Months pass by and the more they push each other away, the more they seemed to pull each other closer. If Sam noticed anything changing in Jason's demeanor she didn't say anything. The last thing either of them wanted was for Sam to get hurt, but they just couldn't stop what has unknowingly begun.

What that was exactly, Elizabeth had no idea. All she knew was that it wasn't helping her deep unrequited love for her best friend...it only made it stronger. Sure, she knew that she should stop, that she shouldn't get her heart beating like this, but she couldn't help it. She loves him. Madly, deeply, irrevocably and that wasn't about to change. No matter what she did.

"Everything okay?" Robin questions, noting the distant look in her best friend's eyes.

"Yeah." Elizabeth shakes her head. "Everything's great."

"Are you nervous about the grand opening?" Robin guesses. "Or is this more personal?"

"The gallery mostly." Elizabeth sighs, looking around the room. "I can't believe its done."

"You're telling me." Robin chuckles, linking arms with her. "Lets go grab something to eat."

"Sounds good. I'm starving." Elizabeth says, allowing Robin to walk her out of the gallery. "Soon I'll be officially running my own gallery."

"I'm proud of you, Liz." Robin says wholeheartedly. "You've finally gotten there. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks." Elizabeth smiles brightly, following her to her car. "I'm kind of anxious for the grand opening to come already."

"I know."

Getting into the car, the two girls head off to Kelly's for some lunch. For some reason, Elizabeth was hungry all the time now. As they're having their orders taken, Robin's looking at her with a curious - almost amused - look on her face. Once the waitress walks away, Robin pretty much lets her amusement out through laughter.

"What?" Elizabeth questions, looking at her curiously. "Why are you laughing?"

"You weren't kidding when you said you were starving." Robin stifles her laughter. "When was the last time you ate?"

"This morning." Elizabeth admits reluctantly. "Why?"

"Just curious." Robin shrugs. "If you're on something, I want some."

"I'm not doing drugs." Elizabeth throws her a straw. "Sheesh, can't a girl just be hungry?"

"Of course." Robin chuckles, setting the napkin down on her lap. "As long as that's all it is."

"Oh, shut up." Elizabeth mumbles, accepting her order and diving in.

Jason is pacing back and forth in his office. Things between him and Elizabeth have been growing in spite of how hard they've been trying to push each other away. The more time they've spent together, the stronger his love for her has grown. He knows that Sam doesn't deserve this, but he had to find a way out of this marriage. He cares about Sam, but he loves Elizabeth and - forsaking it all - he wants to marry her.

"Busy?" Johnny asks from the doorway.

"No." Jason gestures for him to come in. "What's up?"

"I need the weekend off." Johnny says carefully. "I want to take Em to that opera she has been wanting to see."

"You're going to the opera?" Jason arches eyebrow at him. "Willingly?"

"Don't laugh." Johnny says firmly. "I'm a man in love...sue me."

"I'm happy for you." Jason says simply. "You've got the weekend off as long as you spend it with Emily."

"Plan to." Johnny smirks, looking at him curiously. "What were you doing before I walked in?"

"Thinking." Jason states, leaning against his desk. "I'm seeing Liz tonight and I want to make sure I've figured out what I want to say before then."

"What are you going to say?" Johnny questions, truly curious.

"That I love her." Jason says, his heart almost stopping at the admission. "That I want to marry her."

"Wow." Johnny's eyes grow slightly. "I never thought you'd be able to say that."

"That's what I thought about you and look at you now." Jason counters. "Its time for me to stop hiding behind our friendship."

"I'm proud of you man." Johnny smiles slightly. "Good luck tonight...and don't sweat the words...it'll come to you."

"Sure." Jason shakes his head. "Now get out."

Sonny walks back out of the warehouse, a part of him seething. This couldn't be happening. He's finally gotten to a point with Carly that she finally trusts him again. He can't let this happen. It won't happen. Making his way to his town car, Sonny makes a few calls. There was no way he was going to let that girl ruin his life right now. It can't happen. Everything was set. Jason marries Sam and Elizabeth can keep him happy on the side. He wasn't supposed to want to marry her. What happens next isn't his fault. Its theirs.

"So, I'll be gone for a couple weeks, but the moment I get back we are going to have a girls' night out, okay?" Robin says seriously, loading her luggage onto the counter to check it in. "Promise?"

"Of course." Elizabeth wraps her arms around Robin. "I can't wait."

"I'm gonna miss you." Robin says, fighting off the tears. "You promise me you'll be safe, okay?"

"I'll be fine." Elizabeth promises. "Tell the kids in Venice I said hi."

"Will do." Robin smiles, taking a deep breath. "Love you."

"Love you, too."

Elizabeth watches Robin walk through customs before making her way to Robin's car. It was sad to see her leave, but she's needed in Venice. It wasn't like she was staying over there for good. It'll only be a couple weeks. She can handle a couple weeks without her...or at least she hoped so. For now, she had a doctor's appointment to get to. Something Robin said had her feeling the need to find out for sure.

"Ms. Webber." the nurse called. "Your results are ready in the lab."

"Thank you." Elizabeth says before standing up and taking the elevator down to the lab. "Breathe, Liz...just breathe."

Getting to the lab's floor, she walks the distance to pick up her results. Thankfully she knows a few people in the hospital that she got her test labelled a priority. If she had to wait any longer, she would have lost her mind with not knowing.

"Oh my gosh." she gasps, reading and rereading the results. "I'm pregnant!"

Shoving the results into her back pocket, Elizabeth dials Jason's number, getting his voicemail and deciding it was best to not leave it in a message. She'll go to him. She'll tell him face-to-face and they'll decide from there.

Set on what she had to do, she made her way out of the hospital. She's just about to get into the car when someone grabs her from behind. The fear grabs hold of her and she tries to get away, but the person was too strong. Something's covering her mouth. She doesn't understand what's going on, but the world starts to turn back. The last thought on her mind is Jason and the baby she's carrying. Hoping...praying...that she'll be okay. That they'll be okay.

"That's weird." Jason says, checking his phone and finding a missed call from Elizabeth.

He tries to call her cellphone, but its going straight to voicemail. He calls her house and the gallery, but has no better results. Deciding that he'll go check on her himself, Jason makes his way to her house. He knocks on her door. After a while, he decides to make his way to his penthouse. Maybe she left him a message there. Sam's taking a 'me day' and won't be back until late that night.

"A note?" Jason looks at it skeptically. "Since when does she leave a note?"

Dear Jason,

I decided to join Robin in Venice.
Whatever's happening between us is
too much for me right now. I'm sorry.
Marry Sam is what's best for you and
leaving is what's best for me.

Goodbye,
Elizabeth

Jason drops onto the couch, unable to believe what he was reading. This wasn't how it was supposed to turn out. He was supposed to tell her how he felt and it turn she'd do the same. At least that's what happened to Johnny and Emily. Its how it should have happened for him and Elizabeth too. This couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening. Yet it was and in that moment something broke inside of him. Everything broke inside of him.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews, we hope you keep up with them.

-ROCkER & The Jackal's Vixen-