Courtney climbed the stairs of the darkened mansion. She hadn’t realized how late it was. When she entered her bedroom, AJ was sitting up in bed.

"Where have you been all night?" he asked, looking not too pleased.

"God! AJ you scared me!" Courtney gasped, grabbing her chest.

"Courtney it's 3 in the morning!" AJ yelled.

"What? Oh wow, I really lost track of time," she said, looking at the clock.

"I'd say so! Where on earth have you been?"

"I'm sorry. I went for a walk in the park and lost track of time," she said, dropping her purse on the corner chair.

"The park Courtney? At this time of night? Don't you know women have been raped at that park?" AJ barked.

"God AJ! I could get attacked on the docks, attacked on the park! Is there anywhere I am allowed to go?" Courtney snapped. At first she was feeling guilty for lying to AJ, but now she was feeling trapped and angry.

"We have beautiful grounds here Courtney, and they are much safer than the park or the docks," he said calming down.

"It's like a prison here AJ," she said softly. "You don’t know what it's like living somewhere, knowing you're not wanted. Sometimes I just need to get away from this place." Her eyes filled with tears and fell downward, avoiding his gaze.

He jumped off the bed and closed the distance between them. He pushed her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "Hey, hey, look at me. I want you here and that's all that matters. You scared me tonight, that's all ok?" he said taking her into his arms. She nodded into his shoulder and returned the hug. "Can you do me a favor and at least call and tell me where you are and that you are alright when you feel the need to be by yourself?" he asked.

"Courtney nodded, "I can do that and I'm sorry for scaring you."

"It's ok, now come to bed. You must be exhausted." He gave her a kiss on the forehead and led her to their bed.

"I am," she said, giving him a weak smile.

~

The next morning AJ had left early for work, before Courtney even woke up. That morning though, she had a great idea and couldn’t wait to share it with him. This could be the very thing to make their marriage feel more real to her. She was feeling guilty about spending so much time with another man, and decided she had to concentrate on her marriage more.

AJ was later than usual today. He even missed dinner, leaving Courtney to deal with dinner with the Q's all alone. He finally came home at about nine o'clock.

"Hey sweetie, sorry I'm late. The office was swamped," he said coming through the living room.

"Hey!" Courtney jumped from the couch and put down her book. "I'm so glad you're home," she said giving him a hug.

"Well… I'm glad to be home. You seem happy tonight."

She smiled, "I got the greatest idea today AJ! I think it's the best thing for us, I really do!"

"Well, let's hear it," he said, pulling her down on the couch next to him.

"I think we should move out, get a place of our own, you know?" she told him excitedly.

"Courtney -"

"Just listen ok? Think of how great it would be to be able to live without your family's input in everything to do? To sleep in on Sunday mornings without your grandfather barging in to talk business or to bug us on continuing the Quartermaine name? To be able to eat in peace without your mother throwing insults at me and our marriage across the table? We would really be able to bond as husband and wife."

"Courtney, this all sounds nice, but I can't. I have to show the family that I am serious about ELQ. Living here is important to the family," AJ told her.

"What about what's important to me?" she asked sadly.

"Courtney, I realize this…"

"No, no I get it, your family is more important than me," she said coolly, getting up from the couch.

"Courtney, wait, that's not true," he got up and touched her arm.

"No! AJ! I can't deal with you right now," she yelled, pulling away and rushing out of the house.

"Damn it!" AJ muttered and ran his hand through his dark hair.

Jason came down the stairs and immediately saw his angel sitting on the edge. He smiled, but it quickly left his lips when he realized she was upset. She wasn't facing him, but he could tell how tense the muscles in her back were.

He quickly made his way towards her and leaned down, touching her shoulder, "Hey."

"Oh I'm so glad you're here!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms.

The force of her hug took him back. "Whoa…hey…what's wrong?"

"Everything," she sniffled into his shoulder.

He held her tighter, running his hand down from her hair to her back in a soothing manner. He hated that she was in so much pain.

After a few moments, she pulled away from him. "I'm sorry for crying all over you," she said, wiping away her tears.

"It's ok…you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"It's just my husband, my marriage, the entire family." His ears perked up at the mention of trouble in her marriage. He felt guilty about it, really guilty, but he couldn't help it, the thought of there being trouble in her marriage excited him. "I'm just not important to him," she said sadly.

"That's not true," he stated in disbelief.

"No, it is. Everything is more important to him, his job, his family. I'm supposed to be his family now." The tears were making reappearance and his heart broke for her.

He caressed the side of her face, causing her to look up at him. "I don’t know if this is any consolation or if it even makes you feel better, but you are important…you're important to me."

She looked at him in shock and confusion. How could a man who she met only days ago touch her in a way that her husband never has. "It does."

And in that moment all he wanted to do was take her pain away and kill the one who hurt her in the first place. He leaned towards her and placed a soft kiss on her lips. It started off as something soft and comforting, but quickly turned passionate. Lips opening, allowing each other's tongues to enter and search the other's mouth. Passion, hunger, and need all exchanged in one kiss. He moved closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss even further…

Then suddenly she pulled away, pushing him away at the same time. "I'm… I'm sorry. That's shouldn't have happened. I have to go." She jumped up from the docks and ran off.

"Wait…" he called after her, but he knew it was no use.