A/N – Thanks for the comments! Kcke2pen – lol the ankle breaking was truly an accident.
Chapter 44
Dinner was pretty quiet. Michael provided some levity for them and soon had Julian smiling.
Liz helped clear the table and cornered her father in the kitchen. "You're a good man. I have measured everyone I've ever dated by the example you set."
"Jason is a good man too. He talked me down."
"He's good at that."
"Do you hate your Aunt?"
"Sometimes, but I do understand that she had mental issues. Mostly, I feel nothing. I know it's different because she is your sister, but she was never really around me, so I didn't get attached to her."
"I understand."
"With that being said, I will listen and be there whenever you need me to."
He gave her a hug.
"You give the best hugs."
Julian closed his eyes. "You are just what I needed. My little love bug."
Liz laughed. "That is so sappy."
"That's what I called you because you liked to cuddle."
"I still do."
"That is TMI."
She grinned. "I don't mind being your love bug forever."
"I'm glad we can agree on that. You are my best accomplishment."
"Does that mean I get chocolate ice cream for dessert?"
"Definitely. I'm out of sprinkles though."
"Oh. You're just going to have to run to the store then."
He laughed.
Carly stood in the doorway. "You too are kind of disgusting, but in the best way possible."
Liz turned. "Thanks future faux mom."
Carly made a face. "You can't call me that."
"Is mommy Carly better?"
"When we seal the deal, and we will, I get to put her on a time out, right?"
"Daddy, you won't let her do that will you."
"I can already tell that the two of you are going to be the end of me."
Michael ran inside. "I'll protect you."
Julian scooped him up. "Thank you, buddy. Want Elizabeth's ice cream?"
Liz gasped. "Dad!"
"What? Carly put you on a time out."
Michael laughed.
"You can't put my girl on a time out," Jason said.
"I can and I did."
"We need to buy that house sooner, rather than later."
Carly gasped and Julian froze. "You're buying a house together?"
"Oops," Liz said. "Um, he's buying a house so he can have a baby Chloe."
Michael clapped. "I want a doggie."
Carly glared at them. "See what you started?"
"What?" Jason asked.
Julian didn't say anything. He put Michael down and grabbed the ice cream as his wall went back up.
Liz sighed and made a motion for them to leave.
"Come on Michael. We'll wait in the dining room."
"Okay."
They left and Liz looked over at him. "I'm not moving out right now."
"You should do what you need to do."
"I need to stay here because you need me. I will of course stay at his house sometimes, but this will be my home base until he puts a ring on it."
Julian smirked. "That's my girl."
"You sure you're alright?"
"I just—I like having you here and getting to see you every day. It's nice."
"Well I like seeing your handsome face every day too. Face it, you're stuck with me."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now hand over the ice cream and no one gets hurt."
He grinned. "Grab some bowls."
She took some down from the cabinet and grabbed several spoons and then he dished the ice cream out and they headed to the dining room.
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Ellie screamed out Johnny's name as she shattered into a million pieces. The man certainly knew how to please her and vice versa.
"I think I'm falling in love with you."
The words hung in the air as she tried to process them. Did the Johnny O'Brien just admit that? Holy Shit.
"Ellie?"
"I'm in shock. Give me a minute."
He rolled onto his side and propped his head on his hand. "I meant it. I never thought it could be this way."
She reached up and touched his face. "That really sucks, because I'm in love with Max."
His eyes got big and he tickled her until she was crying. "Seriously, I'm so glad I have you to come home to."
"I feel the same way. I'm falling for you too. I've never been this happy."
They kissed languidly.
"Are you hungry?"
She nodded.
They both jumped up. She threw the sheet around her and he pulled on his underwear and they ran to the kitchen.
"There's lunch meat in there somewhere and some eggs."
"You have any regular meat?"
"There's some frozen sausage in the freezer and some bread."
He rubbed his hands together. "Have a seat. I'm going to make you the best breakfast for dinner you've ever had."
"You can cook?"
"Yup. It was either learn to cook or eat crappy food every day."
"I'm not complaining."
Forty-Five minutes later, Ellie is chowing down on a sausage and egg sandwich. "I think this is the best breakfast sandwich for dinner I've ever had."
"I told you."
For the next fifteen minutes the room is filled with moans as they ate. They drank some juice and sat back.
"In five minutes, I'm going to rock your world again," he said confidently.
"In four minutes, you'll be screaming my name."
"Bring it woman."
She grinned. "I think we have become sex addicts."
"And I never wanna be cured."
"Me either."
He carried her into the bedroom and spent the next hour burning off his dinner.
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Georgie and Enzo sat in the waiting room. "You think they'll be much longer?"
"Why? Do you have a hot date?" Unfortunately, the emergency room had been packed so they had waited an hour to be seen.
"As a matter of fact, yes."
Mac rushed towards them. "What happened?"
"Mom broke her ankle."
He groaned. "You want her to stay with us? I just got Anna back to her house and I have to take on another patient?"
"Where else will she go? She'll need help." Georgie was quiet.
"Can you handle this?"
"I don't know. I guess I can try."
Mac's features softened. "You won't be sorry."
"I know. Can you get her settled? I have a date with Milo that I don't want to break."
"Sure honey."
She kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks."
Enzo led the way to the elevator and took her home so she could change.
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Milo pulled up to the house right when Mac did. He got out and is surprised to see him open the back door.
"I might need your help."
"What happened?"
"She broke her ankle."
Milo looked inside and sees Felicia's leg is propped up on the seat and she's knocked out. "I'll get her." Carefully, he got her out and carried her to the door.
Georgie opened it.
"Incoming."
"Follow me."
She led him upstairs to the bedroom Anna had vacated and they got her tucked in.
"You're okay with this?" Milo asked.
"Yeah, I found her."
"Really?"
"Yes. After you left, Tammy informed me that she hadn't called in and was missing, so I went over to her apartment and Enzo picked the lock."
"I see."
"We called 911 and stayed with her."
"Are you sure that you want to go out?"
"Yeah. She'll just sleep off the meds anyway."
"Alright."
Georgie turned off the light and they went downstairs just as Mac walked in with the crutches.
"Take care of my girl."
"I will, sir."
Mac shut the door after them. "Sir?" He liked it.
Milo held open Georgie's door and then they headed to the drive in.
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Elizabeth strode into the bedroom. Jason was already tucked in, so she checked his bandage and then went into the bathroom to change. When she came out, a slow smile spread on his face.
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you. Are you sure you're up for this?"
He glanced down at his semi he is already sporting. "It looks like it."
"We'll have to be careful."
"Okay." They are still sore.
She reached the bed in her sheer lingerie and wrapped her fingers around his staff. "Someone is up for the occasion."
Jason moaned as he gets impossibly hard. "Elizabeth."
"Yes?"
He hissed and she stopped and slowly wiggled out of the lingerie and straddled him.
"Make us come, baby."
And she did just that, riding him until they both fell apart.
"I feel much better," Jason said as he rubbed her back.
"Me too."
"I'm glad your father is at Carly's. I think he would have heard you."
"That would have been awkward at breakfast time," Liz quipped.
"Definitely."
"Doreen texted me."
"Are they having fun?"
"A blast and they look so happy."
He kissed her on the head. "They'll be back soon. I know you miss her."
"I do. I miss her texts asking if her belly looks bigger."
"Yeah, I've missed them too."
She chuckled.
"Stan is going to doctor up a fake certificate stating that I can drive a semi."
"He's gonna pop a gasket."
"Should I wait until they get back?"
"I say you give it to them when we pick them up. I want to see his face."
"Okay."
They slowly drifted off.
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Georgie jumped and popcorn went everywhere as Milo laughed. "Sorry."
"It's okay. I'll vacuum it out in the morning."
"How come you never jump?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's my training."
"Maybe you should hold the bag then."
He took it.
"Where do you think they'll come out next?"
He was quiet for a few seconds. "The door in the corner."
Sure enough, a minute later a deranged man popped out and Georgie still jumped.
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you sure you've never seen this before?"
"Positive."
She laid her head on his shoulder and he put his arm around her. When she screamed as the final bloody finale played out, he tried not to laugh. She is so damned cute.
"That was a horrible movie. I'm going to have nightmares."
"If you get scared you can call me."
"And what? Can you shoot the zombies through the phone?"
He laughed. "I'm sure Mac has a shotgun."
When she looked up at him, he couldn't help it and they ended up making out through the credits.
Milo is driving her crazy and she has had just about enough. Ellie was already screaming Johnny's name at the top of her lungs and she wanted in on that too.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She swore he looked like he was enjoying reducing her to a puddle of water and it was time to turn that around. She is going to have to phone a friend.
He turned on the car and drove her home. She made sure she gave him a kiss he wouldn't forget and quietly entered the house.
She warily looked into her room as she turned on the light. "Damn movie," she muttered. Quickly she got changed and then peeked in on her mother. She had forgotten that there was a small couch near the window and she hurried back to her room and grabbed her pillow and a blanket before returning and slowly falling asleep.
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The next morning, Felicia woke up and her mouth felt like cotton and she moaned when she felt the pain in her ankle.
Georgie jolted up. "Mom?"
"Georgie, what are you doing in here?"
"Zombie movie."
"Did you think I'd wake up if they were attacking you and hit them with a crutch?"
Georgie slightly smiled. "I don't think that would get us too far. Mac is a light sleeper, so I figured he'd shoot them if necessary."
"Of course, can you help me?"
Georgie got up and first handed her a pain pill and some water.
"Thanks!"
She grabbed the crutches and leaned them against the wall and then helped her mom stand.
Slowly, Felicia made it to the bathroom. She caught Georgie looking into it first. "I don't think there are any Zombies in there."
"Oh, I know. I was checking for rubber duckies."
"Very funny…"
The door shut and she folded up the blanket. A few minutes later, Felicia called out. "Georgie, can you see if Mac is still here?"
Georgie ran out and Mac had already left so she opened the door and motioned for Enzo.
"What's wrong?"
"My mom pushed her medi-alert bracelet."
He grinned. "Where is she?"
"Upstairs."
They went to the room and Georgie knocked on the door. "Mom, Enzo is here."
"Okay."
They open the door and she is sitting on the closed toilet lid. "The pill hit me faster than I thought it would. I don't think I can use the crutches." Her eyes filled with tears.
"No. Don't cry, I'll carry you," Enzo said.
"I don't know why I'm so emotional."
Georgie turned so Felicia wouldn't see her smile. Her hair is a mess and she does look pretty cute.
Enzo carefully scooped her up and then got her onto the bed and then left.
"Alright, Mac will be home in an hour to take care of you. He had a meeting and I need to go into the office."
"Okay, Georgie girl. I love you," she muttered.
Georgie didn't know what to say. She isn't ready to return the sentiments yet, so she covered up her mom and then went to her room to shower and change.
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She watched Elizabeth tentatively walking around the gallery.
"Does it feel weird being here?"
"A little bit, but then I think of all the guests and what a success the night was and I start to feel better."
Liz studied her for a minute. "You look like you want to ask me something."
"I went to the movies with Milo last night."
"Did you have fun?"
"Yeah."
"Did something happen?"
"No. That's the problem. He's driving me crazy."
She turned beet red and Liz smiled.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?"
"We have a date in a few days. Will you help me find something a little more sexy to wear?"
"Of course, it would be fun to go shopping with you. Georgie, I need to ask you something, but I don't want you to be embarrassed."
"Go for it."
"Are you on anything?"
Georgie's head tilted and then she realized what Liz was asking and blushed again. "Yes. I have been since Dillon."
"Just checking. Alright, tomorrow we'll find you a dress."
"Great. Thank you, Elizabeth."
"It's no problem. Now, I need another favor."
"What?"
"Alex is coming by."
"The Alex King?"
Liz nodded.
"When?"
"Oh, in about an hour. I need you to show him around town."
She smiled. "Sure."
They talked over some contracts that had been delivered and then they heard a knock on the door.
"Hey, beautiful."
Liz grinned and they hugged.
"Georgie, this is Alex King."
She smiled at the very good-looking artist standing before her. "Hello. It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise. You have a beautiful smile."
"Thank you."
He is notorious for flirting, but it is always harmless and he never took it too far. "I understand that you are going to show me around town."
"I thought we could hit a few spots."
"My life is in your hands milady." He slightly bowed and then held out his elbow so she'd hold on.
"Right this way. We'll go to the docks first."
Max grinned and texted Milo. "Your girl will be on the docks in about ten."
"Thanks," Milo said. He had just finished supervising an early shipment.
Max chuckled. "Can't wait to see your face when you get a load of Alex." He texted one of the guards so they could take a picture.
A/N I know this is insane, but for some reason, Rudolph Martin who played Anton on AMC popped into my head as the moody artist. He was so sexy back then. So, that is who I'm picturing when I write Alex.