Things seemed to be looking up for Elizabeth. Ruby has hired new waitresses and fired some as well. Elizabeth wished that she would have fired Courtney as well, but she wouldn't push Ruby anymore than Carly has in the last two weeks. Elizabeth insisted that she didn't need Carly playing her defender, but Carly just scoffed and walked away. Elizabeth had no idea why Carly was helping her so much when the blonde had said so many times that she was done helping her.
Every time Carly helped her, she'd say it was the last time, but another chance would present itself and Carly was there, helping. Jason told Elizabeth to just let Carly be, there was no reasoning with the blonde when she decided to accept someone into her circle of friends. It was pointless to try and Jason would know that better than anyone. He's tried telling Carly to stop her crap and let him deal with things on his own, but that only got him an angry Carly and a more determined friend.
Elizabeth has been a little nervous with how her life has changed because her Grams was on her way back to Port Charles and she just knew that Sarah wouldn't hesitate to tell her everything. In all honesty, she couldn't really believe that her life has changed so much in just two short weeks. Her friendship with Emily is strained to the point that she doubts they could be considered best friends anymore. Zander and Nikolas have become permanent fixtures in her life. They're more her best friends than Emily at the moment.
She's friends with Carly and Sonny, something she never saw coming. Elizabeth wondered if she'd ever get used to being friends with the notorious Sonny Corinthos. She doubts she ever will. Those two facts weren't as huge as the one that she knew her grandmother may not accept.
She's dating Jason Morgan. Right hand man, head enforcer, to Sonny Corinthos. If someone would have told her three weeks ago that her life would change so drastically in the span of two weeks, Elizabeth would have recommended they check themselves into Shadybrook and been done with it.
Sometimes she has to just stop and close her eyes, catching her breath as she thought about all the changes that have happened in her life. Some of the patrons at the diner weren't pleased with Elizabeth's choices to throw herself heart first into the mob. She didn't care. Its her life and she's the one that will have to live with her choices so she'll take the consequences as they came.
"Earth to Liz." a voice spoke in front of her, a smile touching her lips as she opened her eyes to her friend. "Ah, there she is. You okay?"
"Just catching my breath." she says simply, filling up a glass with soda. "What're you doing here so late? You're not usually here at closing."
"Putting space between me and Em." Zander admits as he shrugs out of his jacket and plops down. "She's got a lot of growing up to do and I need to move on."
"I'm sorry." Elizabeth knows just how hard that is for Zander. He's loved Emily for a few years now. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Yeah...remind me that this is what I want when I start to go all sappy." Zander smirked, drinking some soda. "I've been blind to the fact that she really is just a child. You and I had to grow up fast, but she's still in the mind set of a child, not that its a bad thing, and I just have to let go."
"You're right, its not a bad thing." Elizabeth smiled slightly, taking his hand in hers. "But moving on will be good for you. I know it."
"Thanks." Zander leans over and kisses her cheek. "See you later pretty."
"Get your own girlfriend." a voice speaks from behind Zander and has him chuckling before standing up straight. "I wouldn't want to shoot you."
"Easy." Zander held up his hands mockingly. "She's all yours."
Jason smirked as Elizabeth walked out from behind the counter and right into his arms.
"I know." Jason shrugs, shaking hands with Zander before turning his attention to Elizabeth. "Hi."
"Hi." she whispers before his lips claim hers in a soft embrace. "Did you settle the emergency in the warehouse?"
"Yeah. I'm all yours." Jason said as they walked over to sit on the stool, positioning her to stand between his legs. "You up for dinner at Sonny's?"
"Definitely." Elizabeth has come to love eating at Sonny's. "But I have to warn you, my Gram's will be home tomorrow."
Jason wasn't looking forward to that at all. The few times he has run into Audrey Hardy, he wasn't exactly accepted or even acknowledged in the least. He didn't particularly care that she didn't accept Jason, but he knew it meant something to Elizabeth. He can only hope the old woman won't be too hard on Elizabeth because Jason would have to step in and he didn't want to do that.
"Okay." was his only response to that as he tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Have you thought about what I said?"
"We'll see how it goes with my Gram, then we can talk about taking off for the weekend okay?" Elizabeth can't help but get lost in his eyes.
She told him about all the lunches where she sat and simply sketched him. Wanting to get every last detail of him on paper and he surprised her by sitting still for her to finish her sketch. He admitted that he too was watching her during those lunches. He always thought that she was watching him, but she wouldn't look for too long so he brushed it off. Her sketch was complete now and hanging in her room at her Grams.
"Fair enough." Jason rests his hands on her hips. "But know one thing, I am taking you away for the weekend. If not this one...then the next."
"Uh-huh." Elizabeth laughs softly. "We'll see."
"You ready to get out of here?" Jason stands up, knowing that she was just making him sweat. "You know how Sonny gets."
"Yeah." Elizabeth witnessed first hand what Sonny is like when his food has to be heated again. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble."
Elizabeth could tell you one thing and that was that her gram will never be able to tell her to stop seeing Jason. There was no way Elizabeth would allow that because Jason has come to mean too much. Sure, they have only been dating for two weeks. Sure, they don't know every last thing about each other. But one truth still stands, they have a real connection and she wasn't giving it up without a fight.
Jason loves how free she is with him. How she can just open up and be herself without fear of being judged or left behind. Everything he has learnt so far had him falling further for her. Jason knew that it would be that way always and didn't mind the realization that he could very well fall in love with Elizabeth Webber. As they arrive at Harborview Towers, they make their way up to Sonny's penthouse. They didn't have to walk in to smell the sweet aroma of Sonny's cooking and Elizabeth couldn't wait.
"Good, you're on time tonight." Sonny comments as Jason helps Elizabeth out of her jacket. "I'd hate to warm up my food again."
"It was only one time." Jason states, walking with Elizabeth over to the table. "Get over it already."
"Muffin, come help me with the drinks." Carly called over to her as she walked into the kitchen.
"Coming." Elizabeth smiles slightly before walking after Carly.
Sonny waits for the women to walk into the kitchen before getting into business. He wanted it out of the way before dinner starts. It was tradition in that penthouse for business to stop during dinner and Sonny won't break that for anything. So they spoke quickly and made sure they had everything set before the women joined them again.
"Everything okay?" Sonny asked once business was dealt with.
"Elizabeth's grandmother is coming back tomorrow." Jason concedes, wishing that the woman would stay away for a little while longer. "She wants to tell Audrey before Sarah gets the chance."
"That blonde is spiteful." Sonny agrees. "Well I hope it works out."
"Me too. I just wish she'd stay away for another week." Jason admits just before the women walk out of the kitchen. They're in their own conversation so he didn't worry that she heard him.
"Seriously Carly, I can't believe she'd do that." Elizabeth shook her head, putting the glasses on the table. "Are you sure?"
"I saw it with my own eyes." Carly laughed softly. "It was too perfect."
"Dang, I can't believe it." Elizabeth shook her head, allowing Jason to pull out her chair for her. "Its so crazy."
"In my opinion, I say Lucy had it coming." Carly handed the pitcher to Jason before letting Sonny pull out her chair and sitting down. "Laura's hand is going to be swollen for a while though."
"I can't believe, the always calm, Laura punched someone." Elizabeth laughed softly, fixing the napkin to rest on her lap. "That's a sight I would pay to see."
Sonny and Jason just let them continue their conversation as dinner was served. They liked that Carly and Elizabeth have really gotten to like hanging out together. It wasn't exactly a good thing when they ganged up on either man, but they've accepted the bond that was formed. Jason was curious how Carly went from accepting Elizabeth to straight up being her friend. He has asked what changed between the women and never got an answer. He knew something happened, something to change the friendship between the two, but accepted he may never find out what.
Dinner came to an end and Jason had to literally tell Carly to shut up so he could take Elizabeth over to his penthouse. Elizabeth, of course, laughed at how Jason snapped and followed him out of Sonny's penthouse. She knew that he only got like that when Carly wanted to prolong dinner and stop them from leaving. Elizabeth really didn't mind it at all. To have a man itching to spend some time alone with her and even going as far as to snap at his friend, Elizabeth couldn't be mad about that.
Getting inside, Elizabeth watched as Jason racked up the balls. There was something in his posture, the way he moved, that had her believing something was wrong. She wasn't sure if she should be worried or if it was another one of their minor problems with shipments, but she'll wait for him to open up. He usually did. So they lagged and of course he went first. He always went first. And he always won, but she's getting better.
When he won, like she knew he would, they sat down on the couch together. And that's when she knew he was going to tell her what was bothering him.
"Robin's coming back." his voice is low and he watches as she realizes the weight of what he says. "Sonny says she'll be here next week."
"Oh." Elizabeth doesn't know what to say to that. She didn't expect the woman to come back, not after what she did to Jason. "You seem worried...should I be?"
"There's nothing left between me and Robin if that's what you mean." he takes her hands in his, wanting to make himself clear without doubt. "You are the one I want. Only you."
"Then why are you worried?" Elizabeth searches his eyes and can see that he's worried, but not why.
"She's not coming alone." Jason sighs, running one hand down his face. "Sonny's ex Brenda Barrett is coming too."
"I get why you're worried now." Elizabeth remembers what Jason told her about Brenda and Robin. "So...there's really nothing left between you and Robin?"
"Nothing." Jason says adamantly. "Robin is pretty much a stranger as far as I'm concerned."
"Good to know." Elizabeth lets out the breath she didn't know she was holding.
"What makes you think that I'd want Robin back after everything I told you?" Jason was confused by the relief in her eyes, didn't she know just how deep he was with her.
"Its nothing." Elizabeth shakes her head, not wanting to admit what happened. "It was stupid to think you still had feelings for her."
Jason stared into her eyes for a moment, she was hiding something and he could see it.
"No." Jason stopped her from looking away. "Tell me."
"Its nothing." she tries to convince him again.
"Elizabeth." he says knowingly.
"Jason." she counters.
"Just tell me." Jason sighs, shaking his head. "One way or another, I'll find out."
And she knew he wasn't lying. He was really good at getting information when he was driven to it.
"Emily said that you'd always choose Robin." Elizabeth conceded, wishing he'd just drop it. "She tried to convince me that I was a passing fling for you and that when Robin came back you'd dump me for her."
Jason knew that was the summarized version of what was said and he could also tell that whatever his sister said to her, it really got to Elizabeth and he didn't like it. Jason loved his sister to no end, but for her to purposely put doubt in Elizabeth's mind and have her feeling second best...suffice to say that a certain conversation with his sister was way past due. He won't let Emily hurt Elizabeth like this anymore. He just couldn't let it happen. Jason was the one that pursued Elizabeth and he won't have Emily trying to put a wedge between them.
"How about a ride huh?" Jason asked, standing up and holding out a hand to her. "I think we can both use it right about now."
"You have no idea." Elizabeth agreed, taking hold of his hand and following him to the bike.
As she's about to straddle the bike, Jason stops her. Bringing her to stand beside him, he gently touches her face with the backs of his fingers.
"I'll never hurt you." Jason vows, staring into her beautiful eyes. "You can trust that."
"I trust you." she assures, leaning in and kissing him softly. "More than anyone."
"Same here." he admits before allowing her to straddle the bike behind him.
And it was the truth. He trusts her more than anyone. More than Sonny and Carly, that was saying something.
In the short time he's known Elizabeth, he knows she'll never hurt him the way Robin did.
That alone had him adamant in never hurting her. She was too special to be made second best.
And he will have it out with his sister for ever making her feel like that.
But that will wait for morning. For now, he will relish in riding with her. That always made them feel better.
Alive.
Author's Note: Thank you silvermaj and Carla for the reviews.
I'm glad you liked it and I hope you liked this update.
Along with the rest of you readers, I hope you liked the update.
Till next time...