The next day, when the morning rays are cast over the town, Elizabeth finds herself saying goodbye to Jason. Something has come up down in Puerto Rico and he has to head down immediately to settle things. She hates that he has to go, but feels relieved when she finds out that Sonny will be going as well. Something about the Five Families wanting a meeting, not that Elizabeth really understood anything they were saying. Apparently the Five Families are a big thing in the mob so Sonny and Jason had to go there posthaste.
"We'll be back as soon as we can." Jason leans over and kisses her softly. "You be careful while I'm gone okay? Keep Johnny and Marco close."
"Don't worry about me." she smiles slightly. "I'll be fine."
"You'll be better off asking me not to breathe." Jason sighed, kissing her one more time. "Just be careful."
Elizabeth sat on the couch, watching Jason walk out of the penthouse. Just before he closes the door, he looks back at her, letting out a sigh before closing the door behind him. Jason didn't want to leave town right now. Not with Robin and Brenda in town. If he could duck out of this meeting, Jason would do it in a heartbeat, but it would look bad for Sonny to go down with anyone other than Jason. So, putting his worries out of his mind, Jason grabbed his things and met Sonny at the airstrip. Hopefully things won't be too bad when he gets back.
"You okay?" Johnny asked when Elizabeth walked out of the penthouse, ready for her shift at Kelly's.
"Sure." Elizabeth walked past him onto the elevator.
Not another word was spoken between them as they met up with Marco by the car and drove to Kelly's. Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder what'll happen down in Puerto Rico. Jason wasn't even sure how long they'll be gone. Which meant that their plans to go to Italy will have to put on hold until he and Sonny can deal with whatever is going on down in Puerto Rico.
Getting into the diner, Elizabeth tied her apron on and got to work. She was in no mood to deal with anyone so she just smiled and did the usual waitress routine. Most of the patrons noted that she was in bad mood and just ordered their food, but of course there were others that just didn't know how to mind their own damn business. Elizabeth dealt with them well enough, all but tell them to shove their concern. She was walking back to stand behind the counter when Nikolas plopped down on a stool.
"You free tonight?" Nikolas skipped over asking if she was okay, seeing that she clearly wasn't.
"Not tonight." Elizabeth shook her head. "Can I get you anything?"
"Just coffee." Nikolas took a deep breath before taking a chance at being a friend. "You can talk to me about anything...if you want."
"Jason just went away on business." Elizabeth sighed, running a hand through her hair. "With Robin in town and Jason gone..."
"Maybe I can talk to Robin...find out what she's doing in town...see if I can't talk her out of pursuing Jason." Nikolas offered.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Elizabeth shook her head. "I can fight my own battles. If she wants Jason, she's going to have to go through me to get him."
"Remind me to never make you angry." Nikolas chuckled, handing her a five. "Check you later, then?"
"Later." Elizabeth smiled before walking off to deal with the other customers.
Brenda sat in her apartment, just watching Robin as she paced the room. The look on her best friend's face was the one she really didn't like. Robin has her planning face on and that was never good. Seriously. The last time Robin had that face on, Brenda had to talk their way out of getting arrested. She could only hope that it wouldn't be as bad as she thinks its going to be once Robin figures out what she wants to do. As Robin paces the floor, Brenda's mind goes to her conversation with Maxie.
The more she learnt about this Elizabeth girl, the more she respected the woman. Not only did she survive an abusive boyfriend, a bullet wound, and a heart transplant, but none of it has made her bitter or cynical to love. If not for Robin, Brenda can really see her being friends with Elizabeth. If only her best friend would realize that Jason wasn't going to fall back in love with her. After everything Brenda has learnt in this last two days, she just doesn't see Jason ever going back to Robin. Not that her best friend will ever let that sink into her head.
"Yeah?" Brenda answered her cellphone. "Oh, hey AJ."
"Since you're back in town, how about you come over?" AJ suggested, watching the family in the living room. "Most of the family's here."
Looking at Robin, she decided to take some time away from her best friend. "Yeah. Sure." Brenda got up and grabbed her jacket and purse. "I'm on my way."
After telling Robin where she was headed, Brenda left the apartment, hoping that she'll call her before doing anything stupid. Although she doesn't want Robin to get hurt, Brenda realizes that the only way Robin will let Jason go is for her to have the truth knocked into her. She's not listening to her so someone else will have to give Robin the wake up call.
"That's it!" Maxie walked over to Elizabeth, quickly undoing the apron from around her. "You need to go shopping desperately."
"Maxie! What are you doing?" Elizabeth exclaimed as Maxie snatched the order booklet from her hands. "I'm working."
"You know, as well as I do, that your heart can't take you stressing out." Maxie tossed the items onto the counter, in front of Courtney. "There are two other waitresses on duty. Which is one more than you usually have so let's go."
"Maxie, I can't just skip out on work." Elizabeth tried to get through to her.
"Oh, come on!" Maxie groaned, grabbing Elizabeth's jacket and purse. "What's Ruby going to do? Fire you? You already quit. Trust me Liz...you need a shopping break."
Elizabeth didn't have any more time to protest because Maxie dragged her out of the diner. Johnny and Marco simply followed behind them, driving the two women to the boutique so they could shop. Maxie could see that Elizabeth needed this more than anything and she wasn't adverse to a good shopping spree. Elizabeth couldn't help the smile that graced her lips as Maxie dragged her through the store, grabbing different outfits off the racks.
They put on their own runway show, just messing around and having fun. Elizabeth had to admit that she laughed so hard, she thought she'd die of laughter. Spending time with Maxie always did that to her. Especially since Maxie was the type to do spur of the moment things, dragging Elizabeth along for the ride.
"See? I dare you to tell me you don't feel better." Maxie commented as they walked out of the boutique. "Go ahead and say it...thank you Maxie."
"Thank you, Maxie." Elizabeth laughed softly, tossing her things into the trunk of the car. "I really needed this."
"I know." Maxie smirked. "How about we get some chow? A good shopping spree can sure work up a good appetite."
"Food it is." Elizabeth got into the back of the car with Maxie. "My treat."
Robin finally realized what she had to do and rushed to get showered and changed. With Brenda at the Quartermaines, it gave her the chance to do a little digging of her own. There was a particular Quartermaine that would help her in this. Who knew that Emily would be unhappy about someone Jason's dating. Calling up Emily as she got into her car, Robin was glad that she wasn't too bent out of shape to miss some family time.
"Hey Robin!" Emily greeted, walking over to her table in Kelly's. "I was surprised you called."
"I know. I've been so busy, but I just wanted to catch up." Robin hugged her slightly before sitting down. "How have you been?"
"I've been okay." Emily smiled slightly. "You?"
"Same." Robin shook her head. "So I heard Jason has a new girlfriend."
"Yeah...Elizabeth." Emily sighed, wishing she didn't have to talk about this, but knowing that's all Robin wants with her. "They've only been together for about a month."
"Huh." Robin wondered Brenda wanted her to give up on Jason just because he's been with a girl for a month. "What do you think of her?"
"Well, we used to be best friends." Emily pushed down the feelings of missing Elizabeth. "But we've sort of drifted apart when she started dating Jason."
"That's too bad." Robin was starting to piece together her plan in her head. "I'm sorry about that."
Elizabeth and Maxie have made their way to her studio so that Elizabeth could put away her stuff. Johnny and Marco stationing themselves outside the door. Maxie, of course, couldn't help pointing out just what was wrong with Elizabeth's studio, but she didn't mind. She's gotten used to Maxie by now and just accepts her comments for what they are. Simple observations without any hurtful meanings behind it.
"So you don't know how long he'll be gone?" Maxie questioned, plopping down on the couch. "That sucks."
"Yeah. It does." Elizabeth shook her head. "But that's how it is. I'll be fine though, I knew that this would happen sometimes."
"Still. With my cousin in town, it couldn't have been easy for Jason to leave for an unknown amount of time." Maxie commented. "But don't worry, I'll help keep cousin Robin at bay."
"I can handle your cousin, Maxie." Elizabeth closed her closet. "Shouldn't you be heading to your candy stripping duties?"
"Thanks a lot." Maxie sighed, standing up. "I take your stress away and you remind me of mine."
"Candy stripping isn't so bad." Elizabeth shook her head. "It'll be good for you in the long run."
"Yeah, yeah...college junk and whatnot." Maxie shrugged. "Check you later twin."
"Later twin." Elizabeth laughed softly, watching as Maxie walked out.
Just as she was about to sit down to paint, her cellphone started ringing. Smiling to herself, she picked it up and held it to her ear.
"Miss me already?" Elizabeth answered, knowing it was him.
"Yeah. I do." Jason smirked, tossing his bag on the bed. "We just got to the hotel. Everything okay?"
"I'm okay. Maxie forced me to go shopping and it helped a lot." Elizabeth admitted, walking over to sit on the couch. "I'm glad you guys made it there safely."
"I wish I didn't have to be here." Jason sighed, sitting down on the bed. "Has anything happened there?"
"If you mean, have I met either Robin or Brenda, the answer's no." Elizabeth assured. "Maxie did tell me that she's back for you though."
Jason couldn't stop the groan that escaped his lips.
"I have no words for that." Jason ran a hand down his face. "You going to be okay?"
"Like I told Nikolas, if she wants you she's going to have to go through me to get you." Elizabeth said seriously. "If she thinks I'm just going to back off, Robin's got another thing coming."
"Wow...I think I like this side of you." Jason couldn't describe what her confidence made him feel. "Just don't overdo yourself okay?"
"I'll be fine." Elizabeth wasn't the one that Jason should be worried about. "If anything, Robin's the one that needs to be careful."
"I think you're spending too much time with Carly." Jason laughed softly, giving Sonny the nod when he stuck his head in. "I have to get going, but I'll call you when I can, okay?"
"Okay. Be safe and come back to me." Elizabeth stood up and walked over to look out the window. "I'm not done with you, Morgan."
"Don't worry. I'm coming back." Jason assured, grabbing his jacket and walking out the door. "I'm not done with you either, Webber."
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews.
Sorry, but I really have a bad habit of writing between the times of midnight and three in the morning, so that's why my updates aren't as fast as most writers.
Hope you liked the update.
Till next time...