all this because she is in love with you. I'm sorry but a woman doesn't go through that much trouble in the name of friendship. What I think is that she wants you and can't accept any woman around you."

Elizabeth statement made Jason think, maybe she was right and Carly wanted to keep him for herself, or maybe she was just a very hateful woman but he didn't care because she was now out of his life. "All this isn't relevant anymore because I told her in not so many words that we are done. What I want to know is what you think about all this, about us? I am so sorry you had to go through this, I never wanted you to hurt because of me."

Elizabeth breathed out once before speaking. "You know, right now I have no idea what to think. Ten minutes ago I was still cursing you and swearing I would never see you again. And then you're standing here telling me that it was all a big mistake. I just don't know what to think anymore." She stood up and started walking towards the kitchen, followed closely by Jason.

"Elizabeth, I just want you to know that you can trust me. I didn't cheat on you or lie to you… none of all this was real."

The young woman turned to face him. "I know that now… and it must be the first time I am that happy to be wrong about something. All I could see was this picture, with this half naked woman touching you... I missed all the signs." A loud sigh escaped Elizabeth who felt completely foolish for falling into such a devilish trap. "I was just literally waiting for this to happen and then when I saw the picture I directly thought that it was it, that what I feared the most was finally happening."

"You know I would never do that to you."

"I know… and I didn't think men like you even existed but you are very real. The problem comes from me."

"There is nothing wrong with you, you reacted just the way I would have in the same situation."

"You're just saying this to be nice… I know I handled everything wrong. You didn't deserve to be talked to the way I did… and the vase. I'm so sorry I broke it."

"It's just a vase I can get you another one."

Elizabeth shook her head from side to side. "Jason just stop please! Stop being so nice and so understanding. I acted like a complete idiot. You should be furious at me for having so little faith in you."

"I can't be mad at you; I don't think I could ever be. Elizabeth you had your reasons for reacting the way you did. I knew something didn't make sense by your reaction and I thought that maybe you just needed a few days to sit on the situation, that's why I didn't call. But then I found out about Carly's scheme and I jumped in a plane…"

"I am a complete mess!" She interrupted him, failing to hear what the man was saying. "Can't you see that at the first test I completely lost it? I fell in this stupid trap without giving you a chance, I really don't deserve you. You have been great to me all along and I couldn't even give you the benefit of the doubt. I messed up everything between us because I couldn't believe in you." She uttered, forming tears slowly burning her eyes.

"Elizabeth look at me." Jason placed both hands on either side of her bare shoulders trying to make eye contact with the brunette who had been avoiding his gaze since the beginning of the conversation. "You didn't mess up anything; if it wasn't for Carly and her crazy obsession with me we wouldn't even be having this conversation."

Elizabeth gently took his hands off of her shoulders, "This time it was Carly, but it could have been any other innocent situation. You shouldn't have to deal with my constant insecurities or my irrational temper."

"But you couldn't have known these pictures were not real."

"I should have! I should have because Carly showed them to me, and because it simply didn't make that much sense anyway."

"Elizabeth stop beating yourself up, I … I love your temper, I think it's really sexy on you." Jason said hoping to bring a smile on the brunette's face. "I love everything about you."

"You say that now, but you'd very soon get tired of me."

"I can't… because I love you."

"What?" She paused, realizing what the man had just said and the only answer she had for him was "Why?"

"Why?" Her response took him by surprise. "I really can't answer that question, I just do. And what happened doesn't matter, you shouldn't feel guilty for it, I'm the one who let my guard down not you." The man stroked Elizabeth's cheek with the back of his hand before speaking again. "Elizabeth I don't think you understand just how much you mean to me… the few days away from you made me realize that I really fell in love with you."

He just said that he loved her and these words brought panic in Elizabeth's eyes, she opened her mouth to speak but no words were coming out. Seeing the woman's reaction or lack of one, Jason found himself rambling; a habit he had unconsciously picked up from Elizabeth. "I'm not saying this to make you feel better or as a desperate attempt to hold on to you. I know the circumstances aren't necessarily ideal but I don't know when would be a better time to open my heart to you. You're the first woman I have felt that connected to."

"Jason, I've been acting like a lunatic, and almost lost it… what of that makes you want to be with me?" Elizabeth asked the man in front of her, but didn't leave him time to give her an answer. "I don't think I can do this." She declared, walking back to her grandmother's living room.

Jason followed her, pleading for her to reconsider. "What? No no no… right now you are afraid because of everything that happened but you saw it yourself, you have nothing to worry about. You're the one I want to be with Elizabeth, no one else."

"But I'm the problem not you. I know myself and I don't think I am ready for this... I don't know… maybe it was a mistake getting with you right now; maybe I need more time... Imagine I'll go crazy every time a woman talks to you or smiles at you. It wasn't just Sam; the fan girls who stop us every time we go out, or that blond you were talking to at the benefit. Jason, all Port Charles has eyes only for you. I don't think I can deal with that." The woman let out, now completely doubting her ability to make a relationship with Jason work because of her constant paranoia.

Jason's heart sunk inside his chest. He was at loss of words to convince the woman of his commitment to her and decided not to press the issue further as every word from his part seemed to push her further away.

He listened to Elizabeth as she continued talking. "I am just not really good at the relationship thing… I hate myself right now, the way I sound, how hateful and completely insecure. It's not me." She said, heavy tears now falling from her doe shaped eyes.

"Hey... don't cry." Jason tried to comfort her. "I understand, you're having a hard time with all this and I should have been more sensitive to your feelings. It's my fault; I completely underestimated what Carly was capable of."

"You did nothing wrong... you are an amazing man and maybe I'm just not the right fit for you."

"Don't say that, I know you are the woman for me."

"I'm really sorry to be doing this to you."

"Don't be sorry. I don't want you to be like this. I hate seeing you hurting because of all this. Elizabeth if you feel that you cannot be with me at this moment then I understand. I wish the situation was different but if it is really what you want then I have no choice but to let you go."

"I am so sorry..." She repeated once more.

Jason held the young woman in his embrace, entangling his fingers in her flowing chocolate tresses. "Hey... don't cry. Just know that you are an incredible person Elizabeth. You are the woman I've always been waiting for and if I have to wait a little longer to be with you then I will."

Jason placed a lingering kiss on Elizabeth's forehead and without meeting her damp eyes turned around to walk out the door. He left Audrey's house, heartbroken. He had just told her he loved her and she had broken up with him. She had broken up with him for reasons he wasn't exactly clear on.

Elizabeth watched Jason walk away from her and felt a powerful urge to run after him, but she couldn't move. Her feet stayed glued to her grandmother's hardwood floor as she watched him enter his SUV with a heart she had just wrecked.

Hearing an engine start, Audrey rushed back inside the house from her backyard where she was tending to her garden. She stumbled upon her granddaughter who was uncontrollably weeping on her sofa.

"Oh, what happened dear? What did he say to make you cry like this?" She asked Elizabeth taking her gloves off and sitting next to the younger brunette, an arm around her shoulders.

Elizabeth managed to speak in between sobs. "He told me he loved me."

"Well… isn't that a good thing?"

"And I broke up with him. Oh my god, I think I just made a horrible mistake." Elizabeth let out, standing up from the comfortable couch.

"Then run after him." Audrey said imitating her granddaughter by standing to her feet.

"I can't." Elizabeth said, more heavy tears trickling down her cheeks.

The older woman once more took her granddaughter in her arms trying to soothe her heartache. "It's ok, go ahead, cry it out. It will make you feel better. Don't worry I'm here. It will all work out for the best in the end.

--

Next chapter: Relationship Counseling