Alright guys here you go! Thanks for the reviews! And as always if there is something you'd like to see in this story feel free to send me a PM to let me know. Big thanks to my sister for the help in trying to figure this out. I hope you like the direction I went with it. Keep the reviews coming. I should be posting more often now this chapter was hard to get into for some reason. But Once I started to get going with it, it seemed to write itself.

AS I have said before I own nothing other than my own little story the characters and some of the included plot lines belong to ABC/GH.

Elizabeth was nervous. She was about to go on her first official date with AJ. Grams had agreed to watch Cam and Aiden for the whole evening. AJ was taking her out to dinner at the Metro Court. Elizabeth was nervous. The last time she had gone on a date was with Ewan and that could not have ended worse. Elizabeth gave herself a once over in the mirror. She felt fabulous. Felix had come over after appointing himself her personal stylist. He had done her hair and make-up and picked out her dress. It was a simple black dress. Elizabeth tugged at the neckline it was a little lower than she was used to, but Felix had been determined that she look "Sexy as hell for that fine ass man." Felix was a matchmaker and he told her that while she was the most fashionable of all his colleagues, this was too important to leave to amateurs. Elizabeth adored Felix. She tugged the neckline a half inch higher and decided to change anyway. She didn't want to send the wrong message. She had told as much to Felix to which he replied, "Honey, you haven't even been up to the plate since your last date went psycho." She just didn't know if she was ready to send that message yet.

She was headed to the closet to grab another dress when the doorbell rang. "No time to change now" She said with one more glance in the mirror, she hurried down the steps to open the door. AJ stood on the other side with an enormous bouquet of Casablanca lilies. He was wearing a suit and he looked gorgeous. Elizabeth couldn't help the tug of attraction between the two of them. It grew stronger everyday.

AJ stood outside the Elizabeth's door transfixed. The lilies forgotten in his hand as he stared unabashedly at her. She was beautiful. He had been in love with the memory of her and that grew with the stories Steve told him about his courageous sister. Since his return from the departed, those feelings had only grown. Now she stood before him smiling that open honest smile that told him she was genuinely happy to see her. She motioned him into her house and as he followed he prayed he wasn't drooling. How short was that dress? She had great legs. And the rest of her took his breath away.

"Are those for me?" She asked with a small laugh. And he realized he had been standing there staring at her.

"Uh. Yes. Sorry." He said with a sheepish grin.

"I'll just put them in some water. Have a seat." Elizabeth left the room. AJ was about to sit on the couch as she suggested when he noticed the pictures on the mantle. Curious, he walked over. There was a picture of two smiling little boys. One of the dark and one of them fair. The dark haired boy was obviously Cam but the younger one was too old to be Aiden. AJ assumed that the blonde haired little boy was Jake. His nephew. Jason's son. He looked at the other pictures there were more of the boys. One with them and Lucky. One with the boys and Elizabeth. There was a picture of Emily and Cameron. And a great picture of Emily and Elizabeth that must have been taken at her wedding because she was wearing a wedding dress and Emily looked so grown up and beautiful beside her. He missed his sister. Emily was the shining light of the Quartermaines. The one child who had been everything she was supposed to be. He remembered that she had believed in him when no one else had.

"I miss her so much." Elizabeth said from behind him.

"She was the only one who ever really believed in me. I disappointed her so much." AJ said without turning around.

"She loved you. She wanted so much for you to get better. Every time to left to go to rehab she believed you would stay sober. She would be proud of you. She loved her family despite their faults."

"She loved you too." AJ said finally turning to look at Elizabeth. Again the sight of her robbed him of his thoughts.

Elizabeth was still looking at the picture. "Emily was my best friend. I'd like to think she would have forgiven me for the things I did to Nikolas and Lucky."

AJ only knew a little about the affair Elizabeth had had with Nikolas Cassadine. Steve's visits and letters had become less frequent. He only knew Elizabeth had had an affair with Nikolas and that Aiden's paternity had come into question. Ultimately the child had been proven Lucky's despite Helena's machinations.

"Emily would want you to forgive yourself," AJ said and Elizabeth's eyes met his. "She was that kind of a person."

Elizabeth looked into AJ's eyes and saw that look there again. The one from the Rib. The one that curled her toes in her high heels. It was intense. She couldn't look away and stood transfixed.

"Thank you" she said.

"For what?"

"For not judging me for my failings."

"Well," AJ said moving into her and drawing her into him slowly. "You look beyond my past too." He couldn't help it. His hand brushed upward along her arm leaving goose bumps in its wake. He stared at his hand as if it weren't his. It brushed along to her neck grazing her exposed collar-bone.

"I guess that makes us even" Elizabeth breathed. AJ's touch had made it hard to breathe. She swayed into him. Her gaze locked on his mouth.

"Not even close," AJ whispered. His breath fanning her lips a spare second before his lips came down on hers. Lightly, as if he was trying to breathe her in. Elizabeth's hands lifted to his shoulders and she pulled him into her until there wasn't even air between them. His hold tightened and he pulled away. "We, um, we should go to dinner."

Confused, Elizabeth looked up and into his eyes. There was no mistaking the passion there. The desire and something more. She realized AJ was right if they didn't leave for dinner now, they would never make it out the door. She went to get her coat.

AJ watched her walk away and tried to catch his breath. And bring his raging body under control. He had been ready to just throw away the plans for the evening and take her right then and there, but Elizabeth deserved better than that. So he got control of himself and walked over to help Elizabeth into her coat. She turned to face him and he was stuck once again. She smiled and started to go for the doorknob, her hand in his, when he tugged her back. She tumbled into his arms and his lips came down on hers with so much passion she forgot who she was. There was something primal in the way he held her. Her mouth opened for his allowing him access and he took full advantage. His arms held her tight to him. She could only hold on for dear sanity while he kissed it away.

AJ let all his emotions pour into the kiss. He loved the way she responded to him. Her hands flew to his shoulders clutching him. Her lips were so soft and AJ drank his fill. Delving deeply over and over again. His arms wrapped around her tightly. There was no questioning the fact that he was aroused. He was fully pressed up against her. He finally, after what seemed like days, gentled the kiss, pulling back and giving her small kisses along her jaw, her cheek and neck. He rested there with his face in her hair while they caught their breaths. He finally pulled back. She was slightly rumpled her lips swollen from his tender assault.

"Sorry." He said. "I would have been thinking about that all night."

Elizabeth smiled a woman-who-knows-she's-got-a-man-under-her-spell smile, "And now I'll be thinking of it all night" With that she turned and opened the door and the two of them were off to the Metro Court.

When the elevator door opened at the Metro Court, Elizabeth and AJ stepped out. He immediately took her coat. "I am just going to check our coats and talk to the hostess. I'll be right back." Elizabeth nodded and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before heading over. Elizabeth was lost in thought. The car ride there had been fine. She was still a little keyed up over the two kisses they shared before leaving her house. Her mind was still wandering when the elevator doors opened beside her and she heard a friendly voice call out her name.

"Elizabeth"

"Carly. Hi."

"Wow you look amazing. Are you here on a date? Who's the lucky guy?" Carly asked.

"Um. Well" Elizabeth hedged. She didn't know what to say. She was kicking herself for not realizing that Carly could be here. She owned the building or at least half of it.

"Anyway." Carly broke in before Elizabeth could tell her she was there with AJ. "I heard that you got the funding for the Nurse's Ball. Michael told me."

"Carly-"

"I want you to know that I am very happy for you"

"Carly-"

"I also wanted you to know that you have the full support of the Metro Court. In fact, I'd like it very much if you would consider allowing the Nurse's Ball to be held here"

"Carly"

Carly stopped dead. She knew that voice. She had only seen him a few times since he had been back but they hadn't really said anything and then she had knocked herself out. She had known Elizabeth was trying to tell her something but she was too excited about telling her that they could have the Metro Court for the Nurse's Ball that she hadn't even heard AJ come up. She turned now to face him with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"AJ" She responded. He just smirked at her. She turned back to Elizabeth. Who had a sympathetic look on her face.

"Carly, I would love to have the Nurse's Ball here. I think it is a great idea and very generous of you. We can schedule a meeting say sometime after New Year's and we'll get the Ball rolling so to speak." She was desperately trying to cover the awkwardness of the situation. Carly appreciated the attempt but was still reeling from the shock.

"Yes, yes of course." Carly was grateful to be given a way out of the situation. Normally she would have delved head on into an argument with AJ. And it wasn't too long ago that she would have gladly included Elizabeth in her diatribe. But it was Elizabeth's decision that saved her daughter's life and Carly would be eternally grateful. The two had put their differences to bed. And while they were by no means friends, they were no longer enemies. She wasn't even sure how to deal with AJ. While she was not glad he was back, she sure as hell was not the same person she was when he "died". She would never forgive him for the things he had done but she had done horrible things as well. She had allowed and encouraged Sonny to not only destroy AJ but to end his life as well. Her life was very different now. She smiled awkwardly at Elizabeth and told her to enjoy her evening. She nodded to AJ and walked away.

"That was strange." AJ said watching her leave.

"Not really" Elizabeth replied. The two headed for their table. They both had sparkling water set in front of them and gazed at the menu. They discussed the choices and finally settled on their order. After the server left them alone, the talk returned to Carly.

"Okay you have to explain," AJ said. "When I 'left', the two of you were at each others throats. She hated you and you hated her right back if I am not mistaken."

"Well a lot's happened since then." Elizabeth explained. "We have both changed quite bit. I have made mistakes and learned that you have to rebuild a little at a time. I don't judge her for the choices she has made. She doesn't judge me."

"Come on. With all the things that woman has done to you. The things she did to me?"

"Carly was wrong for the things that she did to you. She was wrong to encourage Sonny. She was wrong to keep your son away from you. But I understand where she was coming from. I made some questionable decisions myself. I lied about Jake's father his whole life. I let Lucky go into rehab thinking that Jake was his. I remarried him with him still believing that Jake was his. And then I convinced him to pretend that Jake was his to keep him safe. And it didn't matter. In the end it was my fault that Jake died. It was my fault Jason didn't get to acknowledge Jake as his son. I even lied to Ric about Cameron being his at first. I am no saint and I have made mistakes. I'd like to think I was a different person now but I still make mistakes. It wasn't too long ago that I almost let Sam continue to believe that her baby was dead. I came clean and was forgiven but I still made the choice. We all make mistakes."

"Yeah but what she did-"

"Was a long time ago. And the important thing is that Michael knows the truth. The important thing is that the two of you are building a relationship. Carly hasn't tried to interfere with that has she?"

Resigned AJ sighed, "No. No, she hasn't. In fact Michael told me after he talked to Bobby, Carly came clean about the whole thing. And while she hasn't actually encouraged Michael in building a relationship she hasn't stood in the way either.

You know Carly and I used to be friends before…all of this I guess. We hung out. We talked. We were comrades in arms if you will." AJ smiled. Things weren't always what they became. So tell me what happened with you two. If I remember correctly, you hated her almost as much as I did."

"Jake happened." Elizabeth replied. Her eyes took on a misty look as she looked past AJ. She was looking back on that most horrible time in her life. "It was after Aiden was born. He looked more and more like Lucky everyday. So I had a new paternity test done. One that Helena couldn't possibly tamper with. I had gotten the results in the mail and I was reading them. I should have been watching but I let myself get distracted. Jake walked out the front door and was hit by a car. Luke, it turned out was driving. Patrick and Robin did everything they could to save him but…" She paused a moment the memories were flooding her. She felt AJ take her hand on the table and the warmth of it the security of it. The strength of it gave her the will to continue on. "Josslyn is Carly's daughter with Jasper Jacks. She came down with a rare form of cancer she was facing radiation and chemotherapy at such a young age and there was no guarantee that the treatments would work. The only hope she had was to have a transplant. Jake was brain dead and his…Jason asked me to donate Jake's kidneys to Joss but I couldn't do it. I blamed him I was cruel. I didn't want them to cut my baby open and use him for spare parts. I was angry and bitter and I felt like there was a hole in my heart that was never going to be filled. Lucky and I talked. I realized that Jake could go on. That while he would never get to grow up and be happy and have a life beyond his young age. That others could. That because of him other kids would have a happy life they would get to grow up. I donated one of Jake's kidneys to Josslyn because it was the right thing to do. I have never regretted that decision and I never will" She looked back at AJ, whose eyes held the hint of tears in them. "That is why Carly and I are no longer enemies. That little girl bonds us in a way."

AJ merely nodded his response. Elizabeth had been through so much. He was oddly glad that she and Carly were no longer enemies. "You know. You are probably the most amazing person I have ever met." He said with a smile. She smiled back at him and their food arrived. They talked while they ate. AJ told her about his time in Switzerland how he saw so many people there that were from Port Charles. It wasn't just Faison and Duke that were being held there. One of the first things he had done since returning from the hospital there was to inform Anna of what he saw there. He knew she was there now investigating with John McBain.

They talked about her boys and her brother and sister. They talked about Emily and Nikolas and the Cassadines. She told him about Spinelli and he had a laugh over all the nicknames he seemed to have for everyone. They talked about Jason for a bit and she told him about the time Jason apologized to his grave at the family crypt.

"He regretted hurting you. With all we had gone through with Jake, I think he finally understood." AJ merely nodded. He had spent so much time angry at his brother for what he had done he needed time to process this.

They finished their meal and returned to Elizabeth's house. The car ride back had been intense. AJ had rested his hand on her knee and her perfume filled the car. She sighed and looked at him as he drove and he had to be careful not to drive off the road. They raced for the front door when they got to her house. The door was slammed shut with his foot and his mouth was instantly on hers. She kept her hand busy trying to undo the buttons on his coat as he stripped hers off quickly tossing it in the direction of the coat rack. She pulled him with her, backing towards the couch. She had been able to remove his coat and his tie and opened his jacket, sliding her hands around his middle. AJ stripped off his coat still kissing her. He moved to her neck and was doing crazy things to the pulse that beat erratically. She pulled his shirt out of the waistband of his trousers and finally touched his bare skin. He groaned into her neck, and she moaned in response. His hands were everywhere. He tugged the neckline of her dress down and was kissing her along her collar bone when her phone began ringing.