A/N – Thanks for the reviews so far. KristinaDEllis – Thanks for reading! Doralupin86 – I hear you! This chapter and the next are probably the worst for Jason and then it improves. I'm giving you a 2nd chapter for today. Enjoy! Liz kind of does something really stupid….

Chapter 4 - Runaway

Liz took a deep breath as anger coursed through her body. "If I'm not pretty or suitable enough for you, then we should end this now. I'm not going to waste away in this house. I have way too much to offer for that."

Jason growled and moved towards her. Suddenly, Liz felt a little intimated. He stopped in front of her and she took a step backward. "I will not be forced to care for you or make this marriage work. I didn't want it in the first place and was pressured into it. You can't bat your eyes at me and cook your way into my heart and wear a hot dress and think that I'm going to get all tongue-tied. I will not succumb to your charms, ever!"

Liz hurled her body at him, and let out a battle cry, and started pounding on his chest as she practically screamed in frustration. Jason grabbed her and pulled her closer to stop her from hitting him, and when that didn't work, he picked her up and threw her onto the bed.

"Please stop," Jason yelled.

She lunged at him and he lost his balance and fell on top of her. Liz fought him with every ounce of anger she had in her body as he held her down as gently as he could. He didn't want to hurt her. She finally stilled and he stared into her eyes as he watched the tears well up before letting her go and easing his body off of hers. Slowly, he left the room. When he didn't come back, Liz threw on some pants and sneakers and grabbed the little bit of cash she had on her before sneaking out of the house and running.

Jason was in the kitchen and didn't see her leave. When he finally decided to head back to the room, she was gone. He frantically called Johnny who joined him right away.

"She's gone. We had a big fight and she sneaked out. It's not safe right now. We have to find her."

Jason knew he had screwed up as he watched Johnny curse under his breath and take off.

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Dante Falconeri was coming from a friend's house when he saw the petite woman walking down the street. He pulled up alongside her. "Are you in trouble?"

"Leave me alone please," Liz said continuing. She didn't even bother to look his way.

"I can't do that. I can't leave you out here. It's too dangerous. Please get in my car."

Liz shook her head. "You could be an ax murderer."

Dante chuckled. "I assure you that I am not. I'm a Fire Investigator." She glanced at him and he flashed his badge.

She didn't say anything and continued to walk.

"If you won't get in my car, will you please let me call you a cab?"

Liz froze when she heard someone yell her name and then reached for the door handle and jumped inside.

Dante smiled and punched the gas pedal and drove to a diner on the outskirts of town.

They settled into a booth and a waitress appeared.

"What can I get you?"

"May I have some hot chocolate?" Liz asked.

Dante smiled. "I'll have the same and a slice of that apple pie I spotted on the way in."

The waitress smiled. "Whatever you want, honey."

Liz giggled. "I think she likes you."

"I think she's older than my mother."

Liz laughed.

"I'm Dante, by the way."

"Elizabeth. So, tell me about yourself, Dante."

"Hmmm. Well, I'm a fire investigator, which you already know. I just moved to Port Charles from Brooklyn. My dad lives here, but I haven't spoken to him for a long time."

"Why?"

The waitress placed their order on the table. "Holler if you two kids need anything," she said before winking at Dante.

He shook his head and continued. "Well, let's just say we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things."

"Okay," she said before sipping on her drink.

"Want some pie?"

She shook her head.

"I'm single, but I hope to change that. I also like baseball and my ma's cooking," Dante said before taking a bite of the pie.

Liz grinned. "I love to cook. I make some mean gravy."

He looked at her with surprise. "What else do you like to do?"

"Well, I love to paint. I'm an artist and I love to play cards, pool, you name it. Tequila is my favorite drink. Oh, and one day, I'd like to teach art." Liz grinned at the thought. "And I even sew and made my prom dress."

Dante smiled. "Wow, you're one talented lady. I'm impressed."

"I suppose you want to know why I was wandering around the streets by myself at night?"

He studied her gorgeous face. "You don't have to tell me anything unless you want to."

"Let's just say my arranged marriage is not quite working out as I planned it."

"Did you say arranged? What is this India?" he asked making a face.

Liz laughed. "It was more of a business transaction." It suddenly hit her that Dante knows more about her than her husband and that made her sad.

"I hope it works out for you. You seem like a very nice lady," he said, a little bit sad that she is taken.

Liz smiled. "Thanks."

"So, where do we go from here, my new friend?" he asked putting his fork down.

Liz thought for a moment. She could kick herself for not grabbing her purse.

Dante guessed her predicament. "Would you be opposed to going to my apartment? I'll sleep on the couch and be a perfect gentleman. I promise."

She took another sip of her drink. "This could very well be the stupidest thing that I've ever done, but yes, I'd like to take you up on that."

"Good."

Dante threw some money on the table and stood. "After you, milady."

Liz smiled and moved past him and then out to the car.

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Dante unlocked his door. "It's not much. I just changed the sheets this morning. You can have the bed and I'll sleep on the couch."

Liz likes the loft. It is industrial, but it has character. She turned to face him. "I like it."

"You're just being nice. Have a seat."

Liz sat on the couch. Jason is going to be furious, but she just doesn't care. He deserves whatever he'll have coming from her father. She just hopes that Dante is a stand-up guy.

"You want some water?"

She nodded, and he went into the fridge and grabbed a bottle and then a beer for himself before joining her.

He turned on the television and they started watching a movie and eventually, they fell asleep. When he woke up, he debated on what to do and then carried her over to the bed and tucked her in before returning to the couch wondering what kind of asshole lets a girl like that go?

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Jason met Johnny back up at the house. "Fuck," he said when he saw Johnny was alone.

Johnny didn't even reply.

"I fucked up."

"You think?" Johnny said exasperatedly.

Jason knows that he deserved the looks and attitude he was getting from everyone, but all he could think about is that she is alone out there by herself and scared all because of him. She is small, and he is worried that she won't be able to protect herself. If anything happens to her, he will never forgive himself.

Sonny ran into the house. "Did you find her?"

"No."

He clenched his jaw. This is not going to end well. "So help me, Jason, if you fuck this up and she gets hurt, I will kill you myself," he said before walking over to the couch and sitting.

They sat around and waited all night, but she didn't return.

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Liz woke up in an unfamiliar bed to the smell of eggs and bacon. She sat up and looked over at the kitchen. Dante is cooking without his shirt on. He smiled as she noticed his fit body and tattoos and then went to freshen up in the bathroom before sitting on the couch.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

He put two plates and some juice on the coffee table. "Dig in," he said before grabbing his shirt and putting it back on.

She smiled and ate as they chatted.

He glanced at her. "I have to be at work soon. Is there someplace that I can take you?"

Liz gazed at him solemnly. "I guess you better take me home. I think I taught him a good enough lesson."

Dante smiled. "Whatever you want, just let me put on my uniform."

She nodded and he came back in ten minutes and grabbed his keys, so she followed him down to his car and they got inside.

He handed her a card. "If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to call me."

"Thank you."

She gave him directions to the house and then to her surprise, the gates are open when they arrived, and they drove inside. Dante pulled up to the house and got out of the car and opened her door.

"Thanks again," she said sincerely.

"I'll walk you to the door."

Liz cringed. "I don't know if that's a good idea. My husband is a hothead."

At that moment the door flung opened and Jason came bounding down the stairs as Johnny ran behind him.

"Where have you been?" he yelled. "You scared us shitless."

Liz flinched and Dante pushed her behind him. "Can you calm down, please? You're scaring her."

Johnny jumped in front of Jason and pushed him back before he could beat the shit out of Dante.

A/N – Thanks for the reviews. To Guest reviewer who isn't happy as a Jason fan. I'm a Jason fan too, but honestly, he can be a jerk sometimes. I've wanted to wring his neck a lot on the show; Liz too. He makes mistakes and has to grow up just like anyone else. I don't think it's that farfetched for him to get pissed because he doesn't get his way or ignore people. Honestly, it's more of a challenge for me to change it up here and there instead of writing some perfect fairy tale. Angsty and painful? Yes. Worth it in the end? Definitely. And to the other Guest who said she shouldn't run away, I agree. She wasn't thinking, she just reacted. And yes, I do have a plan. J

You'll find out more about their motivations in this chapter. I didn't want to give you that upfront because then there wouldn't be any real angst. Thanks for all of the feedback. We might not always see eye to eye but I value all of it. By the way, I mentioned Liz was 22. I picture Jason at 27.