Part 4: True Companion

For hours, they walked through the streets of Paris. Jason kept a firm, yet gentle grip on Keesha's hand, still in awe that she had given it so willingly to him. A companionable silence protected them from the crowds as they rediscovered the sites they visited so many years ago. In time, Jason found the courage to say the words he'd been longing for nine years to say to her.

"If I could take it all back, I would," he said, coming to the conclusion of his tale. They sat across from each other at an outside cafe. He pushed the cup of coffee away from him as he stared sightlessly into the cup. "I thought I knew what I was doing, but I didn't know the half of it." Slowly, his gaze met hers. "I didn't realize I'd be giving you up. I never meant to hurt you, Keesha. Not once and I'm so sorry that I did."

He watched as she swallowed hard and nodded. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, but were void of the usual disgust and wariness. She gave him a smile and then reached for his hand. Her slender fingers stroked the flesh that was now rough from the violence of Jason Morgan's lifestyle. The tender caress electrified his senses and made him long to feel her touch on other parts of his body.

Reason told him it was too soon to hope to hold her close to him again, but the desire that flowed through him didn't give a damn. He craved her...beneath him...on top of him...dammit, just near him! The longer she smiled at him and touched his hand, the more he burned to be inside her again, telling her how much he loved her.

"You did what you thought was for the best," she said slowly. "Looking back on it now... Well, I won't lie to you. I won't tell you that your actions and words didn't hurt me because they did. I loved you, Jason, and you acted as if my love was poison-"

"If I didn't push you away, no one would have bought my new personality," he tried to explain.

She shook her head. "You didn't push Robin away. You became friends with Carly, and you continued to be close to Emily and Lila."

"Emily and Lila were the only two they'd allow me to remain close to. Robin was close to Sonny and another way to get close to him."

Keesha's eyes narrowed. "So you used her?"

Frustration lodged in his chest. He had to make her understand. "It wasn't like that," he denied. "I didn't use Robin."

"What was it like?" she asked, pulling her hand away. "Tell me. Tell me why everything that was special and sacred to us suddenly became so sacred and special to you and her. Explain that to me. How could you, Jason?"

His chair screeched across the ground as he pushed it close to Keesha. He wrapped his arm around the back of her chair and lowered his face to hers. "I don't know how that happened," he said honestly. "It wasn't intentional on my part. I didn't get close to her hoping for a relationship and I for damn sure didn't plan to desecrate our precious memories. I was out at the bridge, thinking about us and Paris and how wonderful things were for us and then, Robin was there.

"She told me about her crush on me and how I had never taken advantage of it. It was like she was leading me...so I took the bait. But believe me, Keesha. I never loved her the way I loved you. It was never the same. Nothing can compare to what we shared and the happiness you brought me. Nothing has compared to it, and believe me, I've tried to shake you, but I can't."

Her eyes searched his and then she asked, "What are saying?"

"I'm saying," he murmured, reaching up to cup her face, "that I never stopped loving you and that I never will. I'm saying that I want to be a part of your life anyway you'll have me. Will you let me?"

Jason's heart seemed to stop beating as he waited for her answer. It felt like hours passed before she nodded and whispered a shaky, "Y-Yes."

~**~

Jason stood on the terrace with its breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower and thought of the past year. It passed quickly and he didn't waste a moment of it. He spent most of his time getting reacquainted with his family and with Keesha. She was the only person who knew the full truth about his past as Jason Morgan. To the others, he simply had a change of heart. Most of them accepted his explanation without argument and willingly welcomed him back into the fold. Edward was the only person to give him any grief, but Jason didn't mind. If the old man had opened his arms and burst into tears, Jason would have been worried. Besides, through it all, Keesha was by his side and with her, he could handle anything.

She set the terms for their new relationship and made sure that he understood that it would be strictly platonic. He didn't argue with her even though his body wasn't too thrilled with the arrangement. Within months, the rules changed and Dr. John Carter was given his walking papers. Keesha kissed Jason the night of the Nurse's Ball and he had never been happier.

On Valentine's Day, he asked her to marry him. With tears streaming down her face, she told him that nothing would make her happier than to be his wife. They made the arrangements, and two months later, they were husband and wife. He released a loud sigh of contentment and smiled as her arms wrapped around him from behind. Her cheek rested against his bare back, rubbing him gently. He closed his eyes and smiled. "Are you happy, Mrs. Morgan?"

"Yes," she told him. "Very. Are you?"

"Extremely," he replied as he opened his eyes. He turned around and pulled her into his arms. With the back of his hand, he brushed the dark ringlets away from her face. "I have waited for this day forever, and I will remember it until the day I die."

"I love you so much," she whispered. "Make love to me, Jason."

"Yes," he said, sweeping her into his arms.

[Author's note: for the second half of this chapter, e-mail me at niklovr@hotmail.com. Thanks to Jenna for the lyrics to Marc Cohn's 'True Companion'!]