She could sense that something was wrong with Jason. He was a quiet person by nature, but this was ridiculous. He didn't say much all night and by morning he was still in this silent mode that had Elizabeth growing more and more worried by the second. She didn't want to push him to talk because she knew that he would when he's ready, but this is the longest he's gone without spilling what's bothering him.
Robin and Brenda will be here by tomorrow so she knew that he was worrying about that. What she didn't know was why he was all of a sudden a brick wall. Taking a shower, Elizabeth got dressed for work. Ruby's finally giving her back the morning shifts for the rest of her employment at the diner. When she walked downstairs to the living room, Elizabeth found Jason sitting on the couch staring at the wall. This was just too weird.
"Jason?" she says tentatively, putting her hair up into a ponytail. "I'm heading out."
Jason glanced from her to his wrist watch before standing up. There's this distance in his eyes and she wants to ask about it, but doesn't. She simply walks into his open arms and lays her head against his chest. He'll open up to her soon, she's sure of it, but for now she'll just be patient.
"Maybe I should stay at my studio tonight." Elizabeth says carefully as she pulls away. "Give you some time to think."
"No." he says quickly, knowing why she was saying it. "I want you here."
"Are you sure?" she questions, tilting her head in an attempt to search his eyes for answers. "Its why I got my own place. So we can have space if we need it."
"I want you here." he says with conviction, putting a small smile on her face. "I know why you got your place...just come back tonight."
"Okay." Elizabeth leans in and kisses him. "I have to get to work. I'll see you tonight."
With that, she walks out to meet up with Johnny before heading to the diner. Jason watched her leave, wondering how he got so lucky to have someone like her in his life. She doesn't push him, she doesn't demand his attention, and she's willing to give him space when he needs it. Not that he really needs it. Though he can't understand it, he needs her with him all the time. He's the one that wants her close by, that wants to have her attention at any given moment, to see her smile and laugh...and mostly make her blush.
God how he loves to make her blush. He's never been able to make a woman blush before. Robin never did and when he first met Carly, she wasn't the type to blush. All the random women at Jake's never did, but he doubted that they were the kinds to blush either. So when Elizabeth blushed at him that first time, he was simply captivated. Then he got to know her, really know her, and he couldn't find his way out of her essence if he tried.
Now that Robin's coming back, Jason is feeling an emotion he's never truly felt before. He's worried. He doesn't know why Robin's coming back and he couldn't even begin to guess if he tried to. One thing that he still cared about was her health. He didn't care one way or the other about Robin, but he didn't want her to die. She still had so much going for her and it wouldn't be fair for her to die because of a disease she contracted by being with the love of her life.
"Yeah?" Jason calls out to the knock at the door.
"Its me." Carly walks into the penthouse. "Liz said you might need someone to talk to."
Of course she did. No matter what, she always seems to put him first.
"I'm fine." Jason says but knows Carly doesn't believe it anymore than Elizabeth did. "Don't you have your own kids to worry over?"
"Nice try. Now I know something's up." Carly closes the door and walks over to plop down on the club chair. "What's going on Jase?"
"I don't want to lose her." Jason finally admits after a long stretch of silence falls between them. "With Robin coming back to town, everything that's been going on with her friends and family, I just don't want to lose her."
"You're not going to lose her." Carly says vehemently. "Trust me. If she was going to bail on you, she would've done it after meeting me."
"I'm being serious Carly." Jason groaned, running a hand down his face. "Elizabeth...she's everything I never thought I'd want. I can't lose her."
"There's nothing you can do that will chase muffin away." Carly could see that he really was worried about losing Elizabeth. "She knows you're in the mob. She has stood against her family and friends. There's nothing that could possibly chase the muffin away."
Carly looks at him, really looks at him and realizes that she has to go deep for this one. Once again Robin Scorpio has become the vain of her existence and when that little harpy gets back to town, Carly is going to make damn sure she doesn't get anywhere near Jason again. Seriously, that little wannabe angel is in for the fight of her life if she thinks Carly's going to give her the chance of breaking up Jason and Elizabeth.
"Can I give you some advice?" Carly says, knowing she has to say it before walking out of the penthouse.
"Do I have a choice?"
"No." Carly laughed softly. "Do the one thing you have never done before. Open up and let her in. Not just halfway either...let her all the way in."
Jason stared at Carly for a moment. He's never let anyone all the way in. Something he learnt from Sonny a long time ago is that if you let someone all the way in, you're giving them the power to break you and Jason never trusted anyone enough to let that happen. Robin hurt him, but she never had the chance to break him. If he let Elizabeth all the way in, like he knew he'd be doing soon enough, it would kill him if she were to walk away.
"Just think about it." Carly said after a long moment of silence, getting up to kiss his forehead. "She's the one for you. I know it and you know it. One must risk it all to gain it all."
Elizabeth is getting into the groove of working and then her sister has to grace the diner with her presence. She knew right away that the blonde wasn't there to be a sister. No, Sarah was there to be a royal pain in the ass. She could just tell by the look on her sister's face. Lucky has been trying to talk to her these last few days, but Elizabeth just didn't want to hear any of it. If she had to hear the dangers of Jason Morgan one more time, Elizabeth was going to explode.
"Lizzie." Sarah states, sitting down at a table. "Witnessed any murders lately?"
"Sarah." she says distastefully. "Kissed any asses lately?"
"At least I'm not dating a murderer." Sarah said beneath her breath, causing Elizabeth to stop dead beside her.
"You're just jealous because no matter what you say or do, Lucky Spencer will never look at you the way Jason looks at me." Elizabeth countered, knowing that will knock her sister down a peg or two.
Sarah's stunned silence gave Elizabeth the chance to walk away successfully to handle the other customers. Her sister's biggest mistake is to believe that Elizabeth wasn't ready to fight just as hard and just as dirty. One thing she has learnt from Carly is that no one is above reproach. No one deserves undying loyalty just because you share the same blood or a mutual past. Elizabeth isn't about to take people's criticisms lying down.
"Grams didn't give you her blessing." Sarah finally spoke when Elizabeth was behind the counter. "Shouldn't that tell you something! Jason Morgan is nothing but a thug hired to kill people for a living."
"Since when do you give a damn about Gram's blessing?" a voice spoke from behind Sarah, causing her to spin around in disbelief. "Surprised to see me?"
"Wha...what are you doing here?" Sarah stared at her brother, not at all ready to believe that he was really there.
"You'd have known if you actually stayed at home last night." Steven stated, walking past her to sit at the counter. "Liz, you okay?"
"I'm fine." Elizabeth shrugged, her sister out of her mind the moment her brother walked into the diner. "Hungry?"
"I can eat, but make it to go." Steven smirked, waiting for Elizabeth to walk into the kitchen before turning to Sarah. "You gonna eat or are you just here to mess with Liz?"
"What am I doing here?" Sarah looked at him completely shocked. "What are you doing here?"
"I moved back to town." Steven conceded, wondering when he sister became this walking bucket of hate. "Now your turn."
"Lizzie is being reckless like always." Sarah's voice held distaste. "She's going to get herself killed and all because she wants attention."
"I think you're mistaking Liz for yourself." Steven countered. "Elizabeth has never been one to want the spotlight. That's always been you."
"In case you've forgotten Steven, you're my brother too." Sarah seriously hated when Steven jumped to Elizabeth defence. "No matter how much you wish you weren't. So stop jumping down my throat."
"I love you because you're my sister, but you know where my loyalties lie." Steven said simply. "Don't test me when it comes to Liz."
"Mark my words, this relationship will end just like the one she had with Richard Lansing." Sarah's voice mocking, she wasn't ready for the look that filled Steven's eyes.
"If you ever bring that son of a bitch up again, I will make your life a living hell." Steven stood in her personal space, making sure she knew he meant business. "Do I make myself clear?"
Sarah simply spun on her heels and walk out of the diner. She couldn't believe that after all these years, Steven was still closest to Elizabeth than he was to her. No matter what Sarah did, Steven just didn't seem to be devoted to her the way he was with their sister. Whatever it is between Steven and Elizabeth, no one has ever been able to break that bond. Not that Sarah hasn't tried and she just had enough for one day.
"She gone?" Elizabeth asked, walking out with Steven's food.
"Yeah." Steven took his seat once again, pushing thoughts of Sarah out of his mind. "You okay?"
"What you said to Sarah...you'd really choose me over her?" Elizabeth had been shocked by that. She always thought they both ranked equally in Steven's heart.
"In a heartbeat." Steven shrugged. "Sarah and I...we have our own problems...that of which you don't need to worry about."
"Okay." Elizabeth conceded. "If you say so."
"I do." Steven kissed her cheek, paying for the food. "Tomorrow, I'm gonna be going to open houses, you wanna tag along?"
"Sure." Elizabeth smiled slightly. "I'd love to."
"Thought you might." Steven shook his head before sliding into his jacket and hopping off the stool. "Check you later Blaze."
Walking out of the diner, Steven failed to notice Jason as he stood there watching his girlfriend. A part of him knew that she shouldn't be in his world, that she was too good for him, but even he wasn't selfless enough to push her away. He wanted and needed her too much to ever make that kind of sacrifice. Standing there, just watching her, Jason realized that no matter what happened, he'll never let Elizabeth feel the way that Robin and his family made him feel. She's competent enough to make her own choices and if she chooses to be with him, he won't deny her that.
"You going in?" a voice spoke from behind him, he immediately recognizes it as his sister Skye.
"No." he says, turning to look at her. "You?"
"In a little bit." Skye smiled slightly. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah." Jason wasn't sure why he was talking to her when they weren't exactly close or anything like that. "What about you? Lorenzo treating you okay?"
"We're great." Skye smiles, seeing that he was really trying. "Look, I should go inside, but whatever's going on with you...you'll be fine. I mean, you always are, right?"
With that Skye walked into the diner, leaving Jason to his own accord. He'll talk to her when she gets back to the penthouse, for now he had to handle some business in the warehouse. Taking one last look at Elizabeth, he walked away, hoping that when he finally talked to her, the words will come out how he wants them to. Its no secret that words and Jason didn't cooperate on the best of days and this was going to be one conversation he wasn't sure he wanted to have.
"Hey Skye!" Elizabeth greeted Jason's sister. "I didn't think you'd be by today. Don't you have that thing at the Quartermaines to attend?"
"Its been postponed to next week." Skye shrugged, plopping down on a stool. "Apparently Grandfather has realized his foolproof plan isn't so foolproof after all."
"A mistake Jason surely pointed out, right?" Elizabeth guessed, she remembers Jason having a smug smile after meeting with Edward a few days ago.
"That would be correct." Skye joined Elizabeth in her soft laughter. "Jason really does know when to push the old man's buttons and when to help out, that's for sure."
"Just because he doesn't want to be a part of the Quartermaine empire, it doesn't mean he wants it to crumble down around those he cares about." Elizabeth explained with ease. She loved knowing Jason the way she does in such a short time.
Skye had to admit that the look in Elizabeth's eyes solidified her need to keep her and Jason together. No matter what happens with Emily, she will not allow anyone to break them up. Jason and Elizabeth's relationship will bloom or die on their own say so, without any interference from the outside world. Now she just had to figure out a way to get Emily to back off and she'll be golden. Thinking about it for a moment, Skye realized she had just the man to do the job.
"While I have you here, I've been meaning to ask, would you and Jason want to have dinner with me and Lorenzo?" Skye questioned, laughing softly at the look of surprise in Elizabeth's eyes. "Whenever is convenient for you and Jason will be fine with us."
"Are you kidding? That would be great." Elizabeth wrote her number down on an order slip and handed it to her. "Give me a call and we'll figure out the details."
"Great." Skye tucked the paper into her pocket. "See you later then."
Author's Note: Thank you for the many reviews. I know that has been having some troubles because I wasn't able to update my stories a couple nights.
I hope you've enjoyed this update. Robin and Brenda will make their appearance at the end of the next chapter, but they will be full on in the chapter following.
Till next time...