An hour or so later, Jason came down the steps to meet with Sonny in his office. Elizabeth was standing in the foyer, reapplying her lipstick in the mirror. Her hair had been pulled up into some sort of complicated twist with some pieces hanging down.

She wore a strapless silk red gown that clung to her upper body and flowed her hips and legs. He paused halfway down and took a deep breath. “You look incredible.”

She turned to face him, and he swallowed hard. How could she have grown up so fast in just three years?

“Thank you,” she murmured. She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Alexander’s picking me up for the opera in a few minutes.”

“So, you like this guy?” he asked after a moment. He stepped off the step and went towards her.

“I’m marrying him, Jason. Of course I like him,” she remarked coolly. She slid the tube of lipstick in her purse.

“We both know why you’re marrying him.” Jason braced a hand on the wall next to her. “I…Sonny told me about the arrangement three years ago.”

She paled. “T-three years ago?”

“I wanted to…I need to talk to you about it actually.” He stepped towards her. “That’s the reason–” He broke off when the doorbell rang. “Elizabeth–”

“I have to go,” she said, hurriedly. She smiled at him briefly before heading for the door. She pulled it open, giving Jason a tiny glimpse of the dark-haired man waiting for her on the step. But then she was gone.

—

Elizabeth smiled nervously. “Hello.”

Alexander Castellano smiled and offered her his arm. “Good evening, darling. Are you ready?”

She nodded and put her arm through his. “I’m looking forward to it.”

He escorted her to the limo and the driver opened the door for them. Once they were inside, Alexander placed his hand on her knee. “You look lovely.”

She shifted uncomfortably. “Thank you.”

“Have you thought about what we talked about?” he asked her.

“I just don’t feel comfortable…I mean…” Elizabeth hesitated. “I don’t think I should spend the night until after wedding.”

He laughed. “Don’t be old-fashioned, love. No one waits until after marriage.”

“I want to,” Elizabeth said firmly. She shifted away from his touch. “Please don’t pressure me, Alexander.”

“I’m not pressuring you, Elizabeth. I merely just wish to sample the goods.” He grinned at her–the expression sending a strange chill down her spine. His hand settled on her knee again and started to slide up her thigh. She tossed it off.

“I don’t know what you’re holding out for,” he complained. “I’m going to have you one way or another.”

“Then I don’t know what the rush is,” Elizabeth said shortly. She took a deep breath and forced the nauseous feeling down. Not a date had gone by without Alexander touching her in some way or trying to persuade her to go further than a goodnight kiss. She was scared to death of her wedding night–the night she couldn’t tell him no or to wait.

“Elizabeth–”

“Alexander, I said no. I want to wait.”

“And I don’t want to,” Alexander argued. He slid a hand over her breast and squeezed it possessively. Elizabeth twisted away from his touch and he ended up pinning her against the window. She yelped and brought her knee up to his groin. He gasped and rolled away from her.

Tears streaming down her face and not caring that the car was moving, Elizabeth opened the car door and luckily for her, they weren’t moving very fast due to traffic and hadn’t left Brooklyn yet. She launched herself out of the car and started running back towards the house, kicking off her heels when they slowed her down. She could hear the car screech to a stop and footsteps behind her.

But she was at her door before Alexander reached her and she shoved it open and slammed it shut behind her, sinking to the floor in tears.

The sound of that as well as Alexander pounding on the door brought Sonny and Jason out of his office.

Jason halted in his tracks at the sight of a disheveled Elizabeth on the floor. Sonny frowned from behind him. “Honey?”

“He…” Elizabeth choked back a sob and fumbled with the lock–scared to death that he’d get inside. “He tried to…”

Sonny’s eyes went deadly flat but his voice was calm and even when he spoke. “Jason, take her upstairs while I deal with Mr. Castellano.”

Jason nodded and strode forward to pull Elizabeth to her feet. She was trembling so badly she could hardly walk so he lifted her off her feet and headed up the stairs. Once he heard his daughter’s door shut, Sonny unlocked the front door to see a furious Alexander Castellano on his step.

“Your daughter is out of control,” the younger man spit out.

Sonny nodded. “My daughter who just ran in here like she was running for her life, who was crying and barely able to speak…she’s out of control?” He shook his head–almost sounding amused but there was an edge to his voice that said differently. This was the man he was marrying his little girl off to.

Over his dead body.

“There are a lot of things I can overlook,” Sonny began calmly. “In our line of business, we’re certainly not good men. But the one thing that I cannot tolerate is a man who doesn’t respect a woman’s right to say no and I think that’s exactly what happened.”

“What are you saying, Corinthos?” Alexander demanded. “That because I tried to take what’s mine–”

“Elizabeth is not yours,” Sonny seethed. “And nothing about her belongs to you. Get away from my house.”

“I hope you’re not doing what I think you’re doing,” Alexander said coolly. “You know it’s in your best interest to go forward with this wedding.”

“And it’s in your best interest to get away from my house,” Sonny repeated. He slammed the door and looked towards the stairs with regret in his eyes.

—

He sat down on her bed with her still clutching at him. Her arms were wrapped around his neck so tightly he could barely breathe but he didn’t care. As long as she was safe.

When Jason could feel her body start to calm down, he eased her away a little to look at her face. “Hey, you okay?”

She nodded, her lips pressed firmly together. “Just don’t…don’t let me go, okay?”

He cupped the back of her head and pulled it back down into the crook of his shoulder. “I won’t. I promise.”

“He didn’t…he didn’t really hurt me,” Elizabeth whispered. “He just…he touched me a-and I was scared that he wasn’t going to stop and he–he pushed me against the door b-but I kneed him and jumped out of the car.”

“You jumped out of a moving car?” Jason said. He immediately started moving his hands up and down her legs, looking for injuries.

“We weren’t going very fast…” Elizabeth took her hands from around his neck and stared at them a little confused. “I just scraped my hands.”

He slid her out of his lap and kneeled in front of her to take her hands in his. “I should get a first aid kit or something.”

“Jason…” she stopped him before he could stand. “You found about this…arrangement three years ago. Was that…is that why…” she trailed off and looked away.

“That’s one of the reasons, yes.” He touched her cheek and sighed. “You were fifteen, Elizabeth. You were so young. I was twenty–”

“You were right though,” she interrupted. She stared at some of the blood pooling in her cupped palms. “I was too young then. You were older than me–you would have gotten into a lot of trouble.”

“Elizabeth, I–”

“I’m just sorry that I didn’t see that then,” she said softly. “Maybe you wouldn’t have left.”

“No, no, I didn’t leave because of you.” He hesitated. “Well, you had something to do with it but it wasn’t your fault. Elizabeth, I realized–”

There was a knock on the door and Sonny edged his way in. “Honey?”

Elizabeth took a deep breath and quickly hid her injured hands. “I’m okay,” she told him.

“Alexander is gone.” Sonny took a deep breath. “But we’re going to have to discuss the future soon.”

Jason frowned. “The son of a bitch put his hands on her. The only future we need to discuss is whether or not he has one.”

“Jason,” Elizabeth protested. She started to reach out for him but remembered her scraped hands and resisted.

“It’s not that simple and you know it,” Sonny told the younger man firmly. “But we’ll talk about it later. I’m sure Elizabeth just wants to get some sleep.”

There was some silence as Jason waited for Sonny to leave so he could finish talking to Elizabeth and eventually the older man understood. He kissed his daughter on the forehead and reluctantly left the room.

“We’d better get your hands cleaned up.” He crossed to the bathroom and reached underneath the sink for a first aid kit.

He sat next to her on the bed and started cleaning her hands. “You know what my first memory of being here is?”

“What?” she asked, wincing as the peroxide stung her a little. He brought her hands closer to his lips and blew it on a little to take the bite of the sting away.

“You hugged me,” Jason told her. “You were five years old–I still remember it like it was yesterday, y’know?” When she didn’t say anything, he went on. “You were so tiny–you still are but, wow…I think I could have picked you up with one hand back then.”

“You weren’t so big yourself,” she teased. She glanced up from her hands to meet his eyes. “I didn’t really understand then, you know? I just thought Ric was bringing me home a new play toy.”

He laughed and applied a bandage to her left hand. “Your mother had done your hair in these little sausage kind of curls. And you had a white lacy dress on with ribbons in your hair to match.” He finished her second hand. “You hugged me and I…you smelled like chocolate and vanilla.”

Her eyes teared a little. “You smelled a lot like dirt,” Elizabeth replied.

“That was the first time I could remember anyone touching me in affection,” he admitted. “I never knew my father and my mother wasn’t that kind of person. But you hugged me. Without reservation–didn’t even care where’d I been…it…it meant a lot to me.”

He turned her hands over and moved his thumbs in tiny circles over the back of them. “A lot of people would think it was stupid or just…not possible but…your mother understood it.”

“What?” she asked faintly.

“That it was possible to fall in love when you’re ten years old,” he confessed in a quiet voice. He heard her breath hitch. “Not only is it possible–but for guys, you practically have to be hit over the head with the knowledge, you know?”

“Jason…” Elizabeth licked her lips. “I don’t…understand.”

“It took a long time for me to accept that and even admit that to myself.” He released her hands and took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “But I have now and I just thought you should have that information in hand when you talk to your father about that jackass.”

She hesitated, her eyes darting down. “I…I don’t…I don’t know what to think. I…”

“I don’t expect you to make any kind of decisions tonight–it’s been a bad night but I just needed you to know the truth.” He kissed her forehead and stood. “Your hands are gonna sting but you’ll live.”

He left then and she stared at the door for a few moments wondering if she’d just been hallucinating.

Plane

Even three years later, that moment in time haunted him. She’d been so young, so innocent. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her–hadn’t set out to do so. But he’d done it just the same.

What she wanted could never happen but he didn’t know how to explain that to her without breaking Sonny’s trust. Even if he could get past the five year difference–which at fifteen and twenty seemed impossible–Sonny would never allow it.

He’d left after that night, her tearstained cheeks haunting his every thought. He didn’t tell Sonny why–just that he couldn’t be around right now. For whatever reason, the older man agreed and Jason had been sent to coordinate some territory Sonny had taken control of in Puerto Rico.

He raised his hands to grip her shoulders and push her away but her tongue touched his bottom lip and he found himself kissing her back instead. He tugged her closer and tilted her head back to deepen the kiss.

She moaned a little and the sound snapped him back into reality. He abruptly broke the kiss and stepped back, breathing hard. Fifteen, he reminded himself, she was only fifteen. “Elizabeth, this can’t happen.”

She blinked and shook her head. “No, no–you…you kissed me back. Jason–”

He held his hands up to ward her off when she stepped closer. “No,” he said firmly. “You’re fifteen years old, Elizabeth. And this isn’t going to happen.” He pulled open the door the led back into the house. “We’d better get back inside before your father notices we’re gone.”

“Jason,” Elizabeth protested. “I don’t understand. You feel something for me. Why are you denying it?”

“Just…” he took a deep breath. “Elizabeth, just accept that this isn’t going to happen. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“It’s a little late for that,” she hissed at him. She pushed him out of her way and stormed into the house.

She was eighteen now–six months past her eighteenth birthday actually. They hadn’t spoken since that night and he hadn’t seen her since he left.

Just as Sonny had told he and Ric three years ago, on Elizabeth’s eighteenth birthday, he’d announced her engagement to Alexander Castellano and the wedding was set for eight months from the date. Three months from now.

Brownstone: Foyer

Adela Corinthos was the first person Jason saw when he stepped inside the only home he’d ever known.

She was fussing over some planter next to the stairs and she looked exactly as he remembered–dark brown hair peppered with gray and still as slender as the day she’d married Ric’s father probably.

She heard the door open and when she saw Jason, she grinned. “Mi hijo!” she cried and swept him in a tight hug. “You’ve been gone too long.”

“Good to see you, Mama,” Jason said, calling her the same name he’d called her his entire life. He’d tried calling her Mrs. Corinthos, Mrs. Lansing and even Adela but she’d insisted on Mama and one didn’t argue with her. “Where is everyone?”

“Brenda and Michael are in the garden with Elizabeth arguing about the ceremony,” Adela informed him. “You can go back.”

Jason hesitated and she read his trepidation in his face. “Ah, don’t fret, hijo. Brenda doesn’t bite.”

“Where’s Ric?’ Jason asked instead. He could see his best friend–that would put him in a better mood. Ric knew the reason he’d left. It’d be okay.

Adela shook her head. “He and that wife of his are out of town. Don’t be silly. I take your bag. Go see the family.” She tugged his duffle out of his hand.

“Okay, Mama,” Jason sighed. There really was no arguing with Adela Lansing. He kissed her on the cheek and headed towards the back of the house.

Backyard

The garden had been transformed in his absence. There was a large wooden altar being built in one corner and there were gardeners everywhere planting who knows what all over the yard.

Brenda Corinthos was standing with her back to Jason and directing some people. She’d had one child a year and a half ago–the son that Sonny had always wanted. Michael Corinthos, Jr. He was perched on her hip, his hair dark and his skin tanned. He was busily chewing on some rubber toy.

Sonny was near the altar but Elizabeth was nowhere in sight and sadly, he preferred it that way. “Hey.”

Brenda heard his voice first and she turned, a huge smile breaking across her face. She and Sonny had come down to Puerto Rico on more than one occasion and the petite brunette had won him over with her seemingly boundless faith in her husband and her determination to make him a decent human being. Besides, she was the only person who’d tell him anything about Elizabeth.

“Well, if it isn’t Jason Morgan,” she said cheerfully. She looked at little Michael. “Hey, Mike, this is your uncle Jason.”

Mike peered at the new person and waved a chubby arm at him. Jason grinned. “Hey, there.”

“Here, take him for a second and I’ll go tell Sonny and El that you’re here.” She shoved Mike at him and Jason took him without argument. He balanced the toddler in his arms and turned to look in Brenda’s direction.

Sonny was now joined by a tiny brunette–he recognized her immediately. Her long curly hair had been replaced with a cut to her shoulders and it was straight and looked smooth and silky. She was a little taller–definitely had filled out more. She wore a simple black dress with some jewelry and light makeup.

The tearful fifteen-year-old girl had been replaced with an eighteen-year-old woman. She laughed and then turned to Brenda who gestured towards him. He was jolted a little when she settled her cool blue eyes on him.

She stepped away from her father and stepmother and moved towards him. “Jason, hello. It’s good to have you home.”

“It’s good to be home,” Jason said hesitantly. “You look…” he trailed off, not sure of the proper etiquette for speaking to someone whose heart you’d broken three years ago.

“All grown up?” she supplied. She smiled then–a polite smile. One you’d use for an old acquaintance rather than the boy you trailed after in a white dress with a ragged hem at age five. “Three years does a lot of a difference. A lot of things can change.” She raised a hand and smoothed a hand over Mike’s smooth black hair. “Having a little brother changes things. Especially a brother in this family.” She raised her eyes to meet his and he understood. Where once an only child, she’d been the center of Sonny’s universe, little Michael was the heir to the empire now. And she was shuffled into a marriage to guarantee a larger empire.

“You look good though,” he told her with aching sincerity. “Real good.”

“So do you.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. “So, you home for good? Or just for the wedding?”

“It depends on if your dad needs me to stick around. You should come to Puerto Rico sometime,” he suggested. “You’d like it there.”

“I don’t think that’ll be possible,” Elizabeth murmured. “Alexander doesn’t like the heat.”

He stiffened at the mention of her fiancé. “Well, it was just an idea.”

“Jason,” Sonny said, sticking his hand out. “Good have you back.”

Brenda took the baby from him and Jason shook Sonny’s hand. “It’s good to be back. I’ve missed it here.”

“We’ve missed you,” Brenda assured him. “I’m sorry you didn’t make it home for Carly’s wedding last year.”

“Yeah,” Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “How is she?”

“She’s good,” Elizabeth supplied. “Pregnant actually. Something about this family–everyone gets pregnant early.” She managed a fake smile. “Guess that’s good news for the Castellano family, huh?”

Brenda flushed. “Well, it’s more our family than yours. My mother got pregnant with me before she was even married.”

Elizabeth shrugged and looked back at the altar. “I should…go get ready. Alexander is picking me up in a few hours for the opera.” She kissed her father’s cheek, gave Brenda a hug and tugged on Michael’s ear before moving inside without a word to Jason.

“I’m going to get back to the workers,” Sonny told his wife. “Why don’t you go and get Jason settled back in?”

“Come on,” Brenda said to Jason. “I have so much to tell you anyway.”

Sonny narrowed his eyes. “Brenda.”

She glared at him. “Michael.” After a tense moment, she tugged on Jason’s arm and moved him inside.

“I see you two are still at it,” Jason remarked as he followed Brenda through the kitchen and into the hallway. “After three years?”

“He still thinks he can control me,” Brenda told him. “I give him enough leeway with his job. He doesn’t seem to understand that his daughter is miserable.”

Jason halted. “She looked fine to me.”

Brenda turned and looked at him sadly. “The woman she is now is not the girl you remember. She was once a very innocent and sheltered child and now…” she lifted a shoulder. “She knows all too well her father’s wrath.” She shook her head. “I’ll tell you more upstairs.”

Jason’s Room

Brenda set the baby on the floor to crawl around and sat on the bed while Jason unpacked. “I almost wish I’d had a girl,” she remarked softly.

“So Sonny’s favoring Michael more?” Jason asked.

“I don’t think he does it consciously but…” Brenda sighed. “Women in Sonny’s world aren’t held up on a pedestal, you know? Sonny adores Elizabeth but she is just a girl and Michael is his heir now. He always wanted a boy.”

“Yeah…Ric said Sonny always resented Lily a little for not being able to give him a boy.” Jason shut his drawer and set the duffle bag in the closet. “How did Elizabeth take the news of the engagement?”

“By the time that happened, a lot of the fire had gone out of her,” Brenda remarked. “Carly and I–we took her under our wing but there was only so much we could do for her. Once Ric was married and he moved out and Carly was spending so much time with AJ, I was pregnant…Elizabeth was very much alone and I think, to a degree, she became a little depressed. And once she got it in her head that it her fault you left…whatever spark was left was gone. So when Sonny presented the engagement to her, she just accepted it.”

“It wasn’t her fault,” Jason protested. “I had to go.”

“Because you knew what was going to happen on her eighteenth birthday and you were already falling in love with her,” Brenda said, voicing the things he’d only thought and never said.

“She was only fifteen, Brenda. I was twenty. It felt wrong then. I didn’t…” He drove his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t realize I’d loved her for so long. She was just a child when I met her.”

“And so were you,” Brenda reminded him. Michael tugged on her skirt and she lifted him into her arms. “Mama once told me a story about Lily and Sonny. That Lily was seven when they met but she’d boldly announced to her that she was going to marry her son one day. And Mama agreed–because she understood it was possible to find someone like that even at a young age. In today’s society, finding your happily ever after at age seven is a laughable idea. How could you have any idea what you’d want when you were older at that age?”

She shook her head. “It’s so much better to fall in love when you’re children. It’s more innocent, more lasting that way. There’s a reason people always remember their first loves. There’s no shame in admitting you’ve loved her since you were ten.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. I knew then it wouldn’t work because Sonny would never allow it. I work for him and she’s his daughter.”

Brenda hesitated. She’d never repeated to anyone what Monica Quartermaine had told her that night. Because she’d been so caught up in Jason’s exit that she’d forgotten it at first and once he was gone, there was no reason to bring it up. “Jason, would it surprise you to know that almost everyone except Sonny expected you to marry Elizabeth?”

Jason frowned and peered at the brunette. “How do you mean?”

“The night of the Quartermaine’s party…Monica Quartermaine told me that Lily had believed you were going to marry Elizabeth and that…business-wise, it would be the most sound decision. Because you didn’t have the full trust of some people because you weren’t part of the family–because you were just a kid Sonny took in. She told me that if you had married her, that your place in this world would be secure. That you’d be accepted.” Brenda smiled. “It was only until Carly married AJ Quartermaine that she even accepted, despite being Sonny’s sister-in-law.”

Jason sighed. “Yeah, I knew all of that. But it never mattered to me. I didn’t intend on marrying someone just to make other people feel comfortable about me.”

“I’m just…it seems odd that Sonny would know that and still arrange for this marriage.” Brenda shrugged. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. The marriage is set and Alexander isn’t so bad, I guess. He’s a little stiff–a little too proper and yet…” Brenda hesitated. “I just hope Elizabeth isn’t entering a marriage where the man doesn’t practice fidelity.”

Jason frowned. “What would make you say that?”

She shrugged. “Because I’ve heard rumors that he’s a ladies man. That he likes to have a good time with a lot of women and I know that would devastate her.” Her mouth twisted into a ugly grimace. “I don’t care that some women turn a blind eye to it. I would castrate Sonny in a heartbeat but I’m just worried she’s so…sedate now…so…cold and so withdrawn that she’d just let him do whatever he wants.”

Jason sighed. “Well, I’m home now. I’ll help in anyway I can.”

“Good.” Brenda stood and wrapped her arms around him, trapping baby Michael between them. “She needs you–even if she refuses to admit it.”

Brownstone: Sonny’s Office

“I want to make this clear that I am only letting her go because Alexander Castellano will be in attendance and I think it’s for the best that she meet him,” Sonny announced, pouring himself a bourbon.

“So why do I have to go again?” Jason asked.

“Because I will be busy introducing my new wife to everyone and someone will have to keep an eye on my daughter,” Sonny told him. “She’s young, she’s impressionable and this is her first social event. So, don’t let her leave the party with anyone.”

He looked at his brother. “You and Faith are doing divide and conquer on Daniel Vega and his wife. Charm them, kiss up to them–I don’t care what you have to do, but we’re going to need his influence with the congressman in this district, okay?”

“Think your little viper can handle being sweet?” Jason mocked. Ric narrowed his eyes.

“Think you can handle your newest bimbo dumping you for someone richer?”

“Are you two finished?” Sonny asked. He checked the clock on the corner of his desk. “The girls should be ready, so let’s get this over with.”

Brownstone: Foyer

“Adela, you are not going to believe your eyes,” Brenda boasted, pulling her white silk wrap more tightly around her shoulders. Her dark eyes glittered with excitement. “She looks absolutely incredible.”

“She always looks beautiful,” Adela said indulgingly. She’d adored her first daughter-in-law, Lily but after only a few days, Brenda was fast earning a special place in her heart. When she’d first took Elizabeth shopping, Adela had assumed she was trying to look good in her husband’s eyes, but then she’d argued bitterly with Michael over Elizabeth’s new appearance and she could still feel the tension between the newlyweds.

“Well, of course,” Brenda laughed, “but I swear tonight, she is going to blow everyone away.”

“I hope she’s not wearing anything too revealing,” Sonny said coming up from behind his wife and brushing a soft kiss on Brenda’s bare shoulder. “But you look breathtaking.”

Brenda smoothed her hands over her hips and adjusted the top of her strapless silk black dress. “Don’t worry. Elizabeth is dressed as a fifteen-year-old should dress.”

“Where is she?” Carly asked. She glanced towards the door. “AJ will be here to pick me up and I want to see how she looks.”

“You do?” Brenda asked curiously.

“I care about people other than myself,” Carly said defensively. She peered into the hallway mirror to make sure her French twist was still tightly done. “I helped her do her hair remember?”

“I’ll go get her,” Adela said.

Elizabeth’s Bedroom

Adela knocked softly before pushing the door open. Her granddaughter was standing in front of her full-length mirror, peering at herself in the mirror. Her long curls hung down her back. Some spots seemed to shimmer a little every time Elizabeth breathed.

“Mi niete,” Adela sighed. “They’re waiting for you.”

Elizabeth turned and Adela sighed in relief. The dress they’d bought was indeed something that would pass Sonny’s muster. It was dark blue silk with wide straps. It clung to her curves but it was long–coming to her mid calves. Her hair in the front was twisted away from her face. The makeup was just a bit darker than it’d been that morning. Her skin seemed to glow a little.

“Do I look stupid?” Elizabeth asked, hesitantly. She twisted her hands. “Because I’m not really used to all this and I’m really scared that I’m just going to make a fool of myself tonight.” She sighed and looked back to her reflection. “Maybe I should just stay home.”

“You look beautiful,” her grandmother assured her. “And you will be fine.”

“I don’t know, Abuela,” Elizabeth shook her head. “I really think that I’m just being stupid about this whole thing. What’s the use of waiting around for him to notice me?”

“You seemed fine this morning.”

“It was different,” Elizabeth murmured.

There was a knock on the already open door and a tuxedo-clad Jason pushed it open further. “AJ’s here and Carly refuses to–” he stopped abruptly when Elizabeth looked at him. He blinked. “Elizabeth?”

She bit her lip. “I look stupid don’t I?” she asked softly.

Jason shook his head. “No. Not at all.” He swallowed hard. “You look…beautiful.”

Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed and she looked away. “Thanks.”

He held his hand out. “Come on. Carly’s refusing to leave until she sees you.”

She smiled and slipped her hand into his, letting him lead her out of the room. “Goodbye,Abuela!” she called.

The Quartermaine Estate: Ballroom

The Corinthos party entered the ball room just after AJ and Carly and immediately separated. Ric spotted Daniel Vega and his wife Cristina across the room and tugged Faith in that direction. Sonny kissed Elizabeth on the cheek, gave Jason a warning look before steering Brenda towards Alan and Monica Quartermaine, AJ’s parents.

“So, what are we supposed to do?” Elizabeth asked nervously. She smoothed her hands over her dress again as if ironing out some sort of wrinkle. Her eyes darted around the large room, drinking every detail from the lavish chandelier to the orchestra set up at the far end of the room to the many whirling couples on the dance floor.

“I don’t know. I usually can talk Sonny out of making me come to these things,” Jason told her. He saw Alexander Castellano out of the corner of his eye and despite Sonny’s directions to introduce the two, Jason stepped into Alexander’s line of sight, blocking his view to Elizabeth. “Let’s dance,” he said brusquely.

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows but didn’t have a chance to protest as Jason grabbed her hand and led her towards the dance floor–in the opposite direction of the eighteen-year-old heir to Staten Island and Long Island.

After glancing at the couples around them, Elizabeth mimicked their positions, putting on hand on Jason’s shoulder and leaving her other in his hand. He put his free hand around her waist. “You know how to dance?” Elizabeth asked surprised.

“How hard can it be?” Jason asked even as he stepped on her feet. She winced and glared at him. “Look, let me lead and we’ll be fine.”

“I am letting you lead,” she grumbled. “At least I think am. What does leading mean, anyway?”

“I don’t know. I saw it in a movie once,” Jason replied. He stepped on her foot again and she suppressed the urge to kick him.

“What is with you?” she demanded. “You’re acting all weird. I figured you’d make a beeline for Carly as soon as we got here.” She narrowed her eyes. “My father is making you do this, isn’t he?”

He was too busy concentrating on avoiding her feet and he missed every word she said. “What’s that?”

“Daddy. He told you to stay with me to make sure I stay out of trouble didn’t he?” Elizabeth asked again.

“He might have said something to that effect,” Jason admitted.

“Ow!” Elizabeth hissed. “Damn it, watch where you’re putting your feet, will you?”

“Sorry,” he apologized. “Look, it’s your first time at one of these things–he didn’t want anyone taking advantage of you.”

“Of course, because little Elizabeth is incapable of using her brains to take care of herself,” Elizabeth snapped. “Why should we treat her like she’s fifteen years old and not five?”

“Elizabeth, no one is trying to hurt you,” he attempted to explain.

She pushed him away abruptly and glared at him. “Sure as hell could have fooled me.” She turned around and stalked away, disappearing in the crowd.

Cursing under his breath, Jason followed her, making sure to keep Alexander Castellano in his line of sight the whole time.

Across the Room

“AJ mentioned you’d done some modeling,” Monica inquired. She smiled graciously. “Would I recognize you from anywhere?”

Brenda shook her head. “I worked mostly overseas–just as a way to support myself and my sister.”

“And your sister is the delightful girl who seems to have captured my son’s eye?” Monica asked.

Brenda smiled, spotting her sister chatting with AJ a few feet away. She was surrounded by several other highly-placed members of New York society. Her eyes were lit up, her face animated…it was the happiest Brenda had seen her sister in ages.

“Carly is my sister, yes and just between you and me, AJ’s caught her eye as well,” Brenda confided.

Monica laughed and eyed her husband who was a few feet away with Sonny and some other men in the business. “Your marriage to Sonny was sudden–we didn’t expect to him to marry again after he lost Lily.”

“I’ve heard such wonderful things about her,” Brenda remarked honestly. “Elizabeth adored her.”

“Lily idolized that girl,” Monica divulged. “Her whole life was Elizabeth, because well, she couldn’t have any more children. I’ve never seen a mother who loved her child more. Poor Elizabeth was more devastated than anyone else when Lily was diagnosed with cancer.” Monica smiled. “I saw her come in with you. She looks so beautiful–so much like her mother.”

Brenda smiled. “It was a challenge to convince Sonny his baby wasn’t ten years old anymore, but I think we’re making headway.”

“When she marries Jason, that should make everything complete,” Monica said. “That was always Lily’s dream, you know.”

“Really,” Brenda murmured. “And everyone knew this?’

“Of course. Everyone expects it. Jason’s not being groomed to take over like Ric was but marrying Sonny’s only daughter will cement his position in the organization. For him, it’s a matter of necessity. He can’t ever hope to fully gain trust in this world until he does something to prove it.”

“Did Lily ever talk to Jason about this?”

Monica shook her head. “Oh, no. Lily was the eternal optimist. She was so sure that Jason would fall in love with Elizabeth that she agreed to that codicil in her will.”

“You know about that?” Brenda asked, startled.

“Lily and I were quite close,” Monica revealed. “She fought against Sonny’s wishes to turn the inheritance over to Elizabeth’s husband but in the end, she believed so strongly that Elizabeth would marry Jason, she knew he’d sign it over to her in a heartbeat.”

“Yes, he would,” Brenda replied. “So, this expectation…people don’t generally speak about it, do they?”

“Well…no,” Monica admitted, “but we assume it’s going to happen and well…of course, Sonny knows what it would mean for Jason’s future.”

Brenda’s eyes found her husband and they narrowed thoughtfully. “I’m sure he does.”

Hallway

“Damn it, Elizabeth, wait a second,” Jason called as he jogged after her rapidly disappearing form. She yanked a glass door open and disappeared outside. “I’m going to kill her,” he muttered before following her into the gardens.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Elizabeth demanded, hearing his footfalls behind her. She whirled her and jabbed a finger in his direction. “Do you get off on hurting me?”

“Hurting you…” Jason repeated, startled. “What the hell did I do this time?”

Her eyes burned with tears, her cheeks flaming with the heat of embarrassment. How was she supposed to explain to him that for one moment out on the dance floor, she’d actually entertained the unbelievably idiotic thought that maybe he really did want to dance with her? “It doesn’t matter,” she whispered. She turned and faced the rose bushes. “Just go away.”

He sighed and stepped towards her, his hands brushing the tops of her bare shoulders. “Elizabeth, you have to believe me when I say the last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

She shook her head sharply, her hair brushing the sides of his arms, leaving tiny trails of glitter on his skin. “You don’t understand,” she said softly.

“Of course I understand,” Jason protested. “I know what kinds of feelings you have–”

“You don’t know!” Elizabeth accused, turning abruptly and shoving him away. She glared at him. “Don’t dare trivialize the way I feel by pretending it’s some stupid little girl crush!”

“You might think it’s more–” Jason attempted again.

“I don’t think, I know,” she cut in. “I know exactly how I feel although there are many times I wish I didn’t.”

“Didn’t know or didn’t feel?” he asked a little startled by the direction in the conversation.

“I wish I didn’t have these feelings,” she whispered. She met his eyes briefly before looking away. “Because it causes me nothing but pain.”

“I’m sorry,” Jason apologized. “I just don’t feel the same–”

“Because you’ve never let yourself,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Because I’m firmly in the little sister category and you won’t let yourself move me.”

He shook his head. “No. I feel that way because–” Jason stopped speaking abruptly as she suddenly jerked his head down to hers and kissed him.

Luigi’s Italian Restaurant

Dinner was an almost complete disaster. Elizabeth was only speaking to her grandmother and Ric, convinced Brenda had ruined her life. Sonny and Brenda weren’t speaking, Jason was silent as usual and Adela was sending her oldest son a look that would have killed him if she could swing it.

Only Carly seemed mildly normal as she chattered on, carrying most of the conversation and looking around the restaurant.

Elizabeth was still dressed in the clothing she’d worn home, but the make up was washed clean from her face and her hair was in a messy pony tail. She once again looked eight years old.

A man a little older than Ric approached them about halfway through their dinner and Sonny scowled. “AJ. You’ve ruined my appetite.”

AJ Quartermaine laughed. “Well I heard that you’d brought your new wife and Mother insisted I come over and tell you in person that we’re issuing the permits.”

Sonny nodded. “Smart decision.” He glanced back at the table. “This is my wife, Brenda and her younger sister, Carly. This is AJ Quartermaine.”

Carly raised her eyebrows. “As in ELQ?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes. Jason scowled when he saw Carly flirting with the young executive and was even more irritated when he saw AJ’s interested expression.

“That’s the family company, yes,” AJ said. “I’ll be taking over as CEO in January of this year.”

“Hopefully you’ll have more sense than your father,” Ric murmured.

“One would hope.” AJ shrugged. “Well, I’ll let you get back your dinner.” He smiled at Carly. “See you around.”

When he’d returned to his table, Carly grinned. “I think I’m gonna like New York.”

Elizabeth’s Bedroom

“You should braid your hair…don’t leave it down when you sleep.”

Elizabeth glared at Carly’s reflection in her mirror. “What do you want?”

Carly shrugged and entered the room, closing the door behind her. She took Elizabeth’s hair brush and started brushing. “I thought it would nice to assure you that you can have your little play mate back. I have no interest in Jason Morgan.”

“But–”

“Elizabeth, let me let you in on a little secret.” Carly’s quick fingers started to wind the long brown waves into a tight French braid. “Beautiful women who know they’re beautiful…we use men to get what we want. I wanted my picture hung, so I flirted. I needed an ally in this house, so I flirted with Jason. But I won’t end up with a lackey of Sonny Corinthos. I’ve set my sights much higher.”

“So…you were just using him to get what you want?” Elizabeth asked. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

Carly shrugged and fastened a hair band to secure the braid. She moved away and sat on the bed. “It’s not like I’m forcing him to do anything. He chooses to do it. It’s not my fault if he’s as weak as any other man.”

“Jason’s not weak,” Elizabeth protested hotly.

Carly smiled. “Spoken like a girl in the throes of puppy love.”

Elizabeth twisted around on her vanity seat and glared at her step-aunt. “You’re not that much older than me and you couldn’t possibly understand how I feel.”

“Well, maybe you really do love him.” She shrugged again. “It doesn’t matter because he doesn’t see you as anything more than a little sister.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Yeah. I know.”

“You’re in luck though, kid, because you’re a beautiful woman too.” Carly eyed the teen. “You just have to learn how to use that.”

“I don’t think I want to,” Elizabeth said hesitantly.

“Hey, some of us don’t get ahead unless we use what we were given. And it’s not like you’re manipulating him or anything. You’re just going to…show him what he’s missing.”

“I tried that already and he just thought I looked silly,” Elizabeth said mournfully.

“Because you acted like you looked different. Tomorrow when my sister comes in here and wants to do your makeup and hair, let her. And then go downstairs to breakfast and when your father comments on your appearance…” Carly paused and opened her eyes wide, feigning innocence. “Act like you have no idea what he’s talking about…because you’ve always looked this way, you’ve always been this beautiful and well-dressed. The sooner you realize how beautiful you are, the easier it will be to make Jason see you that way.”

“So…it’s kind of like if you think you are something, then you are.”

“Yeah.” Carly stood. “I’ll even lay off of Jason if you want.”

“What did you mean that you’ve set your sights higher than Jason?” Elizabeth asked as the blonde went towards the door.

“AJ Quartermaine could use a trophy wife,” Carly murmured, her eyes lit with anticipation. “See you tomorrow, kid.”

Dining Room

Sonny glared at his wife as she followed Elizabeth into the room for breakfast the next morning. Elizabeth was dressed in a spaghetti-strapped black cotton tank top and a pair of tight flared jeans. Her hair was curly but was styled and her makeup was done the way it’d been done the day before.

“I thought we discussed this,” Sonny said, irritated. Elizabeth took her seat next to Ric and frowned at her father in confusion.

“Discussed what?”

Carly hid her smirk behind her napkin as Sonny’s glare deepened. “Elizabeth, you will not dress that way–”

“What way?” Elizabeth interrupted. “When I left for the store yesterday, I was wearing jeans and a tank top. That didn’t seem to bother you.”

“And you will not wear makeup–”

“This is from the stuff Mama bought me before she died,” Elizabeth replied innocently. “It seemed okay with you then. Brenda just re-bought some of the brands that were dried out.”

“Elizabeth, you are only fifteen–”

“She looks a lot like I did when I was fifteen,” Brenda challenged with a cool look. “Any other smart comments, darling?”

Sonny scowled and finished his coffee. “I’m going to the warehouse. Ric, Jason?”

“We’ll be there at the normal time,” Ric said.

Sonny stormed from the room and Carly grinned. “Well done, kid.”

Brenda smirked. “I should have known. What kind of rotten advice did you give her?”

Carly’s smile only brightened. “I think me and the princess are gonna be just like sisters.” She looked at Ric. “Hey, where does AJ Quartermaine go for fun? Like social stuff.”

“Funny you should mention the Quartermaines,” Ric said. “He called early this morning. He’s having some sort of fund raiser tomorrow night and he invited the family. Asked if you would allow him to escort you.”

“Well, then you just call him back and tell him he’s more than welcome to.” Carly’s eyes lit up and she looked at her sister. “Hey, Bren…”

Brenda shook her head. “Oh…I know that look. No. You have plenty of dresses, you don’t–”

“Well, the princess here needs something,” Carly told her. “Right?”

“Actually, Elizabeth doesn’t go to these things,” Jason said. “Sonny doesn’t let her. And she hates them.”

“I’ve never been to one, so I do not hate them,” Elizabeth corrected him. “And I don’t care what Daddy says anymore. The whole family was invited.” She smiled at him. “Besides, I’m fifteen. It’s about time I get to meet guys my own age.”

Jason scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what she said.” Carly stood. “Let’s go shopping. I need the perfect outfit to dazzle AJ.”

Jason smirked. “Yeah. Whatever.”

“He looked interested last night,” Elizabeth mused, her eyes twinkling. “With his tongue hanging out his mouth and all that.”

Jason narrowed his eyes and glared at her. “You know what, Elizabeth–”

“And on that note, I think we should do some shopping,” Brenda said quickly. She stood. “Elizabeth, I think white would be a good color for you. What do you think Carly?”

“She’s about the only person I know that can carry that color off with out lying,” Carly teased. “Unlike my sister who wore white at her wedding.”

Elizabeth giggled and finished her orange juice. “Well, I definitely don’t to be in white my whole life.”

Jason’s scowl deepened. “If that means what I think it does–”

“I think this conversation has ceased to include us, Jason,” Ric said. He stood and yanked his friend up from his seat. “Say goodbye.”

“Wait a second–” Jason protested as Ric pulled from the room.

Once they were gone, Adela smiled at the three women who were left at the table. “I think the three of you will do just fine.”

Elizabeth’s grin deepened. “Thanks, Abuela.” She looked at Carly. “I think it’s working.”

“I think he’s definitely jealous for some reason he’s not aware of,” Carly replied. “Now…shopping?”

“She’s sure got a one track mind,” Brenda remarked.

Sonny’s Office

“Your wife’s here to see you.”

“Show her in.”

Brenda entered and sat down in the chair. “I just came from shopping with your daughter.”

“Again?” Sonny asked, irritated. “Haven’t you changed her enough?”

Brenda glared at him. “She needed something to wear to the Quartermaine benefit tomorrow.”

“We’re not going to that,” Sonny said, frowning. “Who said we were?”

“Ric did. AJ even asked to escort to my sister. We’re going. Elizabeth’s looking forward to it–”

“Even if we were going, she wouldn’t be. She’s too young.”

Brenda sighed. “Sonny, she’s fifteen. She’s a beautiful young woman and it’s time you see that.”

“Look, I’m glad you two are getting along but I wish you’d find something else to bond over–”

“Sonny, don’t you think she looks beautiful?” Brenda interrupted. “Don’t you see how happy she is when she thinks she looks better? Why can’t you just let her have that?”

“Because she’ll get older,” Sonny said defensively. “And she’s not gonna live the way I want her to. I want her to marry someone important, someone who can provide for her and treat her the way she deserves to be and she’d rather marry Jason.”

“What’s wrong with that? Jason can do all of those things,” Brenda argued. “Is that why you refuse to let her act and dress her age? Because Jason might start to look at her differently andthat wouldn’t fit in your plan?”

“Exactly,” Sonny snapped. “She’s my only child and she deserves better.”

“Don’t you think Jason would be good to her? Don’t you think he’s a good man?” Brenda asked. “You took him in, provided for him and accepted him into your family. How is that he’s not good enough for her?”

Sonny hesitated. “Because if he were to start treating her differently and something were to change in their relationship…it would screw up all of my plans.”

“What plans?” Brenda asked. “You have someone else in mind for her?” Something began to dawn in her eyes. “What was that business about Lily’s will?”

Sonny shook his head. “I’m not going to talk about this with you, Brenda.”

“Did she leave Elizabeth something?” Brenda pressed. “Something that she gets when she gets married, what?”

Sonny sighed. “When I opened the warehouse, Elizabeth was five years old. I gave Lily a percentage…you know, just in case something happened, I made sure she was taken care of.”

“That’s a wonderful gesture,” Brenda said. “And she left that to Elizabeth?”

“Elizabeth was only thirteen and all of the money is put into a trust fund. I didn’t want Lily to leave it to her. We fought over it when she made that will, and finally I thought we made some progress. Lily agreed that Elizabeth wouldn’t get money until she was twenty-five and if she were married at that point, control of the money would go to her husband.”

Startled, Brenda pressed her lips together. “You convinced her to sign away Elizabeth’s inheritance?” She gripped the arms of her chair. “And if she were to marry Jason or someone you didn’t choose for her…you know they’d probably sign the fund over to her. What, you don’t want her to have control of her own money?”

“She’s not fit to handle the massive amount of money that is already in there, much less the fortune that will be there when she’s of age. She’ll marry when she’s eighteen and her husband will take good care of her.” Sonny nodded. “It’s for the best.”

Brenda shook her head. “And I’ll bet you’ve already got someone picked out.”

“Alexander Castellano,” Sonny muttered. “I’m announcing the engagement the day she turns eighteen.”

“You can’t do that,” Brenda replied. “You can’t just pick and choose. Don’t you love her? Don’t you want her to be happy?”

“She will be happy. Alexander will treat her the way she deserves. She’s the daughter of a…” Sonny trailed off. “It doesn’t matter.”

“She’s the daughter of Sonny Corinthos, don of Brooklyn,” Brenda finished. “And you’ll be damned if she marries your right-hand man rather than a member of one of the five Families. I know who the Castellanos are, Sonny. They run Long Island and part of Staten Island, too. Alexander is the only son, isn’t he? You’ve made some sort of deal to merge the territories.” Her expression turned horrified. “You’ve bartered her like she’s some sort of contract.”

“That’s not true. I love her and this is the best thing for her–”

Brenda stood. “Then tell her the truth. Don’t lie to her.”

“She’s not ready–”

“The longer you put this off, the longer you let her believe she can change Jason’s mind, the worse it will be when you tell her that not only will she never be with him…but that you’ve already mapped out her life.” She stalked out of the office.

Brownstone: Foyer

Elizabeth bounded down the steps late the next morning, dressed in a blue tank top and a pair of straight legged jeans. Her hair was tucked into a messy ponytail and Brenda could tell just by looking at her that helping her new stepdaughter to achieve a new image was going to an interesting experience to say the least.

“Are you sure this is gonna work?” Elizabeth asked, looking at Brenda skeptically. “I mean…no matter how different I look, they’re still going to treat me like I’m eight.”

Brenda smirked and slipped a pair of dark glasses over her eyes. “When we’re done with you today, everyone’s going to think you’re my sister and not Carly.” She gestured towards the door. “Shall we?”

The closing of the front door brought Ric and Jason in from the living room and Ric shook his head. “What’s with the sudden urge to start looking different? Since when has she given a damn?”

Just you wait, Jason Morgan. You’ll see that I’m not a little kid anymore.

Jason shook his head to clear his mind. “Maybe she’s doing this to make a point to your brother. If she looks and act older, he might start treating her that way.”

“Doubtful,” Ric smirked. “Nothing is going to change Sonny’s mind about marrying her off to Alexander Castellano when she’s eighteen.”

Jason narrowed his eyes. “That’s the family he was talking about? Since when has Sonny been on good terms with them?”

Ric shoved his hands in the pockets of his dress pants and frowned. “That’s a good question. You don’t think it’s a truce of some sorts?”

Jason shook his head. “Sonny wouldn’t send Elizabeth into the nest of vipers to do that. He’s got more respect for her than that.”

“Yeah…this is the same man who distrusts his daughter’s ability to handle her inheritance that he probably arranged the marriage the second he read the will.”

Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t believe Lily agreed to sign that–giving her money to her husband.”

“I told you last night,” Ric replied. “Did you think I was joking? Lily assumed that you and Elizabeth would get married and that you would just sign her trust fund over to her.”

Jason shook his head. “Lily knew I never saw Elizabeth like that.”

“She was eleven when Lily signed that will. If you’d seen her like that , you would have been arrested.”

Jason scowled. “Don’t be stupid.”

Ric shook his head. “I’m not saying it’s true, but it’s what Lily thought. Besides, Elizabeth is only fifteen. Why don’t you wait until she’s a little older before you decide that you’ll never feel that way.” His smirk deepened. “Or you could stick to the viper Carly.”

“You don’t even know her,” Jason defended quickly.

“Oh, come on.” Ric shook his head. “She’s just like every girl you dated in high school. Looks great, not a damn thought in her head.”

“And you have taste?” Jason scoffed. “Faith?”

“Yeah, I know she’s a manipulating and scheming bitch…” He shrugged. “But she’s also smart, sexy as hell and has a mouth like–”

“That’s enough,” Jason interrupted, grimacing. “I definitely do not need that mental image.”

Shopping Mall

Elizabeth stared at Brenda with her eyebrows raised. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Brenda shook her head, smiling. She held the dress out further. “Try it out. Trust me.”

“No way! It’s too short,” Elizabeth protested.

Brenda shoved the outfit into the girl’s hands. “You go try this on, I’m going to visit the cosmetics counter and use my connections to get you a makeover. When you walk back in that door, those men aren’t going to know who you are.”

Elizabeth glanced down at the sun dress. It did kind of resemble the dress Carly had been wearing the previous day and if that had got Jason’s attention…then maybe…

“All right,” she agreed after another moment of hesitation. “But you promise I’m not going to look silly?”

Brenda nodded. “Absolutely. I supported Carly and me for almost ten years by being a model–I know clothes. I know what material looks good on some people, I know what cut will look right. Trust me, Elizabeth, this dress and everything else we’ve bought today looks right on you.” She pushed the teen towards the dressing room. “Now go.”

Elizabeth took off her tank top and jeans and frowned when she realized the straps of her bra would be showing with this dress. After some hesitation, she unhooked her white bra and tossed it to the side.

She gripped the hem of the light blue cotton sun dress and yanked it over her head. She smoothed it over her hips and then moved to tie the two strings in the back.

As soon as the dress was in place, Elizabeth frowned and turned to the side. She had…she had a waist…and hips and…holy hell, were those her breasts?

“Elizabeth?” Brenda knocked on the outside door. “You about to ready to show me? Because I found a terrific pair of sandals to match it and if looks like I think it will, we’ll buy it to wear home.”

Elizabeth smiled genuinely and turned in a full circle. “Brenda?”

“Yeah?” the brunette asked, grinning at the light tone in her stepdaughter’s voice.

“Can we go to the hair salon too?”

Brenda laughed. “What ever you want, honey. Come on out and show me.” She stepped back and her eyes lit up when Elizabeth emerged. Gone was the girl who looked eleven. With some makeup, the right accessories and the girl would pass for seventeen, eighteen easily.

“Do I look okay?” Elizabeth asked hopefully.

Brenda nodded. “You look incredible. They won’t even recognize you.” She reached out to touch a strand of Elizabeth’s curly hair. “I don’t think we’ll change your hair too much. You have gorgeous hair.” Brenda hesitated for a moment. “I’ve seen pictures of your mother and you have some hair.”

“She had straight hair,” Elizabeth corrected. “Mine’s horribly curly. That’s why I always wear it up.”

“Yeah, but it’s the same color,” Brenda told her. “And it looks like the same texture.” She studied it for a moment. “I think maybe a few inches, just to clear the dead ends. A few highlights–maybe. We’ll get it styled. And I’ll show you how to braid it at night so it’s not hopelessly tangled in the morning.”

Elizabeth frowned and suddenly the look of distrust was back in her eyes. “Why are you doing all of this?”

“Because I want you to like me,” Brenda told her without shame. “And I’m willing to do anything to achieve that goal. You and I are going to have to live together for a long time and we’re family now. I’d like for you to trust me.”

“You know my approval doesn’t mean anything to my father right?” Elizabeth warned her. “You saw how he treats me.”

Brenda rolled her eyes. “Look, your father’s treatment of you is absolutely ridiculous and that’s the first thing I’m going to change. He needs to realize that you are not five years old anymore.” Brenda smirked. “Now, go grab your clothes so we can buy that dress and these sandals so we can finish our errands.”

Still skeptical about her stepmother’s motives, Elizabeth ducked back into the dressing room and shoved her clothes into a bag Brenda handed her. She slipped into the blue heeled sandals and they headed for the cashier.

Brownstone: Sonny’s Office

“What time did they leave?” Sonny asked, checking his watch. “It’s almost five o’clock.”

“They left at eleven,” Ric volunteered. “Have you talked to AJ Quartermaine about the docks permit?”

Sonny nodded. “He called at about one. He’s still stalling but I’m gonna send Johnny down there tomorrow morning to change his mind.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Ric glanced out the window that faced the street. “The limo just pulled up.”

“Good.” Sonny tossed back a bourbon. “I’ll get Mama. We’re going out for dinner. Where’s Jason?”

Ric smirked. “Helping Carly hang pictures in her room. Do you want me to get him for dinner?”

“You’d better.” Sonny glanced out at the limo but neither Brenda nor his daughter had emerged yet, though the guards were already heading towards the front door with packages. “It’s imperative that we all be seen in a public place tonight.” He frowned. “Is that…?”

Ric walked over to the window when his brother trailed off and his eyes widened with Elizabeth finally got out of the car, her once waist-length dark curly hair cut to her mid-back and styled bone straight. Her makeup was fresh and light but her eyes were done in smoky colors, highlighting her deep blue eyes. The blue sundress hugged her curves.

“When Brenda mentioned Elizabeth was going for a different image…she might have been more specific,” Ric murmured.

Sonny narrowed his eyes and flew out of the office. Ric hastily swallowed the rest of his whiskey before joining his brother.

Brenda and Elizabeth stopped dead in the middle of the foyer when they were confronted with an enraged Sonny Corinthos. “What in the hell are you wearing?” he demanded.

Elizabeth bit her lip and looked down at the dress. Suddenly all the compliments from the women at the salon and Brenda meant nothing. “You don’t like it?” she asked softly.

“You look like a hooker!”

“Sonny!” Brenda hissed.

“Sonny,” Ric said, putting a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “She looks like she’s fifteen years old. Leave her alone.”

“Go upstairs and get changed immediately,” Sonny ordered.

“What’s all the yelling about?” Jason asked, jogging down the steps. He stopped at the bottom and gaped when he saw Elizabeth. “What the hell?”

Elizabeth glanced at Brenda sharply, hurt. “I knew this was a bad idea!” she cried. She darted towards the stairs and pushed in between her father and Jason to run upstairs, her heels clicking with every step.

When he heard the door slam, Sonny sighed and looked at his wife. “Brenda, what you thinking, dressing my little girl up like that?”

“Are you kidding me?” Brenda demanded. She threw her hands up in the air. “Here’s a newsflash, you big oaf. Your little girl is fifteen years old!”

“Sonny, she looked fine,” Ric tried to tell him.

“She had all that make up on and all that skin showing–”

“She looked beautiful and it took a while to convince her of that,” Brenda spat out angrily. “Damn it, Sonny. That girl has little to no self-esteem and I’m beginning to understand why.” She glanced at the guards who had halted around them, packages in their hands. “Go store that somewhere until I can fix this,” she said, shortly. The command in her voice had them moving before they realized it and Sonny gaped.

“What the hell is going on?”

“I think that’s the question I should be asking,” Brenda said, irritated. “Where is the romantic family man you painted yourself out to be when we met in Puerto Rico, huh? Was that all an act?”

“Brenda–”

“You know what?” Ric said. “I’m going to go check on Mama. See that she’s ready for dinner. Jason, why don’t you check on Elizabeth?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” The two men climbed the steps, leaving the newlyweds at the bottom.

Elizabeth’s Room

“Go away!” she called when the knock came.

Jason opened the door anyway and just shook his head when he saw Elizabeth curled up on her window seat, her sandals kicked off. “Are you okay?”

“What does it matter?” she asked miserably. “I could try to look my age and he’ll still see me as a kid.”

“You are a kid,” Jason said, resignedly as he sat down on her bed. She glared at him.

“If you’re supposed to be in here to cheer me up, you’re doing a lousy job.”

“What’d you do to your hair?” he asked. “And your face?”

“It’s called makeup,” Elizabeth muttered. “And it’s just straightened. Brenda thought it might be a good idea. We bought a whole big bottle of the gunk in case I want to do it again.”

“You looked fine before,” Jason assured her.

“I don’t want to look fine ,” Elizabeth whispered. “I want to be beautiful. Why can’t anyone just understand that?”

“What makes you think you’re not?” Jason asked, surprised.

She shook her head. “You said it yourself. I’m a kid. Who thinks a kid is beautiful except their parents?”

“That’s not what I meant,” he replied. He moved to the window seat. “Elizabeth, you’ve got all the time in the world to look older. Why do you want to hurry it up?”

She sniffled. “Because I’m tired of being treated like I’m invisible or like I’m not capable of making my own decisions. The only time Daddy even talks to me anymore is to dictate something or yell at me. I thought if I just…changed the way I look…he might take me a little more seriously.” Elizabeth glanced at him. “I thought you might take me more seriously.”

Jason frowned and leaned back. “I take you seriously.”

Elizabeth snorted and stood. She crossed the room and turned back to him, her arms folded. “What are you smoking? You’re just a kid, Elizabeth. Stop acting like you’re five and maybe we’ll stop treating you that way. Go away, Elizabeth. Grow up, Elizabeth.” Her eyes burned with tears. “Is any of that sounding familiar?”

He stood. “I never meant to hurt you, Elizabeth.”

“That’s just another line you say,” she bit out. “I never meant to hurt you Elizabeth. You’re a great kid, Elizabeth. Why aren’t you out playing jump rope? You’re too young to like guys. You should just start recording this stuff, Jason, it might save you some breath.”

“Where is this coming from?” Jason demanded. “I thought we were friends.”

She shook her head. “You never saw me as a friend. I’m just Ric’s niece. The little pest who followed you around and the little stupid idiot who announced she was going to marry you!” Her voice got louder and more hysterical with every word until she was almost sobbing.

He took a step towards her. “Elizabeth–”

“But you will never see me that way,” she whispered brokenly. “It doesn’t matter how much I try to make you, you just don’t. You’d rather trail after bimbos like Carly with your tongue hanging out. Well, go ahead, see if I give a damn anymore.” She broke off abruptly and slammed into her small bathroom.

He knocked on the door. “Elizabeth, come out of there–”

“Go away!”

Adela slipped in the room, hearing her granddaughter’s sobs. “Jason, go join Ric and my other foolish son in the foyer. I will see to Elizabeth.”

“But–”

“Go,” Adela said again. “Shoo. Men are always saying the wrong thing when a woman is crying. It’s something on your genes. Go,” she said again, propelling him towards the door. She shut it behind him. “He’s gone.”

Elizabeth opened her bathroom door, tears streaking her eye makeup. “Oh Abuela,” she whispered, launching herself into her grandmother’s arms.

“Mi nieta,” Adela murmured, smoothing her hands over Elizabeth’s back. “It’s all right, bebé .”

“Why doesn’t he love me?” she choked out.

“He is a fool. All men are,” Adela told her. “He may come around yet.”

Spanish
Abuela – grandmother
Mi nieta – my granddaughter
Bebé – baby

Corinthos Brownstone: Foyer

Two years later, Sonny Corinthos remarried. It was a surprise to anyone who knew him and even more so to his daughter who felt betrayed. Elizabeth was never going to have another mother–why should her father have another wife?

Brenda Barrett-Corinthos was young, barely twenty-seven. She was former model and she had a kind and loving heart. But Elizabeth was unwilling to accept a stepmother who was only twelve years older than she was. She was even more upset when Brenda’s younger sister moved in with them. Carly Barrett was nineteen and she looked like Elizabeth had always wanted to. She was tall with long gorgeous blonde hair, a curvy voluptuous figure.

Elizabeth was waiting in the front hall when Carly and Brenda moved in one early summer morning. Ric was home from college by then, having graduated and engaged to high school sweetheart Faith Roscoe.

When Carly came in, she was dressed to the nines. Silk sundress, manicured fingernails and her toes, encased in delicate high-heeled sandals, matched the color. She looked like a movie star and by comparison, in her jeans and tank top with her hair in a French braid and some freckles scattered across her cheekbones, Elizabeth felt all of eight years old.

“You must be Lizzie,” Carly greeted, a smile on her face. She took her sunglasses off and tucked them in the bodice of her dress. She extended a hand and Elizabeth gingerly shook it.

“Elizabeth,” she corrected softly. “I prefer Elizabeth.”

But Carly was already looking at Jason. “And you’re Jason, right?”

Elizabeth darted a look at Jason and narrowed her eyes when she saw him staring at Carly like he’d never seen a girl before. He shook her hand and she smiled coyly at him.

“Carly, don’t take so long,” a feminine voice said from behind her. Brenda Corinthos swept in then. It was the first time Brenda was meeting the family, having eloped with Sonny to the Cayman Islands. She had light brown hair, dark skin and was tall and willowy–almost the exact opposite of her sister.

“You must be Elizabeth,” Brenda said, with a big smile. She was eager to get to know her stepdaughter.

Elizabeth smirked. “What tipped you off?” she asked pointedly.

Brenda flushed and then looked at the two men standing behind her. “Ric and Jason, right?”

“Guess which one is actually related to Sonny,” Elizabeth remarked sarcastically. Ric flicked her on her ear and she scowled at her uncle.

“Well, that’s easy since Jason looks like a California surfer boy,” Carly mused. She licked her lips. “And Ric looks like a miniature Sonny.”

Elizabeth folded her arms tightly, all too aware that Jason’s eyes were still locked on the blonde. How dare Carly come in here after she’d spent the last two years trying to look older and more mature in his eyes?

“Well, why don’t Carly and I unpack and maybe we can go out and you can show me the sights, Elizabeth,” Brenda suggested.

“I can’t,” Elizabeth said shortly. Brenda’s smile faltered. “I’m not allowed to go out without my father.”

Brenda frowned. “You’re fifteen years old–surely you’re exaggerating.”

“Unfortunately, she’s not,” Jason told the new bride. “Elizabeth has the tendency to get in trouble when she’s out without Sonny or one of the men.”

Carly leaned against the wall in a magazine pose–one foot braced against the wall and an arm over her head. “Why don’t you take us then?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I can’t go anyway. I’ve got stuff to do.” Without another word, she shot past Ric and up the stairs.

Brenda sighed. “I was hoping we’d get off to a better start.”

“She’s a spoiled little mob princess,” Carly murmured. She leaned down to grab one of her bags. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get settled into my room.”

“I’ll show you where it is,” Jason volunteered, grabbing two more of her bags. “Ric, you’ll take Brenda, right?”

“Right.” Ric watched his best friend climb the stairs after the beautiful girl and shook his head, amused. “She’s got him wrapped around her finger already.”

“Doesn’t surprise me,” Brenda sighed. She eyed her husband’s younger brother. “Do you think Sonny made a mistake in marrying me?”

“I think you’ve got some things to learn before I can make that decision,” Ric told her. “This is a very different life that you’ve married into. And Elizabeth has been her father’s entire world since the day she was born. It’s going to be hard to let her share that spotlight.”

“I’ll win her over,” Brenda said, determined. “I can’t replace her mother–but I can certainly be her friend. She’s at an age when she needs an older female figure in her life.”

“She is,” Ric agreed. “But she’s stubborn.”

Brenda lifted her chin. “So am I.”

Elizabeth’s Bedroom

Elizabeth yanked her hair out of its braid and started brushing it furiously. She knew she could never get it as straight as Carly’s but she could make it look presentable.

After a few moments of wrestling with it, she tossed her brush aside and crossed to her closet. She pushed aside her jeans and tomboy clothes until she found a plain black skirt. Elizabeth yanked it off the hanger and tossed it on her bed.

She found a red and brown peasant shirt that had two strings to tie around her waist in the back. She frowned, trying to remember why she’d bought it.

She shimmied out of her jeans and quickly changed into the other outfit before going to her vanity table and looking through it, trying to find the makeup her mother had bought for her before her death.

Elizabeth nearly poked herself in the eye five times with the mascara before giving up on the idea of makeup. She grabbed her brush and started to brush her hair again. Finally, the curls were untangled and it looked semi normal.

Someone knocked on her door. “Come in!” she yelled.

Sonny entered and smiled when he saw his little girl at her vanity, brushing her hair. “Trying to make a good impression on Brenda?” he asked.

Elizabeth scowled. “Hardly,” she muttered.

“Brenda said that the two of you had a nice meeting downstairs,” Sonny remarked, coming further into the room and standing behind her. “I’m glad you’re warming up to her.”

“She’s lying,” Elizabeth said, irritated. “I don’t like her and I don’t like her stupid sister either.”

“Angel…”

“Do you even remember Mama?” Elizabeth asked bitterly. Her eyes stung with tears. “How do you think she’d feel about this?”

Sonny looked away. “That’s not fair,” he said quietly.

“What’s not fair is you bringing home a woman who’s only twelve years older than me and expecting me to call her mother.” Elizabeth slammed her hairbrush down and glared at her father through the mirror. “Brenda is not my mother and she never will be, so keep her away from me.” She jumped to her feet and stormed from the room.

Dining Room 

Dinner was an interesting affair. Ric’s fiancée was eating with them and due to the occasion, it was a formal dinner. Carly was seated across from Jason, who couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of the blonde and seated to the right of him was the scowling Elizabeth. He hadn’t even noticed her outfit or semi tamed hair.

Brenda and Sonny were seated at one end of the table, Sonny on the end and Brenda to his right. Adela sat on his left. Ric and Faith were next to Carly.

“Elizabeth,” Sonny began, “I’ve been thinking it’s time you had friends your own age.”

Elizabeth scowled and opened her mouth to retort, but Brenda jumped in instead. “Honestly, Sonny, could you be any more patronizing?” she asked pointedly. “She isn’t a child to be pointed in the right direction. She’s a beautiful young woman.”

Elizabeth frowned in her stepmother’s direction. She wasn’t supposed to defend her–she was supposed to agree with her father at any cost. That was what women did right? Her mother had always taken her father’s side.

“She’s fifteen,” Sonny argued.

“Michael,” Adela admonished. “Stop acting like a jackass.”

“Elizabeth,” Faith began with a smile. “I was thinking that the two of us could go to a spa one day. You look like you could use a day of beauty.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Why?”

Faith darted a look at her fiancé, nervously. “Well, it’s just that you’re so pretty and with the right amount of attention, you could be really beautiful.”

“When you’re done kissing the princess’s ass, could you pass me the bread?” Carly asked Faith.

“Yeah, what is with you?” Elizabeth asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She looked at Faith. “You’ve barely said two words to me in all the time you’ve been dating Ric.”

Faith sighed. “Well, I’m sorry for trying to fix that mistake.” She looked at Ric. “A little help here.”

“Let me tell you what’s up, miss innocent,” Carly began. “My dear sister is sure her marriage hangs on your approval–”

“Carly!” Brenda said, her cheeks flushed.

“And I’m not sure what’s up the ice queen’s ass, but I’m sure she wants you to like her and from the looks of her, she’s definitely got some ulterior motives. You due to inherit your daddy’s money or something?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No,” she said faintly, darting a glance at Faith before looking at Brenda. “Jason and Ric are.”

Ric coughed discreetly and looked at Sonny. “I see no one’s informed her of Lily’s will.”

Adela glared at her youngest child. “Richard.”

“What about Mama?” Elizabeth asked curiously.

“I hardly think this is the time or place for this conversation. Elizabeth is a child yet and–”

Elizabeth jumped up from her seat and glared at her father. “I’m not a child!” she seethed. “Why do you all insist on treating me like I’m five years old?”

Jason sipped his water. “Maybe it’s because you insist on acting like you are.”

She turned her angry and hurt eyes on someone she’d thought was her best friend. He looked away from her after a moment and stared down at his plate.

“Elizabeth, sit down,” Sonny said sternly.

Elizabeth glared at him. “Oh, we wouldn’t want your child bride to think you’ve got an unruly daughter, now would we?” she said scathingly.

Adela sighed and shook her head. “You are all such children,” she said sadly. “Elizabeth, please…sit down.”

Sonny stood and glared at his daughter. “Elizabeth Adela Corinthos, if you don’t sit down right now–”

“What?” Elizabeth demanded. “What will you do? There’s nothing you can take from me, Daddy. I never leave my room, I have no friends and my mother is dead. How do you think you will punish me?”

“Go to your room until I decide what to do with you!” Sonny ordered.

Elizabeth stalked out of the room and Sonny sat down a moment later. “I’m sorry about that,” he told Brenda and Carly.

“I think you handled that all wrong,” Brenda said. She pressed a napkin to her lips and stood. “Excuse me.”

Elizabeth’s Bedroom

Elizabeth was sitting on her window seat, staring out over the street when Brenda pushed the door open. She saw her stepmother and scowled but said nothing.

“If it helps my approval rating anyway, I do disagree with the way your father treated you,” Brenda said, sitting on the seat, leaning against the opposite wall.

“Good for you,” Elizabeth muttered. She stared at her short fingernails, the edges ragged from her biting down on them.

“It can be hard for a father to admit their little girl is a woman,” Brenda continued.

“I might as well be a little girl,” Elizabeth said miserably. She kicked her sandals off to reveal her bare feet with the unpainted toenails.

“I don’t want to replace your mother,” Brenda told her softly. “I don’t want to even pretend that we could have a mother/daughter relationship.”

“Then what do you want from me?” Elizabeth asked. She dragged her hands through her already tangled hair. “My father can barely stand to look at me anymore. I look too much like my mother.”

“I think I know what’s wrong.” Brenda stretched her legs out onto the floor. “It’s not just me moving in and marrying your father.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Sure it is. You’re only twelve years old than me. It’s ridiculous.”

“It’s Jason, isn’t it?” Brenda smiled a little. “I wouldn’t worry about Carly getting into deep with him. He’s not her type.”

Elizabeth scowled. “He’s a jackass and I hate him.”

“He’s lived here for the past ten years hasn’t he?” Brenda asked. “Long enough for you get attached to him.”

Elizabeth smiled involuntarily. “When I was six years old, I announced at dinner that I was going to marry him.”

Brenda laughed then. “What did Sonny say about that?”

“Oh, he thought it was highly amusing and I believe Jason said no way in hell.” Elizabeth looked away. “Only my mother took me seriously.”

“Mothers tend to do that. I told my mother when I was ten that I was going to marry the richest and most handsome man I could find. She said that of course I would because I was going to be beautiful and any man would want to marry me.” Brenda shook her head. “So she told me to go ahead and find my rich, handsome prince but to only marry him if I loved him.”

Elizabeth eyed her cautiously. “Do you really love my father?”

“Yes. Even if he can be arrogant and stubborn.” Brenda tossed her hair over her shoulder and smiled at her. “Hey, why don’t we show your father and Jason exactly how grown up you are?”

“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked.

“I say that tomorrow morning…you and I go on a shopping spree. We’ll go to a hair salon, we’ll get you a makeover.” Brenda touched Elizabeth’s cheek. “We’ll show everyone what a beautiful young woman you are.”

Sonny’s Office

Sonny sipped his bourbon. “I don’t know what’s up with her these days.”

Ric smirked and wandered over to the mini bar to pour himself a drink. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you married a woman that she’d never seen before, who was only twelve years old then her. Then you moved her in here along with a younger woman who seems to have stolen her playmate.”

Jason scowled. “Don’t be an idiot.”

“She’s just being selfish–”

“And why haven’t you told her about Lily’s will?” Ric interrupted his brother.

“There’s nothing to tell her that’ll be any use to her.” Sonny shrugged. “She only gets the money if she’s not married when she’s twenty-five.”

“That’s ten years from now,” Jason said. “How can you guarantee she will be?”

“Because I’ve already arranged a match for her when she’s eighteen,” Sonny told them.

Ric raised his eyebrows. “What year is it again? 1842?”

Sonny scowled. “It’s a good match with a good family. She’ll be treated right.”

Jason shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re being so blasé about this. Doesn’t her happiness mean anything?”

“She’ll never agree to it, Sonny,” Ric chimed in. “And besides…she’s only fifteen and she’s so sheltered. I can’t imagine that’s going to change in three years.”

“She won’t be responsible to handle the kind of money Lily left her–even when she’s twenty-five.” He looked at his brother. “And tell Faith to stop sucking up to her. It’ll be ten years before Elizabeth sees a dime of that money and then it’ll go into her husband’s accounts.”

“I can’t believe Lily agreed to this,” Ric said, shaking his head.

“She probably assumed that Elizabeth would marry on her own free will,” Jason told him. “Elizabeth was her whole world.”

“Well, Jason, she also assumed that it would be you,” Sonny said, sarcastically. “My wife was a wonderful woman, but she was a romantic.”

Jason frowned. “Lily thought I would marry Elizabeth? She’s like my little sister.”

Ric smirked. “Yeah. Right.” He shook his head. “Anyway. I think you’re making a mistake in keeping this from her.”

Sonny glared at the two men. “You are the only two who know about both the will and the marriage, so if she finds out…I’ll know who told her. She isn’t to be told. That’s an order.”

Brenda knocked softly on the door. “Sonny?”

“Yeah, come in.”

His wife entered, slightly nervous. “I’m not exactly sure what the protocol is but I’d like to take Elizabeth shopping tomorrow.”

Jason raised his eyebrows. “Does Elizabeth know about this?”

Brenda leveled a cool gaze on her husband’s surrogate son. “She knows and she’s agreed. We both agreed that if she’s going to be treated like the woman she is, she’s going to have to start portraying that image.”

“Brenda–”

Brenda turned to her husband. “Look, I’m trying to bond with her and if I have to do it over shoes and jewelry, I’ll do it.”

Sonny hesitated. “All right. I’ll arrange it. But it should be made clear to her that her behavior at dinner tonight was uncalled for and that I expect an apology.”

“Fine.” Brenda smiled at Ric before leaving the room.

“Elizabeth agreed to go shopping? That doesn’t around right,” Jason remarked.

“Why do I have the feeling that things are about to change around here?” Ric murmured.