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Title: Masked Desires
Rating: R Overall
Chapter: 8
Archive: Yes Please! (Thank you to the archivers!)
All Fic Can Be Found: http://tammysfanfic.proboards.com/index.cgi?
Author's Note:

Well, it looks like this one is going to get wrapped up in the next Chapter, but there will be a sequel, which I will preview with the final installment. I love this quad so much, I can't let them go!

Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think. As always, thanks for all of your feedback and comments!

Tammy

Chapter 8: Coming Full Circle

Elizabeth opened the door to her home and walked over to crumple herself up in a ball on her couch, tears streaming heavily down her face.

Hands held, Johnny and Emily watched from the doorway as their friend went to pieces, unsure if she truly wanted them there since they were the core reason for her miserable situation. Tears flowed down Emily's cheeks as she looked helplessly at Elizabeth's defeated weeping body. In that moment, Emily promised she was going to have a little talk with her brother and let him know exactly what she thought about his irrational decisions regarding both Elizabeth and his own son.

Looking up at Johnny with a pleading glazed stare, Emily sought answers from his troubled eyes. After a gentle squeeze, Johnny released Emily's hand and slowly walked over to the couch, crouching down in front of Elizabeth and placing a reassuring hand on top of her clinched fist as his other hand brushed the matted hair from her face.

"Lizzie," Johnny gently said, "I'm so, so sorry about tonight." As he thought for a second, his face twisted with disgust and frustration as he continued, "Actually, I'm sorry for the whole damn thing. I just thought…well, I hoped, anyway…if Jason could just see-"

Elizabeth stopped Johnny's sentence, sitting straight up to exclaim with a broken sob, "Don't you see? That's what hurts the most! Jason did see! He asked me to stop seeing you. He said that seeing me with you was driving him crazy!"

Johnny was shocked by Elizabeth's confession and looked at her with a puzzled expression, "Jason actually said that?"

Elizabeth nodded in despair as her head fell back onto the couch. Emily walked over to sit on the end of couch, and sadly said, "I guess Johnny and I have really messed things up, haven't we?"

"Not necessarily, sweetness," Johnny wondered out loud, "If Jason actually said those things, then we might just be able to claim victory after all!"

Emily looked up curiously, "You aren't serious!"

Johnny stood and began pacing, "Look, if Jason loves Lizzie as much as I'm pretty sure he does, then just give him a few days to cool down and he will see what matters most-his love for her!" Turning to face the girls once more with a worried grimace, "Of course, I may need to take a few sick days so he won't shoot me or anything before he comes to his senses. But, the Boss will understand. He's on our side."

"And just how long have you known my brother?" Emily sarcastically returned.

"Long enough to know there is no one he has ever loved more than our Lizzie!" Johnny defensively replied.

Elizabeth sat back up and wiped the tears from her eyes, "No, I'm afraid Em's right. The one thing Jason cannot tolerate is betrayal."

"Which is why I called the Boss to find and talk some sense into him," Johnny explained, "If anyone can get through, the Boss can."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Emily sighed, "I know my brother…Jason tends to cut off his emotions and only see things through tunnel vision once he has been betrayed."

"Which means I'm doomed," Elizabeth exasperated, "and I've lost him completely."

"Well, I, for one," Johnny angrily retorted, "Am not giving up so easily!"

Elizabeth stood from the couch and walked over to hug Johnny tightly, "Look, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I want you to just let this be. It's already a huge mess and I'm sure Jason will eventually get over what has been done, but he will never be able to trust me again, so let's just be happy that you and Emily are now able to be together, okay?"

"Not good enough," Johnny softly replied, strengthening his embrace around Elizabeth's shoulders, "Not if you are left miserable, Lizzie!"

As he pulled Elizabeth back to look into her eyes and she gazed at him in an appreciative weak smile, Johnny continued, "The best part of this whole fiasco is I have gotten to know you and can say that I have a beautiful new close friend in my life who I want to be happy just as she deserves."

"And I have a wonderful new close friend as well," Elizabeth replied, "but as a close friend, I am asking you, Johnny…just let this go and cherish what you have with Em. That is what would make me happy."

"Oh, Elizabeth," Emily said, walking over to wrap her arms around her best friend's neck, "This is all so completely unfair!"

Elizabeth turned and looked between her friends, "Maybe eventually, Johnny will be right and Jason will at least talk to me again. Until then, as long as I have the both of you and my boys, I know I will be fine!"

Deciding that she needed a few moments to herself before attempting to turn in for the night, Elizabeth reached out and hugged Johnny and Emily around the waists, urging, "I think it has been quite the night and it's getting late, so why don't you two enjoy some time together now that you are officially a couple in the eyes of Port Charles!"

"Are you sure?" Emily prodded, still worried about Elizabeth's state of mind.

"Yeah, I mean we can stay, if you want," Johnny said, looking down with concern.

"I absolutely insist!" Elizabeth nodded, guiding them towards the door, "Why don't we plan to meet for dinner tomorrow night?"

"Well, you know I won't turn down an offer to have the two most beautiful women in Port Charles on my arms!" Johnny joked, smiling widely.

As Johnny and Emily turned in the doorway to say goodbye, Elizabeth softly said, "Thank you both…for everything…for trying to help me with Jason, for being a part of my life, and especially for being here for me tonight."

Johnny took Emily's hand and gazed deeply into her eyes before turning his eyes to Elizabeth, "We will always be here for you, Lizzie! I know you already know that with sweetness, here," Johnny smiled down at Emily for a moment, before looking back up, "But I want you to know that goes for me too. Anything you need, we will always be here."

"Thanks," Elizabeth replied, "Right now I think I need sleep, so I will see you both tomorrow."

"Bye," Johnny and Emily said in unison, watching as Elizabeth closed the door.

Emily exhaled a long deep breath as she asked, "So, now what do we do?"

"We do what Elizabeth asked us to do," Johnny sorrowfully replied, guiding Emily to his car, "for now, anyway. I don't make any promises after this whole thing cools down."

"Neither do I," Emily said, "I don't even know if I can wait until it dies down to give my brother a piece of my mind!"

Johnny's eyes went wide, "You aren't going to like go…ballistic or anything are you?"

Emily's voice filled with annoyance, "I don't go ballistic, thank you very much! I just want to let Jason know how insane it is to walk away from a life that both he and Elizabeth want and deserve! Not to mention the fact that I think he is acting completely irrational! If I have to use a little attitude, so be it!"

As he opened the door for her, Johnny looked down with a fearful expression, "Sweetness, I've seen you mad and no offense, but it's not pretty. Pretty scary, actually. Kind of like it would be best, if you are on the receiving end, to just move to another continent or something?"

Emily shot Johnny a glare full of warning, causing him to back up several steps, laughing under his breath nervously, "I still have a lot to learn about this whole relationship thing, huh?" With an innocent smile, he continued quickly, "For instance, there are certain times where I shouldn't think out loud as it could cause bodily injury from the most beautiful and sweetest woman ever put on the face of this earth? Who by the way, I love more than anything in this world!"

Emily almost burst out laughing at Johnny's panicked expression but held together a stern straight face as she breathed out, "Johnny?"

Johnny cleared his throat anxiously before answering, "Yes, my love?"

Emily couldn't keep her face straight any longer, breaking into a giggle, "I kind of like the fact that I can scare you! In fact…it's kind of a turn on! And just so you know? I love you more than you could ever imagine was possible!"

Relief flowed over Johnny's expression as he grinned wickedly, "You are the perfect woman, Emily Quartermaine! Stunningly beautiful, sweet, kind…" Leaning down to kiss her lips gently, he teased, "and when you want to be, a very, very bad girl!"

"Let's go home so I can show you just how bad I can be," Emily seductively replied, bursting out into laughter once more as Johnny quickly shut her door and slid across the hood to get into the driver's side, speeding off so they could go home…and for once, not worrying about getting caught waking up in each other's arms.

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Elizabeth lay in her bed, curled up in her covers, finding herself unable to sleep as her fateful night replayed over and over in her mind. Closing her eyes, she could almost feel Jason's arms around her, telling her that he wanted her-that he wanted a life with her. And just as it had been so many times before, her happiness was ripped from her grasp, only this time it was of her own undoing.

She knew she should give up the dream she had held for almost ten years. Jason would never forgive her for what she had done. The problem was, Elizabeth couldn't. There would never be a day where she would be able to stop dreaming of a life with Jason Morgan.

Knowing sleep was not going to come, Elizabeth got out of bed and drudged down the stairs towards the kitchen where a plate of brownies were waiting for her to take solace in.

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Jason pulled into Elizabeth's driveway, turning his lights off so as not to wake anyone, and looked down at his watch to find that it was 2 a.m. He had been driving the roads of Port Charles for the last two hours, all of his thoughts swirling around one fact-he loved Elizabeth Webber and had been a complete and utter fool in not acting on that fact.

It was true, he had been betrayed by the two most important women in his life and a man who he considered one of his best friends, even though Jason wouldn't admit that to Johnny O'Brien for fear his ego would never let Jason forget it.

The more Jason thought about the events that led him to finally figuring out what he really wanted, the clearer it became that he had given Elizabeth no other choice. How many times had he walked away leaving her heartbroken? Had he not proposed, then made her believe it was a mistake? Was his lie not just as bad as Elizabeth's when he told her that their one night together was just that-one night-when in fact it was the greatest night of his life, giving him his only biological son, and made him realize that Elizabeth was the only woman he would ever love? The answer angrily fought its way to the surface as he drove throughout town…he was more to blame for all of this than Elizabeth could ever be.

While there was a part of Jason that knew he should wait until the morning, the other part of him was unable to let another second pass by without Elizabeth knowing just how much he loved and wanted to be with her, no matter what mistakes they had made along the way.

Quietly exiting his car, Jason looked up at the darkened house. The night was pitch black with no moonlight in sight, leaving the area around Elizabeth's home blanketed in blackened shadows.

After their horrendous night, Jason didn't want to wake Elizabeth if she was asleep. Pulling his pick lock set out of his back pocket, Jason decided to let himself in to at least to check on Elizabeth and if she was asleep, wait patiently until she awoke. As he walked slowly towards her front door, Jason froze at the front of the steps, wondering what he was going to say when he was finally able to face her.

Running his hand through his hair, Jason's first thought exited his lips as he sighed quietly, "I'm an idiot! I led us to this point. I'm the one who kept denying us the chance at a life together because I was too afraid of losing you. If I had only trusted enough in us when I should have…hell, I knew you were the love of a lifetime from that first night at Jakes."

"I knew it too," Elizabeth's voice whispered out from the darkness, "I've always known you were the only one I would ever truly love, Jason."

Jason's heart stopped as he turned his head towards the side of the house where the voice emanated from. Out of the shadows, Elizabeth walked hesitantly towards him in a white cotton shirt and pajama pants. It was rare that anyone could sneak up on Jason, which left him stunned in Elizabeth's presence as she stopped ten feet away from him.

"E-Elizabeth?" Jason stuttered out, "W-what are you doing out here? I-I thought you would be asleep."

Elizabeth shrugged uneasily, "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to come out here and lay in my hammock for a while to think."

Jason's protective side shown as he gently chastised, "You shouldn't be out here alone like that at night, it's too dangerous. What if-"

Elizabeth brought her hand up to stop Jason's sentence, "I know after tonight, I have no right to ask, but can you do me a favor?"

Jason tilted his head, confused, as he replied, "What?"

Elizabeth smiled sweetly as she said, "Can we have just one conversation without the word 'danger' being used? I have really come to hate that word!"

Unable to stop his laughter, Jason chuckled at her request, "I can try."

Elizabeth let out a soft laugh as she let her eyes fall to the ground, "It was nice…you know…the things you just said."

Jason gulped as he suddenly realized that unbeknownst to him, his true feelings had been revealed, his own eyes drifting to the ground as he said, "I meant every word. I should have told you a long time ago, Elizabeth. I'm so sorry."

"You're sorry?" Elizabeth asked incredulously, as they both brought their eyes up to stare earnestly at one another, "Jason, I should be the one apologizing to you! I'm the one that lied about Johnny and played on your emotions. I hope you know that I am sorry for everything I did…I never intended to hurt you."

Jason quickly walked over towards Elizabeth, unable to stand the space between them any longer. As he reached Elizabeth, Jason cupped her face gently, "Did you not hear anything I said earlier? If I hadn't lied to you for all of these years and denied what I felt in my heart, none of this would have happened. In fact, I should thank you for finally making me open my eyes to what was in front of me all along."

Tears flooded down Elizabeth's cheeks as she breathed out, "This is a dream, right? I'm going to wake up in a few minutes, because there is no way this is really happening. Jason Morgan is not standing in front of me right now telling me that we may still have a chance at a life together!"

Jason wiped Elizabeth's tears away with his thumb, as he grinned happily, "Nope, not a dream! I'm afraid what you are hearing is real…I have been a complete idiot, Elizabeth. I have thrown away so many chances to be with you, it amazes me that you could still find it in your heart to love me. But, the fact is, I love you and I can't live without you. So, if you can find it in your heart to give me one more chance, I promise I will make it all up to you and the boys."

Jason leaned down and captured Elizabeth's quavering lips in a kiss full of longing and need. Elizabeth responded instantly, wrapping her arms around Jason's neck. As their lips parted, Jason whispered, "I hate myself for all of the tears I have caused to fall down your beautiful face. Are you sure I'm still worth it?"

Elizabeth gazed up into Jason's electric blue eyes and said with conviction, "If I were given a choice of living 80 years without you-never able to feel you, love you, be with you, or have you in the boys' life-or living just one day with you…able to show the world just how much I have always loved you, feel your love in return, and be able to share the boys' life with you?"

A single tear fell from Elizabeth's eye, only this time it was a tear of joy, as she continued, "I would choose one day, Jason…because in that one day would be more happiness than I would ever feel in a lifetime without you!"

Elizabeth's words touched him so deeply, Jason was left speechless. Love and adoration filled his gaze as he lowered his forehead to connect with Elizabeth's, their noses nuzzling together softly, their lips ever so slightly brushing against each other as they both closed their eyes reveling in their moment of complete togetherness.

His voice was shaky from the raw emotion flooding through him, as said, "I love you so much!"

"And I love you," Elizabeth smiled, "Always."

Jason pulled Elizabeth into a tight embrace as the agony that had plagued him disappeared, replaced by newfound happiness. "So, now what do we do? Usually we don't get to cross the line into happily ever after!"

Elizabeth laughed softly as she pulled back and took Jason by the hand, leading him up the stairs towards the front door, "Well, we can start by going to bed, making love, and waking up in each other's arms."

Jason pulled back on Elizabeth, bringing her into his chest as his arm wrapped around her waist from behind, "I like the sound of that!"

"Good," Elizabeth teased, "Because waking up around here means having two heavy boys jumping up and down on top of you, crushing all of your internal organs!"

Jason chuckled as he gently pushed Elizabeth through the door with a wide grin, "As painful as that sounds? I'm actually looking forward to that!"

A quiet laughter filled the opened doorway as Jason lifted Elizabeth up into his arms and shut the door behind him. Carrying her upstairs, Jason crashed his lips against Elizabeth's. For once in his life, Jason Morgan felt happy, loved, and most of all…complete and it was all because Elizabeth was the one person who saw what even he would never allow himself to see until this very moment…Jason Morgan deserved and was very much loved.