ABC/DISNEY owns GH. No copyright infringement is intended.

There is some confusion about the poll. I am talking about Johnny O'Brien not Zacchara.

Chapter 42

While the table settled down into a lively conversation, mostly around the new institute neither Jason nor Elizabeth said much. He did spend a good amount of the meal looking across the table at his wife, who spent most of her time ignoring his looks. Yeah, he was in trouble, and honestly she was right. He and AJ had taken this too far. After a meal where he didn't really eat much, the two brothers took Howie aside and told him of the contract that was his for the taking. The older man smiled and said he appreciated the business. He also said he had no intention of turning Major League Baseball away.

"We should go." Elizabeth said standing. It wasn't that late but she did want to get the boys home before Cameron needed to be carried into the house. "Go drag your son away from his great-grandfather and cousin." She said speaking to Jason for the first time in over an hour. She did not intend to hold onto her anger, they never went to sleep angry, but at the moment she was not ready to be forgiving.

Jason went down the hall and found Edward, Morgan, and Cameron with the train layout. "Cameron mommy said its time to go."

"Okay." The little boy said hopping off the stool he was sitting on, but giving Pop-pop a kiss first. "Bye Morgan." The little boy called out before running down the hall.

"Go say goodnight to your aunt." Edward told Morgan who did as instructed. "Is she talking to you yet?" Edward asked his grandson grinning. He remembered the days when Lila was unhappy with something he had done. The woman could give lessons in the silent treatment.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Jason asked glowering.

"Of course I am." Edward grinned wider.

"Just keep an eye on Elizabeth." Jason was only a little worried this would be too stressful.

"I won't let her overdo." Edward said removing his engineer's cap. "I think the institute will benefit from her input. Her heart will be what makes it so that it's not just a place for people to have doctor's looking at them. It will be a place that people come to heal." Edward said knowingly. "So how are you going to get back in her good graces? Chocolate is out, and flowers are expected."

"I'm not going to buy my way out of trouble." Jason huffed.

Edward was glad to hear that. With women like Elizabeth that didn't work. "Groveling?"

"Pretty much." Jason said starting to smile. "For at least the next few days."

"Good man." Edward clapped his grandson on the back. "Sending lunch tomorrow wouldn't be a bad move either."

"Already planned on it." This wasn't Jason's first time in trouble. "Any advice with mom?"

"Flowers." Edward said as they walked down the hall. "Your mother is a traditionalist." He didn't bother to tell Jason that the work wasn't necessary. He and his brother were building a center and naming it after their father. Monica had already forgiven them before she walked out of the boardroom.

Elizabeth was talking with Keesha and Carly when Jason came back into the parlor. Monica was kissing on her grandsons before they left. "Thanks for not asking me for money." Jax said saluting Jason with his drink. "I get into enough trouble on my own."

"Ha ha." Jason was tired of being poked at.

"Keesha already said I'm sleeping down the hall." AJ was in a lot of trouble with his beautiful wife. "Hopefully that will be temporary."

"Good luck." Matt said laughing. "Did you guys really think this would work?"

Neither brother said a word.

"Cameron, Jake let's get our coats on." Elizabeth said walking over. She was tired.

"Okay mommy." Cameron took his brother's hand and they followed her into the main hall.

Jason walked over to his mother. "I'm sorry."

"You're forgiven. Your father would be proud of what you are doing at the hospital." Monica said giving her youngest son a hug. "He would be appalled at how horrible you are at being devious." She said laughing. "You're a Quartermaine by blood, you should have seen this coming."

Jason just rolled his eyes and hugged his mother back. "He makes you happy?" This was the question he should have asked when he first learned his mother was dating.

"He does." She said smiling.

"Okay. I'll be watching though." Jason let her know.

"I would hope so. I am your mother. It's your job to make sure he treats me good. It did make me really happy that you and your brother were working together on something. For too many years the two of you wouldn't even speak to each other." Monica told her youngest son.

"We are doing better now." Jason was going to do his part to make sure that didn't change.

"Well you are getting along. But considering how you crashed and burned I wouldn't say you were doing better." Monica said laughing. She figured she would be having this same conversation with AJ before he left. "Take your wife home. She has a busy day tomorrow."

"Rubbing it in isn't attractive." Jason said with a half-smile.

"You deserve it." Monica said laughing harder. "Go before your aunt is done with her phone call to Ned. If you leave now then she can spend the rest of the night irritating your brother."

"Neither one of us was that bad." Jason muttered before heading out to join his family.

"The boys are asleep." Jason said coming into his bedroom after reading to his sons.

"Jake was practically asleep in the tub." She had their youngest son tonight.

"Cameron was a bit hyper, but he calmed down once I started reading. It was Horton Hears a Who tonight." Cameron had talked about playing trains during his bath.

"At least you don't have to read the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. You probably had it memorized by the time the holiday came." Elizabeth was already in her nightgown and under the covers.

"I'm going to get a shower." Jason said before moving into the bathroom. Being at odds with his wife always left him unsettled. The shower helped him relax and when he got in bed Elizabeth scooted over and cuddled up. Jason let out the breath he'd been holding. "Elizabeth?" He asked once the lights were out.

"Yes." She was finally relaxed.

"Why did you back away from me?" This one thing wasn't letting go. "You know that no matter how angry I get I wouldn't ever hurt you. Right?"

"I know." Elizabeth hadn't realized that she upset him with that small action. "I needed to get that out, and I needed you to hear it. Having your arms around me can be distracting." She admitted. She was smiling and knew he could hear it in her voice.

"I apologized to my mother." He wanted her to know. "She said Howie makes her happy."

"We wouldn't have fought you two so hard if he didn't." Elizabeth told her husband. "It's pretty funny how far the two of you went to get your way. Only to fail in the end." She said laughing at him and his brother.

"Who came up with the idea of you as project manager?" Jason asked, he was thinking Carly.

"I did." Elizabeth knew that would surprise him. "Keesha said the board wouldn't approve hiring someone if a staff member had the time. With me going to part time, I was free to help."

"Who came up with Edward as your helper?" Jason wasn't even going to try to guess that one.

"Emily." Elizabeth turned her face into Jason's shoulder and laughed harder.

"My wife and my sister." He said pulling his wife as close as he could.

"I really am excited to be helping with the center." Elizabeth was drifting off.

"With you working on it, the institute will be the best on the East Coast." There wasn't anything his wife couldn't do. "Let me know if you need help."

She snorted. "I think you and AJ both have helped enough. I need to sleep, I have a busy day tomorrow." She said almost purring when he rubbed her back. "Night Jason."

"Night baby." He said kissing her temple softly and grinning into the dark.

At eight a.m. Elizabeth joined Edward in the conference room at the hospital. She was carrying a notepad and several pens. "I think I'm all set."

"I'm sure you are." Edward fussed over her a bit, getting her something to drink, before they settled down to work. "The first thing we need is a contractor." He had on his reading glasses as he reviewed the budget. "The boys were very generous."

"Tracy offered to send over the foreman for the company that handled the ELQ renovations." Elizabeth hadn't gotten the name last night.

"We used Johnny's company, and while they did great work we cannot use them here." Edward told her granddaughter. "With him being an underwriter of the project that would be inappropriate."

"So do we just announce that we are doing the project and wait to see who bids?" Elizabeth wanted to know.

"That is exactly what we don't want to do. We will end up wading through a bunch of proposals that won't work and just wasting a lot of time. What we do, is invite companies to bid on the contract. We should start with the company who built the trauma center." Edward had requested all the information from that project and the pediatric wing construction.

"Should we do that for the design firm as well?" Elizabeth wanted to know.

"There will be notes from Alan on how each company did. If his notes say they were good to work with, then yes. If they don't then we should find someone else." Edward explained. "I would propose that we spend the next few days going over his project notes as well as mine. That will give us a good idea of where to start." Both would have not only the names of those who won the bids but also the names of other companies contacted.

There were a dozen binders on the table top. Some blue and others green. "Are the projects color coded?"

"They are I'll take the blue ones which are my notes. You take the green ones which are the trauma center." Edward suggested. He could get through his notes faster and then help her with Alan's notes.

They were settling in to read and take notes when there was a knock on the door. "Mrs. Morgan."

She looked up. "Hello Melissa." Elizabeth got to her feet. "Is Jason in the building?"

"No. Your husband sent me over to help." Melissa said putting her laptop on the table. This sounded like a wonderful project and Mel was happy not only to be of assistance, but also to be closer to Leyla. They could maybe have lunch together.

"Oh." Elizabeth hadn't expected that.

"Who is your friend?" Edward wanted to know.

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth said trying not to frown. "Edward this is Melissa Bedford, Jason's assistant. Melissa this is Edward Quartermaine, Jason's grandfather."

"Mr. Quartermaine, it's a pleasure to meet you." Melissa smiled as she got out her laptop. "Where should I set up?"

"Um." Elizabeth looked at Edward. "I..uh." She floundered. Elizabeth wasn't sure what to say, she hadn't expected Jason to send anyone over. Honestly Elizabeth didn't want Melissa here. She and Sarah were stamped from the same mold. They were perfect at everything. Jason had mentioned more than once how great Melissa was at her job. Having her here day in and day out was not something Elizabeth wanted. "We weren't expecting someone else." She finally got out. "I'm sure that Jason could use you more than we can. Especially if he has to stay late." Elizabeth couldn't help adding.

"Nonsense, help is always welcome." Edward said turning on the charm. "What happened to Gina?"

"She retired." Melissa answered as she took a seat and pulled up a document. "The problem with the client is straightened out. I was only there to translate. He is German. Jason is worried about you getting stressed."

"You speak German." Edward said getting to know the young lady better.

"I actually speak five languages. Six if you include English." Mel said smiling. Jason often spoke of his grandfather. He said the older man was charming and he was right. "So where are we starting?"

"Of course you do." Elizabeth muttered. Sarah part two.

"Jason must find you indispensable." Edward had heard Elizabeth, but Melissa had not.

"He'd do fine without me. He is a great boss though. He even set me up on a date." Melissa told Edward.

"Matchmaking seems to be a new hobby of his." Edward smiled.

"He's very good at it." Melissa beamed. She was very glad Leyla was in her life. "Where would you like to start?"

"With contractors." Edward could see that Elizabeth wasn't happy and had no idea why. "Elizabeth dear, why don't you get familiar with those notes and Melissa and I will start compiling names." Edward would spend some time with Melissa and see if he couldn't learn more about her.

"Sure." Elizabeth said giving a smile that was brittle around the edges before returning to her binders.

They had a very productive morning. Edward and Melissa had the name of ten contractors to contact before lunch. Elizabeth had given them the list from Alan's notes. Melissa also started lists for interior designers, architects when they were ready to draw up blue prints, and vendors who would possibly have equipment that the doctors could use.

"Well that was a very good morning." Edward said when lunch arrived.

Elizabeth just smiled as she took a bite from her sandwich. She'd spent the morning reading notes and making lists. However it turned out that Melissa had experience with projects of this nature, and had made several recommendations each of which Edward said was wonderful.

"With Melissa's assistance we got more done this morning than I expected. By the end of the week we should be able to send out invitations for bids." Edward said eating as well. "She's going to start making some calls this afternoon. I didn't think we'd be at this point until Wednesday at the earliest. How is your reading coming?"

"Fine." Elizabeth answered. It was the first word she'd said in hours.

"Any questions about Alan's notes?" Edward said trying to draw his granddaughter out.

"No. Alan was very organized." Elizabeth said finishing her lunch. "I'm going to take a walk and get some air." She needed to shake off her mood before she opened her mouth and said something she shouldn't. It was Melissa's fault she reminded her of Sarah.

"I'll be here when you get back." Edward said rising as she left.

"You want to talk about it?" Milo asked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth opened her mouth and closed it. Was there a way to say that she didn't like Jason's new assistant despite not knowing her without sounding like a total bitch. "Do you like Melissa?" She asked her friend.

"I don't really know her that well. We've had a few conversations but not enough to form an opinion." Milo answered. "Do you not like her?"

"I think I'm jealous." Elizabeth admitted.

"Jealous?" Milo asked confused. "You don't think that Jason is messing around with her, do you? Because he loves you." He said defending his boss.

"No, I don't think that." Elizabeth assured the younger man. "She's just so perfect."

"Perfect?" Milo wasn't getting what she meant.

"Perfect hair, her clothes are perfect, she's smart, and funny. Edward spent the morning laughing at her jokes. And she's pretty." Elizabeth huffed out. "I grew up with one of her. No matter what you bring up she'll know how to do it better than anyone else. It's nauseating."

Milo grinned. He wondered if Jason knew this. "That's kind of her job. To be good at a lot of things so that whatever the boss needs she can do. If she wasn't good at a lot of things then Jason would be working a lot more instead of at home with you."

"I don't need that rubbed in my face. He sent her down here to help like I couldn't do the job." Elizabeth pouted. "We don't need her help. If Monica was doing this he wouldn't send his Barbie doll over to help." Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest.

"Should we head in?" Milo asked thinking that this was kind of funny. Poor Jason, when Elizabeth finally exploded his boss wasn't going to have a clue why. "It's kinda of chilly." It was warmer than normal, but it was still January.

"Fine." Elizabeth stood up and so did Milo. "I'm being catty."

Milo wisely just kept silent.

"It's just I spent my entire childhood trying to be half as good as Sarah, now I have to deal with her clone." Elizabeth said stomping back into the building. She stabbed the elevator button. "He is so going to owe me for this." She mumbled.

Milo did his best not to laugh.

Mel was in the boardroom when Elizabeth returned. "Edward stepped out for a moment to make a phone call." The blonde had been sensing tension from Jason's wife all morning. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Elizabeth sat down and reached for another binder.

"Why don't you like me?" Melissa straight out asked.

"I don't dislike you." Elizabeth lied. "I don't know you very well, and I just wasn't expecting to see you today. Jason thinks very highly of you and his is the only opinion that matters."

"We both know that isn't true." Melissa said looking over at Jason's wife. "If you don't like me I don't get to stay."

"You fall under the category of business." Elizabeth said reaching for a pad and a pen. "I don't have a say in business matters." But if she did Melissa would be gone. Which was totally unfair. "Francis also likes you, so do Phillip and Diane."

Melissa didn't say anything else but sat down to wait for Edward to arrive.

"Okay ladies, where were we?" Edward was smiling as he walked back into the room.

"You and Melissa were going to start making calls, while I continued reading and making my lists." Elizabeth told Edward. Melissa could work with Edward, but when it came time for Elizabeth to start working on her projects the blonde was going back to Jason's office.

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