A/N: I have to say, it's not that easy to write liason apart, but I felt it was necessary for Elizabeth to get over her fears and realize that she can trust Jason and grow to feel more secure about relationships in general. Jason's not going to be in this update which is Elizabeth centric because she's the one who needs to figure out what she really wants so please bear with me. But he'll be back soon!

Don't own… don't sue…

Chapter 24 – Worlds Apart

-- Port Charles Airport --

"Have you lost your mind?" Maxie yelled as soon as Elizabeth finished telling her in what circumstances she had ended her romance with Jason. "I can't believe you did that!"

"If that can reassure you, I can't either." Elizabeth said rolling her suitcase behind her as she very quickly walked to exit the crowded Airport. Another large shoulder bag that carried a few designs was securely clutched under her arm.

"Then why?" Maxie asked, completely outraged by what she was hearing. "Why did you break up with him after he told you everything was a scam by his obsessed friend? And on top of that that he was in love with you!"

"I don't know Maxie, I really don't know. It was all kind of surreal."

"Don't you know how many women would kill to get these three little words out of a man like Jason?" The young blond said flapping her high heels quickly as she painfully tried to follow Elizabeth's very rapid lead.

"I know Maxie, I get it… At least now I do." Elizabeth said, still rushing to get a car. "And by the way thank you for everything you've done to uncover Carly's scheme."

"You're welcome, but everything I did doesn't matter if you're not going to be with Jason." Maxie let out in a high-pitched voice. "You two are made for each other, it's obvious! I've watched you since you met him and I can tell you that I haven't seen you happier than that. Ever! Not even when Kate got you a Hermes handbag for your first fashion show."

The designer chuckled at her assistant's comment, she had been very happy to receive this gift so that meant something. Elizabeth finally stopped her rush to speak. "I know; the time I spent with Jason was amazing." She told Maxie thinking about the incredible time she had spent in his company, about how good he had been to her since she had decided to give this relationship a try.

"See you agree with me!"

"Of course I agree with you, it's just more complicated than that." Elizabeth declared then turned on her Manolo Blahniks to keep her sprint towards getting a cab.

"What's complicated in that? He loves you, you obviously do too… this is all very simple in my book." The young assistant said, trying to catch up with her boss.

The designer waved at an approaching taxi that quickly pulled in front of the two women. "I wish it was that simple but it's not, not with me."

"Whatever that means… anyway, so what happens now? Have you called him since?"

"No, I thought it would be better if I spoke to him in person." Elizabeth let out a deep sigh. "That's if he even wants to see me. He laid it all out on the table and I broke his heart. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't want to have anything to do with me."

"And you won't know for sure until you talk to him, so go!"

"Yes, as soon as I drop these new designs at EW I will go see him and make things right. Hopefully he'll want to listen to me."

"Forget about EW, give these to me, I'll drop them off. You rush to Morgan Enterprises and get your man back!" Maxie said pushing her boss in the cab.

-- Morgan Enterprises --

It's with deep breaths that Elizabeth climbed up the Morgan tower in downtown Port Charles to meet with a man who she wasn't even sure would want to hear from her after what she had done to him. Maybe he would throw her out, or refuse to see her all together but she had to at least try to speak with him.

"Hi Jillian, I'm here to see Jason, is he in his office? Elizabeth spoke in a timid voice, fearing what was to come.

"Mr. Morgan is presently out of the country but I will let him know that you came by." The assistant threw out coldly then promptly went back to fastidiously taping on her computer keyboard.

"Um… do you know when he'll be back?"

A red head with apparent good taste approached Elizabeth before the assistant was able to reply anything. "Is this vintage Chanel?" She asked pointing at Elizabeth's flowing salmon chiffon dress that was strapped at the waist by a thin white belt.

Elizabeth turned to face the newly arrived woman. "Yes."

"Gorgeous! And the shoes… just perfection!" The true connoisseur exclaimed. "Elizabeth Webber right? It is so nice to finally meet you." She continued a hand extended towards her.

Elizabeth accepted her invitation and shook her hand in hers. "Nice to meet you too. But I'm sorry, you are?"

"Diane Miller, corporate lawyer. I've heard a lot about you. I mean a lot…" She said with a pronounced smirk that let Elizabeth wondering what exactly she had heard about her.

"Why don't we have a little chat?" Diane offered, clutching the designer's svelte arm. She then summarily dragged her to her close by office. Once inside, she shut the door behind them, making the younger woman even more apprehensive of the unexpected meeting.

Elizabeth looked around and watched Diane, who wore a tasteful brown wool pant suit with a beige silky chemise under, lean against her office right in front of the brunette. The designer then slowly bended her knees and dropped on a chair facing Diane. "Maybe you're in measure to answer me, I am looking for Jason, and his secretary told me he is out of the country."

"Yes, first South Africa, he was attending a high profile event there, but he's in for the long haul, checking on various foreign affiliates, new investors, contracts and all that good stuff."

"Oh I see… that's too bad because I really need to speak with him."

"I bet you do." The woman added, but Elizabeth's quizzical look prompted the lawyer to finally enlighten her on the reason why she had pulled her in her office. "I know a little bit about your situation and well Jason is very troubled by your break up."

"He told you about it?" Elizabeth asked nervously, realizing his lawyer probably saw her as a true idiot because of her perplexing actions.

"Yes he did. He came to me because I am a woman and he thought I could give him some kind of insight as of why you decided to end things with him."

"And what did you say?" Elizabeth asked; eager to find out in what direction his attorney had sent his mind.

"Confusion, overwhelming situation, temporary insanity, anxiety attack..." Diane joked, hoping to lighten up the air and allow the younger woman to relax a bit. All she wanted was help the two lovers. She knew how crazy Jason was about this woman and it seemed to the lawyer she had been right to tell him Elizabeth would come back; she just hadn't expected it would be that soon.

Elizabeth faced sideways, focusing on a cubic style painting on the wall to avoid Diane's gaze. "I messed up really badly. He must be devastated right now; all because I was too scared to even listen to anything he was telling me that day."

"Yes, he was a little devastated… and you seem to be too."

The young woman turned to face Diane again. "I am. I don't know what I was thinking because I love him too. But I panicked when he told me he was in love with me. I wasn't sure I was ready for this."

"You know, Jason really is in love with you and I have to tell you it's the first time I have seen him that way. He actually gets off work early and smiles all the time; you did a real number on him. And right now instead of being furious at the way you sent him packing he was here trying to understand what had happened and hoping you would reconsider."

"Really?" Elizabeth let out, reassured to learn that he hadn't given up on her just yet.

"Jason Morgan is the most loyal man I have ever had the chance to meet. Yes he used to have his playboy days but even then, I cannot think of one time when he wasn't honest with the person he was with at the moment."

"He is a great man and I came by today to tell him just that, and that I want to be with him. I wanted to tell him that I made a terrible mistake thinking we shouldn't be together when I know in my heart that I want to be with him." Elizabeth looked down wondering why she couldn't have told him all these things when she had the chance. Feeling Diane's concerned stare on her, she lifted her eyes to meet hers. "You must think I am a complete nut job."

"We've all reacted irrationally at one point or another."

"Yes, but my stupid reaction just might have cost me Jason."

"I doubt it." Diane reassured Elizabeth. "Although you might have to work a little harder to get him back because he is more confused that you are right now, and he might not be very excited to jump back in the roller coaster ride you put him through."

"I completely understand, and I am ready to fight to get him back. Do you know how long he'll be away?"

Diane shrugged lightly. "I don't exactly know; a week, maybe two or possibly more."

"Oh… I'm going to Paris early tomorrow morning, that's why I really wanted to talk to him today. But I guess I'll see him whenever he gets back." Elizabeth said, rising to her feet.

"Paris? For fashion week?" Diane asked, especially interested.

Elizabeth nodded. "I'm joining Kate Howard there."

"Kate Howard, from Crimson?" Diane repeated in awe. "I'm her biggest fan!"

"Then why don't you give me a call once I get back, I'll introduce you to her."

"You would do that?"

"That's the least I can do, you've been a great help Diane, Thank you." Elizabeth said then turned to leave the woman's office.

-- Air France Flight 257, Destination Paris --

Elizabeth should have been excited about what was ahead of her; a beautiful city she had dreamt to visit for so long, fashion week that would undoubtedly be full of stunning garments and incredible surprises, but all she could think about was Jason and how she had abruptly and idiotically decided to end things with him. She hated that she wasn't able to at least speak with him before he left Port Charles, to tell him how she really felt. But now that they both were in different countries the much needed conversation would have to wait for their return.

Elizabeth then sat alone, a plentitude of thoughts running through her mind as she remembered the words of everyone she had spoken with since. They all in their own way reinforced her conviction that she wanted a life with Jason in it.

"You know, sometimes the best decisions start from your heart, and then make their way up to your head."

"You two are made for each other, it's obvious! I've watched you since you met him and I can tell you that I haven't seen you happier than that. Ever!"

"You know, Jason is really in love with you and I have to tell you it's the first time I have seen him that way… Jason Morgan is the most loyal man I have ever had the chance to meet."

A smile appeared on her lips. What had she been afraid of?

Hoping to give a break to her overactive mind, she decided to flip through the glossy pages of a people magazine she had brought with her and fell on an article about Jason.

Jason Morgan was seen at the annual United Against AIDS Fundraising Event in Johannesburg with Supermodel Brenda Barrett. It's his first public apparition since the end of his legal troubles and it is the second time he is seen in company of a different woman since he called it quits with Fashion designer Elizabeth Webber who has been keeping a low profile since their breakup…

Not wanting to read more, she fiercely closed the magazine. Calm down, don't panic… it's probably not what you think. She though. You can't believe anything they write anyway. She had learned her lesson with Carly's high jinks and realized jumping to conclusion would do no good.

Yet Elizabeth felt horrible seeing another woman at his arm, she realized her indecision already might have cost her the unique relationship she entertained with Jason. Maybe he truly had turned the page on her. Her breathing started to hasten as panic slowly crawled up on her, but she quickly managed to get herself together remembering that she had promised herself she was done with the unnecessary paranoia. Brenda Barrett was probably just a very good friend of his, she told herself then turned on the entertainment screen in front of her, hoping to distract herself some other way.

Paris would be a lot of fun.

--

Next: Reality Check