The safe house was on the outskirts of Port Charles. It was a one story, three bedroom house that Sonny normally used for injured men.

“What’s Chosky’s ETA?” Sonny asked as he, Jason and Elizabeth walked up to the house.

“An hour and a half,” Elizabeth replied. She smirked. “Think we can occupy him for that long?”

“We’ll think of something,” Sonny replied. He pulled the door open and let Elizabeth enter first. “Stay in the living room, Liz.”

Elizabeth glared at him. “I’m one of the people responsible for bringing him in,” she said tightly. “I think I have the right to be back there.”

Sonny looked at Jason, who held his hands up in mock surrender. “Don’t look at me to back you up. I already tried to tell her what to do tonight and you can see how well that turned out.”

Sonny glared at him. “Wussy.” He turned his attention back to Elizabeth. “Fine. Let’s go.”

—-

Verruchio was in the second bedroom, handcuffed and tied to a chair. He was gagged and blind folded. Johnny and Francis were standing guard.

Jason and Elizabeth entered first, followed by Sonny. Elizabeth walked over to a table and pulled herself onto it. Jason stood next to her and leaned against the table.

Sonny closed the door and flipped the lights on. He nodded to Johnny who removed the blindfold and gag.

“Hello,” Sonny said. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Sonny Corinthos.” He nodded his head in Elizabeth and Jason’s direction. “I think you already know my sister Elizabeth and my partner, Jason.”

Verruchio threw a hateful glance at Elizabeth. “Little bitch,” he muttered.

Elizabeth giggled which made all the men in the room throw her a strange look. “That’s pathetic,” she remarked, amused. “Little bitch?” she repeated. “That’s the best you can do?’

“Elizabeth,” Sonny warned.

“Oh, Sonny, he’s just mad because a woman showed him up,” Elizabeth said.

“I know where I made my mistake,” Verruchio remarked coldly. “It was taking Morgan instead of her. She’s obviously the Achilles’ heel.” He let his eyes drift up and down her body. “Probably could have had some more fun with her.”

Jason’s body tensed and he appeared ready to move, but Sonny got there first. He backhanded the man. “Never refer to my sister again.”

A cold smile spread on Verruchio’s thin lips. “She must be a tomcat in the sack, eh, Morgan?”

This time Jason did take a step forward, but Elizabeth jumped down from her position first. She stood next to Sonny and crossed her arms. “You’ll never know,” she replied, sweetly.

“Elizabeth,” Sonny repeated in the same tone.

“You think I don’t have ways to ensure you learn a lesson little girl?” Verruchio snapped. “You think my men wouldn’t be glad to-”

Elizabeth cut him off with short jab to the nose. When Verruchio’s head came forward again, she grabbed his chin with her hand and leaned in close, glaring at him. “No man lays a hand on me unless I say so,” she hissed. “Do you got that?” When he didn’t say anything, she let go abruptly and stepped back. She looked at her brother. “I’ll go wait in the living room,” she said. She threw another glare towards Verruchio and slammed the door behind her.

Sonny returned his attention to the man tied to the chair. “Consider yourself lucky we promised Chosky we’d wait until he arrived.” He looked at Jason. “Go check on her.”

—-

Elizabeth wasn’t in the living room—she was sitting on a chair on the porch staring at the surrounding woods. Jason opened the creaking screen door and stepped onto the porch.

“I’m fine,” Elizabeth said immediately. “I was just worried I might hurt him if I stayed in that room any longer.”

Jason leaned against the porch railing. “You did a good job tonight,” he said. She looked at him. “As much as I hate admit it…you’re good at this.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Yes. I am.”

“How’d you know where to find me?” he asked curiously.

Instead of answering, Elizabeth stood and leaned over the railing, clasping her hands. She took a deep breath. “Don’t you love the smell of the woods?” she asked. “I think the scent of the outdoors is the only thing I miss about living at the Webber Estate.”

“Elizabeth.”

She sighed. “I called Chosky. He said Verruchio keeps to the abandoned warehouses along the docks. We got men together, split the warehouses and started the search.”

“And you just happened to be in the group that found me?” Jason asked.

She smiled. “I made sure I searched the most likely warehouse. The most abandoned and remote one. I was right.”

He slowly exhaled. “I don’t like that you put yourself in that kind of danger.”

“Too bad,” Elizabeth replied.

“I don’t like it,” Jason continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “but I’m not going to say another word about it. It’s your life—and you’re right. I’d be the first person out the door to look for you.”

Elizabeth straightened and smiled at him. “Good. I’m glad you came to your senses.”

“So, what did you want to talk about?” Jason asked. “We have time before we have to do anything.”

She bit her lip and looked back out at the surrounding scenery. “I love the way the stars look in open spaces,” Elizabeth said quietly. “I think I want to live out here someday.” She leaned against one of the pillars that reached to the top of the porch. “You scared me tonight.”

“I’m sorry,” Jason said quietly. He tried to read her expression—but all he could see was her profile.

“I did exactly what I swore I wouldn’t let myself do,” Elizabeth continued. “I let you become the most important person in my life again. And when I was faced the idea that I’d lose you, I realized that I didn’t care.”

“Didn’t care?” Jason repeated. “Wait.”

“I mean it didn’t bother me anymore,” Elizabeth clarified. “I was comfortable with you being that important.” She glanced at him. “Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah,” Jason said. “Yeah, I’m okay with that.”

She smiled. “Good.”

“Is there anything else?” he asked.

Elizabeth hesitated. “Actually-” She stopped as a black car pulled up. She frowned and checked her watch. “He’s early.”

Jason sighed, frustrated. He’d made her finish that statement later. “Probably anxious to be done with this.”

A driver emerged from the front seat and headed to the backseat to open the door. A young man emerged followed by an older, silver-haired man.

“Who’s the younger guy?” Jason asked.

“His son, Michael, probably,” Elizabeth replied. She smirked. “As soon as Chosky found out I was Sonny’s sister, he flew up and tried to arrange a marriage between us. Tried to link the territories, I guess.” She shook her head. “Sonny said it was up to me.”

“What did you do?” Jason asked curiously.

“Went on a few dates,” Elizabeth replied. She came forward. “Albert, Michael, so good to see you!” She gave Chosky a kiss on the cheek and shook Michael’s hand.

“Ah, Elizabeth, you’re looking as lovely as ever,” Chosky remarked. He grinned, his green eyes sparkled. “Have you given my offer any more thought?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No. My answer is the same.” She turned to Jason. “Albert, this is Sonny’s new partner, Jason Morgan. Jason, this is Albert Chosky and his oldest son, Michael.”

Jason put his hand out. “Hello.”

Chosky shook it. “Good to meet you, Mr. Morgan.”

Michael Chosky was probably around AJ’s age, maybe older. He had dark brown hair and green eyes like his father. He was a little shorter than Jason, but just as built. He stuck his hand out. “Hello.”

Jason shook his hand. “Hello.”

Michael turned to Elizabeth. “Lizzie, it’s been too long.” He reached out and pulled her into a hug. Elizabeth politely hugged him and pulled away quickly.

“Yeah, well, I suppose you want to get in,” Elizabeth said. “Jason and I will show you the room.”

Elizabeth opened the screen door and let Michael and Chosky pass before her. She followed them in.

And Jason stood on the porch, wondering what the hell Michael and Elizabeth had done on those few dates.

—-

Within an hour, Frank Verruchio had been dealt with. The warehouse had been cleared, and Michael and Chosky had left for a hotel. Johnny and Francis had taken care of the safe house.

And Sonny, Jason and Elizabeth returned to the Harborview Towers.

“I should check in with Emily,” Elizabeth said as they headed to the elevators. “She and Nik were expecting us to be right behind them.”

Sonny pushed the button. “I called Carly and told her that there was a situation at the warehouse that you and Jason had to take care of. I made sure to tell her to tell Emily.”

“Thanks,” Elizabeth said gratefully. She looked at Jason. “Maybe we could finish that conversation.”

Sonny eyed them curiously. Conversation? Sounded like something Carly would be interested in.

“Sure.” Jason looked at Sonny. “You need me for anything?”

“No. Go. It’s late,” Sonny replied.

—-

Jason closed the penthouse door behind him. “So, you and Chosky’s kid.”

Elizabeth looked at him amused. She leaned against the desk. “Yeah?”

“What happened after those dates?” he said, bluntly.

She grinned. “Why? You jealous?”

“No,” Jason said shortly.

She shook her head. “Nothing. I decided he wasn’t my type.”

“Okay,” Jason replied, feeling relieved.

She started to laugh. “I can’t believe you were jealous.” Elizabeth moved away from the desk and sat on the couch.

“I was not jealous,” Jason said, crossing his arms. “I was curious.”

“Oh, okay,” Elizabeth replied, shaking her head.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Jason asked, changing the subject.

Elizabeth leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes. “I think we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well these last few weeks.”

“Yeah.”

“I just wanted some clarification,” she said turning her head to face him. He sat down next to her.

“Clarification,” he echoed.

“Yeah.” Elizabeth sat up and curled her legs underneath her. “What are we?”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, are we friends…are we more…are we less…” Elizabeth trailed off.

“We’re more than friends. I thought we agreed on that,” Jason replied.

“Yeah, I know,” Elizabeth said, wrinkling her nose. “But what does that mean?”

Jason stared at her. “What do you want to mean?”

“You’re not making this very easy on me,” Elizabeth said, frustrated. “Okay, we agreed we shouldn’t rush things.”

“Yeah.”

She glared at him. “You wanna jump in here any time and let me know if that’s changed or are you gonna let me babble?”

“Let you babble.”

Elizabeth punched him in the arm. “I’m suddenly beginning to remember why we fought in the first place,” she muttered.

“Elizabeth.”

“What?” she grumbled. She crossed her arms and pointedly didn’t look at him.

“I told you I was going to be around—that we didn’t need to jump into anything. Because you have a lot going on.”

“Yes. Well, now I don’t,” Elizabeth replied. “Verruchio is gone…the nightmares are fading again, I’m okay with the novel rejections. So…”

“The nightmares are fading,” Jason agreed. “But what about Jeff coming back?”

Elizabeth frowned. “I could let that bother me. And to tell the truth, I probably will when it happens. But we haven’t heard anything about it actually happening, so why I should I live my life in fear of something that might happen?” She picked at her nails. “I’ve lived in fear too long and tonight, if nothing else, showed me that I can take care of myself now. I’m not a scared little girl with no one to turn to. If he comes near me, I can back myself up. And I have people who know…who care. It’s not like before.” She looked at him. “If you don’t want to be with me, you can just say so.”

“That’s not it,” Jason said. He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I just want to be sure this is what you want.”

Elizabeth met his eyes. “This is what I want,” she said, firmly. “I want to be with you. I’m at a point in my life where I think I can handle it.”

“You think,” Jason repeated.

The corners of her mouth upturned into a smirk. “The question is…can you handle it?”

He grinned and leaned in to kiss her. She deepened the kiss almost immediately and it became intense in matter of seconds. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. He gripped her hips with his hands and pulled her into his lap.

After a few minutes, Elizabeth pulled away and smiled. “Hmm…I could get used to that.”

Jason looked at her. “Yeah, me too.”

She leaned her forehead against his. “Take me upstairs,” she whispered.

His eyes widened with surprise. “You sure?” he asked.

“Mmmm-hmmm…” Elizabeth murmured, kissing him again. “I want to be with you,” she said. “Make love to me, Jason,” she whispered.

“Well, since you ask so nicely.”

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