Keesha slammed the door behind her as she entered their room. Her breath came in spurts. She just had a talk with Lily and she didn't like what she'd learned. Her eyes searched for Jason, but the room was empty. Then, she heard the rush of water. He was in the shower. She threw her leather jacket and helmet on the bed and waited for him to come out.

A few minutes later, he joined her in the bedroom. Water dripped down his hard chest and a towel hung around his waist. He smiled when he saw her. "I thought I heard the door. You're home early."

"You talked to Sonny about me," she said quietly.

His smile faded. He went to her and tried to reach out to her. She shied away from his touch. He released a long sigh. "Yes, Keesha, I did. Did he tell you?"

"No, it was Lily," she said in a clipped voice. "You didn't have to do that. You shouldn't have done that."

"1 talked to him because I care about you! I worry about you, Keesha. Do you know what he's into? Do you know what kind of man he is?"

"I don't care about Sonny does," she told him. "He has bodyguards and I know there are people who would want to kill him, but it doesn't touch Lily's. Those kind of people don't come there."

He ran his hand through his short, wet hair. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked at her. "How can you be sure about that?"

"He's happy about the baby. He wouldn't let anyone hurt Lily. That's why I'm sure."

Jason extended his hand towards her. She glared at his hand and turned her back to him. "Keesha, please." He went to her. His hands closed over her shoulders, massaging them gentle, firm strokes. "I'm sorry you're angry, but I won't apologize for caring and worrying about you."

"I don't need you to treat me like I'm stupid, Jason," she said, quietly. His warm voice and even warmer hands were close to breaking her resolve, but she was still so upset about what he did. She hadn't expected this of him. Not after so much they had shared. "I can take care of myself. I did it before."

"I know you did, and I don't think you're stupid. I trust your judgment, sweetheart, and I know you're smart."

"So why didn't you talk to me first instead of Sonny?"

Jason turned her around to face him. His blue eyes were dark and soulful. "I should have, but I wasn't sure how you'd react."

"You should have trusted me."

He sighed. "I messed up."

She nodded. "Yeah, but I'm still here."

Keesha tugged on the towel, pulling it free of his body. She dropped it on the floor and looked at him with a smile. Before she could state her intentions, his mouth closed over hers.

~**~

Tonight was a cause of celebration for AJ. His hard work had finally met one goal. The puzzle pieces fit and he knew who was behind the prostitution scandal. Katherine Bell.

He presented all the evidence to Justus, including the hooker's written statement naming Katherine as her leader in crime. Justus read over the documentation and presented it to the board. In a move that surprised AJ, they offered him a new position at the Charles Street Foundation. It wasn't as prestigious as the one he had before, but it was a good one. They also hinted that if he proved himself worthy, obtaining his former role could be possibility. AJ accepted it all with a smile. Later, Edward apologized. Ned didn't, but AJ hadn't expected him to. The look on his face was consolation enough.

Justus and Simone joined him for an early dinner at the Port Charles Grille. Monica and Alan would have been there, but they been called away because of hospital emergencies.

Justus held up a glass of non-alcoholic champagne. "To success."

"To success," Simone and AJ joined in.

"We should toast to your engagement, too," AJ said. "Have you set a date?"

Justus looked at Simone. She shook her head. "Don't get him started, AJ. He's been pestering me for weeks."

"I'm anxious to be her husband and she says I'm pestering her," Justus teased. "Isn't that heartless?"

"Heartless is a bit strong," AJ said. "Maybe harsh would be better."

"Okay, you two," Simone said as the two men laughed. "I'll set a date soon. Tommy has to be ready and he's not there, yet."

"What's wrong?" AJ asked, digging into his salad.

"He doesn't like me," Justus answered.

"That's not true," Simone corrected. "He's just not ready for a new man in his mother's life. I

want to give him a little more time first."

"That sounds reasonable," AJ said.

The trio continued to talk about weddings and the best place to honeymoon. AJ enjoyed the conversation, but it reminded him of what he didn't have. Someone to love and someone who loved him. His happiness started to fade a little and he drifted from the conversation. Glancing around the restaurant, he noticed a familiar face. What was her name?

"Carly."

Their eyes connected just as he remembered her name. Her mouth twitched into a peculiar smile. He began to rise from his chair to invite her over when she violently shook her head. Dr. Tony Jones appeared at her side and together they went to a table. He watched them until they sat. Dejected, he turned back to his dinner. Suddenly, he no longer had an appetite.

"Is something wrong?" Simone asked.

He sighed and smiled. "Not really. What about Brazil for your honeymoon?"

~**~

The next several weeks passed with excitement for Sonny and Lily and that excitement passed on to Keesha. She shared with Jason Lily and Sonny's happiness about the child they were expecting. He noticed how Keesha's eyes sparkled when she repeated something Lily told her about pregnancy. He wondered if Keesha might want a child of her own one day. The thought of being a father to her child made him face the fact that he didn't want that to happen without benefit of marriage.

He discussed the possibility with Mary Mae who encouraged him to talk to Keesha. She was the only person who could answer that question for him.

He reserved Kelly's for just the two of them. With Mary Mae's help and some of the children from Ward House, he decorated the dining area so that it was romantic, but simple. A single, perfect red rose rested in a vase in the center table of the restaurant. Slow, ballads played on the jukebox, a delicious dinner from Cafe Matisse warmed in the oven, and candlelight filled the room with a warm glow.

Keesha arrived a few minutes after Mary Mae and the children left. Her eyes lit up with wonder as she stepped inside Kelly's. Stepping forward, Jason removed her jacket and took the helmet from her. He brushed his lips against hers and took her hand. "This is for you."

"Wow," she murmured. "Candles... wine..." She looked at Jason. "What did I do?"

He laughed. "You don't have to do anything. I did it because I love you."

"Love?" She frowned.

He cupped her face. "Love isn't bad, sweetheart. It can be good. It's how I feel about you and it doesn't mean I expect you to be a certain way. I love you because of who you are."

"Okay." She inhaled deeply. "What's for dinner?"

"It smells good, doesn't it?" he said, suddenly feeling nervous. "Have a seat." He pulled out a chair for her. "I'll be right back."

He returned with their dinner and presented it with a flourish. She poured the wine while he prepared their plates. As they ate, they discussed their day. She told him about Lily's latest discovery with her pregnancy and he spoke of his day at the Ward House. By the time their plates were empty, Jason had found his courage to ask her that all-important question.

"Keesha," he said, kneeling on one knee beside her chair. He took her hand and brushed it against his cheek. "You make me so happy, and I never thought I'd be happy again, but I am. I can't imagine being without you."

"I don't want to be without you either," she said, smiling as he kissed the back of her hand.

"That's good to know," he said, "because I have something to ask you. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?"

She stared at him. Her eyes searched his, looking for answers that Jason hoped were there for her to find. Several seconds passed in silence. Finally, she asked, "Why?"

"Because marriage is a commitment and I want to be officially committed to you."

"And you want me to be officially committed to you," she said softly.

He nodded. "Yes."

She cupped his face and nodded. "Okay. I will marry you."